Search results for "Moving desires" in Home Design Ideas

Mike and Stacy moved to the country to be around the rolling landscape and feed the birds outside their Hampshire country home. After living in the home for over ten years, they knew exactly what they wanted to renovate their 1980’s two story once their children moved out. It all started with the desire to open up the floor plan, eliminating constricting walls around the dining room and the eating area that they didn’t plan to use once they had access to what used to be a formal dining room.
They wanted to enhance the already warm country feel their home already had, with some warm hickory cabinets and casual granite counter tops. When removing the pantry and closet between the kitchen and the laundry room, the new design now just flows from the kitchen directly into the smartly appointed laundry area and adjacent powder room.
The new eat in kitchen bar is frequented by guests and grand-children, and the original dining table area can be accessed on a daily basis in the new open space. One instant sensation experienced by anyone entering the front door is the bright light that now transpires from the front of the house clear through the back; making the entire first floor feel free flowing and inviting.
Photo Credits- Joe Nowak

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood.
INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site.
EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot.
THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place.
HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde.
YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements.
RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage.
OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet.
ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer
Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor
Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering
Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design
Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings
Eric Roth Photography - Photography
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This home is in Noe Valley, a highly desirable and growing neighborhood of San Francisco. As young highly-educated families move into the area, we are remodeling and adding on to the aging homes found there. This project remodeled the entire existing two story house and added a third level, capturing the incredible views toward downtown. The design features integral color stucco, zinc roofing, an International Orange staircase, eco-teak cabinets and concrete counters. A flowing sequence of spaces were choreographed from the entry through to the family room.

Located at a prominent corner on one of the few undeveloped residential sites left in Solana Beach, this project is important not only for the homeowner, but for the community as well. A rigorous site analysis laid the groundwork for a design response which took into account the homeowner’s program, input from the neighbors, and the scale of the project and the character of the neighborhood. The end result is a design that is well set into the existing grade, a move which preserves adjacent views and reduces the visual impact of the structure from the street; all while graciously meeting the desires of the owner.
The plan is broken into six unique floor plates. The bottom four of which tie together along the gradually sloping site. An intentionally long southern exposure implements the basics of passive solar design: large amounts of glass bring in abundant light and warmth in the winter, while deep overhangs protect from unwanted summer heat gain. Ocean views to the west are selectively framed throughout the house without compromising privacy from the busy street corner. Public functions within the house flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces. JLC Architecture was responsible for a full architecture and interior package as well as exterior hardscape design.

Mike and Stacy moved to the country to be around the rolling landscape and feed the birds outside their Hampshire country home. After living in the home for over ten years, they knew exactly what they wanted to renovate their 1980’s two story once their children moved out. It all started with the desire to open up the floor plan, eliminating constricting walls around the dining room and the eating area that they didn’t plan to use once they had access to what used to be a formal dining room.
They wanted to enhance the already warm country feel their home already had, with some warm hickory cabinets and casual granite counter tops. When removing the pantry and closet between the kitchen and the laundry room, the new design now just flows from the kitchen directly into the smartly appointed laundry area and adjacent powder room.
The new eat in kitchen bar is frequented by guests and grand-children, and the original dining table area can be accessed on a daily basis in the new open space. One instant sensation experienced by anyone entering the front door is the bright light that now transpires from the front of the house clear through the back; making the entire first floor feel free flowing and inviting.
Photo Credits- Joe Nowak

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood.
INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site.
EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot.
THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place.
HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde.
YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements.
RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage.
OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet.
ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer
Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor
Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering
Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design
Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings
Eric Roth Photography - Photography

A distinct sofa. Normal, extraordinary, timeless ... Absolutely the best because it is enhanced with what we call movable “smart” cushions, pliable to preference with slight movements to satisfy any possible desire for comfort.
A large smart cushion that you can move to any socket of the backrest and armrest. A cushion that you can raise, lower, tilt separately to the left or right with a light and pleasant movement. A padded sofa with high style, designed to withstand time and trends. Seats have different shapes, sizes and depths to satisfyevery desire of comfort.
From the most classic to the most generous sizes, to offer maximum comfort, individually or for many people. Absolute and relaxed elegance in each version, from the small sofa to the large compositions. The various elements that can be combined with each other and are also available with different depths, allow to achieve linear, angular or curvy compositions, for every need and use.
The absolute elegance and sobriety of Absolu stand out in the classical angular / orthogonal compositions. The large smart and moldable cushions and the seat padded with Gellyfoam let you enjoy unsurpassed comfort. The smart cushion is easy to move, use and shape in different positions. With a simple movement, you can go from a classic sofa to the position of chaise longue, always obtaining the maximum comfort.
The version Absolu Large has broader dimensions both in width and in depth. The deeper seat offers the possibility of extreme and casual comfort, both for classic sitting and for a freer use of the couch. Seen from the front or back, Absolu is always elegant thanks to the sobriety of its formal structure and ease of the smart cushions.

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away.
When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors.
Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors.
Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook using Wood-Mode cabinetry. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage.
Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way.
We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area.
And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them.

Our clients desperately needed a new master bathroom that had a better function, flow and aesthetic. Incorporating all of the family’s needs and desires, Progressive Design Build designed a new layout that accomplished all of their goals.
We started by removing the large Jacuzzi tub and tub deck and moving the vanity to the old shower location, making room for a new walk-in shower and heated towel bar that the owners wanted.
During demolition, a unique challenge presented itself. We found a vent pipe in the middle of the new vanity cabinet location, which wasn’t part of the original building drawings. Due to its location in a high-rise condo, which also serviced some of the floors below, we couldn’t move the pipe very far.
Through creative planning meetings and design, as well as innovative cabinetry solutions, we were able to work around the pipe.
The finishes on the project were much more contemporary giving the new master bathroom a subtle sophistication and understated elegance. The cabinets were designed with straight, simple lines and they were custom built with a deep, rich brown finish. The richness of the dark cabinetry juxtaposed with the elegance of the white porcelain tile floor and white Quartzite countertop, contributed to the room’s sophistication and the modern look that the clients desired.
In the end, all project goals were achieved!

A ceiling soffit creates a sense of place for this library within the main living area. The compression shelving system can be moved as desired, making it easy to change the feel of the space.

Mike and Stacy moved to the country to be around the rolling landscape and feed the birds outside their Hampshire country home. After living in the home for over ten years, they knew exactly what they wanted to renovate their 1980’s two story once their children moved out. It all started with the desire to open up the floor plan, eliminating constricting walls around the dining room and the eating area that they didn’t plan to use once they had access to what used to be a formal dining room.
They wanted to enhance the already warm country feel their home already had, with some warm hickory cabinets and casual granite counter tops. When removing the pantry and closet between the kitchen and the laundry room, the new design now just flows from the kitchen directly into the smartly appointed laundry area and adjacent powder room.
The new eat in kitchen bar is frequented by guests and grand-children, and the original dining table area can be accessed on a daily basis in the new open space. One instant sensation experienced by anyone entering the front door is the bright light that now transpires from the front of the house clear through the back; making the entire first floor feel free flowing and inviting.
Photo Credits- Joe Nowak

Our empty nester clients purchased a lovely Burr Ridge cottage with the plan to create their dream home. Their main objective when they first met with LaMantia architectural designer Jackie Prazak was to create a kitchen large enough to accommodate their extended (and now grown) family. After several design revisions the clients agreed to give up a Bedroom and a Powder Room to gain the enlarged Kitchen, Walk-in Master Closet and a separate double-entry Laundry Room they so desired.
By moving the kitchen wall 3’ we were able to accommodate the large Kitchen and Island the clients so desired.
The main entry to the Kitchen was both moved and enlarged to enhance the arrival and the view into the enlarged space.
We were also able to reclaim attic space and create the volume ceiling with added beams to continue the theme of the Living and Dining Room ceilings. At this point LaMantia kitchen designer Katie Suva, CKD, CBD joined the team to begin the detailing of the cabinet layout.
The Family Room, with its new large stone flooring was recreated with specialties galore; including a walk-up wet Bar. We were also able to re-purpose the existing Study into a Guest Bedroom with built-in closets and cabinetry. What was once a laundry space now became a new large Laundry Room accessed from both the Master Walk-in Closet and the hallway.
In the Master Bedroom the exterior entry door was replaced with large open glass window panels. The Master Bath ceiling was reworked to accommodate a soaring Master Shower. And then there was the enlarged Master Closet that speaks for itself!
The existing Solarium took on a different personality with a re-aligned entry door and built-in cabinetry. This room now houses all the home office and craft activities.
The scope of this project included every room in the residence, with the utmost attention paid to every detail, and the outcome is definitely worthy of the Professional Remodeling 2014 Gold Award it just won!
Follow the link below to read about the designer of this project Jackie Prazak http://lamantia.com/designers/jackie-prazak/

Sponsored
Clifton, VA
Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc.
VA & MD Architectural Design-Build Firm | 6x Best of Houzz Winner

Mike and Stacy moved to the country to be around the rolling landscape and feed the birds outside their Hampshire country home. After living in the home for over ten years, they knew exactly what they wanted to renovate their 1980’s two story once their children moved out. It all started with the desire to open up the floor plan, eliminating constricting walls around the dining room and the eating area that they didn’t plan to use once they had access to what used to be a formal dining room.
They wanted to enhance the already warm country feel their home already had, with some warm hickory cabinets and casual granite counter tops. When removing the pantry and closet between the kitchen and the laundry room, the new design now just flows from the kitchen directly into the smartly appointed laundry area and adjacent powder room.
The new eat in kitchen bar is frequented by guests and grand-children, and the original dining table area can be accessed on a daily basis in the new open space. One instant sensation experienced by anyone entering the front door is the bright light that now transpires from the front of the house clear through the back; making the entire first floor feel free flowing and inviting.
Photo Credits- Joe Nowak

Mike and Stacy moved to the country to be around the rolling landscape and feed the birds outside their Hampshire country home. After living in the home for over ten years, they knew exactly what they wanted to renovate their 1980’s two story once their children moved out. It all started with the desire to open up the floor plan, eliminating constricting walls around the dining room and the eating area that they didn’t plan to use once they had access to what used to be a formal dining room.
They wanted to enhance the already warm country feel their home already had, with some warm hickory cabinets and casual granite counter tops. When removing the pantry and closet between the kitchen and the laundry room, the new design now just flows from the kitchen directly into the smartly appointed laundry area and adjacent powder room.
The new eat in kitchen bar is frequented by guests and grand-children, and the original dining table area can be accessed on a daily basis in the new open space. One instant sensation experienced by anyone entering the front door is the bright light that now transpires from the front of the house clear through the back; making the entire first floor feel free flowing and inviting.
Photo Credits- Joe Nowak

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away.
When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors.
Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors.
Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook using Wood-Mode cabinetry. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage.
Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way.
We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area.
And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them.

Our empty nester clients purchased a lovely Burr Ridge cottage with the plan to create their dream home. Their main objective when they first met with LaMantia architectural designer Jackie Prazak was to create a kitchen large enough to accommodate their extended (and now grown) family. After several design revisions the clients agreed to give up a Bedroom and a Powder Room to gain the enlarged Kitchen, Walk-in Master Closet and a separate double-entry Laundry Room they so desired.
By moving the kitchen wall 3’ we were able to accommodate the large Kitchen and Island the clients so desired.
The main entry to the Kitchen was both moved and enlarged to enhance the arrival and the view into the enlarged space.
We were also able to reclaim attic space and create the volume ceiling with added beams to continue the theme of the Living and Dining Room ceilings. At this point LaMantia kitchen designer Katie Suva, CKD, CBD joined the team to begin the detailing of the cabinet layout.
The Family Room, with its new large stone flooring was recreated with specialties galore; including a walk-up wet Bar. We were also able to re-purpose the existing Study into a Guest Bedroom with built-in closets and cabinetry. What was once a laundry space now became a new large Laundry Room accessed from both the Master Walk-in Closet and the hallway.
In the Master Bedroom the exterior entry door was replaced with large open glass window panels. The Master Bath ceiling was reworked to accommodate a soaring Master Shower. And then there was the enlarged Master Closet that speaks for itself!
The existing Solarium took on a different personality with a re-aligned entry door and built-in cabinetry. This room now houses all the home office and craft activities.
The scope of this project included every room in the residence, with the utmost attention paid to every detail, and the outcome is definitely worthy of the Professional Remodeling 2014 Gold Award it just won!
Follow the link below to read about the designer of this project Jackie Prazak http://lamantia.com/designers/jackie-prazak/

Sponsored
McLean, VA
Pierre Jean-Baptiste Interiors
Loudoun Co, VA's Award-Winning Interior Designer | 17x Best of Houzz

A Gilmans Kitchens and Baths - Design Build Project
The original space consisted of two separate rooms - a dining room and a small galley kitchen. The homeowners desired a space that was open and functional for their growing family.
White cabinets were used to lighten up the space and the island was designed so that their dining table could be placed against it or moved, creating a truly versatile kitchen and dining area.
Check out more kitchens by Gilmans Kitchens and Baths!
http://www.gkandb.com/
DESIGNER: JANIS MANACSA
PHOTOGRAPHY: TREVE JOHNSON
CABINETRY: DURA SUPREME CABINETRY
COUNTERTOP: CAESARSTONE PIATRA GREY

Down a private lane and sited on an oak studded lot, this charming Kott home has been transformed with contemporary finishes and clean line design. Vaulted ceilings create light filled spaces that open to outdoor living. Modern choices of Italian tiles combine with hardwood floors and newly installed carpets. Fireplaces in both the living and family room. Dining room with picture window to the garden. Kitchen with ample cabinetry, newer appliances and charming eat-in area. The floor plan includes a gracious upstairs master suite and two well-sized bedrooms and two full bathrooms downstairs. Solar, A/C, steel Future Roof and dual pane windows and doors all contribute to the energy efficiency of this modern design. Quality throughout allows you to move right and enjoy the convenience of a close-in location and the desirable Kentfield school district.

Needing new appliances, these clients took the opportunity to refresh their kitchen with a partial remodel. With no plans to move, they desired a transformation that felt timeless, with an Old-World Mediterranean aesthetic but with refined and functional upgrades. We decided to keep the perimeter cabinets and the tile flooring, so every decision was made to create a harmonious and intentional design.
To enhance the existing cabinetry and get rid of the dust trap on top, we installed 12” of layered crown molding, professionally stained in dark cherry to match, providing a seamless, built-in look. We extended the visual of the wall cabinets by incorporating a sleek bronze and glass multi-shelf display unit and the cabinet above the fridge was also replaced with a 24” deep version for more efficient storage. We extended the base cabinets with the addition of a beverage refrigerator and they were also upgraded with rollout drawers for better functionality.
The original island cabinets were completely dysfunctional, so they needed to go! The new cabinets are painted in a beautiful grayish-green hue to provide an elegant contrast with the dark cherry perimeter, with slender pullouts that flank the range, neatly organizing spices and utensils within easy reach. The microwave was also relocated to under the island, freeing up counter space. We tiled the underside of the island on the seating side to prevent scuff marks from stools and toes —a thoughtful touch that keeps the cabinetry looking pristine.
A key change was replacing the failing downdraft ventilation in the island with a powerful ceiling-mounted, statement hood—custom-made in hammered, aged copper with graceful lines and dark bronze detailing to complement the cherry cabinets.
They had always disliked their double bowl sink, so we replaced it with a large, single “workstation” sink, dramatically improving usability. The double wall ovens were replaced with a steam oven as well as a convection oven and the bottom drawer below was replaced with a warming drawer…now my client’s favorite and most used appliance.
For the first time, the kitchen gained a backsplash—a warm neutral, polished marble tile in a large arabesque pattern, a subtle nod to the Mediterranean aesthetic.
Finally, the outdated hardware was swapped out. Their 48” tall wall cabinets originally had small round knobs, which we replaced with antique pewter linear pulls—aged, muted, and perfectly suited to the Old-World feel they wanted.
Every detail was carefully chosen to refine the space, enhance functionality, and improve the flow. All of the new elements were incorporated to make the kitchen feel like it was built that way from the start. The result? A warm, inviting kitchen that feels both timeless and beautifully tailored for my clients to enjoy their favorite hobby, cooking!
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