The existing 12’x14’ footprint for the kitchen was far too small for the owner’s vision. Multiple layouts were considered and modified until the final design emerged. A 22’x 15’ addition more than doubled the space, creating multiple stations for cooking and feasting, direct access to the future Party Patio, adequate storage, and a light-filled space to enjoy and share.

Fresh kitchen with updated materials for a clean, modern look with a few traditional details to complement the owner’s collections. Added cabinets and drawers Increased storage capacity. Increasing walkway space and opening space to the living room was a major goal. Finally, changing the original double-sided rough stone fireplace walls resulted in a simpler, more streamlined look.

This new detached garage was designed to express the owner’s contemporary tastes, while also adding functional space and aesthetic appeal. The exterior features a unique and durable charred cedar siding finish, which extends from the garage as a screen element to connect with the main house. This connection is further defined by a new metal standing seam roof detail. A custom gate leads visitors from the vehicle court into the private backyard.

J. Albert Studios
Huge traditional brown two-story wood exterior home idea in Cleveland

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY GRAND AWARD WINNER Built in 1980, this single family home in Fairfax Station desperately needed remodeling. The homeowners cited lack of space, old appliances, dark cabinets and not enough natural light coming in as just a few of its problems. Design solutions to their problems included adding space via a two-foot bump out behind the breakfast area to make room for a larger table and more seating, and moving a wall out 18” to create a wider kitchen. This second move allowed one wall to house the kitchen’s pantry, double oven and refrigerator. Stainless steel professional-grade appliances also include an electric cooktop and range hood. The added space accommodated a center island which provides more storage, houses a built-in microwave and incorporates display cabinets for the owner’s prized china. Both the island and perimeter cabinets are topped with an exotic dark granite counter. A custom-made hutch matches the cabinetry perfectly. The new open concept design lets guests move freely between kitchen, dining area and family room. A triple window in the dining area and double window over the sink area meet the owner’s requirement for bringing in more natural light.

The Home A charming reflection of its surroundings, the farmhouse-inspired Salida appeals to everyone from families with young children to growing families with teenagers. The home’s well-placed rear-entry garage and oversized front porch provide a warm and welcoming façade with contrasting board and batten details brimming with curb appeal. Inside, an entry hall flanked on either side by a private study and powder room expands to an inviting light and bright open-concept design uniting the kitchen, dining and family rooms that extend entertaining spaces with the adjoining patio. Alternatively, the upstairs provides family members with their own sense of space. The tranquil owner’s retreat with owner’s bath and spacious walk-in closet is set at the rear of the home and two secondary bedrooms flanking the full bathroom are ideally located at the front – providing the ultimate in privacy. A second-floor utility room makes laundry day a breeze. To provide for a growing family and expand the gathering spaces, an unfinished basement offers a wealth of flexibility with the options of a fourth bedroom, third full bath and game room. The Builder Founded in 1976, David Weekley Homes is the nation’s second largest privately-held homebuilder. Headquartered in Houston, TX, the company operates in 20 cities, including three communities in Colorado Springs. David Weekley Homes was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the “Triple Crown of American Homebuilding,” an honor which includes “America’s Best Builder,” “National Housing Quality Award” and “National Builder of the Year.” Nationwide, the company has received more than 1,300 product design and service awards, a reflection of the company’s commitment to Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives for more than 100,000 homebuyers. By utilizing buyer demographic information and incorporating the latest trends, Kathy Andrews Interiors (KAI) serves as the creative force behind the builder’s model homes where buyers can see and touch the quality craftsmanship. KAI also selects finishes like flooring and furnishings to create one-of-a-kind homes for buyers! The Interior Design The Salida’s interior design boasts an edgy sensibility with an ivory and gray color palette providing an ideal backdrop to modern decor elements. Soft gray laminate flooring is punctuated by accents of dark gray, white and navy contrasted by pops of lime green for a modern look. Glass elements throughout add to this contemporary impression. At center stage, the kitchen features two-tone cabinetry in slate gray and white complemented by white marbled quartz countertops and twilight blue glass brick-laid tile backsplash. Details like the pencil edge countertops add a modern look. The sophisticated, navy blue theme continues through several spaces, including in the owner’s retreat where pale gray brick-laid subway tile pops against the navy vertical stripe accent with glass mosaic tiles in a herringbone pattern, creating a floor-to-ceiling focal point. The secondary bathroom features a similar memory point with showstopping navy glass tile accents.

This 8200 square foot home is a unique blend of modern, fanciful, and timeless. The original 4200 sqft home on this property, built by the father of the current owners in the 1980s, was demolished to make room for this full basement multi-generational home. To preserve memories of growing up in this home we salvaged many items and incorporated them in fun ways.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW Like many families with older children, this local Glen Ellyn couple wanted to expand the size of their kitchen while also creating a more open, airy feel for their main level. The home had plenty of space that included a formal living room, formal dining room, family room with eat-in area and kitchen with butler’s pantry. What it didn’t have, was an effortless flow between the areas used daily for cooking, eating and gathering. Additionally, the kitchen had become outdated, feeling dark and dismal, despite the abundance of natural light. Our clients wanted a bright, cheerful interior that would inspire the family to congregate in this part of the house. No easy feat with teenagers. An open floor plan design solved the issues with functionality and circulation, removing the walls that restricted flow and opening up the entry to the dining room. We also eliminated the rarely used butler’s pantry allowing us to expand the kitchen and add a large island for food prep and gathering. To create a sense of symmetry and consistency in the space, a clerestory window was added below the header and framed to match the existing adjacent entry from the living room. Inspired by the owner’s Scottish ancestry, the island cabinetry boasts a beautiful blue hue, paired with stools upholstered in a sprightly plaid. The built-in buffet area provides additional storage, topped with a beautiful wooden top stained to coordinate with the stunning tones of the flooring. The owner’s opted for stainless steel appliances, inspiring the selection of brushed silver light fixtures and polished chrome hardware. Marble-look quartz offered a durable, lightly colored surface to reflect sunlight and enhance the cheer factor. According to this happy family, this uplifting space is now everyone’s favorite place to gather. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more design inspiration go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Set in wine country's chic little town of Healdsburg, this new home shows off sharp modern industrial flavors, using unique features like this stream bed made from river rock. Making use of strategic greenery, mixed ground cover options, and incorporating strong notable features, this landscaping shows off the owner’s need for stylish yet minimalist installations.

It’s easy to be inspired by this home’s curb appeal. Its lush landscaping and sweeping driveway had us falling in love with this property. Add a fresh coat of paint on top of it and this home owner now has a house that makes those driving by take notice!

We started with a small, 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick cape and turned it into a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home, with a new kitchen/family room layout downstairs and new owner’s suite upstairs. Downstairs on the rear of the home, we added a large, deep, wrap-around covered porch with a standing seam metal roof.

This 2-story home with first-floor owner’s suite includes a 2-car garage and welcoming front porch. A dramatic 2-story ceiling in the foyer makes a grand first impression while hardwood flooring flows to the dining room, kitchen, and breakfast area. To the right of the foyer is the study, and to the left is the dining room with elegant tray ceiling and craftsman style wainscoting. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops with tile backsplash, and attractive cabinetry with decorative crown molding. Off of the kitchen is the breakfast area with triple windows and access to the deck and backyard. Adjacent to the kitchen and breakfast area is the great room with 2-story ceiling and a gas fireplace with stone surround. The owner’s suite with tray ceiling detail includes a private bathroom with double bowl vanity, 5’ tile shower, and an expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 3 additional bedrooms and a full bathroom.

Locally manufactured Schuon Custom Cabinetry was used featuring raised panel cabinets with white paint and a pewter glaze. The kitchen features large broom closet, pantry cabinetry, beverage center with glass doors and furniture-style cabinetry on either side of the oven. The island bar featuring cherry stain cabinetry was built to accommodate the owner’s choice of a very large slab of granite and provides a seating area to replace the breakfast table.

Natural maple cabinets, solid quartzite stone counters, easy clean stainless steel backsplash, natural light, LED ceiling cans, under cabinet lighting, accessible storage, north shore stone hutch knobs and a sunroom pass-thru sill formed from reclaimed white pine wood from the owner’s childhood home.

The owner/builders of this timber framed home chose cabinetry made of hand selected rift sawn white oak, with inset raise panel doors and a painstaking finish process to complement their home’s gently aged, classical design.

Completed in two phases, the kitchen in this home was first overhauled and the wall separating it from the dining room was torn down. The structure, hidden in the boxed ceiling, compliments the original details as they were woven into this new great room. New sliding doors replacing the relocated bathroom at the rear beckon one to the garden. This created the palette for the owner to tailor the finishes exquisitely. The resplendent marble counter top is the heart of their tasteful new living space, ideal for entertaining. For phase two, the owner commissioned ONE Design to flood the upper level of the home with light. The owner, inspired by her rural upbringing in Humboldt, wished to draw inspiration from this and her Eichler-like grandparent’s home. ONE Design vaulted the ceilings to create an open soaring roof and provide a clean three dimensional canvass. Adding skylights which bathe the clean walls in an ever changing light show was the centerpiece of this transformation. Transom windows over the bedroom doors offer additional light to the interior circulation space. Enlarged windows combine the owner’s desire to live in a “glass house,” while paying respect to the Edwardian heritage of the home and providing expansive views of the meadow-like garden oasis. The cherry on top is the attic retreat, adding a north facing dormer that peeks at the Golden Gate Bridge offers a serene perch — perfect escapism for a creative writer!

http://www.ctmarchitects.com/ Located near McAllister, Montana, the Double D Ranch was born from the owner’s hope for a more appealing accommodation than the original cabin, so his wife would enjoy her time in Montana as much as he did. We met with the couple and toured one of our other projects to get a better idea of what they had in mind. She became very involved in the process (and in fact is an interior designer), and together we created a ranch compound with: a main house, a guesthouse, a horse barn and fishing cabin. All are located on a rural parcel in a historic mining area—in fact, the stone for the buildings was reclaimed from local abandoned mines and the foundation built from century-old gold mine tailings. The buildings feature salvaged and reclaimed log, found branches from the surrounding site for ‘wiggly wood’ on the porches, and antique railroad lanterns act as exterior lighting to further establish tone and texture. Today their home allows him to fish more, and her to raise paint horses and embrace the Montana lifestyle that her husband had hoped to share with her.

Inspired by DesignARC's Greenworth House, the owners of this 1960's single-story ranch house desired a fresh take on their out-dated, well-worn Montecito residence. Hailing from Toronto Canada, the couple is at ease in urban, loft-like spaces and looked to create a pared-down dwelling that could become their home. Photo Credit: Jim Bartsch Photography