Previously renovated with a two-story addition in the 80’s, the home’s square footage had been increased, but the current homeowners struggled to integrate the old with the new. An oversized fireplace and awkward jogged walls added to the challenges on the main floor, along with dated finishes. While on the second floor, a poorly configured layout was not functional for this expanding family. From the front entrance, we can see the fireplace was removed between the living room and dining rooms, creating greater sight lines and allowing for more traditional archways between rooms. At the back of the home, we created a new mudroom area, and updated the kitchen with custom two-tone millwork, countertops and finishes. These main floor changes work together to create a home more reflective of the homeowners’ tastes. On the second floor, the master suite was relocated and now features a beautiful custom ensuite, walk-in closet and convenient adjacency to the new laundry room. Gordon King Photography

This home had dated and falling apart finishes, an insignificant fireplace in a giant living room, and a poor layout in the family room. Not to mention the primary bath covered in bamboo wallpaper. The clients wanted a functional, updated and good-looking kitchen, a more adult family room, an updated serene primary bath. The remaining baths to be updated and modern. And, to make it feel like a holistic update, they wanted a welcoming staircase/entry. As with most clients, stretching their dollar as far as possible was important. They didn't want to enlarge any footprint or move walls - we had to stay within existing bounds. With a whole home remodel costs can add up quickly depending on where we start & stop. For this family it made sense to do all the work at once to avoid repeat remodels. It was either buy new and still have to customize, or remodel to their exact needs and wants. The remodel was more affordable and made just for them. Many finishes are clean, simple, and modern. A window was removed! in the family room to allow for a symmetrical entertainment center. A dramatic floor to ceiling fireplace surround was created in the Living room. The staircase was totally redone in both shape and style! The primary bath was reworked to get a two-person shower, and soaking tub. Serene /quiet finishes in the primary helped achieve a mellow /calming atmosphere. All new doors and trim throughout.

This home had dated and falling apart finishes, an insignificant fireplace in a giant living room, and a poor layout in the family room. Not to mention the primary bath covered in bamboo wallpaper. The clients wanted a functional, updated and good-looking kitchen, a more adult family room, an updated serene primary bath. The remaining baths to be updated and modern. And, to make it feel like a holistic update, they wanted a welcoming staircase/entry. As with most clients, stretching their dollar as far as possible was important. They didn't want to enlarge any footprint or move walls - we had to stay within existing bounds. With a whole home remodel costs can add up quickly depending on where we start & stop. For this family it made sense to do all the work at once to avoid repeat remodels. It was either buy new and still have to customize, or remodel to their exact needs and wants. The remodel was more affordable and made just for them. Many finishes are clean, simple, and modern. A window was removed! in the family room to allow for a symmetrical entertainment center. A dramatic floor to ceiling fireplace surround was created in the Living room. The staircase was totally redone in both shape and style! The primary bath was reworked to get a two-person shower, and soaking tub. Serene /quiet finishes in the primary helped achieve a mellow /calming atmosphere. All new doors and trim throughout.

This home’s kitchen was dated, small and poorly laid out, leaving its avid cook frustrated and eager to realize new possibilities. We eliminated a rarely used exterior side patio and moved the exterior wall and roofline out to gain additional square footage, tons of functional storage, a large island and a quaint sitting area. Skylights were added to bring in natural light. This new layout is now perfect for entertaining lots of friends as well as intimate fireside chats.

After dealing with a poorly designed kitchen for more than 15 years, the Kumets family brought in Cantoni design consultant George Saba to transform their space into one that was open, contemporary and ergonomically efficient. Read the full story here: http://cantoni.com/interior-design-services/projects/AChef-WorthyRemodel/ Photos by Lauren Reynolds Logan

The client's basement was a poorly-finished strange place; was cluttered and not functional as an entertainment space. We updated to a club-like atmosphere to include a state of the art entertainment area, poker/card table, unique curved bar area, karaoke and dance floor area with a disco ball to provide reflecting fractals above to pull the focus to the center of the area to tell everyone; this is where the action is!

This beautiful 1881 Alameda Victorian cottage, wonderfully embodying the Transitional Gothic-Eastlake era, had most of its original features intact. Our clients, one of whom is a painter, wanted to preserve the beauty of the historic home while modernizing its flow and function. From several small rooms, we created a bright, open artist’s studio. We dug out the basement for a large workshop, extending a new run of stair in keeping with the existing original staircase. While keeping the bones of the house intact, we combined small spaces into large rooms, closed off doorways that were in awkward places, removed unused chimneys, changed the circulation through the house for ease and good sightlines, and made new high doorways that work gracefully with the eleven foot high ceilings. We removed inconsistent picture railings to give wall space for the clients’ art collection and to enhance the height of the rooms. From a poorly laid out kitchen and adjunct utility rooms, we made a large kitchen and family room with nine-foot-high glass doors to a new large deck. A tall wood screen at one end of the deck, fire pit, and seating give the sense of an outdoor room, overlooking the owners’ intensively planted garden. A previous mismatched addition at the side of the house was removed and a cozy outdoor living space made where morning light is received. The original house was segmented into small spaces; the new open design lends itself to the clients’ lifestyle of entertaining groups of people, working from home, and enjoying indoor-outdoor living. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/artists-victorian/

This beautiful 1881 Alameda Victorian cottage, wonderfully embodying the Transitional Gothic-Eastlake era, had most of its original features intact. Our clients, one of whom is a painter, wanted to preserve the beauty of the historic home while modernizing its flow and function. From several small rooms, we created a bright, open artist’s studio. We dug out the basement for a large workshop, extending a new run of stair in keeping with the existing original staircase. While keeping the bones of the house intact, we combined small spaces into large rooms, closed off doorways that were in awkward places, removed unused chimneys, changed the circulation through the house for ease and good sightlines, and made new high doorways that work gracefully with the eleven foot high ceilings. We removed inconsistent picture railings to give wall space for the clients’ art collection and to enhance the height of the rooms. From a poorly laid out kitchen and adjunct utility rooms, we made a large kitchen and family room with nine-foot-high glass doors to a new large deck. A tall wood screen at one end of the deck, fire pit, and seating give the sense of an outdoor room, overlooking the owners’ intensively planted garden. A previous mismatched addition at the side of the house was removed and a cozy outdoor living space made where morning light is received. The original house was segmented into small spaces; the new open design lends itself to the clients’ lifestyle of entertaining groups of people, working from home, and enjoying indoor-outdoor living. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/artists-victorian/

The #LakesideLeisure Project was a comprehensive redesign of a lakefront property that transformed various challenges into stunning solutions. Initially, the property featured a small, high-maintenance cedar deck with minimal lake views, poorly placed stairs, limited flat yard space due to extensive tiered landscaping and excessive plantings, obstructed lake views, and privacy concerns from a neighboring home. The client’s vision was clear: they wanted a large, flat yard for family activities and hosting, enhanced outdoor living spaces for dining and lounging, increased privacy from neighbors, more shaded hangout areas, improved “curb appeal” from the lake, and reduced maintenance.

After more than 30 years in their 1990 Sammamish home, these homeowners were ready to update their primary suite. They had worked with contractors in the past and had dealt with poor workmanship, inaccurate measurements, budget overruns, and a design process that didn’t reflect what they wanted. This time, they were looking for a contractor who would listen, communicate clearly, and provide accurate pricing. Lakeville started with a detailed preconstruction process. We reviewed the scope with the homeowners, gathered subcontractor pricing, and walked through the estimate line by line before construction began. The primary bathroom was updated without replacing everything. The existing cabinets were in good condition, so they were refreshed. We raised the shower ceiling, replaced the original whirlpool tub, added heated tile floors, and installed a Grundfos SCALA2 booster pump to improve water pressure. Warm brushed-gold fixtures, large-format porcelain tile, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster walls, Greek Villa millwork, and Stratus Prime Acropolis quartz bring the new finishes together. The adjoining primary closet was also remodeled with a custom storage system that includes accessory storage, a two-bag slide-out hamper, valet rod, and charging station. Behind the walls, the project included new electrical circuits for the heated floors, smart thermostat, and booster pump. The existing bathroom presented a few challenges, including finding a specialty corner bypass shower enclosure that would fit the space. In the primary bedroom, the existing carpet was replaced with hardwood flooring matched to the floors throughout the rest of the home. The project was completed on time and on budget, with a finished primary suite that reflects what the homeowners wanted from the start: a comfortable, functional space and a contractor they could trust.

When the homeowners decided to move from San Francisco to the Central Coast, they were looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, a unique place to call their own, and an environment conducive to raising their young children. They found it all in San Luis Obispo. They had owned a house here in SLO for several years that they had used as a rental. As the homeowners own and run a contracting business and relocation was not impossible, they decided to move their business and make this SLO rental into their dream home. As a rental, the house was in a bare-bones condition. The kitchen had old white cabinets, boring white tile counters, and a horrendous vinyl tile floor. Not only was the kitchen out-of-date and old-fashioned, it was also pretty worn out. The tiles were cracking and the grout was stained, the cabinet doors were sagging, and the appliances were conflicting (ie: you could not open the stove and dishwasher at the same time). To top it all off, the kitchen was just too small for the custom home the homeowners wanted to create. Thus enters San Luis Kitchen. At the beginning of their quest to remodel, the homeowners visited San Luis Kitchen’s showroom and fell in love with our Tuscan Grotto display. They sat down with our designers and together we worked out the scope of the project, the budget for cabinetry and how that fit into their overall budget, and then we worked on the new design for the home starting with the kitchen. As the homeowners felt the kitchen was cramped, it was decided to expand by moving the window wall out onto the existing porch. Besides the extra space gained, moving the wall brought the kitchen window out from under the porch roof – increasing the natural light available in the space. (It really helps when the homeowner both understands building and can do his own contracting and construction.) A new arched window and stone clad wall now highlights the end of the kitchen. As we gained wall space, we were able to move the range and add a plaster hood, creating a focal nice focal point for the kitchen. The other long wall now houses a Sub-Zero refrigerator and lots of counter workspace. Then we completed the kitchen by adding a wrap-around wet bar extending into the old dining space. We included a pull-out pantry unit with open shelves above it, wine cubbies, a cabinet for glassware recessed into the wall, under-counter refrigerator drawers, sink base and trash cabinet, along with a decorative bookcase cabinet and bar seating. Lots of function in this corner of the kitchen; a bar for entertaining and a snack station for the kids. After the kitchen design was finalized and ordered, the homeowners turned their attention to the rest of the house. They asked San Luis Kitchen to help with their master suite, a guest bath, their home control center (essentially a deck tucked under the main staircase) and finally their laundry room. Here are the photos: I wish I could show you the rest of the house. The homeowners took a poor rental house and turned it into a showpiece! They added custom concrete floors, unique fiber optic lighting, large picture windows, and much more. There is now an outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, an outdoor shower and exquisite garden. They added a dedicated dog run to the side yard for their pooches and a rooftop deck at the very peak. Such a fun house. Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, Barcelona

What was once a dark and dated kitchen with a poor layout was transformed into a bright open kitchen that is much more functional. We opened up some walls and removed another, relocated the door leading to the garage and relocated the sink. We added recessed and under cabinet lighting as well as updating outlets and switched. The new cabinets are Bridgewood Advantage Maple Mission door in painted white. The countertops are black quartz. The backsplash is Carrera marble.

Sometimes the cost of painting an existing vanity vs. a new vanity isn't only the cost of the labor, fixing the old doors, the inside shelves were in poor condition, and the overall space the vanity provided was sub par...so we did replace the vanity and they have so much more functioning space. We did however paint the linen cabinet and the adjoining wall, and it really makes it look built it. I think this transformation is a home run!!!

Old door dragged concrete and functioned poorly.
This is an example of a mid-sized concrete paver screened-in back porch design in Charleston.

Previously renovated with a two-story addition in the 80’s, the home’s square footage had been increased, but the current homeowners struggled to integrate the old with the new. An oversized fireplace and awkward jogged walls added to the challenges on the main floor, along with dated finishes. While on the second floor, a poorly configured layout was not functional for this expanding family. From the front entrance, we can see the fireplace was removed between the living room and dining rooms, creating greater sight lines and allowing for more traditional archways between rooms. At the back of the home, we created a new mudroom area, and updated the kitchen with custom two-tone millwork, countertops and finishes. These main floor changes work together to create a home more reflective of the homeowners’ tastes. On the second floor, the master suite was relocated and now features a beautiful custom ensuite, walk-in closet and convenient adjacency to the new laundry room. Gordon King Photography

Designed by Jen Gallagher of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Fredericksburg, VA in collaboration with Abby Construction, this transitional style kitchen remodeling project features Merillat Masterpiece cabinets in the Knoxville door style with Surfside finish. Kitchen countertops are Silestone quartz in the color Helix. For the client, what they like best is the new layout. "It was a large space but poorly designed. It's now much more functional with lots of storage space and yet it feels more open. I could not have designed it without Jen's help. Jen told me to make a list of all my kitchen items and decide where they would go. It was the best piece of advice I received. I was able to make sure that I had enough cabinets for everything, it helped me choose accessories for the cabinets and once the remodel was completed it made putting everything away so much quicker." Photos courtesy of Tim Snyder Photography.

A generous ‘portal’ connection created between the front and rear portions of the space enhances the spaciousness of the store and allows the establishment to function as one entity, maintaining good sight lines from front to back. Removal of existing finishes during construction revealed a heavy timber and brick bearing wall between the existing garage and residential space that was in poor repair and needed repair.

After one of the family took a fall on a slippery, sloped and painted walkway, our clients decided it was time to update their home's entry walkway. A large cedar tree, in poor health, also dripped sap on the sidewalk and parked cars, creating a sticky mess. We replaced the tree and water wasting lawn with drought tolerant alternatives and created a lighted, flagstone pathway, with custom steel railing leading to the front door. In the backyard, our clients wanted to create a space for entertaining, hanging out with their grandchildren, and growing their own vegetables. The yard was replaced with a flagstone patio including a large raised bed. We also hid the air conditiong unit to create a convivial and functional area.

The #LakesideLeisure Project was a comprehensive redesign of a lakefront property that transformed various challenges into stunning solutions. Initially, the property featured a small, high-maintenance cedar deck with minimal lake views, poorly placed stairs, limited flat yard space due to extensive tiered landscaping and excessive plantings, obstructed lake views, and privacy concerns from a neighboring home. The client’s vision was clear: they wanted a large, flat yard for family activities and hosting, enhanced outdoor living spaces for dining and lounging, increased privacy from neighbors, more shaded hangout areas, improved “curb appeal” from the lake, and reduced maintenance.