The homeowners wanted to preserve the efficiency of their existing galley-style kitchen, but still open up their floor plan and allow the cook to participate fully in the rest of the household's activity. Removing an unnecessary wall between the kitchen and dining area and knocking a pass-through between the kitchen and the living room allowed us to provide a great room while allowing the kitchen to remain compact and efficient. Custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, engineered wood flooring, Mombasa granite counter tops and an attractive copper vent hood updated the space with contemporary conveniences while retaining an aura of traditional hominess. Pictures by Neil Johnson Photography.

Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a farmhouse entryway remodel in Boston

Hi friends! If you hadn’t put it together from the hashtag (#hansonranchoverhaul), this project was literally, quite the overhaul. This full-house renovation was so much fun to be a part of! Not only did we overhaul both the main and second levels, but we actually added square footage when we filled in a double-story volume to create an additional second floor bedroom (which in this case, will actually function as a home office). We also moved walls around on both the main level to open up the living/dining kitchen area, create a more functional powder room, and bring in more natural light at the entry. Upstairs, we altered the layout to accommodate two more spacious and modernized bathrooms, as well as larger bedrooms, one complete with a new walk-in-closet and one with a beautiful window seat built-in. This client and I connected right away – she was looking to update her '90s home with a laid-back, fresh, transitional approach. As we got into the finish selections, we realized that our picks were taking us in a bit of a modern farmhouse direction, so we went with it, and am I ever glad we did! I love the new wide-plank distressed hardwood throughout and the new shaker-style built-ins in the kitchen and bathrooms. I custom designed the fireplace mantle and window seat to coordinate with the craftsman 3-panel doors, and we worked with the stair manufacturer to come up with a handrail, spindle and newel post design that was the perfect combination of traditional and modern. The 2-tone stair risers and treads perfectly accomplished the look we were going for!

A traditional Santa Monica home complete renovation. An existing attic space was transformed into a home office-library with fireplace. Two of the six bathrooms were completely remodeled while the remaining 4 were updated and renovated. The project also included a large new pool with Jacuzzi, new patio and hardscape with outdoor kitchen and complete landscaping of the property.

1915 Craftsman Restoration. Facade restored to original cedar shingle pattern and knee braces added. Porch entirely rebuilt to period charm. All windows updated to energy efficient Andersen double hung. Stone walkways and landscaping.

This classic cable rail was fabricated out of steel in sections at our facility. Each section was welded together on-site and painted with a flat black urethane. The cable was run through the posts in each section and then tensioned to the correct specifications. The simplicity of this rail gives an un-obstructed view of the beautiful surrounding valley and mountains. The front steps grab rail was measured and laid out onsite, and was bolted into place on the rock steps. The clear-cut grabrails inside for the basement stairs were formed and mounted to the wall. Overall, this beautiful home nestled in the heart of the Wyoming Mountains is one for the books.

When I bought my house in May 2014, there was one thing I really didn’t like about it – the 1950s bathroom complete with pink tile and mismatched gaudy fixtures was absolutely hideous. I knew redoing the bathroom would be a big, expensive project, so I vowed to just live with it while I fixed up parts of the house that were easier to update, such as putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls and updating the curtains (which I still haven’t done, by the way). Well my first winter in the new house turned out to be a bad one, and in February 2015, I noticed water stains on the walls and ceiling of the second bedroom that only got worse and worse each day. The water damage quickly spread to other rooms, and when contractors came to the house to access and fix the damage, they discovered moisture behind the pink tiled walls of my bathroom. And so started the bathroom remodel. Start to finish, this project took close to six months, due to going back and forth with insurance and difficulty finding a contractor I liked. I lived without a shower for at least four of those months, showering at the gym where I worked or in a pop-up tent in my backyard once it was warm enough out. My friend Eric and I demoed the bathroom and for the remodel, I picked out all of the design components and had a local contractor, Fred Haas do the work. I kept the original layout – as my bathroom was small to begin with and it was both impractical and expensive to start moving things around – but just about everything else about the bathroom is new, except for maybe the window and door. New tub, sink, and toilet, new tile floor and shower surround, new walls and ceiling, fresh paint, new fixtures and mirror, updated lighting, and a better ventilation system were all added. Tub – Sterling Vikrell Toilet – Kohler Wellworth® two-piece round-front dual-flush toilet Sink – Kohler Veer™ 21" pedestal bathroom sink Fixtures – Kohler Alteo® line Tile floor and shower surround – American Olean Laurel Heights ceramic tile in Summit Gray Lighting – I don't remember... will have to see if I can find it Ventilation system – NuTone Mirror – Ikea Paint – Behr Shower Curtain – eBay Here are photos of my project from start to finish. As you can see, I probably still need a thing or two (a toilet paper holder, mini storage shelf, and some art wouldn’t hurt, nor would replacing the door or painting it white), but overall I’m really happy with how my new bathroom came out. I LOVE it, which is the exact opposite of how I felt about the original bathroom. Photos © Kari Post

This foyer was in desperate need of attention. The honey oak railing, spec carpet, and dated wood balusters had to go. An over the post railing and iron balusters with gold accents are used to update the stairs. Traditional detailing is added in the form of appliques on the stringer. The plain white stair carpet is swapped for wood treads and a rich deep red stair carpet. Taking its cue from the intricate scroll railing, the carpet also incorporates the scroll motif. This asymmetrical scroll delicately undulates down the left side of the staircase infusing an otherwise traditional foyer with a modern twist. Prominently displayed to the left of the staircase is the homeowner’s handmade embroidered artwork with intricate beading. Framing the art piece and displaying it where it is immediately visible upon entry, not only respected the sentimental value this piece carried but also balanced the distribution of color in the space. The grand 3-tiered crystal chandelier illuminates the space and provides a warm glow throughout. Photo by Agnes Jawoszek

Fresh clean-lined updated custom stairway. Sherwin Williams High Reflective White trim and Eider White walls and ceiling. Wood look tile downstairs with original hardwood stairs and new bannister stained to match. Painted Risers. Petite Antique Entry Table with circular mirror. Leaning bookshelf gallery wall. Photo by Bayou City 360

Rich, purple accents, detailed white cabinets, and marble counter tops are what makes the DeBenedetto Kitchen both traditional and elegant. While still using updated, stainless steel appliances, this kitchen remodel uses designs from past eras to create a unique, inviting atmosphere. Open up your kitchen layout with large windows to allow for more natural light, courtesy of New Outlooks Construction.

The original plan was to update the existing footprint of the kitchen, but after learning how integral this space was for family gatherings, holidays, and just hanging out, our design team decided to annex the unused space between the kitchen and dining room to create a larger kitchen experience that was truly the heart of their home.

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo By: Tim Furlong Jr.

Overland Park Interior Designer, Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc., was brought into this remodeling project by the client who wanted to update his 1980’s home which sits on a beautiful property, but which had an interior that was severely dated. Prior to the remodel, this kitchen had dated oak cabinets, old counters, antiquated appliances, and inadequate storage. Ladegaard considered the client’s desire to lighten the kitchen, and transformed the space with the aid of Brackman Construction. A load bearing wall was removed to open the space to the great room, and a new large island was added… perfect for entertaining. Aside from the beautiful aesthetics of gray glass staggered tile on the back splash, new quartz counters, gorgeous new appliances, and updated modern lighting, one of Ladegaard’s main considerations in planning this kitchen, was the client’s need for more storage. Cabinets were designed in both the kitchen, and the adjoining laundry/pantry area, where storage was highly customized and made to suit the specific needs of the client. Upon completion of the project, the client is thrilled with the major updates to this functional space. Design Connection Inc. of Overland Park provided: Kitchen plans and elevations, material selections, appliances selections, detailed materials key for the contractor and project management.

Rustic Farmhouse: Garvin-Weeks Farmstead The Garvin-Weeks Farmstead in beautiful North Reading, built c1790, has enjoyed a first floor makeover complete with a new kitchen, family room and master suite. Particular attention was given to preserve the historic details of the house while modernizing and opening up the space for today’s lifestyle. The open concept farmhouse style kitchen is striking with its antique beams and rafters, handmade and hand planed cabinets, distressed floors, custom handmade soapstone counter and farmer’s sink, kitchen island comprised of reclaimed wood and marble top all setting the stage for the elaborate custom painted tile work. Skylights above bathe the space in natural light. Walking through the warm family room gives one the sense of history and days gone by, culminating in a quintessential looking, but fabulously updated new England master bedroom and bath. A spectacular addition that feels and looks like it has always been there! Photos by Eric Roth

The original kitchen had wood cabinets which made the space seem dark and small, as well as not enough storage. It was in need of an update and brightening up. Working closely with the client we were able to come up with creative storage solutions to take advantage of every nook and cranny to maximize storage and ensure there was space for everything. To highlight the beautiful view form the window, we added glass cabinets on either side, as well as in the hutch cabinet to draw the eye around the room. By using white cabinetry, we were able to make the space seem larger within the same footprint of the kitchen. A custom wood hood adds an additional focal point. The beautiful soapstone countertops tie the whole space together and work with the look of the traditional home. The custom wood posts on the end of the peninsula add extra detail to the cabinetry and an extra detail to the countertop. The addition of wood floors ties the space to the rest of the home.

The original ranch style home was built in 1962 by the homeowner’s father. She grew up in this home; now her and her husband are only the second owners of the home. The existing foundation and a few exterior walls were retained with approximately 800 square feet added to the footprint along with a single garage to the existing two-car garage. The footprint of the home is almost the same with every room expanded. All the rooms are in their original locations; the kitchen window is in the same spot just bigger as well. The homeowners wanted a more open, updated craftsman feel to this ranch style childhood home. The once 8-foot ceilings were made into 9-foot ceilings with a vaulted common area. The kitchen was opened up and there is now a gorgeous 5 foot by 9 and a half foot Cambria Brittanicca slab quartz island.

Opening the kitchen up tot the dining room and the back patio was top priority for these homeowners. We removed the peninsula and created a sit up island that would allow for casual dining and visiting in the kitchen. A service area was added in the dining room to house a wine fridge and storage for the items required for formal dining.

This 1990's home, located in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley neighbourhood, had high ceilings and a great open plan layout but the decor was straight out of the 90's complete with sponge painted walls in dark earth tones. The owners, a young professional couple, enlisted our help to take it from dated and dreary to modern and bright. We started by removing details like chair rails and crown mouldings, that did not suit the modern architectural lines of the home. We replaced the heavily worn wood floors with a new high end, light coloured, wood-look laminate that will withstand the wear and tear from their two energetic golden retrievers. Since the main living space is completely open plan it was important that we work with simple consistent finishes for a clean modern look. The all white kitchen features flat doors with minimal hardware and a solid surface marble-look countertop and backsplash. We modernized all of the lighting and updated the bathrooms and master bedroom as well. The only departure from our clean modern scheme is found in the dressing room where the client was looking for a more dressed up feminine feel but we kept a thread of grey consistent even in this more vivid colour scheme. This transformation, featuring the clients' gorgeous original artwork and new custom designed furnishings is admittedly one of our favourite projects to date!

Piperbear Designs helped restore this 1908 Victorian triplex located on the vibrant West Grace St section of Richmond's Fan District SCOPE OF WORK - New / upgraded kitchens with new cabinets, new tile, and granite countertops - New / upgraded bathrooms with new tile and fixtures - Complete renovation of 2-level exterior rear porch - Interior painting of all units - Designer light fixtures and ceiling fans - Buffed hardwood floors - New air conditioning systems (3) for high efficiency - Updated boiler system for higher efficiency and better radiant heat - Added off street parking space