Large transitional front door photo in Philadelphia with red walls and a dark wood front door

Jeremy Gantz This major remodel on Lake Champlain involved removing the roof a simple cape and adding another story, creating a substantial home. The corner turret anchors the building and provides great space for a breakfast room, home office and and artist's studio!

The original master bathroom was dated and small, as was the adjoining master bedroom closet. Substantial square footage was gained for the master bath and closet by moving the wall back about 4.5' into the master bedroom. The functionality, beauty and spacious transformation now provides for his and hers sinks, a large, marble shower and a substantial walk-in closet.

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

Robert Vente Photography and Costarella Architects. This award-winning kitchen remodel restored the space to its original character of the classically-inspired craftsman. Substantial set of mahogany doors provides a new connection to the remodeled patio and stairs leading to a shaded sitting area.

Robert Vente Photography and Costarella Architects. This award-winning kitchen remodel restored the space to its original character of the classically-inspired craftsman. Substantial set of mahogany doors provides a new connection to the remodeled patio and stairs leading to a shaded sitting area.

Robert Vente Photography and Costarella Architects. This award-winning kitchen remodel restored the space to its original character of the classically-inspired craftsman. Substantial set of mahogany doors provides a new connection to the remodeled patio and stairs leading to a shaded sitting area.

The master bathroom intentionally features an oversized shower but no tub. The shower which measures approximately 5.5 ft by 3.5ft has massage functions from high-pressure jets. The substantial vanity provides a large counter area and two integrated sinks.

Previous addition was substantially enlarged to create a family room that can be viewed from the kitchen. A fireplace was added for extra character and warmth. The second story was added to provide the home with a master suite, which includes a walk-in closet and sitting area.

Kurtis Miller Photography, kmpics.com Timbered Porch with wooden bed porch swing. Circle sawn roof decking, custom timber truss. All materials provided by Sisson Dupont and Carder. www.sdclogandtimber.com

We love a kitchen transformation because it really impacts a family's lives! This bright and airy kitchen was dark and dated and in desperate need of an upgrade to accommodate a busy family. What used to be a 70s glass block wall is now the dramatic stone backsplash and a new rich blue island brings color and lots of extra storage to the space. We used beautiful custom counter stools to make the island a gathering or work-from-home spot, while the built-in banquette provides a comfortable setting for breakfast. There's a built-in coffee station with a metal mesh panel near the beverage center. We mixed soft brushed brass and matte black metal finishes for the hardware and plumbing.

Robert Vente Photography and Costarella Architects. This award-winning kitchen remodel restored the space to its original character of the classically-inspired craftsman. Substantial set of mahogany doors provides a new connection to the remodeled patio and stairs leading to a shaded sitting area.

Roger Turk Northlight Photography
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Seattle

Shop the Look, See the Photo Tour here: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/search?q=Riverbottoms+remodel Watch the Webisode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFvc6K0dvK3camdK1QewUkZZL9TL9kmgy

A simple iconic design that both meets Passive House requirements and provides a visually striking home for a young family. This house is an example of design and sustainability on a smaller scale. The connection with the outdoor space is central to the design and integrated into the substantial wraparound structure that extends from the front to the back. The extensions provide shelter and invites flow into the backyard. Emphasis is on the family spaces within the home. The combined kitchen, living and dining area is a welcoming space featuring cathedral ceilings and an abundance of light.

One of the most substantial changes involved removing the upper wall between the living room and kitchen to create a peninsula and a more spacious feel. This also provided for additional seating with the creation of a sitting bar and showcased the beautiful new cabinetry that can now be seen from the living room. Final photos by www.impressia.net

A wood-burning fireplace with a pigmented cement plaster fireplace surround and a substantial walnut mantel anchors this light-filled living room in this new custom home. A custom fabricated screen provides the final touch.

This sleek contemporary staircase pairs rich ebony-stained oak with satin black horizontal iron balusters for a striking modern aesthetic. Square oak newels with chamfered tops anchor the design, while thick contemporary oak treads provide substantial footing. The ebony-stained custom handrails tie the dark tones together, creating visual cohesion from bottom to top. The result is a staircase that balances bold contrast with refined simplicity, proving that durable materials and precise craftsmanship create designs that stand the test of time. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Sturdy and substantial, the free-standing patio cover in this Long Beach property provides shade and focus that had been missing for sixty years. Built tough for the long run, this rustic structure will stand the test of time.