AFGHANI NOMADIC MAIMANA KILIM 8'8X13'7, MADE IN AFGHANISTAN
Large minimalist home design photo in Los Angeles

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.

Want an HGTV Styled Room? Get an Accent Wall If you’re moving into a new apartment/home or you’re finally getting to that laundry list of renovations; here’s one statement piece that will set your place apart from the rest: an accent wall. An accent wall is simply a wall that features a color that's different from the rest of the walls. It could be a green wall along the sea of beige walls or a peach wall amongst a palette of white walls. It serves as an eye-opener for guests entering the room, delivering an upbeat, fresh tone in your house. Still need more convincing on why you need an accent wall? Here's a list of how accent walls are an absolute game-changer for your place: It gives your room personality. This rule is pretty straightforward. Add a bright or even neutral color to just one wall, and it will make any room pop. The key is to select colors that play up a specific area in your home. If you have a girl nursery room, you can paint one wall cotton candy pink to highlight the plush toys and brightly colored crib. To make your office space look more "official," emphasize your creative zone with a black, front-facing accent wall that shows off your flashy accessories and computers while giving you the perfect color to concentrate in. It modernizes your place without serious renovations. Since most homes typically have similarly painted walls and tones, and accent wall gives off a modern, almost futuristic vibe. Accent walls naturally draw in our eyes, and its color distinction causes objects in the room to take a unique form. Instead of budgeting funds for new furniture, hone in a cool bohemian look with a cinnamon brown accent wall. To play up the bohemian vibes, you can add wooden accessories like tables, picture frames, vases, or compliment the brown with some colorful green houseplants! Accent walls also work as an accessory. Living in a minimalist space? No problem! An accent wall with a bright, unique hue will doll up your area without you having to add more objects. A burnt orange accent wall is the perfect look for a living room space accompanied by a tall plant, rug, sofa, and coffee table. The burnt orange opens up the room, drawing all eyes to the playful contrast of the plant’s green against the orange while balancing the place out with a neutral rug and a wooden coffee table to play up earthy tones. People will think you spent all day decorating your room when in reality you only painted one wall. You can manipulate your room to look bigger or smaller. Accent walls have a science behind them depending on what color palette you select. If you’re rooming in a small space, to make it look bigger use bright colors like lemon yellow or French roses pink to make your room more reflective, maximizing all the natural light coming in. This will leave your room feeling open and breezy. On the contrast, if you are stuck with too much space, or want to minimize a corner as a small reading nook, use dark colors like seaweed green to absorb light and tighten up the space. Hopefully, this list was able to get you excited to kick-off your new (or next set) of accent walls. Feel free to marathon HGTV while you paint or wait for the painters to arrive. Stay tuned for future pieces on how to accentuate and best practices for painting!

Location: Alamo, CA, USA When we hear about two interior designers collaborating on a project, we typically think of a massive-scale project like a boutique hotel or some not-to-be-named celebrity’s home. Not so for this project, a sunny poolside cabana in Walnut Creek, California. Former colleagues and friends, Heather Lund of Heather Lund Interior Design and Ania Omski-Talwar of Ania Omski-Talwar Interior Design, teamed up to transform this small space into a majority entertaining spot. Project featured on Ruemag.com, click here to read more > http://ruemag.com/home-tour-2/rooms-we-love/a-napa-inspired-poolside-cabana-for-parties Photographed by: Michael Alan Kaskel

The Main Stay House exists as a straightforward proposal on an urban infill lot, paring down the components of a house to a minimal amount of planes and openings. The scheme is anchored by a modern entry sequence and a staircase volume, both clad in iron spot masonry externally and internally, creating thresholds between the respective realms of public, common and private, by minimal means. The masonry contrasts with an otherwise muted interior atmosphere of smooth, desaturated surfaces. The entry sequence is a twist upon the conventional domestic front door, front facade, and fence. The front masonry wall replaces the typical residential fence and frames an indirect access to the front door, functioning as a privacy barrier while revealing slices of the interior to the public street. The staircase bifurcates the layout to provide a clear division between the common and private zones of the house, while clearly reading as a mass from all outside view. Brick and glass become portals between common and private zones. The design consolidates the service core along the west façade, allowing the structure to fully open the living zone to the pool court and existing trees. This directly connects interior and exterior, as well as human and nature. Freedom to vary the program or functional use of the area is enabled and strongly encouraged. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

Master bedrooms in Paris apartments are designed to be elegant and comfortable retreats for residents. They are typically spacious and airy, with a blend of classic and contemporary decor. These rooms emphasize comfort, with plush seating areas, cozy reading nooks, and ample storage space. Many master bedrooms also feature luxurious en-suite bathrooms. Overall, master bedrooms in Paris apartments offer a luxurious and welcoming space for residents to relax and unwind.

Most trees have leaves that will change colours every time the seasons change. This means that you may see changes three to four times a year depending on where you live. However, they will typically retain some measure of green colouring on their leaves until fall rolls around. During the fall season, trees explode with bright reds, oranges, and vibrant yellows. This is a natural part of their growth and hibernation process. However, if you see these colours in the offseason, it may be a sign that there is a problem. Below, Five Star Tree Services discusses why your leaves may be yellow during the summer and what you can do about it. Should Leaves Turn Yellow in the Summer? If your trees have yellow leaves in the summer, it is a sign that it is suffering from disease, or having a problem with its growth cycle. Having your trees inspected periodically by a trained professional will help you catch problems early. If your trees already have yellow leaves in the offseason, they can identify the cause and suggest a solution. When diagnosed early, suggested treatments can help save the tree. Keep reading for some common causes of yellowing leaves. Improper Watering One of the most common reasons trees start to develop yellow leaves in the summer is due to dehydration. Checking the soil moisture levels will help determine if your trees are getting enough water. Hydration is important all year long, but especially crucial during the hot summer months. If there are dry areas around your tree trunk, it is a good idea to partake in deep root watering to help keep your trees healthy and well-watered. Make sure that you don’t overwater your trees because flooding their roots can also be unhealthy. Lacking Nutrition Just like people, trees need to get the right blend of nutrients in order to remain healthy. If your tree has yellow leaves in the summer and is also getting enough water, chances are it is not getting the nutrients it needs from the soil. If soil testing shows low levels of nutrients, it is a good idea to schedule a deep root fertilization treatment to adjust the levels. In many instances, correcting the soil will help you save the tree. Insect or Pest Infestation Yellow summer leaves are also a sign that a tree has been infested with pests. Some pest is only active in the summer. Some of the most common are: Emerald Ash Borer Asian Long-Horned Beetle Yellownecked Caterpillar Ash Flower Gall Bronze Birch Borer Apple-and-Thorn Skeletonizer Eastern Tent Caterpillar Birch Leafminer Fall Webworm Gypsy Moth And many others The first thing you should do is call an arborist to have the tree inspected. They will be able to identify the root of the problem and formulate a solution to treat the pest infestation. This will help you get rid of the bugs once and for all and save your tree in the process. How We Can Help If you have noticed that one of your trees have begun to develop yellow leaves, give Five Star Tree Services a call as soon as possible. We have been providing tree care services in Toronto for over 10 years. Our skilled arborist would be more than happy to evaluate your tree and suggest a solution to treat the problem, so don’t wait. Contact us at (416) 990-3355 today!

Craftsman house plan - 444-21 from Houseplans.com Questions? Call us at 1-800-913-2350 Photographs may show modified designs. All images are copyrighted. Plan 444-21 2 beds 2.00 baths 75' wide 29' deep × Plans Main Floor Plan Reverse Upper Floor Plan Reverse Specifications Plan Styles Cottage Craftsman Area Porch Sq Ft 131 sq ft Main Floor Sq Ft 1278 sq ft Basement Sq Ft 1298 sq ft Garage Sq Ft 521 sq ft Garage Front Entry Garage Outdoor Spaces Covered Front Porch Breezeway Code Irc 2006 Basic Features Potential Bedrooms 3 Stories 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 2.00 Garage Stalls 2 Dimension Depth 29' Width 75' Height 17' Exterior Wall Framing Insulation 15 Framing 2"x4" Wind Rating 90 Seismic Rating C Exterior Wall Finish board and batten Ceiling Main Ceiling Ft 8' Garage Ceiling Ft 10' Bedroom Features Main Floor Bed Bath Main Floor Master Bed Bath Walk In Closet Structural Foundation Drawing More Suited For Vacation Home Wheelchair Adaptable Economical To Build Roof Roof Type Asphalt Roof Framing Trusses Roof Load 67 Primary Pitch 5:12 Additional Rooms Great Room Living Room Unfinished Future Space Main Floor Laundry Den Office Study Computer Kitchen Features Walk In Pantry Cabinet Pantry Nook Breakfast Area Dining Pricing Plan Set Price PDF Set $885.00 Reproducible Set $885.00 5 Copy Set $935.00 CAD Set $1645.00 Single Set $635.00 PDF Study Set $1270.00 Foundation Price Basement +$0.00 Additional Construction Sets $40.00/each Mirror Reverse Sets $0.00/each Right-Reading Reverse $150.00 Material List $100.00 The Single Set and PDF Study Set are typically stamped "Not for Construction" and are to be used for studying / obtaining bids only. We do offer a 90% credit when you upgrade from a Single Set to a 5-Copy set (or greater). Additional copies can be ordered at the time of purchase and within 90 days after your original purchase date. Plan Content All plans are drawn at ¼” scale or larger and include : Foundation Plan: Drawn to 1/4" scale, this page shows all necessary

When homeowners Garry and Sherry bought their 1799 farmhouse in Lancaster, they prepared themselves for many years of renovation: 28 years, to be exact. They gradually tackled inside projects like the master bath, basement, a recent kitchen remodel and even an office-turned-Irish pub. During one painfully hot summer, they installed a pool that became their go-to for summer entertainment and parties. Now, Garry and Sherry’s four children have grown and the couple has found free time in not devoting their days to hockey, volleyball and softball games. So several years ago, they decided to take on the outdoor space. The couple contacted Bobby Kenyon and Adrian Kapp of C.E. Pontz (www.cepontzsons.com) to create a design that would blend with the rustic look of their farmhouse. They hoped to increase the amount of entertaining space by enlarging the patio area and adding a pavilion and outdoor kitchen. Another must-have was a covered area that could ensure the party would not end even if the weather would not cooperate. After brainstorming with Bobby and Adrian, they decided to include a gas fireplace, an outdoor television in the pavilion, and a Kegerator in the kitchen. For the outdoor overhaul, C.E. Pontz began by adding two separate patios of flagstone and natural stone that combine to a total area of 1,100 square feet. They laid large stone slabs to create a walkway connecting the kitchen and living area. For sunny days, C.E. Pontz installed an outdoor kitchen complete with granite countertops, sink, gas burner, grill and storage area. A pergola above the grill offers shade to whomever is tending the tongs that night. Sherry said that having an outdoor kitchen has made entertaining a time for sharing and enjoying food rather than preparing and serving it. When their indoor kitchen was being remodeled last summer, the family prepared nearly all of their meals outdoors, from eggs at breakfast to pasta at dinner. And they still love the summer staple of anything with grill marks. Because the perfect addition to charred meats and veggies is usually a cold draft, C.E. Pontz completed the kitchen with a Kegerator, placed conveniently in arm’s reach of the guest seating. Across the walkway and above the adjoining stone patio, C.E. Pontz built a 16- by 20-foot pavilion, or, essentially, a living room under the trees. A fan hanging from the vaulted ceiling keeps guests cool while they lounge in plush wicker chairs, watching television. Sherry and Garry furnished the space with dark wicker seating from Wicker Imports in Lancaster (www.wickerimportsonline.com). They added pillows and cushions in earth-toned patterns for extra comfort and color. To keep the space alive after the sun sets, they decorated with lots of candles as well as copper lighting that Garry, having an electrical background, installed himself. Plus, C.E. Pontz constructed a gas-fed stone fireplace just outside the pavilion that illuminates the living area and provides a cozy warmth in colder months. Garry, who has a green thumb according to his wife, sets out 18 to 20 large planters around the pool and patio in the summer. These complement the roses, nandina and various grasses that C.E. Pontz used to landscape around the patios. In spring, the couple works to beautify the beds so that in summer, they simply need to water the plants and enjoy the flora. “It is truly an outdoor oasis that we utilize during the warm months and are sorry to see closed during the winter months,” Sherry says. After nearly thirty years of transformation, their 217-year-old home is the entertaining hot spot for friends, family and grandkids. Fun Facts: A Kegerator? Simpler than it sounds, a Kegerator is a dispensing device connected to a keg (typically of beer) that is kept in a refrigerated container. It maintains the quality of the beer for longer periods of time, even for several months. Approximately 60 tons of stone base material were used for this project. Two patios were added that combined a total area of 1,100 square feet of natural flagstone. This landscape features about 18,000 pounds of flagstone. This article appears in the April 2016 issue of Susquehanna Style Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Susquehanna Style » http://www.susquehannastyle.com/April-2016/Historic-Hot-Spot/

This remodel updates a typical 1960’s design that was dark and enclosed by raising windows and doors, removing low eaves and interior partitions that blocked views to the outside. The ceiling is sandblasted, interior dividers are taken out, and bathrooms are enlarged and updated.

The farmhouse design is well-suited for multi-family houses plus apartment buildings with sloping sides. Their distinct design helps them create an eye-catching appearance, and the spacious porch welcomes guests and hosts inside. The modern cottage's main-floor layout flaunts a spacious and elegantly designed formal living area connected to a large back porch and an inviting fireplace to keep you warm in the winter. This room features a reading area with an office area with storage and a deck, a well-equipped kitchen with a modern counter, a complimentary breakfast point off the butler's kitchen, and a sun porch with a fireplace. The kitchen is connected to the laundry room, and the mudroom has a garage, which has 3 cars. In addition, the powder room and a mudroom are located on the lower level. This luxurious luxury home's interior includes living rooms with games, a fitness center, a half bath, and storage space. The upstairs level of the home features a master bedroom with a modern master bathroom with typical amenities and an assortment of bedrooms offering a private bathroom with closets and private alcoves. Each bedroom has a gorgeous walk-in closet. The spacious five-bedroom, four-bathroom bungalow-style house is intended for everyone to enjoy time together.

Bathroom renovations vary widely in scope and budget. You can renovate a small powder room for only a few thousand dollars while a luxury master bathroom may equal the cost of a mid-sized kitchen renovation. With all this to consider, my bathroom clients typically call with a specific issue in mind. Sometimes it’s a dire insurance claim, but mostly, it’s just the everyday frustrations of using an old bathroom. Among my clients, I’ve found four main bathroom problems that drive them to renovate… Read the full article on our website if you’re experiencing problems with your project. Use the QR code or link below! https://mayflowerva.com/bathroom-problems-renovate-or-not/

The farmhouse design is well-suited for multi-family houses plus apartment buildings with sloping sides. Their distinct design helps them create an eye-catching appearance, and the spacious porch welcomes guests and hosts inside. The modern cottage's main-floor layout flaunts a spacious and elegantly designed formal living area connected to a large back porch and an inviting fireplace to keep you warm in the winter. This room features a reading area with an office area with storage and a deck, a well-equipped kitchen with a modern counter, a complimentary breakfast point off the butler's kitchen, and a sun porch with a fireplace. The kitchen is connected to the laundry room, and the mudroom has a garage, which has 3 cars. In addition, the powder room and a mudroom are located on the lower level. This luxurious luxury home's interior includes living rooms with games, a fitness center, a half bath, and storage space. The upstairs level of the home features a master bedroom with a modern master bathroom with typical amenities and an assortment of bedrooms offering a private bathroom with closets and private alcoves. Each bedroom has a gorgeous walk-in closet. The spacious five-bedroom, four-bathroom bungalow-style house is intended for everyone to enjoy time together.

We loved this project! The transformation was incredible. Our client came to us asking for a master bedroom that created a space for them to retreat to at the end of a very busy day. They moved into this beautiful estate overlooking a Connecticut vineyard that yearned for a design to compliment the architecture of the home, yet personalize the transitional taste of this young couple. We wanted to bring them elements that included clean lines with some updated tradition. Gray has been the new neutral in design lately but to set it aside from the typical use of this hue, a favorite by many today, we added a touch of gold for warmth and elegance. The client's desire for a place to read and relax allowed for a seating area where they can transition to a doorway that leads them out to a beautiful stone veranda. We are excited as they are able to enjoy the start of a beautiful home redesign with a space that starts and ends their day in understated luxury. Custom designed by Hartley and Hill Design. All materials and furnishings in this space are available through Hartley and Hill Design. www.hartleyandhilldesign.com 888-639-0639

This home for a family of four in Houston Heights nods to the neighborhood’s historic bungalows with oversized 'clapboard' siding and a gable roof form with a distinctly modern reinterpretation. Two mature live oak trees at the front of the site provide a shaded canopy upon entry. The volume of the building tapers slightly from the peak at the center of the site to the primary bedroom at the front of the home where a large window at the foot of the bed frames a view of the tree canopy. Spaces are carved away from the overall volume in order to bring outdoor space into the interior of the home. In addition to the porches at the front and back of the house that are typical to most homes, each bedroom also opens to a generous private patio recessed within the building’s volume. An interior atrium brings vegetation and natural light into the kitchen and dining spaces while a deep canopy provides shade to a broad opening just outside the living room. At the peak of the gabled roof, a skylight brings daylight into a lofted reading space. The family’s penchant for puzzles inspired the details within the home. Throughout the house, irregularly shaped millwork door panels overlap with adjacent cabinet boxes to create interlocking planes. Staggered gaps in cabinet doors and drawers serve as handles, creating playful patterns. In the Puzzle Room, a custom designed table allows for puzzles in progress to be stored internally until homework is completed.

Children’s waiting room interior design project at Princeton University. I was beyond thrilled when contacted by a team of scientists ( psychologists and neurologists ) at Princeton University. This group of professors and graduate students from the Turk-Brown Laboratory are conducting research on the infant’s brain by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (or fMRI), to see how they learn, remember and think. My job was to turn a tiny 7’x10′ windowless study room into an inviting but not too “clinical” waiting room for the mothers or fathers and siblings of the babies being studied. We needed to ensure a comfortable place for parents to rock and feed their babies while waiting their turn to go back to the laboratory, as well as a place to change the babies if needed. We wanted to stock some shelves with good books and while the room looks complete, we’re still sourcing something interactive to mount to the wall to help entertain toddlers who want something more active than reading or building blocks. Since there are no windows, I wanted to bring the outdoors inside. Princeton University‘s colors are orange, gray and black and the history behind those colors is very interesting. It seems there are a lot of squirrels on campus and these colors were selected for the three colors of squirrels often seem scampering around the university grounds. The orange squirrels are now extinct, but the gray and black squirrels are abundant, as I found when touring the campus with my son on installation day. Therefore we wanted to reflect this history in the room and decided to paint silhouettes of squirrels in these three colors throughout the room. While the ceilings are 10′ high in this tiny room, they’re very drab and boring. Given that it’s a drop ceiling, we can’t paint it a fun color as I typically do in my nurseries and kids’ rooms. To distract from the ugly ceiling, I contacted My Custom Creation through their Etsy shop and commissioned them to create a custom butterfly mobile to suspend from the ceiling to create a swath of butterflies moving across the room. Their customer service was impeccable and the end product was exactly what we wanted! The flooring in the space was simply coated concrete so I decided to use Flor carpet tiles to give it warmth and a grass-like appeal. These tiles are super easy to install and can easily be removed without any residual on the floor. I’ll be using them more often for sure! See more photos of our commercial interior design job below and contact us if you need a unique space designed for children. We don’t just design nurseries and bedrooms! We’re game for anything!

“Full apartment design”. IF you have not yet seen this apartment conversion before, we strongly urge you to go to the bottom left of this page and click on the short 2-minutes video. It would put a lot of things into perspective when you come back and continue reading this. It is true we were literally handed the keys and told a list of things that they wanted to have happen and we were to go into the apartment, look at the space and come up with a design that would satisfy all of that need. UNTIL we showed up! The unit had really seen some better days but we knew we had to look past that and come up with a concept that would work for them. The immediate challenges were centered around 3 big ideas: 1. Adding a second bedroom to the already small footprint 2. Figuring out a way to make the kitchen bigger, better and brighter 3. Creating a master room walk in closet It’s always difficult to add new rooms into existing footprint without expanding out or up and not incurring any opportunity cost. In this case, that was exactly what we had to do. Item one and two above had to be tackled as one. We went ahead and switched out the location of the dining room and eliminating an area where there was a “nook” type eat-in area. By doing so, we were able to cut right into that footprint and change the layout of the kitchen. That one move allowed us to dig into the kitchen design because it was now the main focal point in the apartment. It was no longer an option to keep it in that tiny hole where it was, so we had to ensure that this design was functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. By adding the table into the space where an Island typically would go, we were able to both cut cost and still provide a dining experience. The Table serves as an Island as well when cooking. We then proceeded to block in the existing doorway to the dining room. By doing this, we were able to create a full room which allowed us to put a door on the other side and called that room Bedroom #2. This was easier to do because all of the mechanicals were already in that space (light, heater and windows). By shifting things around, we also achieved a huge wall to wall closet from inside. PERFECT! Then we moved into the Single bedroom. We thought it was a big room with a small closet, so by creatively adding an L shaped wall and steal some footprint into the bedroom side, we were able to put a door on that new room and design it for the walk-in closet. Even after this, the bedroom still holds a queen size bed with 2 night stands, a TV on the wall, a sitting chair and plenty of room to walk around. This was done by rethinking the location for the bed and night stands. The bathroom was gutted to make sure there was no leaks and rebuild from the ground up. We kept all of the plumbing where it was, added a new vanity, medicine cabinet, tiles and lighting and it was done. From there, the rest of the unit had new flooring all throughout, paint, and lighting. After completion and walk through, this project was handed over back to the clients. Execution and collaboration between all the trades were: Reggie and his team from Premier Interiors and Rohan from RD Mechanical Services. p.s. Please see our website to see the video.

This home for a family of four in Houston Heights nods to the neighborhood’s historic bungalows with oversized 'clapboard' siding and a gable roof form with a distinctly modern reinterpretation. Two mature live oak trees at the front of the site provide a shaded canopy upon entry. The volume of the building tapers slightly from the peak at the center of the site to the primary bedroom at the front of the home where a large window at the foot of the bed frames a view of the tree canopy. Spaces are carved away from the overall volume in order to bring outdoor space into the interior of the home. In addition to the porches at the front and back of the house that are typical to most homes, each bedroom also opens to a generous private patio recessed within the building’s volume. An interior atrium brings vegetation and natural light into the kitchen and dining spaces while a deep canopy provides shade to a broad opening just outside the living room. At the peak of the gabled roof, a skylight brings daylight into a lofted reading space. The family’s penchant for puzzles inspired the details within the home. Throughout the house, irregularly shaped millwork door panels overlap with adjacent cabinet boxes to create interlocking planes. Staggered gaps in cabinet doors and drawers serve as handles, creating playful patterns. In the Puzzle Room, a custom designed table allows for puzzles in progress to be stored internally until homework is completed.

Typical of bungalows and city lots, the footprint of this home was narrow with living spaces in front, bedrooms in back and kitchen centrally located. However, unlike most bungalows, the hall running from front to back have been closed off to, presumably, accommodate a walk-in pantry. Couple that with the fact that this circa 1925 bungalow had seen a lot of living – read boisterous children and remodeling trends like z-brick, soffits, and fluorescent overhead lighting – the kitchen was due for a major overhaul. Truly the hub of this house, the modest 11’ x 12’ kitchen was most in need of additional countertop space, convenient garbage/recycle bin, counter-depth refrigerator, storage aids, informal dining for two, and sound-proofing to enable this musically adept family to coexist despite varied schedules. Gone are the wall soffits, boxy overhead lighting, six-foot baseboard heat unit, extra deep refrigerator, refurbished cabinets, laminate countertops, z-brick wall covering, and makeshift door swags. Enter rich mahogany cabinets, roll and pull-out storage units, endcap spice storage, gorgeous granite tops, marble backsplash, LED lighting, acoustic insulation and solid-wood doors. Under the guise of such a handsome room, provisions such as a period style sink allow for more efficient use of corners with pull-out half-moon trays for storage. Redirecting the baseboard heat to a compact, toekick unit, means more cabinet and counter space – perfect for a baking and/or entertaining area removed from the basic work triangle. The eating area, also, doubles as a work station with drawers for office supplies and dedicated outlet for cable tv. Functional yet beautiful, this kitchen is at the ready as its owners look forward to their golden years. Designed by: The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn Photography by: Dawn Jackman For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com URL http://www.kitchenstudio-ge.com