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The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but the dining room is where the family gathers to enjoy special occasions, create and pass on traditions, and savour each other’s company free from distractions. The family behind this particular dining room enjoys doing just that.
When they are not traveling the world, Matthew and Anna (names changed) love to cook meals at home with their teenage daughter, entertain family and friends, and live amongst their cherished travel souvenirs and heirlooms. Their dining room, however, was far from the perfect backdrop for these experiences.
Before: Dining Room:
When Matthew and Anna contacted us, they imagined a space that would comfortably seat 8 to 10 people and incorporate their beautiful inherited dining table and sideboard in a fresh, modern way. Above all, they wanted a dining room that they would feel proud to share.
They worked with us to design, lightly renovate, and furnish their dining room and adjacent living space. Now, the room is nothing short of inviting and elevated.
Classic Yet Contemporary Dining Room:
Viewed from the living area, the dining room is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Matthew and Anna wanted dark blue for the walls, and we couldn’t have been happier to find the perfect shade for them. By leaning darker, this rich blue creates the perception of depth, making the room feel enticing, comfortable and secluded.
The previous built-ins were underwhelming and lacked function, so we designed wider, taller, double sided cabinets that integrated the existing bulk-head, and then accessorized the shelves with the family’s travel finds, books, and decor. Topping these units with brass art lights not only blends contemporary and traditional styles, it also draws attention to the dining table’s modern show-stopping chandelier. You can’t miss it.
Inside the dining room, the effect is equally impressive: enveloping yet spacious, warm yet cool, classic yet contemporary. We incorporated their heirloom pieces seamlessly into the design thanks to the 1:2 ratio. For every traditional piece, we introduced two more modern or contemporary pieces — clean lines, subtle curves, and lustrous brass hardware. The result is a collected yet updated look.
In any room with dark walls, lighting is of the utmost importance. We placed a mirror adjacent to the window to reflect natural light throughout the room, and we kept the trim and ceiling white for brightness. To provide maximum versatility, we provided multiple light sources that can be adjusted to create different levels of light to suit any mood or occasion. These include: pot lights and a chandelier on dimmers, a sculptural trilight lamp on the sideboard, and art lights on the bookcases and above important art pieces.
The built-ins have another surprise waiting inside this special dining room:
Double-sided built-ins: dining room shelving and living room shelving.
Rather than keep them white like we did in the living room, we painted the back wall of the book cases the same dark blue as the walls in the rest of the room. This reduces the contrast with the surrounding walls and emphasizes the white outline of the cabinets. We also love the dark blue walls’ role as a beautiful backdrop for this family’s treasures. The brass accessories and hand-painted vases and bowls feel like part of the experience.
Of course, what is beauty without function? It may not look like it, but the base storage is only accessible from the dining room side. The units include deep cabinets for storing serving ware, as well as another delightful surprise: silverware drawers lined in luxurious navy velvet!
Lastly, we designed this beautiful nook for their heirloom sideboard. From afar, the wall looks as if it has texture and perhaps a touch of shine. Up close, you will notice that it is actually navy blue wallpaper with tiny golden dots. This unique touch accentuates the brass in the room touches throughout the space.. The room feels curated, contemporary, and full of character.
Words of Praise:
Anna and Matthew were thrilled with their new dining room and with the design process itself, which is always the highest compliment. They said:
“Working with Lori and her team at Simply Home Decorating was a great experience. The design they came up with was both beautiful and practical for our family. Renovations can be stressful but working with Simply Home made the process much more pleasant.
“Simply Home's project management and their longstanding relationships with reliable trades meant we could relax, knowing that everything was taken care of. If an issue arose, the entire Simply Home team was quick to address it. They were excellent at communicating with us—we never felt like we didn't know what was going on. We would highly recommend working with Simply Home Decorating.”
Thank you, Matthew and Anna! We are honoured to have been part of your journey and wish your family many happy memories in these new spaces.
Now, is it your turn? Are you ready to uncover the hidden potential in your home? If so, contact us here to start the conversation or download my guide Uncovering the Hidden Potential in Your Home below to learn more about what we can do for you.
Find the right local pro for your project

Terran Landscapes http://www.terranlandscapes.com
Project Entry: Fishers Woodland Garden
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Theme Garden $15,000-$30,000
Award Level: Bronze
Photo Description:
We were contracted by the client to design a calming space for their staff to relax, take a walk, and enjoy a leisurely lunch as well as to provide their grandchildren a place to run and pick flowers. The space was originally dominated by large trees and had been overgrown with ivy, sumac and aggressive vines, providing an unwelcome, dark space with little color or visual appeal. The client requested a colorful blend of shrubs and perennials that would provide interest throughout the seasons, as well as provide privacy by screening the street traffic along Carisbrooke Road.
Our goal was to create the privacy screen along the road by layering plants from the ground to the tree canopy. The theme was to let nature inspire the landscape, allowing a space that was originally woodland to become an enhanced version of itself, creating a beautiful habitat for birds and butterflies to excite the senses and satisfy all who enjoy the beauty of nature.
We began by clearing the brush and removing all aggressive vines and ivy that jeopardized the health of the trees. We kept and transplanted all non- invasive or native plant material in the area to various locations throughout the property. Several yards of compost were then tilled into the soil and the existing trees fertilized to provide a rich growing environment.
A few challenges occurred during the design process. It was decided that a new generator was to be installed in the woodland and due to a future addition to the house, we were forced to eliminate planned additional impervious pathway surfaces. We provided screening to hide the generator and buffer the noise, and created a meandering path and sitting area out of natural woodchips instead of the proposed bluestone to solve the impervious space issue. The woodchips add a sense of informality and invite the viewer to walk slowly through the space. The reduced noise from the additional screening of the generator allows for quiet reflection as chipmunks scurry and hummingbirds dart about between the flowers.
Our plant palette consists of shady understory plants that thrive and flower vigorously from spring through fall. A tall, lush, evergreen backdrop of Ilex opaca and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ provides the screening and blends into a middle layer of ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood, hydrangeas and winterberry hollies. Beautiful perennials and groundcovers bloom along the woodland path, providing a low visual layer of color and texture. Movement throughout the garden is provided by the graceful Calamagrostis brachytricha and Hakenchloa that soften the nearby hardscaping. The woodland floor is full of shade-loving Solomon’s seal, hosta, astilbe, ferns, bleeding heart, Tiarella and Aconitum.
The street side of this woodland required plants with a preference for a little more sun and drought tolerance. A palette of oakleaf hydrangea, Agastache, Liatris and Rudbeckia softens the fence line and provides the desired color.
As designed and installed, the woodland garden successfully provides the client’s family and office staff a quiet space where they can take a peaceful moment and enjoy nature.
Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

DUETTE® Honeycomb Shades
The Original Energy-Efficient Honeycomb Shade
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Duette® Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
Key Features
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Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Duette shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
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Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, the Duette Vertiglide™ operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack Vertiglide shade, with each side operating independently.
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LNG Blinds
19 Addison Pl
Valley Stream, NY 11580
Call Us (516) 593-0044
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The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

The new owners of this house in Harvard, Massachusetts loved its location and authentic Shaker characteristics, but weren’t fans of its curious layout. A dated first-floor full bathroom could only be accessed by going up a few steps to a landing, opening the bathroom door and then going down the same number of steps to enter the room. The dark kitchen faced the driveway to the north, rather than the bucolic backyard fields to the south. The dining space felt more like an enlarged hall and could only comfortably seat four. Upstairs, a den/office had a woefully low ceiling; the master bedroom had limited storage, and a sad full bathroom featured a cramped shower.
KHS proposed a number of changes to create an updated home where the owners could enjoy cooking, entertaining, and being connected to the outdoors from the first-floor living spaces, while also experiencing more inviting and more functional private spaces upstairs.
On the first floor, the primary change was to capture space that had been part of an upper-level screen porch and convert it to interior space. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the remaining lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from it to the newly expanded interior. New patio door systems now fill the arched openings that used to be infilled with screen. The exterior interventions (which also included some new casement windows in the dining area) were designed to be subtle, while affording significant improvements on the interior. Additionally, the first-floor bathroom was reconfigured, shifting one of its walls to widen the dining space, and moving the entrance to the bathroom from the stair landing to the kitchen instead.
These changes (which involved significant structural interventions) resulted in a much more open space to accommodate a new kitchen with a view of the lush backyard and a new dining space defined by a new built-in banquette that comfortably seats six, and -- with the addition of a table extension -- up to eight people.
Upstairs in the den/office, replacing the low, board ceiling with a raised, plaster, tray ceiling that springs from above the original board-finish walls – newly painted a light color -- created a much more inviting, bright, and expansive space. Re-configuring the master bath to accommodate a larger shower and adding built-in storage cabinets in the master bedroom improved comfort and function. A new whole-house color palette rounds out the improvements.
Photos by Katie Hutchison

Terran Landscapes http://www.terranlandscapes.com
Project Entry: Fishers Woodland Garden
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Theme Garden $15,000-$30,000
Award Level: Bronze
Photo Description:
We were contracted by the client to design a calming space for their staff to relax, take a walk, and enjoy a leisurely lunch as well as to provide their grandchildren a place to run and pick flowers. The space was originally dominated by large trees and had been overgrown with ivy, sumac and aggressive vines, providing an unwelcome, dark space with little color or visual appeal. The client requested a colorful blend of shrubs and perennials that would provide interest throughout the seasons, as well as provide privacy by screening the street traffic along Carisbrooke Road.
Our goal was to create the privacy screen along the road by layering plants from the ground to the tree canopy. The theme was to let nature inspire the landscape, allowing a space that was originally woodland to become an enhanced version of itself, creating a beautiful habitat for birds and butterflies to excite the senses and satisfy all who enjoy the beauty of nature.
We began by clearing the brush and removing all aggressive vines and ivy that jeopardized the health of the trees. We kept and transplanted all non- invasive or native plant material in the area to various locations throughout the property. Several yards of compost were then tilled into the soil and the existing trees fertilized to provide a rich growing environment.
A few challenges occurred during the design process. It was decided that a new generator was to be installed in the woodland and due to a future addition to the house, we were forced to eliminate planned additional impervious pathway surfaces. We provided screening to hide the generator and buffer the noise, and created a meandering path and sitting area out of natural woodchips instead of the proposed bluestone to solve the impervious space issue. The woodchips add a sense of informality and invite the viewer to walk slowly through the space. The reduced noise from the additional screening of the generator allows for quiet reflection as chipmunks scurry and hummingbirds dart about between the flowers.
Our plant palette consists of shady understory plants that thrive and flower vigorously from spring through fall. A tall, lush, evergreen backdrop of Ilex opaca and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ provides the screening and blends into a middle layer of ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood, hydrangeas and winterberry hollies. Beautiful perennials and groundcovers bloom along the woodland path, providing a low visual layer of color and texture. Movement throughout the garden is provided by the graceful Calamagrostis brachytricha and Hakenchloa that soften the nearby hardscaping. The woodland floor is full of shade-loving Solomon’s seal, hosta, astilbe, ferns, bleeding heart, Tiarella and Aconitum.
The street side of this woodland required plants with a preference for a little more sun and drought tolerance. A palette of oakleaf hydrangea, Agastache, Liatris and Rudbeckia softens the fence line and provides the desired color.
As designed and installed, the woodland garden successfully provides the client’s family and office staff a quiet space where they can take a peaceful moment and enjoy nature.
Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

Located in the picturesque Portsmouth, this private residence truly embraces its location, capturing views from every angle plus allowing air to enter and keeping the interiors cool during summer months. Numerous doors and windows make the home appear as though its inhabitants are a natural part of their surroundings—as is the home.
The design team needed to source screens for the doors and windows that would let in the fresh air without blocking the stunning beachfront views. The selected mesh type – Phifer’s 18/14 insect mesh in charcoal color – offers great visibility to the outside, lets in the breeze, and keeps the insects from entering the home.
The resulting cross ventilation is used to reduce the need for air conditioning in summer by letting cool air into the home during the breezier morning and evening hours. During cool days or in the spring or fall, air conditioning dependence is now virtually eliminated by using screens throughout the day.
Integration with design:
The designers selected Legacy door screens and Serene window screens as the best solution for the home`s custom designed Kolbe windows and doors. Professionally installed to match the varying sizes of each opening, the screens retract completely out of sight into their color-matched housings, preserving the look and design of the windows and the doorway. The homeowners chose an exterior mount application so the screens would not interfere with interior shades.
"We chose Phantom screens for our new coastal home due to the fine quality of construction of Phantom’s screens and hardware. In addition, it provided us options to mount the screens on the outside so that we could have our window treatments mounted inside the frame to show off the millwork, plus keep the views. We love them!"
– Debra T., Homeowner

KITCHEN RENOVATION CURRENT CRAFTSMAN
This client started off just being curious about our services - what we could do, and if we could even help her update her kitchen. She and her husband with their two teenage kids have lived in their home for several years without updating anything since the house was originally built. They didn’t quite have a budget in mind yet. They didn’t know their style, or even if they had one. Their timeline was simple, “as fast as you can so we’re not without a kitchen for very long” (usually what we hear for kitchen updates).
After a very productive consultation: determining the scope of work and zeroing in on a budget, I was very excited to update this underwhelming space to something that is modern but timeless, something that is theirs. And, it was easy to see what type of design style they gravitated toward looking at the pieces they already own: Craftsman/Prairie Style. I left the meeting so excited to weave in yet another genre of design to my CDG portfolio! We circled in our contractor to discuss the changes they were looking to make and the scope of work that would be theirs. Then I was off to get designing:
// Because the kitchen’s footprint and the defined breakfast space delineated by the bay, we kept the perimeter cabinetry as it was originally laid out. We updated these cabinets to a beautiful soft Alabaster White with a Barn Wood Glaze to highlight the simplicity of the shaker style doors. We added transom cabinets above the uppers, with only the back wall having seeded glass inserts to highlight some of their collectables.
// The original shaped island was counter-productive (See what I did there?) in functionality and design. We squared this off to reduce some of the angles and gain more storage. We highlighted the new island with a contrasting oak cabinet in a dark finish, to pay our respects to the craftsman style, and topped with a concrete-like countertop as a nod to the Prairie Style, allowing the homeowners to gain two extra seats and a massive -uninterrupted- work surface.
// The small section of cabinetry between the garage entry and fridge now is the perfect dump-station for mail, electronics, whatever is in their hands when they come into the house; and completely hidden by the refrigerator.
// The disconnected cabinetry in the breakfast area makes for a great place to have a working office. Accessible from the kitchen or the adjacent great room, this is the perfect place for the kids to do their homework while mom and dad are putting together dinner. The base cabinets are built out for office-type storage: paper and pencil drawers, filing systems, and cord management. Additionally, the long counter provides a ton of worksurface to spread out.
// The largest transformation was the pantry. We raised the height of the doorway and added huge custom designed bypass sliding barndoors. Finished with a dark stain to compliment the island and cut to inset 4 stained glass windows, typical of this style of design, and driving home the concept for the whole space.
// They were desperate to replace their flooring with something extremely durable to flow throughout the kitchen and the whole main level. This beautiful new flooring is actually a textured LVT(!) Which allowed them to save on overall cost and extend the life of their new flooring purchase.
// They loved their copper table, so we kept it and added new simple, mid-century modern chairs around it and a shiny new craftsman-style chandelier above. We added bright barstools in a burnt orange-red accent, and a bright woven rug to tie it all together.
// Because the kitchen renovation was shaping up to be pretty spectacular, they decided they needed to now replace their ‘now-these-look-a-little-too-old’ upholstered seating in the neighboring great room with 2 new sofas. We found the perfect sage-y-grey fabric which we covered on sofa frames that have and exposed oak-wood base, which we finished in a warm weathered grey.
// As every designer knows, a room isn’t finished until there’s something on the windows. Now that the new flooring was installed and every other room on the main level ‘seemed’ to be updated, we needed to update the window treatments in the dining, and great rooms to reflect their new design concept.
I hope you find the ‘after’ photos refreshing (as refreshing as it was for me to work on something that’s not a “Farm House” style that’s saturating the industry right now!) This was such a fun project and a great collaboration with our contractor.

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

KITCHEN RENOVATION CURRENT CRAFTSMAN
This client started off just being curious about our services - what we could do, and if we could even help her update her kitchen. She and her husband with their two teenage kids have lived in their home for several years without updating anything since the house was originally built. They didn’t quite have a budget in mind yet. They didn’t know their style, or even if they had one. Their timeline was simple, “as fast as you can so we’re not without a kitchen for very long” (usually what we hear for kitchen updates).
After a very productive consultation: determining the scope of work and zeroing in on a budget, I was very excited to update this underwhelming space to something that is modern but timeless, something that is theirs. And, it was easy to see what type of design style they gravitated toward looking at the pieces they already own: Craftsman/Prairie Style. I left the meeting so excited to weave in yet another genre of design to my CDG portfolio! We circled in our contractor to discuss the changes they were looking to make and the scope of work that would be theirs. Then I was off to get designing:
// Because the kitchen’s footprint and the defined breakfast space delineated by the bay, we kept the perimeter cabinetry as it was originally laid out. We updated these cabinets to a beautiful soft Alabaster White with a Barn Wood Glaze to highlight the simplicity of the shaker style doors. We added transom cabinets above the uppers, with only the back wall having seeded glass inserts to highlight some of their collectables.
// The original shaped island was counter-productive (See what I did there?) in functionality and design. We squared this off to reduce some of the angles and gain more storage. We highlighted the new island with a contrasting oak cabinet in a dark finish, to pay our respects to the craftsman style, and topped with a concrete-like countertop as a nod to the Prairie Style, allowing the homeowners to gain two extra seats and a massive -uninterrupted- work surface.
// The small section of cabinetry between the garage entry and fridge now is the perfect dump-station for mail, electronics, whatever is in their hands when they come into the house; and completely hidden by the refrigerator.
// The disconnected cabinetry in the breakfast area makes for a great place to have a working office. Accessible from the kitchen or the adjacent great room, this is the perfect place for the kids to do their homework while mom and dad are putting together dinner. The base cabinets are built out for office-type storage: paper and pencil drawers, filing systems, and cord management. Additionally, the long counter provides a ton of worksurface to spread out.
// The largest transformation was the pantry. We raised the height of the doorway and added huge custom designed bypass sliding barndoors. Finished with a dark stain to compliment the island and cut to inset 4 stained glass windows, typical of this style of design, and driving home the concept for the whole space.
// They were desperate to replace their flooring with something extremely durable to flow throughout the kitchen and the whole main level. This beautiful new flooring is actually a textured LVT(!) Which allowed them to save on overall cost and extend the life of their new flooring purchase.
// They loved their copper table, so we kept it and added new simple, mid-century modern chairs around it and a shiny new craftsman-style chandelier above. We added bright barstools in a burnt orange-red accent, and a bright woven rug to tie it all together.
// Because the kitchen renovation was shaping up to be pretty spectacular, they decided they needed to now replace their ‘now-these-look-a-little-too-old’ upholstered seating in the neighboring great room with 2 new sofas. We found the perfect sage-y-grey fabric which we covered on sofa frames that have and exposed oak-wood base, which we finished in a warm weathered grey.
// As every designer knows, a room isn’t finished until there’s something on the windows. Now that the new flooring was installed and every other room on the main level ‘seemed’ to be updated, we needed to update the window treatments in the dining, and great rooms to reflect their new design concept.
I hope you find the ‘after’ photos refreshing (as refreshing as it was for me to work on something that’s not a “Farm House” style that’s saturating the industry right now!) This was such a fun project and a great collaboration with our contractor.

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Window Treatment – Honeycomb Shades
An innovative window treatment that looks beautiful and insulates your home all year round, Honeycomb Shades were the first cellular shades, specially engineered to provide energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their specially engineered honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills.
Decorate every kind of window you have—even tricky skylights and unusually shaped panes—with Duette. Our signature honeycomb shades are one of our most versatile options and beautify every kind of interior.
KEY FEATURES
Premium Design & Style—Explore the richness of texture and warmth offered by Window Fashions Depot ,a thoughtfully curated suite of exclusive design-inspired fabrics, textures, colors and hardware created to meet the expectations of leading designers and discerning consumers who seek the best in design.
Largest Selection in the Industry—Explore the widest selection of cellular pleat sizes, opacities, colors, textures and operating systems. Honeycomb shades can also accommodate many specialty shaped windows, even tricky skylights.
Energy-Efficiency—Studies show that windows are responsible for up to 50% of your home’s energy losses. Honeycomb shades trap air in distinct pockets, creating exceptional insulation. Our latest innovation, features a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design for even greater energy efficiency.
Room Darkening—The Light-Lock system, the newest iteration from this unique shade, is the first operating system of its kind to offer unparalleled darkness. The secret lies within the patent-pending side channel design, optimized to absorb or deflect nearly all incoming light.
Durability—All of our high-performing fabrics are resistant to fading and will maintain their crisp, neat pleats over time.
Vertical Application—For doors that need extra insulation, operating system is the ideal option. It’s designed for vertical applications and uses the same fabrics as your horizontal Duette shades. Use one shade to cover the entire expanse of a sliding door, or, cover the door with a split stack.
Sound Absorption—Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. Honeycomb Shades absorb up to 70% of sound energy, creating a more quiet, tranquil room.
Window Fashions Depot you will experience a large selection of interior & exterior window fashions; Shutters, Blinds, Shades, Drapery, Drapery Hardware, Specializing in Window Fashions Motorization. The Window Fashions Depot team is proud to share our passion for window coverings with homeowners and businesses alike.
Window Fashions Depot guaranteed the best prices with top quality products on the market!
www.windowfashionsdepot.com
https://www.pinterest.ca/windowfashionsdepot/
https://www.instagram.com/wfdepot/
https://www.facebook.com/WFDEPOT/
https://www.houzz.com/window-fashions-depot
https://homestars.com/companies/2897663-window-fashions-depot

Kitchen, frosted glass, island, white cabinets, windows, stainless steel appliances, wood cabinets, island lighting, glass cabinets, subway tile
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen design in Columbus with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops
Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen design in Columbus with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops
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