A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

Inspiration for a transitional home design remodel in Minneapolis

A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

Photography by Caryn B. Davis Located in the Cornfield Point area of Old Saybrook along Long Island Sound, this project brought a classic, yet forgotten beach house back to life. Through a little detective work and some creative ingenuity, we restored and enhanced the exterior to it’s former glory and transformed the interior to a highly efficient and functional home all the while uplifting its quaint cottage charm. On the exterior, we recreated a wonderful, airy front porch with cozy bench seats that look out to the water. The white cedar shingle siding is pre-bleached with a subtle flair at the bottom and a delicate break at mid-elevation. The asphalt shingles are not only beautifully matched with the siding, but offer superior reflective qualities to dissipate the heat of the summer sun. On the interior, we joined the front seasonal porch with the family room to form a larger, open living and dining space with paneled walls and ceilings anchored by the original round stone fireplace. In the rear, we carefully crafted a galley kitchen and laundry space with an adjacent first floor master suite. The diminutive house and property posed multiple practical and regulatory challenges which were overcome by a strong team effort, due diligence, and a commitment to the process. John R. Schroeder, AIA is a professional design firm specializing in architecture, interiors, and planning. We have over 30 years experience with projects of all types, sizes, and levels of complexity. Because we love what we do, we approach our work with enthusiasm and dedication. We are committed to the highest level of design and service on each and every project. We engage our clients in positive and rewarding collaborations. We strive to exceed expectations through our attention to detail, our understanding of the “big picture”, and our ability to effectively manage a team of design professionals, industry representatives, and building contractors. We carefully analyze budgets and project objectives to assist clients with wise fund allocation. We continually monitor and research advances in technology, materials, and construction methods, both sustainable and otherwise, to provide a responsible, well-suited, and cost effective product. Our design solutions are highly functional using both innovative and traditional approaches. Our aesthetic style is flexible and open, blending cues from client desires, building function, site context, and material properties, making each project unique, personalized, and enduring.

These photos are of a four-year-old Limestone kitchen floor at a property in Boughton that the customer was finding hard to keep clean and maintain a shine. Part of the problem was he owned two dogs and we often warn about the problems of dog urine on sealed tile and stone due to it being high in nitrogen. On my initial visit I was able to ascertain that the sealer had almost completely worn off, leaving the stone vulnerable to dirt becoming ingrained into the pores of the stone. I come across this problem a lot, in my experience when stone floors are installed by tilers, they generally apply a single coat of sealant which wears off over time, and as discussed earlier can be prematurely degraded by strong chemicals. My quote to renovate the Limestone floor was accepted and included a deep clean to the stone and grout, stone polish and then re-seal. I arrived on site on the arranged date and began by scrubbing all the grout lines with Tile Doctor grout brushes and a 3:1 dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. I then moved on to a small handheld polishing machine to clean around the tile edges using 800 and 1500 grit diamond encrusted burnishing pad to achieve a deep clean. The process was then repeated throughout the rest of the area using larger 17” burnishing pads fitted to a floor polishing machine. The burnishing pads I used come in a set of four starting with 400-grit and moving up to 800, 1500 and 3000 grit, after each pad is applied the floor is rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum. It took me much of the day to complete this stage of the renovation and the floor was still damp so once done I left for the day, allowing the floor to dry off overnight. I returned the following day to complete the final polish using the 3000-grit burnishing pad, this gave a high polished finish which the customer had requested. This last pad is applied dry with only a little water splashed onto the tile, a process we call a spray burnish. The floor was then sealed with three applications of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal Sealant to protect the newly restored and polished tiles. Ultra-Seal is a penetrating sealer that soaks into those recently cleaned pores in the stone, occupying the space and preventing any dirt from becoming ingrained there. It’s also a natural look sealer so it doesn’t change the colour of the stone in anyway and is almost indetectable once applied. “Hard work from Philip has left us with a kitchen floor brought back to life – cleaned and sealed in little over 24 hours – brilliant job – Thanks” Before leaving I gave the customer some tips on maintenance and a complimentary bottle of Tile Doctor Stone Soap to enable him to keep the floor looking its best, this product works well with the sealant we applied and is PH neutral so won’t degrade the new sealer. Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

I recently worked on the restoration of a Victorian tiled hallway in Cwmbran Wales which is six miles North of Newport. As you can see from the photographs the floor was in quite a neglected dirty state and many of the the black and white border tiles needed removing and replacing. The worst part was the area by the front door where most of the tiles had been removed and then backfilled with concrete. I can only assume at some point in the past it was deemed to difficult or expensive to restore the floor, so they simply covered it up. After visiting to survey the floor I did offer to source replacements for the concreted section and restore that as part of the work however my client’s budget would not stretch to that at the time. My quote was therefore focused on the main section of flooring and included replacing border tiles, deep cleaning the whole floor and then sealing the tiles to add protection. Although I did need to check that I could indeed source the replacement tiles before being able to provide the quote which as it turned out would not be an issue. They were happy to go ahead and we arranged a suitable time to carry out the work which would enable me to work in the property whilst minimising contact with the owners due to the Covid-19 situation. I spend the first day sorting out the black and white border tiles which needed to be gently prised out of position without upsetting the main part of the floor. The exposed subfloor was then cleaned up to remove old adhesive and replacements were fitted where required and secured into place. The floor would need to be solid before cleaning so that was left for day two so the new adhesive could go off overnight. On day two I gave the floor an initial clean using a combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Remove and Go diluted with water. This produces a strong cleaner/stripper that will tackle dirt and remove coatings such as previous sealers. The old tiles had accumulated years of ingrained dirt, so I needed this extra power to remove the years of dirt and contaminates from the tile. It was sprayed onto the tiles and then left to soak in for ten minutes before being actively scrubbed into the tile using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The soil was then rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was inspected, and the process repeated on the tough stains until I was satisfied all the dirt had been removed. Next the floor was treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel using a similar method as before. This is an important treatment for these old Victorian floors that have no damp proof course as it neutralises efflorescent salts trapped in the tile which can appear as white salt deposits later. Once I was happy with the condition of the floor it was given a final rinse and left to dry off. I use a wet vacuum to remove liquids from the floor and on this last extraction I spent extra time to remove as much moisture from the tiles as possible. I came back a few days later and after checking the tiles were dry using a damp meter, I started the application of the sealer. For this floor I applied seven coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go for a satin finish. Tile Doctor Seal and Go is a specially formulated water-based sealer that provides both stain resistance and a durable low-sheen finish. It is perfect on a floor of this age where it leaves a lovely finish and will remain durable in what is a essentially a high traffic area. Although we didn’t manage to sort out the area by the front door the client managed to fit a made to measure coir door mat along with carpet bar which was quite practical and looked fine so they were able to resolve that problem without blowing their budget. The client was over the moon with results, the floor had a lovely pattern and the colours now shone through. I suggested the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to keep the floor clean and in good condition. It is neutral in pH so will ensure that the newly applied sealer stays in place and will ensure maintenance is nice and easy for them. Paul Wales Monmouthshire Tile Doctor

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

For this job I travelled to the town of Albrighton, which is actually the most easterly settlement in the whole of Shropshire. My client had an issue with their Marble tiled floor which was installed in the kitchen and hallway. They had dropped and broke a bottle of vinegar in the kitchen, and the substance unfortunately came in contact with the tiles. Since Marble is highly sensitive to acid, the vinegar (an acetic acid) had basically etched the surface of the tiles make it impossible clean chemically. Although the tiles were a nice, expensive Marble, the person who had first installed them had done a poor job, leaving lippage of up to 5mm in some areas, which would make work trickier. Undeterred I could see it would be possible to restore the floor using a combination of burnishing for the tiles and cleaning with a high alkaline product for the grout lines. I demonstrated this to my client on one tile which went well and I was then given the go ahead to restore the entire floor. My first task focused on cleaning the grout lines using a solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean worked in with a stiff grout brush. Pro-Clean is a high alkaline cleaner suitable for use on most types of natural stone floor. It helped to alleviate most of the grout staining caused by the vinegar, whilst also lifting out any ingrained dirt and muck, and this left the grout looking a lot cleaner. After cleaning the grout lines I was able to move on to burnishing the tiles. As previously mentioned, no chemical product would be able to have an effect on the damaged tiles, so I resolved to burnish them using a system of four diamond encrusted burnishing pads fitted to a rotary machine. Working first with a coarse burnishing pad, and moving through to medium, fine and very fine pads, lubricated with a little water, I was able to significantly reduce the appearance of the acid stains, while also giving the tiles a nice polished finish. Following the cleaning and burnishing processes I gave the tiles a good rinse to remove any remaining residue and then ensured the floor was completely dry before starting on the sealing. To seal the floor and maximise the appearance I used Tile Doctor Colour Grow and Tile Doctor Shine powder. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores of the stone intensifying and enhancing the natural shades and colours in the stone whilst also providing stain protection; Shine Powder on the other hand is a crystallising powder that is ground directly into the tiles to provide a high shine finish and durable surface protection. My client and her husband were really happy with the results and left the following message on the Tile Doctor Feedback system: “Jozsef was a charming young man in every respect, who worked very hard and achieved an amazing result. The tiles look better than the day they were laid. We are absolutely delighted with the work he has done and will recommend him to all our acquaintances. Thank you, Jozsef!” Jozsef Hoffmann Shropshire Tile Doctor

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2016 Houzz
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Los Angeles.

Foyer - large traditional dark wood floor foyer idea in Charleston with beige walls and a dark wood front door

This stunning bespoke built-in media unit features shaker style doors and a break fronted design. The cabinetry mixes a stylish green painted finish with a contrasting rustic oak veneer for a unique nature-inspired look. With tailored shelving and clutter free cupboards the floor to ceiling furniture has added character and makes the perfection feature in our clients’ Surrey home. Timeless shaker style design This made to measure cabinetry has been handmade in solid wood in a shaker style. The understated, yet distinctive design is an enduring centuries-old classic; and the traditional construction is exceptionally strong. The breakfront gives variation to the depth of the media unit, adding interesting and drawing attention to the TV screen. With cabling concealed, nothing distracts from the beauty of this fitted wall to wall unit. Nature-inspired green paired with oak wood The unit has been finished in an eco-friendly, designer paint by Lick in a natural earthy tone of olive green, which is very much on trend. The dusky green with golden undertones makes the room feel restorative and uplifting. The cabinet backs and shelves are crafted from real oak veneer, protected with a dark stain in a satin finish to enhance the natural beauty and character of the wood. The oak veneer was chosen to match the room’s wooden floor and other furniture. Shelving to showcase art and books The open shelving has integrated LED lighting which casts a soft glow over the oak backs, adding ambience and dimension to the furniture. The combination of display shelving and closed lower cupboards achieves an attractive sense of order with only the best items on show and gadgets and other items hidden away. A bespoke carpentry and joinery service from start to finish Bespoke by Acorn took care of every stage of this project, from working with our clients on the original concept right through to the installation. This made the whole process an easy, stress-free, and enjoyable experience for them.

A classic Seattle craftsman home is reimagined and restored. We cherished the opportunity to help a young couple in Seattle develop a materials, fixtures and lighting package for their beloved home remodel. The master bathroom is layered with a mix of white and black marble hex mosaic floor tile, classic white offset brick pattern subway wall tile, and beautifully crafted wood wainscoting. Kohler's Artifacts plumbing trim collection brings fresh vintage style to the vanity and shower. An easy to care for quartz counter and backsplash adds a bright contrast to the a gorgeous providence blue custom vanity. The powder room which doubles as a guest bathroom is dressed in Pratt and Larson's ceramic mosaic floor tile and paired with a space saving pedestal sink by American Standard. Wall niches lined with white quartz are incorporated into both showers creating a dedicated place to store bathing amenities. The checkboard cork floor in the kitchen adds a FUN pop of personality. Custom mudroom cubbies and a built in eating nook were beautifully crafted and finished in a crisp white paint. Light fixtures by Rejuvenation bathe the room in beautiful period appropriate light. Clever storage hides small appliances and a stand mixer. This project was a labor of love for he homeowners who took an active part in the process and a joy for our team to be involved in! Interior Design (Materials, Fixtures and Lighting Package) by Jennifer Gardner Design Architecture by Gant Nychay Architecture Custom Mudroom, Kitchen Table and Eating Nook Built-ins: Hosburgh Custom Woodwork Photography by Emily Keeney

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.