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.

Kitchen - country kitchen idea in Boston

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Example of an eclectic living room design in New York

Located along a country road, a half mile from the clear waters of Lake Michigan, we were hired to re-conceptualize an existing weekend cabin to allow long views of the adjacent farm field and create a separate area for the owners to escape their high school age children and many visitors! The site had tight building setbacks which limited expansion options, and to further our challenge, a 200 year old pin oak tree stood in the available building location. We designed a bedroom wing addition to the side of the cabin which freed up the existing cabin to become a great room with a wall of glass which looks out to the farm field and accesses a newly designed pea-gravel outdoor dining room. The addition steps around the existing tree, sitting on a specialized foundation we designed to minimize impact to the tree. The master suite is kept separate with ‘the pass’- a low ceiling link back to the main house. Painted board and batten siding, ribbons of windows, a low one-story metal roof with vaulted ceiling and no-nonsense detailing fits this modern cabin to the Michigan country-side. A great place to vacation. The perfect place to retire someday.

To create a welcoming gathering space and a stronger connection the outdoors, the kitchen was reconfigured and opened up to the front entry of the home. To improve traffic flow, an additional doorway to the adjacent family room was added.

The interiors reflect the same curated intention as the exteriors: a limited number of materials and simple detailing. The fixed elements create a gentle and neutral canvas. The furniture, finish of the fixtures, the warmth of the lighting, and the artwork on the walls should serve as the color and life of the space. The L-shape of the home, which follows the slope of the land, also lends itself to an efficient living arrangement for a family. The heart of the home, the kitchen, rests at the center of the house with the focus being a large, anchoring island.

Inspiration for a coastal laundry room remodel in Milwaukee

- CAADRE MIRROR. Free standing mirror, also available in hanging version, in 1/4'' thick curved glass, made of 4 separate elements (neutral version) also available with engravings (engraved version) or semi reflective glass titanium finishing 1/4'' thick (titanium version). Metal grey-stained frame. 41''3/8W x 5''1/8D x 41''3/8H. 55''1/8W x 5''1/8D x 55''1/8H. 76''3/4W x 5''1/8D x 76''3/4H. http://ow.ly/3z2BwP - ATLAS COFFEE TABLE. Coffee table in 5/8'' thick curved glass with hand sculptured legs, composed of 19 single 5/8'' thick glass elements glued one on the other. 58''1/4W x 27''5/8D x 15''3/4H. http://ow.ly/3yZxgn

For this Kitchen remodeling project, we began with a complete gut renovation of the existing kitchen, creating a fresh foundation for a fully updated and cohesive design. We started by installing medium-toned hardwood flooring throughout the kitchen, followed by new custom cabinetry and a centrally positioned kitchen island that provides both additional workspace and functionality. The Backsplash features classic white subway-style tile, continuing up to the cabinetry, for a clean, timeless look. The cabinetry is complimented by white engineered quartz countertops with subtle fray marble-style accents, adding an elegant contrast to the surrounding finishes. We also installed a complete suite of new appliances, including a dedicated wine refrigerator, along with all necessary electrical and connections. On a separate wall, we constructed a custom hutch-styled cabinetry featuring glass-front doors set within a wood framework. This area was also finished with a matching white subway-tile backsplash, tying the separate elements together with the overall kitchen design. The project was completed with a professional paint finish, bringing the various materials and architectural details together to create a polished, functional, and inviting kitchen.

Scott Conover
Utility room - large contemporary single-wall concrete floor and black floor utility room idea in Boise with white cabinets, laminate countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray walls

At 19 Irving Avenue, the backyard and pool come together as a seamless extension of Joseph Eichler’s vision—where architecture and landscape are not separate elements, but part of a single, cohesive experience. 5 Stepping outside, the space unfolds with a sense of quiet intention. The backyard is not overly ornamental or dense—it’s restrained, allowing the architecture to take the lead. Clean lines and open areas create a natural flow, guiding your eye toward the pool, which sits as a sculptural centerpiece within the composition. The pool itself, with its distinctive geometric form, mirrors the home’s angular language. It doesn’t compete with the architecture—it completes it. Reflections ripple across its surface, capturing the lines of the home and the movement of light throughout the day, creating a constantly shifting interplay between structure and nature. What makes this space truly special is how it connects back to the interior. Walls of glass dissolve the boundary entirely, so whether you’re inside looking out or outside looking in, the experience feels unified. The backyard becomes an outdoor living room—an extension of daily life rather than a separate destination. There’s a calmness to it all. A sense that nothing is overdone, yet everything is exactly where it should be. In this space, Eichler wasn’t just designing a backyard—he was refining an idea that would define his legacy: that modern living could be open, fluid, and deeply connected to the natural environment.

Plunge in your new bath with darling design elements to create a coordinated bathroom with a surprising appeal. Small spaces call for big design details like the ornate turn posts that frame the sink area to create a compelling look for the bath vanity. Select the most inviting and luxurious materials to create a relaxing space that rejuvenates as it soothes and calms. Coordinating bath furniture from Dura Supreme brings all the details together with your choice of beautiful styles and finishes. A linen cabinet with a mirrored back beautifully displays stacks of towels and bathroom sundries. These furniture vanities showcase Dura Supreme’s “Style Five” furniture series. Style Five is designed with a selection of turned posts for iconic furniture style to meet your personal tastes. The two individual vanities separated by the free-standing linen cabinet provide each spouse their own divided space to organize their personal bath supplies, while the linen cabinet provides universal storage for items the couple will both use. Style Five furniture series offers 10 different configurations (for single sink vanities, double sink vanities, or offset sinks), 15 turn post designs and an optional floor with either plain or slatted detail. A selection of classic post designs offers personalized design choices. Any combination of Dura Supreme’s many door styles, wood species, and finishes can be selected to create a one-of-a-kind bath furniture collection. The bathroom has evolved from its purist utilitarian roots to a more intimate and reflective sanctuary in which to relax and reconnect. A refreshing spa-like environment offers a brisk welcome at the dawning of a new day or a soothing interlude as your day concludes. Our busy and hectic lifestyles leave us yearning for a private place where we can truly relax and indulge. With amenities that pamper the senses and design elements inspired by luxury spas, bathroom environments are being transformed from the mundane and utilitarian to the extravagant and luxurious. Bath cabinetry from Dura Supreme offers myriad design directions to create the personal harmony and beauty that are a hallmark of the bath sanctuary. Immerse yourself in our expansive palette of finishes and wood species to discover the look that calms your senses and soothes your soul. Your Dura Supreme designer will guide you through the selections and transform your bath into a beautiful retreat. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

As a conceptual urban infill project, the Wexley is designed for a narrow lot in the center of a city block. The 26’x48’ floor plan is divided into thirds from front to back and from left to right. In plan, the left third is reserved for circulation spaces and is reflected in elevation by a monolithic block wall in three shades of gray. Punching through this block wall, in three distinct parts, are the main levels windows for the stair tower, bathroom, and patio. The right two-thirds of the main level are reserved for the living room, kitchen, and dining room. At 16’ long, front to back, these three rooms align perfectly with the three-part block wall façade. It’s this interplay between plan and elevation that creates cohesion between each façade, no matter where it’s viewed. Given that this project would have neighbors on either side, great care was taken in crafting desirable vistas for the living, dining, and master bedroom. Upstairs, with a view to the street, the master bedroom has a pair of closets and a skillfully planned bathroom complete with soaker tub and separate tiled shower. Main level cabinetry and built-ins serve as dividing elements between rooms and framing elements for views outside. Architect: Visbeen Architects Builder: J. Peterson Homes Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

After many years of having no outdoor living space and dealing with overgrown plants and trees the owner’s decided it was time to revitalize their backyard. They knew they wanted a large sitting area with a wood burning fireplace, room for outdoor dining and a place for the grill. A connecting walk would be needed to get guests from the driveway to the outdoor space. Last but not least, the owners wanted the ability to and a reason for stepping out of their unusable patio doors. The designers decided from the start the fireplace would be the prominent feature and focal point for the entire project. A large fireplace accented with sitting walls and arbors was positioned to anchor the corner of the patio. Stone was chosen to set the fireplace apart as its own element. Brick was used for the sitting walls and brick accents were added to the fireplace to tie into the house. An inlaid herringbone brick detail was incorporated above the stone mantle to simulate artwork which is typically found above indoor fireplaces. Flagstone was used for the wall caps and hearth to match the patio and thicker flagstone tread stock was used for the mantle and top. The arbors were added to visually balance the pergolas at the opposite side of the patio. For the patio the designers created a series of offset spaces to help subtly divide the space into two areas, sitting and dining. Two large existing trees also help dictate the shape of the patio. Cut flagstone was chosen for the surface bordered by a double soldier edge of brick. The brick edging also surrounds a decorative gravel area topped with an urn fountain which provides a secondary focal point and the sound of water. Large flagstone treads were used for the steps leading to the previously unused patio doors. Opposite the fireplace a short walk leads to a square transition area with a statue chosen by the owner. The statue provides a strong focal point when entering from the driveway. A longer walk leads from this space along the house to the driveway. The pergolas and arbors were designed by the landscape designer as part of this project but were ultimately contracted separately by the owner. The larger square pergola was intended as an area for a bench or two separate from the main patio. The longer pergola was added later in the design phase to help provide shade to the interior of the house. The arbors at the fireplace were added to balance out the wood elements at the opposite side while adding additional architectural interest to the fireplace. While this project was predominantly hardscaping, planting and lighting were also incorporated into the design. Several large existing trees were retained and serious of smaller understory trees were added to help enclose the space. The designer’s took advantage of the large trees to place down lights on the branches to achieve a moonlight effect at night. Additional lighting was used on the pergola, to accent focal points, to up light the smaller trees and around the patio. Massed planting of Japanese forest grass provides bold foliage color for the shady garden. A mulch path leads off behind the fireplace to another garden and a secluded area ideal for a bench or small table and chairs. Additional plantings were added along the rear property line to screen and unsightly fence. This project has obviously completely changed the way the owners use their backyard. They now have a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors with the use of the patio doors. The large patio allows for entertaining small gatherings outdoors for the first time. The fireplace has definitely become the primary gathering place for family and friends.

Merle Prosofsky
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Edmonton

Techo-Bloc has redefined landscape products once again with this eye-catching ultra-modern double-sided retaining wall. The Graphix wall’s varying depths and unique but simple installation process creates a 3 dimensional visual effect. The mix of smooth and chiseled textures add another factor of visual interest to this wall, making it perfect for design lovers and those seeking something sleek and out of the box. Great for retaining soil, building planters, blade walls or vertical elements such as fire, water or outdoor kitchen features. Check out our website to shop the look! Or, check out the estimation tool on our website to get an idea of how much a similar project could cost you! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/walls/graphix-wall/

Modern Classic style A combination of modern and classical mood will be performed in the reception area that includes: entrance, salons, dining & living space. Light neutral colors will be the main dominant color, integrated with the brass separator elements, Carrara pattern ceramic tiles, and black marble with golden veins for the chimney wall while accessories will be the main pop-up elements for this space. Modern false ceiling design with black hanging track light, modern walkway lighting spot, strip indirect light, and one linear hanging modern chandelier for the dining room. Wall will be dressed with simple yet classical frames (Gypsum board molding) that refer to the old Victorian interior style.

Modern Classic style A combination of modern and classical mood will be performed in the reception area that includes: entrance, salons, dining & living space. Light neutral colors will be the main dominant color, integrated with the brass separator elements, Carrara pattern ceramic tiles, and black marble with golden veins for the chimney wall while accessories will be the main pop-up elements for this space. Modern false ceiling design with black hanging track light, modern walkway lighting spot, strip indirect light, and one linear hanging modern chandelier for the dining room. Wall will be dressed with simple yet classical frames (Gypsum board molding) that refer to the old Victorian interior style.

Project: Le Petit Hopital in Provence Limestone Elements by Ancient Surfaces Project Renovation completed in 2012 Situated in a quiet, bucolic setting surrounded by lush apple and cherry orchards, Petit Hopital is a refurbished eighteenth century Bastide farmhouse. With manicured gardens and pathways that seem as if they emerged from a fairy tale. Petit Hopital is a quintessential Provencal retreat that merges natural elements of stone, wind, fire and water. Talking about water, Ancient Surfaces made sure to provide this lovely estate with unique and one of a kind fountains that are simply out of this world. The villa is in proximity to the magical canal-town of Isle Sur La Sorgue and within comfortable driving distance of Avignon, Carpentras and Orange with all the French culture and history offered along the way. The grounds at Petit Hopital include a pristine swimming pool with a Romanesque wall fountain full with its thick stone coping surround pieces. The interior courtyard features another special fountain for an even more romantic effect. Cozy outdoor furniture allows for splendid moments of alfresco dining and lounging. The furnishings at Petit Hopital are modern, comfortable and stately, yet rather quaint when juxtaposed against the exposed stone walls. The plush living room has also been fitted with a fireplace. Antique Limestone Flooring adorned the entire home giving it a surreal out of time feel to it. The villa includes a fully equipped kitchen with center island featuring gas hobs and a separate bar counter connecting via open plan to the formal dining area to help keep the flow of the conversation going.