After a devastating fire destroyed this Woodinville, Washington home, the homeowners faced the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives and their house from the ground up. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the home itself could not be saved. Cutuli Homes had the privilege of walking alongside the homeowners through the rebuilding process—helping transform a heartbreaking loss into an opportunity to create a completely new home designed for the way they wanted to live today. Rather than simply recreate the dated house that had been lost, the homeowners chose to move forward. Working closely together, we created a home that feels modern, elegant, warm and distinctly Pacific Northwest—a place that acknowledges what came before while giving the family something beautiful to come home to again. The new open-concept kitchen and family room became the heart of the rebuilt home. A dramatic vaulted ceiling with dark-stained wood beams brings warmth and architectural definition to the light-filled space. The kitchen combines crisp white custom cabinetry, black accents, stainless-steel appliances, dark countertops, a generous contrasting island and contemporary pendant lighting. Large windows bring the surrounding Woodinville landscape into the home and fill the kitchen with natural light. The adjoining family room continues the home's understated Northwest aesthetic. A beautifully detailed fireplace creates a natural focal point, while the vaulted ceiling and exposed beams give the room a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open relationship between the kitchen and living spaces was designed for everyday family life as well as entertaining. The bathrooms were given the same careful attention to craftsmanship and materials. Custom shaker-style cabinetry, stone countertops, patterned tile, soft gray finishes, oversized mirrors, black hardware and beautifully tiled tub and shower surrounds create spaces that feel sophisticated yet comfortable. Clean lines and a restrained palette give the bathrooms a quiet, spa-like quality that complements the rest of the home. Throughout the rebuilding process, our goal went far beyond constructing a new house. Losing a home to fire is deeply personal, and rebuilding requires countless decisions at a time when homeowners are already navigating an extraordinarily difficult experience. Cutuli Homes worked closely with the family throughout the process, helping guide the construction and turn their ideas for a fresh beginning into a home that could once again feel like theirs. The finished residence is not simply a replacement for what was lost. It represents a new chapter: a dated home transformed into a thoughtfully designed custom residence filled with light, craftsmanship and warmth. From ashes came an opportunity to create something beautiful—and, we hope, a little joy after tragedy. For more than 30 years, Cutuli Homes has built and remodeled custom homes throughout Woodinville, Seattle, the Eastside, King County, Snohomish County and the greater Puget Sound region, specializing in highly personalized residential construction, major renovations and custom craftsmanship.

After a devastating fire destroyed this Woodinville, Washington home, the homeowners faced the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives and their house from the ground up. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the home itself could not be saved. Cutuli Homes had the privilege of walking alongside the homeowners through the rebuilding process—helping transform a heartbreaking loss into an opportunity to create a completely new home designed for the way they wanted to live today. Rather than simply recreate the dated house that had been lost, the homeowners chose to move forward. Working closely together, we created a home that feels modern, elegant, warm and distinctly Pacific Northwest—a place that acknowledges what came before while giving the family something beautiful to come home to again. The new open-concept kitchen and family room became the heart of the rebuilt home. A dramatic vaulted ceiling with dark-stained wood beams brings warmth and architectural definition to the light-filled space. The kitchen combines crisp white custom cabinetry, black accents, stainless-steel appliances, dark countertops, a generous contrasting island and contemporary pendant lighting. Large windows bring the surrounding Woodinville landscape into the home and fill the kitchen with natural light. The adjoining family room continues the home's understated Northwest aesthetic. A beautifully detailed fireplace creates a natural focal point, while the vaulted ceiling and exposed beams give the room a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open relationship between the kitchen and living spaces was designed for everyday family life as well as entertaining. The bathrooms were given the same careful attention to craftsmanship and materials. Custom shaker-style cabinetry, stone countertops, patterned tile, soft gray finishes, oversized mirrors, black hardware and beautifully tiled tub and shower surrounds create spaces that feel sophisticated yet comfortable. Clean lines and a restrained palette give the bathrooms a quiet, spa-like quality that complements the rest of the home. Throughout the rebuilding process, our goal went far beyond constructing a new house. Losing a home to fire is deeply personal, and rebuilding requires countless decisions at a time when homeowners are already navigating an extraordinarily difficult experience. Cutuli Homes worked closely with the family throughout the process, helping guide the construction and turn their ideas for a fresh beginning into a home that could once again feel like theirs. The finished residence is not simply a replacement for what was lost. It represents a new chapter: a dated home transformed into a thoughtfully designed custom residence filled with light, craftsmanship and warmth. From ashes came an opportunity to create something beautiful—and, we hope, a little joy after tragedy. For more than 30 years, Cutuli Homes has built and remodeled custom homes throughout Woodinville, Seattle, the Eastside, King County, Snohomish County and the greater Puget Sound region, specializing in highly personalized residential construction, major renovations and custom craftsmanship.

The owners of this house in Adwick Le Street, which is North of Doncaster, were fed up with the appearance of the Grout in their Ceramic tiled kitchen floor. They had not been able to keep the grout clean and it was now patchy, discoloured, darker and consequently always looked dirty. I visited the property, to survey the floor and could see the Ceramic tiles and where in good condition, but the grout lines were really letting the kitchen down. I discussed with my client the option of re-colouring the grout, which they agreed was sensible, anything to keep the impossible grout clean. The alternative of scraping out the grout and replacing would be a messy and time-consuming option which we both agreed was not the choice they wanted to go for. I gave them a price to complete the work which they were happy to go ahead with. Before any grout colouring could be done the grout first needed to be prepared, this was done using Tile Doctors Grout Colourant Pre-Treater which is an acid-based cleaner specially made for the job. This product cleans and prepares the grout for the colourant to ensure a better contact with the colourant later. It’s very simple to apply and is simply sprayed onto the grout lines, left to dwell for five minutes and then scrubbed into the grout by hand. Once done the soiled pre-treater is rinsed off with water and removed with a wet vacuum. Once the grout lines are dry, they are ready to be coloured, unfortunately this is a manual process which take a lot of attention to detail and can be quite tedious. The best way of doing it I have found is go get down on your hands and knees with a toothbrush and gently scrub the colourant into each grout line, any colourant that seeps over onto the tiles needs to be quicky wiped away before it dries. The one upside however is observing the highly satisfying transformation of the grout as the result is instant and you can see the improvement as you go along. There are ten grout colours of Tile Doctor Grout Colourant to choose from and in this case the owners had chosen Natural Grey. If you want to save a few points they also sell a Grout Colourant kit that contains both the colourant and the pre-treater. The grout colourant is epoxy based so it remains water and stain proof and will last for years. I’m not sure the pictures I took do the transformation justice, but my client was over the moon with the difference it had made to the floor. The patchy grout was gone and then whole room seemed brighter. For regular cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which will keep the floor looking good but is gentle enough to use every day and won’t compromise the colourant. Matthew Lovett South Yorkshire Tile Doctor

Orange County, CA - Dynamic Garage Doors include multifunctional door configurations not only for regular garages but garages that have been converted to home offices, playrooms, additional bedrooms, multipurpose rooms as well as man caves throughout the Southern California regions. This custom garage door project consisted of creating a newly renovated garage into a multipurpose room which would double as a home office as well as entertainment space for guests. The original overhead garage door was eliminated to open up the room space and give the interior of this garage a real room feel as opposed to a makeshift room with an obvious garage feel. Since the converted garage was to be used as an entertainment area as well as an office it became obvious to introduce bi-folding doors or former accordion doors that could be pushed out of the way to expand the indoors to the outdoors and thus expanding the entertainment to the exterior of the structure as well during those summer evening gatherings. The large glass panes allow ample natural light to bathe the interior of the room when being used as an office and can keep the room's climate under controlled when the accordion doors are completely closed. These custom bi-folding doors seal out the weather while allowing the outdoors in with a warm vivid shower of natural light. What a pleasure it must be to have a working office with staggering windows that can double as an entertainment center in the evenings and weekends! Dynamic Garage Doors aren't just garage doors, they are functional creations that come in unlimited configurations to suit your needs. Whether you're converting your garage to useful, liveable square footage or simply increasing your home's curb appeal with one of our world-class designed garage doors. We've got just the door solution for your garage! Call us today for project price consultation: (855) 343-DOOR

Small elegant gray one-story mixed siding gable roof photo in Charleston

For this project, my client’s goal was to remove a rarely-used existing bath tub next to a medium-sized shower and replace it all with a roomy, open, walk-in shower. With soaring, ten-foot high ceilings, this space became a luxurious statement in minimalism! I chose a neutral, linen-striated ceramic tile for the floor which, since we were creating a barrier-free shower, meant I could run this tile into the shower and add a hidden, tiled drain for a continuous, seamless look. This makes the bathroom appear even larger. For interest, I added opulent, large-format, ceramic tiles with a blue- and grey-veined marble pattern trimmed out with metal strips. A grand glass wall separates the wet area from the rest of the bathroom. Controls for the shower were wisely placed at the entrance which also features towel hooks and a towel bar on a coordinating panel of blue marble ceramic tile. The rest of the bathroom received a modern makeover as well with a crisp, custom-built vanity and quartz counter top replacing the old tile counter. Undermount sinks and sculptural hardware sit under modern mirrors with integrated LED lights for maximum light on the face. To top this design off, I chose a glamorous but tailored chandelier with discreet crystal embellishments to infuse sophistication into this sleek, minimalist space. The new room is light, bright, and uncluttered. For this client, the ultimate luxury is not having a space full of things, but having a space that is simply full of space! Photo by Bernardo Grijalva

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

An Olathe Home Transformed From the Ground Up | Home Addition, Custom Deck & Outdoor Living This wasn't simply a deck project. This Olathe, Kansas home transformation brought together excavation, structural preparation, concrete work, custom deck construction, water management, and exterior improvements as part of one larger vision. Bryan, Andrea, and the All Under One Roof team helped bring each piece together. The existing sunroom concrete was demolished and replaced before receiving a highly textured decorative Skimstone overlay. Preparation for the new home addition required heavy equipment excavation along the south side of the property adjacent to the garage, including deep footing and wall trenching. Outside, a custom structural elevated deck expanded the family's outdoor living possibilities, complete with a double height spiral slide integrated directly into the design. An under deck guttering system was also installed to manage rainwater and help keep the area beneath the deck dry and usable. Additional improvements included complete porch rescreening, full exterior power washing, and new exterior storm doors. But when everything is finished, what matters most isn't the list of individual improvements. It's what those improvements allow the family to do with their home. More room. More ways to enjoy the outdoors. More places to gather. More opportunities to make memories together. For more than 30 years, Bryan, Andrea, and the All Under One Roof team have helped homeowners throughout Olathe, Johnson County, and the Kansas City Metro turn ambitious ideas into spaces built for real life. Considering what your own property could become? ? 913 205 5848 ? Request your consultation at AUORKC.com

There are few things we enjoy nearly as much as helping a homeowner create a statement that is so exclusively them that it’s all but impossible for another to duplicate what they’re creating in their home. Sure, there can be common colors and sometimes even common themes, but for as many homeowners as there are, there are as many individual tastes, thoughts, and ideas that can inspire creativity and design. Tapping into where each homeowner is coming from is what is what brings us so much joy and excitement. Just imagine the excitement we felt when this homeowner asked us to help him with this unusual project! He received this Jack Daniels barrel as a gift from a close friend and wanted to create a new bar in his basement to entertain family and friends. The initial thought was to have the barrel as a stand alone conversation piece, but after some further discussion we suggested using it as a focal point and thus the project was born. Jack was known to be a man of refinement and to pay him the appropriate respect it only made sense to approach this project with an equal sense of detail in the crafting of this project, if for no other reason, we hold the same values. To match all of this with our homeowner’s fondness of entertaining friends, the warm and relaxing feeling he was looking for and the aesthetics of the room, the use of reclaimed and live-edge wood made for a natural fit. In fact aside from a few structural 2x4s beneath the surface, the entire project is built from reused, reclaimed, or re-purposed materials. The most obvious example would be the barrel itself. A bit of research revealed that Jack Daniels only uses their barrels one time before replacing them. Rather than simply destroying them or throwing them away, the barrels are made available to the public to use for other purposes. As a side note we appreciate seeing other companies taking this responsible and earth friendly approach to business. As a part of our own mission to reduce, reuse, and recycle as often as we can, you’ll note the wall paneling is also re-purposed materials. These particular boards we retrieved from an old building that was being removed and rather than allowing all these materials to be bulldozed with the rest of the old structure, we took as much of the old building materials as we could to use elsewhere. For this project we had the old planks and beams them re-sawn into the wall paneling you see here. Look closely at the picture and you’ll see the original nail holes in the boards that made their new home in this project. We even incorporated the reclaimed paneling into wrapping the column the previously exposed wood beams above bar area. It adds to the overall feel by incorporating the theme into an otherwise ungainly (and obviously necessary!) part of the house structure. All the boards in the design of the bar itself come from re-purposed, urban Ash logs. These are either aging and at-risk trees that cities need removed. Ash trees can be subject to assorted infections and diseases and it’s an unfortunate truth that once the disease is discovered, the best way to reduce it’s spreading is to remove the trees in the surrounding area. To further our mission, we take these trees before they end up in a shredder and re-purpose as many of them as we can rather than seeing them simply turned to mulch. We believe this to be a much more responsible use of available materials and just as beautiful. Each board has so much individual character with their natural knots and swirls. We particularly enjoyed the perfectly sized and shaped piece that became the support at the far end of the bar top. It’s as if nature knew we were going to make this project and grew that board to the perfect dimensions just for this purpose! We also had a small leftover piece that was extra knotty and so full of character that we incorporated it as a small shelf just above the barrel. Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it can’t make a statement… Of course no bar would be complete without the top itself. We had a few extra large pieces of Ash with live edges on both sides for the owner to choose from that fit the rough dimensions we needed. His decision made, we added just a very subtle hint of blue and green with our proprietary treatment before the final finishing with epoxy to a mirror finish. We added a few recessed lights to help highlight the natural patterns in the bar top and this bar is ready to serve. This project was satisfying for several reasons. We were thrilled we were able to complete the project entirely out of reclaimed and re-purposed materials. The homeowner’s desire for a rustic feel made it easier to accomplish this and we appreciate that we can partake in projects like this, particularly one so unique. Custom doesn’t come out of a catalog. At Serenity Design Studio our number one goal is to see your unique vision come to life.

As a manager of a building or property, you quickly learn the art of mediation. One minute you may be working with a vendor to keep the building’s operating system running efficient and smooth; the next moment you may be calming a tenant down after finding the change in the system disrupted his office’s workflow. Give and take; it’s the only way to make sure every day runs perfectly. Overall, you have two goals to strive for in everything you do. 1. Keep the building running properly, upgrading systems as appropriate, and striving to do all you can on a pre-established budget. 2. Keep the building occupants happy, with as little disruption as possible. While some changes are minor, barely registering on a building occupant’s mind, with HVAC challenges, that’s rarely the case. If a HVAC contractor is replacing an air handler, for instance, and disconnects one and moves to the next unit, it may cause major disruptions to sensitive areas of a building. And if the occupant wasn’t prepared for the disruption, you can have a mighty unhappy customer on your hand. Anytime you are working on HVAC projects throughout your building, there are strategies you can put into place to keep things running smooth. Communicate with occupants Communication is key to any good relationship, and as a property manager, this rule is a great place to start. If you will be working with the HVAC equipment, block out the timeframe for work to be done, and understand the potential consequences of the process. Then communicate this process with every point of contact you have throughout the building. The more detail you can provide, the less surprises you’ll have throughout the process. You can also work with your building’s occupants before the process begins, finding out if there are better timeframes than others. Establish a realistic schedule As a property manager, its easy to provide your expectations for the HVAC project at hand, and request that the proposal be written in such a way that work is completed on your timeframe. Unfortunately, many contractors want your business and will agree to anything upfront in order to win the bid, knowing full well the work will take longer than specified. Instead of projecting your timeframes into the proposal process, ask for HVAC project bids to establish realistic schedules of how long the process will take, and what areas of your property will be most effected throughout the schedule. This will help you avoid crises between you and the contractor, and you and your tenants. Plan for the whole system If one small piece of your HVAC system is weak, its easy to fix that one small piece. But how will that impact your overall system? Will it cause weak spots in different parts of the building – maybe a corner office will have reduced air flow, and therefore be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer? When retrofitting new pieces with older existing systems, its easy to reduce the efficiency of your entire system. Before agreeing to certain repairs, make sure you understand how it will impact your entire system overall. An easy way of handling this problem is by working with the same HVAC contractor again and again, He will understand your system’s potential, and know when to make repairs, and when to replace. Have points of contact available for immediate assistance In many cases, problems arise because connections can’t be made. Can the HVAC contractor get a hold or you or another person that can make decisions at a moments notice if a problem arises? Do you have access to decision makers throughout the building that may be impacted by this change? Many projects have been put on hold simply because a person in authority can’t be found to give the go-ahead to move forward. If you have access to these people during the time of the project, you’ll be able to complete the project in record time. Test Finally, if you can test things in stages, or test when the potential for problems is the smallest, you reduce the chances of bigger emergency issues falling into your lap. If you’ll be installing a new terminal unit, can you make the switch on a Saturday morning when the building is largely unoccupied? If you’re replacing a large system, can you replace and test in phases so the entire project isn’t released at once? Most issues can be avoided with just a little strategy from the beginning. If you’ve never had a HVAC maintenance team to help you stay on track with your building’s heating and cooling, now may be the time to find out how easy a team approach makes the process.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget. The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project. The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower. Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks. Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work. Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed. The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel. Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan Contractor: Keycon Construction Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Photography: Sabrina Huang Year Completed: 2020

Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget. The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project. The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower. Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks. Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work. Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed. The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel. Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan Contractor: Keycon Construction Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Photography: Sabrina Huang Year Completed: 2020

After a devastating fire destroyed this Woodinville, Washington home, the homeowners faced the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives and their house from the ground up. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the home itself could not be saved. Cutuli Homes had the privilege of walking alongside the homeowners through the rebuilding process—helping transform a heartbreaking loss into an opportunity to create a completely new home designed for the way they wanted to live today. Rather than simply recreate the dated house that had been lost, the homeowners chose to move forward. Working closely together, we created a home that feels modern, elegant, warm and distinctly Pacific Northwest—a place that acknowledges what came before while giving the family something beautiful to come home to again. The new open-concept kitchen and family room became the heart of the rebuilt home. A dramatic vaulted ceiling with dark-stained wood beams brings warmth and architectural definition to the light-filled space. The kitchen combines crisp white custom cabinetry, black accents, stainless-steel appliances, dark countertops, a generous contrasting island and contemporary pendant lighting. Large windows bring the surrounding Woodinville landscape into the home and fill the kitchen with natural light. The adjoining family room continues the home's understated Northwest aesthetic. A beautifully detailed fireplace creates a natural focal point, while the vaulted ceiling and exposed beams give the room a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open relationship between the kitchen and living spaces was designed for everyday family life as well as entertaining. The bathrooms were given the same careful attention to craftsmanship and materials. Custom shaker-style cabinetry, stone countertops, patterned tile, soft gray finishes, oversized mirrors, black hardware and beautifully tiled tub and shower surrounds create spaces that feel sophisticated yet comfortable. Clean lines and a restrained palette give the bathrooms a quiet, spa-like quality that complements the rest of the home. Throughout the rebuilding process, our goal went far beyond constructing a new house. Losing a home to fire is deeply personal, and rebuilding requires countless decisions at a time when homeowners are already navigating an extraordinarily difficult experience. Cutuli Homes worked closely with the family throughout the process, helping guide the construction and turn their ideas for a fresh beginning into a home that could once again feel like theirs. The finished residence is not simply a replacement for what was lost. It represents a new chapter: a dated home transformed into a thoughtfully designed custom residence filled with light, craftsmanship and warmth. From ashes came an opportunity to create something beautiful—and, we hope, a little joy after tragedy. For more than 30 years, Cutuli Homes has built and remodeled custom homes throughout Woodinville, Seattle, the Eastside, King County, Snohomish County and the greater Puget Sound region, specializing in highly personalized residential construction, major renovations and custom craftsmanship

Creating space for a loved one doesn't always mean building a new home from the ground up. For this Southeast Portland garage conversion, the goal was simple but deeply personal: transform a detached garage into a comfortable guest cottage where a family member could live independently while remaining closely connected to the people she loves. The existing home presented challenges for long-term living, including stairs and limited accessibility. At the same time, the family wanted to provide privacy, dignity, and the comforts of home rather than simply adding another bedroom to the main house. The answer was hiding in plain sight: a detached garage with untapped potential. While the structure offered opportunity, it also came with significant constraints. A structural concrete block wall, neighboring retaining wall, and compact footprint left little room for expansion. With just 480 square feet to work with, every inch needed to serve a purpose. The design process began by focusing on how the space would be lived in rather than how it would look. Multiple floor plan options were explored before arriving at a layout that balances sleeping, cooking, crafting, relaxing, and storage within a bright, welcoming studio environment. Soft blue accents, warm walnut-toned flooring, cream tile, white countertops, and crisp trim create an aesthetic that feels calm, timeless, and intentionally residential rather than utilitarian. One of the most dramatic transformations came from replacing the original garage door with a wall of windows. Natural light now floods the interior, visually expanding the space and creating a stronger connection to the surrounding garden. Additional windows provide cross ventilation, keeping the cottage bright and comfortable throughout the year. The material palette was intentionally selected to feel calm, timeless, and residential. Soft blue tones appear throughout the cottage, complemented by light walnut flooring, white countertops, cream tile, and crisp white trim. Together, these finishes create a warm and inviting environment that feels thoughtfully designed rather than utilitarian. Thoughtful storage solutions help the cottage live larger than its footprint. A spacious bedroom closet, living room storage, full-height bathroom shelving, and carefully planned kitchen cabinetry keep daily essentials organized and out of sight. A built-in desk with integrated cabinetry provides a dedicated space for crafting, sewing, and spending time with grandchildren, reflecting how important hobbies and family connections are to everyday life. A compact kitchenette, partial privacy wall, and quiet mini-split heating and cooling system complete the home, while a new concrete pathway connects the cottage to the main house for safe and convenient access year-round. What makes this project special is not simply the garage conversion itself, but the life it makes possible. Through thoughtful space planning, universal design principles, and a collaborative design-build approach, a former garage became a warm, independent retreat that supports aging in place while keeping family close. The result is a cottage that feels less like a conversion and more like a home that was always meant to be there.

After a devastating fire destroyed this Woodinville, Washington home, the homeowners faced the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives and their house from the ground up. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the home itself could not be saved. Cutuli Homes had the privilege of walking alongside the homeowners through the rebuilding process—helping transform a heartbreaking loss into an opportunity to create a completely new home designed for the way they wanted to live today. Rather than simply recreate the dated house that had been lost, the homeowners chose to move forward. Working closely together, we created a home that feels modern, elegant, warm and distinctly Pacific Northwest—a place that acknowledges what came before while giving the family something beautiful to come home to again. The new open-concept kitchen and family room became the heart of the rebuilt home. A dramatic vaulted ceiling with dark-stained wood beams brings warmth and architectural definition to the light-filled space. The kitchen combines crisp white custom cabinetry, black accents, stainless-steel appliances, dark countertops, a generous contrasting island and contemporary pendant lighting. Large windows bring the surrounding Woodinville landscape into the home and fill the kitchen with natural light. The adjoining family room continues the home's understated Northwest aesthetic. A beautifully detailed fireplace creates a natural focal point, while the vaulted ceiling and exposed beams give the room a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open relationship between the kitchen and living spaces was designed for everyday family life as well as entertaining. The bathrooms were given the same careful attention to craftsmanship and materials. Custom shaker-style cabinetry, stone countertops, patterned tile, soft gray finishes, oversized mirrors, black hardware and beautifully tiled tub and shower surrounds create spaces that feel sophisticated yet comfortable. Clean lines and a restrained palette give the bathrooms a quiet, spa-like quality that complements the rest of the home. Throughout the rebuilding process, our goal went far beyond constructing a new house. Losing a home to fire is deeply personal, and rebuilding requires countless decisions at a time when homeowners are already navigating an extraordinarily difficult experience. Cutuli Homes worked closely with the family throughout the process, helping guide the construction and turn their ideas for a fresh beginning into a home that could once again feel like theirs. The finished residence is not simply a replacement for what was lost. It represents a new chapter: a dated home transformed into a thoughtfully designed custom residence filled with light, craftsmanship and warmth. From ashes came an opportunity to create something beautiful—and, we hope, a little joy after tragedy. For more than 30 years, Cutuli Homes has built and remodeled custom homes throughout Woodinville, Seattle, the Eastside, King County, Snohomish County and the greater Puget Sound region, specializing in highly personalized residential construction, major renovations and custom craftsmanshi

Creating space for a loved one doesn't always mean building a new home from the ground up. For this Southeast Portland garage conversion, the goal was simple but deeply personal: transform a detached garage into a comfortable guest cottage where a family member could live independently while remaining closely connected to the people she loves. The existing home presented challenges for long-term living, including stairs and limited accessibility. At the same time, the family wanted to provide privacy, dignity, and the comforts of home rather than simply adding another bedroom to the main house. The answer was hiding in plain sight: a detached garage with untapped potential. While the structure offered opportunity, it also came with significant constraints. A structural concrete block wall, neighboring retaining wall, and compact footprint left little room for expansion. With just 480 square feet to work with, every inch needed to serve a purpose. The design process began by focusing on how the space would be lived in rather than how it would look. Multiple floor plan options were explored before arriving at a layout that balances sleeping, cooking, crafting, relaxing, and storage within a bright, welcoming studio environment. Soft blue accents, warm walnut-toned flooring, cream tile, white countertops, and crisp trim create an aesthetic that feels calm, timeless, and intentionally residential rather than utilitarian. One of the most dramatic transformations came from replacing the original garage door with a wall of windows. Natural light now floods the interior, visually expanding the space and creating a stronger connection to the surrounding garden. Additional windows provide cross ventilation, keeping the cottage bright and comfortable throughout the year. The material palette was intentionally selected to feel calm, timeless, and residential. Soft blue tones appear throughout the cottage, complemented by light walnut flooring, white countertops, cream tile, and crisp white trim. Together, these finishes create a warm and inviting environment that feels thoughtfully designed rather than utilitarian. Thoughtful storage solutions help the cottage live larger than its footprint. A spacious bedroom closet, living room storage, full-height bathroom shelving, and carefully planned kitchen cabinetry keep daily essentials organized and out of sight. A built-in desk with integrated cabinetry provides a dedicated space for crafting, sewing, and spending time with grandchildren, reflecting how important hobbies and family connections are to everyday life. A compact kitchenette, partial privacy wall, and quiet mini-split heating and cooling system complete the home, while a new concrete pathway connects the cottage to the main house for safe and convenient access year-round. What makes this project special is not simply the garage conversion itself, but the life it makes possible. Through thoughtful space planning, universal design principles, and a collaborative design-build approach, a former garage became a warm, independent retreat that supports aging in place while keeping family close. The result is a cottage that feels less like a conversion and more like a home that was always meant to be there.

Creating space for a loved one doesn't always mean building a new home from the ground up. For this Southeast Portland garage conversion, the goal was simple but deeply personal: transform a detached garage into a comfortable guest cottage where a family member could live independently while remaining closely connected to the people she loves. The existing home presented challenges for long-term living, including stairs and limited accessibility. At the same time, the family wanted to provide privacy, dignity, and the comforts of home rather than simply adding another bedroom to the main house. The answer was hiding in plain sight: a detached garage with untapped potential. While the structure offered opportunity, it also came with significant constraints. A structural concrete block wall, neighboring retaining wall, and compact footprint left little room for expansion. With just 480 square feet to work with, every inch needed to serve a purpose. The design process began by focusing on how the space would be lived in rather than how it would look. Multiple floor plan options were explored before arriving at a layout that balances sleeping, cooking, crafting, relaxing, and storage within a bright, welcoming studio environment. Soft blue accents, warm walnut-toned flooring, cream tile, white countertops, and crisp trim create an aesthetic that feels calm, timeless, and intentionally residential rather than utilitarian. One of the most dramatic transformations came from replacing the original garage door with a wall of windows. Natural light now floods the interior, visually expanding the space and creating a stronger connection to the surrounding garden. Additional windows provide cross ventilation, keeping the cottage bright and comfortable throughout the year. The material palette was intentionally selected to feel calm, timeless, and residential. Soft blue tones appear throughout the cottage, complemented by light walnut flooring, white countertops, cream tile, and crisp white trim. Together, these finishes create a warm and inviting environment that feels thoughtfully designed rather than utilitarian. Thoughtful storage solutions help the cottage live larger than its footprint. A spacious bedroom closet, living room storage, full-height bathroom shelving, and carefully planned kitchen cabinetry keep daily essentials organized and out of sight. A built-in desk with integrated cabinetry provides a dedicated space for crafting, sewing, and spending time with grandchildren, reflecting how important hobbies and family connections are to everyday life. A compact kitchenette, partial privacy wall, and quiet mini-split heating and cooling system complete the home, while a new concrete pathway connects the cottage to the main house for safe and convenient access year-round. What makes this project special is not simply the garage conversion itself, but the life it makes possible. Through thoughtful space planning, universal design principles, and a collaborative design-build approach, a former garage became a warm, independent retreat that supports aging in place while keeping family close. The result is a cottage that feels less like a conversion and more like a home that was always meant to be there.

Creating space for a loved one doesn't always mean building a new home from the ground up. For this Southeast Portland garage conversion, the goal was simple but deeply personal: transform a detached garage into a comfortable guest cottage where a family member could live independently while remaining closely connected to the people she loves. The existing home presented challenges for long-term living, including stairs and limited accessibility. At the same time, the family wanted to provide privacy, dignity, and the comforts of home rather than simply adding another bedroom to the main house. The answer was hiding in plain sight: a detached garage with untapped potential. While the structure offered opportunity, it also came with significant constraints. A structural concrete block wall, neighboring retaining wall, and compact footprint left little room for expansion. With just 480 square feet to work with, every inch needed to serve a purpose. The design process began by focusing on how the space would be lived in rather than how it would look. Multiple floor plan options were explored before arriving at a layout that balances sleeping, cooking, crafting, relaxing, and storage within a bright, welcoming studio environment. Soft blue accents, warm walnut-toned flooring, cream tile, white countertops, and crisp trim create an aesthetic that feels calm, timeless, and intentionally residential rather than utilitarian. One of the most dramatic transformations came from replacing the original garage door with a wall of windows. Natural light now floods the interior, visually expanding the space and creating a stronger connection to the surrounding garden. Additional windows provide cross ventilation, keeping the cottage bright and comfortable throughout the year. The material palette was intentionally selected to feel calm, timeless, and residential. Soft blue tones appear throughout the cottage, complemented by light walnut flooring, white countertops, cream tile, and crisp white trim. Together, these finishes create a warm and inviting environment that feels thoughtfully designed rather than utilitarian. Thoughtful storage solutions help the cottage live larger than its footprint. A spacious bedroom closet, living room storage, full-height bathroom shelving, and carefully planned kitchen cabinetry keep daily essentials organized and out of sight. A built-in desk with integrated cabinetry provides a dedicated space for crafting, sewing, and spending time with grandchildren, reflecting how important hobbies and family connections are to everyday life. A compact kitchenette, partial privacy wall, and quiet mini-split heating and cooling system complete the home, while a new concrete pathway connects the cottage to the main house for safe and convenient access year-round. What makes this project special is not simply the garage conversion itself, but the life it makes possible. Through thoughtful space planning, universal design principles, and a collaborative design-build approach, a former garage became a warm, independent retreat that supports aging in place while keeping family close. The result is a cottage that feels less like a conversion and more like a home that was always meant to be there.