This classic Portland bungalow in the highly desirable Irvington neighborhood was in desperate need of a kitchen update. Aside from tired finishes and cabinets that have seen a full life, the original layout left the family living in a small portion of the kitchen and not taking advantage of the full square footage. The family desired a design that married both the original architectural details of their bungalow with their preference for clean and modern European design. To accomplish this request, APD brought in sleek flat panel custom frameless cabinets filled with smart and strategic accessories to make the most out of every cabinet box, including full height pantry pull-out, spice and utensil pull-outs flanking the cooking zone, a blind corner pull-0ut to avoid loosing items in the hard-to-reach space, trash & recycling pull-0ut disguised to blend with the adjacent three drawers, and a wall cabinet pull-out sized to fit under the support beam spanning the width of the room. For the traditional - we kept the classic moldings around the windows and doors, continued the homes hardwood floors into the new space, incorporated classic school house light fixtures, and swapped out the slider to the back patio in favor for one with divided lights adding to the architectural detail. Matte black granite countertops with handmade black ceramic tile backsplash bridge the gap between the modern and the traditional thanks to their clean lines, high contrast color palette, and textural and artistic details. Opting for a few adjustments to the layout created a space plan that took advantage of the full square footage of the room! In the original layout, the refrigerator was squeezed onto the same wall as the cooking, leaving very little counterspace around the hard working cooking zone along with a significant portion of the room (a previous addition) under-utilized. Relocating the refrigerator increased counterspace and storage while creating a “flow” through the entire room. Luxury Miele and Subzero appliances make this kitchen a chef’s dream! To add to the clean modern look, we opted for an induction cooktop with wall oven directly below … a great alternative to the often used range! Paneling the built-in refrigerator and dishwasher help to calm the overall visual noise of the space, hiding the two hardworking appliances away! This new family kitchen is at once hardworking, sleek, and timeless!

We are delighted to have completed the radical transformation of a tired detached property in South Croydon. When they appointed Granit, our clients were living in the property which had previously been divided into a number of flats. The historic sub-division had resulted in an extremely poor use of space with redundant staircases, kitchens and bathrooms throughout. Our clients sought to reconfigure the property back into a single dwelling for his growing family. Our client had an eye for design and was keen to balance contemporary design whilst maintaining as much of the character of the original house. Maximising natural light, space and establishing a visual and physical connection were also key drivers for the design. Owing to the size of the property, it became apparent that reconfiguration rather than extension provided the solution to meet the brief. A metal clad ‘intervention’ was introduced to the rear facade. This created a strong horizontal element creating a visual balance with the vertical nature of the three storey gable. The metal cladding specified echoed the colour of the red brick string courses tying old with new. Slender frame sliding doors provide access and views of the large garden. The central circulation space was transformed by the introduction of a double height glazed slot wrapping up the rear facade and onto the roof. This allows daylight to permeate into the heart of the otherwise dark deep floor plan. The staircase was reconfigured into a series of landings looking down over the main void space below and out towards the tree canopies at the rear of the garden. The introduction of double pocket doors throughout the ground floor creates a series of interconnected spaces and the whitewashed Larch flooring flows seamlessly from room to room. A bold palette of colours and materials lends character and texture throughout the property. The end result is a spacious yet cosy environment for the family to inhabit for years to come.

We are delighted to have completed the radical transformation of a tired detached property in South Croydon. When they appointed Granit, our clients were living in the property which had previously been divided into a number of flats. The historic sub-division had resulted in an extremely poor use of space with redundant staircases, kitchens and bathrooms throughout. Our clients sought to reconfigure the property back into a single dwelling for his growing family. Our client had an eye for design and was keen to balance contemporary design whilst maintaining as much of the character of the original house. Maximising natural light, space and establishing a visual and physical connection were also key drivers for the design. Owing to the size of the property, it became apparent that reconfiguration rather than extension provided the solution to meet the brief. A metal clad ‘intervention’ was introduced to the rear facade. This created a strong horizontal element creating a visual balance with the vertical nature of the three storey gable. The metal cladding specified echoed the colour of the red brick string courses tying old with new. Slender frame sliding doors provide access and views of the large garden. The central circulation space was transformed by the introduction of a double height glazed slot wrapping up the rear facade and onto the roof. This allows daylight to permeate into the heart of the otherwise dark deep floor plan. The staircase was reconfigured into a series of landings looking down over the main void space below and out towards the tree canopies at the rear of the garden. The introduction of double pocket doors throughout the ground floor creates a series of interconnected spaces and the whitewashed Larch flooring flows seamlessly from room to room. A bold palette of colours and materials lends character and texture throughout the property. The end result is a spacious yet cosy environment for the family to inhabit for years to come.

Before the Remodel – Guest / Pool Bathroom This bathroom had a generous size, but its design made it feel much smaller than it really was. The slightly lowered ceiling with outdated lighting created a heavy atmosphere, while the dark tile and old bathtub made the space look even more dated. The fixtures were all old, and the dark cabinetry only added to the closed-in feel. Despite its potential, the bathroom looked tired, outdated, and far from welcoming.uncomfortably small and unpractical. The dark tile and color choices made the entire space feel heavy and closed-in, taking away any sense of comfort or luxury. Overall, it was an old-fashioned, poorly planned bathroom in need of a complete reimagining.

This classic Portland bungalow in the highly desirable Irvington neighborhood was in desperate need of a kitchen update. Aside from tired finishes and cabinets that have seen a full life, the original layout left the family living in a small portion of the kitchen and not taking advantage of the full square footage. The family desired a design that married both the original architectural details of their bungalow with their preference for clean and modern European design. To accomplish this request, APD brought in sleek flat panel custom frameless cabinets filled with smart and strategic accessories to make the most out of every cabinet box, including full height pantry pull-out, spice and utensil pull-outs flanking the cooking zone, a blind corner pull-0ut to avoid loosing items in the hard-to-reach space, trash & recycling pull-0ut disguised to blend with the adjacent three drawers, and a wall cabinet pull-out sized to fit under the support beam spanning the width of the room. For the traditional - we kept the classic moldings around the windows and doors, continued the homes hardwood floors into the new space, incorporated classic school house light fixtures, and swapped out the slider to the back patio in favor for one with divided lights adding to the architectural detail. Matte black granite countertops with handmade black ceramic tile backsplash bridge the gap between the modern and the traditional thanks to their clean lines, high contrast color palette, and textural and artistic details. Opting for a few adjustments to the layout created a space plan that took advantage of the full square footage of the room! In the original layout, the refrigerator was squeezed onto the same wall as the cooking, leaving very little counterspace around the hard working cooking zone along with a significant portion of the room (a previous addition) under-utilized. Relocating the refrigerator increased counterspace and storage while creating a “flow” through the entire room. Luxury Miele and Subzero appliances make this kitchen a chef’s dream! To add to the clean modern look, we opted for an induction cooktop with wall oven directly below … a great alternative to the often used range! Paneling the built-in refrigerator and dishwasher help to calm the overall visual noise of the space, hiding the two hardworking appliances away! This new family kitchen is at once hardworking, sleek, and timeless!

This open concept had everything everyone asks for such as an open plan with connection to the Family room, an island, wall ovens, etc. However, all of these great features were poorly arranged and inhibited the use of the space. By redesigning the layout, we were able to keep all existing walls in place and provide a new and improved layout that the homeowner loves. The full size refrigerator was relocated to the corner, a range replaced the cooktop & wall ovens which were not efficient in the limited space, and a three-segment island replaced the existing two-tired island. The new island provides more seating, additional workspace and most importantly, improved flow. Cabinetry was replaced with white shaker style cabinets that extend to the ceiling. A TV was built-in above the 5-door refrigerator, a new chimney style hood and glass front cabinet were carefully positioned to create balance. The island was painted a blue-grey color and topped with a warm, elegant wood top. Cabinets lining the walls are topped with blue-grey granite and have a coordinating glass tile backsplash. Dark stainless steel appliances provide the right amount of contrast. New lighting and refreshed floors finish off the space. The inefficient pantry closet was replaced with a new built-in pantry cabinet with pull-out tray shelves and deep drawers.

We transform garages of all shapes or sizes into well organized, beautiful, and functional spaces! Tired of traversing mountains of bins and boxes? Schedule your Free Design Consultation today!

David Wakely
Inspiration for an eclectic home office remodel in San Francisco

Photography An Original When your family thrives on outdoor activities, living on the water is a bonus! The main house and pool house are all about the river views- from the windows expanding floor to ceiling and updated open floor plan, the project team capitalized on bringing a whole new light to this incredible property. Paying homage to the beautiful coastal town of Nantucket, our goal was to bring the love for the island’s classic aesthetic to our clients primary South Shore, MA residence. It wasn’t long after our clients took ownership of the Gulf River property, did they want to change the dated interiors, divided floor plan and tired exterior elements at the main house and pool house. Architect, Hoadley Martinez and interior designer, Christine McGinty were charged with opening the space up to represent a coastal love all while bringing functionality to an active family lifestyle. Our project timeline was nothing short of unique. The homeowners had twenty-three family members arriving on the 23rd of December to enjoy the holiday week. This is an annual traditional for the family so how could we let them down! Our shovel broke ground the first week of September, giving our team sixteen weeks to renovate multiple interior and exterior areas of a 5,500 square foot home. Multiple crews were strategically scheduled daily, keeping areas dedicated to the appropriate process all while keeping the project moving forward efficiently. The existing cabinetry, appliances, moldings and flooring were removed and donated to a local charity. At the main house, working alongside Roomscapes Cabinetry & Design, we extended the existing footprint to include a 12 x 10 mudroom, raised the ceiling in the kitchen to incorporate a coffered ceiling, opened the existing walls up to incorporate a new pantry and sitting room. All mechanical infrastructure, plumbing, HVAC and electrical were updated. The floors throughout were replaced with an 8” Carlisle Wide Plank White Oak. The exteriors shell was stripped down to the sheathing. We increased the size of multiple window openings to capitalize on the stunning coastal views. We used an Alaskan Yellow cedar shingles on both the roof and sidewall as the material properties weather to a beautiful silvery grey. The exterior trim profiles and scale was increased to bring more definition to the architectural elements. The finishing touch were custom copper gutters to add a little extra sparkle! All these hurdles made the project team grow closer and committed to making this magic holiday gathering happen. You could say it was a Christmas miracle!

This tired ranch was in dire need of an update. Formerly the kitchen was separate from the living room and the dining area was severely undersized. SLR Architecture opened up the kitchen to the great room and defined the living and dining areas so that each space stands on it's own. With help from interior designer Justine Sterling the finishes, furniture, ad accessories were carefully considered so that the whole room works as an overall composition. A compact mud room was carved out of the back hall from a formally over sized laundry room so the family had a convenient drop zone, also the front entry was upgraded and a new rear deck was added for easier exterior access. Lighting was carefully considered so that different zones were well lit. photo: Jessica Delaney

Like many homes, the interior kitchen area is set towards the back of the house, and has easy access to the yard. While this might be convenient for getting to the grill, it does not necessary make it an outdoor 'destination place'. Ecoscape's designer re-imagined the space so that a new outdoor kitchen has room for meal preparation and places to sit. Colorful plantings replaced the tired old turf, with a Bloodgood Japanese maple as focal point in the sea of 'golden moneywort'. (The tree is young yet, but sports burgundy red leaves that will turn brilliant scarlet in fall. This maple is the perfect size for this application and will mature to 15-20 feet.)

Bremner Pool And Spa renovated this 1970‘s pool. We took a tired vinyl liner pool with old plastic coping, 6’straight fibreglass steps and a very uneven brushed concrete deck and modernized it to current standards. We installed 8’ roman end acrylic steps with spa jets for hydrotherapy making the step more visually pleasing and more functional as a seat. To add a dimension to the deep end, we eliminated the diving board and added a natural stone bench, thus removing the starkness of a rectangle pool. We changed the plain looks of a brushed concrete to the more modern method of stamping the concrete and added a cantilever coping to the pool edge in a different colour to highlight. At the shallow end, we increased the size and added a decorative concrete wall to border the seating area. A new vinyl liner completed the job.

The layout of this early 90’s home was adequate for the husband when he was just living there. However, now the family of three and their loving cat live there together; the space quickly became confined and inadequate. The Clients contacted us to discuss what their options may be to help the home feel more spacious. After a few weeks of design and engineering, we went to work on opening up the first floor to increase the size of the rooms while creating continuity with the adjoining rooms. A once tired and confined layout became a spacious, comfortable, & aesthetically pleasing space to live and entertain.

The layout of this early 90’s home was adequate for the husband when he was just living there. However, now the family of three and their loving cat live there together; the space quickly became confined and inadequate. The Clients contacted us to discuss what their options may be to help the home feel more spacious. After a few weeks of design and engineering, we went to work on opening up the first floor to increase the size of the rooms while creating continuity with the adjoining rooms. A once tired and confined layout became a spacious, comfortable, & aesthetically pleasing space to live and entertain.

We are delighted to have completed the radical transformation of a tired detached property in South Croydon. When they appointed Granit, our clients were living in the property which had previously been divided into a number of flats. The historic sub-division had resulted in an extremely poor use of space with redundant staircases, kitchens and bathrooms throughout. Our clients sought to reconfigure the property back into a single dwelling for his growing family. Our client had an eye for design and was keen to balance contemporary design whilst maintaining as much of the character of the original house. Maximising natural light, space and establishing a visual and physical connection were also key drivers for the design. Owing to the size of the property, it became apparent that reconfiguration rather than extension provided the solution to meet the brief. A metal clad ‘intervention’ was introduced to the rear facade. This created a strong horizontal element creating a visual balance with the vertical nature of the three storey gable. The metal cladding specified echoed the colour of the red brick string courses tying old with new. Slender frame sliding doors provide access and views of the large garden. The central circulation space was transformed by the introduction of a double height glazed slot wrapping up the rear facade and onto the roof. This allows daylight to permeate into the heart of the otherwise dark deep floor plan. The staircase was reconfigured into a series of landings looking down over the main void space below and out towards the tree canopies at the rear of the garden. The introduction of double pocket doors throughout the ground floor creates a series of interconnected spaces and the whitewashed Larch flooring flows seamlessly from room to room. A bold palette of colours and materials lends character and texture throughout the property. The end result is a spacious yet cosy environment for the family to inhabit for years to come.

The sofa was "reimagined" aka-reupholstered. New fabric in aubegene (eggplant/purple), new legs and nail heads helped make an old, tired - but loved - sofa into a totally new piece. Patterned bolsters were added. Since a special sized ottoman/coffee table was needed, the ottoman was custom made. Faux leather was used; nail heads enhanced the ottoman. A faux zebra rug was placed under the ottoman.

We are delighted to have completed the radical transformation of a tired detached property in South Croydon. When they appointed Granit, our clients were living in the property which had previously been divided into a number of flats. The historic sub-division had resulted in an extremely poor use of space with redundant staircases, kitchens and bathrooms throughout. Our clients sought to reconfigure the property back into a single dwelling for his growing family. Our client had an eye for design and was keen to balance contemporary design whilst maintaining as much of the character of the original house. Maximising natural light, space and establishing a visual and physical connection were also key drivers for the design. Owing to the size of the property, it became apparent that reconfiguration rather than extension provided the solution to meet the brief. A metal clad ‘intervention’ was introduced to the rear facade. This created a strong horizontal element creating a visual balance with the vertical nature of the three storey gable. The metal cladding specified echoed the colour of the red brick string courses tying old with new. Slender frame sliding doors provide access and views of the large garden. The central circulation space was transformed by the introduction of a double height glazed slot wrapping up the rear facade and onto the roof. This allows daylight to permeate into the heart of the otherwise dark deep floor plan. The staircase was reconfigured into a series of landings looking down over the main void space below and out towards the tree canopies at the rear of the garden. The introduction of double pocket doors throughout the ground floor creates a series of interconnected spaces and the whitewashed Larch flooring flows seamlessly from room to room. A bold palette of colours and materials lends character and texture throughout the property. The end result is a spacious yet cosy environment for the family to inhabit for years to come.

This tired ranch was in dire need of an update. Formerly the kitchen was separate from the living room and the dining area was severely undersized. SLR Architecture opened up the kitchen to the great room and defined the living and dining areas so that each space stands on it's own. With help from interior designer Justine Sterling the finishes, furniture, ad accessories were carefully considered so that the whole room works as an overall composition. A compact mud room was carved out of the back hall from a formally over sized laundry room so the family had a convenient drop zone, also the front entry was upgraded and a new rear deck was added for easier exterior access. Lighting was carefully considered so that different zones were well lit. photo: Jessica Delaney

This tired ranch was in dire need of an update. Formerly the kitchen was separate from the living room and the dining area was severely undersized. SLR Architecture opened up the kitchen to the great room and defined the living and dining areas so that each space stands on it's own. With help from interior designer Justine Sterling the finishes, furniture, ad accessories were carefully considered so that the whole room works as an overall composition. A compact mud room was carved out of the back hall from a formally over sized laundry room so the family had a convenient drop zone, also the front entry was upgraded and a new rear deck was added for easier exterior access. Lighting was carefully considered so that different zones were well lit. photo: Jessica Delaney