Laurie S. Woods
Family room - traditional family room idea in New York with a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace

Minimalist open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room photo in Tampa with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Huge transitional gray two-story wood house exterior idea in Salt Lake City with a hip roof and a shingle roof

This Modern English home has history! Passed down through family inheritance, it hadn’t been truly updated since 1965. Lucky us that we met Vince & Angelica after they searched for just the right design team! The inspiration for this now elegant home started with their award winning backyard garden and koi pond. Like their landscaping, elegance and details now abound throughout the interior of this home also! Every surface was transformed to create a ‘new’ old world charm. Double saturated shadowbox, unique wallpaper, and checkerboard tile details set the backdrop for our curated blend of furnishing and accessory elements from top to bottom. Many cherished collectibles were carefully integrated as well. Oh, but the KITCHEN!! You can see even more details here!

Inspiration for a coastal porch remodel in Seattle

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic living room remodel in San Francisco

Next Stage Design + Build with Project Designer, Shelly Yoder, UDCP
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in San Francisco

entry courtyard (just planted!)
Cottage wood exterior home idea in Seattle with a metal roof and a brown roof

2011 CHRYSALIS AWARD WINNER, ADDITION $100,000-$250,000 The owners of this small rambler in Arlington were tired of living in cramped quarters. The home’s kitchen was only 8’ x 11’ and they wanted to add a family room. Because the home is built on a slab, with no basement, the decision was made to expand out into the backyard. Their contractor, Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, proposed an addition to back of the home, which would also be built on a slab to match the existing elevation. To make room, they had to remove the home’s original patio and then remove the 30’ wall running across the back of the home. In their place, a new 16’x32’ addition was built with high cathedral ceilings, skylights and French doors topped with arched transoms. An archway and decorative columns were put in place to connect the old and new areas. The new kitchen starts in the old kitchen area and wraps its way into the new addition, ending with a large two-tier island and prep sink topped with exotic granite. The main sink is in the corner of the old kitchen, easily accessible from both ends of the work area. Beautiful custom-made cabinets include a wooden range hood and floor-to-ceiling pantry with wine rack. Stainless steel Energy Star appliances include a professional-quality gas cooktop and double wall ovens. The kitchen flows into the new family room via an open concept design. A beautiful floor-to-ceiling natural stone fire place located in the middle of the back wall serves as a visual separation for the space. A round window is uniquely embedded in the stone work near the ceiling. Wide plank oak flooring runs the length of the room, providing a uniform look throughout the space. Opposite the kitchen is the home’s new family room, with comfortable leather seating and plenty of windows to brighten up the space. A new stone patio off the kitchen provides the finishing touch to this remodel. In the end, the project provided the homeowners with the space they wanted and plenty of amenities to make family time or entertaining guests a pleasure.

Our client contacted us regarding their outdated bathroom. They could not handle taking a shower in their “TOMB” shower anymore. They wanted to update their bathroom giving it a streamlined look with a traditional touch. Our client’s desires were: • Wanted a large open shower • Wanted a larger master closet • Wanted a better way of excising the wall cabinet by the vanity • They wanted to remove their Jacuzzi tub After coming up with a design that satisfied the customer’s needs, we started the demo process and ran into the first obstacle. Because of the construction of the original closed shower, there was no moisture barrier used which caused the existing framing and exterior sheathing to decay. We were also startled by what look like an expanding black cloud of carpenter ants, when we opened up the wall. After making the necessary repairs, we continued with the remodel which consisted of a dramatic large shower, the large subway design, granite shelving along with the bronze accent tile that enhances the over all look of the show er. It also gave it a larger appearance with the custom glass enclose. Another concern we had after relocating the shower to its new location, was that it was under an existing skylight. We felt that there maybe a moisture concern especially during the winter months. To over come this obstacle we installed an exhaust fan near the ceiling in the w all above the shower. We painted the exhaust fan grill the same color of the walls, so the fan would not stand out. To make sure that there would not be any problem with condensation around the skylight , we trimmed the skylight with azek material. We installed custom cabinets that reflected the look the client was trying to achieve. During this process we over came our last obstacle by installing bi-fold style doors on the wall cabinet next to the vanity, which would swing completely out of the way so the customer could have full access to the slide drawers. The handles were placed on the doors to make it look like a regular two door wall cabinet. The bi-fold action also allowanced it to clear a wall sconce.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Our client contacted us regarding their outdated bathroom. They could not handle taking a shower in their “TOMB” shower anymore. They wanted to update their bathroom giving it a streamlined look with a traditional touch. Our client’s desires were: • Wanted a large open shower • Wanted a larger master closet • Wanted a better way of excising the wall cabinet by the vanity • They wanted to remove their Jacuzzi tub After coming up with a design that satisfied the customer’s needs, we started the demo process and ran into the first obstacle. Because of the construction of the original closed shower, there was no moisture barrier used which caused the existing framing and exterior sheathing to decay. We were also startled by what look like an expanding black cloud of carpenter ants, when we opened up the wall. After making the necessary repairs, we continued with the remodel which consisted of a dramatic large shower, the large subway design, granite shelving along with the bronze accent tile that enhances the over all look of the show er. It also gave it a larger appearance with the custom glass enclose. Another concern we had after relocating the shower to its new location, was that it was under an existing skylight. We felt that there maybe a moisture concern especially during the winter months. To over come this obstacle we installed an exhaust fan near the ceiling in the w all above the shower. We painted the exhaust fan grill the same color of the walls, so the fan would not stand out. To make sure that there would not be any problem with condensation around the skylight , we trimmed the skylight with azek material. We installed custom cabinets that reflected the look the client was trying to achieve. During this process we over came our last obstacle by installing bi-fold style doors on the wall cabinet next to the vanity, which would swing completely out of the way so the customer could have full access to the slide drawers. The handles were placed on the doors to make it look like a regular two door wall cabinet. The bi-fold action also allowanced it to clear a wall sconce.

With education being key to our remodel process, our designer discussed lighting elements, space planning, cabinet options and finish materials with our homeowners. To begin, she talked about under cabinet and above cabinet lighting options. They also discussed the popularity and functionality of LED lights for task, decorative and ambient lighting scenes. Eavesdropping on our conversation, one of the brothers chimed in on how often they had to change the recessed ceiling fixtures. That comment from the brother led our designer to increase our scope of work to add dimmable LED can lights in the color frequency close to daylight. Now it was time to complete the finish selections. Product selection had to go quickly, as the homeowner was only able to dedicate one long weekend to shop. With this goal in mind, our designer made choosing plumbing products and decorative lighting an online event. Then they went to an appliance showroom and granite/tile showroom to make the final choices. Our designer made sure they found a gorgeous set of slabs for the granite above the cooktop, since it was a key factor for the client and her mother. With all the selections made, final space plan drawings and the electrical layout complete, the client met with our designer to sign off on all the paperwork and move forward with their new kitchen. The key improvements incorporated into the final design were: LED can lights, under cabinet and above cabinet lights all on dimmers. Accessible items for wheelchair use with a touch-free faucet and microwave drawer . Extra deep counter space and seating at the island. Additional storage cabinets under the seating area of the island. Decreased traffic flow issues by adjusting refrigerator/freezer location and double oven cabinet. Plug strips under the wall cabinets to eliminate backsplash outlets. An expansive granite slab backsplash centered on the cooktop area. Our project manager started the job with rough electrical and rough plumbing, as the homeowner had enlisted the assistance of a family friend to remove the kitchen cabinets and re-install them in her garage. The plumbing was straight forward with the gas line already in place and the sink location staying in the island. The electrician wired for the new under-cabinet and above cabinet LED strip lights. The sconce locations were adjusted for the new bar top location, as were a row of can lights to accommodate for an even pour of ambient light throughout the space. The new LED can lights are a hit, as none have needed to be changed out. Our project manager specializes in trim carpentry so he did the cabinet install to keep our schedule on time. The cabinets went in smoothly except for the custom refrigerator panel. One of the panels needed to be remade three times, as each time it was produced the manufacturer’s quality control caught a defect. Our project manager worked closely with manufacturer and homeowner to keep everyone in the loop waiting patiently on its arrival. When it came time for the quartzite installation, we worked closely with our fabricator at cut layout to create the focal point at the hood. His team did an excellent job with the installation. The sink area was a surprise. They went above and beyond in framing the sink with the similar vein to the hood backsplash. Upon installation, the tile backsplash just did not do justice to the amazing quartzite. Discussion with the family and pictures sent to the homeowner lead to a decision to call the fabricator to see how much quartzite might be left. He had just enough to complete the island and beverage center. In the end, the backsplash worked out beautifully in all stone. We met our schedule for the end date of the project and the wheelchair-bound sister was able to move in. For this large Italian family, big meals with lots of family and friends in the new wonderful hub/kitchen is now a part of their happy life. Mission accomplished.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Organizing your cleaning supplies doesn’t have to be a chore. Easy to pullout and remove so you can take it from room to room. Can be mounted left-or right handed and easily installs with just four screws.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kitchen - craftsman kitchen idea in Salt Lake City

Bathroom - contemporary master beige tile bathroom idea in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and white walls