I was contacted by the Realtor who sold this house to his friend in San Marino to help with the interior design of the extensive remodel. The 3,777 sf house with 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms was built in 1948 and was in need of some major changes. San Marino, CA, incorporated in 1913, was designed by its founders to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways. In 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked the city as the 63rd most expensive area to live in the United States. There are little to no homes priced under US$1,000,000, with the median list price of a single family home at US$2,159,000. We decided to tear down walls, remove a fireplace (gasp!), reconfigure bathrooms and update all the finishes while maintaining the integrity of the San Marino style. Here are some photos of the home after. The kitchen was totally gutted. Custom, lacquered black and white cabinetry was built for the space. We decided on 2-tone cabinets and 2 door styles on the island and surrounding cabinets for visual impact and variety. Cambria quartz in Braemar was installed on the counters and back splash for easy clean up and durability. New Schonbek crystal chandeliers and silver cabinetry hardware are the jewelry, making this space sparkle. Custom Roman shades add a bit of softness to the room and custom barstools in white and black invite guests to have a seat while dinner is being prepared. In the dining room we opted for custom moldings to add architectural detail to the walls and infuse a hint of traditional style. The black lacquer table and Louis chairs are custom made for the space with a peacock teal velvet. A traditional area rug and custom window treatments in a blue-green were added to soften the space. The Schonbek Crystal Rain chandelier is the show stopper in the space with pure sparkle and graceful traditional form. The living room is host to custom tufted grey velvet sofas, custom accent chair with ottoman in a silver fabric, custom black and while media center, baby grand piano with mini Schonbeck Crystal Rain chandelier hung above, custom tufted velvet tuffet for extra seating, one-of-a-kind art and custom window coverings in a diamond grey fabric. Sparkle and pizzazz was added with purple, crystal and mirrored accessories. The occupant of this home is a 21 year old woman. Her favorite colors are baby pink and blue. I knew this was possibly going to be my only chance in my design career to go nuts with the color pink, so I went for it! A majestic pink velvet tufted bed dressed with luxurious white linens is the focal point. Flanking the bed are two pink crystal chandeliers, a custom white lacquer desk with a baby blue Louis chair and a custom baby blue nightstand with a Moroccan door design. A super soft white shag rug graces the floor. Custom white silk window coverings with black out lining provide privacy and a completely dark room when wanted. An acrylic hanging bubble chair adds whimsy and playfulness. The master bathroom was a complete transformation. A clawfoot slipper tub sits inside the shower, clad with marble wall and floor tiles and a basketweave with custom baby blue accent tiles. A frameless shower wall separates the wet and dry areas. A custom baby blue cabinet with crystal knobs, topped with Cambria Quartz Whitney, was built to match the bedroom’s nightstand. Above hangs a pair of pink crystal wall sconces and a vintage rococo mirror painted in high gloss white. Crystal and nickel faucets and fixtures add more sparkle and shine.

Striking graphics set the stage when you design a girl’s room for fun. This room features a cool comfort that has pink, turquoise and black clouds, reversible to black and white polka dots. The black and white striped rug continues the bold pattern, while a midcentury modern-inspired end table provides the perfect place to set a book or glass of water. A sure-fire heart stopper for the little girls! Like this look? Grab it by clicking here.

The shower stopper of this kitchen was the granite. We went with a very exotic look and worked around it.
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, granite countertops, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash and multicolored countertops

Did I mention how much I love furniture pieces? This one was done in our "Hale Navy" and the client loved it so much, she painted the walls and ceiling with it, too! It's so moody but cozy and such a show-stopper!

The Sea Glass Buffet is a show-stopper with its four sand blasted glass doors with a wavy pattern reminiscent of the calming currents of resort water. The lighted interior allows the glass to glow. The Bali sun-drenched sienna buffet with rich walnut parsons legs has two felt lined drawers, one divided for silver, plus two adjustable glass shelves grooved for plates. This tranquil buffet is perfect as a statement piece and to amp up entertainment.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

Rustic-Modern Finnish Kitchen Our client was inclined to transform this kitchen into a functional, Finnish inspired space. Finnish interior design can simply be described in 3 words: simplicity, innovation, and functionalism. Finnish design addresses the tough climate, unique nature, and limited sunlight, which inspired designers to create solutions, that would meet the everyday life challenges. The combination of the knotty, blue-gray alder base cabinets combined with the clean white wall cabinets reveal mixing these rustic Finnish touches with the modern. The leaded glass on the upper cabinetry was selected so our client can display their personal collection from Finland. Mixing black modern hardware and fixtures with the handmade, light, and bright backsplash tile make this kitchen a timeless show stopper. This project was done in collaboration with Susan O'Brian from EcoLux Interiors.

Our clients, two NYC transplants, were excited to have a large yard and ample square footage, but their 1959 ranch featured an en-suite bathroom that was more big-apple-tiny and certainly not fit for two. The original goal was to build a master suite addition on to the south side of the house, but the combination of contractor availability and Denver building costs made the project cost prohibitive. So we turned our attention to how we could maximize the existing square footage to create a true master with walk-in closet, soaking tub, commode room, and large vanity with lots of storage. The south side of the house was converted from two bedrooms, one with the small en-suite bathroom, to a master suite fit for our client’s lifestyle. We used the existing bathroom footprint to place a large shower which hidden niches, a window, and a built-in bench. The commode room took the place of the old shower. The original ‘master’ bedroom was divided in half to provide space for the walk-in closet and their new master bathroom. The clients have, what we dubbed, a classy eclectic aesthetic and we wanted to embrace that with the materials. The 3 x 12 ceramic tile is Fireclay’s Tidewater glaze. The soft variation of a handmade tile plus the herringbone pattern installation makes for a real show stopper. We chose a 3 x 6 marble subway with blue and green veining to compliment the feature tile. The chrome and oil-rubbed bronze metal mix was carefully planned based on where we wanted to add brightness and where we wanted contrast. Chrome was a no-brainer for the shower because we wanted to let the Fireclay tile shine. Over at the vanity, we wanted the fixtures to pop so we opted for oil-rubbed bronze. Final details include a series of robe hook- which is a real option with our dry climate in Colorado. No smelly, damp towels!- a magazine rack ladder and a few pops of wood for warmth and texture.

Words cannot describe the level of transformation this beautiful 60’s ranch has undergone. The home was blessed with a ton of natural light, however the sectioned rooms made for large awkward spaces without much functionality. By removing the dividing walls and reworking a few key functioning walls, this home is ready to entertain friends and family for all occasions. The large island has dual ovens for serious bake-off competitions accompanied with an inset induction cooktop equipped with a pop-up ventilation system. Plenty of storage surrounds the cooking stations providing large countertop space and seating nook for two. The beautiful natural quartzite is a show stopper throughout with it’s honed finish and serene blue/green hue providing a touch of color. Mother-of-Pearl backsplash tiles compliment the quartzite countertops and soft linen cabinets. The level of functionality has been elevated by moving the washer & dryer to a newly created closet situated behind the refrigerator and keeps hidden by a ceiling mounted barn-door. The new laundry room and storage closet opposite provide a functional solution for maintaining easy access to both areas without door swings restricting the path to the family room. Full height pantry cabinet make up the rest of the wall providing plenty of storage space and a natural division between casual dining to formal dining. Built-in cabinetry with glass doors provides the opportunity to showcase family dishes and heirlooms accented with in-cabinet lighting. With the wall partitions removed, the dining room easily flows into the rest of the home while maintaining its special moment. A large peninsula divides the kitchen space from the seating room providing plentiful storage including countertop cabinets for hidden storage, a charging nook, and a custom doggy station for the beloved dog with an elevated bowl deck and shallow drawer for leashes and treats! Beautiful large format tiles with a touch of modern flair bring all these spaces together providing a texture and color unlike any other with spots of iridescence, brushed concrete, and hues of blue and green. The original master bath and closet was divided into two parts separated by a hallway and door leading to the outside. This created an itty-bitty bathroom and plenty of untapped floor space with potential! By removing the interior walls and bringing the new bathroom space into the bedroom, we created a functional bathroom and walk-in closet space. By reconfiguration the bathroom layout to accommodate a walk-in shower and dual vanity, we took advantage of every square inch and made it functional and beautiful! A pocket door leads into the bathroom suite and a large full-length mirror on a mosaic accent wall greets you upon entering. To the left is a pocket door leading into the walk-in closet, and to the right is the new master bath. A natural marble floor mosaic in a basket weave pattern is warm to the touch thanks to the heating system underneath. Large format white wall tiles with glass mosaic accent in the shower and continues as a wainscot throughout the bathroom providing a modern touch and compliment the classic marble floor. A crisp white double vanity furniture piece completes the space. The journey of the Yosemite project is one we will never forget. Not only were we given the opportunity to transform this beautiful home into a more functional and beautiful space, we were blessed with such amazing clients who were endlessly appreciative of TVL – and for that we are grateful!

This homeowner wanted to increase the size of her kitchen and make it a family center during gatherings. The old dining room was brought into the kitchen, doubling the size and dining room moved to the old formal living area. Shaker Cabinets in a pale yellow were installed and the island was done with bead board highlighted to accent the exterior. A baking center on the right side was built lower to accommodate the owner who is an active bread maker. That counter was installed with Carrara Marble top. Glass subway tile was installed as the backsplash. The Island counter top is book matched walnut from Devos Woodworking in Dripping Springs Tx. It is an absolute show stopper when you enter the kitchen. Pendant lighting is a multipe light with the appearance of old insulators which the owner has collected over the years. Open Shelving, glass fronted cabinets and specialized drawers for trash, dishes and knives make this kitchen the owners wish list complete.

This elegant and sophisticated stone and shingle home is tailored for modern living. Custom designed by a highly respected developer, buyers will delight in the bright and beautiful transitional aesthetic. The welcoming foyer is accented with a statement lighting fixture that highlights the beautiful herringbone wood floor. The stunning gourmet kitchen includes everything on the chef's wish list including a butler's pantry and a decorative breakfast island. The family room, awash with oversized windows overlooks the bluestone patio and masonry fire pit exemplifying the ease of indoor and outdoor living. Upon entering the master suite with its sitting room and fireplace, you feel a zen experience. The ultimate lower level is a show stopper for entertaining with a glass-enclosed wine cellar, room for exercise, media or play and sixth bedroom suite. Nestled in the gorgeous Wellesley Farms neighborhood, conveniently located near the commuter train to Boston and town amenities.

This La Jolla condo went from plain jane to super stylish in a flash! Custom local artists and photographers paired with a custom Simply Stunning Spaces sectional, shag wool rug, exquisite modern light fixtures with a trendy fun edge. The outdoor living space was made to feel like an extension of the interior. Nestled on the busy oceanfront walk of Wind n Sea, this patio is a show stopper! Clean, modern, coastal with a pop of feminine & trendy.

Custom made all steel wine cabinet unit is one of a kind for sure! This wine room is sealed and specially insulated to easily keep temperature and humidity perfect for your prized collection. The horizontal steel rods hold 3 bottles across in both mirrored tiled sections. The unit allows for 3 deep as well. The under-lit Onyx Tops truly make this a show stopper!

Due to the pandemic we were unable to take professional photos - candid photos of house remodel throughout the year of the design/ remodel The Carlsbad Home in the Carlsbad Estates Near the Beach had a full redesign and home remodel on the first floor. The home was opened up and the kitchen was moved to the other side of the home. We added a marble island that was a show stopper, within the kitchen that was large open to the outdoors. With new 100 ft windows throughout the living room and the indoor outdoor living was complimented with textured walls, wood floors, amazing show stopping lights, and details of tiles. Located in the prestigious Carlsbad Estates near the beach, this home underwent a complete first-floor redesign and remodel. The transformation that we did with our General Contractor features an open-concept layout with a relocated kitchen, now boasting a stunning marble island that serves as a showpiece. This spacious kitchen seamlessly opens to the outdoors, creating an ideal space for entertaining. Key elements of the remodel include: 100 ft Windows: These expansive windows in the living room enhance the indoor-outdoor living experience, flooding the space with natural light. Textured Walls & Wood Floors: These features add warmth and character, complementing the open layout. Show-Stopping Lighting: Unique lighting fixtures throughout the home create a striking ambiance. Tile Details: Carefully selected tiles add a touch of elegance and individuality. The remodel also introduced: A new guest bathroom A modern laundry room An additional bedroom A built-in bar area in the living room for easy entertaining This beautiful and open space, completed over a year and a half, is now light, bright, and perfect for a young family to grow. The meticulous design and thoughtful details make this Carlsbad home a true masterpiece.

Words cannot describe the level of transformation this beautiful 60’s ranch has undergone. The home was blessed with a ton of natural light, however the sectioned rooms made for large awkward spaces without much functionality. By removing the dividing walls and reworking a few key functioning walls, this home is ready to entertain friends and family for all occasions. The large island has dual ovens for serious bake-off competitions accompanied with an inset induction cooktop equipped with a pop-up ventilation system. Plenty of storage surrounds the cooking stations providing large countertop space and seating nook for two. The beautiful natural quartzite is a show stopper throughout with it’s honed finish and serene blue/green hue providing a touch of color. Mother-of-Pearl backsplash tiles compliment the quartzite countertops and soft linen cabinets. The level of functionality has been elevated by moving the washer & dryer to a newly created closet situated behind the refrigerator and keeps hidden by a ceiling mounted barn-door. The new laundry room and storage closet opposite provide a functional solution for maintaining easy access to both areas without door swings restricting the path to the family room. Full height pantry cabinet make up the rest of the wall providing plenty of storage space and a natural division between casual dining to formal dining. Built-in cabinetry with glass doors provides the opportunity to showcase family dishes and heirlooms accented with in-cabinet lighting. With the wall partitions removed, the dining room easily flows into the rest of the home while maintaining its special moment. A large peninsula divides the kitchen space from the seating room providing plentiful storage including countertop cabinets for hidden storage, a charging nook, and a custom doggy station for the beloved dog with an elevated bowl deck and shallow drawer for leashes and treats! Beautiful large format tiles with a touch of modern flair bring all these spaces together providing a texture and color unlike any other with spots of iridescence, brushed concrete, and hues of blue and green. The original master bath and closet was divided into two parts separated by a hallway and door leading to the outside. This created an itty-bitty bathroom and plenty of untapped floor space with potential! By removing the interior walls and bringing the new bathroom space into the bedroom, we created a functional bathroom and walk-in closet space. By reconfiguration the bathroom layout to accommodate a walk-in shower and dual vanity, we took advantage of every square inch and made it functional and beautiful! A pocket door leads into the bathroom suite and a large full-length mirror on a mosaic accent wall greets you upon entering. To the left is a pocket door leading into the walk-in closet, and to the right is the new master bath. A natural marble floor mosaic in a basket weave pattern is warm to the touch thanks to the heating system underneath. Large format white wall tiles with glass mosaic accent in the shower and continues as a wainscot throughout the bathroom providing a modern touch and compliment the classic marble floor. A crisp white double vanity furniture piece completes the space. The journey of the Yosemite project is one we will never forget. Not only were we given the opportunity to transform this beautiful home into a more functional and beautiful space, we were blessed with such amazing clients who were endlessly appreciative of TVL – and for that we are grateful!

Words cannot describe the level of transformation this beautiful 60’s ranch has undergone. The home was blessed with a ton of natural light, however the sectioned rooms made for large awkward spaces without much functionality. By removing the dividing walls and reworking a few key functioning walls, this home is ready to entertain friends and family for all occasions. The large island has dual ovens for serious bake-off competitions accompanied with an inset induction cooktop equipped with a pop-up ventilation system. Plenty of storage surrounds the cooking stations providing large countertop space and seating nook for two. The beautiful natural quartzite is a show stopper throughout with it’s honed finish and serene blue/green hue providing a touch of color. Mother-of-Pearl backsplash tiles compliment the quartzite countertops and soft linen cabinets. The level of functionality has been elevated by moving the washer & dryer to a newly created closet situated behind the refrigerator and keeps hidden by a ceiling mounted barn-door. The new laundry room and storage closet opposite provide a functional solution for maintaining easy access to both areas without door swings restricting the path to the family room. Full height pantry cabinet make up the rest of the wall providing plenty of storage space and a natural division between casual dining to formal dining. Built-in cabinetry with glass doors provides the opportunity to showcase family dishes and heirlooms accented with in-cabinet lighting. With the wall partitions removed, the dining room easily flows into the rest of the home while maintaining its special moment. A large peninsula divides the kitchen space from the seating room providing plentiful storage including countertop cabinets for hidden storage, a charging nook, and a custom doggy station for the beloved dog with an elevated bowl deck and shallow drawer for leashes and treats! Beautiful large format tiles with a touch of modern flair bring all these spaces together providing a texture and color unlike any other with spots of iridescence, brushed concrete, and hues of blue and green. The original master bath and closet was divided into two parts separated by a hallway and door leading to the outside. This created an itty-bitty bathroom and plenty of untapped floor space with potential! By removing the interior walls and bringing the new bathroom space into the bedroom, we created a functional bathroom and walk-in closet space. By reconfiguration the bathroom layout to accommodate a walk-in shower and dual vanity, we took advantage of every square inch and made it functional and beautiful! A pocket door leads into the bathroom suite and a large full-length mirror on a mosaic accent wall greets you upon entering. To the left is a pocket door leading into the walk-in closet, and to the right is the new master bath. A natural marble floor mosaic in a basket weave pattern is warm to the touch thanks to the heating system underneath. Large format white wall tiles with glass mosaic accent in the shower and continues as a wainscot throughout the bathroom providing a modern touch and compliment the classic marble floor. A crisp white double vanity furniture piece completes the space. The journey of the Yosemite project is one we will never forget. Not only were we given the opportunity to transform this beautiful home into a more functional and beautiful space, we were blessed with such amazing clients who were endlessly appreciative of TVL – and for that we are grateful!

This display features River Run Cabinetry, a factory line of cabinets which Dimensions in Wood offers as an inexpensive alternative to 100% custom cabinetry. This kitchen display showcases an available spice pull out on the left, a pull out a trash can drawer on the right. A tall pantry showcases the very versatile adjustable rollout system with soft close trays to maximize your food storage space. Laminate countertop features a crescent edge, complimented by an integrated, stainless steel Karran sink. Above the sink are two floating shelves which feature LED Task Lighting beneath them to display your aesthetic pieces. The sink front has a Rev-a-Shelf tip out tray for out of sight, convenient storage of kitchen items like sponges, sink stoppers, or anything. The wall cabinet sports an under-mount Task Lighting angled power strip with USB power ports to charge all your devices. The black and white 3 inch by 6 inch gloss backsplash tiles, installed in a stacked pattern, add a little whimsy to the overall space.

Our clients, two NYC transplants, were excited to have a large yard and ample square footage, but their 1959 ranch featured an en-suite bathroom that was more big-apple-tiny and certainly not fit for two. The original goal was to build a master suite addition on to the south side of the house, but the combination of contractor availability and Denver building costs made the project cost prohibitive. So we turned our attention to how we could maximize the existing square footage to create a true master with walk-in closet, soaking tub, commode room, and large vanity with lots of storage. The south side of the house was converted from two bedrooms, one with the small en-suite bathroom, to a master suite fit for our client’s lifestyle. We used the existing bathroom footprint to place a large shower which hidden niches, a window, and a built-in bench. The commode room took the place of the old shower. The original ‘master’ bedroom was divided in half to provide space for the walk-in closet and their new master bathroom. The clients have, what we dubbed, a classy eclectic aesthetic and we wanted to embrace that with the materials. The 3 x 12 ceramic tile is Fireclay’s Tidewater glaze. The soft variation of a handmade tile plus the herringbone pattern installation makes for a real show stopper. We chose a 3 x 6 marble subway with blue and green veining to compliment the feature tile. The chrome and oil-rubbed bronze metal mix was carefully planned based on where we wanted to add brightness and where we wanted contrast. Chrome was a no-brainer for the shower because we wanted to let the Fireclay tile shine. Over at the vanity, we wanted the fixtures to pop so we opted for oil-rubbed bronze. Final details include a series of robe hook- which is a real option with our dry climate in Colorado. No smelly, damp towels!- a magazine rack ladder and a few pops of wood for warmth and texture.

This property is located in the beautiful California redwoods and yet just a few miles from the beach. We wanted to create a beachy feel for this kitchen, but also a natural woodsy vibe. Mixing materials did the trick. Walnut lower cabinets were balanced with pale blue/gray uppers. The glass and stone backsplash creates movement and fun. The counters are the show stopper in a quartzite with a "wave" design throughout in all of the colors with a bit of sparkle. We love the faux slate floor in varying sized tiles, which is very "sand and beach" friendly. We went with black stainless appliances and matte black cabinet hardware. The entry to the house is in this kitchen and opens to a closet. We replaced the old bifold doors with beautiful solid wood bypass barn doors. Inside one half became a cute coat closet and the other side storage. The old design had the cabinets not reaching the ceiling and the space chopped in half by a peninsula. We opened the room up and took the cabinets to the ceiling. Integrating floating shelves in two parts of the room and glass upper keeps the space from feeling closed in. The round table breaks up the rectangular shape of the room allowing more flow. The whicker chairs and drift wood table top add to the beachy vibe. The accessories bring it all together with shades of blues and cream. This kitchen now feels bigger, has excellent storage and function, and matches the style of the home and its owners. We like to call this style "Beachy Boho". Credits: Bruce Travers Construction Dynamic Design Cabinetry Devi Pride Photography