A complete kitchen and powder room remodel in Herndon, Virginia, designed around two clear priorities: open up the kitchen to the rest of the main level, and create an experience that felt warm and timeless rather than trendy. The original layout had a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and an awkward fridge wall that limited both storage and traffic flow. Our solution involved removing the dividing wall (confirmed non-load-bearing), tightening the new dining room opening to 66 inches, and extending the fridge wall 25 inches into the kitchen to create a proper full-height pantry run. The result is a kitchen that breathes — open to the dining and living areas, with clear sight lines from the island to the bay windows at the far end. Design Approach The clients came in knowing they didn't want white. They didn't want navy. They wanted something with real wood character — the kind of finish that ages well and looks more like furniture than stock kitchen cabinetry. Cherry was the answer to that question. We anchored the room around contrast: warm cherry cabinetry against clean white walls and white quartz, black hardware grounding the cherry's warmth, and a single waterfall island acting as the architectural focal point. Stainless appliances, brushed gold pendant accents, and the herringbone hardwood floor pull the room together without any one element shouting for attention. The Cabinetry Medallion Gold Line Sonoma Cappuccino — a stained cherry finish that catches light differently throughout the day. All-plywood box construction, solid wood doors and drawer fronts, soft close everywhere, US-made with a lifetime warranty. Four pull-out drawers built into the pantry bottoms keep the deep storage actually usable rather than a black hole. Cabinet hardware is Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in flat black — 40 pulls across drawers and doors, plus three longer pulls on the 36-inch base drawers. The black was a deliberate decision: with cherry and stainless already providing warm and cool tones, brass or gold would have been one warm tone too many. Black grounds the cabinetry and gives the kitchen its architectural definition. The Island and Countertops MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold quartz throughout — perimeter counters, island, waterfall ends, and the powder room. The Gold variant has subtle warm veining that pairs with cherry where cooler whites would have fought the wood tone. The island gets a full waterfall edge — slabs book-matched, miters precise, the finished edge essentially seamless. Treating the island as architectural sculpture rather than just functional storage. The black undermount farmhouse-style sink ties back to the hardware throughout the rest of the kitchen. The Backsplash MSI Metro Gold tile — small format white and gold tiles in a herringbone-adjacent pattern with intermittent gold accents. Full height, continuous behind the floating shelves and behind the hood. Four custom floating shelves are spaced above a 3-inch countertop ledge: first shelf 18 inches above the ledge, second shelf 9 inches above that, third 18 inches above the second. The shelves are stained to match the cabinetry. The backsplash continues behind the shelves and behind the hood, so the wall reads as a continuous textured surface that the shelves and hood float in front of. The Appliances This is a serious cooking kitchen. The clients chose a 48-inch Wolf gas range, a Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator integrated into the cherry cabinet wall, a Wolf microwave drawer in the island base, and a Bosch dishwasher. For ventilation, we installed a 1200 CFM hood paired with a make-up air system to balance the negative pressure that hood pulls. New ducting was routed through the exterior siding on the side of the house. The Flooring MSI engineered hardwood throughout the entire main level — approximately 800 square feet — installed in a Bramlett herringbone pattern. Herringbone adds roughly 15-20 percent to material and labor costs because of the angled cuts and waste factor, but the result is a floor that reads as more considered and luxurious than standard plank flooring. Finished with 4.5-inch white wood baseboards throughout. The Powder Room A small room with a big personality. The clients chose a deep blue and teal scallop pattern wallpaper (client-supplied, we installed) and paired it with the same Sonoma Cappuccino cherry vanity used in the kitchen — material continuity between the spaces. Powder room countertop is the same MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold quartz from the kitchen with a rectangular white undermount sink. Hardware on the powder room vanity is Top Knobs Riverside in honey bronze rather than the kitchen's flat black — the warm bronze pulls the brass tones from the faucet into the millwork and complements the wallpaper. New sconce, kept the existing toilet (refinishing or replacing a working toilet is wasted money in a powder room remodel), and a Panasonic Whisper Green exhaust fan. Project Specs Location: Herndon, Virginia Project type: Combined kitchen and powder room remodel Project duration: Approximately 4 to 6 weeks Style: Transitional, Modern Farmhouse, Warm Wood Contemporary Color palette: Cherry, white, black, brushed gold, deep blue (powder room) Materials Cabinetry (kitchen and powder room): Medallion Gold Line Sonoma Cappuccino cherry, Shaker-style, all-plywood box construction, lifetime warranty Kitchen hardware: Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in flat black (TK1014BLK and TK1017BLK) Powder room hardware: Top Knobs Riverside Pulls in honey bronze (TK1012HB) Counter tops: MSI Calacatta Miraggio Gold Quartz, pencil edge, waterfall island Backsplash: MSI Metro Gold tile, full height Floating shelves: 4 custom shelves at 48" by 9", stained to match cabinets Range: 48-inch Wolf gas range Refrigerator: Sub-Zero built-in Microwave: Wolf microwave drawer (island base) Hood: 1200 CFM with make-up air system Kitchen sink: Kohler farmhouse-style, 36-inch base, black Kitchen faucet: Brizo (homeowner-supplied) Flooring: MSI engineered hardwood in Bramlett herringbone pattern, approximately 800 sq ft Baseboards: 4.5-inch white wood throughout Powder room wallpaper: Client-supplied scallop pattern in blues and teals Powder room exhaust fan: Panasonic Whisper Green Paint: Benjamin Moore Designed and built by My Kitchen and Bath out of our Herndon showroom at 285 Sunset Park Drive. We've been designing and building kitchens, bathrooms, and full home renovations across Northern Virginia and the DMV since 1994.

Wallingford, Ct. Living beyond the walls of your home outdoors seamlessly to capture the serenity of the morning sun and after evening dinner gatherings were on the menu for this great family. The idea at hand brought forth by outdoor living fabulously designer Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES were graciously accepted and the work began to not only enlarge the deck space but to capture value centers for Outdoor culinary, evening bar and Alfresco and the convenience of a nearby splash in the hot tub surrounded by granite and even a remote Fire feature above the hot tub. All these features part of the recipe for Living Outdoors fabulously. If you look close enough you can see the masonry details in which Preferred Properties is known for. The elegance of Stone surrounding Brown Jordan's cabinetry in Java color shows the insightfulness of masterful outdoor Kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. The sprawling outdoor grill island has plenty of work or play space for that matter highlighting DCS grill, plenty of storage, two drawer refrigerator and a trash pull all capped off with large swirling granite counters. A nice touch here is the top shelf designed for sight lines from entering the back yard, wind blockage for grilling, receptacles, and even night lighting underneath to illuminate at night. The second area is the sprawling bar and beverage Alfresco up against the house. Even the top shelf mimics the octagon bow window shape. The stone and granite details surround a nice layout of outdoor cabinetry for user convenience. The third area more of a splash to the outdoor living fabulously label is a Sundance spa enabled by a step down into from the deck. The new Deck and multi level stone surround with Remote firewalls keeps the fire visible from the house and poses as a privacy screen and back drop for the hot tub. These subtle features and design ideas by our team make the homeowners feel absolutely fabulous about the newly unfound space. For more great outdoor kitchens go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com or call right away at 1-855-GET OUTDOORS

Photo: the phoenix photography © 2015 Houzz
Living room - eclectic living room idea in Louisville

Home design - traditional home design idea in New York

The list was long. Very long. And the level of remodeling they needed was a too demanding for these very capable empty nester DIYers to handle on their own. That’s not surprising since they wanted to remodel their kitchen, living room, entryway, and add a garage/office/bedroom addition off the side of their home. “I think what was really driving this remodel was the shared desire to liberate this home from its 60’s style (dark paneling) and confined layout,” recalls Murphy Bros. designer Courtney Cartee. “They needed more space everywhere, from the kitchen to the adjoining entryway and living room. In short they really needed a whole new look and layout.” So we suggested a three-part solution. A completely new kitchen, which required the removal of a giant stone fireplace, that was causing all kinds of space issues in both living room, entry and kitchen. The second part of the design involved an addition to the side of the property, which added another garage stall and an office/bedroom above. “I can remember going in front of the city hall officials to get approval for the variance to add on the garage addition,” remembers Cartee. “They were very impressed with how our design integrated the addition with the existing exterior of the home. They remarked that so many remodels in their city now are just tear downs instead of taking the time and imagination to work with what’s already there.” The third aspect of the design had to do with the entry and upgrading the exterior of the home. The entry is now wider and the whole house was painted to achieve much better curb appeal, which can have a big impact on first impressions for resale and simple pride. “Before they had just enough room for barely two people in their kitchen. I mean it was really tight. Once we got that fireplace out, that opened up everything. Now they can have the whole family in that space and still be able to move around and entertain,” says Cartee. Island & perimeter countertop: Azure Quartzite slab from Brazil. Backsplash: Dockside Gale Stria porcelain and glass wall tile

Wallingford, Ct. Living beyond the walls of your home outdoors seamlessly to capture the serenity of the morning sun and after evening dinner gatherings were on the menu for this great family. The idea at hand brought forth by outdoor living fabulously designer Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES were graciously accepted and the work began to not only enlarge the deck space but to capture value centers for Outdoor culinary, evening bar and Alfresco and the convenience of a nearby splash in the hot tub surrounded by granite and even a remote Fire feature above the hot tub. All these features part of the recipe for Living Outdoors fabulously. If you look close enough you can see the masonry details in which Preferred Properties is known for. The elegance of Stone surrounding Brown Jordan's cabinetry in Java color shows the insightfulness of masterful outdoor Kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. The sprawling outdoor grill island has plenty of work or play space for that matter highlighting DCS grill, plenty of storage, two drawer refrigerator and a trash pull all capped off with large swirling granite counters. A nice touch here is the top shelf designed for sight lines from entering the back yard, wind blockage for grilling, receptacles, and even night lighting underneath to illuminate at night. The second area is the sprawling bar and beverage Alfresco up against the house. Even the top shelf mimics the octagon bow window shape. The stone and granite details surround a nice layout of outdoor cabinetry for user convenience. The third area more of a splash to the outdoor living fabulously label is a Sundance spa enabled by a step down into from the deck. The new Deck and multi level stone surround with Remote firewalls keeps the fire visible from the house and poses as a privacy screen and back drop for the hot tub. These subtle features and design ideas by our team make the homeowners feel absolutely fabulous about the newly unfound space. For more great outdoor kitchens go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com or call right away at 1-855-GET OUTDOORS

This house was a new purchase for my clients. I was entrusted with the task to make this 1980’s kitchen into a beautiful chef’s kitchen. The challenge with this kitchen renovation was making sure that I gave my client, a kitchen that a pastry chef would be proud to bake in. Because she is a pastry chef, the original space was not functional for her. It was dark, dated and did not have enough storage. The cabinets were an old traditional expresso finish, small electric drop-in cooktop, and double wall oven with florescent ceiling light fixtures. I wanted to make sure that I capitalized on the square footage in the kitchen and gave them a more Contemporary Style. The first thing, I had to address was the damaged floor. One of the selling points to the house for my clients was the hardwood floors but, a portion of the floor in the kitchen was rotted by years of water decay. We replaced the hardwood floors that were damaged and refinished them. The second, was to open the entryway between the kitchen and dining room and swapping the refrigerator and the pantry. The contractor demoed the kitchen changing the position of the original pantry and the refrigerator. By doing this, provided more floor space for my clients to walk through. The third, was to address the dark cabinet finish. We went with two-tone color cabinetry. The wall and base cabinets are white and the island is a gray finish. As a pastry chef, I had to make sure my client had enough countertop/prep and storage space. The fourth, was very important to her which was replacing the drop-in electric cooktop with a freestanding professional gas range. After addressing these four concerns, my clients are very pleased with the renovation. Happy clients! Photographer: Haigwood Studios

This La Jolla condo, located steps away from Wind n Sea beach was our client's third home we completed for them in San Diego. As vacation rental property owners, this Texas couple plans on making this their retirement escape in the years to come. In the meantime, the design had to be suitable for short time renters. Keeping our clients' needs in mind, the interior design was geared to appeal to the out of towners. With a focus on durability, clean, simple and modern coastal design, we're all pretty certain this little gem is going to stand out amongst its competition. The formula is pretty simple, but our job is to make it happen! :) Most of the furnishings were custom-made to fit the space perfectly, taking advantage of every inch and maximizing the space. Doubling up 2 full size beds in each of the guest rooms made this vacation rental property perfect for families and large groups. One of our biggest challenges? Finding pieces we loved that had no metal accents! ((The salt air takes its toll on those pieces faster than you'd ever guess when you're this close to the ocean!) We take no credit for the incredible sunsets you're guaranteed to get almost every night of your stay here, just one of the many perks of vacationing at Neptune Place. :) Photo Credits: Anthony Ghiglia

The owners of this farmhouse were tempted to sell their home and move to Florida. They decided they would stay if they could remodel to accommodate main floor living with a new master suite and an enlarged family room. A design with three additions enabled us to make all the changes they requested. One addition created the master suite, the second was a five-foot bump out in the family room, and the third is a breezeway addition connecting the garage to the main house. Special features include a master bath with a no-threshold shower and floating vanity. Windows are strategically placed throughout to allow views to the outdoor swimming pool.

jack london photography
Mid-sized transitional kids' gray tile and porcelain tile marble floor drop-in bathtub photo in Phoenix with recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a drop-in sink and quartz countertops

This 1950's kitchen hindered our client's cooking and bi-weekly entertaining and was inconsistent with the home's mid-century architecture. Additional key goals were to improve function for cooking and entertaining 6 to 12 people on a regular basis. Originally with only two entry points to the kitchen (from the entry/foyer and from the dining room) the kitchen wasn’t very open to the remainder of the home, or the living room at all. The door to the carport was never used and created a conflict with seating in the breakfast area. The new plans created larger openings to both rooms, and a third entry point directly into the living room. The “peninsula” manages the sight line between the kitchen and a large, brick fireplace while still creating an “island” effect in the kitchen and allowing seating on both sides. The television was also a “must have” utilizing it to watch cooking shows while prepping food, for news while getting ready for the day, and for background when entertaining. Meticulously designed cabinets provide ample storage and ergonomically friendly appliance placement. Cabinets were previously laid out into two L-shaped spaces. On the “top” was the cooking area with a narrow pantry (read: scarce storage) and a water heater in the corner. On the “bottom” was a single 36” refrigerator/freezer, and sink. A peninsula separated the kitchen and breakfast room, truncating the entire space. We have now a clearly defined cool storage space spanning 60” width (over 150% more storage) and have separated the ovens and cooking surface to spread out prep/clean zones. True pantry storage was added, and a massive “peninsula” keeps seating for up to 6 comfortably, while still expanding the kitchen and gaining storage. The newly designed, oversized peninsula provides plentiful space for prepping and entertaining. Walnut paneling wraps the room making the kitchen a stunning showpiece.

Blau-Thompson Residence This Civil War era, 1680-square-foot three-story row house is located in the Italian Market section of Philadelphia. The BluPath Design principals and their young child were the clients. The project goal was to upgrade a traditional housing type to meet a contemporary lifestyle, applying both sustainable criteria and clean, modern yet sensual aesthetics. The challenge of the property (only 830 square feet in lot size) was to create a design that was small, but smart. The structure formerly housed a luncheonette with two apartments above. The interior was gutted and renovated into a single family home. The construction of a small rear addition added a new kitchen on the first floor and new bathrooms on the second and third levels. The east-west orientation of the home was ideal for the roof-mounted solar collectors, which were installed to provide domestic hot water and supplement the new radiant floor heating system. Exterior sensors improve the efficiency of the heating system's response to fluctuations in outside temperature. A new white-coated, rubber membrane roof reduced the structure's heat gain by 20 percent. A water catch system collects rainwater and air conditioner condensation to water the home's small rear garden. Large windows and skylights bring light deep into the row house and reduce the use of light fixtures. The rear yard garden features ipe decking (a dense, water-repellent hardwood) on permeable compacted gravel to minimize storm water runoff. BluPath Design’s principals used the project to demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated with beauty and function, with sensual materials and colors, well-proportioned and light-filled rooms, economic use of space, and thoughtful details. Cherry flooring and custom stairs complement the Indian slate tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen features custom walnut cabinets with blue granite counters and backsplashes. The first floor dining area is illuminated by a BluPath-designed fiber-optic chandelier. Ipe hardwood is also used for the master bath tub-surround and shower floor. Sliding frosted glass panels separating the master bath from other living areas allows light from the corner windows to naturally illuminate the adjacent room. Awards Honorable Mention for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency IIDA Philadelphia City Center Chapter 3rd Annual Interior Design Awards, June 2007 Bronze 2006 Commonwealth Design Award 10,000 Friends of PA, May 2006 Media HGTV ‘What You Get for the Money’ February 2007 Philadelphia Style Magazine March/April 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer June 11, 2006 Philadelphia CityPaper September 25-October 2, 2003 Photography by Barry Halkin

The renovated building showing the majority of the project. The house was constructed circa 1910 and did not have a third level. The existing roof was removed and a gable roof added to get three bedrooms on the upper story. The basement was excavated level for three more bedrooms.

Incredible opportunity to purchase a completely renovated turnkey rental property with incredible ocean views and great beach access. Step into the tiled foyer and be delighted with the reverse floor plan that takes advantage of the ocean views. The main living level is bright and sunny with brand new wood floors and an open floor plan. The living room features a vaulted ceiling, dramatic views, ceiling fan, a fireplace, and access to the deck and screen porch. The dining room is open with a bay window and great views. The kitchen is any chef's dream with new white cabinets, quartz counters, tile backsplash, eat at bar, microwave, smooth top electric range & additional wall oven, dishwasher, & more. The large screen porch offers a ceiling fan and there is quite a bit of deck space. The spacious master suite features a vaulted ceiling, great views, deck access, ceiling fan, an owners closet, large closet, tile floor in the bathroom, dual vanity with marble counter, and a walk in shower. Bedroom two is on the main level with carpet, a ceiling fan, a private covered porch, closet, and a private bath with tile floor, two vanities, and a tub and shower combo. Also on the main level is the powder bath, a coat closet, and an additional owner's closet. On the lower level you will find two more spacious bedrooms. Bedroom three features two closet, a ceiling fan, and deck access. Bedroom four has ample closet space, deck access, and a private bath with dual shower. The hall bath offers tile floor, a vanity with a marble top and a tub and shower combo. The third floor features a loft/home office space. The fifth bedroom is also on this level. It does not have a closet, but one could easily be added. The views are amazing. Don't let this home get away! Home is being sold fully furnished with some exclusions. Seabrook Island is a 2200-acre resort with 3 miles of beaches, Equestrian Center, Island House, 2 golf courses, Racquet Club, Beach Club, and Lake House. Nearby is Bohicket Marina, and Freshfields Village. Historic downtown Charleston, Kiawah, other islands, medical facilities and airports are within easy biking or driving distance.

Wallingford, Ct. OUTDOORS fabulously designer succeeds in designing for Living beyond the walls of your home outdoors seamlessly to capture the serenity of the morning sun and after evening dinner gatherings were on the menu for this great family. The idea at hand brought forth by outdoor living fabulously designer Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES were graciously accepted and the work began to not only enlarge the deck space but to capture value centers for Outdoor culinary, evening bar and Alfresco and the convenience of a nearby splash in the hot tub surrounded by granite and even a remote Fire feature above the hot tub. All these features part of the recipe for Living Outdoors fabulously. If you look close enough you can see the masonry details in which Preferred Properties is known for. The elegance of Stone surrounding Brown Jordan's cabinetry in Java color shows the insightfulness of masterful outdoor Kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. The sprawling outdoor grill island has plenty of work or play space for that matter highlighting DCS grill, plenty of storage, two drawer refrigerator and a trash pull all capped off with large swirling granite counters. A nice touch here is the top shelf designed for sight lines from entering the back yard, wind blockage for grilling, receptacles, and even night lighting underneath to illuminate at night. The second area is the sprawling bar and beverage Alfresco up against the house. Even the top shelf mimics the octagon bow window shape. The stone and granite details surround a nice layout of outdoor cabinetry for user convenience. The third area more of a splash to the outdoor living fabulously label is a Sundance spa enabled by a step down into from the deck. The new Deck and multi level stone surround with Remote firewalls keeps the fire visible from the house and poses as a privacy screen and back drop for the hot tub. These subtle features and design ideas by our team make the homeowners feel absolutely fabulous about the newly unfound space. For more great outdoor kitchens go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com or call right away at 1-855-GET OUTDOORS

Incredible opportunity to purchase a completely renovated turnkey rental property with incredible ocean views and great beach access. Step into the tiled foyer and be delighted with the reverse floor plan that takes advantage of the ocean views. The main living level is bright and sunny with brand new wood floors and an open floor plan. The living room features a vaulted ceiling, dramatic views, ceiling fan, a fireplace, and access to the deck and screen porch. The dining room is open with a bay window and great views. The kitchen is any chef's dream with new white cabinets, quartz counters, tile backsplash, eat at bar, microwave, smooth top electric range & additional wall oven, dishwasher, & more. The large screen porch offers a ceiling fan and there is quite a bit of deck space. The spacious master suite features a vaulted ceiling, great views, deck access, ceiling fan, an owners closet, large closet, tile floor in the bathroom, dual vanity with marble counter, and a walk in shower. Bedroom two is on the main level with carpet, a ceiling fan, a private covered porch, closet, and a private bath with tile floor, two vanities, and a tub and shower combo. Also on the main level is the powder bath, a coat closet, and an additional owner's closet. On the lower level you will find two more spacious bedrooms. Bedroom three features two closet, a ceiling fan, and deck access. Bedroom four has ample closet space, deck access, and a private bath with dual shower. The hall bath offers tile floor, a vanity with a marble top and a tub and shower combo. The third floor features a loft/home office space. The fifth bedroom is also on this level. It does not have a closet, but one could easily be added. The views are amazing. Don't let this home get away! Home is being sold fully furnished with some exclusions. Seabrook Island is a 2200-acre resort with 3 miles of beaches, Equestrian Center, Island House, 2 golf courses, Racquet Club, Beach Club, and Lake House. Nearby is Bohicket Marina, and Freshfields Village. Historic downtown Charleston, Kiawah, other islands, medical facilities and airports are within easy biking or driving distance.

The owner wanted her master suite to be a daily retreat, a place to get away and relax in her tub. The existing bathroom didn't have a tub and two small closets that opened into the cramped space. An extensive collection of jewelry and shoes overflowed chaotically into the bathroom. In the master bedroom a small desk tucked into a corner by a third small closet took up valuable real estate. The master bath and bedroom were gutted and reconfigured. The closets moved out of the bathroom, and by stealing space above the stairwell and the aforementioned desk nook, a large walk in closet with built in storage was designed at one end of the bedroom. An additional wall of cabinets that houses the TV also serves as a place for shoes and accessory storage. In the new master bath, a new tiled walk in shower with a frameless shower door, and a freestanding bathtub give the room a much more spacious feel. Luxe finishes like marble, handmade tiles, and sleek custom cabinetry add to the spa like feel of the new master bath. A new custom makeup vanity adds even more storage, and the full length mirror disguises another storage cabinet. At the end of the day, the client loves to soak in the tub as she looks out over the treetops in this second story master suite retreat.

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

Colorful and rich style When a repeat client shows up on your doorstep with his third home to furnish and wants to start from scratch and go really bold, you just embrace him, scoot him right up to the resource room, and don’t ask questions! I mean, who does not love a client that embraces velvet, leather, silk and wallcoverings? This lush, vibrant lounge space was all created from the want to really deep dive into something different, eclectic and more traveled. The original small, narrow, dimly lit room totally delivered on helping accomplish that mood. Mixing a little of that Ming dynasty-inspired strawberry red with a deep chocolate mohair on the sectional and cladding the room in a soft, amethyst woven wallcovering. We loved the interplay and “non-matchiness” that this space embraced. Lighting and art were both about telling a story in this room – accenting conversational opportunities and an almost gallery-esque feel. Designating a more dynamic and unusual, sculptural feel – from the harder lines of the statement floor lamp in the living room across to the sprawling, slightly modern bloom of the dining area fixture. Jewel of a space The area rug had to ground the already bold furniture and lend itself to the darker wood floors, and a dusky green wool proved the ticket. We loved the almost pixelated pattern the hand-knotted wool lent to the overall design. A little hint of oxblood, chocolate and blue picked up in accents elsewhere, but the tone of almost jade really caught us about this piece. Not enough can be said about the accent of a dining space either (which in terms of space planning was the only way to balance this long, narrow “hallway” of a room off the kitchen). Citron velvet on the low-profile chairs left the space feeling open, but fun for games and cocktail parties. Plus, the cerused wood dining table was a great complement – offering depth without a conflict to the existing flooring or nearby sectional. Being able to view this space as a whole was very important to us! From the selection of sconces carried throughout (that wonky placement was existing and with so little opportunity to add cans we had to play up the new fixtures in a way that make them feel purposeful and desirable.), to the balance of color and temperature in each furniture grouping. Sometimes working floor to ceiling in an existing space can pose a lot of unique challenges when it comes to furnishing projects. However, we loved that the client embraced our drive to really punch up the visual feel of this living/dining combo. Also, we know the enjoyment he gets from the finished product is a testament to hunting for the right pieces, designing with unusual and luxe fabric combinations, and managing the inclusion of budget-friendly surprises that always balance a job well done. What the client says “From the moment that Cheryl arrived, I felt that she was definitely the designer that I needed to help facilitate & execute my vision for the space. I’m not the “cookie cutter” type, and I immediately realized that Cheryl had a knack for envisioning ideas that were unique, yet tasteful, timeless, and sophisticated.” From its beginnings as a plain Jane envelope, this combination living/dining space becomes a study in texture and color!