Our client was a family with younger children that came to us through the recommendations of former customers. Their existing house had been remodeled by them 10 years earlier and was well-suited to the married couple. With the addition of two younger children, they realized that the house just didn’t function very well for their family. Fortunately, the husband and wife took their time thinking about what they wanted, and by the time they met with us, had their needs well laid out. We brought in local Architect, James Stroupe, and recommended him to the client as a collaborative professional who could help us achieve their goals. This proved to be the case. Jim quickly produced design drawings for them within six weeks that clearly reflected all of the client’s needs and preferences while at the same time dramatically re-creating the home in a beautiful contemporary design. The new home required a complete reconstruction of the existing house that left only one bathroom unaltered. New square footage was added at the lower level to expand and reconfigure the living area, while an entirely new upstairs wing was constructed to create space for a new master suite with views out toward the ocean. The entire roof was rebuilt, all new windows and interior doors were added and the full exterior received a new modern looking stucco finish. Stainless steel cable railings were added to the decks to create an updated look, and fine hardwood accents were used to pull the design together. Our efforts produced a new three bedroom, three bath home with a large and inviting ground floor patio area, wide open living areas on the first floor with new kitchen, bathroom and dining room. The photographs in this section show the striking results- clean lines, dramatic architectural touches, and light, open and airy interior spaces. Our client was very pleased with the results.

The #1 Most Popular Bathroom Photo in 2018 on Houzz! Please see all of the specifications to this shower: Shower wall tile: Daltile- Pickets- Matte white, model: CG-PKMTWH7530 Bathroom floor tile: Lili Cement tiles, Tiffany collection, color 3. http://lilitile.com/project/tiffany-3/ Plumbing fixtures: Brizo, Litze collection in the brilliance luxe gold https://www.brizo.com/bath/collection/litze Vanity hardware: Amerock pulls in the golden champagne finish: https://www.amerock.com/Products/Detail/pid/2836/s/golden-champagne_pull_bar-pulls_128mm_bp40517bbz The dimensions of this bathroom are: 4'-11" wide by 8'-10" long Paint by Sherwin Williams: Vanity cabinet- SW 6244 Naval Walls- SW 7015 Repose Gray Door hardware: Emtek C520ROUUS19- Flat Black Round Knob https://www.build.com/emtek-c520rou-privacy-door-knob/s443128?uid=2613248 Lighting was purchased via Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/266595096/double-bulb-sconce-light-solid-brass?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-home_and_living-lighting-sconces&utm_custom1=e0d352ca-f1fd-4e22-9313-ab9669b0b1ff&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpNGS_9r61wIVDoRpCh1XAQWxEAQYASABEgKLhPD_BwE These are the gold tipped bulbs for the light fixture: https://www.cb2.com/g25-gold-tipped-60w-light-bulb/s161692

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design | L. Cramer Builders + Remodelers, Builder | Troy Thies, Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Kyle Caldwell
Elegant white two-story exterior home photo in New York with a shingle roof

Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Our role in the reconstruction of this home was two-fold. The first year of our involvement was spent working with a team of forensic contractors gutting the house, cleansing it of all particulate matter, and then helping our client negotiate his insurance settlement. Once we got over these hurdles, the design work and reconstruction started. Maintaining the existing shell, we reworked the interior room arrangement to create classic great room house with a contemporary twist. Both levels of the home were opened up to take advantage of the waterfront views and flood the interiors with natural light. On the lower level, rearrangement of the walls resulted in a tripling of the size of the family room while creating an additional sitting/game room. The upper level was arranged with living spaces bookended by the Master Bedroom at one end the kitchen at the other. The open Great Room and wrap around deck create a relaxed and sophisticated living and entertainment space that is accentuated by a high level of trim and tile detail on the interior and by custom metal railings and light fixtures on the exterior.

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Bathroom - large coastal master white tile and ceramic tile light wood floor bathroom idea in Boston with white walls

Photo by Konstrukt Photo

This spacious home in North Vancouver's Deep Cove community had been built and decorated just over 20 years ago and was in need of updating. Our clients who are empty nesters, spend much of their time in the kitchen and family room so we focused on these spaces keeping in mind that the more formal spaces on the main floor will follow in a few years time. For the most part the layout of their kitchen worked well for them so our role was to tweak the kitchen and family room furniture layout and to select updated finishes and furnishings. Since this home transformation is not happening all at once, we purposefully selected classic finishes, like antique brass hardware, that will tie in with the rest of the home's decor until it can be updated. The resulting refresh stays true to the original feel of the house while giving it a clean, updated look.

Todd Wright
Small eclectic freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office photo in Other with beige walls

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

This spacious home in North Vancouver's Deep Cove community had been built and decorated just over 20 years ago and was in need of updating. Our clients who are empty nesters, spend much of their time in the kitchen and family room so we focused on these spaces keeping in mind that the more formal spaces on the main floor will follow in a few years time. For the most part the layout of their kitchen worked well for them so our role was to tweak the kitchen and family room furniture layout and to select updated finishes and furnishings. Since this home transformation is not happening all at once, we purposefully selected classic finishes, like antique brass hardware, that will tie in with the rest of the home's decor until it can be updated. The resulting refresh stays true to the original feel of the house while giving it a clean, updated look.

Pantry off of Kitchen
Large transitional u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen photo in Phoenix with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2013 Houzz
Eclectic living room photo in New York

One of our favorite clients requested our services once again, this time to update their outdated full bath. The main goal, aside from keeping the existing tub and surround in place, was to replace the tired vanity, small medicine cabinet, countertop, sink, flooring, light fixture, shower valve and trims with products that are more on trend. The desire was to create a wow factor and display their personal style. Designing a bath with transitional finishes and a clean aesthetic was top of mind when we selected a white painted inset-style vanity, contrasting marble-look quartz countertop in suede finish and classic 3” x 6” white subway wall tiles. Tying together different patterns and incorporating 8” x 8” black and white deco floor tiles provides an interesting and refreshing industrial look that is an expression of our client’s individuality and style. Adding to this industrial style feature was the double light fixture with clear seeded glass mounted over the new framed recessed medicine cabinet with matching painted finish. Also, a priority in the remodeling process was to provide proper ventilation to not only keep air moving, but to ensure moisture is cleared from the room while showering. This newly remodeled updated bathroom is light and airy, and clients are thrilled with the result. “Hi Cathy, I just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our bathrooms and stairs!! Ed, Bradley, and Charlie did their usual fantastic job, not to mention your guidance and expertise. We could not be more thrilled! Each and every time I look at the wall color in the upstairs bath, I comment to myself that Liz really is a ‘wiz’. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” - Susan and Hal M. (Hanover)

Stunning kitchen remodel and update by Haven Design and Construction! We painted the island, refrigerator wall, insets of the upper cabinets, and range hood in a satin lacquer tinted to Benjamin Moore's 2133-10 "Onyx, and the perimeter cabinets in Sherwin Williams' SW 7005 "Pure White". Photo by Matthew Niemann

This spacious home in North Vancouver's Deep Cove community had been built and decorated just over 20 years ago and was in need of updating. Our clients who are empty nesters, spend much of their time in the kitchen and family room so we focused on these spaces keeping in mind that the more formal spaces on the main floor will follow in a few years time. For the most part the layout of their kitchen worked well for them so our role was to tweak the kitchen and family room furniture layout and to select updated finishes and furnishings. Since this home transformation is not happening all at once, we purposefully selected classic finishes, like antique brass hardware, that will tie in with the rest of the home's decor until it can be updated. The resulting refresh stays true to the original feel of the house while giving it a clean, updated look.

This stunning master bath remodel is a place of peace and solitude from the soft muted hues of white, gray and blue to the luxurious deep soaking tub and shower area with a combination of multiple shower heads and body jets. The frameless glass shower enclosure furthers the open feel of the room, and showcases the shower’s glittering mosaic marble and polished nickel fixtures.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and gray floor utility room remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, white walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and black countertops