With thoughtful planning, a kitchen renovation can solve storage issues and improve work flow. Custom cabinetry provides the components you need in the sizes and configurations you want in order to achieve your goals.

The client brought me in to address an issue with the tiles in the kitchen. The blue tiles shown on the wall were also on the floor which were popping out and causing problems to step on. The challenge was to maintain the Di Giulio kitchen and not rip it off the walls or build a toe kick which would hide the elevated cabinets. The solution was to choose a gray slate porcelain tile called, Stainless Steel by Daltide and cut a border line to frame the floor under the islands. As a result the gray toned done the heavy swimming-pool blue tile that overwhelmed the kitchen.

Mid-sized eclectic medium tone wood floor entry hall photo in Milwaukee with gray walls and a medium wood front door

Example of a large trendy formal and open concept concrete floor living room design with brown walls, no fireplace and no tv

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

With thoughtful planning, a kitchen renovation can solve storage issues and improve work flow. Custom cabinetry provides the components you need in the sizes and configurations you want in order to achieve your goals.

Small trendy bedroom photo in Chicago

Example of a classic kitchen design in Philadelphia

It’s always a blessing when your clients become friends - and that’s exactly what blossomed out of this two-phase remodel (along with three transformed spaces!). These clients were such a joy to work with and made what, at times, was a challenging job feel seamless. This project consisted of two phases, the first being a reconfiguration and update of their master bathroom, guest bathroom, and hallway closets, and the second a kitchen remodel. In keeping with the style of the home, we decided to run with what we called “traditional with farmhouse charm” – warm wood tones, cement tile, traditional patterns, and you can’t forget the pops of color! The master bathroom airs on the masculine side with a mostly black, white, and wood color palette, while the powder room is very feminine with pastel colors. When the bathroom projects were wrapped, it didn’t take long before we moved on to the kitchen. The kitchen already had a nice flow, so we didn’t need to move any plumbing or appliances. Instead, we just gave it the facelift it deserved! We wanted to continue the farmhouse charm and landed on a gorgeous terracotta and ceramic hand-painted tile for the backsplash, concrete look-alike quartz countertops, and two-toned cabinets while keeping the existing hardwood floors. We also removed some upper cabinets that blocked the view from the kitchen into the dining and living room area, resulting in a coveted open concept floor plan. Our clients have always loved to entertain, but now with the remodel complete, they are hosting more than ever, enjoying every second they have in their home.

Harvey Smith Photography
Example of a minimalist bedroom design in Orlando

This very hot Campbell home needed some cooling off so we added this tall, soothing-colored urn overflowing with water that can be seen from all points in the yard, even inside the glass doors in the family room. It is lit up at night. There is a swing under the shade-producing arbor to sit and enjoy the fountain and watch the people playing golf on the mini-golf course. The water is stored underground, eliminating any issues with evaporation, bugs, or algae.

Northwest Indiana Media and Marketing
Eat-in kitchen - transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Memories TTL/Wing Wong
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped slate floor kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The large center island provides ample amounts of counter space suited for preparing large family dinners or entertaining a small group of close friends.

This organic modern design is built in an area known for having notable issues with ground movement. After speaking with the developer and reviewing the soil report with our Structural Engineer, we made our recommendations to the client. Since the budget for a full-blown pier and beam structure with void boxes under the pool was well beyond the comfort level of our client, they elected to have us utilize a float shell construction method. For this, we over-excavated the hole and placed a 12" layer of gravel beneath the shell of the pool. Drain lines lead from the deepest point under the pool down into a culvert, placed off to the side of the pool. A sump pump removes any excess water from the culvert as it accumulates. For the shell of the pool, we utilized a double matt of steel and increased the wall thickness to a minimum of 12". This gave added strength to withstand the volatile soil. The elements of fire, water, wood and stone were very important in creating the organic modern feel of this design. The layered effect along the back wall creates a visual stimulation across the length of the yard, without overwhelming the senses. Rather than creating walls only of hard materials, we used Ipe wood to create horizontal screen walls of a more organic nature. At either end, the raised wall and the fire feature are finished in a large-scale porcelain tile, with the look of stained concrete. Custom stainless steel scuppers, made by a local fabricator, create a soothing sound of falling water. The low wall at the center of the project is faced in natural ledgestone, and carries a color palette that set the tone for the entire project. Behind this wall and in front of one of the Ipe screens are three Desert Steel Giant Agave sculptures. The unique fire feature isn't quite a fire place, nor is it a fire pit. It is a linear fire burner, surrounded by a 4" thick cantilevered Leuder limestone hearth, with a backdrop wall of blue glazed clay tile. Although the pool was initially planned as a plaster pool, as the project began to take shape, the client elected to go all the way and finish it in a beautiful blue glass mosaic. Custom fabricated stainless steel cannon jets send a delicate arch of water over this deep blue, and draw attention to the three square wok planters on the far side of the yard. For the decking on this project, we elected to work with Mother Nature rather than against her. Two and a half inch thick concrete pavers, set on a bed of compacted, decomposed granite allow for movement around the pool that is easily fixed. If an area of deck moves around, we can simply lift the affected areas, re-level with DG bed, and re-set the pavers.

Wine is one of the few things in life that improves with age. But it can also rapidly deteriorate. The three factors that have the most direct impact on a wine's condition are light, humidity and temperature. Because wine can often be expensive and often appreciate in value, security is another issue. This basement-remodeling project began with ensuring the quality and security of the owner’s wine collection. Even more important, the remodeled basement had to become an inviting place for entertaining family and friends. A wet bar/entertainment area became the centerpiece of the design. Cherry wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances complement the counter tops, which are made with a special composite material and designed for bar glassware - softer to the touch than granite. Unused space below the stairway was turned into a secure wine storage room, and another cherry wood cabinet holds 300 bottles of wine in a humidity and temperature controlled refrigeration unit. The basement remodeling project also includes an entertainment center and cozy fireplace. The basement-turned-entertainment room is controlled with a two-zone heating system to moderate both temperature and humidity. To infuse a nautical theme a custom stairway post was created to simulate the mast from a 1905 vintage sailboat. The mast/post was hand-crafted from mahogany and steel banding.

Vinyl flooring repair from last week. Working on a replacement or repair like this can be tough and time consuming, because you never know what you’re going to fine under the floor. On this project, we found damaged subfloor, less than perfect prep with some oversized, improvised shims. Luckily we were able to source the same floor for our customer, correct the prep issues, and replace the damaged floor. Vinyl plank is a wonderful product with a great lifespan, so long as it is installed correctly. If you have a project coming up or flooring need feel free to reach out to our team.

Mid-sized trendy master black tile, white tile and subway tile ceramic tile walk-in shower photo in Orange County with a one-piece toilet, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink and wood countertops

The original kitchen was very old and worn. It was also a white kitchen, just a more creamy white. The other issue with the kitchen is that it didn't function the way my clients wanted it to. So we stayed with a cleaner white and designed the kitchen with what was important to my clients, broom closet, garbage pullout, pantry with pullouts and so much more. Check it out for yourself!