The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

Living room - modern living room idea

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

A attic space, slated for storage, was utilized into this expansive kids bunk room. A perfect space for playing games, lounging around watching TV, and it sleeps 9 or more.

Full Furnishing and Styling Service - Maximizing seating for the client’s social life was a must in this cozy town home. The large sectional and additional seating in front of the television create an inviting conversation area for game nights and movie nights. Behind the sectional, the two console tables and ottomans can be rearranged and pushed together to create an impromptu dining space. Utilizing every inch of this space allows the client to truly enjoy her home to its full potential.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

Since we wanted to maximize the floor space in the room, we decided to remove the pre-existing ceiling lights, standard builder's grade, and install new hanging cluster lights by the TV area. The lights are on a dimmer that can be controlled via your smartphone or, a remote. Perfect for when utilizing the TV or, to set a different mood in the room. Photo: Robert Socha Photography

We had an unfinished basement in our house that we wanted to finish to have some extra family space. I did the design work myself and the project took about 6 months. The space includes a main area for entertaining, a dedicated home theater and a couple of unfinished storage/utility areas. The lighted recessed areas in the pool table area are actually there to serve a purpose. In finishing the walls there would not have been enough room to have full motion of a pool cue. So I recessed these areas so we did not have to use a "short stick" in any area while playing. The square on the left of the TV is an LG "Art Cool" heating and A/C Unit. We had a cabinet built on the right to match and added the kids finger painting. This is where we house all of our remotes. We also added LED lighting into the baseboard to wash the walls in any color to suit our mood. We added LED lighting under the bar since I had some extra. Since the bar was built right under the HVAC ducting, there was limited space for lighting so we used a track light to maximize. Pictures taken by Scott and Valerie Baldwin of Scott Baldwin Photography located in Telford PA. We specialize in portrait and glamour photography serving Telford, Souderton, Sellersville, Quakertown, Lansdale, North Wales, and all surrounding areas. www.scottbaldwinphotography.com ©2009 Scott Baldwin Photography

Full Furnishing and Styling Service - Maximizing seating for the client’s social life was a must in this cozy town home. The large sectional and additional seating in front of the television create an inviting conversation area for game nights and movie nights. Behind the sectional, the two console tables and ottomans can be rearranged and pushed together to create an impromptu dining space. Utilizing every inch of this space allows the client to truly enjoy her home to its full potential.

Our clients wanted to increase the size of their kitchen, which was small, in comparison to the overall size of the home. They wanted a more open livable space for the family to be able to hang out downstairs. They wanted to remove the walls downstairs in the front formal living and den making them a new large den/entering room. They also wanted to remove the powder and laundry room from the center of the kitchen, giving them more functional space in the kitchen that was completely opened up to their den. The addition was planned to be one story with a bedroom/game room (flex space), laundry room, bathroom (to serve as the on-suite to the bedroom and pool bath), and storage closet. They also wanted a larger sliding door leading out to the pool. We demoed the entire kitchen, including the laundry room and powder bath that were in the center! The wall between the den and formal living was removed, completely opening up that space to the entry of the house. A small space was separated out from the main den area, creating a flex space for them to become a home office, sitting area, or reading nook. A beautiful fireplace was added, surrounded with slate ledger, flanked with built-in bookcases creating a focal point to the den. Behind this main open living area, is the addition. When the addition is not being utilized as a guest room, it serves as a game room for their two young boys. There is a large closet in there great for toys or additional storage. A full bath was added, which is connected to the bedroom, but also opens to the hallway so that it can be used for the pool bath. The new laundry room is a dream come true! Not only does it have room for cabinets, but it also has space for a much-needed extra refrigerator. There is also a closet inside the laundry room for additional storage. This first-floor addition has greatly enhanced the functionality of this family’s daily lives. Previously, there was essentially only one small space for them to hang out downstairs, making it impossible for more than one conversation to be had. Now, the kids can be playing air hockey, video games, or roughhousing in the game room, while the adults can be enjoying TV in the den or cooking in the kitchen, without interruption! While living through a remodel might not be easy, the outcome definitely outweighs the struggles throughout the process.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

This project showcases a comprehensive residential renovation that maximizes the utility and aesthetic of a large backyard. The centerpiece is a custom-built timber pavilion featuring a vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling, dual-mounted outdoor televisions for game-day viewing, and a high-efficiency ceiling fan. The ground-level transformation is equally dramatic, replacing unkempt terrain with a lush, year-round green artificial turf lawn. The space is defined by professionally curated garden beds and a large flagstone-patterned patio, all bordered by natural stone edging to create a clean, modern aesthetic that complements the home's architecture.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

Beyond the understated entryway, is a grand spiral staircase that will gradually lift everyone's eyes up to the 20' tall ceiling. Guests can take the long way up to the second floor using the spiral staircase or they can ride the built-in elevator to travel from floor to floor. The Master Suite resides on the second level, surrounded by the Game Room, Outdoor Lounge, and a conveniently-located Utility room. The first floor is comprised of an open floor plan that includes the Family Room, Dining Room, Study, Living Room, and Kitchen, which you will find abundant space beneath the 11-foot ceiling. Outdoor Living is available on both levels with the Cooking Patio and the Outdoor Lounge. The third floor houses a Bonus Area that is decorated with a Vault Ceiling. Pebble Creek is the Luxury Dream Home for anyone!

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.