Inspiration for a cottage eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink and an island

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

We honored the building’s history where possible, keeping original bones and character wherever possible, then layered in the clients’ distinct creative identity. On the main floor, we designed spaces that shift seamlessly from workday to reception-ready. Lighting was planned with intention, to preserve the original plaster ceilings and spotlight rotating installations without sacrificing ambient warmth. Custom built-ins maximize functionality while maintaining a distinctly un-officey feel. Upstairs, the artist apartment is a thoughtful retreat: adaptable, light-filled, and comfortable, with just enough quirk to spark inspiration. Even the basement—home to a full photography studio and workroom—balances technical needs with aesthetic ease. Throughout, we used color, texture, and collected pieces to ensure each room feels curated, not staged. Personal, not polished.

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Photography by Gordon Beall
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Builder: Vital Habitats, Farrell Building Company Photography: Spacecrafting
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Located in Newport Beach’s coveted Port Streets, this family home was taken down to the studs and completely reimagined to create a layered, detail-rich forever home. We expanded key living spaces — including the kitchen and primary bathroom — to enhance both functionality and everyday luxury. Throughout the home, thoughtfully curated moments bring personality and warmth. From the beautifully wallpapered dining room to the checkerboard marble laundry room, each space was designed to feel timeless yet distinctive. Living spaces and bathrooms were individually styled using a cohesive palette of blues, greens, and warm browns — creating a sense of flow while allowing each room its own identity. The result is a thoughtfully tailored home that blends classic design with family-centered living in one of Newport Beach’s most beloved neighborhoods. This home was featured in the 2026 Corona del Mar Home Tour.

The Setup Situated between the front kitchen and the home’s primary living spaces, this bar was originally conceived as a modest bistro-style nook – a place to sit, watch TV, and enjoy a drink. As the design process evolved, both the homeowners and the design team recognized an opportunity to let the bar become something more: a visually compelling focal point that anchors circulation through the home while offering a distinct moment of hospitality. Set within an arched recess and framed by a partial glass wall, the bar is visible from much of the public area of the home. Its location places it directly along the natural path between the kitchen, dining room, and family room, making it both highly accessible and impossible to ignore. From the outset, the goal was to ensure the bar felt intentional and complete – not an afterthought – while still complementing the adjacent kitchens rather than competing with them. Design objectives: Create a fully functional wet bar with refrigeration, ice, sink, waste storage, and liquor storage Allow the bar to feel visually distinct while remaining cohesive with the surrounding spaces Introduce color and character in a controlled, intentional way Design the bar as a focal point within a highly visible circulation zone Balance everyday usability with refined, layered design details Design challenges to be solved: Fitting a complete wet bar – including refrigeration, ice, sink, storage, and waste — into a base cabinetry run measuring under eight feet wide Determining which appliances and storage functions were essential once upper cabinetry was eliminated Providing adequate task lighting while also highlighting bottles and glassware on open shelving Introducing texture and visual interest within the arched recess without overdesigning a compact space Giving the bar a distinct identity that complements – but does not compete with – the adjacent kitchens Design solutions: Designing fully custom base cabinetry that prioritized core bar functions and used every inch efficiently, including split cabinetry and compact waste storage Selecting a drawer-style refrigeration unit that combines refrigeration and freezer capabilities, allowing ice storage without sacrificing valuable width Layering lighting with integrated LED strip lighting above and below the shelves, paired with decorative articulating fixtures to support both display and task lighting Using a chevron-patterned natural stone tile backsplash to introduce movement, texture, and subtle color variation while keeping surrounding surfaces intentionally restrained Specifying metal cabinetry in a soft blue tone with integrated brass framing to establish a distinctive visual identity that harmonizes with the home’s broader palette A Space That Works on Its Own — and Within the Whole Though compact in size, the bar carries significant visual and functional weight within the home. It stands confidently on its own as a richly detailed, fully functional destination, while also flowing naturally into the adjacent kitchens and living spaces. The result is a bar that feels purposeful rather than ornamental – a space designed to be used daily, noticed often, and appreciated over time.

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Trying to find a quiet corner in one's house for an office can be tough, but it also can be an adventure! Reworking spaces in our homes so that they work better for our families as they grow and change is something we all need to do from time to time-- and it can give your house a new lease on life. One room that took on a new identity in this old farmhouse was the third floor attic space--a room that is much like a treehouse with its small footprint, high perch, lofty views of the landscape, and sloping ceiling. The space has been many things over the past two decades- a bedroom, a guest room, a hang-out for kids... but NOW it is the 'world headquarters' for my client's business. :) Adding all the funky touches that make it a cozy personal space made all the difference...like lots of live green plants, vintage original artwork, architectural salvage window sashes, a repurposed and repainted dresser from the 1940's, and, of course, my client's favorite photos.

Winner: Platinum Award for Best in America Living Awards 2023. Atop a mountain peak, nearly two miles above sea level, sits a pair of non-identical, yet related, twins. Inspired by intersecting jagged peaks, these unique homes feature soft dark colors, rich textural exterior stone, and patinaed Shou SugiBan siding, allowing them to integrate quietly into the surrounding landscape, and to visually complete the natural ridgeline. Despite their smaller size, these homes are richly appointed with amazing, organically inspired contemporary details that work to seamlessly blend their interior and exterior living spaces. The simple, yet elegant interior palette includes slate floors, T&G ash ceilings and walls, ribbed glass handrails, and stone or oxidized metal fireplace surrounds.

Jill Paider Photography
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The detailed plans for this bathroom can be purchased here: https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/warm-walnut-bathroom-plans/ Warm walnut vanity with white quartz counter top, sinks and matte black fixtures, stacked stone accent wall with mirrored back recessed shelf, digital shower controls, porcelain floor and wall tiles and marble shower floor.

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

The wallpaper is a dark floral by Ellie Cashman Design. The floor tiles are Calacatta honed 2x2 hexs. The lights are Camille Sconces in hand rubbed brass by visual comfort.