Building an Oasis…

Our homes are often a reflection of our values, and how we hope to spend our time. For clients who love to entertain and host large gatherings filled with food, friends, and fun in the sun, this Project Spotlight will serve as a major inspiration.

Our clients wanted their home to be an oasis for hosting friends and family. That meant upgrades to the kitchen and dining room, to improve functionality for both cooking and entertaining. The large island, top of the range appliances, and bountiful storage provided by our custom cabinetry make it a dream kitchen to work in, alone or with many sous chefs at hand. The coffered ceilings in the dining room create a classic look with an open and inviting feel. The additional cabinetry and countertop match the selections in the kitchen, and provide storage and workspace, as well as a cohesive aesthetic.

We also transformed a screened-in porch into a three season room, making it suitable for additional months of use throughout the year. The views of the picturesque property through the new windows and the wet bar make it an ideal spot to hang out and relax with guests.

The clients’ outdoor property is truly enhanced by the new decking and sleek modern railings, which will stand up to tough upstate weather conditions. To maximize their enjoyment of their beautiful pool, we constructed a free-standing building with room for changing in and out of swimsuits, and storing pool supplies. Our clients worked with Brookside Nursery for their elegant landscaping and patio enhancements, and a local pool company to complete the upgrades to their outdoor space.

Our clients love their renovation and the ample opportunities it provides for making many fun memories with loved ones, all throughout the year.

 

 

A Kitchen With A Place For Everything, and Everything in its Place

Organization just makes life easier.

We all know the power of a well-designed system that contains clutter, hides mess, and sorts the endless “stuff” of our modern lives. Few rooms beg for good storage solutions and proper homes for our items more than the kitchen.

That’s one of the many reasons why this particular Project Spotlight is so inspirational. In this large kitchen renovation, no detail was spared in the achievement of thoughtful storage, easily accessible amenities, and beautiful, cohesive design.

Our clients were fortunate in the original footprint of their home kitchen–it was an already expansive space that needed some aesthetic upgrades and improved functionality for their lifestyle.

We moved the washer and dryer from the basement to the kitchen, and housed them in custom cabinetry that not only conceals the appliances, but creates extra storage space. The kitchen island and peninsula allow for tons of workable space for cooking, eating, or relaxing with friends over a bottle of wine. And that spirit is expertly stored in the beautiful wine refrigerator and wet bar, all conveniently located in the same kitchen space.

Other cool and convenient features include the chef’s pantry, spice rack organization, and special produce drawers, which take cooking and entertaining to another level.

The (seemingly miles of!) custom cabinetry shine in contrast to the two different featured countertop and backsplash materials–a gleaming quartz, and gorgeous gray Barroca soapstone. The effect is classic, sophisticated, and elegant.

Our clients love their new kitchen, and it’s certainly not hard to see why.

 

A Stunning Kitchen Renovation with the Coolest Conveniences

Kitchens are the beating hearts of homes. We work, gather, play, and celebrate in these hubs of our houses. Both messes and memories are made in them every day.

That’s why having a kitchen that truly works for your lifestlye is so important. Enthusastic cooks and entertainers deserve spaces that make their tasks easier, and function at an optimal level for the celebrations they love to host.

In this kitchen renovation, the goal was to improve both functionality and aesthetics for our clients, who enjoy gathering with friends and family. This goal was achieved by creating a wider passage from the kitchen to the dining room, to create a more open feel and flow.

Our custom cabinetry shop created the beautiful hutch, which looks built-in and original to the house. It also offers ample storage and a small additional workspace. The addition of a wet bar designates a special space for serving drinks away from the other appliances. By zoning out these separate areas for their precise purposes, our clients can work together to entertain in their kitchen without crowding. The wet bar again offers more storage, and the perfect place for a beverage cooler.

The result is a bright, open, cassic space that feels warm and welcoming and invites you to linger.

Our clients are thrilled with their gorgeous new kitchen, and look forward to all the celebrations to come in their customized and optimally-convenient space.

 

Go With the Flow

Sometimes the right renovation project doesn’t aim to vastly alter the size of a space, so much as make better use of it for the homeowners.

This was a key element of the kitchen renovation for these clients, who found that their original cooking space left them continually bumping into one another when trying to prepare a meal.

To give the homeowners more room to work and enjoy their kitchen, we changed the orientation and traffic flow of the room. We removed an eat-in table and added a kitchen island, which offers additional counter space and seating. We repurposed a salvaged patio door and moved it into the dining room, which creates a better traffic flow pattern. We also replaced the existing kitchen window with a much bigger window, optimizing the view, and giving a sense of openness and light to the space.

The kitchen also got a beautiful design upgrade, with custom cabinetry in two different, but complementary materials. The new dedicated pantry space, soft close drawers, and luxury vinyl tile flooring all come together to create a modern, sleek, yet warm aesthetic.

Our clients are thrilled with their renovation, and the improved functionality and flow of their kitchen.

Design Details that Delight

This expansive project included the transformation of a kitchen, laundry room/half bath, and a sunroom. The goals were to give our clients improved functionality in their spaces with plenty of storage, some window and door improvements, and an upgrade to the aesthetics.

The house is an older custom home with beautiful interior trim and other high end finishes. Our custom cabinetry and millwork was the correct fit for this exquisite home, and blended seamlessly with the original parts of the house.

We gave thought to things like low-maintenance exterior trim that will last. Our beautiful custom cabinetry provides great storage and organization solutions for the clients. Note the special details like the built-in table that offers a cozy nook for sharing meals together, and the beautiful kitchen island which extends the working space.

 Our clients were delighted with the finished product, and we know they are making many happy new memories in their gorgeous renovated spaces.

 

A Treasure Trove of Inspiration for Modern Family Living

This Project Spotlight is chock full of innovative design details, space-maximizing transformations, and organizational ideas designed to inspire!

This renovation was very extensive in that we touched a majority of the house. The main goal of the kitchen / mudroom portion of the project was to update the existing Colonial style to a Modern Farmhouse design style, while improving functionality and flow. 

We removed all the kitchen and mudroom cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. We also removed the washer and dryer from the mudroom to increase its size and utility for the parents, children, and pets of the very busy family. A new half bath, laundry room, and work-out / multi-purpose room were built in an existing bonus space.

Any kitchen renovation creates some inconvenience for the homeowners during construction. Happily, we were able to provide a temporary basement kitchen, eating area, and laundry in the interim to minimize the impact on daily life for our clients.

We specified a number of selections that created the updated aesthetic the client was going for. We replaced the existing builder’s grade elliptical transom window with an updated Andersen 400 series unit with a rectangular transom above the sink. We included new natural slate tile in the mudroom, garage entrance, and a marble mosaic tile in the existing first powder room. The rest of the first floor received new wide plank engineered hardwood flooring throughout. We used a gorgeous Kohler “Whitehaven” Farm sink accented with a Kohler “Purist” Semi-professional pull down faucet in brushed bronze. The accompanying InSinkErator “Modern” reverse osmosis faucet in “Brushed Bronze” complemented the space nicely. 

We used many natural materials such as a white marble backsplash accenting the honed black soapstone at the perimeter cabinets. To offset the expansive perimeter cabinetry, we fabricated the large island from quarter sawn oak in a light stain and topped it with a light quartzite top. To add interest, a custom curved exhaust hood and honey bronze knobs and pulls were incorporated, as well as antique brass wire mesh inlaid on some of the doors. We used a number of the same series of fixtures and hardware in the mudroom and laundry, but mixed it up with black finishes and MSI quartz tops. For durability and ease of maintenance, wide plank luxury vinyl floor was installed in the laundry, half bath, and multi-purpose room. 

When making design choices for projects, it is always our goal to find innovative space-maximizing solutions, and create conveniences that align with the clients’ lifestyle. In trying to keep the sink centered at the window, we had to get creative with the cabinet layout and incorporated a “blind corner” cabinet. We added an “optimizer” to allow the client to use as much of the cabinet as possible. The homeowners do a lot of cooking, and making sure we had a large range top with multiple burners and plenty of drawer space for pots/pans storage along with utensils and spices was very important in the design. The homeowners tend to hang dry lots of laundry, so we incorporated a hanging rod and hanging drawer. We were also able to install a wall mounted ironing board, and order a door to match the rest of the cabinetry.

 No detail was overlooked when it came to this renovation. We strove to make all of the spaces feel connected without being adjacent. The cabinet color in the kitchen and mudroom were the same “Accessible Beige” by Sherwin Williams, and the bench top in the mudroom matches the accented island cabinetry. While the laundry room was upstairs, it still felt connected  to the kitchen and mudroom.

The transformation is nothing short of dramatic. The homeowners were very engaged from the beginning in the design and selections process, and were a big part in making the project their own. When you walk through the home, you see first-hand what a drastic change occurred, and that we truly achieved the clients’ vision.  All of the spaces feel lighter, brighter, more open, and absolutely beautiful.

Keeping Classic Charm in an Updated Kitchen…

A classic never goes out of style.

That’s why our goal for the kitchen renovation featured in this Project Spotlight was to retain all of the original charm, while also making the updates that our clients desired.

This project was a complete remodel of the kitchen and breakfast nook of a 1968 ranch home. The existing kitchen was a classic, well-equipped 1968 kitchen, complete with avocado green appliances. The client is the original homeowner, and was very happy with the original layout. 

Since the space itself didn’t need to be re-configured, we concentrated on updating the look and functionality of the room, while remaining true to a 1960’s ranch-style vibe.

We removed the existing cabinets, Formica counters, avocado appliances, drop ceiling, and laminate flooring. We also removed and replaced two existing windows with newer energy efficient Andersen 400 Series casement windows..

The upgrades were plentiful: cabinets with roll out drawers and shelving, updated Bosch appliances, and hidden task lighting. To the delight of our client, we even sourced and included a custom pull for the wine storage cabinet.

The existing sentimental butcher block counter was refinished and repurposed for a prep area. We used Leviton’s Renu® outlets and switches to bring a fun color to the dramatic backsplash. For ease of use and durability, we specified Earthworks Parkhill Luxury Vinyl Planking for the flooring, which gives the look of real wood without requiring as much work to maintain. 

We removed a kitchen that was designed and installed by the current owner over 50 years ago, with an abundance of sentimental value. It was so rewarding to see the homeowners so happy with the results, and not a shred of regret.

 

Reimagining the Possibilities for a Historic Home

Historic homes are full of charm, but can also be challenging for modern homeowners and the needs of a contemporary lifestyle. We love the option of renovation because it allows us to reimagine and reconfigure living spaces, without forgoing the beauty and history of older homes.

This Project Spotlight is the perfect example of what’s possible with thoughtful planning, good design, and skilled craftspeople at the helm.

This project was an extensive renovation of a historic home in an established neighborhood. The home had not had much work done since it was built in the 1940’s, except for some 1970’s era work in the kitchen. This entailed a significant amount of reimagining the existing spaces including removal work, repurposing of existing fixtures, and expansion.

The kitchen had a very small eating area, and the homeowners wanted more space. We upgraded the kitchen’s small eating area by removing a wall separating two rooms, which opened up the kitchen for more working area and storage. There was another section that had partition walls for a built-in cabinet, which was removed, ultimately becoming an attractive and convenient coffee station. The kitchen also had a “catch all” corner alcove, which was challenging to design around. Instead of wasting the space or having an out of place countertop area, we decided to create a “hidden” feature within the cabinetry, blending a full-size pantry hidden behind the custom Schrader cabinet doors. 

The second floor hall bathroom was reconfigured to become a significantly larger ensuite. The existing opening became a closet, and a new entrance was added to the existing bedroom. A large cedar closet was removed to gain an additional 28 square feet of space, allowing for a sizable walk-in shower and linen closet. We modified an existing window opening with a transom window to add natural light to the shower. The existing vintage doors of the home were repurposed, and the existing molding duplicated, to maintain the historical and visual integrity of the home. 

The ensuite creation drove the need for a separate guest bathroom. We removed the floor of a small existing bedroom to run all of the new plumbing, and integrated a new plumbing chase from the second floor to the basement.

There are always challenges when renovating older homes. Defining dimensions and structure takes a bit of effort, as plaster and lathe buildup isn’t consistent, and dimensional lumber from the home’s original era often can vary in size. We also upsized the electrical service to accommodate all of the code requirements required for new kitchens and baths. 

The home’s heat source is a steam boiler. The home’s original older style radiators took up a lot of space, and with this project, space was at a premium. We looked past reusing the existing cast iron units and landed on using prefinished white Runtal Charleston Pro steam radiators, allowing us to efficiently heat the spaces without sacrificing space. The client wanted a kitchen floor that was easy to care for but would still have the character of hardwood. We landed on using a Luxury Vinyl Plank from Provenza, to great result.

The functionality gained while maintaining a classic look truly sets this project apart. Adding an ensuite and an additional full bath within the existing homes’ footprint is an achievement. The transformation of each space is so impressive, and the upgrades are striking, yet seamlessly blend into the rest of this historic charmer.

Making Space for Better Living…

One of the best things about a renovation is that it allows us to update the homes we love to work better for our families. The way we live our lives changes over time, and whether we need more space for our growing families, a different layout for entertaining, or better storage and organization solutions, a renovation can simply make life easier.

In this case, our clients wanted an open concept floor plan for their kitchen and dining areas, and more functionality for their everyday lifestyle as well as entertaining. We removed a wall between the existing dining room and kitchen to accomplish that goal. We focused on maximizing storage space and work space, most notably in the twelve foot kitchen island. We also included plenty of wall storage, which is a great solution for finding more organizational space in your home.

The design choices in color and materials selections gave the project the perfect aesthetic look–clean, crisp, and totally magazine-worthy.

Our clients were wonderful to work with, open to suggestions and collaborative. They are thrilled with their new open kitchen and dining area, and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come with their young family.

A Beautiful New Deck Adds Outdoor Living Space

We like to make the most of our temperate seasons here in upstate New York, and time spent relaxing or entertaining on decks and porches are some of the best ways to enjoy spring, summer, and fall. While we find ourselves in the thick of winter, let’s go behind the scenes of this deck renovation and daydream of sunnier days to come.

For this project, we removed a weathered, treated deck at the back of the home, and built a new deck with composite decking, aluminum railing, and a new pergola.

We added quite a bit of square footage, additional access points, and removed a second floor balcony while updating the look of the entire back of the home.

The back of this house includes a walk-out basement, and the area beneath the existing deck included a concrete slab that we needed to work around. The size and scope of this deck project was considerable, which required expert planning.

The black aluminum rail work really pops against the composite decking, and the project created so much usable space for the clients to entertain their friends and family.

Our clients thoroughly enjoyed their first season with their new, expansive outdoor living space, and we know they’ll continue to enjoy it for many years to come.