Eclectic Bungalow Kitchen

There's a saying:  "Don't mix business with pleasure."  But I disagree.  As long as you stay professional and set expectations in advance, it can be a very positive experience.  Case in point: These clients are good friends of mine.  Because of this, I've gotten to see them REALLY use and enjoy their kitchen, and I've experienced first-hand the impact it has on their family and their everyday life. Also, since we are friends and have some similar tastes, it was extra fun to work with them!

We removed a wall, shifted the layout, and upgraded everything.  What a difference!

Because the kitchen expanded into the dining room, we pushed the dining space to the corner, with a great built-in bench.  We were invited for dinner and easily fit 4 adults and 3 kids with room to spare. (Custom seat cushion and extra dining chairs are on order - will update post with new pics.)

The great thing about white kitchens is that you essentially have a blank canvas, and then you add personality and style through the tile, hardware, lighting, etc.  In this case, there are 2 major showstoppers:  

1)  Backsplash:  The client loved look of Heath Ceramics, and they also loved the company and had previous experience with their products.  This backsplash tile is a work of art! 

2)  Reclaimed Wood:  We wanted a warm eclectic look so we were exploring various reclaimed wood options on the peninsula.  This mix of 3 different colors from Stikwood was the perfect solution!

And to really truly show the transformation, here are some before photos:

And a rendering we did of the proposed space during the design phase:

Props to Justin Bates Construction for making it real!

Park City Great Room Remodel

We love a good remodeling project, especially when the Before photos really show the dramatic change.  This is the perfect Before & After project to showcase!   We're grateful that we have projects like this to add to our portfolio.  On top of that, the clients are wonderful and fun people, so we really lucked out with this one!

There once was a wall at the top of the stairs:

And there was a small kitchen behind that wall:

We removed that wall, added a giant beam, and drastically opened up the space!

This is now what you see when you go up the stairs:

And this is the view from the Living Room:

We also got creative with the closet/desk wall, which used to look like this:

We maximized the unused nooks & crannies, and now it looks like this:

Complete with built-in coffeemaker, double ovens, and plenty of pantry space.  We even added a small appliance center, where items like the toaster can be used in place.  No plugging / unplugging or moving required!

And while we were at it, we replaced the railing to better fit the new design.  I love the details and the craftsmanship:

Special credit to the following people for being willing to work with us and our picky requirements for flooring, custom cabinetry finish, and the difficult challenge of making the tall wall of cabinets fit the way we wanted.

General Contractor:  Wade Brinton, Brinton Homes

Cabinetry:  Preston Tilby, Paramount Cabinets

Photo Credit:  Lucy Call

Exterior Makeover

It's amazing how exterior colors can completely change the look of a house.  Check out this example.  Our client's Park City home went from boring brown to vibrant blue!

 Before:

(image screenshot via google maps, street view)

After:

Color Scheme (Sherwin Williams paint):

SW 0048 Bunglehouse Blue

SW 2826 Colonial Revival Green Stone

SW 7048 Urbane Bronze

SW 6148 Wool Skein

Another Kitchen Success Story (i.e. Why it's Important to Hire a Designer)

Last year I got a call from one of my suppliers - Brian from Western Wholesale Flooring (call him if you need anything - great service AND great pricing!). He explained that he & his wife needed a kitchen remodel, BUT they were on a tight budget. People always throw that "but" into their inquiries. The thing is, when you're on a budget, that's when you need a designer the MOST. Because you have no room for mistakes. Especially when it comes to kitchen design. Brian & his wife realized this.

We do a lot of full-service design work, where we handle the project from the very initial conceptual design phase through the completion of construction. However, sometimes the most critical (and difficult) part is developing the most functional plan for the space and the budget, and clients find that hiring a certified designer for this step is worth every penny.

"Thanks again for all your help.  We couldn't have done it without you!"  -Brian & Kandise

The existing kitchen was small;  the cabinet layout was inefficient and it made the space feel even smaller.  Though there was no room for expansion, this growing family needed a more open space.  They had gotten a free design for the cabinet layout, which essentially just plugged cabinets into every available space.  (I understand - I was much less inclined to take the time to be creative when I was designing for free.)

We spent a good amount of time talking to the client, discussing their needs, and measuring the space.  We came up with a few options and chose the best plan to maximize function and open up the space.  We provided the floor plan and elevations, and the client took it from there.

They recently sent me some after photos and I love the outcome.  Kandise has a good eye for decorating, and it shows.

And to really shock you, here are a few before photos.  

You won't believe it's the same space.

Traditional Kitchen with French Bistro Flair

I'm excited to share this recent kitchen remodel!

Starting with the floor plans... the clients initially were interested in a "pull & replace" scenario (pulling existing items out and putting new back in the same spot).   But because walk-in pantries are often not the best use of space, we convinced them to consider an alternative layout that reduced the pantry closet size.  The outcome:  a larger kitchen with more organized pantry storage and a bigger island.

Here's the Before:

And the After:

Aside from the layout change, we also updated the look.  After exploring several different styles, the clients settled a sort of french bistro theme with white cabinetry accented by pale yellow and a provincial blue.

Here's the kitchen before: 

And here's the kitchen now:   

We integrated antique / matte brass finishes, fireclay sinks, glass tile backsplash, and the new Pental Calacatta quartz countertops to complete the look.

  

We incorporated these tiles into the backsplash - they tell a personal story about the client and their pharmacy background.

And the final finishing touch was the new upholstery fabric for their dining set.  We found the perfect fabric from Robert Allen that coordinated with the colors and perfectly accentuated the lines of the dining chairs.

Cabinetry by Swirl Woodcraft

Countertops by Klein's Custom Countertops

Appliances & Plumbing from Mountainland Design

Upholstery by Sharp Upholstery

Backsplash tile from Arizona Tile

Basement Bathroom After Photos

I finally had the opportunity to take some photos of a basement bathroom project.

We started with a VERY small, cramped bathroom.  Look how little leg room there was between the toilet & tub!

The adjacent space gave us the flexibility to move a wall to add some space to the bathroom.  By moving the wall, we had room for a slightly larger tub, while still leaving adequate leg room in front of the toilet.  By moving the bathroom door, we also now had more space for a larger vanity.

My client moved to Utah from California, and loved the idea of a beach-themed color scheme.  Because we were working with a small space, we muted the colors - a light soft mix of grays, blues, and whites.  We added texture through tile patterns and a custom weathered-look vanity.

Small bathrooms don't have a lot of room for extra design elements, so something both functional and aesthetic is key.  This double recessed niche provides storage for shampoos and soaps, while also adding a dramatic design element to the tile surround.

Details such as a seamless tub, wire-brushed wood, cabinet hardware, edge treatments, and countertop lines really stand out in a small space, so choosing the right materials was important.  

Sources:

Vanity - Hallmark Custom Cabinetry 

Countertop - Caesarstone

Floor & Tub Field Tile - Contempo Tile

Accent Tile - Dal Tile Stone Medley

Faucets & Accessories - Moen 

Tub - Mirabelle

Contractor - Sundberg Building & Design Inc.