Kitchen Design

Room with a View

2011-11-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

This guest bath was like so many I've seen. It had a full wall between the shower/toilet and the two sinks. Very tight and claustrophobic and no window! What a difference it makes taking down that wall and replacing with a pony wall, which still gives the toilet privacy. Add in some tile with a pattern that lets the eye move through the room and you've got interest.

Classic Color Combination

2011-10-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

One of the first subjects that clients always ask is" what colors to use on finishes". Here is one perfect ( if I don't say so myself! ) answer. Red and green. They are opposites on the color wheel, and with white and some black as neutrals, fabulous. Clean lines in the white painted cabinetry with the rich veining of the green granite and the lovely red of the cherry floor. Throw in some stainless and there you have it!

Kensington Kitchen

2011-07-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

The views from this home of the Bay Area are amazing but the old kitchen was not. A support wall was removed and new steel beam replaces load in the attic. Cherry cabinets with cherry cherry stain and granite countertops. Columbia Cabinets and Aaron Chapman Builders, contractor.

Classic Master Bath

2010-11-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

The old bath had the tub in a sea of cultured marble where we put in a bench. We swung the tub perpendicular and expanded the shower. We removed a closet and did 2 sinks on an outside corner. Across from the first sink we added a furniture style Linen cabinet. Toilet stayed in the same place, a small area to the right of shower. The tile with small pewter deco pieces compliments the lighting, knobs with escutcheons and faucets. Shower has 2 separate heads with a handheld for versatility. Niches in shower wall hide product from view, why spoil the picture? Mike Bringel, Bringel-Bilt Construction. Columbia Cabinets. Callahan Tile.

Closets!

2010-10-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

We all need closets but they are often the last thing that gets design help. A well organized closet is a thing of beauty. I start by taking inventory of the end users and what their needs are. Do we have lots of shoes for example. Well then we must use some vertical storage solutions. Hats, scarves? Let's put together a list.

Powder room panache

2010-09-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

This beautiful Spanish Mission style home had a powder room that hadn't been redone in many a moon. The space is small but striking with high ceilings. Originally it had a "foyer" that was wasted space and the toilet and sink were behind a wall and door in a cramped area. Contractor David Cattarusa and I removed that wall and left a half wall instead. The plumbing was moved over to the foyer area and a new spacious, thick, counter top was installed. New lighting and a mirror above Wood-mode inset cherry cabinets. We configured the space to allow door to close and get as deep a sink area as possible. Voila!

Kitchen Italian Style

2010-04-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

What a difference 3 feet can make. I normally don't show before pictures but will this time because of the dramatic difference it made ( see last photo). We used a hand planked, wide solid wood prefinished floor, dark for contrast. Alder cabinets with a Chocolate glaze. Colonial Creme granite, light for contrast. Jerusalem Gold subway tile and pinwheel patern in niche behind range. Columbia Cabinets. Aaron Chapman, builder

Spa Masterbath

2010-02-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

This Masterbath was truly a team effort. From the homeowners input, to their architect, Marianne Miller, to the contractor Ron, to me. The cabinets were a true challenge with the radius doors and the drawers under the sink. We also did 3 full closets with specialty storage there. In the toilet room there is a linen cabinet and the bottom drawer is false to allow for the motor of the tub. Every detail was considered. Crestwood cabinets in a custom finish on clear alder.

Aging well

2009-12-17T12:55:00.001-08:00

Oh the joy of seeing an old friend.
This display in General Appliance, Berkeley CA was designed by me 11 years ago. Yesterday I was in store with a client and took this photo. I was so happy to see that it has aged well. More than that the modern design is all the rage at the moment!

Trading Places

2009-08-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

This space was once a family room off a galley kitchen. This beautiful older rancher has been brought into the 21 century by the skilled hands of contractor Mike Bringel.New windows were added and a new doorway into what was the old kitchen, which is now a sitting room off a larger more formal foyer. Columbia cabinets in a glaze over paint finish. Lots of details went into this design, very much a collaboration with the design savvy homeowners.Callahan Tile.

Timeless White painted cabinets

2009-04-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing is as classic and timeless as white painted cabinets! This kitchen was originally in oak cabinets.The change to white has lighten up the whole space. The refrigerator was where the hood and cook top are now. The hoods a much more dramatic focal point. Wood-mode hood, posts and feet brackets. Columbia Cabinets otherwise.Callahan Tile. Lundgren Construction.

Natural Cherry with Green slate

2009-02-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

This kitchen has a 45 degree angled wall that made fitting in an island a true challenge. The new island fits the space so much better than before the remodel. We got in a 2 layer top, one at 42" and one at 36" to make function a priority.The ceiling was recessed with lighting to blend in with higher ceiling in family room space. Cabinets : Brookhaven from Wood-mode. GHI, contractors.

The warmth of wood, the coolness of glass.

2008-11-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Amber glaze on a honey stain, these cabinets have a recessed panel and applied molding. This kitchen has everything the client wanted: better storage, more counter top space, easy to use appliances and all fitting in the budget they set. The green glass tile over an opaque running bond tie in the crisp white of the farm sink. Also notice, no ugly outlets to spoil the backsplash, plug strips used instead!
Cabinets by: Columbia Cabinets. Natural Oak floor, Sapphire green granite with a mitered edge. Wolf cook top, Electrolux ovens, Fisher Paykel refrigerator, Ventahood. Contractor Dave Cattarusa.

New work coming

2008-07-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Very exciting, new kitchens and baths I've done are in production now. Hope to have some photos to show in a couple of weeks.
Anything you can do to help the Benicia/Vallejo humane society will be greatly appreciated. They always need: towels, detergent, Frontline flee treatment, Kong toys, treats, paper towels, Postage stamps, copy paper, Bleach, Dry and canned food. Call 707 645-7905 for drop off . Or better yet, let me know if you have any items and I'll come pick up!!!

Lafayette Jr's Kitchen Tour Saturday May 17th

2008-05-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hey it's that time of year again. The Lafayette Jr's Kitchen Tour. My kitchen is at 8 Warwick Court. Scroll over to top of blog for slide show of this kitchen. The client is an accomplished baker and we found a place for everything. Hope to see you at the tour, click here for more info: http://www.lafayettejuniors.org/public/fundraising.htm.htm

Orindawoods Kitchen variations

2008-04-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is the second kitchen I have done at Orindawoods. So different from the first, as it should be, with different owners. The cool color scheme comes together in a monochromatic soothing look. Highlights include the custom, hand made tile back splash on a Corian counter top. The Capri shell pendant. The sage green walls.Columbia Cabinets, Cattarusa Construction.

Kitchen plan that changed homes traffic flow

2008-01-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

This kitchen, soon to be in the Lafayette Jr's. kitchen tour in May 17,Saturday, 08, was not in this space originally. The old kitchen was a galley style that you entered immediately from the foyer. The Architects plans showed a bay window bump out for a new kitchen space. When I toured the home, my suggestion was to switch the kitchen space with the existing dining room. This allowed for a new traffic flow into home. Now when you come into the foyer, all you see is the beautiful living room. You step into that room and the dining room and kitchen are then revealed on the left. Now the new kitchen has room for an island and is central to entertaining with both the dining room and back yard a step a way. This changed the traffic flow of home and made all the rooms relate to each other. Cabinets in painted maple and glazed cherry form Woodmode/Brookhaven. Contractor: Jim Fuller

Master bath's new space plan

2008-01-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

This master bath had a very narrow layout before. We switched the vanities to the opposite wall. This gave a lighter visual when approaching the room, allows for a reflection in the mirror, and is the focus upon entering. We removed the closets on that wall too and replaced them with a set of tall cabinets along with a new walk- in closet (behind us at door entrance). The old wall between toilet and shower also came down. This makes the bath feel a lot less confined and we added a beautiful thick glass shower door. With the 12x12 tiles, the space opens up in the shower area to allow for a wider feel.Cabinets: Crestwood, Contractor: John O'Connell

Green Granite with White Cabinets

2007-12-13T18:44:00.000-08:00

This San Francisco kitchen I did uses a monochromatic color scheme punched up with the green Esmeralda granite. Even though the island is small, it gives this kitchen focus.
Brookhaven cabinets.

New layout for Orindawoods

2007-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

This Orindawoods kitchen hadn't been updated or remodeled since the original building of complex. As all the neighbors are starting to redo their kitchens, my client had a few layouts to choose from. We did something different in that we opened up the doorways to allow a better flow with existing floor plan of home.
Cabinets: John Fischer's Custom Cabinets, Contractor: David Cattarusa

Contemporary Bathroom

2007-10-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

This Master bath was gutted and redone with a new freestanding tub and faucet. The "bridge" sink faucets tie into the less is more without looking cold as modern design can sometimes be. Floor and shower wall were done in over sized limestone tile and the pattern changes on shower wall. Counter top is solid limestone slab. Pendant lighting over sinks instead of sconces is a different twist. Framed mirrors add to the impact of the cabinets in mahogany.Crestwood cabinets.Contractor: Mike Bringel

Orinda Kitchen on cover of "Remodeling and Makeovers"

2007-09-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press!! Women's Day "Remodeling and Makeovers" Vol. XVII No. 4 . My kitchen is on the cover and there is an informative article inside about what we did. This magazine is in Barnes and Noble as well as Safeway (up near the check out stand) Anyone interested, contact me and I'll email the before photos.

White and Black Kitchen

2007-07-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Brookhaven cabinets.

White and Black Kitchen

2007-07-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Traditional Classic

2007-02-26T20:12:00.000-08:00

More views

2007-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

Traditional Classic

2007-02-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

Cherry with medium stain and light distressing. This kitchen was all oak before with a peninsula . Now it's wide open with large island and " island table" combined to seat 4. Cabinets were wrapped into nook space to create grander feel and allow larger nook table. Hood is central on longest wall with lots of detail. Desk at end of run has flip down doors to hide clutter, but still has file storage and pigeon holes. Wine captain faces out away from work triangle to be entertainment friendly. Granite is "Gold & Silver" with thicker edge and marble basket weave back splash. The drawings at blog end are of this kitchen. Notice how close the overhead drawing comes to finished kitchen. The computer generated drawings really help understand what it will look like. Brookhaven cabinets. Contractor: GHI

Architecturally correct

2007-01-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

This kitchen is in a Normandy style home and it feels like it has always been there, architecturally. The ceramic"subway" tiles and white painted cabinets with a glaze are of the 1920"s . The appliances are of the 21st. century though. With some minor wall removal and the sacrifice of a closet, we were able to fit in a full size refrigerator and a pull out pantry around the corner from it. The open top, split rail, glass wall cabinets bring the eye up and give the illusion of higher ceilings. Good lighting completes the picture. Columbia cabinets.

Rich Cherry with slate backsplash

2007-01-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

This kitchen was done in a transitional craftsman style. The back splash and floor are different size slate tiles. The counter top is granite with a free form edge. The quarts double sink blends with the counter. An interesting ceiling add big time to the overall beauty of this kitchen. Brookhaven cabinets. Contractor: Homeowner

Cottage Painted Finish

2006-11-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

This kitchen was done with Suzanne Myers from Elite design.Woodmode cabinets.Contractor GHI www.sgmelitedesign.com

White Painted Cabinets

2006-11-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

This kitchen was just recently photographed by Women's Day Magazine and will appear in the Fall 07 issue of "Remodeling and Makeovers.It will be on the cover of the magazine!!! There will be a before picture showing a 1950's kitchen that was really ready for a makeover. We increased the original space by removing some walls and adding larger openings to help the floor plan of house flow. Homeowner is very happy with results!Brookhaven cabinets. Mike Bringel Contractor.

Two subzeros with appliance panels in light cherry

2006-11-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

This kitchen with Cherry raised panel cabinets has many unique features. Two such features are: The counter tops are 2 1/4" thick. The ceiling has a skylight with recessed lighting and a trough boarder.Brookhaven cabinets.

Interest at ceiling with beams

2006-10-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

This kitchen used Knotty Alder distressed cabinets for the island and Painted glazed for the perimeter.The counter top is green granite (Ezmeralda) and the floor is a herringbone tile pattern. The hood is custom build on site with a cement tile boarder. The grape leaf motif is matched in the hood and in the Enkeboll corbels.Woodmode cabinets.GHI contractor.

Stainless steel appliances and uplighted crown

2006-10-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

This kitchen has very masculine overtones with a lot of stainless steel. Good thing as client is male and quite a cook. Notice height of warming drawer. Right under microwave.Brookhaven cabinets. GHI contractor.

Custom hood with beadboard

2006-10-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Cherry with a glaze on island, Maple with a glaze perimeter. Woodmode and Brookhaven cabinets.GHI Contractor.