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This empty-nest couple in California turned to designer Lori Ramsay to help reimagine the basic white kitchen in the wife’s Mediterranean-style childhood home, located in a San Diego master-planned community. Their goal was to honor cherished memories while improving function, storage and style in the 125-square-foot space. Ramsay kept the original footprint mostly intact but elevated the design with white-and-wood cabinetry, brass hardware, and countertops and a backsplash in striking white granite with bold veining and forest green crystals. A new peninsula adds storage, seating and a workstation sink, while the former breakfast area now houses a glamorous bar with glass-and-brass shelving.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Elizabeth Patton Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: San Diego
Size: 125 square feet (11.6 square meters)
Designer: Lori Ramsay Design
Before: The nearly all-white kitchen included a short peninsula, white appliances, white solid-surface counters and basic cabinetry without hardware. A cove ceiling added to the dated look. “The cove ceiling was something I wanted to remove, but the budget wouldn’t allow it,” Ramsay says.
While the layout created an efficient work triangle between the sink, range and refrigerator, a small microwave above the range lacked proper ventilation, and the bulky refrigerator jutted into the walkway. “The kitchen functioned very well,” Ramsay says. “The primary concern was that the whole thing was dated and didn’t have style. This homeowner has great taste and the dated kitchen didn’t reflect her personality.” The wood-look laminate floor offered a visual break from all the white but was worn and ready for replacement.
After: Ramsay mostly retained the original footprint. “Every time you move something like plumbing and gas lines, it adds to the expense,” she says. She also kept the cove ceiling but had the rest of the kitchen completely gutted and rebuilt. The upper cabinets and trim are painted a warm white (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams), which contrasts beautifully with the stained rift-cut white oak lower cabinets. The two-tone combination adds depth and warmth, while rich brass pulls tie the look together. “They didn’t have adequate storage before,” Ramsay says. “We increased storage capacity and accessibility by converting lower cabinets to all drawers.”
A soft white wall and ceiling color with warm khaki undertones (Neutral Ground by Sherwin-Williams) creates a cozy backdrop that helps the cabinetry stand out. Polished Alpine granite, with bold ebony, graphite and gray veining and forest green crystals, forms the countertops and slab backsplash, adding color, movement and drama. “That was the kickoff for the kitchen,” Ramsay says. “She found that slab and fell in love with it, and that informed all the other decisions.”
Cabinetry hardware: Erika pull in warm brass, Atlas Homewares
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A white 30-inch, slide-in, dual-fuel smart range with double ovens has a 36-inch custom hood designed to coordinate with the upper cabinetry. The hood liner has LED lighting and a powerful blower that keeps odors and smoke from drifting into surrounding spaces. A white oak band brings the warmth of the lower cabinetry to the hood. “Creating the hood as a focal point elevates the design and increases functionality,” Ramsay says. “And by making the hood at least 6 inches larger, it gives the cook room and gives the hood more presence.”
In addition to the lights inside the hood, the kitchen also includes updated LED ceiling lights and undercabinet lights over task areas.
Range: Café; range hood insert: Monsoon Mini II, Zephyr
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Before Photo
Before: Previously, the large side-by-side refrigerator in a corner of the kitchen stuck out past the cabinetry. The bulky appliance sat by a doorway that opens to the family room. “I thought that needed to be cabinet-depth or built-in,” Ramsay says.
A pantry cabinet next to the refrigerator had fixed shelves inside. “It was only 12 inches deep,” Ramsay says. “That’s why you see such a disparity between the full-depth refrigerator and the pantry.”
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After: Ramsay shifted the location of the refrigerator and swapped in a white counter-depth, two-drawer French door smart fridge with gold hardware. Its location to the left meant she could add a full-height and full-depth pantry cabinet (right) for small appliances, with drawers underneath for breakfast supplies and dry goods. “Moving the refrigerator to the left and making it counter-depth made the entrance to the kitchen more spacious,” Ramsay says.
Before and After: 4 Inviting Kitchens in 120 to 160 Square Feet
An appliance garage added in the corner by the fridge helps keep the counters free of clutter. “My concern with shifting the refrigerator was that there would be a deep hole in the corner of the kitchen,” Ramsay says. “So we did two things: We dropped the upper cabinetry to the countertop and added the appliance garage. And for the lower cabinet, we did a magic corner [organizer] on the range side and added a spice pullout by the refrigerator.”
25 Genius Kitchen Storage Ideas
A 30-inch fireclay farmhouse-style workstation sink sits across from the refrigerator. It features an extra-deep single bowl and a wood cutting board that slides along a built-in ledge for added function. The faucet, finished in luxe gold, has magnetic docking and a pull-down spray. “We extended the countertop behind the sink and added cabinets on the end to allow for storage and comfortable seating behind the sink,” Ramsay says. “That became the island for them.”
To the left of the sink is a double-drawer white-and-gold dishwasher that complements the fridge. A trash and recycling pullout sits in the peninsula, perpendicular to the sink. “We couldn’t fit the trash to the right of the sink, so that was the most logical place to put it,” Ramsay says. “Because these homeowners are empty nesters, using one small oven or one of the dishwasher drawers just makes sense.” Floating rift-cut white oak shelves at the end of the upper cabinetry provide a perfect spot for plants or decorative items.
Sink: Elkay; faucet: Artesso in luxe gold, Brizo
6 Expert Tips for Banishing Kitchen Clutter
Before Photo
Before: A small breakfast area with a table and chairs sat just off the kitchen but wasn’t used regularly. “They didn’t use it often and she wanted a bar,” Ramsay says. A pot rack hung over the sink, adding visual clutter. A structural post in the space needed to remain in place, as removing it would have been too costly.
After: Removing the cluttered pots and pans gave Ramsay the opportunity to install elegant brass-and-glass pendant lights, which now illuminate the counter seating area. She replaced the table and chairs with a glamorous bar setup, creating a more functional space for entertaining. A beverage fridge in the peninsula keeps cold drinks nearby and allows guests to grab what they like without entering the kitchen. Medium brown luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring extends through the kitchen and bar area, offering the look of warm wood but with improved durability and water resistance.
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The elegant bar has raised-panel cabinetry painted a rich, dramatic green (Black Evergreen by Behr). The brass-and-glass shelving showcases the homeowners’ tequila collection. A mirrored backsplash adds depth and a touch of glamour, while the white granite countertop coordinates with the stone used in the kitchen. “Both the cabinet style and color are different from the kitchen, but the emerald crystals in the kitchen granite tied everything together,” Ramsay says. “By eliminating that table, it allowed space for entertaining.”
Custom brass shelving: Soil & Oak Design; glass shelving: RB Glass & Mirror
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Looking for a timeless mix of traditional and modern, this California couple found Blythe Interiors on Houzz and tasked designers Lynn Siemer and Dani Pestka with infusing new life into their 100-square-foot en suite primary bathroom. The mostly beige-and-brown space had a workable layout, but a corner shower and a large built-in tub took up lots of floor space. The vanities offered limited storage, and basic finishes didn’t give the couple the elevated style and soothing atmosphere they wanted.
Siemer and Pestka brought in dark-stained wood vanities that improve storage and add rich warmth. A new makeup area sits in a stylish arched niche. A freestanding tub creates more breathing room. A luxurious new shower with a frameless glass enclosure improves the showering experience. And beige-and-white checkerboard flooring adds an elegant touch.
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With busy jobs and two elementary school kids, Kendra Oxholm and her husband needed a kitchen that could keep up with their hectic lifestyle. Their existing kitchen didn’t come close. It sat closed off behind a wall separating it from the dining room. The space felt cramped. The cabinets lacked storage. And the materials — aging basic white cabinets, laminate countertops, tile flooring and blue wallpaper — felt dated and uninspiring. “I love to cook and knew this kitchen wouldn’t work for me,” Oxholm says.
Wanting more openness, efficiency, color and contemporary materials, the couple hired designer Sean Lewis for help. Lewis got to work knocking down the wall to open the kitchen to the dining room. He added a peninsula with seating that improves connection between the two spaces. Closing off an exterior door to the driveway freed up room to add more cabinetry and improve storage. Gray paint for the cabinets with brass hardware and other brass details creates an elegant style. A graphic black-and-white porcelain tile floor energizes the new kitchen, while a black-painted open pantry brings a dramatic touch.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
With busy jobs and two elementary school kids, Kendra Oxholm and her husband needed a kitchen that could keep up with their hectic lifestyle. Their existing kitchen didn’t come close. It sat closed off behind a wall separating it from the dining room. The space felt cramped. The cabinets lacked storage. And the materials — aging basic white cabinets, laminate countertops, tile flooring and blue wallpaper — felt dated and uninspiring. “I love to cook and knew this kitchen wouldn’t work for me,” Oxholm says.
Wanting more openness, efficiency, color and contemporary materials, the couple hired designer Sean Lewis for help. Lewis got to work knocking down the wall to open the kitchen to the dining room. He added a peninsula with seating that improves connection between the two spaces. Closing off an exterior door to the driveway freed up room to add more cabinetry and improve storage. Gray paint for the cabinets with brass hardware and other brass details creates an elegant style. A graphic black-and-white porcelain tile floor energizes the new kitchen, while a black-painted open pantry brings a dramatic touch.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Stucchi collaborated with architect Karen Howard on the new pool cabana, which measures 14 by 18 feet. It contains a TV and lounge seating, as well as cabinetry and counters that match the outdoor kitchen (just out of view to the left). It also has two refrigerated beverage drawers. Stucchi placed the steel-framed structure where it would create privacy from the neighbor’s yard.
The landscape design includes smart features. “We used a Sonance sound system with two subwoofers and six speakers within the garden spaces, as well as speakers in the cabana that are controlled by a home automation system,” Stucchi says. “The landscape lights, the bistro lights and the lights in the cabana are all controlled by a Lutron system app on the homeowners’ phones.”
Paperbark maples (Acer griseum, USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone), which are multistemmed trees with beautiful bark, frame the cabana. “About a million resident wild bunnies severely limited our plant palette with their insatiable appetites for herbaceous perennials. No amount of rabbit deterrent would help us there. We tried everything,” Stucchi says.
He used trees, flowering shrubs, evergreens and grasses for structure, color and texture. These include a mix of hydrangeas, ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, zones 4 to 9) and both Blushing Knock Out roses (Rosa ‘Radyod’, zones 5 to 11) and Knock Out roses (Rosa ‘Radrazz’, zones 5 to 11).
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Floor plan: To get a better understanding of the wet-room layout, let’s jump into the floor plan. A wet-room strategy can save space when both a generous shower stall and bathtub are desired. Gilmour enclosed the wet area on the right side of the bathroom with two hinged glass shower doors.
The area with the X shape is a double shower area, with the shower heads marked at the top and bottom of the plan. The shower area is about 3 feet wide, but because of the wet-room layout, it feels larger. “With the tub height, it’s not like they will bump their elbows on a wall when they are washing their hair,” Gilmour says. The freestanding tub occupies the area under the window. The shower floor slopes slightly toward the drain, represented by the square in the middle of the X shape on the plan.
The toilet wasn’t photographed, but it’s at the bottom left corner, with the entry from the bedroom to its right. The double vanity runs across the top of the plan.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
This 1907 home on a spacious lot in New Jersey had many beautiful details, including walnut millwork and original molding. But those details had aged past the point of rescue. So the homeowners reached out to designer Anastasia Harrison of AHD&Co to help update the home while honoring its roots. Harrison, who uses Houzz Pro business software, started by taking a piece of original stained walnut to a millworker and creating a match for new rich walnut cabinets in the kitchen. A new curved island has reeded detailing that complements reeded lighting and glass cabinet doors.
Elsewhere, fresh elements like a salmon pink paint for that original molding in the dining room, brick-look porcelain tile in a herringbone pattern for the mudroom and a light-filled en suite bathroom in a former sunroom ensure this home will remain timeless for years to come.
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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
This 1907 home on a spacious lot in New Jersey had many beautiful details, including walnut millwork and original molding. But those details had aged past the point of rescue. So the homeowners reached out to designer Anastasia Harrison of AHD&Co to help update the home while honoring its roots. Harrison, who uses Houzz Pro business software, started by taking a piece of original stained walnut to a millworker and creating a match for new rich walnut cabinets in the kitchen. A new curved island has reeded detailing that complements reeded lighting and glass cabinet doors.
Elsewhere, fresh elements like a salmon pink paint for that original molding in the dining room, brick-look porcelain tile in a herringbone pattern for the mudroom and a light-filled en suite bathroom in a former sunroom ensure this home will remain timeless for years to come.
Read more and save photos
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
After: Maney stripped the kitchen and started from scratch. “We knocked it down to the studs and added new windows,” she says. “New drywall, flooring, everything.”
Maney placed a new paneled refrigerator on the wall on the right, allowing her to put the new cooktop and statement walnut vent hood on the back wall. That allowed her to create a new walnut island with an uninterrupted soapstone countertop that offers plenty of prep space and encourages gathering. The perimeter countertops are also soapstone, offering a touch of contrast and drama to the white cabinets.
Maney extended the cabinets to the ceiling with crown molding to maximize storage and give the space a loftier appearance. New engineered white oak flooring in wide planks anchors the room in warmth.
Cabinetry: Crystal Cabinets; floor: Expressions in color Sonnet, Shaw Floors; wall paint: Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore
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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with five children between them
Location: Var region, Provence, France
Size: Five bedrooms and four bathrooms on three floors
Designers: Stephanie Bailey and Jo Miller of Decorbuddi
The owner bought this former olive farm in 2024 as a place he and his wife could share with friends and extended family. He wanted a warm and livable design, with sustainable choices throughout and a “wow” moment here and there. “He didn’t want anything so precious that if he broke it, he would be weeping,” Bailey says.
The owner loves Moroccan style, but has worked all over the world. “He’s lived in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal and is really well traveled,” Bailey says. “He has lovely textiles, amazing bold colors and a lifetime’s collection of interesting art and objects in his London house. When Jo and I were presenting mood boards to him there, we saw it and were like, OK, we get what he likes.”
Miller agrees. “To start with, the owner wanted Moroccan and he wanted color, but we swiftly realized he wanted a world look,” she says. “The challenge was to offer him that kind of aesthetic, but to incorporate it within a French farmhouse.”
The walls in the hall and landing are painted a warm pinky beige shade. “We wanted it to be really ambient and a bit moody in there, and we knew we had good lighting going in that this tone would work with,” Bailey says.
Miller sourced the old table in France. “We had to have it cut down or it wouldn’t have fitted here,” she says. “It was more like a table than a console originally.”
Hall and landing wall paint: Leather V, Paint & Paper Library; table: Pamono