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With three energetic boys, these Georgia homeowners wanted a more open, functional layout to replace their aging kitchen and closed-off dining room. The husband, a skilled general contractor, was comfortable doing the construction work; the wife had plenty of creative ideas. But the couple needed help turning their vision into a workable plan, designing the right layout to fit their busy lifestyle and choosing stylish finishes.
They brought in designer Rosa Moreno and, after several revisions, the team removed a dividing wall and pushed the kitchen into the former breakfast area, adding 72 square feet. The new layout made space for a larger island with seating and storage. A muted green for the island contrasts nicely with soft white perimeter cabinets. White oak floors and warm wood accents add inviting texture, while marble-look quartz counters and a herringbone porcelain tile backsplash polish the earthy, transitional design.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Irina Chepko
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Norcross, Georgia
Size: 242 square feet (22 square meters)
Designer: Rosa Moreno Kitchens
Builder: Atlanta Renovations and Construction
Before: This photo of the former kitchen was taken from the breakfast area. The dated 170-square-foot space had striped wallpaper, a soffit, mismatched standard appliances, dark brown cabinets, laminate counters, a ceiling fan and vinyl flooring. “There was a lot of wood and it was so heavy,” Moreno says. “The white fridge sticking out was a problem too. I knew we definitely could do a lot better.”
On the left, a drop-in double-bowl sink sat beneath a window that the homeowners were open to removing to improve the layout and storage. The fridge wall separated the kitchen from the dining room, making the kitchen and its small island feel cramped. “But by removing that wall, we were getting rid of storage,” Moreno says. “So that was the big question on how things would work.”
The door seen at the back opened to a hallway leading to the living room. In that hallway was a powder room and door to the basement. A door to a closet is just out of view on the fridge wall. “There were so many doors that we had to deal with,” Moreno says.
After: Moreno stripped the kitchen down to the studs, removing the appliances, backsplash, cabinets, ceiling fan, counters, vinyl flooring, sink window, soffit and closet. She filled in the window above the old sink to make room for a new focal-point range and a reworked appliance layout that better fits the family’s needs.
She also took down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, expanding the kitchen into the former breakfast nook, adding 72 square feet and dramatically improving flow. The extra space allowed for a larger custom island, which is painted a muted, organic green with soft gray undertones. “It’s a really pretty neutral green that’s warm at the same time,” Moreno says. “I like to ground a space so everything isn’t so white. Plus, her favorite color is green. It took time to find the right green, and we went with this neutral one because it’s transitional but also modern.” Soft white custom inset cabinetry along the perimeter brightens the room and contrasts gently with the island. Satin bronze hardware adds a rich, polished touch to both.
Moreno placed the new farmhouse-style sink in the island and placed the new range where the sink used to be. She moved the refrigerator to the cooktop’s former spot, resulting in a smarter, safer layout. “I’m not a big fan of putting the range in the island, especially when you have little kids,” Moreno says. “Removing that sink window allowed us to put the range there with the hood as a focal point. She was afraid of losing the light from that window, but now we’re getting light from the front of the house by removing that wall.”
Paint colors: Alabaster (perimeter cabinets), Drift of Mist (walls), Pure White (ceiling and trim), Shade-Grown (island), Sherwin-Williams
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Polished marble-look quartz countertops on the island and perimeter combine durability with a touch of elegance. Four modern counter-height stools, featuring brushed flax upholstery and solid wood frames, provide casual seating at the island. They coordinate with the new natural-finish white oak flooring and the white oak accent band on the range hood, all of which bring warmth and texture to the space.
Above the island, a pair of 16-inch brushed brass bell-shaped pendant lights with clear glass shades add a stylish detail. LED ceiling lights provide general illumination, while undercabinet lighting brightens key task areas.
Pendant lights: Newton Bell in brushed brass, Innovations Lighting
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A 36-inch smart commercial-style gas range now sits where the sink was. With six burners, three-level convertible grates and a convection oven, it’s built for serious cooking. “She loves to cook and cooks a lot, so it was important for her to have the right appliances and perfect layout,” Moreno says.
A custom paint-grade wood hood with a white oak accent band is painted to match the perimeter cabinetry. A powerful hood insert helps prevent smoke and odors from drifting into nearby spaces. The backsplash consists of 2-by-6-inch white porcelain tiles laid in a herringbone pattern; the tiles have subtle tone variations, a glossy finish and frost white grout. “Everything is very neutral here, so bringing that texture there on the backsplash was important,” Moreno says. “It doesn’t stick out but brings another element into the space. Something I also like about that tile is the glossy finish that reflects the light.”
Range: 36-inch smart commercial-style, gas with six burners, KitchenAid
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The upgraded 36-inch counter-depth stainless steel French door refrigerator, now placed along the former cooktop wall, has a fingerprint-resistant finish for easy maintenance. Thoughtful storage upgrades add to the kitchen’s functionality, including pullouts for spices and cooking utensils that flank the range and a hidden trash and recycling center in the island.
Refrigerator: KitchenAid
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Before Photo
Before: Here’s a closer look at the wall that divided the kitchen and dining room (visible through the doorway at right). The white refrigerator seen in the earlier “before” photo sat in the empty cabinet frame. To the left of a pair of aging white wall ovens stood a door leading to the previously mentioned closet. “It was a load-bearing wall,” Moreno says, “so we had to put in a beam.”
After: This photo was taken from about the same angle as the previous one. Removing the wall and introducing a structural beam opened up the layout, allowing for seamless flow between the kitchen and dining area.
The interior side of the island features a streamlined setup with the pullout trash and recycling center on the left, a classic white farmhouse sink with a dedicated base cabinet in the center and a quiet, top-control stainless steel dishwasher completing the lineup.
Dishwasher: KitchenAid
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The undermount single-bowl farmhouse sink accommodates large pots and pans, making it a practical upgrade for the home chef. It’s paired with a semiprofessional kitchen faucet in a rich gold finish, equipped with touch technology and voice activation for convenience. “She cooks for the entire family and wanted a large sink,” Moreno says. “She hated the double-bowl sink she had before. Going with a large single-bowl sink is much easier.”
Sink: Whitehaven, Kohler; faucet: Odin in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo
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Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and eliminating the closet made room for a custom built-in storage center with illuminated display shelves and the same backsplash tile used elsewhere in the kitchen. “This gives her space to store dishes she uses for special occasions,” Moreno says. “They wanted the lighted shelves for decorative items and pretty things.”
At the back right of the photo is the home’s updated staircase to the second floor. “We removed another piece of wall there to make the staircase area more open,” Moreno says.
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This view from the open dining room into the kitchen highlights the new French doors that replaced an original bay window in the former breakfast area. “We had to straighten out that wall with the bay window to add the new French doors,” Moreno says. The adjacent door leads to a newly built walk-in pantry outfitted with open shelving and neatly arranged storage for both dry goods and small kitchen appliances. Shallow cabinets added to the base of the island provide the family with additional storage space.
“I’m most proud that they trusted me and listened to my advice,” Moreno says. “Before, the kitchen was so dark you couldn’t wait to get out. Now they can entertain family and friends and be all together.”
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After raising their daughter, a California couple shifted focus to caring for the wife’s elderly mother in their late-1970s home. To make the space safer and more functional, they prioritized updating their outdated primary bathroom, which had a cramped vanity and a hazardous step-up shower and tub.
They turned to Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, where lead designer Janna Parr reimagined the bathroom as a spacious wet room with a built-in tub and open shower featuring both a multifunction shower head and a hand shower. A new cherry double vanity adds warmth and storage, while a mix of calming, textured tiles brings style and serenity to this now safe, modern retreat.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Leigh Ann Rowe
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and the wife’s elderly mother
Location: Laguna Niguel, California
Size: 185 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Janna Parr of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel
Before: The aging bathroom, with its peeling floral wallpaper, lacked both safety and style. A basic angled wood double vanity had large plain mirrors and a hard-to-clean tile countertop. The only drawer storage came from a small makeup station in the center, leaving hair and skincare products cluttering the surface. “We had a challenge with the angled wall and did not want to turn it into a structural project,” Parr says. “We couldn’t really move walls. There was also a peeling soffit above with a fluorescent light that we wanted to eliminate.”
Across from the vanity, the step-up tub and shower (visible here in the mirrors) raised safety concerns and felt outdated. The homeowners chose to keep the water closet as is. “We didn’t change anything in there,” Parr says.
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After: Parr removed the tub, shower and double vanity to make way for a complete transformation, including updated plumbing and electrical systems.
An elegant semicustom cherry double vanity anchors the space. It offers a smart mix of shallow and deep soft-close drawers along with spacious cabinets for improved storage. A rich clove brown finish adds depth and warmth. “We wanted to make sure we had enough counter space and sink space,” Parr says. “We went with one long sink to achieve symmetry with the way we were planning to do the mirror and medicine cabinets above.”
The two frameless mirrored medicine cabinets flank a metal-framed mirror in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. Wall sconces with traditional torch-style silhouettes and brass accents sit on either side. “We fell in love with the detail on the top of the mirror,” Parr says. “It also bounces light around the bathroom, so it feels more open and airy.”
A soft, warm white now coats the walls and ceiling, while a bright white on the trim adds subtle contrast.
Paint colors: Shoji White (wall and ceiling) and Pure White (trim), Sherwin-Williams; sconces: Elton in Patina Brass, Troy Lighting; vanity hardware: Top Knobs; mirror: Colestin in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
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The artisan-crafted 36-inch concrete trough sink gives the vanity a modern, organic feel. Its semivessel design adds visual depth, while two wall-mounted, single-handle faucets in a luxe gold finish bring a touch of sophistication. “We were looking at trough sinks in general because we wanted a long sink,” Parr says. “Color-wise it also tied into tiles we used in the shower. The semivessel sink design also offered some dimension and interest.”
Topping the vanity is a polished pure white quartz surface that’s resistant to scratches, stains, cracks and heat. “We had a lot of movement with the backsplash tile that was our feature and wanted something to complement but not compete,” Parr says. “It also ties into other white elements throughout the space.”
The backsplash consists of polished ivory onyx mosaic tiles in a scalloped design with tonal variation that adds texture and charm. “I think they add both luxury and whimsy,” Parr says. “They also add interest to an otherwise neutral palette. We also wanted to tie in some of the gold tones on this side of the bathroom with the gold tones seen around the tub.”
Sink: Native Trails; faucets: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo; countertop: Pure White, Caesarstone; wall tile: Piano Onyx Ivory mosaic, Elysium
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A new linen closet at the back left now coordinates seamlessly with the updated double vanity, replacing a pair of aging upper and lower cabinets that were falling apart. “It has a rollout hamper inside and extra shelving that gives them lots of storage,” Parr says.
To enhance the existing tray ceiling, faux architectural beams were added where fluorescent lights once sat, adding both character and warmth. “That was a last-minute decision from the homeowners,” Parr says. “That was a splurge, but we had dreamed of adding them into the design to give it an old-world feel.”
A towel bar and hook near the vanity complement the space’s other luxe gold accents.
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Before Photo
Before: Across from the vanity in the former bathroom, the hazardous step-up tub sat next to a dated stall shower with a low enclosure, which was also raised above the main floor level. “It was clumsy and slippery,” Parr says. “There was also a ‘fern trench’ from the 1970s there behind the tub and shower.” The trench area was meant to hold plants.
Before Photo
Before: Here’s a closer look at the old shower beside the tub. With no shower niche, bathing products cluttered the floor, and the step-up entry was a key feature the homeowners were eager to eliminate.
After: The new wet room seamlessly combines a modern built-in rectangular tub with an open-concept shower, creating a stylish, low-maintenance space with a low-curb entry for easier access. “It would have been cost-prohibitive to revise the foundation in order to garner a curbless entry,” Parr says. “But as a designer, I also liked the way we carried the tile across the curb and bench to elongate the space and create a modern organic look and Roman luxury influence.”
The operable window on the back wall was updated by the homeowners, while a textured microcement finish — an ancient European technique gaining popularity in the U.S. — was applied to the wall in thin layers for durability and waterproofing. “I just didn’t want it to feel busy, and wanted to eliminate more tile and more grout,” Parr says.
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The modern 36-by-66-inch acrylic tub is surrounded by large-format (24-by-48-inch) polished marble-look porcelain tiles. These rectified tiles, made using advanced inkjet technology, offer a realistic appearance and are precisely cut for minimal grout lines, creating a sleek, seamless look.
A streamlined, wall-mounted tub filler in a gold finish with lever handles replaced the original fixture. “Keeping the plumbing in the same location allowed us to keep within our budget,” Parr says. The paneled door partially visible at left leads to the primary bedroom.
Tile surround: Origines Or glossy, 24 by 48 inches, Elysium; tub filler: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo
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The wet room’s shower area features a multifunction, wall-mounted shower head and a separate hand shower with a slide bar for flexibility and ease of use. All the fixtures match those used at the tub and vanity for a cohesive, polished look. “We strategically placed the fixtures so the valves are off to the side, so they can’t get wet when turning them on,” Parr says. “We also designed the shower bench a bit shorter so a caregiver can help with bathing.”
The upper portion of the shower wall is clad in 3-by-12-inch ivory ceramic tiles with subtle tonal variation, soft texture and a gentle glaze. “We did a staggered vertical pattern to kind of mirror the backsplash at the vanity,” Parr says.
Below, 24-by-48-inch matte sand-colored porcelain tiles add visual depth and contrast. A quartz-topped shower shelf, matching the vanity countertop, offers a clean, dry space for hair and body products, keeping clutter off the wet-room floor.
Shower fixtures: Litze in Brilliance Luxe Gold, Brizo; shower wall tile (top): Flash in ivory, 3-by-12-inch, Arizona Tile; shower wall tile (bottom): Waystone Sand, 24-by-48-inch, Elysium
The wet-room floor features authentic limestone mosaics with an aged finish, arranged in a herringbone pattern with driftwood-hued grout. A linear drain is seamlessly integrated using the same tile for a clean, cohesive look. “The more natural materials I can incorporate into a space will make it feel timeless and luxurious,” Parr says. “They also can take on a lot of water and abuse.” A custom spot-resistant shower glass divider with brass clips and hinges adds to the open, airy feel.
The doors just outside the wet room lead to the water closet — located behind the shower fixtures — and a walk-in closet on the adjacent wall. “The thoughtful design and layout for functionality was a primary focus,” Parr says, “but the clients put full faith and trust in me to create a layered bathroom with multiple textures, sheens and touches of luxury.”
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In front of the treehouse, Prassas created a mound of meadow grass — Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, zones 3 to 8). “I wanted to create a soft meadow for the kids,” Prassas says.
“This is a shady garden and naturalistic play space. I wanted to add shade-tolerant plants with lots of textures and different-colored leaves,” Prassas says. “These include ferns, hostas, grasses and sumacs that make it more interesting for the kids. Another plant I included is witch hazel, which flowers when nothing else is flowering.” The witch hazel species he planted is Autumn Embers vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis ‘Autumn Embers’, zones 4 to 8).
Woody plants Passas added to the garden include ‘Little Henry’ Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’, zones 5 to 9), cutleaf staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’, zones 3 to 8), Snowmound spirea (Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’, zones 3 to 8), bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora, zones 4 to 8) and a variety of hydrangeas.
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The new owners of this three-bedroom Regency-style apartment in Cheltenham, England, loved its location close to their daughter’s school, but its sleek, modern features not so much. “They prefer period style and classic looks,” says Angela Colley of GeorgieRose Interior Design.
One of the homeowners had contacted the designer as she liked the look of her previous projects, which blend soft, earthy colors and classic style. She asked Colley to design a kitchen, dining area and living space in the home’s one large public room. “There was a lot to fit in, so it was about keeping it light and bright so it didn’t overpower,” Colley says.
The starting point for the kitchen was a paint sample of a pinkish-brown shade. “I just took a shine to the color,” she says. “I wasn’t sure [the owner] would like my suggestion, but she absolutely loved it.”
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After: Broadstone addressed the boxed-in feeling by removing the closet. That allowed her to put a washlet toilet where the closet once stood, facing the vanity wall — a much more discreet location. (The seat is visible at bottom right.)
She removed the existing shower-tub combo and, at the end of the room, installed a deeper, double-insulated acrylic tub with handheld and fixed shower heads and a single fixed-glass panel. She also replaced the window and moved it higher on the wall in order to enhance privacy and draw the eye up — a trick to make the room look taller and airier.
A heated fan in the ceiling keeps the homeowners and guests warm both inside the partially open shower and when stepping out of it.
Tub: Double-insulated acrylic, 32 by 60 by 19 inches, MTI; walls, trim and ceiling paint: Cheviot, Sherwin-Williams; toilet: Vespin II Washlet+, Toto
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This young couple’s appreciation for historic design and love of cooking didn’t jibe with the finishes in their 1990s Colonial-style home or the small work area in their kitchen. They hired Lynda and Jessica Caccamo, a mother-daughter interior design team, to help them achieve a highly functional kitchen with a historic look.
The designers opened up the kitchen to the dining room, then swapped them, putting the new kitchen in the original dining room space and vice versa. The resulting design has a traditional historic style, featuring soft green kitchen cabinetry, a large island, a dining room wet bar, ample storage and plenty of room for the couple to prepare dinner together.
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Photos by Charlotte Lea
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family of three
Location: Long Beach, California
Size: 97 square feet (9 square meters)
Designer: Heather Knight-Willcock
Contractor: Bryan Luu of BLuu Construction
A large part of the project involved relocating the primary suite. Knight-Willcock found space for the primary bathroom by taking over a small existing hall bath, part of a hallway and space from two small closets. (See before-and-after floor plans below.) This allowed room for a double vanity, a generous shower stall and additional storage.
“Heather named this project ‘MCMR,’ which stands for Midcentury Modern Revival,” Luu says. Style-wise, this meant the design honors the home’s midcentury modern vintage while giving it modern conveniences and a warm organic feel.
This view from the bedroom shows a new paneled pocket door partially open on the left. “There is a small hallway to the left of this door. Using a pocket door optimized the space,” Luu says.
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These Lakeville, Minnesota, empty nesters wanted a kitchen suitable for extended-family events and holiday dinners. Their existing cramped and dated space wouldn’t do. Seeking better flow, functionality and improved storage and style, they hired designer Stephanie Morris for help.
Morris pushed the kitchen into an unused den and stole space from a home office to expand the kitchen and create a spacious new butler’s pantry with a coffee station. A large island adds storage, prep space and seating for four. Multiple storage solutions, including drawers, cabinets, open shelves, a hutch and an appliance garage, ensure that everything has a place and the countertops stay free of clutter. Meanwhile, white and wood cabinets help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that no guest would want to leave.
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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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“These pleated screens are a really cool product,” Trakas says. “They are on a track, and they fold up into themselves like an accordion.” The screens are opened and closed manually, and when the homeowners aren’t using them, they tuck right up next to the columns.
Retractable screens: ZigZag2, Genius
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