This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Taking inspiration from elements of both American and Belgian kitchen design, this custom crafted kitchen is a reflection of its owner’s personal taste. Rather than going for two contrasting colours, one sole shade has been selected in Helen Turkington Goat’s Beard to achieve a serene scheme, teamed with Calacatta marble work surfaces and splashback for a luxurious finish. Balancing form and function, practical storage solutions have been created to accommodate all kitchen essentials, with generous space dedicated to larder storage, integrated refrigeration and a concealed breakfast station in one tall run of beautifully crafted furniture.

This is an example of a small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Photo of a small transitional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop and wallpaper.

Small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, grey walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Transitional laundry room with herringbone tile floor and stacked washer/dryer.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Orange County with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor, white benchtop, shaker cabinets and grey walls.

This award-winning whole house renovation of a circa 1875 single family home in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC provides the client with an open and more functional layout without requiring an addition. After major structural repairs and creating one uniform floor level and ceiling height, we were able to make a truly open concept main living level, achieving the main goal of the client. The large kitchen was designed for two busy home cooks who like to entertain, complete with a built-in mud bench. The water heater and air handler are hidden inside full height cabinetry. A new gas fireplace clad with reclaimed vintage bricks graces the dining room. A new hand-built staircase harkens to the home's historic past. The laundry was relocated to the second floor vestibule. The three upstairs bathrooms were fully updated as well. Final touches include new hardwood floor and color scheme throughout the home.

Mid-sized modern l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, concrete floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and white benchtop.

This large laundry room includes a professional dog wash and dryer with plenty of cabinet space for cleaning supplies.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern single-wall utility room in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey walls, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer and grey floor.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Toronto with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer and beige floor.

This is an example of a small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer and grey benchtop.

Dennis Mayer
Large transitional galley utility room in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a stacked washer and dryer.

Michael Wamsley
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped utility room in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, porcelain floors and a stacked washer and dryer.

2014 Fall Parade East Grand Rapids I J Visser Design I Joel Peterson Homes I Rock Kauffman Design I Photography by M-Buck Studios
Photo of a small transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Grand Rapids with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, grey walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

White laundry room provides ample storage space for all cleaning supplies, hidden ironing board, and stackable washer and dryer.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey walls, a stacked washer and dryer and light hardwood floors.

Nice and Tidy Laundry in White Melamine with Shelves draws and doors and a pull out hanging rod
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped utility room in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey walls, ceramic floors, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Small transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Dallas with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey walls, a stacked washer and dryer, black benchtop, laminate floors and grey floor.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall dedicated laundry room in Other with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey walls, a stacked washer and dryer and white benchtop.

Picture Perfect House
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dedicated laundry room in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, a stacked washer and dryer, white benchtop, an undermount sink, grey walls, carpet and beige floor.