behind the scenes Archives - Pacific Design Co.

June 9, 2023June 9, 2023

Pines Residence Progress

Our Pines Residence is wrapping up with just a few details left, so we figured we should probably give an update on it! It’s been a project we’ve had in our queue for quite some time. So we’re excited to finally be sharing progress from the construction phase! We have quite a few homes built in the mid-century era scattered throughout Spokane, this being one of them!

Our clients lean into a mid-century touch but enjoy more of a warm transitional interior style. Which is right up our ally! Throughout the material selection phase, we got some amazing materials paired together. The tiles, cabinet finishes, and fixture combos all speak to who our clients are and truly embrace their style!

Kitchen

When tackling the kitchen we went through quite a few floor plan revisions. The “before” kitchen was outdated and felt crowded. It wasn’t functional for our clients and wasn’t a space they wanted to be in. So getting the layout pinned down was very important and our clients finally found one they loved!

When tackling a remodel and keeping a budget in mind, the fact of the matter is you’ll most likely have some design elements that get cut. That’s just because you’re working with an existing space rather than starting from scratch. Which is also why every remodel is unique! You have dreams and wants and depending on the home we are either able to deliver or together we come up with a better solution with the walls we’ve been given!

When it came to selecting finishes for the kitchen there was one finish our clients knew they wanted, Quartzite countertops! I’m sure you’ve already heard about Quartz countertops and maybe even Quartzite but here’s a quick description of both. Quartz is an engineered, man-made product manufactured in a factory by combining elements of quartz, resin, and pigment. Alternatively, quartzite is a natural stone that forms 100% organically deep within the earth that is extracted in blocks by quarrying.

What we love about Quartzite is the movement in the slabs. Every slab is unique so we make sure to plan a slab yard date and go explore all the exact options we’d get. Our clients had the “Taj Mahal” in mind and after comparing it to the other finishes (tile, wood tones, paint colors) it was a perfect addition. They selected a Taj Mahal slab with a honed, leathered finish to it!

Primary Bathroom

The primary bathroom is typically another space in the home we like to splurge on with quality and style. So pulling the Taj Mahal into this space was another easy choice for us and our clients! The wall tile in here is a gorgeous mushroom-taupe color and the flooring is a soft neutral tone. If you want to see more pictures make sure to follow us on Instagram… our followers on that platform usually get the first sneak peeks with all the pictures and videos!

In the primary bath we also went back and forth between two floorplan layouts, the clients decided on a little bit more of an expensive layout because plumbing would move around. But again, if there’s a space to splurge, it’s the primary bath. As the homeowner that’s the space you’ll be spending your mornings, end of days, and maybe even some time in-between.

More Bathrooms!

The next bathroom we’ll go over is the kiddo’s bathroom! For this home it was still a room we wanted to keep fairly neutral but with the scale of the tile we chose and some finishing touches, it still holds a cuteness that you want incorporated in your kid’s bathroom!

There wasn’t much to change with the layout of the bathroom, so all the finishes and fixtures speak for themselves in here! The vanity was a tricky one to reconfigure but the end result with the corner will add to the charm of the room!

The downstairs bathroom won’t be utilized as often as the others but we didn’t want it to feel like an after thought either! And after the design process we’re excited to say, this bathroom truly gets to shine all on it’s own. The pop of dark smaller scaled tile on the shower wall makes a beautiful statement. And the space still gets warmed up with a beautiful white oak vanity!

Powder room

The ground floor powder room is one we want to make sure we mention! Being located right off of the kitchen and being the only bathroom on the main floor, it will be utilized the most out of all the others. And if you’ve been a PDCo follower for some time, you know we love our powder rooms! The most exciting element will be a fun wallpaper the clients fell in love with. It’ll be paired with a floating wood vanity, a dark countertop and brass accents! I’m getting excited just writing about it!

Laundry

The Laundry/Mudroom is going to be another beautiful transformation! We’re changing things up in here with a stunning taupe off-green paint color for the cabinets! It pairs stunningly with the dark slate tile we have going in here. The paint was so good the clients kept going back and forth on where else we could use it!

Staircase

The first thing you see when walking into the Pines Residence is the staircase. We love a good staircase moment but this one needed a face lift. The structure will stay the same but all the finishes will be updated!

The finishes are black metal spindles and a wooden railing that will tie in beautifully with the beams. Wooden treads and risers with a custom stair runner going down the middle! Being that it’s the first thing you’re greeted with, the stairs are something that need a little extra attention. We’re excited for the end result!

The photo below shows the new wood wrapped columns, and a temporary black paint that the clients used to update the railing until the new fixtures can get installed. You can also get a little peek of the new flooring!

Fireplace

The last thing I wanted to touch on is the fireplace. The original fireplace consisted of brick and even if the clients were able to make it work., it still didn’t feel quite right. We did a little tweaking, and now the clients have a fireplace that will match their new home and them!

Stay tuned! The project is almost complete, but we won’t have final photos for a few more months since we’re taking some time off this summer. In the meantime, keep an eye out for our Hillside Residence reveal in the coming days!

February 11, 2023February 2, 2023

Helena Residence Part 2: Before

If the Helena Residence sounds familiar, that’s because this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about it! With the scale of this remodel, our clients phased it out into two phases. In Phase one we took care of the full lower level. You can take a look at the Before, Progress, and Final posts of the basement of this gorgeous midcentury home. With the second phase we’re tackling the full upper level, and demo has recently begun!

Sunken lounging is back in!

The upper level wasn’t as big of a blast from the past as the lower level but still has lots of unlocked potential. This beautiful midcentury home had many fun features, my favorite probably being the sunken lounge located in the family room. I was very excited to hear that my clients were just as fond of it, so a face lift is all that we’ll be doing here.

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The bar and fireplace in the living room were also things we loved and wanted to keep but definitely needed some help to bring them back to life. The cedar throughout the home is incredible, so some adjustments to the remaining fixtures & finishes play a huge roll in the end result! You’ll get to see just how much a dated space can be turned into your most loved space after we change up just those, without touching the floor plan too much!

The first look inside

When you first walk into the Helena Residence you’re greeted with a spacious entry way. You have the skylights right above you, and an open staircase to the left. The only piece of the entry way we weren’t sold on is the pony wall separating the entry from the dining table. This space called for more of a statement rather than a half wall blocking the flow. Taking that wall down will open up a beautiful view into the home. We also are going to update the finishes of the stairway. As tasteful as the aesthetic may have been in the past, our clients are wanting a little update while still nodding to the original architectural style.

My favorite transformation!

From the dining room, you head into the kitchen. With everything we have planned this will be my favorite transformation done to the entire home! Here we’ll keep the general layout of the kitchen in place but everything will be new. New cabinets, counters, appliances, and flooring. This kitchen is quite beautiful as it is, but the style doesn’t fit the home at all. I’m so excited for the midcentury style we will be embracing!

Major Refresh to the Bathrooms

On the main floor we’re working on three different bathrooms. The powder room, where we’ll be updating all the finishes. The primary suite currently has TWO bathrooms. We will update one, and the second will get swapped to create a second suite for guests. I love all of the finishes we’ve selected for these bathrooms, and excited to show off what we chose to make these spaces truly stand out!

The Helena Residence is truly a beautiful midcentury home, just in need of a lot of fixture and finish updates! The layout of the home is really quite functional, and only took a few tweaks to get the results we were wanting. This project has been on our radar for a long time, and we’re excited to finally see it start transforming!

February 2, 2023June 15, 2023

Hillside Residence: Progress

I usually recommend that everyone starts with the “before” project post, but with the Hillside Residence, it’s a must! Seeing the transformation from the start is like one of those tv remodel show moments where at the end of the episode they’ll show you a side-by-side comparison and it blows you away!

PHASE ONE

Because our clients were still living in the residence while the entirety of the construction was happening, we tackled this project in stages. Stage one consisted of the Primary Suite, Guest Bathroom, Guest Bedroom, and the paint and flooring in that section of the home.

Like with any renovation we started with demo. After tearing the entirety of the primary suite and guest bathroom down to almost the bones, we got started on the new layout. The biggest changes to this stage of the project were definitely the bathrooms. We weren’t just changing the finishes in these spaces, but we took out and moved walls to create more appealing and functional spaces!

The Primary SuitE

For the Primary Suite, we reconfigured the entry to the bathroom to create a more open layout. We moved the steam shower and soaking tub to one side of the bathroom. This provided more floor space, in addition to taking over an adjacent bedroom, for a beautiful, spacious walk-in closet. We also were able to add a linen closet built-in at the entrance of the bathroom.

The steam shower was an important part of the primary suite. One of the luxurious we added was the fully tiled, custom curved bench. It took some research to find something that was readily available. Once it was installed you can tell that the steam shower would never have been finished without it! This shower is fully equipped with music, chromotherapy, steam, body sprays, and more!

The finishes we paired together are mixtures of grey, white, and black. The darker wood stained cabinets add a lot of depth and warmth to the bathroom and closet. I love seeing some dark wood tones come back into design and paired in new, updated ways!

Guest Bathroom

In the “Before” blog post you can see how this bathroom used to be separated into two rooms. Half had a double vanity and the other with the shower and toilet. Taking out the wall and reducing to a single sink opened up the room. Since the clients didn’t need the bathroom to be as big as it was before, this change allowed them space where it mattered. A gorgeous double-door entry was added to their primary suite instead of the original small hallway. We weren’t going to skimp on the design of the bathroom though! We installed a stunning marble hex floor tile that combines both the grey and brown tones from the vanity. You may also notice that the ceiling in this room was also able to be raised by a few feet!

Second Phase

One of the big changes throughout the home was refinishing the flooring and making it a significant amount lighter. In the main areas of the home, an original knotty cedar ceiling was used. But with all of the changes to the lighting layout, we decided it would be easier to replace the ceiling rather than repairing it. With the new ceiling, we decided to stay away from the rustic knots and mimic the new floor. Those two changes alone modernized and lightened the home immensely! The core of the home isn’t something we wanted to change and there were elements we wanted to preserve. One detail we didn’t touch was the stone fireplace. It is the heart of the home, keeping texture and warmth in this space.

The Kitchen

We reconfigured the kitchen layout by moving some appliances and the island for a better flow. The light creamy perimeter cabinets paired perfectly with the darker stained island. This stain is used in the bathroom and closet in phase one as well. The other element that is the perfect touch in the kitchen and pantry is the backsplash. The uneven edges of the zellige tile and the variation of grey is SO good!!

When doing this phase, we reconfigured the existing pantry and laundry room to make one large pantry. If you want to see a quick tour of the pantry’s coolest feature, check it out over on Instagram. Since the home has laundry in other areas, this one wasn’t needed. We were able to utilize the space for the pantry and add a walk-in cleaning and storage closet. We refreshed the powder room flooring, vanity, and countertop to pull from the rest of the home’s design.

The Hillside project’s main home has now been complete! Check out the final reveal over at this post!

August 5, 2022August 1, 2022

North Trail Residence

While we don’t get every project professionally photographed due to cost, I still love to share snapshots from my phone to document the process! The North Trail Residence was one of our new construction projects that wrapped up last year! Located in a rural area with gorgeous mountain views, this project holds true to traditional cabin materials and colors while still featuring modern touches.

With new construction projects, I get so excited when the framing is complete, and the space starts to take shape. This home has an open concept with lots of floor to ceiling windows to brighten up the whole interior!

Let’s Move IN!

I think one of the hardest points of any project is once the sheetrock is up. Because once you are able to walk through every individual room it starts feeling more like a house. At that point, wanting to have your home finished and waiting months for it to be done gets even harder! It feels oddly close to completion, yet so much is left to do.

Hardwood Floors

Getting the floors installed and stained at the North Trail project is different from many other projects. We selected a real hardwood instead of an engineered or other prefinished product. Once the wood was installed and ready for finishing, we got to personally select the perfect stain for the space. We use a sample color as a reference for what we wanted to work toward. Then our installer mixed and adjusted the stain until we were happy with the color. The last time we did this was on our Post Street project – oh, how I love this process!

Stunning Tile

Throughout the home, we wanted to make sure the tiles made a statement! But also kept true to darker hues and an organic aesthetic. For the walk-in shower in the primary suite, we used a dark large-scale tile for the walls and ceiling. The space is very large and has natural light coming in from a window. The clients wanted this space to feel cozy and cave-like, but we balanced it with a light-colored stone mosaic floor. Above the vanity in the primary suite, we also used a darker tile that we brought all the way up to the ceiling. This tile is incredible up close – it’s a natural stone and has what looks like little fossils throughout! We kept the floors light and simple to once again balance light and dark tones in the space. In the powder room, we used small wood-looking hexagon tiles for a statement!

Custom Kitchen

The cabinets within the kitchen and the bathrooms were all custom with a beautiful rich stain color. To help modernize a kitchen (and entire home!) with dark cabinets, we selected a light-colored backsplash and countertop. The waterfall edge on the end of the long counter was another way to incorporate a modern detail and add more light colors visually! Throughout the home, we also used the same soft white color to showcase crisp lines and help reflect all of the natural light.

When a project has a month or two left before it’s finished is probably the hardest! At this point it seems like mostly everything is done. The flooring is in, the cabinets are installed, the toilets and sinks are where they need to be and even working! For a client and a designer, the finish line is right there but you can’t cross it just yet!

the final touches

The North Trail Residence has been fully finished for a while now and it was a joy to assist these clients with selecting some finishing touches like rugs and furnishings! Many times, after a remodel or new home construction is complete, our clients realize their old belongings just look out of place! This may be due to a change of style, or their furniture or rugs are starting to show signs of wear. They then look to us to help through the last details!

I love helping with these last stages because we already have gained so much momentum on the project, as well as trust when it comes to understanding your style and needs. It’s a great time to start thinking of furnishing and decor needs for your new spaces well ahead of your end of construction timeline, so that we can get these pieces ordered and in place when it’s move in time!

If you have a project on your mind for 2023, be sure to reach out! It’s time to start planning your design to meet that timeline! You can contact me or book online here.

August 1, 2022June 15, 2023

Hillside Residence: “Before”

Our Hillside Residence Project is a traditional home that sits on 50 acres of land. The home is surrounded by open fields that end at a beautiful tree line and sits on a hillside. Our clients have been living in this home for 20 years, which they had also originally built. This home has a beautiful structure and 20 years ago was exactly what the clients wanted and needed. However, the home is no longer functional for our client’s needs and the finishes and designs have become outdated!

This renovation project consists of taking over a bedroom to expand the Primary Suite (similar to what we did at our Pittsburg Residence!) and reconfiguring the whole suite, remodeling a guest bathroom, and adjusting the main spaces of the home to provide a larger pantry and a storage and cleaning closet while also updating the kitchen and powder room. The main spaces will continue to be an open concept, but with new finishes reflecting a traditional yet natural aesthetic.

THE PRIMARY SUITE FACE LIFT

The primary suite was feeling plain and dated. There were also some significant tile issues due to the steam shower. The closet was too small, and for these empty nesters, it made sense to take over an adjacent bedroom and let their suite become the new priority! There were certain parts about the bathroom layout that we felt could be adjusted to create a better flow of traffic and have a more pleasing use of square footage. Our clients also asked for one additional change to the primary suite, which was to expand the entrance to the suite. To do so, we are breaking down another wall that backs to the adjacent guest bathroom. Since that bathroom is able to be decreased in size, this adjustment will easily allow us to add a double door to the primary suite, creating a beautiful grand entrance of our clients’ dreams!

GUEST BATHROOM RECONSTRUCTION

This bathroom space is very linear with two separate rooms. One is used for a double vanity and the other for the shower and toilet. This layout easily allows multiple people to use different areas of the bathroom at the same time. However, it’s now feeling way too large and closed off from what our clients currently need! As previously mentioned, the wall by the entry door will be moved. The bathroom will be smaller and reduce the vanity to a single sink. We will also remove the wall separating the vanity from the toilet area so the space feels larger.

THE KITCHEN update

They kitchen currently has two islands, with one that sits at a bar height. Even though this main space is fully open, the high-top island creates a separation. It cuts off the kitchen from the dining room and living area. Our plan is to remove both islands, then bring in a single larger island at counter height. This adjustment will reduce the pinch points around the dining room and living room. In the past, arranging furniture has always been difficult due to the kitchen island! In the new kitchen layout, we reconfigured the perimeter cabinets and appliance locations, allowing for more cabinets and a better flow to the space.

Besides a change to the flooring and all finishes, the other major change to the space will be the ceiling. Right now, you see wood planks with a lot of knots and a golden orange finish. Since we have so many changes to the light placement, we would need to adjust the ceiling detail as well. The clients love the wood, but not the knots, so the plan will be to freshen up the whole ceiling with new wood planks. This will also allow us to move lights according to the new layout without issues.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

We came to a decision with our clients to approach this project in phases, especially with the increased lead times. We didn’t want to start everything at once and then have clients with a home that isn’t livable with continued delays. The primary suite and guest bathroom was completed last year, and the main spaces of the home just recently wrapped up! You can see some of the progress at this post!

The final reveal of this project can be found here.

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to get in touch! You can contact me or book online here.

December 15, 2021December 18, 2021

River Bluff Residence: Progress Update

The first post we share about a project on the blog is usually a “Before” post, but when we take on a new build home, there is no “before” to share! So today I introduce the River Bluff Residence to you in the form of a progress post! The reveal will be shared in the coming days, so it was about time to give this beautiful home a place on the blog as well. The home is built in the most beautiful location right outside of Spokane, WA. With stunning views of the Eastern Washington mountains, this home’s design is just as glorious as the view that surrounds it!

The River Bluff clients are two of the sweetest people I’ve had the honor of meeting and working with. Our clients wanted moody spaces, traditional details, and one-of-a-kind pieces that would add special touches throughout. With the views seen from their home, the design wouldn’t be complete without an abundance of large windows and sliding doors.

First Things First

Framing has begun! Watching a design come to life is probably the most satisfying thing you can experience. It may just be a frame but it sure was a beautiful sight to see! This home was designed by the architect Michael Mackin, so at this point we were just along for the ride, and behind the scenes, finishing up fixture and finish selections and orders!

Windows and Walls

I had mentioned that windows and doors were a big deal in this project. You can start to see just how many windows I’m talking about! This project started later in the year, so getting windows in and walls up before the weather got bad was very important!

Now that there are walls, you can see the open concept that was designed for this home. In the image on the bottom right you’re looking into the living room from the entry (what an incredible first impression!) and the dining room and kitchen are off to the right. The ceiling drops in that area to accommodate for an office and powder room on the second floor.

Assembling the Kitchen

For the River Bluff kitchen cabinets, we went with a creamy white color. Since the kitchen doesn’t have any windows, we wanted to make sure this space was still light and inviting. All the cabinets were custom made with inset shaker style doors and glass door accents. The kitchen design also called for a large double-sided island with lots of storage! I can’t wait to share the custom metal range hood I designed for this room!

Details

Hallways in a home can be tricky! They are narrow spaces and often aren’t focused on since not a lot of time will be spent in them. However, since the River Bluff Residence has a longer hallway, we didn’t want to leave such a large wall empty. To add detail to a long hallway and create a beautiful statement, we decided some detailed moulding was the way to go. We finished it off with a beautiful dark charcoal colored paint. I love how the lights cast a beautiful glow that lead you down the space.

Black painted wall with trim detail hallway

Another beautiful detail is this matte black custom metal stair railing. I love how it plays off of the rectangular detail of the hall, and brings some pattern to the second floor as well. We made sure this rail added to the beautiful finishes of the home and made a statement all on its own.

Bottoms UP

The next room we’ll look at is the bar. And I don’t just mean a cabinet full of drinks or a high countertop in the kitchen. The River Bluff Residence bar is a full bar and lounge, complete with beautiful cabinetry, refrigeration and ice makers, a gorgeous copper countertop, and an upholstered banquette seating area!

The paint color we chose for the bar is that same charcoal color we used for the hallway. We wanted the bar to have a more masculine, moody club feel. We used wood cabinets with a warm brown stain for this space to further play off of the style. Going all dark in some of these rooms throughout the home was honestly a bit terrifying! But we had high hopes for it and it definitely paid off with some stunning spaces! In some of these photos, you also get a look at the incredible sliding doors that turn this space into an outdoor/indoor space during the warmer months.

Primary Suite Bathroom

One of my favorite rooms at the River Bluff Residence is the primary suite! How can we not starting with the walk-in steam shower?! This shower is tiled from floor to ceiling, except for a quartz bench. In these photos, the tile was just set and drying, creating a darker color than it actually is. It has two large windows in the corner that bring in an amazing amount of light and beautiful landscape sceneries. Outside the shower, a freestanding tub placed in front of a window is another perfect place to relax and connect with nature.

Brown Bathroom vanity with white countertop

Large white free standing tub with matte black faucet

We covered a lot in this progress post and still didn’t get to everything! Some of my favorite rooms (the other bathrooms) will be a big surprise to share at the final reveal! The River Bluff Residence finished earlier this year, and I’m so excited to finally share the finished product with you! You can read the final reveal post here.

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Riverbend Residence: Progress Update

Many of you have been following along on the Riverbend project through Instagram. I love seeing your reactions and enthusiasm through comments and DMs! In this post I’ve gathered all the progress shots of the Riverbend project to show what has changed in the past months. If you want to get a better idea of how big the changes have been, you can see the before post here!

Tender Love and Care

This home definitely had a lot of potential (it really needed some TLC). We wanted the home to be more functional so updating the floor plan was a top priority. We also were looking to make lots of cosmetic updates. Those included replacing all the tile and old grey carpet with beautiful engineered wood flooring, and of course taking out over 5 decorative columns! The home needed an update to the outdated electrical and plumbing. With all these changes in store, we tore most of the spaces down to the studs.

Tear Down

After all the tear down, the crew started taking out unnecessary walls and adding in new ones based on the updated floor plan. Walking through the space with just the studs up and flooring removed we were getting so excited for how much open and functional space we were able to add to the home! The biggest changes were visible in the kitchen and primary suite bathroom. Once the sheetrock was up, the interior of the Riverbend home was visibly transformed!

Let the fun begin!

The fun part has started! I loved seeing the gorgeous flooring installed! The tone of the wood brought so much warmth to the space, especially when paired with freshly painted white walls! In the Primary Suite we used a combination of three different tiles. All three had tones of grey or white within them. Some darker with white veining, which we applied to the shower walls. We pulled in the whiter and light grey tones in both the mini hex tile on the shower floor and the large-scale rectangular tiles on the rest of the floor.

Cabinets Cabinets Cabinets

We were anxiously awaiting a phone call that would let us know our custom cabinets were finished and ready for install! Once we got the call, we were back on site to watch those beauties go in! For this project we went with a modern cabinet style but used a rustic white oak to add character to the cabinets through the knots and wood grain. We couldn’t capture the floors in the updated shots because they were being protected but believe me the custom cabinet stain complimented the floors perfectly! We used the same cabinet style and finish for the mudroom, and both bathrooms. With white walls and grey tiles, the rustic oak cabinets added the perfect warmth to all of the spaces!

Almost Finished

The last update I was able to capture was the quartz countertop install! The quartz slab we went with was primarily white with grey veining throughout. We chose a modern straight edge for the countertops, which paired with the modern cabinets beautifully! The quartz was also added to the bench and niche ledge in the walk-in shower. Here the white veining in the grey tile on the walls was a sight to see once the white quartz with grey veining was in.

There is one more update that we haven’t shared with you yet! There’s going to be another wow factor added in the Kitchen! I know, it already looks SO good but just wait until you see it all put together. Stay tuned for the final reveal!

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to reach out! You can contact me or read more about our services here.

November 14, 2021November 14, 2021

Riverbend Residence: “Before”

The Riverbend Project has a WOW factor. Located right on the Spokane River, there is an abundance of windows that bring in the beautiful outdoor views. The clients contacted me not too long after purchasing this home. They were interested in making a lot of changes, especially to the two upper levels of their home. During the initial walk through I saw why this family wanted to make the changes they did!

The transformation to the Riverbend Project consists of: A complete tear out of the current kitchen, pantry, bathroom, laundry and main floor wet bar. Throughout the whole main floor, we are changing all interior finishes and fixtures to create a space that better reflects the family. We’ll also be eliminating over five decorative columns in the entry and living space. This will open it all up and maximize the view! On the second floor, we are designing a primary suite worthy of its title. A full overhaul of the bathroom layout along with new finishes will update the suite beautifully.

What a “Kitchen”

There are definitely a few spaces in the Riverbend project that I am most excited about, the first being the kitchen! I see the kitchen as the heart of the home — an area for entertainment and gathering of family. The current kitchen situation was lacking storage and counter space, but the layout also had some major concerns! The stove top was placed at the end of a small island with zero counter space around it. This wasn’t only inconvenient, but it was also dangerous with little ones running around.

We have BIG plans for this kitchen. We are making a switcharoo with the living room and kitchen spaces to gain more square footage for the kitchen. This means also eliminating an outdated fireplace and an unnecessary wet bar. Taking care of all that will really open the space, allowing for more of an open concept that creates a larger kitchen, with much better flow. The existing kitchen will become the living room where we will add a new gas fireplace.

white cabinet bar with black countertops

Main floor refresh

On the main floor, we’ll also be updating the guest bathroom and the laundry room. A few minor changes to the layout in these areas allowed for better circulation from the back entry of the home to the main spaces. Both spaces will have new custom cabinets and counters, flooring, lighting and plumbing, as well as a fresh coat of paint.

Grand Entrance

Another space I am excited to transform is the entry way. The entry is the first space anybody entering your home sees! I wanted to make sure that the first impression guests had when walking into the Riverbend Residence would reflect the family and the new home. There was an abundance of decorative columns in the entry, which didn’t match the family’s aesthetic and they were blocking the view of the river. Thankfully these columns were not load bearing and we were able to take out all of them! The entry’s grand staircase will also be refinished completely. The other change we are so very excited for is to add a fresh coat of white paint throughout!

Primary Suite Of No Ones Dreams

The primary suite bathroom consisted of a small walk-in shower, an L shaped vanity, a toilet room, and a HUGE jacuzzi. However, the layout of the rooms were very broken up, making for an awkward space. We completely reconfigured the room to create a larger shower, replace the large jacuzzi with a beautiful freestanding tub, and designed a custom double sink vanity. We took out another unnecessary wet bar and fireplace and added a wall to create a fully separate bedroom space from the bathroom.

Our Riverbend project will be nearing it’s finish here soon. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ve already seen the cabinets and countertops go in! We’ll be sharing an update of the Riverbend Residence soon, and then in the near future we’ll be posting the final reveal! Follow us on Instagram to get updates on new blog posts so you don’t miss any a thing!

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to get in touch! We already have a waiting list lined up for the new year that we’re excited to start tackling! Check out our services and let’s chat!

September 9, 2020September 10, 2020

Park Residence: Progress Update

white kitchen with square backsplash tiles

We’ve been writing sooo much about PDCo Home but we are definitely overdue for some client project updates, too! Our Park Residence is almost wrapped up, but we have to wait a bit longer for the master bathroom and final punch list items to be complete. So it’s time for a progress post, but I’m not going to show it too complete. That would certainly ruin the fun!

This home is a special one! You can read the full story in our first post here, but I’ll give a quick summary. Basically, the clients and I found out we’re family and this was my great grandmother’s home at one time! This is also a very old home with lots of charm, so it absolutely needed an update with a classic touch.

removing walls for an open concept

One of the primary goals was to open the wall between the kitchen and dining room, while still drastically improving functional cabinet and counter space. The photos below show before and after the wall was removed and a large beam added.

Can we also appreciate the look of that new subfloor? So much better and cleaner than the original floors! They were definitely old and worn!

the details that matter

If you look closely at the photos above and the before photos, you will notice a few details that became pretty good features of the kitchen. The first detail is how the stairs going to the upper floor create a partial angled ceiling in the kitchen space. To clean this up, we built out the angle all the way to the wing wall so it made the ceiling less choppy. Keep it in mind when you look at the photos below!

The second detail is in the original kitchen plan, the kitchen was not only separated from the dining room, but also a breakfast nook. When we removed these walls, we of course needed a beam between the dining room and kitchen. We also needed one in the location where the wall was between the kitchen and breakfast nook. This was just fine with us though because the client really loved the idea of beams in the kitchen. So we engineered the ones that were required, and then added one faux beam to match and balance out the space.

The last detail is a small switch we did for the doorways. The door to the basement in the original kitchen took up essential wall space. So we switched it to be accessed from the dining room! We also removed the door from the dining room to the upper stairs and main floor bathroom. This allows a pretty view to the stair focal wall, but also creates a more welcome feel for guests to use the only bathroom on the main floor.

See if you can see spot these details! They make all the difference!

floors, ceilings, and walls, oh my!

I loved how many spaces we got to play with texture and pattern in this home! From a classic versailles tile install, to a gorgeous planked ceiling, and the vertical planked walls in the stairway, it’s all timeless but visually interesting.

The clients had recently updated their flooring in the living room and bedrooms to hardwood. We were able to get a perfect match to continue that flooring into the dining room and kitchen, as well as the stairs.

The other major concern the clients had was their narrow staircase. While we couldn’t create literal space, we could certainly create visual space! We added the vertical planking because it felt less farmhouse-y than horizontal shiplap. It also visually draws your eyes up the opening instead of noticing the skinny width. At the top of the stairs, we opened up a wall and will replace it with a handrail. That really did make the space more open at the top! And there’s nothing like a fresh set of stair treads to make your staircase feel less terrifying. This corner of the home now feels charming and welcoming versus a forgotten corner!

the laundry room

The original laundry room had a strange configuration with tight corners everywhere. We removed an unused chimney which allowed us to move the door. This not only helped the flow of the laundry room, but the kitchen as well! We also removed a closet and basically just opened the space up. My favorite detail is the sink refresh – that tub was original to the home! It got a facelift with a clean coat, new faucet, and new custom white oak base.

drywall phase on laundry room renovation

CABINET INSTALLATION

Cabinet layout and installation is always one of my favorite parts of the process. This home was the first time I also designed the cabinet package with a matching hood. It felt like the perfect fit for this kitchen to keep the space simple and clean.

The island was also custom designed with a gorgeous plank detail on three sides. I really felt the need to bring some warmth into the all white kitchen, so we went with white oak. This also matched the plans for the laundry room which called for some warm woods and less of a white utilitarian look. The two spaces are very open and connected to each other, so it was important that they play off each other beautifully.

white oak cabinet with soapstone counter

FINAL DETAILS ON THEIR WAY

Counters are in and backsplash is installed! I am so in love with the cabinet hardware and light fixtures in this project, but I’m not showing them just yet! This is the last photo you’ll see before the final reveal!

The master bathroom still has a bit to go, but once it’s all done, we’ll be styling away and getting our final photos. I can’t wait to show you!

If you have a project you’d like to discuss, feel free to contact me or book an appointment! I’d love to chat and see how I can help!

June 12, 2020June 6, 2020

Park Residence: “Before”

I can’t wait to share this first post about our Park Residence project, as it’s a special one! Shortly after the very first consultation for this home, the client messaged me and had discovered we were related. Small world, right? But it gets even crazier — the client’s home had been in the family for some time. In the past, it was actually my great grandmother’s home! These clients are already the sweetest people in the world. But this news was just a cherry on top for me. What serendipity! And what an amazing honor to both work for them and bring new life to a historic family home!

This renovation project consists of the main spaces of the home — opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen and updating both spaces, adjusting traffic flow for the stairs to the basement and refreshing the stairs to the upper level, reconfiguring and updating the laundry room, and changing the upstairs bathroom to incorporate a shower and get a better use of space despite the difficult ceiling angles. Ready for a tour?

THE KITCHEN WITH A LOT OF DOORS

This kitchen had been refreshed several times over it’s lifetime. However, the root of all of it’s problems was never solved. Despite having a great amount of square footage, it could not be used to it’s fullest potential because it lacked wall space. Specifically, the wall space was taken up by circulation paths and doors! The door on the left is the clients’ primary entrance to the home. It goes through the laundry room and then to the home’s exterior and garage area. The door on the right goes to the basement, which is only used for storage.

“Floating” appliances, like the range in this kitchen, is always a pet peeve of mine. The refrigerator also blocks a good amount of the door on the left, which is a major circulation path. In addition, the clients’ main complaints included lack of storage and lack of counter/prep space.

A WELCOMING LAUNDRY ROOM

The current laundry room had a big role to fulfill to provide many functions. On top of laundry, it held an original utility sink, it had kitchen/pantry overflow, and it was the main entrance for the homeowners from the garage. However, a catch-all isn’t the most desirable thing to walk into for the first impression of your own home.

Our goal for this space was to simplify the layout, add storage, and make it feel as special as the rest of the home’s updates. In order to improve the layout, we would need to remove an unused chimney from the corner. This would provide us JUST enough space to move the doorway. Going through the doorway, you would no longer be directed right into the side of the impeding refrigerator.

BREAKFAST NOOK AND DINING ROOM

Within the kitchen was also a breakfast nook, which wasn’t essential to keep. We also planned to remove the wall between the dining room and kitchen for a better connection during family gatherings.

In the left picture, the door on the left leads to the staircase and only bathroom on the main floor. We wanted to reconfigure the stairs so that: (1) the door to the basement stairs would be moved out of the kitchen; (2) the staircase as a whole would be more open and inviting; (3) I personally felt this would make the bathroom feel more accessible by guests.

a future master bathroom

This bathroom space had charming architecture, but made quite the fuss when it came to head space. Ceiling slopes in every direction limited what functions could take place in each part of the room. The clients had hoped for this to be part of a future master suite, so incorporating a shower was an absolute must. How did we solve this problem? You’ll have to check back for our progress post! If you happen to know one of my favorite tricks for bathroom space planning, you’ll know exactly what I did!

How cute are some of these details? I personally fell in love with the window situation in this room! We also wanted to refurbish the tub — some of these details were very important in preserving the home’s history.

progress despite delays

After some delays due to Covid-19 restrictions, this home is finally approaching it’s time for a progress update post! Cabinets were installed this last week, and things will start looking like a home again very soon. Stay tuned while I pull together all the exciting details to share!