fountain bungalow
It was time to say goodbye to this home’s dark early 2000s-era kitchen and bath. The renovation spurred a new layout of the adjacent dining space and allowed us to give each area its own personality. At the same time, we converted a roughly enclosed front porch to true interior space with a warm and welcoming feel. Punches of color and pattern combined with custom kitchen seating and lots of built-in storage added charm and functional upgrades to this lovely 1920s bungalow.
Photography: Jessica Burke
outside-in
The previous owners had enclosed the front porch, but it still felt like an unfinished exterior space without much functionality. With gorgeous historic windows and lots of space, we saw potential for great storage in this beautiful light-filled entry.
store it all
We removed the existing shingles, patched and smoothed the drywall, installed hard-wearing terracotta floors, and added a beautiful custom storage cabinet with wrap-around shoe shelving.
Coats, backpacks, handbags, umbrellas, and gear for activities all fit beautifully inside the furniture-style cabinet. On the opposite wall, a small storage bench with a performance cushion provides a place to stop and take a breath when you come through the door.
open floor plans aren’t always the answer. . .
Prior to renovating, the kitchen, dining room, and living room all comprised one long open space. The floor plan felt cavernous and there was no way to contain noise between spaces, so we opted to partially close up one wall between the kitchen and dining room. This gave us more storage in the kitchen and created an opportunity to go big with pattern in the dining room.
a mood, if you please
Classic House of Hockney wallpaper pairs beautifully with rich textiles in ochre and plum in the dining room - a beautiful setting for a simple family dinner or an extravagant party.
starring . . . the kitchen
A beautiful new kitchen is often the jumping off point for a larger renovation, and this was no exception. Our clients wanted a light and classic base, with plenty of personality and pattern sprinkled throughout. With tons of storage, large new windows, multiple different countertop prep zones, and a cozy seating area, the kitchen was definitely the star of this project.
the range alcove
When designing the kitchen, we landed on a range alcove style to help separate the long narrow floor plan into zones. With soft arches already happening in other parts of the house, it felt right to echo that shape here. Our clients fell in love with this tile, and it became the perfect dose of pattern to showcase inside the alcove.
Tiled niches flank each side of the alcove, seamlessly keeping cooking items at close hand, while a waterproof tadelakt finish protects the surround from splatters.
soft splash
Classic Carrara marble in a honed finish graces both the countertops and backsplash, a subtle design detail that lets the patterned range alcove tile have its moment. The sink window also has a stone sill, which will wear longer than painted wood. Unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware will patina beautifully over time, while custom window treatments in a windowpane pattern with ribbon trim add a bespoke feel.
a sunny corner
Facing the backyard garden, a sunny nook with performance cushions invites the family to enjoy slow weekend mornings, casual dinners, and after-school homework sessions. Architect Jason Kaldis designed an extended window box to house our clients’ large plant collection.
The dining table was custom made for us by Dave Marcoullier: a perfectly-sized rift white oak trestle style with softly rounded corners for smooth entries and exits from the bench seat.
Stools with hidden storage offer a playful take on flexible seating for the family’s young children.
roll it out
This narrow hall bathroom desperately needed more storage, so we designed a custom linen cabinet with decorative ventilation. Roll-out drawers in the lower half provide plenty of space for toiletries and towels. A cheerful mix of tile and paint finishes give personality to the space, which serves both kids and guests.