On the Drawing Board

It's been a long time since our last blog post...My sincere apologies for lack of posts - We have been busy busy busy wrapping up a few installations and continuing with a few new designs since the holidays.  Below are two renderings of kitchen designs we are currently working on.  We can't wait to get started on the actual installations! 

Modern in the mountains.  Matte white and rich wood veneer come together to form a space that will be clean and inviting after a long day on the slopes in Winter Park.  

Our take on a clean traditional kitchen.  The hood will be custom made by Raw Urth Designs in Fort Collins and the butcher block on the island will be fabricated right here in Denver by Heartwood Carpentry.  

Nearly Complete in Boulder!

A couple quick snapshots of a nearly complete bath remodel in Boulder.  What we love about this bathroom: Mixture of interesting materials - limestone, porcelain, marble, quartz...the lighting...free standing tub and floor mount tub filler, and mostly that shower!  

On the Drawing Board

We are incredibly excited for a new project that will be delivering next month!  This rendering is a view of the kitchen and butler's pantry.  Working with a very neutral palette of warm grays and whites, this whole house is going to be transformed.  Very thankful to Ruggles Mabe Studio for referring us on this wonderful project.  

Kitchen

Butler's Pantry

Master Closet

Piano Bar

Master Bathroom Before / After

After a few concepts exploring different configurations, our homeowners decided that a free standing tub, his and hers vanities, and a spectacular shower were tops on their list.

Here are the before pictures-

Photos from the completed renovation.  We relocated the shower, tub, and the entrance into the bathroom. 

Following a Kitchen Remodel - Week 3

Although it is tough to tell, there was a lot of progress last week.  The plumbers were able to successfully create new plumbing connections for the main sink, cooktop, and bar sink.  This week, the electricians are in the space, roughing in all the connections necessary for the new appliances and GFCI receptacles required in the kitchen.   

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The flooring contractor dropped off some stain samples for our floors, which are going to be refinished starting next week.  Here's a look at our cabinetry finishes along with the flooring samples.  We are leaning towards the natural oak which will receive one treatment of bleach to lighten it and remove any orange / red tones.  We are also specifying a water based finish to prevent any "honey" coloring over the years. 

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Here is the favored wood stain next to the new mudroom entry tile.  

Following a Remodel from Start to Finish - Week 1

Interested in following one of our kitchen remodels from start to finish?  Good!  You're in luck.  We're going to be posting entries here as often as possible - shooting for weekly updates - following one of our kitchen remodels in Boulder.  

Today is the first entry - and I'm going to use a few photos and drawings to illustrate the old house footprint and what we aim to accomplish with the kitchen remodel.  

Here is a drawing of the existing house - pre - remodel.  

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EXISTING FLOORPLAN

As you can see, the kitchen currently occupies the smallest room on the main level of the house.  

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And while the kitchen is the smallest room on the main level, the room with the most space, the lower living room, sits mostly under-utilized.  

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What we aim to do is completely relocate the kitchen down to the lower living room.  This will take advantage of the south facing windows for great sunlight, a much larger footprint, and it will also give us the opportunity to create the "great room".  Below is the proposed new floorplan for the main level:

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PROPOSED NEW FLOORPLAN

And here is a 3-D rendering of what the new kitchen space will look like once completed.  A mix of zebra wood veneer and high gloss white cabinetry will be topped with a white quartz countertop and a really amazing walnut top on the island.  Sub Zero and Wolf appliances are complimented by the back painted white back splash.  We're even incorporating a new bar into the space to create a place where our homeowners can make a drink after a day at the office. 

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First phase of demolition was completed yesterday. Here's our first pic of the new kitchen space, after the built ins were removed.  

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Demolition phase one complete! 

Check back with our blog regularly to see the progress as we completely transform this home. We are aiming for weekly updates with photos and notes of our progress.  

In the Press

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design featured in the April 2015 issue of Colorado Homes and Lifestyles.  

Click HERE to view a PDF version of the article.   

On the Drawing Board...

What you are looking at is not a photograph!  This is a rendering of an arts and crafts style kitchen that we have been working on for a few months.  I find that the rendering medium is an extremely powerful tool for communicating designs to clients prior to signing off.  This particular kitchen will be new construction in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver. 

Sanctuary Kitchen Design Featured in Current Issue of Kitchen and Bath Ideas!

This bathroom seems to be a crowd favorite!  It is featured in the winter issue of Kitchen and Bath Ideas by Better Homes and Gardens.  Unfortunately, I cannot link to a digital version of the article, as the publication does not offer their content online for free.  However!  You can purchase this on newsstands NATIONWIDE until March 9.  Here's a link to purchase a copy online : http://bhgspecials.zinio.com/browse/publications/index.jsp?productId=500622041

New Projects - Winter 2014/2015

I'm very excited about the projects on the drawing board at the moment.  It will be a busy winter!

Hilltop Neighborhood Denver - Ground has finally been broken on our new build in Hilltop!  My clients are a young family of three and they are building a house to live in and raise their family.  I am very excited about designing their kitchen and bathrooms.  We will be calling upon the white kitchen to anchor the great room on the main floor of this house, and it will be an amazing, comfortable, warm space when I am finished with it.  Drawings are underway and I'm happy to say that I'll have some 3-D renderings of this space before too long to show you.

Secondly, but happening much sooner, is a remodel just up the street from the new home I mentioned earlier.  I'm pleased to announce that we will begin work on a major remodel on a home just acquired by a wonderful family of four that recently relocated from another major city.  This project will entail new walnut flooring throughout the second floor of the home and a major overhaul of the basement which will include a home movie theater, new bar, billiard table area, home fitness gym, and children's arts and crafts room.  We're moving fast on this one and are hoping for a January completion.

Boulder - work continues on our condo remodel on Pearl Street.  As we enter the construction phase of the project, I will keep you updated with quick pics of the progress.

Also in Boulder -  another great young family has retained me to redesign their second floor master suite area.  Plans call for a complete overhaul of the function of this second level of their home.  I am planning for a spectacular master bath retreat complete with free standing tub and custom shower.  We're also going to add a laundry room to the second floor and refinish the existing guest bathroom as part of the scope of work. 

My third project in Boulder for this winter entails a very similar scope of work in redesigning an existing second level in a home to better fit the lifestyle of the hard working couple that owns the house.  I will be working with Melton Design Build again on this project to create a space that works both functionally and aesthetically.  

Bonnie Brae Neighborhood, Denver - We will make some minor alterations to the office and master bathroom of this home in the short term.  Longer term - an addition is in the design phase to connect a detached garage to the main portion of the home.  I will be working with the homeowners to design an interior layout that best maximizes the use of this new space.  Funny story: This will be my second time working on this exact home, but now with different owners! 

Fort Collins - I've recently been retained to redesign a kitchen in an absolutely beautiful home.  The kitchen has obviously been taken care of over the years, but it is in desperate need of a major remodel.  We will be knocking down walls and annexing space from a seldom used formal dining area to create a space that is comfortable, functional, and beautiful.  

I promise to keep you updated on the slate of projects on the drawing board as work progresses.  It will be an exciting winter with a lot of great designs happening!  

Scouting Shots of a White Transitional Kitchen

So you'll notice right off the bat that these are not the highest quality photographs.  That's because I took them myself with my phone camera.  So please forgive the quality!  I posted a few pics earlier this fall of this kitchen in various stages of installation, so hopefully this will tie it all together and you'll get an idea of what the space turned out like.  

The defining feature of the kitchen is definitely the sink wall facing out onto the back yard.  We were unable to remove a soffit due to structural beams in the ceiling, so instead, we tiled the whole wall with herringbone mosaic carrara marble and the installed 3" thick floating shelves with LED puck lights.  

Another feature in this kitchen that is a bit unusual is the use of reclaimed Wyoming dairy barn wood for accent pieces on the back of the island and peninsula.  The gray tones work really well with the carrara marble and Caesarstone countertops.  I also really pushed for the waterfall edges on the ends of the island, and I am so glad the homeowners decided to go for it.  

The floating shelves are 3" thick and have a small detail on the top and bottom edge.  I used 2-1/4" LED puck lights (3 on each side) as undercabinet lighting.  The pucks are aesthetically pleasing and provide for valuable light on the countertop surface, which is Frosty Carrina, by Caesarstone.

Before / After Bathroom Photos of a Pool House in Cherry Hills Village

This bathroom is inside a great pool house in Cherry Hills Village.  We had to work around the existing tile flooring, which isn't great.  It's sort of a peach / pink color.  The previous homeowners painted the walls a flesh tone, which did not help.  Working with BOA Construction, I designed a new bathroom for the pool house using Porcelanosa wainscot tile, a custom 8" thick concrete countertop with trough sink, and a custom vanity with polished chrome inlays on the legs.

Having to work around the existing flooring was a challenge.  However, the material and color choices made during the design process dramatically cut down on the pinkish hue that was previously there.

Here are the before / after shots!  

The vanity is designed with an open shelf bottom, to store rolled-up towels for guests.  Four drawers provide nice storage.  The legs are 4" in diameter and have polished chrome inlays running from top to bottom.  My favorite part of this piece is the 8" thick concrete countertop that rests on top of the vanity.  It has  an integrated trough sink.  Brizo Virage Faucet and sconces. 

Polished chrome accents with white paint finish and black concrete is a great combination. 

The wall tile is from Porcelanosa.  It's a Spanish company that imports to the US, and they carry some amazing product.  This particular tile is porcelain and it is manufactured with a matte finish wood grain.  We installed the 12x24 tiles horizontally on the walls throughout the bathroom with a polished chrome accent piece on top.  The effect is very light and airy and it creates a "beach" feel; perfect for a pool house.  

This picture shows what a "trough" sink refers to.  The sink is cast as part of the mold in the concrete fabrication process.  Very clean and elegant.  

I updated the fireplace with the same tile we used for wainscot in the bathroom.  Both vertical corners are adorned with Porcelanosa corner trim in polished chrome.  

Before Photos:

Denver Polo Club Kitchen by Chris Awadalla featured in 5280 Home Magazine Autumn 2014 Issue

I was happy to design the kitchen for this project by interior designer Megan Kane in Denver's Polo Club neighborhood, just south of Cherry Creek.  Jones Custom Builders did a wonderful job, as always, implementing the great design with amazing craftsmanship.

Click below for full article!

http://www.5280.com/dwell/magazine/2014/08/hit-refresh

http://www.5280.com/dwell/magazine/2014/08/hit-refresh

Here are 15 Ways to Add Really Functional Storage to Your New Kitchen

If you haven't checked out Houzz.com yet and you are planning on remodeling or building a new home....go there now!  It is stocked full of great ideas for those of us that love design, architecture, and construction.

Click on the link below to read an article that highlights some unique ways to add functional storage to your kitchen.  

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/15629224

Planning for Switches and Outlets in Your Kitchen Design

It is quite easy to overlook the placement of GFCI receptacles (outlets) and light switches in your kitchen design.  We use these items so often that they become an oversight because they're always just "there" when you need them.  However, somebody had to think about where to put that light switch or that GFCI outlet.  It didn't just appear there...

I use a few simple guidelines for switch and outlet placement when designing my clients' spaces.  Simply spending a few minutes in the design phase to lay out these items can make a big difference in the overall function of a finished space.

Outlet Specification and Placement

Have you ever heard of a "decora" style switch or receptacle but were unsure of what it meant?  It refers to a line of outlets and switches manufactured by Leviton.  The "rocker-style" switches and square styled receptacles look more modern and have more features than the old school style of outlets, so they are preferred by most homeowners.  

Each municipality has its own requirements and codes for the placement of GFCI receptacles in the kitchen.  So you'll need to ask your electrician what the exact distances are for your town.  However, I can tell you that in its most general sense, you will need GFCI receptacles in the following locations in every kitchen:

• Within approximately 2 feet of the outside edge of any sink located along a wall
• On an island: one receptacle on each end of the island
• On a peninsula: one receptacle on the end of the peninsula
• On the kitchen walls: one receptacle every 2 feet (approximate.  Again, check with your electrician for the exact dimensions required by your town's codes)

If you don't want to see GFCI receptacles in your kitchen backsplash, you can also use what's called "plug mold".  Plug mold is more costly than standard outlets and more difficult to plan for and install, but it's very convenient and it completely hides your required outlets up under the wall cabinets.  

Plug mold is a great alternative to standard outlets in the kitchen backsplash.  There are several manufacturers of plug mold.  

Another option I love for new kitchen outlets is the new Adorne line of receptacles and switches by Legrand.

The pop out outlet from Legrand is a great look in every kitchen

Outlets are a necessary eye-sore in every room, but most important in the kitchen.  When planning your kitchen outlets, think about where you will place your small countertop appliances and where you'd like to have them plugged in.  When in doubt, add an outlet.  

You'll also want to think about where you'll charge your phone, tablet, and other mobile devices.  When space allows, I always plan for a charging station in the kitchen.  Not every kitchen has the room for it, but most do.  Having a spot to charge your devices away from where food preparation occurs is a very nice thing.  So don't forget to think about that aspect as well.  

Switch Placement in the Kitchen

When laying out the switch placement in a kitchen, I always start by looking at the traffic patterns of the space.  Most kitchens have 2 main entrances, sometimes three.  I will identify those spots and locate my switches for the main ceiling lighting (most of the time it's the recessed cans) in a spot where they are easily accessed by those entrances.  I almost always specify dimmers for the main can lighting.  

The undercabinet lighting is usually switched somewhere in the kitchen backsplash.  It is helpful to label the switches so that guests know what they're looking for when trying to turn on lights.  

Accent lighting can be switched almost anywhere.  (Accent lighting refers to the interior cabinet lights, or perhaps downlighting under the toekick).   Just make sure you think about it before the electrician shows up and decides for himself where it should go without consulting you first!

Whisper Switch from Legrand

The main guidelines to follow are below.  Sometimes, giving an unglamorous subject (such as switches and outlets) just a few minutes of thought is all it takes to really save yourself some major headaches down the road!  

1. Ensure that all GFCI requirements are met in your kitchen.  This means you will need outlets near the sinks, on the ends of the island or peninsula, and also above any courter surface - in the wall.
2. Think about what sort of receptacles you want to see.  Are you OK with the old style outlets and switches?  Or would you prefer to spend a little more and get some modern outlets that have a better look?
3. Identify the major entrances / exits to the kitchen.  Place switches for the main ceiling lighting at these locations.  Use a three way switch that will allow you to operate the lights from more than one entrance for best convenience.  Identify which lights should have dimmers and communicate to electrician.
4. The switch placement for undercabinet or accent lighting can be placed anywhere you choose.  However, ensure that you think about this prior to the work being commenced.
5. Spend a little bit of time thinking about what sort of phones or tablets you might want to keep in the kitchen and where you will charge them.  Do you want an exposed countertop area where your devices will be out in the open for everyone to see?  Or would you prefer to hide them behind doors?  Both of these options are available to you, it is really a matter of deciding which you prefer early in the design process and then planning accordingly.