Greenwood Village Kitchen

This new home in Greenwood Village belongs to one of the nicest families I've ever met.  This kitchen is a true reflection of their style.  It is warm and inviting, but feels elegant and sophisticated at the same time.  When I first met them in 2012, they had yet to break ground on this house. Here are a few of the highlights in this kitchen:

• Originally, the sink was in the southeast corner of the kitchen.  It was in an area that I felt would become a choke point, especially for a family of 5.  I moved the sink to the East wall and added an arched window that was not previously there.

  

• The North wall of the kitchen (which is the wall with all the brick) was really lacking any balance.  I moved the 48" dual fuel Thermador range onto that wall and then flanked it with symmetrical cabinetry.  All of the top boxes are individually lit with LED puck lights.

• I contrasted the white perimeter cabinetry with a black paint rub-through finish on the island.  The implied weight of the finish provides a visual anchor for the kitchen.

• Lots of fantastic storage inserts...

  

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Transitional White Kitchen - Greenwood Village

This is a snapshot of a kitchen I just finished in Greenwood Village.  The perimeter cabinetry is matte white; the island cabinetry is what's called a "rub-through black". The owners wanted to incorporate brick into the kitchen to tie into the 20' fireplace in the great room which opens up off of the island.  A thin brick veneer was applied to the back of the range wall.  The herringbone inlay behind the range adds character to the detail.  The arched window is something I added into the architectural plans before the house had even been approved for construction.   (originally, the sink was in a corner and the range was off center sort of pushed off into a corner - terrible!)  Anyway, we fixed the layout early enough in the process.  The island has comfortable seating for this family of five and there is a buffet area that connects the kitchen to the breakfast nook (not shown in picture).  Integrated appliances by Thermador.  Countertops are polished white carrara marble.

My photographer will take photos of this project in February.

Construction Zone Shots - Traditional White Kitchen - Greenwood Village

A few shots from a job site in Greenwood Village.  This spectacular home is built in a southern traditional style.  It would feel right at home in North Carolina or Georgia.  This kitchen has TONS of storage, seating for 5 and a full set of professional grade appliances that will be installed soon.  Clients are hoping to get in before Christmas! [gallery columns="2" type="square" ids="845,844,843"]

New Kitchen and Bath Projects Fall 2013

The first snow of the year is predicted to fall this weekend.  It's only the first week of October, but after living in Colorado for almost 5 years now, it's not surprising that we will have snowy weather on Friday and sunny 70 degree weather on Sunday.  Go figure. I'm pleased to announce that I have recently been retained to work on four new projects.

A master bathroom remodel in Cherry Creek North:  We're going for a sleek transitional look.  I am specifying large format porcelain tile (18 x 36) for the flooring and a wainscot tile that is 12 x 24.  I'll tie everything together with and carrara accents, and then add some interest with vibrant colors on the walls.   The new frameless European shower will be a vast improvement.

Just up the street from the master bathroom remodel is a house owned by a couple with a young child.  It's a wonderful old house that has a newer addition on the back of it.  Problem is that the new part of the house does not tie into the old part.  There are several areas I am working on in this project including, the master suite, kitchen, great room, mudroom, entry way, and flooring.  The homeowners are very involved with the process and are excited about bringing this wonderful house together into one cohesive home.

You may have seen pictures on this blog of a classic home restoration project that I completed about a year ago...That homeowner referred me to his neighbor just down the street, and we are now currently in the design phase on her master bathroom.  Her home is very traditional, with clean lines.  I plan to give her a new bathroom that is really beautiful - but most importantly, it is going to feel like it belongs in the house.

I was also hired on to a kitchen remodel project up in Boulder.  Fortunately, this couple avoided any major flood damage - many of their neighbors are still recovering.  We're going to update their kitchen to something totally sleek and modern.  High gloss lacquer, white glass, textured laminates and quartz counters are going to make this space really POP.

We are also finishing up installation of new construction in Greenwood Village.  That project should be complete by Thanksgiving.

I will report back with pictures soon!

Custom Glass Wine Enclosure with a View!

My clients asked me to design an area to store their wine inside their corner unit on the 28th floor of The Spire building, in downtown Denver.  I found the wine racking system locally here in Denver.  VintageView; a Denver based wine cellar company provided the interior racking system.  None of their standard units were perfect for our application, so they made a custom rack for us and delivered it directly to the building.  The sides of the racking system are made out of a high quality clear acrylic that is 3/4" thick.  Each rod is polished stainless steel.  In all, the unit weighs in at over 250lbs and is extremely sturdy.  It is a free standing system that can be placed anywhere. We chose to enclose the 350 bottle capacity wine rack with a custom glass surround.  1/2" industrial grade tempered glass was used and we worked with Denver Glass Interiors to create the finished product.  Not shown in this photo: LED lights are strategically placed along the floor.  They shine upward - creating a really unique effect for entertaining.

I know what you're thinking - with all that light, it's really going to mess with the wine!  AHH HAAA - I brought in a special commercial window tinting specialist to advise on this.  As it turns out, the windows in this LEED certified building are all super Low E...meaning they block 99% of all UV rays, and a lot of the heat.  Also - the patio of the unit above this apartment casts a year long shadow over the windowed area where we installed the glass enclosure.  But just to be sure, the homeowners also had auto-blinds installed behind the wine rack.  The blinds are operated by remote control and can be closed in any situation where directly sunlight makes its way into the apartment.

I think this wine enclosure is awesome.  It was the first one I had ever designed and I think that it turned out amazing.  I can easily see using this version or a modified version of it (possibly temperature controlled) in any wine enthusiast's home.

Historical Remodel in Cheesman Park

My client has painstakingly restored this beautiful Denver Square over the past three years.  I was fortunate enough to work with him on the kitchen and three bathrooms in this residence.  We carefully planned each space to have its own unique character.  I respected the history of the home as much as possible throughout the design phase.  We saved items from each room and integrated them into the new design so that our new kitchen and baths had a similar feel to the rest of the home. Photography by Teri Fotheringham.

The Kitchen

Exposed brick walls in the kitchen thoughtfully contrast the stainless steel range and pro hood.  It's the classic, "Old and New", theme that I like so much.  Also in the kitchen, original leaded glass panes of glass were preserved from the original cabinetry and integrated into the new cabinetry.  I literally designed the kitchen around these glass panes.  We removed a large load bearing wall and replaced it with a 20' long steel beam to gain some much added space.  The client desperately wanted an island - any island - in his kitchen.  I designed a small functional island with a lot of storage in the middle of the kitchen and it even has space for two small bar stools...

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The Bathrooms

We gutted all three bathrooms in the home, and all three now have their own unique feel and charm.  The powder room is simple and sophisticated.   A white porcelain vessel sink sits atop a piece of granite.  The wall mounted bridge faucet adds interest.  A tin ceiling, adds a bit of drama to the space.

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The Master Bathroom again utilizes an exposed brick wall.  Interestingly enough, the brick wall was not part of the original design.  It was covered in plaster and we had no idea it would look so stunning when we took the plaster down.  However, after seeing the space with the brick exposed, it was a no brainer to just restore the brick and leave it as a statement wall in the bathroom.  All the surfaces are custom concrete forms that I designed myself.  An integrated planter tray, with its own drainage system is actually the same piece of concrete as the shower bench.  A piece of frameless shower glass separates shower bench from planter.

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The upstairs hall bathroom was a different style all together.  The owner wanted to provide a very sophisticated, clean, white space for his guests to use.  To capture that dynamic, I utilized an antique white penny round flooring tile, and sourced a very simple white pedestal sink and free standing tub.  The waincot paneling, which I also designed, has white glass center panels.  The mixture of glass and wood updates the space and gives it a glamorous feel.

New Online Portfolio

Although I post pictures of completed projects to my blog, I realized that it's not the best place to view my portfolio in an easy to navigate method. With this in mind, I decided to create a spot where you can view my online portfolio more easily.  Here ya go!

http://www.chrisawadalla.carbonmade.com

Installation of Beautiful Stonewood Granite

Stonewood Granite is pretty cool stuff.  

I'd never seen it before about two months ago.  We found this slab at The Stone Collection in Denver.  This picture is from a project in Observatory Park, Denver.  The granite was installed on Tuesday....It's really striking when you see it up close.  Of course, we'll get some pro shots of the finished project when it is complete.

Scouting Shots - Historic Remodel in Cheesman Park

The before and afters speak for themselves!  This kitchen was tiny, dilapidated, and really poorly laid out.  We removed a load bearing wall and put a steel beam in place to open up the space.  The inset cabinetry is painted with a glaze & really feels like it has been there for a hundred years.  Check out the leaded glass in the two wall cabinets next to the new stainless steel hood.  We salvaged the glass from the original cabinetry and used it in the new cabinetry.  I found hardware that matched the original cabinet hardware exactly, to keep the old feel of the home intact.  The exposed brick wall looks great against the stainless steel range and hood.  It was meticulously restored to original condition by a skilled mason.  These are the scouting shots, so please forgive the messiness of the kitchen!  I didn't have a lot of time to take the pictures.  I am hoping to get some pro shots in the next month or so... [gallery type="square" ids="778,775,779,776,780,781,782"]

Central Park West in Cherry Creek

This apartment located in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver could very easily be transported to New York's Upper West Side and feel right at home.  My client wanted something small and elegant, but still functional.  I was hired to design the kitchen, hall and butler's pantry, master bathroom, and one guest bathroom. I employed a pure white cabinet scheme in all the spaces for a dramatic contrast vs. the dark ebony floors.  Glass, white marble, and polished nickel hardware are used throughout the entire apartment.

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Dramatic Kitchen Shines in this Mountain Retreat

Every once in a while, a project comes along that is really special.  Now, that's not to take away anything from any of my other remodels or new construction projects - but sometimes you are lucky enough to be part of a project in which all of the involved parties have an unquenchable thirst to build something that pushes our creative boundaries in the quest to provide a truly unique space.  This house, this kitchen is definitely one of these spaces, and it shows through in every room of the house.  I was hired by the interior designer on this project to provide the cabinetry design for this kitchen.  We started from scratch and built something that we had never done before.  I'm quite proud of the result. You'll notice that all of the cabinetry has a reflective surface in the door.  I had to work with our cabinet shop to create a new door that would accept both a bronze glass panel and a cherry veneer panel in the door.  It wasn't easy but we figured it out and the end result is beautiful!  The Sub Zero housing is encased in a floor to ceiling column that is cladded in a natural stone.  The housing itself had to be completely re-thought from our standard because of the door swings on the refrigerator, hence the 135 degree angles on the pilasters that anchor either end of the housing.  Above the fridge, we placed a piece of Lumix Quartz (same as countertops).  The result is a piece that mimics a work of art instead of an appliance.

If you are interested in working with any of the other professionals associated with this project (interior designer, architect, builder), please get in touch with me.

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Cherry Creek Loft - European Styled Kitchen and Bath

The Kitchen

I think that when most of us think of "modern" style, we tend to associate it with very cold spaces that are fun to look at, but seem fairly sterile and cold.  Contrarily, this space is definitely modern, but also feels warm.  I accomplished this feat by pairing high gloss custom color laminate wall cabinetry against a matte finish, dark cabinet below.  The dark cabinetry is actually a rift cut gray oak veneer with a custom stain on it.  Luxury appliances by Sub Zero and Wolf allow this sleek kitchen to perform at a very high level as a chef's preparation area.  I designed a custom cabinet to house a dishwasher about 12" off of the floor.  This higher placement makes using the appliance much easier.  The end result is a space that doubles as both a wonderful cooking haven and a entertaining space.

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The Master Bathroom

The master retreat - as I like to call it - is just that: a retreat from the stresses of daily life.  It's a very calming room when you step into it.  Subtle colors on cabinetry, tile, and countertops are a nice compliment to the cool blue metallic paint used on the walls.  A very nice place to start your day...or end it.

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Holiday News

I'm pleased to announce that we have completed work on the luxury loft residences, "The Flats", in Cherry Creek North.  I began work on this project in the Summer of 2011.  It's been a very long road to get to everything perfect, but we did it and I couldn't be happier with the results.  This past Wednesday, we had our photoshoot, getting shots of three of these beautiful units' kitchens and baths.  I can't wait to see the edited shots.  Next week, we will be shooting pictures of a project in Avon, CO.  The kitchen in this house is absolutely amazing! Regarding new projects - I am beginning design work on a kitchen remodel in Observatory Park in Southeast Denver.  Construction will probably begin sometime in February or March.  Updates to follow.

A luxury bath project in Bonnie Brae is coming to an end in about two weeks, (hopefully just before Christmas).  We'll be shooting this project as well and of course I'll update with the edited photos when complete.

Last but not least is a beautiful white traditional kitchen and master bathroom project in the Polo Club that should be complete by next week.

I hope you're having a great Christmas season.  I am so thankful to have worked with some truly wonderful clients this past year.  2012 has been a great year for us here at the design studio, and we're really excited about the prospects for 2013.

Cheers.

12' Solid Wood Island Countertop Anchors this Kitchen

This spectacular island countertop is solid cherry wood. It measures 2-1/2" thick x 140" length x 45" width.

There are several radius details along with arcs on both ends and custom cutout for the 36" gas rangetop and integrated downdraft.  Needless to say, I spent a lot of time designing this piece and spent more than a few restless nights worrying about the details of installation and integration to the island.  Fortunately, our shop did a fantastic job creating the top and it turned out stunning.

But enough about the island countertop.

The design of this kitchen evolved over time.  We began with a standard galley kitchen and decided to open up the kitchen into the main living room, which ended up being a great idea.  There is more than enough room for two chefs to work simultaneously here and not bump into each other.  The Sub Zero armoire is 9' tall and mirrors the height of the tall pantry / microwave cabinet on the opposite side of the room.[gallery columns="2" type="rectangular" ids="669,670,671,672"]

European Styling in the Heart of Cherry Creek

I knew this kitchen would turn out wonderful when I first met the client.  She was open to exploring the options available in new materials and was more than willing to "go that extra step" with the design that took it from great to amazing.  The tall and upper cabinetry is a high gloss gray laminate and the base cabinetry is a composite rift cut white oak veneer with a custom stain on it.  This was a difficult kitchen to plan for, as we had to order the cabinetry from two different manufacturers, yet make it look seamless.  I think we accomplished this feat to perfection. These photos were taken by yours truly so the quality isn't fantastic.  We plan to professionally shoot this project in about a month though, so I'll post those photos as soon as they're available!

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Cooking appliances:  Wolf induction cooktop, island hood, and oven/microwave.  Sub Zero refrigeration.  All integrated and all very sleek.  We raised the dishwasher in a custom cabinet to elevate it 12" higher than normal.  It is very easy to get into and out of.  That sort of configuration is not always doable and is based on the space available to us.  In this case, it worked perfectly - so why not??

The perimeter stone is quartz and the island is honed granite.  Stainless steel upstands and back-painted glass doors also add to the character.

New Projects

I'm excited to let everyone know about a few projects I have recently begun. First - I am designing a stunning, old-world style kitchen in Colorado Springs.  The clients purchased a turn of  the century historic home and are totally gutting it.  One of the most gratifying parts of this project is the fact that the clients are remodeling the home in the original style.  It's more of a restoration than a remodel.  I have almost completed design work for the kitchen.  Construction is underway but we will not begin the finishing of the space until after the holidays.

Second - A quintessential luxury bath in Bonnie Brae begins construction on November 12.  We are starting anew with this bathroom.  It will be a fantastic space when we complete it in our estimated 6 week construction schedule.  Elegant materials and a design that emphasizes simplicity and function will make this bathroom a very inviting space.

Third - Brand spanking new construction in Greenwood Village.  I have been working with this couple since the spring and we have finally worked through most of the layouts for the kitchen and six bathrooms.  I am moving on to material and color selections at this point and assisting with helping the future homeowners pick out the finishing touches to their new home.  The permit is in the final stages of approval and foundation should begin to be dug out soon.

Clean Traditional White Kitchen

These young clients preferred a throwback to traditional style when they decided to purchase and remodel an East Wash Park Bungalow.  From the very beginning, these clients were open to all sorts of ideas.  We eventually settled on a white kitchen with contrasting blue island.  The lighter colored flooring, neutral backslash, and carrera marble countertops all contribute to a very open and light feel.  Casual and refined; perfect for this growing family of four to eat dinners together or entertain guests. I teamed up with designer Megan Kane and the result is beautiful and functional.  Appliances are by Thermador: Integrated refrigeration and freezer columns, a 36" range, and built in microwave.  The bar area (not pictured) includes an ice maker and under counter beverage center.

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A Traditional Kitchen Remodel

The clients, in Centennial Colorado, were interested in garnering more prep space on the countertops, updating their look, and most importantly increasing the functionality of their kitchen.  It's a difficult space!  With multiple openings, and only one true wall to work against, it was definitely a challenge coming up with a design that would satisfy all of their needs.

The old kitchen was white, builder grade.  The induction cooktop was located on the island, and their previous peninsula, to the right of the sink was desk height and awkward.  There was a serious lack of preparation space.  By stealing space from a pantry and walkway into garage, we were able to add seating for 4 people comfortably, take the cooktop off of the island, and add much needed counterspace to the back wall.  One of the biggest structural changes we made was removing a stand alone coat closet in the middle of the house.  You can see the difference it makes in the before/after pictures below.

The backsplash tile is a 3 x 6" polished limestone that we found at Decorative Materials in the Denver Design Center.  I wrote about this tile here, and it ended up being the perfect compliment to the Typhoon Bordeaux granite.

The true star of the kitchen is the 2-1/2" thick butcher block top.  It's a combination of walnut and maple, end grain.  This top was painstakingly created in Pennsylvania and shipped to Colorado, where it sits atop a mobile island.  Yes, the island is movable.  We sourced low profile casters and installed them on the bottom of each island post.  The result is a space that is truly multi-functional and very friendly for two cooks.

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Crown Moulding Sketch

Here's a sketch of a crown moulding detail in a project I am working on.  This particular moulding has three steps to it.  The top rail of the cabinetry is extended to 6" total height, leaving 4.5" to apply S4S...Through application of three pieces of square edged moulding we are able to produce a four step crown. Best part about this detail is the stainless steel banding that we are adding to the whole moulding stack.  A piece of stainless steel, 1/8" thickness will be added after the mouldings are installed to give an added dimension to the cabinetry.

Butcher Block Island Countertop

Here's a quick preview of a finished project in Centennial.  We took a "builder special" kitchen that was previously all white and completely non-functional, and transformed the space into a rich and welcome space that easily slides between casual and formal. The 2-1/2" thick custom butcher block top is definitely the focal point of the kitchen.  The top was produced by Grothouse Lumber in Pennsylvania and arrived just yesterday.  This couple loves to cook and was focused on increasing the usable prep counter space in the kitchen.  We took the cook top out of the island and moved it to the peninsula in the new layout, leaving the island top as 100% prep space.  What's even cooler is that this island is on low profile casters.  It can be rolled to any location on the main floor.  When this couple entertains large groups, they will be able to roll the island off to the side and use it as a seperate buffet area - or it could serve as a mobile bar.  It's versatile and looks absolutely gorgeous with the new butcher block.

If you are thinking about incorporating wood tops into your kitchen or bath remodel, here are a couple pointers for choosing the right fit for your new space.

1.  Don't choose a wood top for a high use island unless you are aware that it will get little dings, scratches, and dents over time.  Wood tops are not stone.  They will dent.  Fortunately, these tops tend to look better the more beat up they get.

2.  Make sure to oil your wood top generously the first six months.  It will require food grade mineral oil.  Here is the use and care guide from Grothouse.

3.  Wood tops can make great accent pieces in any space; whether kitchen, bar, or bathroom.  In a bathroom - think about using a wood top at a make-up area for a little bit of a softer feel.  Bars are natural spaces to include wood tops - I mean - when was the last time you went to the pub and it was anything BUT wood?  Grothouse has a patent on a special finish called "Durata" that is completely impermeable to water and comes with a lifetime guarantee against water infiltration or spotting.

4.  You can build almost any shape or thickness out of wood, so there are very few design limitations with wooden tops.