Kitchen Design - Elfin Forest

This Kitchen in Elfin Forest, was a fun collaboration I was asked to be a part of. The clients were wanting to design their kitchen and realized quickly that they needed help. The contractor on the job recommended our firm come in to help and called us in. We met with the clients and it was s match made in heaven.

They needed help with space planning and the flow of the kitchen. I’m an expert in my field so this was something that we could do for them. It only took a few days but the final design was exactly what they were looking for. I opened up the wall to make a great room, added in french doors to gain access to the outside deck, I gave them a large working island, as well as a functional kitchen that worked for their family of 6.

After we finished designing it was handed back to the GC and the vision was created. The clients even asked if I could use their existing lighting which we installed over the island . They also asked to use the existing appliances . I always consider this, but also educate my clients in the pros and cons of using existing appliances. In this case the refrigerator and oven were only a few years old so we kept them.

The clients home was designed as transitional but they loved modern design. So I designed the kitchen in a simple and sleek manner. It brought the home together as well as their style . The lines are very clean even down to the custom oven hood.

This was a fun project and we loved being a part of it. Unfortunately these are the only 3 finished pictures we have and it was while construction was wrapping up. See below for some finished pictures, a few of the 3D designs we created, as well as a few before pictures.

Call today for your design consultation and see how a simple idea can turn in a kitchen reality.

After

After - Wall Opened

After

Design Concept

Design Concept

Before Photo - This is the wall we removed

Before Photo - where my back is is where there is a counter with a sink. We removed that to install the doors.

Speaking Events

Best time guest speaking for the design college class

I had a great week giving a class on designing your kitchen and what to expect. I loved meeting everyone and giving a few tips to deal with construction. I also had the best time being a guest speaker at Palomar College for the interior design class. I was so excited to speak for my past college professor, who taught me how to draw properly so long ago. I spoke about starting a business and getting into the industry. I have a lot of dos and don’ts and what to expect tips I gave. The reason for owning a business and going out and getting what you want. We spoke about the importance of writing a solid contract and learning basic construction. The class was great and they listened to me ramble on for 2 hours. It was fun to give back a little knowledge and teach our next generation of interior designers. So a very big thank you to Jessica for having me, and to the students at Palomar College. We hope a little of what we said will help you for all your future endeavors.

Speaking for a kitchen class

11 Years in the Making

Who would of known that when I met “KVP” that I would form a friendship that has spanned over a decade. I met KVP in the most typical designer fashion. I was working in a furniture showroom at the time, as their only designer on staff. I happened to be near the front when the doors swung open and her and her contractor came through with a purpose. She walked right up to me and said I have five minuets, “I need you to design this home I will be back in the morning and I will only have an hour because I need to get on a plane”. She handed me pictures, a floor plan, told me her style, and she left. I welcomed the challenge and dove right in. It took me about 3 hours to get the entire design put together, and I mean everything from furniture to bedding. I was only designing the furniture for each room of the two story condo on the bluffs in Encinitas; this was well before my building days. She was doing a full overhaul of the home and explained the floors, the stairs, the open concept for the kitchen and what the purpose of the home was for her and her family.

She came in the next morning and I went over every detail down to the lighting in the home. I made her, her own reading area by the window, I made sure to give her husband a color sofa that matched the ocean, and make it stylish as well as withstand the trends throughout time., but mainly I wanted it to be a home for her to love. I was thrilled when she loved everything and said “lets do it”. She left on a plane and I saw her two month later. Within that time she asked me about ideas in the home on how doors, walls, and thoughts on the construction should be. It was something that I was more than pleased to give my professional opinion. The home turned out beautiful and I was so happy for them.

Little did I know that we would form a friendship that I still cherish to this day. KVP an I would make sure to see each other every time she was in town for dinners, lunches, or just to visit. Her and her husband would invite myself and my son over for dinners in their home and we enjoyed sitting and visiting. Over the years I have had the pleasure of seeing her children and grandchildren grow, we’ve gone through hard times and good times in our life together as well. It is funny when a client becomes a friend that you never expected to have, and how amazing and heart warming it is at the same time. She has watched my son grow and he considers her part of our family now, as do I.

I never expected that on that day when the doors swung open to still be welcomed into the house I designed 11 years ago, but I am ever so thankful that I am because the house became a home and the family inside it became some of my dearest friends that I have made lasting memories with.

To view the whole home go to Sunset Dreams on our Project Page

Photos by: Josh of Krause Realty.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateagents/joshua-krause_solana-beach_ca_1834188_708584497

Best of Houzz Award

We are excited and honored to be recognized to be awarded the Best of Houzz Award for Service. We really take pride in serving all of our clients and community and are excited to see what else 2019 brings.

Palm Desert Oasis

This Home New Build was such a great project we did over 9 years ago in Palm Desert before the community grew to what it is today. We absolutely loved this project!! The couple were artists moving from back East and we customized every aspect of the home from the property layout, to the rooms, to the furniture, to the custom lighting. The owner and I worked together on all aspects of her ideas and we drew them out together and made them come to life. It was such a beautiful home. Our favorites were the lights that were so custom that I even broke alabaster on the sidewalk to make the sconces look more rustic for my favorite chain lighting piece for the outdoor patio. This project took over a year and it is something we have always loved. We unfortunately never took picture but our client did send us some before photos and a few progress pictures from years back. She asked we not show the entire house but she did want to let the world see a few of the custom things we did in her home. This will always be a favorite because we were so involved with the client and all the designs that our team still loves visiting when we are in the desert and sitting on the patio talking about life and taking in all the gorgeous views in Palm Desert.

To see more of this project please visit the Project Page.

Cardiff Retreat

This backyard in Cardiff, CA was a complete makeover. We added a large custom built bar that houses a built in bbq, and beverage refrigerator, along with a custom 3D tile design. We also built in a low wall for gardening and separation where we customized the wall with natural stone tiles in a random pattern that were hand inlaid into the wall to give it a 3D look. Stone was placed next to the bar to allow for nights by the fire and a place to entertain. New grass was installed and soon new plants. This was a space that I designed to bring the rest of the home outside so this music loving, film making family can entertain and live outside next to the beach in the California Sun, in their new backyard oasis.

Before

Before

In Progress

In Progress

After - To see all photos please visit the Project Page

Railings & Tile

This ground level penthouse in Downtown San Diego was an amazing two story space. We were happy in the collaboration of the custom railing that helped separate the sunken living room that leads you to the outside patio. We also had fun designing the tile that was throughout the kitchen and bathrooms.

Encinitas New Build

This was an amazing home to add on to as it sat up on a hill with a perfect Ocean View. We added a second story on top of the garage to accommodate the families oldest son. The new bedroom had a full sleeping area, gaming area, walk in custom closet, as well as a custom bathroom. The design concept was completely custom and one where we used soapstone material as well as granite, and other unique material. Every element of the room was taken into consideration to appeal to the families wants and needs. The fun aspect was building a catwalk to get to the bedroom as the ceilings were 20 feet high.

We also re-design the stairway with a new railing system, as well as removing all the old carpet and adding on luxury warm wood. The stairway wall was installed using custom wallpaper to capture the light of the one of a kind crystal chandelier.

Even the living room, family room, and kitchen were re-designed, along with the master closet and their daughters room getting a makeover. Every element in this home was thought of even down to the new pivot custom front door. The home is unique and every aspect of design and build was a luxury custom design and with the family in mind.

Drawing of new bathroom

Stair Railing Before we changed it to a custom rod stair way and customized the wall

Before Photo

Before - Old Front Door - We changed this out for a new more modern door

Before Photo of stairs - all new floors went in as well

This is a before picture of where we built the catwalk to the new existing bedroom suit we built

Before Photo - We refaced the entire bar eating areas as well as put in new chairs

This is the bedroom we moved into the new suit we built. This 10x12 bedroom was designed into a custom master closet.

This shower was converted into a more modern updated look. To see a few of the After pictures go to the Project Page.