Lake Forest Contemporary Brown Whole House Remodel

The owners of this Lake Forest home had a young family, and they wanted a home that could more easily accommodate both their sense of style and a familial atmosphere.

Before

The living room had levels of sunken flooring, which was a safety hazard for their young children. A wall also separated the kitchen from the living room, making it so that whoever was cooking couldn't still interact with or keep an eye on the children. The kitchen didn't offer much storage or working  space. In the bathrooms, dated motifs characterized the overall look.

Restructuring

To maximize the feel of spaciousness and give a line of sight to the dining area and living room, we knocked out the separating wall in the kitchen and placed in a large corner support beam. A large window formerly took up a great deal of wall space next to the sliding door. Our team patched in the old window, prepping a solid wall that cabinets and counters could be built against. Pacific Treasures Pebble Beach maple flooring replaced the old tile, giving a slightly rustic influence to the new design. We abandoned the old wall-hugging layout, instead installing new cabinetry to create a G-shaped kitchen. The clients chose Euro Face & Frame style custom cabinets in maple with Shaker doors. A deep Elegant Brown finish and stainless steel bar handles on all the drawers and doors established a sleek yet warm contemporary aesthetic. In some of the cabinet doors, glass panes were inlaid so that dishes could be easily seen. On the dining-room side of the support beam, the glass paneled doors put the owner’s fine china collection on display. A stout island with storage was placed in the center of the kitchen to add workspace. It and the rest of the surfaces were fixed with Pental Quartz countertops in a pale Canyon Polished finish and 1 ½” Single Beveled edge. On the back wall, a Unicorn tile backsplash adds extra texture to the kitchen’s look.

Appliances

All new appliances chosen for the kitchen feature a stainless steel finish. A Sub-Zero Built-In Over-and-Under with French Door Refrigerator was placed amid the cabinets against the wall where the old window formerly was. To the right, a KOHLER Stages Undercounter Stainless Steel 33” Single Bowl Kitchen Sink faces a bright backyard window. The AJ Madison Dishwasher sits between the sink and the new Wolf 36” Gas Cooktop, which is topped by a Wolf 36” Cooktop Wall Ventilation Hood. Set within the corner support beam is a Wolf L Series 30” Built-In Single Oven and Microwave.

Living Room

We raised sunken flooring and replaced the old tile with the same maple flooring found in the kitchen. All of the drywall was patched up to ensure clean borders. We also installed a wall mount for the owner’s large flat-screen TV.

Fireplace

We covered the old brick fireplace construction with drywall and created a more modern looking mantel out of sleek gray tiles and a thick wooden shelf. Since the fireplace is located in the family room, the mantel shelf serves as a great new spot to display favorite toys.  

Bathrooms

The bathrooms were outfitted to have the same cabinetry and countertops as the kitchen. Large seamless mirrors were placed in, as well as updated light fixtures. In the master bathroom, we built a new shower enclosure with glass walls and a tile backsplash. It also features a multi-shelf built-in soap niche.   Are you looking to transform your home as dramatically as this Lake Forest Orange County residence? Get in touch with APlus today to recruit a team of professional home remodeling contractors.

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Dove Canyon Traditional Brown U-Shaped Kitchen Remodel with Custom Hood

Sitting on the edge of the wild expanse that is the Cleveland National Forest, this Dove Canyon home deserved an updated look inspired by the woods.

Before

When we were first called in, our team was met with a gray and white kitchen that didn't make the best use of space. Appliances were stuffed in between bulky cabinets that didn't have efficient shelving - something that was a big inconvenience for the owners. A peninsula bar area also created a barrier that separated the kitchen from the living area, stifling the flow of the space. We were tasked with not only giving the kitchen a warmer look, but improving the layout and storage options as well.

Restructuring

We started by knocking out all of the original structures in the kitchen, including the peninsula bar. This freed up the room to create a more open U-shaped layout. We also installed new bay windows, which let in far more light and added more visual space. The owners wanted a contrast between warm wood cabinetry and something lighter, so we went with a light color scheme for the base of the new large kitchen island, and a medium brown finished maple for the rest of the cabinets. The traditional cabinets were built with a Euro & Face Frame style, with Nadia doors. All of the drawers and cabinets were given dark knobs and handles to be in keeping with the earthy color palette. The countertops were made out of Bedrosians granite in a Typhoon Bordeaux finish with a 1 ½” Double Ogee Edge. In the kitchen island facing the stove, a series of spice and can racks were installed for easy access while cooking. Beneath the new stove top, we put in large, deep drawers that now hold all of the owner’s cooking pans. To the right is a pull-out rack for cooking oils and sauces, and to the left, a folding corner cabinet contains lazy susans that prevent the need for digging through the storage. Above the stove area we built a 66” long custom wooden hood in an industrial style. This stately piece serves as the focal point of the kitchen. Beneath it, a Durango tile backsplash was placed on the wall to add even more character. Additional shelving was placed atop the section were the new oven and microwave now sit. The vertical shelves enable easy grabbing and sorting.

Appliances

To achieve a cohesive look for the kitchen, all of the appliances were chosen from the GE Monogram® collection, in a stainless steel finish. The custom hood construction was outfitted with a 36" Custom Hood Insert. Beneath it, a new 36" Professional Gas Rangetop with 6 Burners serves as the stove. On the right side of the kitchen, the cabinets were built to sit flush around a 42" Built-In Professional Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Dispenser and Water Filter, and the stacked Built-In Advantium Microwave Oven and GE Monogram 30” Built-In Single Oven that lie next to it.

Wine Cabinet

Just outside the kitchen was a small alcove the owners wanted to turn into a wine area. We slightly recessed the wall to make room for a robust wine cabinet, custom-built to match the medium brown wood of the kitchen’s cabinetry. In the center was placed a GE Monogram Wine Reserve with Liquid Crystal Privacy Glass. The countertop provides plenty of room for serving wine. The beautiful results of this Dove Canyon Orange County kitchen renovation can be achieved in your home as well. Contact APlus Interiors & Design today to get a quote for your remodel. Check out the video tour of this beautiful kitchen remodel as well:

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