Pet friendly cottage kitchen in Valley Village

Looking at the photos of this bright and spacious kitchen, it is hard to believe this was once a small and boxed space. Animal lovers Shelly and Chris had two ideas in mind when they decided to remodel their 90sqft kitchen from the 1930s: to create a large open floor plan kitchen with plenty of storage, and to have a pet-friendly for their 5 cats and 2 dogs. 

Envisioned by our designer Ido, the new kitchen was completely transformed to offer a roomy, functional and beautiful space with our client's and pet's needs in mind. From creating a new floor plan combining the kitchen, dining room and living room to replacing the roof, repiping and rewiring to installing new tiles and cabinets, the project took 3 months to be completed. 

Kitchen before remodel

Small and closed kitchen before remodel 

Kitchen after remodel

Bright and spacious kitchen after remodel 

Remodeling Process

The first step for the remodel was to create different floor plan options to reconfigure the kitchen. 

On the left, floor plan of kitchen before remodel. On the right, new floor plan chosen by client incorporating the kitchen, laundry room, dining room and living room. 

After getting the approval for the floor plan, an architectural and engineering plan was created and permits were pulled in order to start the actual remodel. Because this was an old house, we started with changing the roof, repiping and rewiring the entire house and installing new windows, doors and skylights. 

Demolition, framing and rough plumbing and wiring of the house.

Once plumbing, wiring, roofs and new walls and windows were ready, we started the installation of custom built cabinets and kitchen island. 

New custom built cabinets during installation. 

One of our client's cats enjoying the new kitchen island during installation. 

The final steps of the remodel included the installation of tiles, appliances, and fixtures to achieve a transitional, airy and fun look. 

Final Results

This eco and pet-friendly space features all-white custom shaker cabinets, brushed nickel Bosch appliances, white Caesarstone quartz countertops, a laundry closet and a dedicated area for the pets.

 Custom shaker cabinets, white Caesarstone quartz countertops, Bosch appliances and farmhouse style Blanco sink.

To give the kitchen a focal point and a pop of color, a custom blue kitchen island was added with an extra sink, a wine cooler, and even more storage space. 

Kitchen island with extra storage space, sink and wine cooler. 

A pot filler was added above the Bosch cooktop to make cooking easier. The white shaker cabinets and brushed nickel appliances were paired with a white subway tile backsplash and accent grey arabesque tiles for a touch of color. 

Cooking area with Bosch cooktop and separate ovens, pot filler, white subway tiles for backsplash and grey accent arabesque tiles.

The client's pets received their own dedicated space and cabinets for their food and water and extra storage space for their toys, food and treats.

Pet's cabinets and dedicated food and water space. 

Designer Ido, Shelly and her grandbaby enjoy the newly remodeled kitchen. 

Before & After: Kitchen Remodel in Studio City

We are excited to showcase our latest project, this bright and spacious kitchen in Studio City, CA. Originally a dark, outdated and non-functional space, the new kitchen was completely transformed with brand new custom cabinets and counters, high end appliances, and even new windows, doors and flooring. Check out the photos bellow to see the process of this incredible transformation and the final results!

The original kitchen was not only outdated and lacked visual interest, but it was also not spacious enough for our client's needs. The photo below shows the first step of the transformation: the kitchen was completely gutted and walls were removed to create an open floor plan and give the space a bright and roomy look. 

During Remodel

Beginning of renovation

Kitchen during renovation

After Remodel

The new beautiful kitchen includes custom Cambria quartz countertops, gray tile blacksplash, hand blown glass pendant lights, Thermador stainless steel appliances, refinished natural oak hardwood floors, custom shaker cabinets and brand new windows and sliding doors.

4 Pro Tips for a Smooth Bathroom Remodel

Are you planning a bathroom remodeling, but don't know how to start? We have put together a few tips that we always give to our clients to help you have a smooth and easy remodeling experience! 

Bold and modern bathroom in Toluca Lake

Tip #1: What is the right bathroom for YOU?

Use your imagination and think of your ideal bathroom. If you didn't have a budget limit, how would you that space be? Picture your dream bathroom and imagine it as a part of your daily routine. Do you have children, and how many people will share that space? Are you looking for functionally and an easy to clean space, or are aesthetics your main concern? Do you need a lot of storage, or is the space made for guests? Answering those questions will make creating a layout concept and even choosing the materials a lot easier. 

Modern farmhouse style bathroom in Santa Monica

Tip #2: Hire a professional

And we are not saying this because we are professionals and want you to hire us (although we'll be happy to help you if you do)! DIY is not always cheaper and it's definitely not a great idea if you don't know what you are doing. Depending on your house's age or state, simply updating the look without paying attention to the space's conditions might cause you problems down the road. For example, changing your floor tiles over old and damaged plumbing is only going to cover the problem and cause you more trouble down the road. If you are going to spend time and resources on a remodel, make sure that you are doing everything right to avoid having to redo it (and spend more) later!

Tip #3: Know your budget and how flexible it is

Set up a realistic budget and know how flexible you are willing to be. Would you let go of some of your must-haves in order to stay within your limit amount, or are you willing to spend a bit more if necessary to get exactly what you want? A bathroom remodel can cost anything between $5,000 to $100,000 and up depending on the complexity of the remodel, the materials and finishes. The average spend for a homeowner doing a basic master bathroom remodel is between $8,000 - $10,000, and between $15,000 - $20,000 for a complete remodel, but that number can vary a lot depending on what you are trying to accomplish. 

Modern spa master bathroom in West LA.

Tip #4: Know your priorities

Now that you know your budget and your needs, find out what your priorities are and what you are willing to let go to avoid going over your budged. One of the suggestions we give to our clients is to save in finishes if you need to spend more in the design, such as changing the layout or adding extra space. Using premade cabinetry or choosing porcelain tiles rather than natural stone for floors and countertops can save you a lot of money and still give your bathroom the same look you want . You can even do a wood or concrete look with porcelain tile, for example!

Traditional master bathroom in Sherman Oaks.

Are you ready to start building the bathroom of your dreams? We are always happy to answer all your questions, just send as a little message or comment below! 

5 Design Tips for a Perfect Kitchen Remodel

We know remodeling your kitchen can be overwhelming, and there are many details to keep in mind during the design process to make sure everything turns out perfect. If you are planning to renovate your kitchen soon, here are a few tips from our pros!

1. Consider your needs when planning the space

If you cook frequently, you will need more counter space between the range and the sink (and don't forget to add at least 15 inches of countertop between each side of a cooktop and the refrigerator). But remember: too much space between the essentials is going to make cleaning and cooking harder. Consider arranging your three most used areas (sink, range and fridge) to form a "working triangle", with equal distances between all of them. Another good idea for "amateur chefs" is to add a swing-out-tap or faucet extension near the cooktop to fill pots right were you need them!

2. Use colors in your favor

Just like with clothes, dark colors make spaces look smaller, while light colors and natural light visually expand a small kitchen. If you don't love the all-white look but have a small space, consider using soft shades or adding colorful touches such as mosaic tiles and beautiful textured countertops.

3. Pick one focal point

Think of your kitchen as a work of art, and add one interesting focal point, such as a bold kitchen island, patterned cement floors, a mosaic tile backsplash or even a beautiful stove with a metal hood such as bronze. 

4. Infuse your cabinets with style

Heavy blocks of cabinets can be boring and make the kitchen look smaller. Consider mixing closed cabinets with open display shelves, glass doors and wine storage. They will not only make your kitchen more stylish and interesting, but also make it look bright and airy. 

5. Don't forget the lights

Another detail that can make all the difference in your kitchen is the lightening. Your kitchen needs to be bright without looking like a surgery room. Adding lighting under cabinets is a great idea since they block the light from reaching your countertops, and statement hanging light fixtures are not only functional but they can also infuse the space with personality. 

Small bathroom, huge transformation

One of the questions we often get from our clients is "I've been saving all these photos of dream bathrooms for inspiration, but how do I get a similar look if in my own small apartment?". 

One of our favorite tips is to look at how the area is being used and make smart modifications to transform it into a beautiful and functional space. Changing the layout of a bathroom can completely change its look and make it appear larger and brighter. 

Just take a look of this bathroom that we remodeled for one of our clients. Huge difference, right? 

To give the impression of more space, we used monochromatic tones for the floors, cabinets and walls. The new placement of the bathtub also allowed for a large jacuzzi - and added more free room to walk around (because we know no one likes to be squeezed between the tub and the sink!).

Another tip for small bathrooms is to add patterned floors, like this dotted design, that can trick the eye into seeing an expanded space. The square footage might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.

A beautiful compact but functional vanity with a large mirror polished the look of this bathroom and added enough storage for all the bath essentials.