A Transitional Kitchen and Family Room Remodel in Lake Forest, Orange County

When you initially walked into the kitchen and living area of this Lake Forest home, you found a color palette of outdated earth tones that felt heavy and not in-line with the beautiful backyard and pool area these spaces open to. The medium tone oak cabinetry was placed alongside muted granite countertops, and the dining area felt cramped and oddly separated from the kitchen.

A big part of this design and remodel project centered around finding a way to improve the flow of the space and also to create a sense of cohesiveness and an updated design as you moved from the kitchen to the family room.

The Kitchen Cabinets

Pivotal to the transitional remodel in this Lake Forest home was the selection of cabinetry. To brighten and modernize the kitchen, where the footprint went largely unchanged, we chose 3-inch Shaker cabinets in straight white. They feature solid maple doors, and unique customizations including a valance set over the sink, as well as hidden storage underneath the peninsula. Wainscotting detailing cleverly conceals these storage additions.

We created a custom refrigerator door for a seamless design. There is also a custom microwave cabinet, so this small appliance is covertly out of view.

Tile and Countertops

The overall color palette in this kitchen remodel is gray and white. The stone kitchen countertops are polished Gray Savoie granite, and the profile is a 1 ½-inch square mitered profile.

Paired with the gray square-edged countertops is a sleek, modern tile backsplash consisting of Eleganza Vetro tile in Snow White with gray grout. This glass tile is a premium selection, evoking stylishness, with a clean edge, subtle texturing and a very glossy finish.

This tile is carried up to the ceiling behind the wall-mounted range hood.

Appliances and Sink

The appliances in the Lake Forest represent some of the finest available. The appliance package includes the eye-catching Zephyr wall-mounted stainless range hood, as well as a Wolf professional-quality convection steam oven.

There’s a compact yet functional bar area between the refrigerator and the ovens, and this is where you’ll find not only additional countertop space and cabinet storage overhead but also the inclusion of a sleek 24-inch stainless steel wine cooler.

The sink serves as not just a functional addition, but also a beautiful feature piece. The farmhouse sink is a Blanco Cerana 33-inch Fireclay Front Apron single design, and it’s set against a large window providing views of the backyard and pool.

Dining Space

Directly adjacent to the kitchen is a stunning, custom dining space, where there was once a cramped and somewhat awkward area with minimal space to eat.

What replaces that is a custom-designed and built banquette-style bench with a high back, paired with a butcher block dining table.

The butcher block table was the creation of the homeowners and the designer, and the table top is solid, natural walnut with an oil-rubbed finish. The richness of the wood is an ideal pairing with the airiness of the rest of the kitchen design.

The Family Room

To keep the design cohesive and flowing naturally, APlus Kitchen also revamped the homeowners’ family room. The walls were painted a modern shade of icy blue-grey, and custom cabinetry was installed to the right of the fireplace, which was also redesigned by the APlus team.

The fireplace features a natural stacked stone façade and a floating mantel that matches the butcher block dining table. To the right of the fireplace are a combination of custom floating shelves and a built-in cabinet with spacious drawers for storage.

Under the corner windows in the family room is a built-in seating area, again with a butcher block-inspired top, and additional drawer storage underneath.

The ceiling feels high and open thanks to the recessed lighting, and large windows ensure plenty of natural light comes into the family room.

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San Clemente – Transitional Brown U-Shaped Kitchen Remodel with Custom Cabinets

The owners of a San Clemente home wanted to warm up the look of their abode with a woody kitchen renovation. APlus was called in to make it happen.

Before

Formerly, the kitchen had a very understated vibe. The flat design of the cabinets and their plain white finish made the space feel a bit generic. We were asked to incorporate higher quality materials and more radiant, earthy tones to help the room feel more cozy.

Restructuring

First, we removed all of the kitchen’s original build. The existing floors were left in place, as their golden light wood hue was complementary to the new design. Since the original U-shaped layout already made the most of the room’s available space, it was decided that we’d rebuild the cabinets in the same format. The new custom cabinets were built out of maple wood in a Euro-style construction, with 3” Shaker doors and 2 ½” Square crown moulding. We gave them a vibrant chestnut brown finish that enhances the appearance of the wood’s natural grain and gives the entire kitchen a more inviting ambiance. All of the drawers and doors were affixed with Dark Bronze ornamental handles.

Our goal was to not only improve the look of the kitchen, but its storage options as well. We incorporated multiple features, including built-in utensil compartments, pull-out tray shelves, vertical cutting board storage, and a trash drawer. For practicality purposes, an electrical outlet was installed in the cabinetry of the center island, making it easy for the homeowners to move and use their electrical countertop appliances

Mitered 1 1/2" edge Marmol Expert Sienna Beige granite countertops were put on all of the surfaces. Their neutral, subtle gray coloring goes well with the shimmering tile backsplash of the walls, which the owners installed themselves. Surrounded by the backsplash are the original glass window cut-outs. These unique elements add interesting illumination and a contemporary influence.

Appliances

To keep the transitional kitchen looking sleek and modern, the owner chose to go with stainless steel appliances, all from the Kenmore Elite collection. Against the back wall, a 25 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator was built into the cabinet casing. Next to it is a 30" Convection Microwave-Hood Combination, set over a 30” Slide-In Gas Range. At the corner beneath the window is a large undermount sink with a tall curved faucet. It is set next to a 24'' Built-In Dishwasher.

Do you have a home in San Clemente or another part of Orange County? Are you interested in upgrading it with a professional renovation? APlus Kitchen and Bath provides expert remodeling services throughout the area. Our contractors would be happy to give you a free quote for your project. Contact us today!

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SANTA ANA - DESIGN BUILD WHITE TRANSITIONAL HOME & U-SHAPED KITCHEN REMODEL WITH APLUS CUSTOM CABINETS

The owners of an expansive Santa Ana house wanted to freshen it up with a new look, and contracted APlus to carry out the full-home renovation.

Before

Prior to our remodel, the home lacked a consistent style. The rest of the home was bright and airy, while the kitchen’s old oak cabinets and dark appliances only absorbed the room’s natural lighting. Additionally, the various storage options in the kitchen and other rooms were lacking. Our goal was to refine the home with a cohesive transitional design, and install custom cabinetry in key areas to make storage more practical and efficient.

Restructuring

In the kitchen, we sought to maximize the amount of workspace available, while introducing some options for casual seating. The airy U-shaped layout provides ample space for this. We first stripped everything down to the foundation and installed new materials. For the flooring, we went with beautiful hardwood planks from the Gemwoods California Classics collection, in Rancho Santa Fe Walnut. This flooring was extended throughout the rest of the home. Next, we built and put in Maple custom cabinets in a Euro-style construction, with Shaker doors, Sonora moulding, and a creamy white DE Swiss Coffee finish. This light new tone reflects the light coming from the ceiling and outdoors, making the entire room feel fresher. We gave the cabinets of the long kitchen island a sophisticated Espresso brown finish, and incorporated moulded posts to make room for 5 stools. On the right, beneath the large window, the main cabinetry was lowered to create a bright bench area.

A lot of texture is integrated through the use of a polka-dot wall backsplash, and speckled light gray granite countertops. These elements tie in well with the simple black hardware that accents the cabinet doors and drawers.

Appliances

Beneath the smaller of the kitchen’s windows, we placed a 33” Blanco Apron Front Farmhouse Fireclay Sink. Next to it is a 24” KitchenAid Undercounter Dishwasher. As the kitchen’s focal point, we installed a 36” KitchenAid Commercial Style Gas Cooktop beneath a 36” KitchenAid Wall-Mount Canopy Range Hood. A 30” KitchenAid Electric Built-In Microwave/Oven Combination and a 42” KitchenAid Bottom Mount Built-In Refrigerator are mounted amid the cabinetry side by side, giving the space a very streamlined look. The cabinetry of the center island also conveniently houses an appliance, the 24” U-Line Wine Captain Refrigerator.

Living Rooms

The home features 2 spacious living rooms. The first features a bar, where we refaced the cabinets in the same style as the kitchen. The bar looks out onto main living room area, which boasts a wide, handsome fireplace, refaced with Sparkstone Harbor Mist stone tiles, and set with RMQ Gold tiles from Thompson Design at the hearth. Formerly, overbearing shelves and cabinets here made up an imposing entertainment center, but we removed all of that to give the room a sleeker style and space to mount the large flat-screen TV above the mantle. A small cabinet compartment was built next to the hearth to supply a storage area. The other living room is set at the home’s entryway, in a sunken area at the foot of the stairs. It has a petite custom cabinet build below the TV. Next to that, we refaced the fireplace with the same stone tiling as that of the first living room’s fireplace.

Stairway

The stairs were updated with a contrasting balusters and rails. A glossy black finish on the hand rails pops against the white balusters, and enhances the sweeping curvature of the stairs and upper gallery.

Bathroom

The subdued guest bathroom had its cabinets refaced in the same style as that of the kitchen and living rooms. Its countertop is a beautiful gray stone with a mossy green tint, extended a few inches upward along the wall to create a subtle framing backsplash.

Laundry Room

We outfitted with laundry room with all new custom cabinets to make the most of the available space. They are trimmed with 2 ½” Square crown moulding. Next to the laundry machines is a 25” MontBlanc Wakefield Dual Mount Natural Stone Composite Sink, mounted on a light gray granite countertop.

Considering a renovation for your Santa Ana home? APlus contractors provides professional remodeling services for homes throughout Orange County. Get in touch with our team today for a free quote!

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1908 Historic Wagner house in Placentia with White and Blue Transitional U-Shaped Kitchen

The new owners of this 1908 Historic Wagner house in city of Placentia wanted to completely remodel the house along with the kitchen but keeping the character and style of this historic home.  It was a fine line between upgrading everything and choosing the right materials in order to perceive the beauty of this Wagner House. Out team at APlus Interior Design & Remodeling was hired to accomplish this task along with extending the kitchen further out to create a larger place for the family to spend quality time.

Before

The original kitchen was very basic and cluttered. By failing to provide pleasing aesthetics or even enough room for storage and easy movement, it became a major sore-point for the owners. They were more than eager to give it a vibrant facelift through an APlus renovation.

Restructuring

The kitchen’s total space was not enough to accommodate the needs of the owners, no matter how the layout was changed. That’s why our first task was tearing it down to the foundation, and installing a kitchen extension. We removed the outer wall and pulled it out several feet, giving it a beautiful exterior finish that blends with the rest of the home’s appearance.

With the added space, we could then start building the new transitional U-shaped kitchen. Hardwood floors were installed in a pale golden hue, establishing a warm base for the new cabinets. We built them with an Inset Face construction, with Shaker-style doors and crown and shoe molding. The cabinets around the stove area were connected with a stately hood that has inner shelving for spices. Some of the doors of the upper cabinets have seeded glass panel inserts, and all of the cabinetry is accented with charming blue glass knobs and handles. These handles match the cheery new cornflower blue wall paint.

In one of the corners of the kitchen, part of the cabinetry was configured to be a pull-out workstation, giving the room extra practicality. Additional cabinetry and shelving was installed in the cozy pantry.

A center island was also built, with its own sink and bar stools for casual dining. Between the upper and lower cabinets, we put in a Highland Park Dove Grey Backsplash. Black Honed Soapstone Countertops with 1 ½” Straight edges were installed throughout the kitchen, adding contrast to the bright palette.

Appliances

The focal point of the kitchen lies at the hood, which contains an Imperial Ventilator Insert with Baffles mounted over a Bluestar 60” Rangetop with Island Trim. Blanco Silgranit II Diamond Super Single Dual Mount Sinks were mounted both on the island and on the far side of the kitchen, next to the GE Stainless Steel Interior Dishwasher with Hidden Controls. Frigidaire 30” Electric Double Wall Ovens were built in adjacent to the Samsung 32 cu. ft. 4-Door Refrigerator with Convertible Zone.

In the pantry, Kenmore Elite 16.7 cu. ft. Upright Freezer was built into the cabinetry, and a Samsung 1.1 cu. ft. Counter Top Convection Microwave was placed on the counter as well.

Powder Room

APlus also renovated the home’s powder room in the same style as the kitchen, building a simple vanity with the leftover kitchen materials.

Renovating your Orange County home can majorly boost its value, comfort, and appeal. If you’d like to receive a quote for your own remodeling project, get in touch with our Staff today!

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