If Only Mom Could Have Seen This Kitchen

My client on this Stapleton project told me right from the start that her mom, who she recently lost, had always told her that the kitchen needed to be remodeled. She also told me that the main requirements were that Mom’s plate display rack and her seed knobs had to stay, but that the laundry room had to go. Relocating the laundry room to the second floor really opened up the space, as did eliminating the awkward double island layout. White thermafoil cabinets were replaced with solid cherry cabinets by Woodharbor. The countertops are Silestone Eco and the back splash is a pressed glass mosaic. All new appliances, plumbing fixtures and art glass pendant fixtures finish off the space. And Mom’s plate rack has a place of honor. This project received a Second Place CARE Award (Colorado Award for Remodeling Excellence) from the Denver Metro Homebuilder’s Association in 2012 in the Kitchen Remodel Standard category ($50,000-$100,000 category).

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Kitchen After

Island cooktop and oven cabinets beyond - my favorite cabinet is the microwave cabinet with pullout bread board.

Island cooktop and oven cabinets beyond – my favorite cabinet is the microwave cabinet with pullout bread board.

Sink remained in the same place, but the dishwasher moved to the other side. The formal dining room is beyond.

Sink remained in the same place, but the dishwasher moved to the other side. The formal dining room is beyond.

Island front. Seating for four plus cookbook storage.

Island front. Seating for four plus cookbook storage.

Island back. Plenty of drawer storage.

Island back. Plenty of drawer storage.

Built-in dining hutch and "mud room" cabinet, and Mom's wonderful plate rack.

Built-in dining hutch and “mud room” cabinet, and Mom’s wonderful plate rack.

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Diane Gordon Design Wins Three 2011 CARE Awards

Sponsored by the Homebuilder’s Association of Metro Denver, the Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence, known as the CARE awards, are the largest and longest running contest recognizing remodeling of all types, including both commercial and residential projects. Categories are numerous, and include kitchens, bathrooms, green building, and much more. CARE awards are judged blind by local volunteers, making it a fair competition that recognizes excellence in remodeling, no matter the authorship. Last night, Diane Gordon Design received a First Place prize, along with Gates Contracting, for this kitchen remodel project in Congress Park in the Kitchen Remodel Standard category (mid price range of $50,000-$100,000 remodel).

Kitchen 'Before'

Kitchen ‘Before’

Kitchen 'After'

Kitchen ‘After’

Kitchen 'After' - Looking Toward Family Room

Kitchen ‘After’ – Looking Toward Family Room

Butler's Pantry 'After'

Butler’s Pantry ‘After’

Diane Gordon Design also received the First and Second Place Prizes in the Basement Remodel Basic category, along with contractor Best Builders, for two very different Stapleton basement projects.

1st PLACE

1st Place Basement - Family Room

1st Place Basement – Family Room

1st Place Basement - Play Room

1st Place Basement – Play Room

1st Place Basement - Wet Bar

1st Place Basement – Wet Bar

2nd PLACE

2nd Place Basement - Family Room

2nd Place Basement – Family Room

2nd Place Basement - Wine Room

2nd Place Basement – Wine Room

2nd Place Basement - Play Room

2nd Place Basement – Play Room

2nd Place Basement - Guest Bathroom

2nd Place Basement – Guest Bathroom

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Relocate the Fireplace to Another Room… Really?

This main floor interior remodel project was unusual for Stapleton. The request was to do away with the family room fireplace altogether, add one in the barely used front living room (in hopes that it would be barely used no more), and furnish both with built-ins and new furniture. I was so happy to hear this – it all made total sense to me! We outfitted the family room with built-ins for media components, TV, and books. Sconces flank the built-ins and a new chandelier replaced the ceiling fan. Two Kravet sofas and a large ottoman complete the room.

Family Room Before

Family Room ‘Before’

Family Room After

Family Room ‘After’

The front living room now has a wonderful conversation grouping of furniture with a new custom fireplace, including stunning tile work and painted mantle and help site side built-ins.

Formal living room 'after'

Formal Living Room ‘After’

Price fireplace

Fireplace detail

 

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Painting Inspires Master Bedroom Makeover

Inspiration Piece

Inspiration Piece

Charlene had attempted three times to design her very large master bedroom on her own and finally called me in to help her.  I asked what she did and did not like about her space.  Just about the only thing she did like, loved in fact, was the painting by Stapleton artist, Jody Rigsby. Everything else was all wrong, from the coral ceiling to the lack of furniture for the grand space.  Book space was in desperate need, as was a cozy place to read, furnishings for movie night that could swivel out of the way for TV-watching in bed, and a writing desk.  Here is the finished product along with the ‘before’ photo. Before

After - many new custom built-ins house books and media equipment, a new rug grounds the space and ties all the colors and shapes together, and red swivel chairs can be used to watch a movie or read the morning paper.

After – many new custom built-ins house books and media equipment, a new discount cialis 20 mg rug grounds the space and ties all the colors and shapes together, and red swivel chairs can be used to watch a movie or read the morning paper.

George, the cat, enjoys the sunny window bench next to Charlene's favorite reading spot, a new Kravet chaise.

George, the cat, enjoys the sunny window bench next to Charlene’s favorite reading spot, a new Kravet chaise.

 

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My Favorite Basement of 2010

2010 was a very busy year for my design business with 70 projects completed and about half of those basement finish projects, most in Stapleton. This basement was probably my favorite one as the homeowners really wanted to put some thought into special finishes such as built-in cabinetry and light fixtures. barbour2   barbour1 We ordered semi-custom cabinetry for the wine bar, media credenza and bookcase in stained alder, and play room bench seating in white paint. The bathroom cabinet is black paint topped with clean white Corian, the floor is Arabescato Carrara marble and white subway tile finishes the bathroom off in the shower. barbour4 I loved that these clients wanted to have fun with light fixtures, and through my suppliers, we were able to locate fixtures which give each room a distinct personality.  The result is an original and whimsical space. barbour3

Family Room Flushmount Fixture

Family Room Flushmount Fixture

Bedroom Semi-Flushmount Fixture

Bedroom Semi-Flushmount Fixture

 

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Master of my Domain… Check out Stapleton Moms Blog for the Story

Friends and clients have often told me that someone should write a story about why I started concentrating on basements – well, Maria Lucas did a great job of it on the Stapleton Moms blog. Check out the story here. That Stapleton Mom: Master of Her Domain

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Light Fixtures as Art

Nothing can transform a space as quickly as a new light fixture.  I love a fixture that is unique and makes a statement and lately I have been selling my clients many Sildenafil medication needs to be taken… fixtures from two companies in particular when they are looking for something different and stylish. George Kovacs and Stonegate Designs. George Kovacs fixtures are modern but will not look dated in ten years.  They have classic forms and finishes.  I just specified a chrome drum fixture with “diamond” studs for a basement play room that was a huge hit.  The studs let light through like little stars. kovacs Stonegate’s fixtures are more customizable and have an elegance to them that is incomparable.  The typical linen drum fixture with diffuser everyone is looking for is anything but typical from Stonegate as it has a glass finial hanging through the diffuser and the ceiling canopy is layered with a glass disk.  Wall sconces may have a combination of three fabrics and may be tiered like a cake.  These fixtures do get noticed!  I have a pair of this sconce in my own home… sconce If you need help ordering light fixtures for your home, I’d love to help.

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From Concept to Reality

Months of work goes in to even the smallest remodeling project.  Not only do I draw the specifications for my projects, but I assist homeowners with the selection and ordering of the finish materials, and work with the contractors throughout the process.  I don’t post drawings in the galleries on my website, nor do I show ‘before’ photos.  So from time to time, I will showcase a project on the Blog from beginning to end. This is a master bathroom remodel in Stapleton completed in 2009.  No upgrades were purchased from the builder, so the bathroom was gutted.  A single 28 inch wide door was replaced with French doors.  A wide, yet shallow, oval tub overpowered the space and was replaced with a narrower, deep soaker tub.  That allowed for the vanity area to be widened by 9 inches.  In-wall medicine cabinets and a cabinet over one end of the tub added much-needed storage.  All new tile included classic white subway tile in the shower and tub, marble mosaic back splash over the new solid quartz counter, and the star of the bathroom, subtle multi-colored marble hexagonal floor tile (that is heated).  Careful selection of polished nickel plumbing fixtures and vanity xterracyprus.com fixtures, an antique crystal chandelier over the tub, and new Euro shower door, complete the space.

- before -

– before –

- elevation -

– elevation –

Gordon bath

– after –

- faucet detail -

– faucet detail –

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Basement Finish Season is Upon Us

I always experience a lot of Basement Finish activity this time of year as our kids go back to school and the holidays approach. It’s a great time for a basement finish project. If design is completed in August or September, your basement can likely be completed in time for Grandma’s arrival in December. Residential interior remodeling has been my passion and the sole focus of my business since leaving firm life and starting my own business in 2000. I continue to strive to give all my clients the best possible construction plans and material finish solutions for their spaces, while acting as a liaison with contractors, and enjoy getting to know my clients personally. Please visit the Basement Gallery to get inspired, and if you have a project you are considering, please don’t hesitate to call me at 303.355.5666 or email info@dianegordondesign.com.

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