Colorful Home Remodel by Contractors in the Bay Area
When this family of four moved from San Diego to San Carlos, they bought a single story 1,450 square foot home with the intention of remodeling. The end result is a two-story home, with 2,570 square feet of living space that includes a high-functioning central kitchen for cooking, entertaining and family time that blurs the line between indoor-outdoor experiences.
“The best part about this project is the enthusiasm of the homeowners,” Jeff shares. “Contractors in the Bay Area are used to design-savvy clients, and this family went above and beyond. They were intimately involved in the design process and had a strong vision for their home, especially the bright colors. They even kept a weekly blog about the process.” (Read it here!)
A Central Kitchen with Breakfast Nook
We teamed up with Steve Swearengen (The Architect’s Office) to design this Bay Area remodel centered around a bright, open kitchen. Once a dimly lit room on the other side of the house, the kitchen—which includes a sunny breakfast nook and overlooks the backyard—is now the hub of the home.
“We are thrilled with the spaces we have created,” the homeowners told us. “The kitchen and breakfast nook are the epicenter of the house, we spend lots of family time there.”
Note: A microwave drawer is set below the countertop for convenient accessibility by both parents and kids.
Blue, Green & Yellow for a Colorful Kitchen
Fun features: A bright green glass-tile backsplash makes the whole room pop. Painted grey cabinetry and soapstone countertops are subtle counterparts to the kitchen’s more colorful elements. Double ovens allow the dad to cook up gourmet meals, one of his favorite pastimes.
In the words of the homeowners: “We felt that including a lot of color would create fun, cozy, distinct spaces within the open floor plan. Steve Swearengen was so thoughtful and inclusive and I became a little obsessed (poor Steve and Jeff!). In fact, I went through withdrawals when it was completed.”
Beadboard Ceiling Nods to Craftsmen Style
A nod to traditional craftsman homes: we added a beadboard ceiling and paneling in the kitchen to tie in the home’s history with the new contemporary look.
Engineered European oak floors bring a soft, natural backdrop to the entire house. Underneath, hydronic radiant floor heating provides comfortable, even heat that doesn’t hike up the energy bill. (Being contractors in the Bay Area, we’re no stranger to underfloor heat: get the 101 on radiant floor heating here.)
Double doors separate the kitchen and the home office, allowing the work-from-home mom to be as close to, or as far from, the action as needed.
The built-in entertainment bar and wine cooler make for easy dinner parties.
Bright Mudroom Colors
One of our favorite features of this home is the mudroom! Doubling as a laundry room, it’s the prime drop zone for shoes, bags, sports equipment and everything else that comes through the door. Canary yellow cabinets and a checkered black-and-white tile floor add a playful flare.
Caesarstone and Ceramic Tile Bathroom
Guest bathroom: The countertop is a durable Caesarstone; the floor, shower floor and shower wall are all classic ceramic tiles.
Indoor-Outdoor Dining Room
The dining room and living room are the only rooms in the house that did not change location with the new layout. The half wall was once a full wall, and the doorway between the two rooms was knocked out to open up the spaces while still keeping some definition between them. Aluminum-clad double doors in the dining room look out to the garden and open to the patio’s comfortable sitting and reading area.
Mosaic Pebble Shower Floor & Bench
Master bathroom: The shower floor and bench seat are mosaic pebble tiles that provide a unique texture and style, while his and her vanity with rectangular under-mount sinks provide plenty of space for the couple.
Blue Staircase with Oak Treads
The new second-story addition, home to the two kids’ bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a playroom, provided an architectural opportunity to make a statement with this winder staircase.
There’s meaning behind the homeowner’s color selection, too: “The colonial blue in the stairwell is a nod to my wife’s upbringing in Virginia,” the husband explains.
Jack & Jill Bathroom
Upstairs, the dual vanities and enclosed toilet room allow both kids to get ready at the same time.
“Upstairs is complete kid-land in the way we hoped,” the homeowners say of the second-story addition. “We feel like we will grow with this house.”
Outdoor Kitchen with Grill & Sink
We weren’t kidding when we said this family likes to cook! The new outdoor space is outfitted with a fully functioning outdoor kitchen, including a grill, sink and dining area. The trellis provides shade during hot summer days and heaters keep guests warm on cool nights. A nearby play area and garden provide entertainment and enjoyment for kids and parents alike.
Ipe Wrap-Around Deck & Solar PV Panels
The decking material is durable ipe wood and the handrails and trellis are cedar. The new windows and doors maximize the connection between the indoors and outdoors.
Working with happy clients is what we look forward to most as general contractors. Bay Area remodels such as this one gives us the opportunity to shine with progressive home-performance systems, family-centric layouts and indoor-outdoor design features.
“Developing trust with your architects, designers, contractors is vital,” the homeowners share. “The core team was part of our family for quite a while and we could really count on them to have our best interests in mind. This creates peace of mind in some stressful times. Buying the team some pizzas or grilling them burgers once in a while never hurts. They deserved it, they were building our family home.”