Eldorado

When this project started in May 2019, I was a close friend of the owners of this 1962 classic Mid-Century Modern home. After twelve months of displaced furniture, daily interaction, periodic interior dust storms, and countless proxy decisions, I'm happy to say that we are still close friends. The scope of the project began with a complete kitchen remodel. Over time it expanded to include the adjacent family room, office, and wet bar. Thereafter we attacked the mudroom, living room, a hallway, and a bath. And then we moved to the lower level to update a media room, two bedrooms and a bath.

Kitchen Before This photo shows the kitchen a few hours after demolition started. Note to self: Always get plenty of pictures before the work begins.	Structural Changes Above One of the goals of the new design was to bring more natural light into the kitchen. This was achieved by adding three skylights above the island and a nine-foot wide fixed window above the sink.	Brightness on the Edge of Town No seasonal affective disorder here.
Kitchen & Family Room Looking across the kitchen island into the family room you can see the reconfigured concrete and walnut fireplace in the distance. Walnut was used throughout the house as a warm, organic accent. The new floors are white oak in a natural finish. The walls and countertops are shades of white and gray.	Kitchen Island Here we're looking across the island toward the refrigerator wall and the adjacent home office. Opening the wall between the kitchen and office which was beautifully outfitted with custom cherry built-ins, has made the office much more accessible and useful for the owners.	Living Room The new focal point of the living room is the redesigned fireplace. Clad in pre-cast, polished concrete panels, the fireplace features cubbies for firewood and sculptures. The cabinets on the left were reconfigured to display artwork and refinished in a graphite color pattern.
Wet Bar Situated between the kitchen and living room in the entry hall is the entertainment hub of the house, the wet bar. Concealed behind twin 34" doors that slide into pockets at the edge of the countertop, the bar displays an impressive array of glassware and liquor.	Bathroom Before Positioned near the front hallway was a rarely used, rather ordinary bath. The homeowners desired to upgrade the bath into a spa-worthy bath. A major part of the plan was to replace the small paired casement window with a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window.	Bath After The completed bathroom features a stainless steel soaking tub in front of a massive window. The window can instantly change from clear to frosted with the flip of a switch making the room completely private.
Stair Rail Before The original stair rail had a vertical orientation reminiscent of a cage. Of greater concern, the rail was several inches shorter than current building codes. So it was time to replace the railing.	Stair Rail After The new railing features a horizontal aesthetic. The bars are powder coated, 1/4" plate steel. The cap is walnut.	Stair Rail Down The steel and walnut continue down the stairs to the lower level media room and bedrooms.
New Entrance Repeating the horizontal theme of the new stair rail, we installed new doors in the front entry.	Decorative Art Glass A dark hallway begged for natural light. The solution? A line of four interior windows high on the wall. Each window has a series of prismatic glass - some clear, some colored - that cast spectral patterns across the hallway.

Eldorado

Kitchen Before

This photo shows the kitchen a few hours after demolition started. Note to self: Always get plenty of pictures before the work begins.

Structural Changes Above

One of the goals of the new design was to bring more natural light into the kitchen. This was achieved by adding three skylights above the island and a nine-foot wide fixed window above the sink.

Brightness on the Edge of Town

No seasonal affective disorder here.

Kitchen & Family Room

Kitchen Island

Here we're looking across the island toward the refrigerator wall and the adjacent home office. Opening the wall between the kitchen and office which was beautifully outfitted with custom cherry built-ins, has made the office much more accessible and useful for the owners.

Living Room

The new focal point of the living room is the redesigned fireplace. Clad in pre-cast, polished concrete panels, the fireplace features cubbies for firewood and sculptures. The cabinets on the left were reconfigured to display artwork and refinished in a graphite color pattern.

Wet Bar

Situated between the kitchen and living room in the entry hall is the entertainment hub of the house, the wet bar. Concealed behind twin 34" doors that slide into pockets at the edge of the countertop, the bar displays an impressive array of glassware and liquor.

Bathroom Before

Positioned near the front hallway was a rarely used, rather ordinary bath. The homeowners desired to upgrade the bath into a spa-worthy bath. A major part of the plan was to replace the small paired casement window with a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window.

Bath After

The completed bathroom features a stainless steel soaking tub in front of a massive window. The window can instantly change from clear to frosted with the flip of a switch making the room completely private.

Stair Rail Before

The original stair rail had a vertical orientation reminiscent of a cage. Of greater concern, the rail was several inches shorter than current building codes. So it was time to replace the railing.

Stair Rail After

The new railing features a horizontal aesthetic. The bars are powder coated, 1/4" plate steel. The cap is walnut.

Stair Rail Down

The steel and walnut continue down the stairs to the lower level media room and bedrooms.

New Entrance

Repeating the horizontal theme of the new stair rail, we installed new doors in the front entry.

Decorative Art Glass

A dark hallway begged for natural light. The solution? A line of four interior windows high on the wall. Each window has a series of prismatic glass - some clear, some colored - that cast spectral patterns across the hallway.