Altera Design & Remodeling, Inc.

Jun 2014

A Kitchen’s Fairy Tale Story… Once upon a time our homeowner felt like she was the kitchen wench. Her kitchen was small, cramped and completely closed off from the rest of the house. When she entertained everybody would be enjoying themselves in another part of the house and she would end up alone in the kitchen. By expanding the kitchen into the breakfast area, removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and enlarging the opening between the dining room and living room we actually created a whole new entertaining space. We made a closed off kitchen, dining room and rarely used living room the new main social area of the house. Though her original kitchen had white cabinets, they did not fit her more contemporary style. She loves the color red and wanted a kitchen that would make her red accessories pop. Using white, grays and silver allowed for a clean bright foundation. The tile backsplash is a glass and metal mosaic installed with an uneven edge. The white subway tiles where laid vertically is a modern twist on the traditional lay, and the tiles next to the mosaic where individually cut to match the uneven edge of the mosaic. This gave a very geometric pattern some life by adding some movement in the lines. The glass and metal sparkle under the new LED lighting. Almost all of the storage in her original kitchen was either hard to access or inefficient. Now she has two corner lazy susan cabinets as well as roll out trays in every base cabinet, extra-large drawers, and a specific cabinet with tray dividers next to the oven and a waste/recycling cabinet next to the sink. The wall cabinets on either side of the microwave and television are 15” deep for extra storage and so the 18” deep microwave cabinets is a more cohesive accent.

Lafayette, CA

Jun 2014

The client was interested in transforming their outdated Lake Tahoe kitchen into a look that would blend with the rustic mountain environment while keeping a contemporary vibe. This is their second home and a gathering place for their large family. The client enjoys cooking for the family and it was important to have a kitchen that functioned well. Through a variety of textures and materials we wanted to keep everything interesting while maintaining the focus on function. Design Features and Solutions • The client fell in love with this home because of a dry stacked granite rock wall that was used as a back drop to the ceramic wood burning stove in the center of the living space. They loved its’ rustic feel but it did not connect in any way to the existing space. They were hoping to find a way to blend the wall into the space. We decided to feature a similar granite rock wall and incorporated the rustic lines from the dry stacked shape onto the back wall. • We chose the Blackened Steel, Oil Rubbed Bronze combination for the hood to achieve a weighted look that would balance with the rock wall. Together they complement each other. • We decided on the quilted brushed stainless backsplash behind the range to create a functional low maintenance surface that creates a clean look to a rustic wall. • The next challenge was to incorporate the contemporary look the client wanted to achieve. We decided on a slab door for the cabinets and contemporary pulls The colors of the cabinets give an interesting contrast to the rustic rock. • The client was interested in tying in reclaimed barnwood to the project. We incorporated it on the family room wall as well as the back of the island. We chose a horizontal pattern with clean lines for the blend of rustic and contemporary. • The “cemento” colored quartz countertop with a 3” mitered edge gave a solid rustic look with contemporary lines. The thicker edge detail balances the granite rock. It also functions well making a higher countertop for a tall family. The durable quartz countertop functions for this large family making clean up easier. • The cabinets have customized pull outs that can be used for all the items the client uses. For example the narrow cabinet along the rock functions as a pull out for spices.

Truckee, CA

Oct 2013

A bright and airy kitchen for casual entertaining. These empty nesters have lived in their home for more than 25 years. They raised their two boys and have hosted many family and friend gatherings in the house. These homeowners enjoy entertaining, this is a home filled with personality. The kitchen left them feeling cutoff from the rest of the family room when they entertained, it was small, dark, and rather cramped. What they wanted was a space filled with light, more storage, and like it was a part of the family room. They wanted a really “great room”. Design objectives and features. • Opened up the kitchen by eliminating the peninsula wall, and create a much larger Island, allowing for greater storage, counter space, and a more accessible working space. Turning the new island 90 Degrees opened up the space creating the sought after great room. • Details include a column on the island that houses all electrical to the space. Changing the door on the walk-in pantry, from a swinging hinged door, to a barn style door, opened up the walkway behind the island. • A soft curve on the island counter allows for additional seating. • Additions of solatubes and LED lights has made the space brighter, giving a more open feeling. • A custom blend of colors on the glass mosaic backsplash now captures the colors of the existing granite surround on the fireplace. • Re-locating the gas range to the back wall of the kitchen has given the space a nice focal point, and greater expanses of countertops on either side. • The barn door became a feature point when an artist turned the door into a piece of moving art.

Danville, CA

Sep 2013

A Peaceful Kitchen Built for Two with Room to Grow. The kitchen was closed off, didn’t have enough storage and the breakfast area was underutilized and unattractive from the main living areas of the house. The client wanted an island for additional prep and a place for one to sit while the other was cooking. They also requested designated areas for filing and books, wine serving and storage and a place for their coffee maker that requires filling at the top. The kitchen was too narrow to wrap cabinets on three walls and an island. By reducing the cabinet depth on one side of the room designating it for staging and storage. We were able to create an island that both clients wanted. Lowered base cabinets on either side of the window seat keeps the seating area from feeling to closed in and allows for a good space for the coffee maker with extra space above for filling and an area designated for office type functions (filing, message center, phone and cook book storage). The wine bar was placed across from the office area to help balance the room. Designing a window seat where the owners could take advantage of the view of their backyard while enjoying their coffee or wine and is an appealing site from the entry. Also allowed for the possibility of extra seating at a table if they chose to add one in the future, creating a full breakfast area. Objectives: • Open up space. • Add an island where spouse can keep the cook company but out of his way. • Additional function to the breakfast area. • Add wine bar. • Needed a place for filing, phone and cookbooks. Design Challenges: • Long narrow space. • Large opening to living area and view from front door. • Find a place for client’s special coffee maker. Design Solutions: • Reduced depth of pantry and base cabinets on one wall to provide space for an island. • Created window bench as attractive view from front door. • Added bump outs, valances and clipped corners to break up length of space. Special Features: • Lowered counter for coffee maker allows for easy filling at the top, balanced by desk height office type storage. • Wine bar complete with wine fridge and everything needed to store and serve wine. • Natural finished cherry cabinets and multi colored random lay ceramic backsplash adds texture and interest without overpowering the space.

Walnut Creek, CA

Jun 2013

An Italian Inspired Bathroom Retreat As busy owners of a successful business, the clients placed a high value on relaxing and travel. Unfortunately, their home’s master bath caused more stress than it relieved. Using inspiration from their favorite travel destination in Italy, the bathroom was redesigned to bring together two of their favorite things. The bath had been part of a 1970’s addition, and was both aesthetically and structurally challenged. The narrow and dark room had odd angles and no privacy, as well as significant plumbing and ventilation issues. The cabinets, lighting, and tub were all improvised, resulting in a mish-mash of colors, styles and finishes. The carpeted floor, lack of storage and lack of a door between the bath and bedroom made the space challenging each and every day. The Doge Palace in Venice, Italy was the inspiration for the Italian Renaissance-styled retreat. The room’s complex tile patterns, distinctive color scheme – punctuated by the generous use of black highlights – and Italian wall coverings that mimic Venetian plaster – are clear examples of how this theme was translated.

Orinda, CA

Jun 2013

Modern Warm Kitchen

Walnut Creek, CA

May 2013

A Zen-Inspired Kitchen for a Better Life The clients knew their original kitchen lacked inspiration and cohesion, and felt it was a roadblock both physically and energetically for them. They asked for a Zen-inspired kitchen that would help improve their state of being. Their kitchen did not flow with the rest of the house, and felt like a separate space penned in by family clutter. At one end of the kitchen, the clutter-attracting peninsula plus the hanging upper cabinets created a very closed-in feeling. At the other end, laundry frequently spilled over from the washer and dryer, creating both an eyesore and a physical roadblock to the staircase leading to the bonus room in the basement.

Lafayette, CA

Apr 2013

A Modern-City Bathroom for the Suburbs When a young couple relocated from San Francisco to their new suburban home, they dreamed of a new sleek master bath that reminded them of their previous bathroom in the city. They sought a sanctuary in their new home that would take advantage of all the space they now had. The master bathroom had great physical attributes, but the layout and design didn???t take advantage of them. Despite the vaulted high ceilings and generous overall size, the low decorative header that ran down the spine of the room made the spaces feel compartmentalized and claustrophobic. The extra-long vanity that extended nearly the whole length of the room added to the linear, boxed-in feeling.

Danville, CA

Jan 2013

A Contemporary Spanish-styled Bathroom The dreary and dated powder bath in this gracious Hacienda-style home also serves as the guest bathroom for overnight company. The client was eager to create a bathroom that was of equal scale and quality to the rest of their beautifully renovated house. The original space was dark, outdated and compartmented. It had three doors and a confusing floor plan, a tub but no shower, and it looked at the neighbor’s unsightly fence and unkempt yard. The client wanted to add a contemporary twist to the bathroom while maintaining the warmth of their Spanish-styled home. The clients wanted to revamp the look and layout as much as possible while saving the original tile floor that runs throughout the house – a very unique and difficult design constraint.

Martinez, CA