Location: Bethesda, MD, USA This total revamp turned out better than anticipated leaving the clients thrilled with the outcome. Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Interior Designer: Anna Cave Susie Soleimani Photography Blog: http://graciousinteriors.blogspot.com/2016/07/from-cellar-to-stellar-lower-level.html

Damian James Bramley, DJB Photography

Greg Riegler

Danny Passick

A small laundry room was reworked to provide space for a mudroom bench and additional storage

Dave Adams Photography

Peter A. Sellar / www.photoklik.com

Efficient Mountain home with excellent views designed by Fuentes Design www.danecroninphotography.com

Dennis Mayer Photography

Vertical mosaic tile emulates a waterfall is a playful way to add some style. The laundry room sits behind the bathroom and is connected via pocket door to hide as needed. (Seth Benn Photography)

Located in the one of the most sought after streets in Gold Coast this holiday home conveys a nautical feel and boasts spectacular views of the Gold Coast hinterland. The clients have always had a strong desire to create a holiday home that encouraged a sense of relaxed living where by the days would be gentle and slow. After residing in the US for several years the clients became admirers of homes in the New England region and in particular the Hamptons. They loved the American take on modern English country, and of equal appeal was the classic Hampton beach lifestyle of carefree summers spent sailing, swimming, boating and fishing. When deciding to renovate their family beach house on the gold coast they knew they wanted to recreate that same effortless elegance and style they were drawn to in the Hamptons and combine it with the relaxed familiarity of Australian living. In their words they wanted to create a home that was “luxurious but never too perfect”. Central to the brief was also the need to satisfy their enthusiastic and demanding gourmands. Not only do they enjoy everything about cooking but also love entertaining especially during the holiday seasons with Christmas and Thanksgiving (an American tradition they quickly became accustomed to) being their favourite times to celebrate. Whether it’s a casual meal with family and friends or a more formal gathering, the kitchen had to function and withstand a great deal of activity. Our challenge was to bring to fruition the clients very definite vision for their home and this thereby presenting us with an ambitious design and renovation project encompassing a large portion of the home. With the kitchen such being such a focal point in the house our task was to orchestrate a space that would be elegant yet comfortable and that required the successful marriage of the design elements for their desired style of interior. Transforming the space. Small, cramped and unbalanced the original kitchen was positioned on a platform - along with the dinning and master bedroom. The original galley kitchen consisted of a full wall of tall cabinetry which boxed in what was already a narrow kitchen. To pave the way for a larger and more spacious design sought after by the clients the southern end of the existing platform was extended in length, walls adjoining the hallway were modified and the opening in the opposing wall closed off. The original laundry on the lower platform which backed onto the kitchen via a hallway was completely redesigned to make way for a new butlers pantry and as requested by the client to house the large Eline Electrolux fridges (required for entertaining). On the lower platform the original opening to the old laundry (no longer required) was also closed off and a new cavity slider entry was cut into the pantry from the kitchen to provide easy and functional access. A new landing was built to bring the storage area of the pantry up to the same level as the kitchen. A “pass through” was created to connect the pantry to the kitchen and dining room, providing easy and functional access to the utility room. The exposed rafters and existing ceiling in both the new kitchen and pantry areas were sheeted in to allow for a new and more effective and functional lighting layout. The conversion of the laundry to allow for a separate pantry and to house the new large fridges (a specific request from the client) was a key aspect to the design as this allowed us to maximise the feeling of space and include large open bench space either side of what was already a narrow galley kitchen. Here the Calacutta marble benchtops selected for their character look lavish and add clean lines to the design. In keeping with the desire to create a sense of calm, elements of balance and symmetry were incorporated into the design and on the cooking (western) wall a large induction cooktop and custom made rangehood cladded in Queensland Cedar veneer was centred and is a key architectural element. The protruded moulding ‘shaker door’ cabinetry further enhance the rooms character and glass front overhead cabinets amplify light and bring the coastal aesthetics into play. All overhead doors are fitted with Blum HF Aventos Servo Drive to ensure functional and ergonomic use in this narrow space. To store the households extensive collection of kitchen utensils, large platters and crockery, generous storage by way of drawers was incorporated in to the kitchen. With the large fridges placed in the pantry as per the clients request, an under bench integrated fridge was positioned in the main kitchen to allow for the storage of everyday necessities. On the opposing (eastern) wall the white ceramic butlers sink is another focal point for the Hampton style kitchen and the ‘Provence’ tap balances with the scale of the kitchen and complements the overall design. A convenient custom made ‘built in’ butchers block was a must have for the client and provides the ideal prep area. The mixed Australian hardwood complements the other natural timber elements including the new Tasmanian oak solid timber flooring and provides textural balance in this timeless interior. Below the butchers block, two Queensland Cedar solid timber trays boast the family emblem and Initials to mark the kitchens exclusivity and further personalises the kitchen. Interest and texture. The earth and sea colour scheme is in keeping with the neutral pallet and softness in the rest of the home and mimic the hues from both the seaside and the views beyond. Careful attention was given to the layering of these earthy shades, tones and textures to ensure the space had unity and depth – a necessary consideration for such a neutral pallet. An example of this is the marbled tiled splashback. Two variations of the tiles (honed and antique brushed) were sourced and cut to size and randomly placed in a brickwork pattern to create visual interest and be less predictable at eye level. The end result. The resulting kitchen is certainly one of the most show stopping features of the home with its bespoke fit out entirely geared to delivering a functional workspace dedicated to the sheer enjoyment of entertaining and cooking. The effortlessly stylish design and timeless finish transcends to fit this Australian home and the relaxed vibe this family was so eager to create for their holiday beach house.

The Gambrel Roof Home is a dutch colonial design with inspiration from the East Coast. Designed from the ground up by our team - working closely with architect and builder, we created a classic American home with fantastic street appeal

Playful Bubblicious tile acts as a backsplash in this simple, spacious laundry room. Photo: Matt Edington