This 1909 home with a 60’s DIY renovation was inching away from livable. The lower had been converted to living space illegally, and the original details of the home had been damaged and forgotten. The house was raised about two and a half feet to create a legal (and comfortable) head height, and a flexible guest suite/AirbNb space was created. Our homeowner tackled this project head-on and was hyper-focused on every detail. She even chose a slightly smaller refrigerator to match the scale of the home.

With tall ceilings and tons of light, the existing space for their kitchen in this Alameda Victorian was already just the right size. However, the old cabinets were dysfunctional for their family and they knew it needed an update. We chose to accentuate the high ceilings by adding a row of small cabinets above the upper wall cabinets. We also kept the original built-in hutch and had the hardware replaced to make it fully functional again. We used inset doors and drawers with mechanical latches to give the cabinets a feeling of authenticity. For a personal touch, our homeowners found an antique furniture piece that they transformed into their island. Drafting Cafe provided the cabinets for this kitchen.

This charming Spanish Colonial home had many original details that directed the aesthetic of this kitchen. The kitchen was not much more than a hallway, with a laundry room at the rear. We felt it was important to provide our homeowners with better access and view of their rear yard, so we took down the wall between kitchen and laundry. We also removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen, and added a decorative beam to match the existing beams throughout the home. With new cabinets and appliances to complete the remodel, the most was made of a small space. Drafting Cafe provided the cabinets for this kitchen.

Being a typical flat in San Francisco, the kitchen was utilitarian and separated from other spaces in the home. Fortunately, it was at the rear of the home next to a living room, with views over the Mission District. We set to work removing the wall between the kitchen and the living area, creating a great room space for the family to come together. Instead of a fixed kitchen island, we proposed a unique detail for the smaller great room – a custom-made picnic bench for meals and prep. The table is more flexible than an island, allowing them to push the benches underneath and around the space, depending on their needs for the space. Drafting Cafe provided the cabinets for this kitchen.

After settling their family into this untouched mid-century gem in Piedmont, they set to work making it a “livable modern”. We were called in to sort out the kitchen. The space was large but included unused space for a kitchen table right next to the dining room. We removed the peninsula and added an extensive island that filled into this eat-in area. Half the island is custom grain-matched walnut drawers, and the other half is open below for 5 counter-height stools. The family now eats every meal around the kitchen island. Drafting Cafe provided the cabinets for this kitchen.

Our homeowners had remodeled the interior of their home several years before and had transformed their ranch home into a beautiful space for their family. The exterior no longer matched what the feeling and aesthetic of the interior, so we were called in to make improvements. Our initial goal was to break up the horizontal gutter line on the hip roof and add verticality with new gable ends. We also wanted to emphasize the front door by adding a covered entry portico. The homeowners spent hour on the road tracking down reclaimed brick with the perfect patina for the water table and paving.

Our Principal Architect and Founder, Ethan Andersen, was hired by HGTV to work closely with TV personality John Gidding on designs for the show Curb Appeal. This home was selected in Oakland’s Dimond District for a $20,000 facelift. Taking a cue from the subtle structure of the existing red-bud tree in the front yard, Ethan chose to add tudor-style half-timbering and a rustic patio cover. The wood framing of the patio cover was treated with a baking soda solution to accelerate the aging process. Artisan leaded glass panels were added on either side of a new front door.

Situated on a slightly sloped corner lot, this front-and-center rancher was ready for a facelift. The bones spoke of an unrealized ambition to become a prairie-style craftsman, with several unique level changes and rooflines that reflected the slope of the hillside. We introduced a water table as a continuous horizontal band to visually ground the busy facade. Beams, windows, and doors were cased in stained hardwood on the interior while several fireplaces keep rooms cozy and warm.

After working hard on the peninsula for many years, our homeowners wanted to play in Santa Cruz in their retirement. They lucked out when they found a property just blocks from the cliffs in Santa Cruz. It had been severely neglected over the years, so they knew it would be a complete renovation. They requested a second story addition to capture a view of the ocean, and clean, open living space connected to the outdoors. Today, they can be found drinking coffee on one of their patios or just returning from a walk to the lighthouse.

Many older ranch homes in the Bay Area don’t include a functional master suite. Our homeowner in Walnut Creek decided it was time to fix their rancher by adding a master suite off the back. We maintained views and access to the yard by extending only the back of the garage to create an L-shaped addition. The L created more space than needed for the master, so we were able to create several great bonus spaces – an eat-in area next to the kitchen; a laundry room; and a mud room/drop-zone off the garage to keep the clutter out of the house.