The owners of this typical tract home in a quiet Pleasant Hill neighborhood had purchased the home recently and dreamed of transforming the communal living areas.   Ideas included opening the ceilings to the roof line and connecting the separate kitchen, living, and dining rooms.  Also needed was a connection from the living areas to the beautiful backyard.  The exterior of the home needed a refresh, and the poorly designed low porch felt cramped and clumsy.

Together with our creative structural engineer, we were able create a “Big Room” under an open ceiling and preserve the roof structure. New posts and beams support the existing roof structure and the exposed beams and wood paneling enhanced by recessed down lighting throughout add interest.

With a new “state of the art” kitchen, the large island and prep sink serves both as a prep area and bar counter.  Refrigerator, pantries, and wall ovens bracket the cabinetry finished in both natural wood above and semi-transparent stain.  The induction cooktop stove and sustainably sourced hardwood floors are both environmentally responsible and attractive.  To welcome the morning sun into the adjacent breakfast area, a bay window and built-in window seat invite informal dining. A three-sided fireplace replaces an existing conventional one and acts as a pivot connecting all three spaces.  The fire box is kept low to provide visual connection.

A large folding patio door and slider replace the old existing windows and provide ample indoor/ outdoor connection to the backyard deck and BBQ areas.

Freshening up the exterior are new windows throughout the home, removal of the front brick veneer and clunky trim details. A larger porch roof ties into the existing hipped roof providing additional height at the entry.  The new updated front door welcomes visitors and adds to the inviting approach.