KITCHENS
Transform your kitchen with the expertise of our design + build specialists! As a full-service design + build firm, we provide a seamless experience with an integrated team managing every detail—from design concepts and specifications to drawings and permit acquisition.
With over 20 years of construction and project management experience, we handle projects of all sizes, from small kitchen upgrades to major renovations. As a certified green builder, we also prioritize sustainable practices. Trust us to bring your vision to life with results you’ll love!
Historic Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry
San Jose
Built in the 1920s by one of San Jose’s enduring architects, Frank Delos Wolfe, this 3-bedroom, 2-bath home is one of the approximately 40+ homes in San Jose built by Wolfe. He was known for the Spanish Revival style, introduced in Northern California from 1912 to 1922. Having just purchased the home, the new owners contacted with us to update the interior, making it more functional for a young family with three children and bringing the electrical up to code. It was important that the remodel honored the home’s history and period style.
We modified the existing long galley kitchen adjacent to the formal dining room. We also created a butler’s pantry to break up the length of the kitchen and add a historical element to the space. A basement staircase blocking access to the backyard was at the back of the kitchen. We removed the stairs and converted them to a trap door, creating a view of the backyard. This provided more natural light in the kitchen and the ability to watch the children playing outside. The washer and dryer were moved from the hallway closet to the kitchen, and a multi-functional countertop, which can serve as a small desk, laundry folding area, or food prep area, was added. We installed new oak flooring to match the existing floors and new appliances, including a French luxury La Cornue cooktop, granite countertops, and a white Carrara polished mosaic subway tile backsplash.
In other areas of the house. our design team assisted the owners with paint color selections and selecting new interior furnishings with modern performance qualities while matching the home’s historic ambiance. Lastly, we acquired a period piano for the living room, which was built the same year as the house, that another client generously donated to the homeowners.
This house is featured in Krista Van Laan’s recent book, Wolfe & Higgins: Master Architects of the Spanish Revival. It highlights many of Northern California’s most recognizable architectural landmarks, including some of San Jose’s most beautiful homes.
We design and build dream kitchens.
Curve appeal
Mountain View
NARI Meta Gold Award
The overall goal for this project was to remodel the existing galley kitchen and dining room within the footprint of a 1920s California bungalow. The homeowners’ goals were that the design harmonize with the original architecture and meet current functional needs. Before the remodel, the kitchen was separated from the adjacent family and dining rooms by walls on all four sides. The window over the sink provided a view of a fence and the neighbor’s roof, and little natural light entered the room.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room created an open feeling and a natural flow between the rooms. A breakfast bar was designed to replace the kitchen table, allowing for a more functional layout. We removed the window with the unattractive view and installed a corner sink below a bank of wrap-around windows that provide views of the professionally designed garden and patio. Additionally, a skylight was installed so the room receives natural light throughout the day.
The most striking change is the glamorous visual twist of installing the cabinetry in a curved configuration – creating a sense of movement and vibrancy. The floor-to-ceiling curve of cost-effective, modular ash cabinets was challenging to design and install; however, the results were worth the effort. A counter-depth French door refrigerator is camouflaged in the bank of cabinets, so the new view from the family room and dining room is now attractive. Built-in cabinetry typical of California bungalow architecture was installed in the dining room to add character and increase storage.
Our commitment to excellence in kitchen remodeling has earned us both industry recognition and glowing customer testimonials.
Traditional and Timeless
Mountain View
This outdated kitchen was transformed into a timeless, functional kitchen as part of a whole-house remodel. Prior to the remodel, the cooktop was located on the island, creating congestion when anyone was working at the sink. The double ovens and refrigerator were situated across from the end of the island, which was not functional for multiple cooks. The view of the prominent refrigerator from the living area was also not appealing.
The new floor plan addresses the prior functional issues to create a more inviting and open kitchen. The refrigerator, cooktop, and oven are now installed in a bank of cabinets, eliminating the congested areas and the direct view of appliances from adjacent rooms. Beautiful dark wood cabinetry, a cream-colored herringbone tile backsplash, and hardwood flooring are classic choices that will stand the test of time.
“John and Lynn Hammerschmidt were a real pleasure to work with on our interior remodeling project,
always polite and always keeping us informed. On top of that, the Hammerschmidt crew and
subcontractors were professional and thorough.“
— Craig and Edie Schamp
Modern Kitchen/Family Room
Palo Alto
This modern kitchen transformation included updating the family room and entry staircase. While the kitchen footprint remained the same, we reconfigured the layout to make the space more functional and aesthetically pleasing. Two narrow windows were removed to allow for a larger commercial stove and a subway tile backsplash wrapped around the room. A new window was added to another wall. Dated dark oak cabinets were replaced with crisp white cabinetry topped with Black Beauty granite countertops. Custom-painted white cabinetry was installed in the adjoining family room to create an entertainment center, a drop zone for items coming in and out of the house, and a new fireplace surround and mantel. The entry staircase was restored and modernized by painting the stringer and risers white.
“John, a big thank you to you, Chris, Eric, Earl, Isaac, Lynn & James, for the wonderful job you did for us.”
Eleanor Seath and Brian Saunders, Sunnyvale
Condominium Remodel
Transitional Kitchen
Los Altos
NARI Meta Gold Award
The overall objective of this remodel was to modernize the kitchen and to create a sense of spaciousness between the kitchen and adjacent rooms. A bank of upper cabinets that blocked the view between the rooms was removed, allowing for a countertop eating area. A wall of frameless, full-height, quarter-sawn red oak cabinets was installed to maximize storage along one wall. To keep the kitchen from becoming too dark, white cabinetry with frosted glass panels and a glass tile backsplash were installed in the rest of the kitchen.
Contemporary NeolithTM slab countertops with waterfall edges were installed throughout the kitchen. Comprised of natural clays, feldspar, silica, and mineral oxides, Neolith is durable and ultra-hygienic as it has near zero porosity. It is also heat and fade-resistant. The red oak floor was coated with a non-VOC European matte oil finish.
“It was a pleasure working with you. You came when you said you would, did what you said you would, and did a great job. What a novel idea!”
Kathy and Dave Mayfield, Sunnyvale
Kitchen and Family Room Remodel
Functional Glamour
Los Altos
NARI Meta Gold Award
This kitchen remodel was part of a whole house renovation. By opening walls and borrowing space from adjacent rooms, we transformed the kitchen from a dark, narrow, one-person space into a light-filled room where multiple people can use it simultaneously. The remodeled kitchen features a professional gas range and grill, a corner pantry, and a generous cherry wood island with a prep sink and a recessed compost bin. Installed in the attic, the range’s ventilation hood fan is quiet even on its highest setting. Painted shaker cabinetry, professional appliances, and a convenient mini office area with space for a desk, printer, and files make the room beautiful and functional. Tucked into the toe kick near the range is a convenient vent for the whole-house vacuum, making sweeping up messes a breeze.
Natural materials — white Princess granite countertops, a glass subway tile backsplash, silver travertine flooring, and crystal pendant lighting — add glamour and blend seamlessly with finishes in adjacent rooms.
