Stylish & Timeless
Palo Alto, CA
This interior project included 3 main areas; remodel the kichen, establish the family room as part of a great room and enhance the entry staircase. The kitchen was transformed by replacing dark dated oak cabinets with crisp white cabinets and adding black beauty granite for high contrast.
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Character and functionality was incorporated into the family room by creating a custom entertainment center and drop zone for the family’s personal items. The front entry staircase was dramatically enhanced by restoring the stairs and painting the stringer and risers from dark brown to white.
Classic Traditional Charm
Mountain View, CA
As part of a whole house remodel this outdated kitchen was transformed into a mixture of traditional charm and contemporary chic. Prior to the remodel, the cook top was located on the island, creating congestion when anyone was working at the sink.
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It also took up valuable countertop space. The double ovens and refrigerator was located at the end of the island which also created a bit of a traffic jam and having to view the large refrigerator from the living area was not the most appealing. After the remodel, the refrigerator and oven now place on the side wall, are now more accessible and the Wolf cook top and beautiful herringbone tiled backsplash creates a strong focal point.
A Kitchen for Entertaining
Mountain View, CA
Part of a whole house remodel, this chef’s kitchen was designed for entertaining. Adjacent to the family room and the dining room, it features a dedicated work triangle for the cook unimpeded by kitchen traffic.
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Family and guests can socialize at the island or the expanding table, which seats three when closed and up to eight when open. The homeowners chose elegant natural materials and finishes –custom red birch cabinetry, leather-finish black Cambrian granite and Pisces Green polished granite countertops, and Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors. Professional-quality appliances include a gas stove, convection oven, French door refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, prep sink, and beverage refrigerator. Organized for efficiency, the custom cabinetry houses a coffee bar, separate recycling, and trash bins, a pull-out spice rack, and warming drawer. The corner walk-in pantry keeps essentials close at hand, while a separate bulk pantry located near the garage holds oversize items.
Historic Kitchen & Butlers Pantry
Naglee Park San Jose, CA
Built in the 1920’s 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 which they introduced to Northern, CA from 1912 to 1922.
Having just purchased the home, the new owners contacted Hammerschmidt Construction to remodel the kitchen with two main objectives in mind 1) Update the home’s interior and bring the electrical up to code all while keeping the history, style and feel of the original beautiful Naglee Park home 2) make the home a little more functional for a young family with three small children.
We focused on the downstairs kitchen area which was elongated without a clear view to the backyard and burdened with décor from the 80’s. While no square footage was added, we modified the existing space slightly to meet their objectives. 1) With a long galley kitchen and a very large separate formal dining room adjacent to the kitchen, we were able to re-introduce the idea of the butler’s pantry, conveying a historic element to the space 2) At the back of the kitchen, was a staircase to the basement which blocked access to the backyard. Therefore, we removed the staircase and converted it to a trap door and by doing so created a view through to the backyard. This provided more natural light into the kitchen and the ability to watch the children playing outside. 3) The washer and dryer were located behind the kitchen in the hallway closet. These were removed from the hallway and placed in the kitchen, which allowed for more storage space in the hallway closet, closer to the master bedroom. With the laundry function in the kitchen, parenting chores were in reach and convenient for all. Next to the washer/dryer closet is a countertop which is multi- functional as a small desk, laundry folding area or food prep if needed. 4) Updates to the kitchen/pantry included new oak wood flooring throughout to match existing hardwood floors, new appliances including a French luxury La Cornue cooktop and granite countertops. The backsplash is white Carrara polished mosaic subway tiles.
Although we did not remodel the living room of this home, our interior designer, Suzette O’Farrell, assisted the owners with paint color selections and helped to bring the interior furnishings up to date while keeping the historic feel with the rest of the home. Lastly, a happy ending to the project was that we were instrumental in acquiring a period piano for the living room that was built the same year as the house and it was graciously donated to them by another client of ours.
This house is also featured in Krista Van Laan’s most recent book “Wolfe & Higgins: Master Architects of the Spanish Revival”. You will find among these are some of the most recognizable architectural landmarks in Northern California and some of the most beautiful houses in San Jose. Full color with nearly 400 external and internal photographs.
Functional Glamour
Los Altos, CA
This kitchen remodel was part of a whole house renovation in Los Altos. By borrowing space from adjacent rooms, we transformed the kitchen from a narrow, one-person space to one where multiple people can be using the room at the same time. . A large island, state of the art appliances, and convenient desk and file area make the room beautiful as well as functional.
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Natural materials – white princess granite, silver travertine flooring, glass subway tile backsplash, and crystal pendant lighting add the right touch of glamour and blend seamlessly with finishes in adjacent rooms.
The remodeled kitchen features a 6-burner professional gas range and grill, a generous island with prep sink, a recessed compost bin, and a corner pantry. Tucked under the toe kick near the range is a convenient vent for the whole-house vacuum, making sweeping up messes a breeze. Installed in the attic, the fan for the ventilation hood over the range is quiet even on its highest setting.
The entire remodel included adding 200 sq. ft. to the front of the home for an entry foyer, laundry room and full-size bathroom. Interior walls were removed and/or opened and ceiling height raised to make the whole house look and feel larger than it is and to create a multi-use Great room used for entertainment and dining.
Transitional Kitchen
Los Altos, CA
The overall objective in this remodel was to update the look and feel of the kitchen, which had the old oak yellowish cabinets, to a more modern one. To achieve a more open feel, the upper cabinets were removed and instead a wall of linear cabinets, ceiling height, offered the storage needed.
The cabinets are frameless quarter sawn red oak, and were stained to give them their unique color and finish. To keep it from being overbearing, they chose to have the cabinets white on one side of the kitchen near the sink. The lower panels of the cabinets have frosted glass and combined with the beige glass tile backsplash below the white cabinets, keeps that wall light.
The slab countertop is a man-made product called Neolith. Neolith is the largest high-tech porcelain slab ever produced and composed of 100% natural product: natural clays, feldspar, silica and mineral oxides. The natural pigments responsible for the wide range of colors will not fade with time or exposure to the elements. A nice touch was having the countertop drop down to the floor with a waterfall edge creating a more contemporary feel. The flooring is also red oak, with an application of European oil with no VOC, was applied to the flooring to give it a beautiful modern matte finish.
California Craftsman Kitchen / Dining Room
Mountain View, CA
The overall goal for this project was to remodel the existing galley kitchen and dining room within the footprint of a 1920’s California bungalow.
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It was important to the homeowners that the design harmonize with the original architecture and at the same time meet current functional needs.
Prior to the remodel, the kitchen was separated from the adjacent family and dining rooms by walls on all four sides. Windows provided a view of the side fence and the neighbor’s roof and little natural light entered the space. A kitchen table sat on one side of the room with all cabinetry and appliances on the other.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room created a more open feeling and a natural flow between the rooms. A breakfast bar was created to replace the kitchen table, allowing for a much more functional and spacious layout. The corner sink is positioned below a bank of wrap-around windows that provide views of the professionally-designed garden and patio. Additionally, a skylight was installed and now the room receives natural light throughout the day.
By far, the most striking change is the glamorous visual twist of constructing a soffit and installing a wall of cabinetry in a curved configuration to create a sense of movement and vibrancy in the space. The floor-to-ceiling curve of cost-effective, modular ash cabinets was challenging to design and install; however the results were worth the effort. Camouflaged in the bank of cabinets is a counter-depth French door refrigerator, so the view from both the family room and dining room is now attractive, And, built-ins, typical of California bungalow architecture were added in the dining room to add character and increase functionality.
Traditional Kitchen
Los Altos Hills, CA
This 1950’s kitchen was remodeled as part of a whole house renovation. The existing U-shaped kitchen layout was kept the same, however with upgrades and new finishes, the end result was dramatic.
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The homeowners wanted to keep the gold color of the floor exactly the same, but their warn linoleum was replaced with Giallo Travertine, a gold natural stone. The former oak cabinets were replaced with rich cherry wood with a pecan finish. The new kitchen window was pushed out towards the exterior which provided depth and a deeper sill for plants. It was also framed to match the other doors and windows throughout the home. Keeping with owners wishes for simplicity, the diamond slate backsplash was installed behind the cooktop.
Contemporary Kitchen
and Laundry Room
San Jose, CA
The overall goal of this project was to update the kitchen and adjoining laundry room within the home’s existing footprint to give the home a larger feel without adding square footage. To accomplish this, a section of the wall between the kitchen and the dining area was removed to improve flow between the areas.
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The owner wanted the look of the kitchen to be clean and clutter free and therefore two appliance garages were placed near the bay window. A section of the wall between the kitchen and laundry room was also removed to allow for a swinging door to be installed for easier access. Granite countertops, maple cabinets and oak flooring were installed to complete this lovely ranch home.
Living Large In A Compact Kitchen
La Honda, CA
With a small kitchen, it’s imperative that it be well-designed for optimal flow and function. Formerly a tiny 5’ x 7’ room in a mountain cabin, the new 8’ x 7’ galley kitchen feels and functions like a much bigger one.
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Vaulted ceilings and clerestory windows provide light and a sense of spaciousness. Energy-efficient appliances were selected for both performance and style. Of note, the sleek, black, G.E. induction cooktop merges seamlessly with the countertop and the slender, extra-tall, Liebherr refrigerator allows for a full height pantry to be tucked in the corner that would not have been possible with a traditional refrigerator. Keeping the finishes simple and in a natural color palette: maple shaker cabinetry, stainless steel backsplashes, UbaTuba granite countertops, and a matte black slate floor, all contribute to the kitchen’s casually-elegant appeal.
Traditional Kitchen
Los Altos, CA
This Los Altos ranch kitchen was transformed from a dated European style kitchen into the desired feel of a traditional kitchen. The previous white Melamine modular cabinets were replaced with custom wood cabinets with a custom finish.
Ordinary white Corian countertops were replaced with a rich natural grey/green granite with lots of movement. A decorative backsplash with a spice shelf is outlined with a custom matching granite tile trim adding personality to the kitchen. The cabinets have patterned glass on the upper doors to break up the raised panel doors and makes the cabinets have a lighter feel to the space.
California Bungalow Kitchen and Laundry
Mountain View, CA
A 1940’s California Bungalow kitchen and laundry room were remodeled within the home’s existing footprint to improve their functionality and aesthetics.
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Removing the wall between the kitchen and laundry room not only opened the space visually and improved the flow between the areas, but it allowed for the creation of a new prep and storage area and the conversion of the half bath to a pantry.
The homeowners loved the rustic, hand-crafted cabinets featured in NAPA STYLE stores. After many attempts, we were able to find the aged oak wood, originally tobacco-barn siding, at a company in the Midwest. We designed the cabinetry and built them on site. Their rustic feel is juxtaposed to the smooth, honed, concrete countertops and the shimmer of the mosaic marble backsplash. Tumbled travertine floors provide a calming neutral background.