Featured in Architectural Digest 2018 January Issue

What an honor to be Featured in Architectural Digest ! 

Thank you Viking for naming me Viking's Kitchen Designer of the Year.  I'm so honored.

Before and After Kitchen Renovation

Wow !  I didn't realize I haven't done a blog post for over a year ! Guess we've been pretty busy with design projects.  Will try and post more often.  Personally I LOVE before and afters  - and so I wanted to share this recent renovation we did which has a good transformation .

BEFORE

Most of our renovations are complete demo's .  We love working with a clean slate !

Now this Kitchen is Open and bright .   Accents of brass is classic , not a fad or trend.  Many clients are afraid to do it ... thinking it's just a trend .  But it stays timeless when mixed with other metals.
White Kitchens are always great especially when you introduce a contrast color for the island . 

Don't forget the 5th wall ... the Ceiling !   We added molding to the ceiling to give it some architectural detailing .   Speaking of architectural detailing... we also arched some doorways and raised the ceiling .    Kitchens design is not just pretty materials and nice appliances , it begins with a good space plan , finding clever ways to borrow space from other rooms and make it all functional .  The aesthetic is always in the back of my mind , but I truly believe form follows function.

Light and Airy Kitchen Reno

I LOVE a good Kitchen Reno. 

AFTER

I LOVE a good Kitchen Reno.  Especially when you are dealing with a VERY old layout!  In today's day and age - Open floor plans are very popular ,  especially in the kitchen and dining areas.  They are functional , inviting and they let light flow from room to room.  As you can see in this space below (in the before image) the Kitchen was very Dark and
Dated. 

BEFORE

PROGRESS : DEMOLITION

BEFORE

Making sure all is correct!

This new kitchen is timeless,  Light and airy.  Simple and Classic , with a surprise pop of color at the end of the kitchen .  This Rust Orange wainscot adds warmth to an otherwise cooler pallet.  It is important to balance out the space with Cool tones and warm tones.  

AFTER

NEW Powder Room

This Newly added powder bathroom would NOT be the same had we NOT done the Rust Orange wainscot.  Although it is small it adds depth and texture to the space.  Do not be afraid to add wainscot to small spaces, NO it will NOT look too small, it will make the space SO much more interesting.

Like our style .... check out some curated items by us on the amazon shop

Small Kitchen Made Big

Before Photo

This small, dated, and cramped kitchen nestled in the beautiful hills of Silverlake was in dire need of help. It was not functional, nor did it fit the style of rest of the home, a very cute mid century modern house.

So a renovation was in order.

Our goal was to make the kitchen appear bigger using same footprint by utilizing the space better and bringing in more light.

It's not always necessary to bust out a wall to make a kitchen bigger.

Utilizing vertical space it key in smaller spaces like this one.  In this case we had to remove the soffits.   Always do exploratory holes to see what is behind them before you go tearing anything out.  There was nothing behind our clients soffit's so out they went.

Taking out the soffit not only opens up the space and makes it feel bigger,  but it also allows you to take the cabinets higher, which draws your eye up , making space feel bigger.

The nature inspired color palette we chose here also helps space feel more open and welcoming. Connecting the indoor to the outdoor expands a space.

Design By: Erica Islas / EMI Interior Design, inc.  / photo credit : David Young-Wolff

Putting in a laminated glass door also helps bring more light into space, making space feel bigger too. 

photo of Renovation in progress..... Stripped to the studs...

Of course to get the kitchen looking good , we needed to start from scratch.....Same footprint , stripped to the studs, and everything new.

before photo

before

Counter depth refrigerators are also KEY in small spaces.
Cabinet above fridge opens up for easy accessibility.
Moved washer/dryer to this side of the kitchen next to pantry to keep all the tall, vertical cabinets on one side.

Progress photos of renovation. Opened up a little window on this back wall to draw in more light as well as add an architectural detail to space.

 BEFORE, obviously NOT functional .

Design by : EMI Interior Design, inc.

Materials : Custom Cherry Cabinets , Caesar Stone Quartz Reflection countertops, glass backsplash, Cork Floors

Photo Credit: David Young-Wolff

How to Enhance the architectural Beauty of problematic Windows

These two projects had problematic windows. Problematic in the sense that they were ugly in their current context.  They stuck out like a sore thumb because they were disconnected from the rest of the space.  Having too much negative/empty space around a window draws more attention to them.

This bathroom renovation was a fun challenge.  I decided to frame out the windows and incorporate them into the mirror design.  

By framing out the mirror and windows together we visually created ONE thing to look at.  

Then we took it one step further and framed up the rest of the wall above the window and added more mirror.  We created an entire wall of glass/mirror adding architectural visual interest to a space that lacked it.

AFTER BATHROOM PHOTO - Design By Erica Islas

The result is attractive windows.

We had another similar experience on another project, see here below.

BEFORE PHOTO

This Kitchen renovation also had issues with windows.  Client hated the windows; they said they hated them because it didn’t allow for them to have upper cabinets.

It was obvious that there was too much going on, the space felt busy, fussy, and the windows stood out like a soar thumb.  But I actually loved the windows… I loved their shaped and immediately envisioned upper cabinets installed horizontally under the windows.  Horizontal cabinets make it (ergonomically) easier to get to stuff.  

AFTER PHOTO-  Design by Erica Islas

Another thing to consider with windows is to connect them to something else in the space.  For example, in the Kitchen above, the windows are framed in wood, so I used a similar wood color for the lower cabinets.  Connecting the problematic windows to something else in the space helps you see the space as a whole.   

We also added a FULL backsplash all the way up to the windows. This creates another visual horizontal band.

Once the problematic windows are addressed, the rest of the renovation falls into place with a great design plan and selection of a great finishes. 

HGTV's Blog Post Today June 30, 2010

"The always busy Erica dishes on a challenging kitchen remodel and what she loves about vacationing south of the border." - HGTV




Click here to read HGTV's blog post on Erica Islas