Projects

Ranch Houses

Ranch houses. These two words can mean two different things. Literally, a house on a ranch – we design a lot of these. Or, a ranch-style house, typical of a 1950s, 60s or 70s subdivision – we remodel a lot of these.

With my upbringing on a Wyoming ranch I am intimately knowledgeable about how ranch life works – the back door is the real front door; dinner is usually a one-woman production and she doesn’t want to be isolated from the rest of the family; the views are spectacular and the elements can be extreme. I am uniquely able to bridge between design and real life because of this experience.

Likewise, I appreciate the ranch-style vernacular in the cities. In the West we have the good luck to be able to live indoors and out most of the year. This style of house suits this lifestyle perfectly. Most of the ranch-style houses we remodel have great bones; we update them by opening up the floor plans, updating materials and upgrading the infrastructure to today’s standards.

Ranch houses can be traditional or contemporary. We often mix the two styles to include your life’s collections with modern appliances, lighting fixtures and colors. They can be simple and functional, comfortable and good looking. I like making the most of all of these qualities to create a home that is fresh, airy, open, practical and above all, homey.

Kitchens

We all know the kitchen is the heart of the house. It is where we spend most of our time when we are home. For me the kitchen should be functional, of course. But it should also be light, airy, comforting, and a reflection of the owner.

Whether you are a gourmet cook or one who eats take-out, you want to feel grounded in your kitchen. You want to have a place for all your stuff and you want to know that every convenience has been thought of.

I will ask about your cooking habits, your food shopping habits, your cleaning habits, where you want to eat, what do you want to look at, what do you not want to look at, do you like to cook alone or with a crowd, do you like to show off your new, modern appliances or do you want to hide them?

You may have a collection of whisks or mixing bowls. What do we do with them?  You may have friends over for casual dinners where everyone cooks. Where can they spread out and get involved without stepping on one another? You may love to sit in the morning sun and read the newspaper. How do we make that special place? You may want Great-grandmother’s chopping block to occupy a focal place in the island.  What materials do we use to complement it?

The combination of materials in a kitchen speaks volumes about the owner. There are a multitude of materials, colors and textures to consider. You probably have an idea of an overall look that you like. I will listen to your wants and needs and prepare several combinations of items that answer those desires. We will discuss the pros and cons and will arrive at a specific solution for your taste.  

Whether your kitchen is large or small, it is all about you. When you walk in you will know that this is your place and that all the work that went into the details was worth that sense of peace and calm. This is your anchor.

 

Restaurants

I love to eat! And I love to go out to eat. I love to see how designers create spaces that help me remember the great meal I have just enjoyed.

Designing a restaurant combines the theatrical with the nitty gritty, the process with the experience, and the backdrop with the celebration of the food.

The design doesn’t have to be fancy but it does have to complement and enhance the experience of dining. While the food must be delicious, the service commendable, the drinks plentiful and the company enviable, the space in which it all happens must be comfortable, intimate, relatable and accessible. Our restaurant designs enhance the dining experience and give you something to remember.