As is common in older houses, the existing kitchen was cramped, poorly laid out, and separated from the back yard by several small inefficient rooms. Storage throughout the house was inadequate. An old deck in poor condition was unattractive and took up most of the small yard.

The remodeled kitchen combines the spaces of the former kitchen plus the adjacent small rooms, is efficiently laid out, and opens to the back yard. The new smaller deck creates an outdoor room with benches and space for a large table, and leaves space for the surrounding garden. Several small changes were made throughout the house to improve storage space.

Location: Alameda, CA

"Alexandra helped turn an ugly, nasty old kitchen into one that has become my favorite room in the house. She was able to take my jumble of ideas and turn them into a cohesive whole that worked, without ever making me feel like she was pushing her ideas in favor of mine. And the nook. The nook! I love sitting at my new kitchen table and looking out over the new deck at the birds and flowers in the backyard. It's a great way to start the day."