Client: Family of four
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Current home specs: 2 bed. 2 bath. 1300 sq. ft
This project started as a kitchen remodel but evolved into a full interior redesign to better accommodate the family's needs. A key priority was adding an extra bedroom, as the client's two children were currently sharing a room.
An architect friend of the clients proposed transposing the children's bedroom with the existing kitchen and dining area. However, the clients found it difficult to visualize this change. To help, I created several 2D design concepts—some incorporating the architect's idea and others that kept the bedrooms at the back of the home.
Another early consideration was whether an additional bedroom could be added while staying within the home's existing footprint. I presented multiple 2D layout options: some maintaining the original footprint and others incorporating extensions to the back and side of the house. It quickly became clear that an addition would be necessary to achieve the clients' goals.
Ultimately, two designs were chosen for 3D modeling:
Maintaining the Traditional Layout: This design preserved the kitchen, dining, and living areas at the front of the home, with bedrooms at the back. A 10-foot rear addition and a 4-foot side extension into the driveway created space for a third bedroom, a family room, a spacious kitchen with a driveway-side entry, and a laundry/office area.
Flipping the Layout: In this design, the kitchen and dining room were relocated to the rear, while the children's bedrooms moved to the front. A small side extension allowed for a new entry, opening into a mudroom/pantry adjacent to the kitchen.
Below are photorealistic renderings of both 3D-modeled designs, along with animations showcasing each layout. Additionally, some images are direct exports from the model without rendering—an efficient way to visualize the design while saving time and costs.
DESIGN CONCEPT #1 – All images for this design are shown as photorealistic renderings.
In this concept, the kitchen and dining room remain at the front of the home. To create a more open and connected space, the existing wall separating the kitchen, dining room, and entryway is removed. A new arched wall between the kitchen and living room maintains the home's Spanish charm while also providing necessary structural support.
The clients also wanted to bring in more natural light. Removing interior walls helped achieve this, along with the potential addition of skylights throughout the home.
View of the living room, kitchen island, and dining area. The front door is located to the right of the arched window.
"View from the living room into the kitchen. The archway at the back wall of the kitchen leads to a side exterior entry with a designated space for seating and storage for shoes and coats. The archway on the same wall as the sofa provides access to the back of the home, where the family room, bedrooms, and laundry/office are located. A small door to the right of the hallway entrance offers additional storage or can be used as a coat closet.
e client preferred the look of a terrazzo countertop, so I applied a terrazzo texture in this image. I can typically match any texture the client wants to see within the model. Additionally, it's easy to swap out different materials throughout the design, allowing the client to visualize various colors, patterns, and textures before making a final decision.
"In addition to textures, elements such as furniture, lighting, tile, and flooring can also be easily swapped out. The image above showcases an alternative selection of pendant lighting and counter stools, demonstrating how different choices can impact the overall design.
This view is taken from the back wall of the home, looking toward the backyard. Given the home's smaller size, maximizing every room was essential. The door in the center of the image leads to the laundry room, which offers ample storage for linens. I also envisioned this space doubling as a home office, with room for a built-in desk, storage, and a dedicated area for a printer and computer setup.
"The laundry room features a stacked washer and dryer with built-in storage cabinets. To the left of the laundry room door, there is space for a potential office setup, which is showcased in the attached animation. The children's bedrooms and bathroom are accessed through the archway to the right of the sofa, with the photo capturing the entrance to one of the bedrooms.
This view showcases the family room leading out to the backyard, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
This view is from the bottom bunk in one of the children's bedrooms, offering a perspective of the space from a child's eye level.
DESIGN CONCEPT #2
The following images begin with non-rendered scene shots and transition into photorealistic renderings. In this layout, the kitchen and dining room have been relocated to the back of the home. With the added space, we were able to incorporate a family room off the kitchen and a side entry that doubles as a pantry/mudroom.
The arched design above the stove was inspired by a reference the client found on Pinterest. Platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz are valuable tools in helping me understand a client’s style and incorporate specific design elements they want to see in their home."
The collage above showcases a series of thumbnail scene shots, highlighting the difference between non-rendered scene captures and photorealistic renderings.
This image features the arched design that the client originally found on Pinterest, which I recreated and customized to fit the space.
The arched entry between the kitchen cabinets leads into the pantry/mudroom, while the larger entry to the right of the refrigerator provides access to the front of the house. The living room is located to the right, and the children's bedrooms and bathroom are to the left. A skylight has been added to the front of the home to enhance natural light and brighten the space.
is view is taken from the rear wall of the home, looking into the kitchen and pantry. The bank of cabinets to the right offers versatile storage options and could be used for additional kitchen storage, a bar area, or other functional needs.
View of the home's living room at the front of the house. The children's bedrooms are accessed through the archway to the left of the front doorway.
This view showcases the living room with skylights, enhancing natural light, and the hallway leading into the kitchen.
This view highlights the arched design above the stove, looking into the pantry. The pantry room also offers space to accommodate a laundry area to the right of the arched entry.