Client Success Story
Kitchen & Powder Bath Remodel • Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Spencer and Adiaha Donkin came to Lars with a clear sense that the heart of their Rancho Santa Fe home could work harder for the way they lived, hosted, and moved through the house every day. Their focus began with the kitchen, and the powder bath was part of the vision from the start. What made the project especially meaningful was that they were not asking for a remodel that erased the home’s identity. They wanted a kitchen and powder bath that felt current, warm, creative, and highly functional while still honoring the home’s established architecture, backyard orientation, ceiling details, and the hallway Spencer described as the spine of the home.
The design brief was less about chasing a trend and more about refining a home they already valued. The existing kitchen and family room needed to feel roomier, more connected, and easier to use. The family wanted better storage, a more thoughtful island, a cooking area that felt elevated, and material selections that brought warmth and depth into the room. In the powder bath, they wanted a smaller but memorable transformation: a polished space with personality, updated fixtures, new flooring, and design details that felt fun and interesting without feeling disconnected from the rest of the home.
What stood out to the Lars design team was how open Spencer and Adiaha were to ideas. They arrived with direction, but not rigidity. Their interior designer described them as creative, flexible, and willing to push the design beyond the expected. That openness allowed the team to explore richer material moments, including a curved island with Taj quartzite carried onto the back, bold black cabinetry elements, and a kitchen composition that balanced drama, warmth, and architectural restraint. The result was a remodel shaped as much by trust and collaboration as by scope.
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“We’re loving it and are forever grateful to have partnered with Lars and their fantastic team.” —Spencer & Adiaha |
The scope focused on reimagining two spaces that had an outsized impact on daily life: the kitchen, where flow, gathering, storage, and light mattered most, and the powder bath, where Lars could create a compact but highly intentional design moment.
Together, the work created a home that feels more open and polished while still grounded in the architectural character Spencer and Adiaha wanted to protect.
Spencer and Adiaha first connected with Lars through a Home Show Event, an in-person beginning that gave them a chance to evaluate not just the work, but the people and process behind it. That mattered for a project where design trust was essential. They were looking for a team that could listen closely, interpret the existing architecture, and help them make confident decisions without pushing them into a one-size-fits-all solution.
From the first consultation, the relationship moved into a structured design-build path. Lars confirmed the in-home Design Consultation, introduced the full project team, scheduled discovery and measurement meetings, and guided Spencer and Adiaha through product, appliance, countertop, cabinet, lighting, and material selections. Each touchpoint gave the homeowners a clear next step and reinforced that their project was being carried by one coordinated team.
The Donkin project moved through a thoughtful arc from early vision to design exploration, then through detailed selections, construction preparation, and completion photography. The timeline shows Lars’s process at work: each phase had a purpose, and each meeting helped turn broad ideas into decisions the homeowners could trust.
Case Study
Spencer and Adiaha connect with Lars after a Home Show Event and schedule their in-home Design Consultation.
The Lars team visits the home, discusses renovation goals, reviews the process, and begins understanding how the kitchen and family spaces should feel more open while respecting the architecture.
The Donkin’s are introduced to Jennifer, Erica, Rochelle, Majd, and Christie, establishing a dedicated team before the design phase deepens.
The team documents kitchen and powder bath priorities, including warm quartzite, island seating, appliance planning, plumbing fixtures, powder bath finishes, and opportunities to preserve existing features.
Spencer and Adiaha review the proposed design direction, project context, and next steps, giving them a clear opportunity to refine the vision before moving forward.
Lars shares the Scope of Work in advance, then walks through approvals, timeline, appliance ordering, permit timing, milestone payments, and upcoming selections.
The Donkin’s visit slab yards, the Lars showroom, cabinet showrooms, and Visual Comfort to finalize countertops, cabinetry, lighting, and finish details.
The homeowners meet their project manager at home and review communication, responsibilities, and what to expect during construction.
The team reviews finalized plans, schedule, logistics, site preparation, and construction readiness before the build phase begins.
The finished kitchen and powder bath are photographed, and Spencer and Adiaha share that they are loving the result and grateful for the Lars team.
Lars began by listening for the emotional brief beneath the room list. Spencer and Adiaha wanted the kitchen to feel more open and functional, but they also cared deeply about the home’s existing identity. Their early notes called out the hallway as the spine of the home, the backyard view orientation, the existing ceiling design, and the need to respect the architectural bones. Those details became guardrails for the remodel. The goal was not to make the home feel like a different house. The goal was to make the home feel more complete.
Creative Clients, Collaborative Design
One of the strongest qualities of this project was the homeowners’ openness. They came to Lars with a kitchen and powder bath remodel in mind, but they were willing to explore ideas that pushed the design beyond the obvious. That gave the interior design team room to propose bolder moves, including the curved island detailing, the Taj quartzite feature on the island back, and the contrast of black cabinetry elements. Because Spencer and Adiaha trusted the process, the finished design could be more distinctive and personal.
The Donkin’s did not have to make every choice at once. Lars moved the project through a clear sequence: Design Consultation, Discovery Design, Measure, Preliminary Plumbing and Appliances, Design Review, Scope Review, selections, and pre-construction. Along the way, they visited slab yards, the Lars showroom, a custom cabinet showroom, and Visual Comfort for lighting. Each meeting had a defined purpose, which helped transform creative possibilities into confident decisions.
Behind the finished kitchen and powder bath were many moving pieces: architecture, interior design, cabinet detailing, countertop fabrication, appliance planning, venting, lighting, flooring transitions, project management, and construction logistics. The venting and roof penetration became one of the more technical challenges, and the existing ceiling trim revealed wiring that needed to be addressed carefully. Those complexities were absorbed by the Lars team, including the project manager, so Spencer and Adiaha could stay focused on the decisions that shaped the final look and feel.
The kitchen was designed around real daily use, not just presentation. The one-height island created a natural place to sit and gather. The roomier layout improved movement between the kitchen and family room. Updated appliances, better storage, and thoughtful lighting supported cooking and hosting. The powder bath added personality and polish for guests. Even design choices that sacrificed some storage, like carrying stone onto the island back, were made intentionally because the homeowners valued the visual impact and did not need every inch to be cabinetry.
The most successful part of the remodel is the balance between old and new. The team preserved the character of the home while giving the kitchen and powder bath a fresh, elevated identity. The cabinetry direction created depth and contrast, the Taj quartzite added warmth and movement, and the curved island detail brought softness to the space. The finished project feels custom, current, and rooted in the original home rather than placed on top of it.
The final photos confirmed what the process had been building toward: a kitchen and powder bath that felt beautiful, personal, and highly livable. Spencer and Adiaha’s response after receiving the photography says it best: they were loving the kitchen and grateful to have partnered with Lars and the team. That closing sentiment brings the story full circle, from an open-ended design conversation to a finished space they now enjoy every day.
Before any final plan was drawn, Spencer and Adiaha wanted their home to feel roomier, warmer, and more connected while still honoring the character they already loved. They wanted the kitchen and family room to support the way they gathered, cooked, hosted, and moved through the home, and they wanted the powder bath to become a refined, memorable space rather than an afterthought.
Today, that vision lives in a kitchen they are loving and a powder bath that feels polished, personal, and connected to the rest of the home. The remodel brings new function, richer materials, and a stronger sense of flow without losing the architectural spirit that mattered from the beginning. For Spencer and Adiaha, the finished project is not just updated; it is a home that feels more like itself, more useful for everyday life, and ready for the moments ahead.
If Spencer & Adiaha’s story resonates with you — the idea of taking a home that matters and turning it into something your family can truly grow into — we’d love to hear yours. Whether you’re in Rancho Santa Fe, or anywhere across San Diego, or just beginning to think about what’s possible, Lars offers a complimentary in-home Design
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When you decide to remodel your home in San Diego, count on our team of experienced builders and talented home design contractors to handle every stage of the design-build process diligently and professionally. We apply a wide range of skills to transform your living space with style and precision:
We’ll discuss the length of your project during an initial consultation. Although the scope of a project will determine its length, we can provide you with an approximate estimate early on.
For more information, get in touch with our home remodeling contractors in San Diego. We’ll ask you a series of detailed questions about the upcoming home remodel, which will help us prepare a preliminary estimate.
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Before adding a room addition to your San Diego property, conduct a thorough inspection of your home and clarify your objectives:
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For substantial additions or major renovations, it might be a good idea to think about staying somewhere else. To stick to your budget, you could stay with friends or family, or rent a place nearby so you can easily keep an eye on the remodeling progress. As experienced remodeling contractors, we’re eager to learn more about your project and explore all your options with you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Absolutely. However, the value of such a renovation largely depends on factors like the property’s location, the extent of work required, and the current market conditions. For any home design or design-build project, it’s advisable to consult directly with our experienced contractors. We’ll access your San Diego residence to identify the type of remodel that would offer you the best return on investment.
