Kitchen of the Day

May 30, 2013 11:30 am

Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors

Last week I made the first kitchen of the day post from one of the homes featured on the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour. This Lafayette kitchen was also featured at the Lafayette Juniors Tour this year and features an Ina Garten “Barefoot Contessa” inspired farmhouse kitchen. The kitchen tour supports several non-profit beneficiaries including CoachArt and is held every year in May.

This kitchen features a huge Casa Esmeralda granite island with stools that slide completely under the island when not in use. The design choices all come together really well here. My favorite aspects of this kitchen are the natural lighting and soapstone countertops on the sides. The vaulted ceiling combined with white cabinetry and french doors at right makes the kitchen feel really open and airy throughout.

The kitchen is expansive:

Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors

Outdoor dining area right outside the kitchen:

Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors

As you can see from the above photo the hillside views are incredible! Note the tennis court in the background. Thanks to designer Kathleen Burke for answering questions during the tour.

If anyone would like to see their kitchen or remodel featured on Beyond the Creek email me a photo at btcreek(at)beyondthecreek(dot)com with location, details and I’ll get back to you.

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1500 N. California Blvd Development Approved by Walnut Creek City Council

May 24, 2013 11:30 am

A few weeks ago I posted a preview of the 1500 N. California development in downtown Walnut Creek and on Tuesday the Walnut Creek City Council approved this development of 141 apartment rentals along with 18,000 square feet of retail space. The Contra Costa Times notes ‘that city leaders called [this] a “game-changer” and a new vision for what Walnut Creek can become’. Having lived right around the block from here in an apartment complex several years ago I’m not sure how this is a ‘game changer’ but I look forward to seeing which shops open up. As for apartment living, the location is great since you can walk to BART, Safeway, the movie theater and be right in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek.

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Kitchen of the Day

May 22, 2013 11:30 am

Last week I had the opportunity to check out six kitchens on the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour so I have decided to make Kitchen of the Day posts to show off some of these gorgeous kitchens around Lafayette. Held every year in May, the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour is incredibly well organized with volunteer helpers stationed throughout. For those embarking on a remodel of their own homes or are curious how nice homes in this area can be, this tour is a must-see! In addition there are several charity recipients such as New Day for Children so it’s for a good cause.

This kitchen in located on a hillside in Lafayette and has amazing views of Mt. Diablo. As you can see from the above photo, there is plenty of island seating and prep areas. Some of my favorite parts of this kitchen are the marble countertops and pendant lighting which you can see in the photo below.

Photos of the dog food bowl drawer and view outside after the jump…

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Preview of 1500 N. California Blvd. Downtown Walnut Creek Development

May 3, 2013 8:30 am

The apartment and retail complex at 1500 N. California Blvd. and Bonanza St. in downtown Walnut Creek is expected to be finished in 2015 and I had a chance to check out some renderings and learn more about the development. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was published in March and can be accessed here.

There will be 18,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 141 apartment rentals (not condos) on the upper floors. One interesting aspect of the complex is the addition of a public park on the Locust St. side right across from Hubcaps Diner. Although it’s not exactly huge at under 2,000 square feet, anyone is free to use it, not just people living there which should be nice. It will include a seating area, water features and bamboo. The architecture will include brick, stone, steel, and glass.

Plans are underway to bring in restaurants and a cafe to the Bonanza side of the development with service businesses on the N. California side. The corner of Locust and Bonanza will be a great spot for whoever ends up there. Which cafe would you most like to see open up in this new complex? (Please not another Starbucks, there are so many within walking distance already).

Current view down Bonanza Street:

Check out more renderings after the jump…

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Merrill Gardens Assisted Living Apartment Complex Opening in Lafayette Spring 2014

March 25, 2013 8:30 am

Back in January I noted that a new apartment complex for seniors called Lafayette Senior Housing was being built on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. What I didn’t realize is that the other apartment complex being built less than a block away will also offer apartments to seniors.

From the Merrill Gardens website:

The apartment-style community will offer all of the amenities of a home without the work. Imagine a life without household chores, yard work or home maintenance. Invite guests to a meal, special event or social outing. With an on-site Active Living Director, scheduled transportation and Anytime Dining program – there will be opportunities to make new friends or entertain old ones right outside your front door when the community opens Spring 2014.

You may have noticed the massive yellow construction crane driving down Mt. Diablo Blvd. to get on the highway.

It’s huge:

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Inge’s Footwear Getting Smaller in Downtown Walnut Creek

March 14, 2013 8:30 am

Stores tend to expand or go out of business over time in Walnut Creek but Inge’s Footwear in downtown Walnut Creek is actually contracting to about half its size (to the left) and a new 2625 sf retail space will open up on the right side. According to a leasing page which you can check out here, it includes on site parking in the rear. I always thought this space was huge for Inge’s so this definitely makes sense for everyone involved I imagine.

Word on the street is that a salon will be opening up in the other spot.

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Update on Walnut Creek N. Main / Mt. Diablo Corner Project

February 14, 2013 11:30 am

UPDATE: According to the developer’s comments below there will be a Mt. Diablo view from the rooftop dining area!

Last February I posted a preview of the N. Main / Mt. Diablo corner lot project diagonally across from Neiman Marcus and now there are new renderings of what the proposed project will look like. According to Brian Hirahara from B.H. Development who is developing the property, the plan is for one retail tenant in the corner taking up two stories and a restaurant on the Mt. Diablo side taking up two stories plus a roof deck.

I look forward to finding out which retailer and restaurant open up here. The developer was also responsible for the project across the street anchored by Tiffany and brought the upscale restaurants Sasa and Va de Vi to Walnut Creek so I imagine similarly upscale tenants will open up here as well. What kind of restaurant would you most like to see here? What retailer would work well?

Check out the retractable windows on the 2nd floor:

The current location has an older rendering displayed:

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Max Studio Closes in Broadway Plaza

February 11, 2013 8:30 am

The designer women’s clothing store Max Studio closed earlier this month in downtown Walnut Creek in Broadway Plaza. Back in January I noted that Arden B. would be closing as well so I wonder whether there is beginning to be an impact as retailers wait and see whether the Broadway Plaza long term plan will be approved by the city which would increase the retail space significantly but also demolish much of what is there currently. On February 19th the Broadway Plaza owners Macerich will present a refined development proposal so it will be interesting to see what they offer up.

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Downtown Walnut Creek Building Demolished – La Soie Bridal Salon to Open

January 31, 2013 8:30 am

Back last February I noted the impending demolition of the dilapidated building at the corner of N. Broadway and Cypress in downtown Walnut Creek to be replaced with a new building to house a bridal salon and office space on the second floor and as you can see the building is now gone.

La Soie Bridal Salon, with locations in southern California and Sacramento will eventually open at this new Walnut Creek location. A couple of weeks ago I noted the opening of Flares Bridal in Broadway Plaza so there will be plenty of choices for brides-to-be. Take a look at the La Soie Bridal website to see how nice it looks.

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Pier 1 Imports Moving to Old Golfsmith Location in Walnut Creek

January 28, 2013 8:30 am

Back last February I noted that the tennis and golf shop Golfsmith was moving to Pleasant Hill and now this huge building on Mt. Diablo in Walnut Creek will be home to Pier 1 Imports who are moving down from a block away also on Mt. Diablo Blvd. As you drive around town you may notice people standing around with huge 20-40% off signs in order to get rid of inventory from the other store.

This is a smart move by Pier 1 as I don’t think I ever actually went to their current location. Despite being a stone’s throw away from downtown it seemed really isolated. The new location is huge and should be a lot more visible to downtown shoppers. Any fans of Pier 1? I rarely shop there but when I think of Pier 1 the first word that comes to mind is: wicker.

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