A new first floor Powder room for a restored 100 year old Farmhouse in northern New Jersey. The vessel sink over the stained wood vanity and wall mounted faucet are notable details, offering a modern take on a traditional home interior.

A family in West University contacted us to design a contemporary Houston landscape for them. They live on a double lot, which is large for that neighborhood. They had built a custom home on the property, and they wanted a unique indoor-outdoor living experience that integrated a modern pool into the aesthetic of their home interior. This was made possible by the design of the home itself. The living room can be fully opened to the yard by sliding glass doors. The pool we built is actually a lap swimming pool that measures a full 65 feet in length. Not only is this pool unique in size and design, but it is also unique in how it ties into the home. The patio literally connects the living room to the edge of the water. There is no coping, so you can literally walk across the patio into the water and start your swim in the heated, lighted interior of the pool. Even for guests who do not swim, the proximity of the water to the living room makes the entire pool-patio layout part of the exterior design. This is a common theme in modern pool design. The patio is also notable because it is constructed from stones that fit so tightly together the joints seem to disappear. Although the linear edges of the stones are faintly visible, the surface is one contiguous whole whose linear seamlessness supports both the linearity of the home and the lengthwise expanse of the pool. While the patio design is strictly linear to tie the form of the home to that of the pool, our modern pool is decorated with a running bond pattern of tile work. Running bond is a design pattern that uses staggered stone, brick, or tile layouts to create something of a linear puzzle board effect that captures the eye. We created this pattern to compliment the brick work of the home exterior wall, thus aesthetically tying fine details of the pool to home architecture. At the opposite end of the pool, we built a fountain into the side of the home's perimeter wall. The fountain head is actually square, mirroring the bricks in the wall. Unlike a typical fountain, the water here pours out in a horizontal plane which even more reinforces the theme of the quadrilateral geometry and linear movement of the modern pool. We decorated the front of the home with a custom garden consisting of small ground cover plant species. We had to be very cautious around the trees due to West U’s strict tree preservation policies. In order to avoid damaging tree roots, we had to avoid digging too deep into the earth. The species used in this garden—Japanese Ardesia, foxtail ferns, and dwarf mondo not only avoid disturbing tree roots, but they are low-growth by nature and highly shade resistant. We also built a gravel driveway that provides natural water drainage and preserves the root zone for trees. Concrete pads cross the driveway to give the homeowners a sure-footing for walking to and from their vehicles.

The Upper Garden with 'Ha-Ha' wall: One side of the sinuous retaining stone wall is faced with stone, the other face sloped and turfed, forms a green pool for the upper garden. The ha-ha wall backed by Annabelle Hydrangeas conceals the driveway from sight and extends the view to the lower garden as one looks out from the house through the Zelkovas.They are planted between the hydrangeas and act as a first buffer to the busy street set behind the Lower Garden. Photo credit: ROGER FOLEY

Interior Designer: Chris Powell Builder: John Wilke Photography: David O. Marlow
Pivot front door - contemporary dark wood floor pivot front door idea in Denver with a glass front door

Basement Media Room
Example of an urban underground white floor basement design in Cincinnati with white walls

Cream walls, trim and ceiling are featured alongside white subway tile with cream tile accents. A Venetian mirror hangs above a white porcelain pedestal sink and alongside a complementary toilet. A brushed nickel faucet and accessories contrast with the Calcutta gold floor tile, tub deck and shower shelves. A leaded glass window, vintage milk glass ceiling light and frosted glass and brushed nickel wall light continue the crisp, clean feeling of this bright bathroom. The vintage 1920s flavor of this room reflects the original look of its elegant, sophisticated home.

Tuscan Columns & Brick Porch
Inspiration for a large timeless brick front porch remodel in New Orleans with a roof extension

Photography by Richard Mandelkorn
Mid-sized elegant bathroom photo in Boston with marble countertops, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

The walk-in shower is a zero-threshold, barrier free area.
Bathroom - traditional bathroom idea in Philadelphia

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Indianapolis with wood countertops, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Won 2013 AIANC Design Award
Transitional brown two-story wood house exterior photo in Charlotte with a metal roof

©Scott Hargis Photo
Inspiration for a timeless galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

When we work on a private residence, we take every care to understand and respect that this is not just a property, structure or set of blueprints. This is your home. We listen first, working with your vision and sense of style, but combining your ideas with our extensive knowledge of finishes, materials and how to consider every last detail in order to create an overall look and feel that will really "wow."

The window casings are painted to match the surround cabinetry. The cabinets have are beaded inset doors and appliance garages. A GE Cafe refrigerator can bee seen on the right. Photography by Holloway Productions.

Bathroom - small transitional 3/4 gray tile and stone tile marble floor and white floor bathroom idea in Austin with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a hinged shower door

A porcelain, marble look tile was used in the shower and bathroom floor for easy maintenance. There was a tub/shower unit removed and a soffit above to create a larger master shower.

Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography
Beach style gray floor mudroom photo in New York with beige walls

Large transitional formal and open concept porcelain tile and white floor living room photo in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Kath & Keith Photography
Study room - mid-sized traditional built-in desk dark wood floor study room idea in Boston with gray walls and no fireplace