Hillside Farmhouse sits on a steep East-sloping hill. We set it across the slope, which allowed us to separate the site into a public, arrival side to the North and a private, garden side to the South. The house becomes the long wall, one room wide, that organizes the site into its two parts. The garage wing, running perpendicularly to the main house, forms a courtyard at the front door. Cars driving in are welcomed by the wide front portico and interlocking stair tower. On the opposite side, under a parade of dormers, the Dining Room saddle-bags into the garden, providing views to the South and East. Its generous overhang keeps out the hot summer sun, but brings in the winter sun. The house is a hybrid of ‘farm house’ and ‘country house’. It simultaneously relates to the active contiguous farm and the classical imagery prevalent in New England architecture. Photography by Robert Benson and Brian Tetrault

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

Inspiration for a small country slate floor and blue floor entryway remodel in Grand Rapids with white walls

Elegant l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Kitchen - craftsman kitchen idea in New York

The renovation of the Woodland Residence centered around two basic ideas. The first was to open the house to light and views of the surrounding woods. The second, due to a limited budget, was to minimize the amount of new footprint while retaining as much of the existing structure as possible. The existing house was in dire need of updating. It was a warren of small rooms with long hallways connecting them. This resulted in dark spaces that had little relationship to the exterior. Most of the non bearing walls were demolished in order to allow for a more open concept while dividing the house into clearly defined private and public areas. The new plan is organized around a soaring new cathedral space that cuts through the center of the house, containing the living and family room spaces. A new screened porch extends the family room through a large folding door - completely blurring the line between inside and outside. The other public functions (dining and kitchen) are located adjacently. A massive, off center pivoting door opens to a dramatic entry with views through a new open staircase to the trees beyond. The new floor plan allows for views to the exterior from virtually any position in the house, which reinforces the connection to the outside. The open concept was continued into the kitchen where the decision was made to eliminate all wall cabinets. This allows for oversized windows, unusual in most kitchens, to wrap the corner dissolving the sense of containment. A large, double-loaded island, capped with a single slab of stone, provides the required storage. A bar and beverage center back up to the family room, allowing for graceful gathering around the kitchen. Windows fill as much wall space as possible; the effect is a comfortable, completely light-filled room that feels like it is nestled among the trees. It has proven to be the center of family activity and the heart of the residence. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Nothing evokes the spirit of the ocean more than unobstructed cliff side views of the Pacific and nautical décor. This custom home was built to entertain guests who can’t help but enjoy the pleasures of sunny days and the warmth and light of the unique fire wall into the night.

Jay Adams
Tub/shower combo - mid-sized contemporary 3/4 tub/shower combo idea in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, onyx countertops and glass tile backsplash

Large mountain style gender-neutral gray floor and carpeted kids' room photo in Other with brown walls

Spacecrafting / Architectural Photography
Mid-sized craftsman gray two-story wood exterior home idea in Minneapolis with a metal roof

A pull-out ironing center that is in the fully-open position with the full-size 53" ironing board/cover/pad extended and locked into place. This is a left facing unit. The ironing center may be ordered as a right-facing unit as well.

Example of a transitional white tile white floor freestanding bathtub design in Milwaukee with white cabinets, white walls and an undermount sink

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master white tile and porcelain tile white floor and porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, a one-piece toilet and quartz countertops

Mid-century modern light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Orange County with marble countertops, two islands, white countertops, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and paneled appliances

Anchored by a Navy Blue Hexagon Tile Backsplash, this transitional style kitchen serves up some nautical vibes with its classic blue and white color pairing. Love the look? Sample navy blue tiles and more at fireclaytile.com. TILE SHOWN 6" Hexagon Tiles in Navy Blue DESIGN John Gioffre PHOTOS Leonid Furmansky INSTALLER Revent Remodeling + Construction

When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! John Granen.

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Eagan, MN kitchen remodel by White Birch Design, serving the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. To learn more about us and see more examples of our work, visit our website at www.whitebirchdesignllc.com