As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards In general, Bryan and Connie Rellinger loved the charm of the old cottage they purchased on a Crooked Lake peninsula, north of Petoskey. Specifically, however, the presence of a live-well in the kitchen (a huge cement basin with running water for keeping fish alive was right in the kitchen entryway, seriously), rickety staircase and green shag carpet, not so much. An extreme renovation was the only solution. The downside? The rebuild would have to fit into the smallish nonconforming footprint. The upside? That footprint was built when folks could place a building close enough to the water to feel like they could dive in from the house. Ahhh... Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design helped the Rellingers come up with a timeless cottage design that breathes efficiency into every nook and cranny. It also expresses the synergy of Bryan, Connie and Stephanie, who emailed each other links to products they liked throughout the building process. That teamwork resulted in an interior that sports a young take on classic cottage. Highlights include a brass sink and light fixtures, coffered ceilings with wide beadboard planks, leathered granite kitchen counters and a way-cool floor made of American chestnut planks from an old barn. Thanks to an abundant use of windows that deliver a grand view of Crooked Lake, the home feels airy and much larger than it is. Bryan and Connie also love how well the layout functions for their family - especially when they are entertaining. The kids' bedrooms are off a large landing at the top of the stairs - roomy enough to double as an entertainment room. When the adults are enjoying cocktail hour or a dinner party downstairs, they can pull a sliding door across the kitchen/great room area to seal it off from the kids' ruckus upstairs (or vice versa!). From its gray-shingled dormers to its sweet white window boxes, this charmer on Crooked Lake is packed with ideas! - Jacqueline Southby Photography

A little jewel box powder room off the kitchen. A vintage vanity found at Brimfield, copper sink, oil rubbed bronze fixtures, lighting and mirror, and Sanderson wallpaper complete the old/new look! Karissa Vantassel Photography

Example of a transitional formal living room design in Boston with a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Renaissance solid bronze casement and picture window replicating old world craftsmanship, with narrow sightlines, factory glazing, and cremone bolt locking system. http://solidbronzewindows.com/

Sarah Dorio
Example of a beach style dark wood floor powder room design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, white walls, shaker cabinets and white countertops

Ultra™ Series fiberglass windows by Milgard. http://bit.ly/1G5dBYd
Traditional gray three-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Seattle

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Dan Piassick, PiassickPhoto
Tuscan blue tile powder room photo in San Diego with a drop-in sink, furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets and white walls

Antique limestone fireplace, architectural element, stone portals, reclaimed limestone floors, and opus sectile inlayes were all supplied by Ancient Surfaces for this one of a kind $20 million Ocean front Malibu estate that sits right on the sand. For more information and photos of our products please visit us at: www.AncientSurfaces.com or call us at: (212) 461-0245

The client requested a room that would embellish a “middle of the woods” feel. We selected comanche beds in vintage black iron with black gunslinger culp leather insets by Old Biscayne to make this transformation. We added bead board wood to the ceiling with a natural finish for reflective properties adding coziness and charm. We selected a chest from John Richards that shouted “old country cottage” and it hit the mark. We searched and found a shag area rug comfortable on feet and resembling a cow hide formation to place between the two equestrian styled queen beds. It was from Walmart (Note to self: don’t underestimate the most unlikely places to find accessories and finish products.) We included Eastern Accents Sandrine Ecru cotton blend coverlets and soft down pillows to create a room that guests will hardly want to leave. The linens are my favorite by Jennifer Adams and will be a hit with anyone who experiences a night’s sleep on them. We topped it off with faux fur ottomans by Bernhardt to work as luggage racks and/or sitting spots for getting shoes, etc. on and off at the foot of each bed. The dust ruffles are ticking off black stripe fabric and were ordered through Grandin Road. The throw pillows were custom made by Boca Bargoons in North Palm Beach, Florida. (Well worth a visit if you are in the area. They have an extensive selection of high end fabrics at discounted prices and a professional work room that will create exceptional custom window treatments, upholstery and bedding/pillows.) The saddle leather mirror was selected by the client and ordered through Wisteria. It enhances the beauty of the John Richards Collection antique chest below it.The brushed silver stag lamp enhances the chest and accessories that belong to the client. The lamp is no longer available to purchase. This room encompasses many of my favorite things. From linens to furniture manufacturers, these are at the top of my list. ©2018 All Rights Reserved, Photography by Mike Gullon

The Aspect Window Series has been independently tested to meet strict energy efficiency standards and is ENERGY STAR® certified. Aspect brand custom vinyl windows come standard with an innovative, multi-chambered frame and sash design, triple weather-stripping and ComforTech™ Warm Edge Glazing, a high-tech glass package that measurably improves thermal performance—for less heat loss, warmer glass temperatures and reduced interior condensation.

Antique Victorian Tudor Style Window Vintage White Wood Diamond 1800's Window Mullioned Frame Glass Old Antique Distressed Wedding Shabby Chic Wooden Tudor Restoration Salvage Gorgeous Window! I love love love this one. Salvaged from a home in New England. I tried to get a pair, but the owner would only part with one!!! Rare beautiful natural rustic distressed paint on the outside, and the inside is more sheen(but still is distressed).

Transitional powder room photo in Other with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, wood countertops, white walls and brown countertops

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.

Relocating from Australia, our clients envisioned a new lakefront home that could accommodate guests and lakefront entertaining. Situated on Pine Lake in West Bloomfield and completed in July 2024, we created new spaces and reimagined old ones. The previous oversized dining area at the front of the home was divided into an entry closet and a larger, more functional powder room. For this Powder Room, we wanted to minimize impact to the exterior wall and existing window. To do so, we reinforced the new vanity wall and floated the large custom quartzite vanity, and notched the sides out so as to maintain depth at the sink but still allow for the smaller dimension at the window wall. With earthy tones and an organic vibe, we offset the blush tones with matte black plumbing, hardware and lighting. For added interest, a Phillip Jeffries “waves of wood” wall covering extends along the vanity wall, playing off the curved tones of the hardware hardware. Serene and striking is the perfect balance for this new space!

Colin Price Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master white tile and porcelain tile marble floor and black floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and white countertops

Gibeon Photography. Troy Lighting Edison Pendants / Phillip Jeffries Faux Leather Wall covering
Alcove shower - rustic alcove shower idea in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige walls, an integrated sink, concrete countertops and a hinged shower door

Asian powder room with Hakatai mosaic glass tile wall as backdrop, Asian vanity with Koi vessel sink, modern faucet in bamboo shape and dramatic golden mirror.

photo credit: Sebastian Bach
Bathroom - transitional 3/4 bathroom idea in New York with white walls