Retired military couple moved here from Southern California. They brought with them some furnishings and decor. Other items acquired after they moved into this custom built home.

This remodeling project acquired a new face and interpretation of the spaces by liberating the floor plan. Walls were removed to allow natural light to come into the space. This old split level home was transformed from the inside to the outside.

We acquired an old Victorian home in need of complete rehab and set out to be respectful of the historical nature and aesthetic of the home while nudging it forward in a modern, somewhat eclectic, way. Since nearly all of the original details except the floors and a beautiful stair were removed by previous owners, we felt free to use materials and finishes that spoke to the homes history but are decidedly current. The result, a light-filled and colorful home with interesting details in every room, speaks to our aesthetic and design direction.

Breezy Coastal-Inspired Hearth Room Sustainable, natural, wholly engaging, and a showcase for their cultural pieces and art was the concept for this home. The couple wanted to use sustainable and environmentally friendly products throughout their home as much as possible. Being from both California and Florida, they wanted a coastal influence that didn’t look contrived or over-stylized in a Midwestern home. Also, they desired a serene, peaceful space where all senses were engaged. Incorporating the Feng Shui elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water in color, texture and product choice was used in this design. A problem area with the original room was a large, blocky oak fireplace. The top half was removed and the hearth was painted white, opening up the space considerably. The back wall was painted a serene blue as an accent. An overall neutral palette of taupe, blues and grey balanced the wood tones found in the flooring and teak accents the couple acquired on their travels. We recovered their existing love seat with taupe diamond-stripe cotton in a slipcover style, adding to the casual atmosphere of a beach house. Organic cotton, hand-blocked pillows with red cherry blossoms provide a pop of color to the seating. A swivel rocker gives flexibility to multiple focal points and conversation. The 100% hemp rug has a turquoise oversized damask print and is a plush anchor to the hearth setting. A long grey-washed rattan bench serves as a cocktail table and woven Roman shades provide needed contrast to the back wall. A distressed, reclaimed bench sits below bold art as a bright accent area to an overall neutral space. The centerpiece of the room is a large cerulean blue buffet with fretwork & glass doors. A large Buddha head serves as a meditative focal point with Asian-inspired art and lighting. Julie Austin Photography

Among the art-deco modernist architecture of the relaxed Penha de França neighborhood, just beyond the tourist path, an actor has acquired a home for peaceful retreat with family and friends. Extensive collaboration with the client rendered a space instilled with wrought-metal accents, vintage woods, and tropical plants, recalling the instruments of cinema’s southern California golden age and the natural landscape of southern Portugal. A modest hand-crafted bed is the backdrop of the master bedroom, flanked by modern Portugese wall lamps and nightstands with vintage flair. Generous apertures show changing seasonal foliage, while an adjacent contemporary reading chair relishes rays of afternoon sunlight throughout the year. In the guest room, extant closets were modified into a nook, accommodating a larger bed and slender nightstands. The majority of the wall between the hallway and living room was removed to establish a viewing axis through the apartment, accentuating and linking the cooking and dining spaces. Convivial meals are set on a custom-cut Estremoz marble slab atop a fabricated metal structure, supported by mid-century dining chairs, and illuminated by an enamel factory lamp. The living room doubles as a projection room; a floating bench topped with terracotta tiles conceals home electronics. A raw steel center table is surrounded by an inviting couch, a reupholstered armchair, and a classic Portuguese shelving system. The pantry was merged into a spacious galley kitchen with integrated appliances, allowing ample space for social cooking. Upper cabinets are eschewed in favor of floating shelves for openness, including dish drying and cookware hanging. Just beyond, a balcony tiled with Algarve terracotta creates a gardenesque hideaway to unwind and enjoy the summer breeze through windows open wide. PHOTOGRAPHY: © ALEXANDER BOGORODSKIY

WHAT AN HONOR TO AGAIN ACQUIRE THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION SERVICES FROM FORMER CLIENTS. DESIGNS BY ELIZABETH WAS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE EXTERIOR DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF OUR CLIENT’S HOME BEFORE THE BUILDING PROCESS TOOK PLACE. IT IS IMPORTANT WITH NEW BUILD PROJECTS TO HAVE A FULL DESIGN MAPPED OUT FOR EVERY DETAIL, SO THAT WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS IN PLACE, SLEEVES ARE PLACED FOR IRRIGATION, LIGHTING, POTTERY AND FOUNTAINS. WE WORK WITH HOME BUILDERS AND ALONG WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS TO MAKE OUR CLIENTS DREAM A REALITY. THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW ORLEANS STYLE CUSTOM HOME ON LAKE CONROE, REFLECTS OUR CLIENTS LOVE FOR ENTERTAINING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. EVERY DETAIL FROM THE FRONT ENTRY, WITH THE LOW FRENCH FENCED WALLS TOPPED WITH BEVOLO LANTERNS, EXQUISITE SOUTHERN THREE-TIERED FOUNTAIN, NATURAL STONE DRIVEWAY AND LUSH PLANTERS INVITE VISITORS AND LEAVE QUITE AN IMPRESSION. WHEN VISITING THE BACK OF THE RESIDENCE, YOU ARE STUNNED BY THE VIEWS, TIERS, LANDSCAPE, POTTED ARRAGEMENTS, INVITING CUSTOM PERGOLA AND BELOW AN EXPANSIVE PUTTING GREEN AND BOAT BOARDWALK AND BOATHOUSE. WE LOVE WORKING WITH OUR CLIENTS! ESPECIALLY ONES AS LOVELY AS THESE.

I love, love, love creating new living rooms. Why? Because they offer the best opportunity to create rooms with many design elements all in one spot. This room hadn't been touched in about 18 or 19 years. She was open to all my suggestions. While the piano limited the dimensions of the sitting area, the measurements I adhere to were acquired. Seating needs the right proximity to feel cozy and provide easy conversation without the need to shout to each other. This room shows how using warm and cool tones can add diversity, interest and the yin and yang that makes a room look Wow and feel appealing.

The owner of this newly built Kingsway Tudor home had acquired the empty lot behind, offering the opportunity to create a series of outdoor rooms that stretch beyond what would be imaginable. The first third of this garden offers a structured over-sized deck and lower stone terrace for entertaining, which steps down to a long lawn allee anchored on both sides with deep gardens reaching almost 20 ft. At the back of the garden, we have a reclaimed barn timber pergola set on concrete pillars with wisteria draping the secluded sitting area offering a true oasis in the heart of the city.

The existing kitchen in this turn-of-the-century (c. 1901) home in Newton, MA was in dire need of updating when the owners acquired it for their family of four. They wanted to both enlarge it and open it up to an existing adjacent dining space that they planned to transform into a family sitting area. In the spirit of the home’s original classical columns and detailing, we introduced short Doric columns on half-walls to shape a new opening between the former dining space, now family room, and the kitchen. The white inset kitchen-cabinetry and white marble counter were chosen for both their vintage appeal and clean, contemporary palette. To further improve function a half-bath was tucked in off the family room and a 12’ x 12’ mud room was added to the back of the kitchen. Katie Hutchison Studio collaborated with designer Tara Albright Robinson of Newton, Mass. (tara282@gmail.com) on this project. Cabinetry by Kingswood Kitchens of Danbury, Conn. photo by Katie Hutchison

Eagerly awaiting retirement, a New England-based client acquired a property in a former office building in central Lisbon. Artfully refurbished by Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos, the façade is composed of geometric strata of medium-gray panels alternating with weathered vertical staves. Our studio’s brief was to furnish and equip the interior of the vacation home to converse with the architecture, so family and friends visiting Lisbon would stay in an elegant, private setting, filled with locally-made and designer items. Upon entering, a small shelf and mirror function as a welcome valet. The corridor opens to a cozy living room with lambent afternoon light let in by large sliding doors. Just outside, the balcony sports a café table and chairs set for an aperitivo. An enveloping sofa, produced in Portugal, and an organic recliner, create an intimate lounge area facing a classic, modular media cabinet. An artisan-made wool ottoman adds a beat of color; the lights speak in plump opaline glass and thin black metal rods. The glass top of the dining table fades into the space, leaving its sculptural, marine blue base; in a play of textures, the upholstery of the dining chairs coordinates elegantly with the smoked glass. Tile, oak, and stainless steel come together in a custom kitchen island, with additional counter space and convenient storage. As the interior is replete with oiled oak in the floors, baseboards, doors, and cabinetry, matching wood furniture warms the bedrooms. The vertical spindles of the beds recall the pattern of the exterior façade. Laptop work is accommodated by a small console desk with a chair clothed in burgundy. Acorn-shaped pendants, inviting bed linens and rugs, and undulating curtains, all in the warm white of the walls, form a nest for relaxation.

Beautiful character cherry cabinets with a merlot stain from Holiday Kitchens Cabinetry becomes the focal point in this lovely lake home. Atop the cabinets, Cambria's simple elegance is showcased with their Fairbourne tops in matte. The many amenities in these cabinets include pull out garbage, pull out utility rack, and an appliance garage. An entry closet was also utilized and reworked to be a spacious pantry. Kohler makes an appearance with the sink and Delta shines with it's matte black finished touchless faucet. The rest of the hardware matches this matte black finish, while Karndean's Opus vinyl tile in Weathered Elm contrasts the dark cherry of the cabinets. The backsplash & valances were acquired and installed by the homeowner. We just adore how he took leftover wood from the rest of the project to frame out his valances.

With a vision of a establishing a working farm and finding a bucolic locale for hosting their extended family, a retiring couple acquired 400 acres of gently rolling hills along the Duck River, approximately fifty miles from downtown Nashville. From there, they assembled a talented team of design professionals to reimagine the existing, historic 1800s farmhouse that sat on the property. Completed less than two years ago, the 9,000 sq.ft. home's elegant simplicity offered this family a timeless pastoral retreat - precisely what the owners had in mind. Take the tour with Huseby Homes, LLC on Houzz. http://ow.ly/9Ilj30lYe1J Featured Lighting: http://ow.ly/Zw7c30lYe4y | http://ow.ly/omJ930lYe5k | http://ow.ly/fXhr30lYe6g | http://ow.ly/qmMa30lYe7m

The monolithic mirror adds more than style, reflecting more light into the room, and reducing the need for lights. When illumination is needed, the orb shaped light fixture on the mirror acquires a floating quality above the sleek custom designed bamboo vanity and seashell limestone counter. The low energy fan quietly maintains a dry and healthy environment. The water saving toilet and re-imagined chrome heating grill complete the green and Zen direction of the room, making a simple and natural haven-like space.

GLASS OPTIONS: Clear Low E or Flemish Low E TIMBER: Knotty Alder or Mahogany SINGLE DOOR: 3'6" x 8'0" x 2 1/4" DOUBLE DOOR: 5'0", 5'4", 6'0" x 8'0" x 2 1/4" SIDELIGHTS: 16" LEAD TIME: Knotty Alder 2-3 weeks Mahogany 4-6 weeks

The purity of form and meticulous craftsmanship of the Roma Curved Sofa pays homage to classicism. The extruded 3.0 mm gauge aluminum frame, designed to look and feel like wrought iron without the weight, is fully welded for structural integrity over time. Brass finials and medallions glint in the sunshine and will acquire a verdigris patina over time.

We acquired an old Victorian home in need of complete rehab and set out to be respectful of the historical nature and aesthetic of the home while nudging it forward in a modern, somewhat eclectic, way. Since nearly all of the original details except the floors and a beautiful stair were removed by previous owners, we felt free to use materials and finishes that spoke to the homes history but are decidedly current. The result, a light-filled and colorful home with interesting details in every room, speaks to our aesthetic and design direction.

This home was built in the 70's and as you can imagine has acquired a few "ailments" over the past 40 years, one of the more serious being the deterioration of the front entrance. The brick started to loosen over the years and eventually started to break apart completely, it got to the point that the family could not use the front entrance at all due to the safety hazard it represented. After interviewing with several contractors the home owners contacted David Sharp with DSLD Land Management and he was able to ease the tension and offer a solution that not only resulted in a beautifully restored front entrance but that also fit comfortably into their budget. The project took less than a week to complete and as you can imagine the home owners are thrilled with the final product!

This home is a replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The homeowners have acquired many french antiques in their travels. The Homeowners’ Exquisite handmade rugs are the inspiration for the color schemes in each room.

LS Interior Design Group | Selections & Finishes | Furnishings & Accessories | Sitting Area | TV Room | Master Suit | Lower Cabinets | Organization | Storage Solutions | Furnishings can be acquired through LS Interior Design Group