Beach style painted wood floor and white floor foyer photo in DC Metro with white walls and a glass front door

Unique in design and structure, this building is a combination customized 3-bedroom home with a temperature-controlled, insulated high ceiling workspace. This home was designed for my clients need to live, work and play. He was interested in spending as much time in his shop as he was in his living room. The main level contains the master suite, a second bedroom and bath, living room and an open kitchen. A key design feature for the second level is a full width mezzanine. The mezzanine adds visual interest as well as valuable functionality. This upper level contains a bedroom, a full bathroom, an office space and a large common area.

We were able to maximize the space by ensuring the design was well thought out. The transformation of this space went beyond aesthetics (e.g. tile selection and finishes) and is an example of how careful planning and attention to detail can result in achieving maximum potential and functionality in a small space. Highlights of functional changes include: -Expanded bathroom size - moved wall 10" taking space from the closet in next bedroom; -Moved toilet and plumbing; -Replaced original octagon shaped window to rectangular window, which offered the desired symmetry from front of the home; -Designed a fixed window that would offer privacy while showcasing the character of the 1920s home; -Installed waterproof, flat floor; -Designed custom linen cabinet and vanity to maximize storage and function; most bathrooms twice the size don’t have the storage of this one; -Added insulation to the two exterior walls and sound insulation to interior wall facing bedroom; -Added fan (there wasn’t one); -Moved the location (and swing) of the door over several inches; -Used wall hung faucet to maximize the limited space while supporting the desired modern vision of the space.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

In this project, the use of integrated appliances adds to the visual and versatility of the kitchen. Double-drawer dishwasher eliminates energy-wasting half loads. Bonus: when entertaining, fill top draw with ice… presto, an insulated cooler that’s emptied by simply closing and hitting the “Drain” button. Space-hogging, side-by-side fridge replaced with taller, integrated unit more suitably proportioned to the space and client’s active, social lifestyle.

The owners wanted to add space to their DC home by utilizing the existing dark, wet basement. We were able to create a light, bright space for their growing family. Behind the walls we updated the plumbing, insulation and waterproofed the basement. You can see the beautifully finished space is multi-functional with a play area, TV viewing, new spacious bath and laundry room - the perfect space for a growing family.

We recently created an exciting new area from an existing outdoor deck. We enclosed the space, added a fireplace, raised the ceiling and insulated it. We were able to create a beautiful new room where friends and family can happily gather together all year round.

This bedroom renovation addressed draftiness by insulating behind the antique brick and re-stacking it with lime putty mortar for preservation. Lime plaster highlighted the brick and timber. A custom built-in, crafted from cherry wood inherited from our client’s father, added sentimental value. Natural wool carpet and custom curtains completed the design, merging history with modern functionality for a warm, cohesive finish.

Excavated out side, cut foundation, installed Escape Well, finished floor over concrete slab, insulated and finished walls, finished carpentry, painting, new doors & hardware, added heat & dehumidification.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

Jewel Construction & Remodeling Services, Inc remodeled an existing 2nd floor attic area joining it to the master bedroom. We removed the sub-floor and re structured the floor joist to control bearing points. Framed in new wall areas and added skylights. New electrical, plumbing, hvac was added within the bathroom The bathroom was insulated and drywall was set. The ceramic tile in the master bathroom suite was set in a wains cote fashion with decorative boarder, a black pencil tile line and cornices. The bathroom include a walk in closet and a shower seat.

With an attached full bath on the left, this k3 does double-duty as a living room and bedroom. Expansive deck with seating add to the indoor/outdoor experience.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The owners wanted to add space to their DC home by utilizing the existing dark, wet basement. We were able to create a light, bright space for their growing family. Behind the walls we updated the plumbing, insulation and waterproofed the basement. You can see the beautifully finished space is multi-functional with a play area, TV viewing, new spacious bath and laundry room - the perfect space for a growing family.

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

This beautiful Craftsman style Passive House has a carbon footprint 20% that of a typically built home in Oregon. Its 12-in. thick walls with cork insulation, ultra-high efficiency windows and doors, solar panels, heat pump hot water, Energy Star appliances, fresh air intake unit, and natural daylighting keep its utility bills exceptionally low. Jen G. Pywell