This project features a six-foot addition on the back of the home, allowing us to open up the kitchen and family room for this young and active family. These spaces were redesigned to accommodate a large open kitchen, featuring cabinets in a beautiful sage color, that opens onto the dining area and family room. Natural stone countertops add texture to the space without dominating the room. The powder room footprint stayed the same, but new cabinetry, mirrors, and fixtures compliment the bold wallpaper, making this space surprising and fun, like a piece of statement jewelry in the middle of the home. The kid's bathroom is youthful while still being able to age with the children. An ombre pink and white floor tile is complimented by a greenish/blue vanity and a coordinating shower niche accent tile. White walls and gold fixtures complete the space. The primary bathroom is more sophisticated but still colorful and full of life. The wood-style chevron floor tiles anchor the room while more light and airy tones of white, blue, and cream finish the rest of the space. The freestanding tub and large shower make this the perfect retreat after a long day.

This client came to us with a very clear vision of what she wanted, but she needed help to refine and execute the design. At our first meeting she described her style as somewhere between modern rustic and ‘granny chic’ – she likes cozy spaces with nods to the past, but also wanted to blend that with the more contemporary tastes of her husband and children. In addition to renovating the kitchen, we updated the entire first floor with refinished hardwoods, new paint, rustic wainscoting, wallcovering and beautiful new stained wood doors. Our client had been dreaming and planning this renovation for 17 years and we’re thrilled we were able to bring it to life.

The Owners approached their new project with the thought that it should be a quiet addition, have an appropriate scale, and use the same architectural language as the existing house. What the Owners wanted was a more functional family space for their older children and needed a large kitchen and back entry for this original Myers Park home. The new family room would need to include the antique wood paneling the Owners had acquired. The new kitchen would need to incorporate antique wood beams, a large family table and access to a new pool deck. The back entry would need to have a place for sports bags, coats and charging station. A new landscape plan would be provided which would have a new pool requiring a renovation of an existing guest house. The kitchen plan does not include a kitchen island at the request of the Owners. They wanted to have a large freestanding table for everyone to gather around. The kitchen appliances needed to be integrated or hidden from view for clear countertop spaces. The large French doors would open out onto the new pool deck. The kitchen is connected to the main house through two doorways. The first doorway goes through to the renovated family space and the second doorway goes to a new butler’s pantry hall.

2012 NARI CAPITAL COTY, MERIT AWARD WINNER, RESIDENTIAL ADDITION UNDER $100,000 The owners of this split-foyer home have lived in Mclean for more than 15 years. As their children have grown, so has their need for added space. And even though they remodeled their kitchen about 10 years ago, the 12’ x 10’ room doesn’t meet their current needs. This latest addition again increases the size of the kitchen and adds a large barbeque deck and screened-in porch as well. Highlights of the new kitchen include a large center island for food preparation and seating, as well as new stainless steel appliances. Its open design leads to a casual dining area with a cathedral ceiling and palladium window. French doors on either side lead either to the barbeque deck or the screened in porch. Using maintenance-free decking and accessories, both spaces provide immediate access to a beautiful stone porch and manicured back yard. Now having a large group of family and/or friends is the least of the homeowners’ concerns. Inside or outside, they’ve got the space to entertain.

The Owners approached their new project with the thought that it should be a quiet addition, have an appropriate scale, and use the same architectural language as the existing house. What the Owners wanted was a more functional family space for their older children and needed a large kitchen and back entry for this original Myers Park home. The new family room would need to include the antique wood paneling the Owners had acquired. The new kitchen would need to incorporate antique wood beams, a large family table and access to a new pool deck. The back entry would need to have a place for sports bags, coats and charging station. A new landscape plan would be provided which would have a new pool requiring a renovation of an existing guest house. The kitchen plan does not include a kitchen island at the request of the Owners. They wanted to have a large freestanding table for everyone to gather around. The kitchen appliances needed to be integrated or hidden from view for clear countertop spaces. The large French doors would open out onto the new pool deck. The kitchen is connected to the main house through two doorways. The first doorway goes through to the renovated family space and the second doorway goes to a new butler’s pantry hall.

This 1990s brick home had decent square footage and a massive front yard, but no way to enjoy it. Each room needed an update, so the entire house was renovated and remodeled, and an addition was put on over the existing garage to create a symmetrical front. The old brown brick was painted a distressed white. The 500sf 2nd floor addition includes 2 new bedrooms for their teen children, and the 12'x30' front porch lanai with standing seam metal roof is a nod to the homeowners' love for the Islands. Each room is beautifully appointed with large windows, wood floors, white walls, white bead board ceilings, glass doors and knobs, and interior wood details reminiscent of Hawaiian plantation architecture. The kitchen was remodeled to increase width and flow, and a new laundry / mudroom was added in the back of the existing garage. The master bath was completely remodeled. Every room is filled with books, and shelves, many made by the homeowner. Project photography by Kmiecik Imagery.

The boldness of the tiles black and white pattern with its overall whimsical pattern made the selection a perfect fit for a playful and innovative room. . I liked the way the different shapes blend into each other, hardly indistinguishable from one another, yet decipherable. His shapes are visual mazes, archetypal ideograms of a sort. At a distance, they form a pattern; up close, they form a story. Many of the themes are about people and their connections to each other. Some are visually explicit; others are more reflective and discreet. Most are just fun and whimsical, appealing to children and to the uninhibited in us. They are also primitive in their bold lines and graphic imagery. Many shapes are of monsters and scary beings, relaying the innate fears of childhood and the exterior landscape of the reality of city life. In effect, they are graffiti like patterns, yet indelibly marked in our subconscious. In addition, the basic black, white, and red colors so essential to Haring’s work express the boldness and basic instincts of color and form. In addition, my passion for both design and art found their aesthetic confluence in the expression of this whimsical statement of idea and function.

This brownstone, located in Harlem, consists of five stories which had been duplexed to create a two story rental unit and a 3 story home for the owners. The owner hired us to do a modern renovation of their home and rear garden. The garden was under utilized, barely visible from the interior and could only be accessed via a small steel stair at the rear of the second floor. We enlarged the owner’s home to include the rear third of the floor below which had walk out access to the garden. The additional square footage became a new family room connected to the living room and kitchen on the floor above via a double height space and a new sculptural stair. The rear facade was completely restructured to allow us to install a wall to wall two story window and door system within the new double height space creating a connection not only between the two floors but with the outside. The garden itself was terraced into two levels, the bottom level of which is directly accessed from the new family room space, the upper level accessed via a few stone clad steps. The upper level of the garden features a playful interplay of stone pavers with wood decking adjacent to a large seating area and a new planting bed. Wet bar cabinetry at the family room level is mirrored by an outside cabinetry/grill configuration as another way to visually tie inside to out. The second floor features the dining room, kitchen and living room in a large open space. Wall to wall builtins from the front to the rear transition from storage to dining display to kitchen; ending at an open shelf display with a fireplace feature in the base. The third floor serves as the children’s floor with two bedrooms and two ensuite baths. The fourth floor is a master suite with a large bedroom and a large bathroom bridged by a walnut clad hall that conceals a closet system and features a built in desk. The master bath consists of a tiled partition wall dividing the space to create a large walkthrough shower for two on one side and showcasing a free standing tub on the other. The house is full of custom modern details such as the recessed, lit handrail at the house’s main stair, floor to ceiling glass partitions separating the halls from the stairs and a whimsical builtin bench in the entry.

Inspiration for a modern staircase remodel in Los Angeles

Retro home bowling alley installed in a family recreation building in central Minnesota. Most of the bowling components were salvaged from an old commercial bowling center, and were restored to like-new, or in some technical aspects, better-than-new, condition. The over-lane ball return riser, rack, and capping were originally manufactured in the 1950s. The automatic pinsetter machines are Brunswick A-2 models, which were totally dismantled, cleaned, painted, and rebuilt piece-by-piece with the addition of many new parts. The masking units are Brunswick Gold Crown single-lane models, which were refinished with Granny Smith Apple Green vinyl, and outfitted with a modern LED "pindicator" system. The bowling alley features built-in shoe and ball storage, and a restored manual scorer's table with custom scoresheets.

Vienna Addition Skill Construction & Design, LLC, Design/Build a two-story addition to include remodeling the kitchen and connecting to the adjoining rooms, creating a great room for this family of four. After removing the side office and back patio, it was replaced with a great room connected to the newly renovated kitchen with an eating area that doubles as a homework area for the children. There was plenty of space left over for a walk-in pantry, powder room, and office/craft room. The second story design was for an Adult’s Only oasis; this was designed for the parents to have a permitted Staycation. This space includes a Grand Master bedroom with three walk-in closets, and a sitting area, with plenty of room for a king size bed. This room was not been completed until we brought the outdoors in; this was created with the three big picture windows allowing the parents to look out at their Zen Patio. The Master Bathroom includes a double size jet tub, his & her walk-in shower, and his & her double vanity with plenty of storage and two hideaway hampers. The exterior was created to bring a modern craftsman style feel, these rich architectural details are displayed around the windows with simple geometric lines and symmetry throughout. Craftsman style is an extension of its natural surroundings. This addition is a reflection of indigenous wood and stone sturdy, defined structure with clean yet prominent lines and exterior details, while utilizing low-maintenance, high-performance materials. We love the artisan style of intricate details and the use of natural materials of this Vienna, VA addition. We especially loved working with the family to Design & Build a space that meets their family’s needs as they grow.

2012 NARI CAPITAL COTY, MERIT AWARD WINNER, RESIDENTIAL ADDITION UNDER $100,000 The owners of this split-foyer home have lived in Mclean for more than 15 years. As their children have grown, so has their need for added space. And even though they remodeled their kitchen about 10 years ago, the 12’ x 10’ room doesn’t meet their current needs. This latest addition again increases the size of the kitchen and adds a large barbeque deck and screened-in porch as well. Highlights of the new kitchen include a large center island for food preparation and seating, as well as new stainless steel appliances. Its open design leads to a casual dining area with a cathedral ceiling and palladium window. French doors on either side lead either to the barbeque deck or the screened in porch. Using maintenance-free decking and accessories, both spaces provide immediate access to a beautiful stone porch and manicured back yard. Now having a large group of family and/or friends is the least of the homeowners’ concerns. Inside or outside, they’ve got the space to entertain.

Vienna Addition Skill Construction & Design, LLC, Design/Build a two-story addition to include remodeling the kitchen and connecting to the adjoining rooms, creating a great room for this family of four. After removing the side office and back patio, it was replaced with a great room connected to the newly renovated kitchen with an eating area that doubles as a homework area for the children. There was plenty of space left over for a walk-in pantry, powder room, and office/craft room. The second story design was for an Adult’s Only oasis; this was designed for the parents to have a permitted Staycation. This space includes a Grand Master bedroom with three walk-in closets, and a sitting area, with plenty of room for a king size bed. This room was not been completed until we brought the outdoors in; this was created with the three big picture windows allowing the parents to look out at their Zen Patio. The Master Bathroom includes a double size jet tub, his & her walk-in shower, and his & her double vanity with plenty of storage and two hideaway hampers. The exterior was created to bring a modern craftsman style feel, these rich architectural details are displayed around the windows with simple geometric lines and symmetry throughout. Craftsman style is an extension of its natural surroundings. This addition is a reflection of indigenous wood and stone sturdy, defined structure with clean yet prominent lines and exterior details, while utilizing low-maintenance, high-performance materials. We love the artisan style of intricate details and the use of natural materials of this Vienna, VA addition. We especially loved working with the family to Design & Build a space that meets their family’s needs as they grow.

Vienna Addition Skill Construction & Design, LLC, Design/Build a two-story addition to include remodeling the kitchen and connecting to the adjoining rooms, creating a great room for this family of four. After removing the side office and back patio, it was replaced with a great room connected to the newly renovated kitchen with an eating area that doubles as a homework area for the children. There was plenty of space left over for a walk-in pantry, powder room, and office/craft room. The second story design was for an Adult’s Only oasis; this was designed for the parents to have a permitted Staycation. This space includes a Grand Master bedroom with three walk-in closets, and a sitting area, with plenty of room for a king size bed. This room was not been completed until we brought the outdoors in; this was created with the three big picture windows allowing the parents to look out at their Zen Patio. The Master Bathroom includes a double size jet tub, his & her walk-in shower, and his & her double vanity with plenty of storage and two hideaway hampers. The exterior was created to bring a modern craftsman style feel, these rich architectural details are displayed around the windows with simple geometric lines and symmetry throughout. Craftsman style is an extension of its natural surroundings. This addition is a reflection of indigenous wood and stone sturdy, defined structure with clean yet prominent lines and exterior details, while utilizing low-maintenance, high-performance materials. We love the artisan style of intricate details and the use of natural materials of this Vienna, VA addition. We especially loved working with the family to Design & Build a space that meets their family’s needs as they grow.

If walls could talk, the stories harbored in this Wrightsville Beach historic house on Henderson Street would go on for days. The history that pours from the front doors as guests are welcomed in was important for her new owner's to preserve while remodeling. And so, here, the cedar-shaked beach cottage stands on stilts overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway telling stories of her birth in 1941, survival of hurricanes like Hazel, hot summer nights, well over 70 Thanksgiving dinners when fresh catch from her dock was more important than the turkey baking in her kitchen, children counting shooting stars from her front porch and, now, her new life after quite a bit of reconstruction. While maintaining every bit of history possible, each room was reevaluated closely by the owners and Schmidt Custom Builders in a collaboration to bring new life to the bones of this three-story beach beauty. New hardwoods went in to replace what was no longer able to be resurfaced to match the original flooring. New fixtures adorn every wall and ceiling to add classic modernity as well as a coat of fresh paint. Floor to ceiling windows were added to the living room to bring scenes of the water world in. And above the living room, an en suite was added as a getaway retreat for the parents of four. This master bathroom includes a wall-to-wall countertop with his and hers vanities, an enormous rainfall shower and a free-standing tub that stares off into the sound. The kitchen took on a complete new look with all new appliances, fresh white cabinets, backsplash, fixtures and countertops as it was opened up into the living room to create more space. On the outside, Schmidt Custom Builders added a custom outdoor shower to the sound side of the home and a full bar with a tap that serves as the perfect welcome to the L-shaped porch.

An American family with three young children, living in Geneva Switzerland wanted a vacation property in Los Angeles and were thrilled to find a brand new contemporary home 2 blocks from the beach in Redondo Beach. This 3,200 square foot home with four bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths was designed by Los Angeles architect Patrick John Killen, founder and Managing Principal of Studio 9 one 2. Both the husband and the wife in this family have built careers in the fashion industry and wanted their home to reflect their international sense of style while still being a comfortable and playful environment for their children - and to honor the fact that this is - after all - a beach house. Surf's Up! The house is close enough to the beach to receive lots of ocean air and breezes; the property is also designed with an abundance of glass in large sweeping windows that flood this very open floor plan with natural light. The extra large patio that is revealed by sliding back several large glass panel doors expands the primary living area to include this outdoor space. The rooftop deck offers an additional private lounge area for daytime sunning or sunset cocktails with a teasing glimpse of the ocean and a panoramic view of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Each bedroom has its own private bath and there is a fireplace in one of the two living rooms and in the Master suite, to warm those South Bay evenings. All of this within a five minute stroll to the beach! Surf's Up! The interior designed by Studio 9 one 2 utilized an assortment of “green-friendly” materials, including cherry stained bamboo flooring. The colors of granite used in the chef-friendly kitchen accenting the stainless steel appliances are dark greens and rich browns .. all bathed in lots of natural light. In keeping with Cantoni’s motto of ”Great Design is a Way of Life” Bernadette designed a playroom for the children where they could have their own space to just hang out, play video games and watch movies. Each bedroom reflects the personalities of the children and the Master Bedroom is a soothing and relaxing retreat for the parents. On the main level the large open floor plan the Mercer sectional just beckons you to kick back and relax especially after spending the day at the beach. The dark oak Ritz dining table is perfect for entertaining the many friends and family who Surf's Up!get together for bar-b-ques and gourmet dining. The artwork has a wonderful punch of color to underscore the playfulness and Southern California beach vibe. What better way to enjoy a vacation with family and friends! This is a great home away from home with plenty of space and light and only two blocks to the ocean. That’s why Jake says “Surf’s Up!”

2012 NARI CAPITAL COTY, MERIT AWARD WINNER, RESIDENTIAL ADDITION UNDER $100,000 The owners of this split-foyer home have lived in Mclean for more than 15 years. As their children have grown, so has their need for added space. And even though they remodeled their kitchen about 10 years ago, the 12’ x 10’ room doesn’t meet their current needs. This latest addition again increases the size of the kitchen and adds a large barbeque deck and screened-in porch as well. Highlights of the new kitchen include a large center island for food preparation and seating, as well as new stainless steel appliances. Its open design leads to a casual dining area with a cathedral ceiling and palladium window. French doors on either side lead either to the barbeque deck or the screened in porch. Using maintenance-free decking and accessories, both spaces provide immediate access to a beautiful stone porch and manicured back yard. Now having a large group of family and/or friends is the least of the homeowners’ concerns. Inside or outside, they’ve got the space to entertain.

Our client was a family with younger children that came to us through the recommendations of former customers. Their existing house had been remodeled by them 10 years earlier and was well-suited to the married couple. With the addition of two younger children, they realized that the house just didn’t function very well for their family. Fortunately, the husband and wife took their time thinking about what they wanted, and by the time they met with us, had their needs well laid out. We brought in local Architect, James Stroupe, and recommended him to the client as a collaborative professional who could help us achieve their goals. This proved to be the case. Jim quickly produced design drawings for them within six weeks that clearly reflected all of the client’s needs and preferences while at the same time dramatically re-creating the home in a beautiful contemporary design. The new home required a complete reconstruction of the existing house that left only one bathroom unaltered. New square footage was added at the lower level to expand and reconfigure the living area, while an entirely new upstairs wing was constructed to create space for a new master suite with views out toward the ocean. The entire roof was rebuilt, all new windows and interior doors were added and the full exterior received a new modern looking stucco finish. Stainless steel cable railings were added to the decks to create an updated look, and fine hardwood accents were used to pull the design together. Our efforts produced a new three bedroom, three bath home with a large and inviting ground floor patio area, wide open living areas on the first floor with new kitchen, bathroom and dining room. The photographs in this section show the striking results- clean lines, dramatic architectural touches, and light, open and airy interior spaces. Our client was very pleased with the results.

This 1990s brick home had decent square footage and a massive front yard, but no way to enjoy it. Each room needed an update, so the entire house was renovated and remodeled, and an addition was put on over the existing garage to create a symmetrical front. The old brown brick was painted a distressed white. The 500sf 2nd floor addition includes 2 new bedrooms for their teen children, and the 12'x30' front porch lanai with standing seam metal roof is a nod to the homeowners' love for the Islands. Each room is beautifully appointed with large windows, wood floors, white walls, white bead board ceilings, glass doors and knobs, and interior wood details reminiscent of Hawaiian plantation architecture. The kitchen was remodeled to increase width and flow, and a new laundry / mudroom was added in the back of the existing garage. The master bath was completely remodeled. Every room is filled with books, and shelves, many made by the homeowner. Project photography by Kmiecik Imagery.