Situated within a one-acre lot in Austin’s Tarry Trail neighborhood, the backyard of this existing 1933- vintage historical house was underutilized. The owners felt that the main drawbacks of the existing backyard were a general disconnection between each outdoor area and a general lack of relationship to the house proper. Therefore, the primary goal of the redesign was a scheme that would promote the use of the outdoor zones, with the pool as a centerpiece. The first major design move was to frame the pool with a new structure as a backdrop. This cabana is perpendicular to the main house and creates a clear “bookend” to the upper level deck while housing indoor and outdoor activities. Under the cabana’s overhang, an integrated seating space offers a balance of sunlight and shade while an outdoor grill and bar area facilitate the family’s outdoor lifestyle. The only enclosed program exists as a naturally lit perch within the canopy of the trees, providing a serene environment to exercise within the comfort of a climate-controlled space. A corollary focus was to create sectional variation within the volume of the pool to encourage dynamic use at both ends while relating to the interior program of the home. A shallow beach zone for children to play is located near the family room and the access to the play space in the yard below. At the opposite end of the pool, outside the formal living room, another shallow space is made to be a splash-free sunbathing area perfect for enjoying an adult beverage. The functional separation set up by the pool creates a subtle and natural division between the energetic family spaces for playing, lounging, and grilling, and the composed, entertaining and dining spaces. The pool also enhances the formal program of the house by acting as a reflecting pool within a composed view from the front entry that draws visitors to an outdoor dining area under a majestic oak tree. By acting as a connector between the house and the yard, the elongated pool bridges the day-to-day activities within the house and the lush, sprawling backyard. Planter beds and low walls provide loose constraints to organize the overall outdoor living area, while allowing the space to spill out into the yard. Terraces navigate the sectional change in the landscape, offering a passage to the lower yard where children can play on the grass as the parents lounge by the outdoor fireplace.

A young Skokie couple needed home remodeling ideas to accommodate their four growing children. A second story addition doubled the space of their ranch-style home, creating four bedrooms upstairs and combining smaller rooms into a spacious living area on the first floor. This custom home renovation features faucets, sinks, and tubs by Kohler® and ceramic tile by Daltile®. The exterior was updated with a rustic stone façade, cherry wood accents, and a copper roof.

Built and designed with (unstained) pressure treated lumber, this second story deck connects the home to the backyard with plenty of style. The deck stairs transition the structure to the patio below and feature both wood and metal as seen in the white pickets. In addition, a lower level safety gate secures the space for children and pets. Deck design and construction by Archadeck.

Is it an atrium or sunroom? You decide! This home office addition is awash in natural light and beautiful views.
Sunroom - large traditional medium tone wood floor sunroom idea in DC Metro

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

This home, built in 1920, is a quintessential Virginia Highland craftsman bungalow in intown Atlanta. The home underwent an extensive renovaton that included the addition of a screened porch and deck off the back, dormers on the second story in the front, and finishing out the basement level. Most interior spaces were updated including the kitchen, multiple bathrooms, a mudroom and laundry room.

Middlefork was retained to update and revitalize this North Shore home to a family of six. The primary goal of this project was to update and expand the home's small, eat-in kitchen. The existing space was gutted and a 1,500-square-foot addition was built to house a gourmet kitchen, connected breakfast room, fireside seating, butler's pantry, and a small office. The family desired nice, timeless spaces that were also durable and family-friendly. As such, great consideration was given to the interior finishes. The 10' kitchen island, for instance, is a solid slab of white velvet quartzite, selected for its ability to withstand mustard, ketchup and finger-paint. There are shorter, walnut extensions off either end of the island that support the children's involvement in meal preparation and crafts. Low-maintenance Atlantic Blue Stone was selected for the perimeter counters. The scope of this phase grew to include re-trimming the front façade and entry to emphasize the Georgian detailing of the home. In addition, the balance of the first floor was gutted; existing plumbing and electrical systems were updated; all windows were replaced; two powder rooms were updated; a low-voltage distribution system for HDTV and audio was added; and, the interior of the home was re-trimmed. Two new patios were also added, providing outdoor areas for entertaining, dining and cooking. Tom Harris, Hedrich Blessing

Placed within an idyllic beach community, this modern family home is filled with both playful and functional spaces. Natural light reflects throughout and oversized openings allow for movement to the outdoor spaces. Custom millwork completes the kitchen with concealed appliances, and creates a space well suited for entertaining. Accents of concrete add strength and architectural context to the spaces. Livable finishes of white oak and quartz are simple and hardworking. High ceilings in the bedroom level allowed for creativity in children’s spaces, and the addition of colour brings in that sense of playfulness. Art pieces reflect the owner’s time spent abroad, and exude their love of life – which is fitting in a place where the only boundaries to roam are the ocean and railways. KBC Developments Photography by Ema Peter www.emapeter.com

Pit crew alert!!! This high-test four (4) drawer chest will have your champ gaining extra laps & winning high scores for neatness!!! High-octane dresser available in glossy red finish is a winner for additional storage. • Hi-speed bright red finish • Faux gas nozzle releases from side for fast "refueling" • Four Retractable Drawers • Spoiler type slim shelf for toy display • Open cubby divided storage for books & collectibles • Gas gauge detailed upper concealed cabinet • Removable Pump Nozzle • 5 – year warranty

Property Marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Welcome to 636 Hudson Street, a Hoboken classic with the perfect blend of original architectural details & all the conveniences of modern life. Currently used as a 1 family home, 636 Hudson St. offers the flexibility of an additional rental, in-law suite or au pair apartment. This premier brownstone has five floors of living and entertaining space, 3-5 bedrooms , 4 bath , grand family room with working wood burning fireplace, wine bar, children's play room and beautiful planted garden. A rare offering, this timeless home is ideal for the urban family.

A family with 4 children, elementary to high school, remodel their home to accommodate their lifestyle. The project included the addition of 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and the renovation of the kitchen, 2 1/2 baths, family room and mudroom. The kitchen includes quartz counter tops, custom cabinets, and Wolf Induction cook top and built in oven.

This fresh modern farmhouse began as a cape home with years of additions and adds on, creating no formal structure. Rocco J Lettieri worked to keep the footprint of the home due to limitations based on the wetland conservations on the property and opted to go from a traditional home to a modern barn with a semi-open plan. The goal was to feel clean and crisp throughout all of the seasons. It was built for a close family so the layout is designed to be inviting for their children as well. Photo Credit: Tria Giovan

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

Property Marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Welcome to 636 Hudson Street, a Hoboken classic with the perfect blend of original architectural details & all the conveniences of modern life. Currently used as a 1 family home, 636 Hudson St. offers the flexibility of an additional rental, in-law suite or au pair apartment. This premier brownstone has five floors of living and entertaining space, 3-5 bedrooms , 4 bath , grand family room with working wood burning fireplace, wine bar, children's play room and beautiful planted garden. A rare offering, this timeless home is ideal for the urban family.

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath.

Frank Ambrosino
Trendy bedroom photo in New York

House renovation with addition project. The addition allowed us to expand the kitchen and create space for an island. We took away some of the partition walls to allow for an open floor plan into the dining and living room. We Installed wide plank heart pine flooring and a reclaimed pine island top. We built a custom fire mantel, victorian style pillars to support the carrier beam that was needed to replace the structural partition walls, and a reclaimed farm style dining room table. Within the addition we created two children's bedrooms with hickory hardwood flooring. We created custom window seats and bookshelves in each bedroom and a kids bathroom complete with custom vanities. (See Built-ins/Furniture) Master bedroom has custom double vanity, walk-in shower and stand alone claw foot soaking tub. This project won us the Better Homes Builders Awards in 2013.

Property Marketed by Hudson Place Realty - Welcome to 636 Hudson Street, a Hoboken classic with the perfect blend of original architectural details & all the conveniences of modern life. Currently used as a 1 family home, 636 Hudson St. offers the flexibility of an additional rental, in-law suite or au pair apartment. This premier brownstone has five floors of living and entertaining space, 3-5 bedrooms , 4 bath , grand family room with working wood burning fireplace, wine bar, children's play room and beautiful planted garden. A rare offering, this timeless home is ideal for the urban family.

The Woodland Birch Light Fixture was inspired by Canada's native animals. Bears, beavers, foxes and caribou roam across a beautiful birch background delighting the imagination of all with our woodland-themed kids room light fixture. This drum light is a perfect addition to a child's room or nursery for a charming and trendy look.