When my clients recently purchased this home, this room in the basement was a playroom for the previous owner's children. Marc works from home frequently and needed a functional, organized, and quiet space to work. In addition, he and his wife, Michele wanted to be able to store a collection of photo albums. The project had a few challenges, including the height of the window, a door that swings into the room, and a water valve access panel that needed to be moved. Marc took care of the water valve acces, and we did the rest. File storage, office supply storage, adjustable shelves, adequate counter space, crown moulding, and raised panel doors and drawers, make this room both stylish and functional. Photographs by Libbie Martin

This house was a very small mid-century bungalow with previous additions that resulted in a large but chaotic layout. The owners wanted to convert the house to a super-efficient, and charming Craftsman-style, 6 bedroom home for their large family and work at home. We achieved the space needs by moving a few walls for a more efficient, organized layout, setting up spaces for overlapping uses, and making a small upstairs addition. Every bit of square footage was optimized to meet the goals of the project without making the house huge or adding unnecessary cost. Much thought was given to the entry sequence near the front door. A large flow-through mudroom with storage for each family member, and adjacent laundry, make it easy for children to be taught to keep their things organized and to contribute to household chores. A mail station and central home admin area at the mudroom help keep clutter down at other areas and minimize home management tasks. A garage door near the kitchen gives quick access to bulk items. The existing house had too much view to the street from the living room through large corner windows, and too little entry transition, to the extent that the family did not feel comfortable using the living room much without shades drawn. We raised the window sills and brought the new windows in from the corner of the house, allowing plenty of light while protecting privacy and a sense of enclosure in the living room. We enlarged the front porch to create a more graceful transition from the public to private space. We located the front door so that the circulation from entry into the house would allow for furnishing the living room with a sitting circle that is not intruded upon by people walking through the room. Sight lines through the living spaces were an important consideration in the design. The owners wanted discreet spaces for living room, kitchen, dining and family room, but also wanted the living spaces to feel connected and to be able to easily watch their children. Being able to see the children playing in the yard while getting things done inside the house was also important. While largely working with the existing structure, we opened walls and rearranged the use of spaces to make a series of connected living spaces with long views through them. The character of the remodeled house is a contemporary Craftsman with classic materials and cool, consistent colors. A few arches echo through the house to frame spaces and soften the feeling of the rooms. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/bungalow-expansion/

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.

Real Estate Agents are often the most challenging clients to satisfy when it comes to their personal home renovations. They have usually worked with a variety of different contractors and understand the business, through and through. By the time we were finished with this country-style home renovation, this Real Estate professional began recommending Versa exclusively... for the past three years in a row! The home owner was looking for a unique solution for their large family, which includes six children. We opened up the space with the following renovations: Addition of a long, family kitchen Island Implementation of barn floors throughout Accommodation for and Installation of high-end double fridge

When my clients recently purchased this home, this room in the basement was a playroom for the previous owner's children. Marc works from home frequently and needed a functional, organized, and quiet space to work. In addition, he and his wife, Michele wanted to be able to store a collection of photo albums. The project had a few challenges, including the height of the window, a door that swings into the room, and a water valve access panel that needed to be moved. Marc took care of the water valve acces, and we did the rest. File storage, office supply storage, adjustable shelves, adequate counter space, crown moulding, and raised panel doors and drawers, make this room both stylish and functional. Photographs by Libbie Martin

This is a wrought iron light fixture with authentic crystals. Crafted with artistry and designed for a luminous glow, shoot for the moon and beyond with light fixtures from our Luna Collection. Interwoven with ethereal leaves in a variety of colors including gold, white, and turquoise, this stunning piece is the perfect addition to any room.

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.

This house was a very small mid-century bungalow with previous additions that resulted in a large but chaotic layout. The owners wanted to convert the house to a super-efficient, and charming Craftsman-style, 6 bedroom home for their large family and work at home. We achieved the space needs by moving a few walls for a more efficient, organized layout, setting up spaces for overlapping uses, and making a small upstairs addition. Every bit of square footage was optimized to meet the goals of the project without making the house huge or adding unnecessary cost. Much thought was given to the entry sequence near the front door. A large flow-through mudroom with storage for each family member, and adjacent laundry, make it easy for children to be taught to keep their things organized and to contribute to household chores. A mail station and central home admin area at the mudroom help keep clutter down at other areas and minimize home management tasks. A garage door near the kitchen gives quick access to bulk items. The existing house had too much view to the street from the living room through large corner windows, and too little entry transition, to the extent that the family did not feel comfortable using the living room much without shades drawn. We raised the window sills and brought the new windows in from the corner of the house, allowing plenty of light while protecting privacy and a sense of enclosure in the living room. We enlarged the front porch to create a more graceful transition from the public to private space. We located the front door so that the circulation from entry into the house would allow for furnishing the living room with a sitting circle that is not intruded upon by people walking through the room. Sight lines through the living spaces were an important consideration in the design. The owners wanted discreet spaces for living room, kitchen, dining and family room, but also wanted the living spaces to feel connected and to be able to easily watch their children. Being able to see the children playing in the yard while getting things done inside the house was also important. While largely working with the existing structure, we opened walls and rearranged the use of spaces to make a series of connected living spaces with long views through them. The character of the remodeled house is a contemporary Craftsman with classic materials and cool, consistent colors. A few arches echo through the house to frame spaces and soften the feeling of the rooms. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/bungalow-expansion/

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

We reimagined multiple spaces, ensuring every room spoke to each other while maintaining its personality. Their daughters’ bedrooms feel more vibrant and personal, with thoughtful details like new lighting, fresh paint, and furniture that will transition with them as they grow. The nursery became a dreamy retreat featuring cloud-like textures and soft, celestial touches—an enchanting space designed for their newest addition.

The clients had raised their family, a son and a daughter, in a large traditional house on five acres of property. Their plan was to build three houses, one for themselves and one for each of their married children, around a small lake on the back of the property and sell the old house. The small house, basically one bedroom, has an interior tropical garden at the waters edge, on the lower level. The entrance, on the upper level, contains the master bedroom suite, kitchen and dining area, which cantilevers over the garden below. The several roof levels are flat, and a diagonal sloping gable defines the main space. The owner died before the construction was finished and his widow lived there for many years, near her family. Eventually a new owner remodeled including a second floor addition, but the character of the original design remains.

We reimagined multiple spaces, ensuring every room spoke to each other while maintaining its personality. Their daughters’ bedrooms feel more vibrant and personal, with thoughtful details like new lighting, fresh paint, and furniture that will transition with them as they grow. The nursery became a dreamy retreat featuring cloud-like textures and soft, celestial touches—an enchanting space designed for their newest addition.

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

With two small children and a third on the way, the owners of an original eighteenth century Cape were quickly out-growing it, but they had no desire to move away from the Cape Cod home and location they loved. They simply needed a reconfigured layout and more space. Their goals included repurposing some existing rooms, adding a new kitchen/family area plus screen porch on the first level, and creating a master suite and roof deck with an outdoor shower on the second level, connected by a new stair. Our challenge was to improve the flow between existing spaces, and design the two-story addition without overwhelming the pint-sized original Cape. We took advantage of the lower grade at the rear of the property to step the first floor of the addition down two steps from the existing main level. This allowed us to align the second floor in the addition with the existing second floor, while gaining ceiling height in the new first-floor kitchen/family area. We composed a cross-gabled form for the addition to improve the second floor headroom, while maintaining the existing eave line. We then extended some existing shed dormers to gain headroom and enhance function. We also expanded the outdoor living area with privacy walls along the roof deck. New, larger, double–hung windows that match the lite configuration of the existing windows, along with new side-wall shingles and trim which resemble the existing exterior treatment help to tie the new addition to the old Cape. Though there’s no mistaking the new for the old, the two are simpatico. Katie Hutchison Studio collaborated with Geoffrey Koper Architect of Yarmouth Port, Mass. on the Yarmouth Port Antique Cape Renovation and Addition. Kitchen fit-out and interior finishes, fixtures, and furnishings by others. photo by Katie Hutchison

The update of this 2,200 square foot Upper East Side residence, transformed the former home and art studio of Laurent de Brunhoff of Babar fame, into a comfortable family residence for a young couple and their three children. The addition of a bedroom, laundry room and the conversion of studio and library spaces into communal family space are central to the architectural renovation. The interior design includes an Alvar Aalto-esque column cover, concealing existing utilities and nodding to the apartment’s storied history, with its resemblance to an elephant’s ear. New coffered ceilings, hardwood floors, doors, interior fixtures and furnishings respond to the needs and taste of a modern family while preserving the historical elegance of the 1912 building.

In 2010, with the homeowner’s children grown, they were faced with what has become a concern for many families, how to provide for aging parents. They considered many options, and made the decision to move her mother and father, both in their nineties, into their current family home. An addition was built that would best accommodate the parents’ needs, and include all the custom design details and quality construction of the main home.

These medical doctors desired a contemporary home that considered both their young children’s needs as well as their own. The kids had to have space to play and be, well, kids, and the adults required some tranquil details that could serve as a counterweight to their high-impact careers. The crawl space was adapted into a playroom, and the deck and communal outdoor space is the perfect area to host big family get-togethers. However, the private oasis garden off the master bedroom, as well as a large soaker tub and spa-like shower in the master ensuite, could help any hard-working person unwind. Additional Instagram-worthy details include the open vaulted living area, contemporary kitchen with a large island and built-in appliances, open metal and wood staircase, and customized closets and storage. This family also loves the great outdoors. They enjoy skiing, surfing, and everything in between. Good thing their new home, with its stunning views of the ocean and mountains, serve as a daily reminder that nature is just a stone’s throw away. That said, there is still no place quite like home to retreat to after a supreme day in the sun or in the snow.