The fully furnished, maintenance-free Benita embraces inspired villa living in the waterfront neighborhood of Portofino at the award-winning Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. With stunning waterfront views, this model home is presented with three bedrooms, a den, or optional fourth bedroom. Created by award-winning Romanza Interior Design, the Benita represents coastal elegance, for those desiring a clean, bright seasonal retreat with white transitional furnishings and backgrounds with strong tropical accent tones. The Benita’s open floor plan includes a formal dining room; a kitchen that has upgraded appliances and cabinetry, and a café and a great room with oversized sliding glass doors that open to an outdoor living area with outdoor kitchen. Flanked by an arbor and sculptured trellis tails, the pool and spa are designed to an ornate and sculptured curved design. Additional features include a water bowl that cascades water gently into a circular pool shelf complete with decorative up-lighting. The outdoor living provides motorized screens and a misting system that creates an insect-free outdoor environment. Image ©Advanced Photography Specialists

Since it was built in 1910 by Alfred and Grace Hare this home has been lovingly cared for by it’s past and present owners, and for that care it was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. The home’s charm is everywhere: stone porch, shingles, original wood wainscoting and trims, glass buffet, but our clients’ young family had desperately outgrown the tiny kitchen. With thought, care, and quality workmanship an addition at the rear afforded them a new kitchen and main bedroom suite. Hive Home designed the kitchen to marry modern function with the home’s historic whimsy, creating a fresh space that feels right at home. The main bath is a soothing respite with a custom colored historic tile floor and a generous shower space. So many subtle details were decided on (keep an eye out for the hares), and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. We hope our clients love their new space for many happy years to come!

Since it was built in 1910 by Alfred and Grace Hare this home has been lovingly cared for by it’s past and present owners, and for that care it was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. The home’s charm is everywhere: stone porch, shingles, original wood wainscoting and trims, glass buffet, but our clients’ young family had desperately outgrown the tiny kitchen. With thought, care, and quality workmanship an addition at the rear afforded them a new kitchen and main bedroom suite. Hive Home designed the kitchen to marry modern function with the home’s historic whimsy, creating a fresh space that feels right at home. The main bath is a soothing respite with a custom colored historic tile floor and a generous shower space. So many subtle details were decided on (keep an eye out for the hares), and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. We hope our clients love their new space for many happy years to come!

What is Americana in today's time? The classical American ranch home has withstood the test of time and saw many styles and many designs change it every decade or so. Today we present to you our take on modern time Americana. We enclosed the small front porch area to create an interior atrium/mud room with a built-in beach with shoes storage drawers and a door leading to the garage. As you walk in you will see the fireplace with its new stone facade and wooden mantel above. Notice the design is a semi-open floor plan. A floating wall (not connected to any other walls) divides the kitchen and the living room but is still open to be able to enjoy circular movement around the house when entertaining. The kitchen is a combination of sage color with Alder wood accent cabinets and island. some cool cabinets feature like hidden garage appliances with pull out bases. extra deep base cabinets and beautiful Dekton stone countertops. This stone is almost indestructible when it comes to kitchens. The 200sq addition at the back allowed us to enlarge the master bedroom and the old bathrooms where all aligned the extension allowed us to build an additional powder room as well. A good size walk-in closet was added as well with a new master bathroom service the enlarged master bedroom. The result is what we consider today’s Americana for the classical ranch homes.

New windows and doors, clear heart western red cedar siding, and a coordinated 3-part color palette freshened up the look of this mid-century ranch home. The goal was to reinforce the homes heritage and clean lines.

Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the Craftsman/Prairie style is one of the few truly American architectural styles. It was developed around the turn of the century by a group of Midwestern architects and continues to be among the most comfortable of all American-designed architecture more than a century later, one of the main reasons it continues to attract architects and homeowners today. Oxbridge builds on that solid reputation, drawing from Craftsman/Prairie and classic Farmhouse styles. Its handsome Shingle-clad exterior includes interesting pitched rooflines, alternating rows of cedar shake siding, stone accents in the foundation and chimney and distinctive decorative brackets. Repeating triple windows add interest to the exterior while keeping interior spaces open and bright. Inside, the floor plan is equally impressive. Columns on the porch and a custom entry door with sidelights and decorative glass leads into a spacious 2,900-square-foot main floor, including a 19 by 24-foot living room with a period-inspired built-ins and a natural fireplace. While inspired by the past, the home lives for the present, with open rooms and plenty of storage throughout. Also included is a 27-foot-wide family-style kitchen with a large island and eat-in dining and a nearby dining room with a beadboard ceiling that leads out onto a relaxing 240-square-foot screen porch that takes full advantage of the nearby outdoors and a private 16 by 20-foot master suite with a sloped ceiling and relaxing personal sitting area. The first floor also includes a large walk-in closet, a home management area and pantry to help you stay organized and a first-floor laundry area. Upstairs, another 1,500 square feet awaits, with a built-ins and a window seat at the top of the stairs that nod to the home’s historic inspiration. Opt for three family bedrooms or use one of the three as a yoga room; the upper level also includes attic access, which offers another 500 square feet, perfect for crafts or a playroom. More space awaits in the lower level, where another 1,500 square feet (and an additional 1,000) include a recreation/family room with nine-foot ceilings, a wine cellar and home office. Photographer: Jeff Garland

This week’s home feature is located in University Park on Purdue Street and was recently renovated by Alair Dallas-Fort Worth. Originally built in 2004, our clients purchased this home in 2019 because they liked the location and the layout. They knew they wanted to update it as a lot of the spaces felt dark and dated. The extensive renovation included an entirely new kitchen, primary bath, powder, with significant upgrades to the living room, bar, study, mudroom and secondary baths. Because the homeowners have a large dog, they chose to live in the home during the remodel. The live-in renovation was made possible by Alair’s careful planning around the family’s schedules along with the temporary addition of an operable kitchen and dining setup in the formal living room. Mid-remodel, COVID-19 struck, but the Alair team quickly adapted and continued to work efficiently to complete the project on time. Upon entering the home, you are greeted by a grand staircase. A bright living room is situated to the left of the entrance and a formal dining room is to the right, punctuated by a marvelous chandelier. The home features a large combined family room and kitchen area featuring a dark-hued, custom metal commercial vent-a-hood that draws a stark contrast to the brilliant white marble slab island. The overhauled bar area includes the addition of a wine room featuring ample storage for the homeowners’ collection. This combined living area is truly an entertainer’s dream. The second floor consists of the renovated primary suite, two additional bedrooms and a refinished media room. The primary suite is complete with a large, walk-in closet and a spa-inspired bath with a large soaking bathtub, rain shower, double vanities and floor-to-ceiling custom wood cabinets. Alair Dallas-Fort Worth is an award-winning custom home building and renovation company currently serving the great communities of Park Cities, Preston Hollow, North Dallas, East Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Salina, Rockwall, Richardson and surrounding areas. Utilizing their proprietary construction management system, Client Control™, Alair builds a full-disclosure partnership with its clients by allowing customers to maximize their involvement in the home building and renovation process. Alair truly believes that Living Better Starts Here™; from multi-million dollar whole home remodels, additions and custom new builds to major kitchen and bath renovations, all with the same level of care, craftsmanship, and top-notch customer service. For more information, visit www.alairdfw.com or find us on Instagram @alairhomesdallas_fortworth. This Home of the Week is presented by the Dallas Builders Association. For information on the Association please visit www.dallasbuilders.com.

The fully furnished, maintenance-free Benita embraces inspired villa living in the waterfront neighborhood of Portofino at the award-winning Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. With stunning waterfront views, this model home is presented with three bedrooms, a den, or optional fourth bedroom. Created by award-winning Romanza Interior Design, the Benita represents coastal elegance, for those desiring a clean, bright seasonal retreat with white transitional furnishings and backgrounds with strong tropical accent tones. The Benita’s open floor plan includes a formal dining room; a kitchen that has upgraded appliances and cabinetry, and a café and a great room with oversized sliding glass doors that open to an outdoor living area with outdoor kitchen. Flanked by an arbor and sculptured trellis tails, the pool and spa are designed to an ornate and sculptured curved design. Additional features include a water bowl that cascades water gently into a circular pool shelf complete with decorative up-lighting. The outdoor living provides motorized screens and a misting system that creates an insect-free outdoor environment. Image ©Advanced Photography Specialists

Photo: Megan Hansen © 2017 Houzz
Transitional living room photo in San Francisco

What is Americana in today's time? The classical American ranch home has withstood the test of time and saw many styles and many designs change it every decade or so. Today we present to you our take on modern time Americana. We enclosed the small front porch area to create an interior atrium/mud room with a built-in beach with shoes storage drawers and a door leading to the garage. As you walk in you will see the fireplace with its new stone facade and wooden mantel above. Notice the design is a semi-open floor plan. A floating wall (not connected to any other walls) divides the kitchen and the living room but is still open to be able to enjoy circular movement around the house when entertaining. The kitchen is a combination of sage color with Alder wood accent cabinets and island. some cool cabinets feature like hidden garage appliances with pull out bases. extra deep base cabinets and beautiful Dekton stone countertops. This stone is almost indestructible when it comes to kitchens. The 200sq addition at the back allowed us to enlarge the master bedroom and the old bathrooms where all aligned the extension allowed us to build an additional powder room as well. A good size walk-in closet was added as well with a new master bathroom service the enlarged master bedroom. The result is what we consider today’s Americana for the classical ranch homes.

Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac near the beautiful Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, this 1907 Parnassus Heights home belongs to an active couple with a young daughter. They had dreams of transforming their home into a comforting refuge, equally equipped to whip up cocktails for guests, welcome them home after a good surf, or host their aging parents. We touched just about every space in this home, including the kitchen, hallway, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. In addition, we updated the basement hall that leads to the outside, transforming it into a more presentable entry for guests, and created an enclosed storage space. Given the age of the home and its location on a hillside, precise structural work was involved to renew the home’s integrity. In the kitchen, which was originally dark and cramped, we made dramatic changes. We expanded the kitchen’s footprint, designing it to capture the expansive city views and create the indoor-outdoor living space they had always wanted. A large island with custom concrete countertops, a custom banquette, and beautiful red oak cabinets are just a few of the standout features in this soothing space. The rest of this home’s spaces received equally thoughtful planning: floor-to-ceiling bedroom wardrobes with integrated lighting, custom built-in elements, carefully layered lighting for ambiance and drama, a steam shower in the primary bathroom, and the addition of skylights to bring in natural light. This home is now an inviting, purposeful space perfectly tailored to infusing joy and ease into their everyday lives.

What is Americana in today's time? The classical American ranch home has withstood the test of time and saw many styles and many designs change it every decade or so. Today we present to you our take on modern time Americana. We enclosed the small front porch area to create an interior atrium/mud room with a built-in beach with shoes storage drawers and a door leading to the garage. As you walk in you will see the fireplace with its new stone facade and wooden mantel above. Notice the design is a semi-open floor plan. A floating wall (not connected to any other walls) divides the kitchen and the living room but is still open to be able to enjoy circular movement around the house when entertaining. The kitchen is a combination of sage color with Alder wood accent cabinets and island. some cool cabinets feature like hidden garage appliances with pull out bases. extra deep base cabinets and beautiful Dekton stone countertops. This stone is almost indestructible when it comes to kitchens. The 200sq addition at the back allowed us to enlarge the master bedroom and the old bathrooms where all aligned the extension allowed us to build an additional powder room as well. A good size walk-in closet was added as well with a new master bathroom service the enlarged master bedroom. The result is what we consider today’s Americana for the classical ranch homes.

What is Americana in today's time? The classical American ranch home has withstood the test of time and saw many styles and many designs change it every decade or so. Today we present to you our take on modern time Americana. We enclosed the small front porch area to create an interior atrium/mud room with a built-in beach with shoes storage drawers and a door leading to the garage. As you walk in you will see the fireplace with its new stone facade and wooden mantel above. Notice the design is a semi-open floor plan. A floating wall (not connected to any other walls) divides the kitchen and the living room but is still open to be able to enjoy circular movement around the house when entertaining. The kitchen is a combination of sage color with Alder wood accent cabinets and island. some cool cabinets feature like hidden garage appliances with pull out bases. extra deep base cabinets and beautiful Dekton stone countertops. This stone is almost indestructible when it comes to kitchens. The 200sq addition at the back allowed us to enlarge the master bedroom and the old bathrooms where all aligned the extension allowed us to build an additional powder room as well. A good size walk-in closet was added as well with a new master bathroom service the enlarged master bedroom. The result is what we consider today’s Americana for the classical ranch homes.

An active family who have been friends and clients of Debbie Etheridge for many years presented her with an exciting yet formidable challenge--to transform their lower level, a dark unfinished basement into a useable, comfortable space where they could relax and lounge as a family, or entertain guests in style. Debbie Etheridge had completed several projects on the family's homes over the years but with this project she had her work cut out. In addition to being a dank, dark below ground basement with no delineated functional rooms, the space possessed many different angles and awkward ducting bulkheads to contend with. With the use of durable vinyl plank flooring, multileveled, innovative lighting, quartz countertops, sleek wood cabinetry, back-painted glass, and stacked stone columns, Debbie designed a space which exudes comfort, elegance and light. In addition to the recessed pots and wall washers, she used pendants, LED under cabinet and counter lighting and specified the installation of metallic back painted glass panels to dramatically enhance reflected brightness and somewhat mimic windows in the windowless space. Durable fabrics (like chenille) in neutral colours wear well and add cozy texture. A custom wine unit was installed. Before the transformation the space was just a large, unruly storage area. Now, the newly designed space functions as the bedazzling basement of they family's dreams. The contractor Paul Blewman of PTB Construction skillfully orchestrated the build, and the quarter cut white oak slab cabinetry for the kitchen and bathroom was provided by Kitchens by Design in North Vancouver.

This unique opportunity to design a new home in Millport was one which JAM Architects relished. The location of the site on a hill on the outskirts of the village presented an opportunity to design a new two bedroom home taking advantage of the views of the ocean. The unusual floorplan design with a ‘kink’ at the centre point of the building is as a result of this with the front of the home orientated to address the street and the rear half positioned to ensure the best views from the corner window in the livingroom and the master bedroom window. As a result of a recent accident our client for this project was unfortunately left with some mobility issues and our brief was therefore to design a two bedroom home with all the primary accomodation on the ground floor, with a studio space, guest bedroom and guest shower room on the first floor. The ground floor consists of a open plan kitchen, dining and living room with direct access to a generous outside patio area. In addition to this living space there is also a utility room, w.c, master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. On the first floor our client was also keen to take advantage of the sea views from this elevated position and a sheletered balcony area has been incorporated adjacent to the studio space.

The home began life as an unassuming ranch on a large lot in Palos Heights, a southern suburb of Chicago. And then, several years ago, this quiet little home was purchased for the large property that it sat on by two people that love to garden and envisioned a dream. Along with the yard, the quiet home was also in for a complete new life with it’s new people. Lifestyles today require homes to function differently than 50 years ago so the clients went about building-in new and repurposing original space. When all the dust settled from the large construction revisions the clients looked at their existing kitchen and decided it was now time to move this room to another level. LaMantia kitchen designer, James Campbell, CKD, saw many opportunities to open the flow and enlarge the existing kitchen footprint. But, mostly, the drawings Campbell presented to the clients, played mainly into marrying the glorious outdoor space into the interior of the home. The original furnace room, sitting just behind the kitchen and abandoned during a previous construction, offered the possibility of additional kitchen square footage. Enlarging both the Family and Living Room entries into the kitchen played a significant part of the open flow Campbell was looking to achieve;widening these opening allowed clear views of both the front and back outside expanses of the home.

Captivated by South Haven’s natural charm and waterfront beauty, this storybook, waterfront abode is exceptionally true to its lakefront character. Featuring over 3,600 square feet with five bedroom and three-and-a-half baths, the careful design of this open and charming layout paired with grand views from nearly every room, capture all the warmth and playfulness of lakefront living. • A beach friendly fiber cement siding in a cheerful shade of blue blends seamlessly with the water backdrop, while contrasting white trim and darker blue window clad lend definition to the exterior. • An impressive kitchen with stunning Ann Sachs tile backsplash, quartz countertops, richly stained bistro table and Viking Appliances overlook the generous, but clearly defined, living and dining rooms. • Extensive built-ins with extra storage and workspace, such as a distinctive dining serving piece featuring quartz stone and a lake reflecting mirror, maximize space and make entertaining a breeze. • Playful design elements like Thibaut wallpaper, braided hemp cabinet insets and white-washed European white oak floors complement the home’s coastal flair with nautical décor and warm hues. • Fine finishes and rich trim details including wainscot, various painted ceilings, louvered doors on cabinetry, and fireplace surround with kitchen coordinating quartz stone, show off the intricate design gestures. • Skillfully designed upstairs presents a restful master retreat with private balcony, two guest bedrooms, convenient laundry featuring sleek retractable doors and space maximizing built in bunk beds with ultra-clever steps that provide storage. • The lower level’s extra guest quarters, additional laundry, full beach bath with top-to-bottom tiled shower, diligent kitchenette, beach-friendly stained concrete floors, outdoor shower that keeps sand at bay, and direct access to the sugary sands of Lake Michigan. Photography by Chuck Heiney

Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac near the beautiful Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, this 1907 Parnassus Heights home belongs to an active couple with a young daughter. They had dreams of transforming their home into a comforting refuge, equally equipped to whip up cocktails for guests, welcome them home after a good surf, or host their aging parents. We touched just about every space in this home, including the kitchen, hallway, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. In addition, we updated the basement hall that leads to the outside, transforming it into a more presentable entry for guests, and created an enclosed storage space. Given the age of the home and its location on a hillside, precise structural work was involved to renew the home’s integrity. In the kitchen, which was originally dark and cramped, we made dramatic changes. We expanded the kitchen’s footprint, designing it to capture the expansive city views and create the indoor-outdoor living space they had always wanted. A large island with custom concrete countertops, a custom banquette, and beautiful red oak cabinets are just a few of the standout features in this soothing space. The rest of this home’s spaces received equally thoughtful planning: floor-to-ceiling bedroom wardrobes with integrated lighting, custom built-in elements, carefully layered lighting for ambiance and drama, a steam shower in the primary bathroom, and the addition of skylights to bring in natural light. This home is now an inviting, purposeful space perfectly tailored to infusing joy and ease into their everyday lives.

We were thrilled to partner with our clients in updating and renovating the entire main floor of their inviting Silver Spring home. Tucked away in one of the area’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods this once ultra-traditional-style home is now the ideal blend of past and present. Knowing that we were not only bringing their space current but also creating a tailored in-law suite for their mother’s upcoming stay — we got right to work on our mission of removing all obstacles to this family’s vision. This comprehensive project includes a larger, more functional kitchen plus Great Room addition; in-law suite with bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and living space; family room; and screened in porch / deck combination ideal for grilling, entertaining and enjoying the outdoors. The expansive and open-layout-kitchen features Dura Supreme Shaker Cabinetry painted white and paired with glistening quartz counters. The space continues on and seamlessly opens up into the breezy Great Room and dining area. The newly equipped Mini-Split HVAC System provides independent temperature control and the elegant Universal Design In-Law Bathroom ensures both safety and usability. Hardwood flooring was installed and the existing flooring throughout was refinished to match — giving way to the smooth and continuous feel throughout the entire main level. We are proud to have created and delivered this transitional redesign and remodel all while keeping a small footprint for the in-law suite and not losing any of the original space.