Example of a 1950s pool design in Phoenix

AFTER: New 2-story rear addition with basement. Sunroom/ living space and bathroom (with circular windows) added to main level, covered patio added to upper level, and basement addition is located under deck and sunroom.

Inspiration for a modern wood exterior home remodel in Boston

Traditional wood exterior home idea in Philadelphia

We were approached by a young couple to design and build an addition to their 1950’s concrete block house. Like many of our projects, the addition became more than a new living room and bedroom suite; it became an opportunity to create an outdoor room. As it was, the only connection to the backyard and outdoors was through a side door that bisected an already cramped kitchen. It became apparent early on that adding on to the back of the house was our best strategy and we offset our addition to the west side of the house in order to create an outdoor ‘room.’ From the existing house you step down to the new living room and walk out onto a elevated lawn which is created by two raised landscaping walls. The Owner’s bedroom suite is located above the new living room and became a sort of ‘tree house’ for the couple. Lowered horizontal windows facing East and West do not frame a particular view, but instead cut a slice through their surrounding neighborhood and beyond. Although we did not find a pot o’ gold buried in the walls or backyard, as our clients hoped; we were able to work within their budget and transform their house. The shower walls are recycled slate roof shingles which are accented by a green glass tile. A solar tube in the shower provides daylight which is reflected into the room through a full length mirror above the vanity.

Design completed by Studio M Interiors smhouzzprojects@studiom-int.com Lori Hamilton Photography http://www.mingleteam.com

Originally built in 1889 a short walk from the old East Falls Church rail station, the vaguely reminiscent gothic Victorian was a landmark in a neighborhood of late 19th century wood frame homes. The two story house had been changed many times over its 116 year life with most of the changes diminishing the style and integrity of the original home. Beginning during the mid-twentieth century, few of the changes could be seen as improvements. The wonderfully dominate front tower was obscured by a bathroom shed roof addition. The exterior skin was covered with asbestos siding, requiring the removal of any wood detailing projecting from its surface. Poorly designed diminutive additions were added to the rear creating small, awkward, low ceiling spaces that became irrelevant to the modern user. The house was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young family purchased the house and immediately realized the inadequacies; sub-par spaces, kitchen, bathrooms and systems. The program for this project was closely linked to aesthetics, function and budget. The program called for significantly enlarging the house with a major new rear addition taking the place of the former small additions. Critically important to the program was to not only protect the integrity of the original house, but to restore and expand the house in such a way that the addition would be seamless. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house with significant living spaces, including reconfigured foyer, living room and dining room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms on the second floor. On the rear of the house a new addition created a new kitchen, family room, mud room, powder room and back stair hall. This new stair hall connected the new and existing first floor to a new basement recreation room below and a new master bedroom suite with laundry and second bathroom on the second floor. The entire exterior of the house was stripped to the original sheathing. New wood windows, wood lap siding, wall trim including roof eave and rake trim were installed. Each of the details on the exterior of the house matched the original details. This fact was confirmed by researching the house and studying turn-of-the-century photographs. The second floor addition was removed, facilitating the restoration of the four sided mansard roof tower. The final design for the house is strong but not overpowering. As a renovated house, the finished product fits the neighborhood, restoring its standing as a landmark, satisfying the owner’s needs for house and home. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Eat-in kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, solid surface countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

This contemporary renovation makes no concession towards differentiating the old from the new. Rather than razing the entire residence an effort was made to conserve what elements could be worked with and added space where an expanded program required it. Clad with cedar, the addition contains a master suite on the first floor and two children’s rooms and playroom on the second floor. A small vegetated roof is located adjacent to the stairwell and is visible from the upper landing. Interiors throughout the house, both in new construction and in the existing renovation, were handled with great care to ensure an experience that is cohesive. Partition walls that once differentiated living, dining, and kitchen spaces, were removed and ceiling vaults expressed. A new kitchen island both defines and complements this singular space. The parti is a modern addition to a suburban midcentury ranch house. Hence, the name “Modern with Ranch.”

Bathroom - large contemporary master beige tile and porcelain tile dark wood floor and brown floor bathroom idea in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Karyn Millet Photography
Example of a transitional dark wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with beige walls and a standard fireplace

This photo shows the single-story family room addition to an unusual 1930's stone house, with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors, and new flagstone patio. Photo: Jeffrey Totaro

This beautiful Birmingham, MI home had been renovated prior to our clients purchase, but the style and overall design was not a fit for their family. They really wanted to have a kitchen with a large “eat-in” island where their three growing children could gather, eat meals and enjoy time together. Additionally, they needed storage, lots of storage! We decided to create a completely new space. The original kitchen was a small “L” shaped workspace with the nook visible from the front entry. It was completely closed off to the large vaulted family room. Our team at MSDB re-designed and gutted the entire space. We removed the wall between the kitchen and family room and eliminated existing closet spaces and then added a small cantilevered addition toward the backyard. With the expanded open space, we were able to flip the kitchen into the old nook area and add an extra-large island. The new kitchen includes oversized built in Subzero refrigeration, a 48” Wolf dual fuel double oven range along with a large apron front sink overlooking the patio and a 2nd prep sink in the island. Additionally, we used hallway and closet storage to create a gorgeous walk-in pantry with beautiful frosted glass barn doors. As you slide the doors open the lights go on and you enter a completely new space with butcher block countertops for baking preparation and a coffee bar, subway tile backsplash and room for any kind of storage needed. The homeowners love the ability to display some of the wine they’ve purchased during their travels to Italy! We did not stop with the kitchen; a small bar was added in the new nook area with additional refrigeration. A brand-new mud room was created between the nook and garage with 12” x 24”, easy to clean, porcelain gray tile floor. The finishing touches were the new custom living room fireplace with marble mosaic tile surround and marble hearth and stunning extra wide plank hand scraped oak flooring throughout the entire first floor.

Bathroom - 1950s master gray tile and porcelain tile double-sink bathroom idea in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white countertops and a floating vanity

Traditional red two-story brick exterior home idea in New York

Renovation of a 1940's ranch house which inserts a new steel and glass volume between the existing house and carport. The new volume is taller in the back in order to create a more expansive interior within the otherwise compressed horizontality of the ranch house. The large expanse of glass looks out onto a private yard and frames the domestic activities of the kitchen within.

Transitional sunroom photo in Other

Adam Jablonski
Elegant kitchen photo in Chicago with white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash and shaker cabinets

A little girls room with a pale pink ceiling and pale gray wainscoat This fast pace second level addition in Lakeview has received a lot of attention in this quite neighborhood by neighbors and house visitors. Ana Borden designed the second level addition on this previous one story residence and drew from her experience completing complicated multi-million dollar institutional projects. The overall project, including designing the second level addition included tieing into the existing conditions in order to preserve the remaining exterior lot for a new pool. The Architect constructed a three dimensional model in Revit to convey to the Clients the design intent while adhering to all required building codes. The challenge also included providing roof slopes within the allowable existing chimney distances, stair clearances, desired room sizes and working with the structural engineer to design connections and structural member sizes to fit the constraints listed above. Also, extensive coordination was required for the second addition, including supports designed by the structural engineer in conjunction with the existing pre and post tensioned slab. The Architect’s intent was also to create a seamless addition that appears to have been part of the existing residence while not impacting the remaining lot. Overall, the final construction fulfilled the Client’s goals of adding a bedroom and bathroom as well as additional storage space within their time frame and, of course, budget. Smart Media