Balance Creative
Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor and brown floor family room remodel in Toronto with blue walls and no fireplace

Front of house view shows pivot entry door, metal spillway water feature, roof deck balcony and grand window into living room. Exterior panels are black Swiss Pearl cement board and "heavy dash" stucco finish.

Balance Creative
Inspiration for a timeless carpeted and brown floor family room remodel in Toronto with blue walls and no fireplace

Custom etched address stone
This is an example of a small southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone water fountain landscape in San Diego for summer.

This is an example of a traditional stone front porch design in San Francisco with a roof extension.

After a bad paint job left little of the home's 1910 original charm, this fireplace was transformed into a warm modern focal point. Gorgeous natural materials form the basis of this project.

The guesthouse of our Green Mountain Getaway follows the same recipe as the main house. With its soaring roof lines and large windows, it feels equally as integrated into the surrounding landscape. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

An old stone mansion built in 1924 had seen a number of renovations over the decades and the time had finally come to address a growing list of issues. Rather than continue with a patchwork of fixes, the owners engaged us to conduct a full house renovation to bring this home back to its former glory and in line with its status as an international consulate residence where dignitaries are hosted on a regular basis. One of the biggest projects was remodeling the expansive 365 SF kitchen; the main kitchen needed to be both a workhorse for the weekly catered events as well as serve as the residents’ primary hub. We made adjustments to the kitchen layout to maximize countertop and storage space as well as enhance overall functionality, being mindful of the dual purposes this kitchen serves. To add visual interest to the large space we used two toned cabinets – classic white along the perimeter and a deep blue to distinguish the two islands and tall pantry. Brushed brass accents echo the original brass hardware and fixtures throughout the home. A kitchen this large needed a statement when it came to the countertops so we selected a stunning Nuvolato quartzite with distinctive veining that complements the blue cabinets. We restored and refinished the original Heart of Pine floors, letting the natural character of the wood shine through. A custom antique Heart of Pine wood top was commissioned for the fixed island – the warmth of wood was preferable to stone for the informal seating area. The second island serves as both prep area and staging space for dinners and events. This mobile island can be pushed flush with the stationary island to provide a generous area for the caterers to expedite service. Adjacent to the main kitchen, we added a second service kitchen for the live-in staff and their family. This room used to be a catch-all laundry/storage/mudroom so we had to get creative in order to incorporate all of those features while adding a fully functioning eat-in kitchen. Using smaller appliances allowed us to capture more space for cabinetry and by stacking the cabinets and washer/dryer (relocated to the rear service foyer) we managed to meet all the requirements. We installed salvaged Heart of Pine floors to match the originals in the adjacent kitchen and chose a neutral finish palette that will be easy to maintain. These kitchens weren’t the only projects we undertook in the historic stone mansion. Other renovations include 7 bathrooms, flooring throughout (hardwoods, custom carpets/runners/wall-to-wall), custom drapery and window treatments, new lighting/electric, as well as paint/trim and custom closet and cabinetry.

Inspiration for a coastal two-story wood exterior home remodel in Orange County

Michael J. Lee Photography Master Suite, Kitchen, Dining Room, and Family Room renovation project. Paint: Ben. Moore "Kasbah" and "Autumn Purple" Interior view of the oval closet and dressing table.

As part of the landscape design for this Modern Farmhouse in Mequon, Wisconsin, the stone entry piers were built with the same stone as the garden walls. Renn Kuennen Photography

Balance Creative
Inspiration for a timeless marble floor and white floor double shower remodel in Toronto with beaded inset cabinets, green cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

Example of a classic master carpeted bedroom design in San Francisco with beige walls

This is an example of a large contemporary front yard concrete paver walkway in Dallas.

Elegant medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room photo in San Francisco with gray walls and no fireplace