Pool - mid-sized traditional backyard concrete and custom-shaped pool idea in Nashville

Lee has her office on the mezzanine. The antique desk was bought for her as a gift from Sertorio. Photo: Margot Hartford © 2014 Houzz
Home office - contemporary home office idea in San Francisco

design by beth keim, owner lucy and company, photos by mekenzie france
Inspiration for an industrial kids' room remodel in Charlotte

Our customer hired us to refinish garage floor and apply epoxy and color flakes. He also had us design and install base, upper, and full length cabinets. The flooring project took 3 days to complete. The cabinet and slatwall project took 4 days to complete

Blue painted Brookhaven cabinets with a mix of quartz and walnut plank countertops. The appliances are in a matte finish with copper accents that match the copper farmer sink.

Along the Eastern Shore of Massachusetts lies an unexpected beauty. Great Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts, once pasture for the town’s sheep and cattle, remains a New England secret, a hidden jewel, an oasis for wildlife and beach lovers. The homeowners, long-time Ipswich residents and avid boaters, left their previous Ipswich address, longing for the Great Neck lifestyle, for the fresh salt air, the birds, the beaches and the ocean breeze; NOT for the dark, cramped kitchen that came with this house purchase. Windhill Builders was called in immediately and 3 months later, Voila’! The crisp white kitchen with clean lines, immaculate finishes and dreamy white marble were exactly what the homeowners dreamed of. The custom wine cooler & bar area, barn door and coordinating white mudroom perfected the flow for the homeowners. They love their new coastal cottage! Photo by Eric Roth

Ball & Albanese
Large beach style bathroom photo in New York

D & J Manufacturing where instrumental in manufacturing the the sliding panels hiding the TV. Jo Morra of Foremost Construction and Yvonne designed this contemporary slab fireplace using Laminam Oxide - Nero from Stonetile. This is a large format thin porcelain material.

Example of a large minimalist concrete floor and brown floor entryway design in Seattle with gray walls and a glass front door

Eclectic dining room photo in New York

Shelly Harrison
Kitchen - coastal kitchen idea in Boston

The French Quarter® on yoke hanger bracket is a perfect fit when you have a broad area to address. The light is still very versatile architecturally and can be used on almost any home. This light is available in natural gas, liquid propane, and electric.

At 35+ years, this Ft Worth lake-home is wearing it’s age very well. To freshen up the surrounding landscaping and supporting elements, our clients dreamed of an avant garde look for both the front and backyard outdoor living space that tied together. One Specialty designed a re-imagined driveway, address monument, welcoming area and Xeriscape landscaping for the front. We constructed a multi-level deck made with Trex, complete with an outdoor kitchen and outdoor bar in the backyard, resulting in multiple vignettes for entertaining which are fully wheelchair accessible. To see before photos and more information on this project: http://www.onespecialty.com/lake-retreat/

Example of a mid-sized danish master white tile and ceramic tile terrazzo floor and double-sink walk-in shower design in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Jagoe Homes, Inc. Project: Creekside at Deer Valley, Mulberry Model Home. Location: Owensboro, Kentucky. Site: CSDV 81.
Inspiration for a small craftsman red one-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Other with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Ran Artzi
Inspiration for a large modern exterior home remodel in Los Angeles

Rebecca Segar
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept dark wood floor family room remodel in New York with a wall-mounted tv, gray walls and no fireplace

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

A Jacqui 4 drawer dresser with brass hardware sits in the entry of the foyer, framed by Indo ikat blue & navy on white manila hemp wallpaper. Photography by Jacob Snavely