The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Toronto

Ward Jewell, AIA was asked to design a comfortable one-story stone and wood pool house that was "barn-like" in keeping with the owner’s gentleman farmer concept. Thus, Mr. Jewell was inspired to create an elegant New England Stone Farm House designed to provide an exceptional environment for them to live, entertain, cook and swim in the large reflection lap pool. Mr. Jewell envisioned a dramatic vaulted great room with hand selected 200 year old reclaimed wood beams and 10 foot tall pocketing French doors that would connect the house to a pool, deck areas, loggia and lush garden spaces, thus bringing the outdoors in. A large cupola “lantern clerestory” in the main vaulted ceiling casts a natural warm light over the graceful room below. The rustic walk-in stone fireplace provides a central focal point for the inviting living room lounge. Important to the functionality of the pool house are a chef’s working farm kitchen with open cabinetry, free-standing stove and a soapstone topped central island with bar height seating. Grey washed barn doors glide open to reveal a vaulted and beamed quilting room with full bath and a vaulted and beamed library/guest room with full bath that bookend the main space. The private garden expanded and evolved over time. After purchasing two adjacent lots, the owners decided to redesign the garden and unify it by eliminating the tennis court, relocating the pool and building an inspired "barn". The concept behind the garden’s new design came from Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello with its wandering paths, orchards, and experimental vegetable garden. As a result this small organic farm, was born. Today the farm produces more than fifty varieties of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers; many of which are rare and hard to find locally. The farm also grows a wide variety of fruits including plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, peaches, guavas, avocados (Haas, Fuerte and Reed), olives, pomegranates, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and ten different types of citrus. The remaining areas consist of drought-tolerant sweeps of rosemary, lavender, rockrose, and sage all of which attract butterflies and dueling hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Laura Hull Photography. Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock. Landscape Design: Laurie Lewis Design. General Contractor: Martin Perry Premier General Contractors

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

photos by Pedro Marti This large light-filled open loft in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City was purchased by a growing family to make into their family home. The loft, previously a lighting showroom, had been converted for residential use with the standard amenities but was entirely open and therefore needed to be reconfigured. One of the best attributes of this particular loft is its extremely large windows situated on all four sides due to the locations of neighboring buildings. This unusual condition allowed much of the rear of the space to be divided into 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, all of which had ample windows. The kitchen and the utilities were moved to the center of the space as they did not require as much natural lighting, leaving the entire front of the loft as an open dining/living area. The overall space was given a more modern feel while emphasizing it’s industrial character. The original tin ceiling was preserved throughout the loft with all new lighting run in orderly conduit beneath it, much of which is exposed light bulbs. In a play on the ceiling material the main wall opposite the kitchen was clad in unfinished, distressed tin panels creating a focal point in the home. Traditional baseboards and door casings were thrown out in lieu of blackened steel angle throughout the loft. Blackened steel was also used in combination with glass panels to create an enclosure for the office at the end of the main corridor; this allowed the light from the large window in the office to pass though while creating a private yet open space to work. The master suite features a large open bath with a sculptural freestanding tub all clad in a serene beige tile that has the feel of concrete. The kids bath is a fun play of large cobalt blue hexagon tile on the floor and rear wall of the tub juxtaposed with a bright white subway tile on the remaining walls. The kitchen features a long wall of floor to ceiling white and navy cabinetry with an adjacent 15 foot island of which half is a table for casual dining. Other interesting features of the loft are the industrial ladder up to the small elevated play area in the living room, the navy cabinetry and antique mirror clad dining niche, and the wallpapered powder room with antique mirror and blackened steel accessories.

This Culver City California backyard installation includes: New poured concrete stairway with cantilevered steps and formed concrete planter descending to a custom-built outdoor kitchen with BBQ and tile counter tops, shelving and cooking area. Adjacent to a new weather treated Red Wood patio cover complete with outdoor lighting and speakers. This Stunning patio cover is installed over a new Ashlar pattern dark gray texture stamped concrete paver patio, parallel to new poured concrete pads with pea gravel between, to form a pathway through the new planter areas filled with lush drought tolerant, California friendly plants.

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

Once cramped and constricted with a wall between the living area and kitchen, this space required some strategic thinking. By removing the wall, the two rooms now had to integrate together seamlessly. This was achieved by using neutral colors to flow with the adjacent areas, integrating all of the appliances with wood panels and, hiding the cooktop and downdraft behind the second level of the island to create a furniture feel. In addition, open display areas at different levels give the kitchen a more furniture-like feel. The microwave drawer and oven were placed in the island to be hidden from the living area. The Blanco Silgranit sink color was selected to blend in with the countertop and be seamless in that area. Wide wall cabinets, accessories in every cabinet, drawer dividers, a 30” deep 3-drawer cabinet for pots and pans, and additional storage in the Dry Bar make up for the lost storage in the existing kitchen.

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

The genesis of design for this desert retreat was the informal dining area in which the clients, along with family and friends, would gather. Located in north Scottsdale’s prestigious Silverleaf, this ranch hacienda offers 6,500 square feet of gracious hospitality for family and friends. Focused around the informal dining area, the home’s living spaces, both indoor and outdoor, offer warmth of materials and proximity for expansion of the casual dining space that the owners envisioned for hosting gatherings to include their two grown children, parents, and many friends. The kitchen, adjacent to the informal dining, serves as the functioning heart of the home and is open to the great room, informal dining room, and office, and is mere steps away from the outdoor patio lounge and poolside guest casita. Additionally, the main house master suite enjoys spectacular vistas of the adjacent McDowell mountains and distant Phoenix city lights. The clients, who desired ample guest quarters for their visiting adult children, decided on a detached guest casita featuring two bedroom suites, a living area, and a small kitchen. The guest casita’s spectacular bedroom mountain views are surpassed only by the living area views of distant mountains seen beyond the spectacular pool and outdoor living spaces. Project Details | Desert Retreat, Silverleaf – Scottsdale, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB; Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn Featured in Phoenix Home and Garden, May 2015, “Sporting Style: Golf Enthusiast Christie Austin Earns Top Scores on the Home Front” See more of this project here: http://drewettworks.com/desert-retreat-at-silverleaf/

Example of a large classic master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub design in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

L. Craigie
Inspiration for a timeless exterior home remodel in Chicago

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

Set in Montana's tranquil Shields River Valley, the Shilo Ranch Compound is a collection of structures that were specifically built on a relatively smaller scale, to maximize efficiency. The main house has two bedrooms, a living area, dining and kitchen, bath and adjacent greenhouse, while two guest homes within the compound can sleep a total of 12 friends and family. There's also a common gathering hall, for dinners, games, and time together. The overall feel here is of sophisticated simplicity, with plaster walls, concrete and wood floors, and weathered boards for exteriors. The placement of each building was considered closely when envisioning how people would move through the property, based on anticipated needs and interests. Sustainability and consumption was also taken into consideration, as evidenced by the photovoltaic panels on roof of the garage, and the capability to shut down any of the compound's buildings when not in use.

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

The original gardens of this Fort Worth estate date back to 1936 when the famous Kansas City landscape architecture firm Hare & Hare designed the grounds featuring sculpted boxwood english knot garden. The homeowner purchased the adjacent lot and called on the accomplished Dallas & Fort Worth architect Ralph Duesing to create a design to honor the original design but scale to encompass the full four and a half acres. This extensive remodel included the extension of the perimeter walls, wrought iron elements and the addition of a classical carved limestone lily pond and Diana sculptured pedestal by Davis Cornell.

These clients decided to make this home their Catalina Mountain homestead, after living abroad for many years. The prior yard enclosed only a small portion of their available property, and a wall obstructed their city lights view of northern Tucson. We expanded the yard outward to take advantage of the space and to also integrate the topography change into a 360 vanishing edge pool. The home previously had log columns in keeping with a territorial motif. To bring it up to date, concrete cylindrical columns were put in their place, which allowed us to expand the shaded locations throughout the yard in an updated way, as seen by the new retractable canvas shade structures. Constructed by Mike Rowland, you can see how well he pulled off the projects precise detailing of Bianchi's Design. Note the cantilevered concrete steps, the slot of fire in the midst of the spa, the stair treads that don't quite touch the adjacent walls, and the columns that float just above the pool water.