This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Outdoor kitchen featuring custom cabinets by Challenger Designs. Professional outdoor appliances. Gorgeous contemporary home sitting on a Northern Indiana resort lake. Built with entertaining in mind; the home hosts a large open great room/kitchen on the main level and an amazing rooftop deck. General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture; Interior Design by Homeowner; Photography by Marie Martin Kinney. Images are the property of Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc. and may not be used without written consent.

It’s amazing what a few new accessories can do to freshen up a room! My client came to me needing to bring an update to her dark Family and Dining Rooms but not wanting to replace her beautiful cherry dining set. The first thing we did was to remove the china hutch from the buffet and replaced it with modern crystal lamps and an antiqued mirror with windowpane detail. We also updated the chandelier, reupholstered the dining chair seats in an ivory herringbone fabric, and added new upholstered host chairs in an ivory damask fabric. All these changes brighten the Dining Room and take it from traditional to updated! In the Family Room, we carried over elements from the Dining Room to create balance between the two spaces. Now my client’s main living space in her home is updated, fresh, and inviting, exactly what she wanted!

Adjacent to the home’s luxurious indoor kitchen, an outdoor cooking and dining area offers a restaurant-like destination for hosting game night. Equipped with a pizza oven, smoker, wine fridge, multiple grills, and refrigerators, the outdoor kitchen serves as an ideal spot for culinary enthusiasts looking to cook up a storm in the great outdoors. To the side, a spacious dining room is anchored by an elegant natural stone fireplace, infrared heaters, and a mounted TV perfect for hosting lively family nights or year-round sporting events. Providing comfort and functionality through the seasons, frameless movable glass doors envelop the space, creating a protected indoor-outdoor area for cooking and dining without ever missing the view of the Sierra Nevada. “I chose the all-glass, frameless NanaWall system to keep the amazing views of the Sierra Nevada mountains,” says Jim Grimes from Concrete North. “The design keeps the sightlines clean and open, making it feel like the outdoors is part of the space.”

It’s amazing what a few new accessories can do to freshen up a room! My client came to me needing to bring an update to her dark Family and Dining Rooms but not wanting to replace her beautiful cherry dining set. The first thing we did was to remove the china hutch from the buffet and replaced it with modern crystal lamps and an antiqued mirror with windowpane detail. We also updated the chandelier, reupholstered the dining chair seats in an ivory herringbone fabric, and added new upholstered host chairs in an ivory damask fabric. All these changes brighten the Dining Room and take it from traditional to updated! In the Family Room, we carried over elements from the Dining Room to create balance between the two spaces. Now my client’s main living space in her home is updated, fresh, and inviting, exactly what she wanted!

Transitional home office photo in New York

Evok Design Co. Evok Design Co. Here are the after photos of a great room redesign for a mountain retreat in the beautiful blue ridge mountains. Our challenge was to make this space feel warm and comfortable despite the amazing high ceilings. Before we got to it, this space felt cold and cavernous! But after we were done, it literally had a warm glow, and we hosted a party of 200 in this home for a wedding reception the night after the install was complete! (whew!) The owners of this home are a celebrity couple, who wish to remain unnamed, but they were thrilled with the results and so were we! The transition was AMAZING! We had the help of the best window treatment creators in town! We brought the ceiling down with some warm lighting, and used local photography. This is the couples third home, so the budget was not astronomical, but it sufficed. We used Bradington Young and Norwalk furniture, and luxury accessories from all over NC. We also had a custom mantle piece built after these photos were taken.

This sleek kitchen pairs modern convenience with inviting design, featuring streamlined stainless steel appliances seamlessly built into white cabinetry, creating a contemporary and clutter-free aesthetic. Hardwood floors add warmth and contrast beautifully against the fresh white surfaces. The open layout effortlessly connects the kitchen with the adjacent living room, highlighted by vibrant teal walls and warm, copper pendant lighting—perfect for hosting gatherings or enjoying quiet family moments.

Scott Amundson Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary white two-story stucco gable roof remodel in Minneapolis with a shingle roof

This petite kitchen was previously closed off from the dining and living room. The compact size of the kitchen made it difficult for the client to host their large family gatherings. With the new design, the spaces were joined by removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. The space of the kitchen was optimized by recessing items into adjacent walls. The refrigerator was recessed into the wall of the adjacent garage. The ovens, pantry, and appliance garage were recessed into the wall, borrowing a few square feet from the bedroom closet and living room. The finishes throughout the kitchen celebrate the clients love of travel and collection of keepsakes from around the world. The mosaic printed tiles on the backsplash and refrigerator wrap bring an eclectic mix of encaustic tile designs from around the world. Contractor: Bradley Builders Photo Credit: Fred Donham of PhotographerLink

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Evok Design Co. Here is the BEFORE PHOTO of a great room redesign for a mountain retreat in the beautiful blue ridge mountains. Our challenge was to make this space feel warm and comfortable despite the amazing high ceilings. Before we got to it, this space felt cold and cavernous! But after we were done, it literally had a warm glow, and we hosted a party of 200 in this home for a wedding reception the night after the install was complete! (whew!) The owners of this home are a celebrity couple, who wish to remain unnamed, but they were thrilled with the results and so were we! The transition was AMAZING! We had the help of the best window treatment creators in town! We brought the ceiling down with some warm lighting, and used local photography. This is the couples third home, so the budget was not astronomical, but it sufficed. We used Bradington Young and Norwalk furniture, and luxury accessories from all over NC. We also had a custom mantle piece built after these photos were taken.

Living in Los Angeles, who doesn’t want to have an amazing deck where they can hangout with friends and family during a warm nights. These homeowners love having people over but didn’t have a fun space to host them. They decided the best way to fix this was to add a beautiful deck to their backyard. With summer right around the corner, they are looking forward to sharing it with their friends and family.

Living in Los Angeles, who doesn’t want to have an amazing deck where they can hangout with friends and family during a warm nights. These homeowners love having people over but didn’t have a fun space to host them. They decided the best way to fix this was to add a beautiful deck to their backyard. With summer right around the corner, they are looking forward to sharing it with their friends and family.

Living in Los Angeles, who doesn’t want to have an amazing deck where they can hangout with friends and family during a warm nights. These homeowners love having people over but didn’t have a fun space to host them. They decided the best way to fix this was to add a beautiful deck to their backyard. With summer right around the corner, they are looking forward to sharing it with their friends and family.

For a family who believes fitness is not only an essential part of life but also a fun opportunity for the whole family to connect, build and achieve greatness together there is nothing better than a custom designed obstacle course right in your back yard. THEME The theme of this half mile trail through the woods is evident in the fun, creative and all-inclusive obstacles hidden in the natural flow of the land around this amazing family home. The course was created with adults and children, advanced and beginner athletes, competitive and entertaining events all accounted for. Each of the 13 obstacles was designed to be challenging no matter the size, skill or ability of the athlete lucky enough to run the course. FOCUS The focus for this family was to create an outdoor adventure that could be an athletic, social and personal outlet for their entire family while maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape and without altering the sweeping views from the home. The large scale of the challenging obstacles is camouflaged within the landscape using the rolling hills and mature trees as a natural curtain in every season. The beauty of the course does not diminish the functional and demanding nature of the obstacles which are designed to focus on multiple strength, agility, and cardio fitness abilities and intensities. STORAGE The start of the trail includes a raised training area offering a dedicated space clear from the ground to place bags, mats and other equipment used during the run. A small all-terrain storage cart was provided for use with 6 yoga mats, 3 medicine balls of various weights, rings, sprinting cones, and a large digital timer to record laps. GROWTH The course was designed to provide an athletic and fun challenge for children, teens and adults no matter their experience or athletic prowess. This course offers competitive athletes a challenge and budding athletes an opportunity to experience and ignite their passion for physical activity. Initially the concept for the course was focused on the youngest of the family however as the design grew so did the obstacles and now it is a true family experience that will meet their adapting needs for years. Each obstacle is paired with an instructional sign directing the runners in proper use of the obstacle, adaptations for skill levels and tips on form. These signs are all customized for this course and are printed on metal to ensure they last for many years. SAFETY Safety is crucial for all physical activity and an obstacle course of this scale presents unique safety concerns. Children should always be supervised when participating in an adventure on the course however additional care was paid to details on the course to ensure everyone has a great time. All of the course obstacles have been created with pressure treated lumber that will withstand the seasonal poundings. All footer pilings that support obstacles have been placed into the ground between 3 to 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 meters) and each piling has 2 to 3 bags of concrete (totaling over 90 bags used throughout the course) ensuring stability of the structure and safety of the participants. Additionally, all obstacle lumber has been given rounded corners and sanded down offering less splintering and more time for everyone to enjoy the course. This athletic and charismatic family strives to incorporate a healthy active lifestyle into their daily life and this obstacle course offers their family an opportunity to strengthen themselves and host some memorable and active events at their amazing home.

Living in Los Angeles, who doesn’t want to have an amazing deck where they can hangout with friends and family during a warm nights. These homeowners love having people over but didn’t have a fun space to host them. They decided the best way to fix this was to add a beautiful deck to their backyard. With summer right around the corner, they are looking forward to sharing it with their friends and family.

This amazing design is by Elite Naturescapes, Delphos, Ohio. The centerpiece is the Goldens' Cast Iron 30 gallon Fire Pit. Goldens' Cast Iron products are available in Ohio and nationwide. Our cast iron cookers and fire pits are must for upscale designers. Superior durability that is unmatched and unrivaled in the industry. Only the best deserve a Goldens'. Made in the USA. Inspired by the syrup kettles we made over 100 years ago, Goldens' Cast Iron Fire Pits will host generations of fireside chats. Our Fire Pits come pre-drilled to allow for rain to drain, for the addition of a gas line or for plumbing for a water feature. Steel stands are sold separately.

Ginny Stibolt