These clients own a very unique home, originally constructed circa 1760 and extensively renovated in 2008. They were seeking some additional space for home exercise, but didn’t necessarily want to disturb the existing structure, nor did they want to live through construction with a young child. Additionally, they were seeking to create a better area for outdoor entertaining in anticipation of installing an in-ground pool within the next few years. This new pavilion combines all of the above features, while complementing the materials of the existing home. This modest 1-story structure features an entertaining / kitchenette area and a private and separate space for the homeowner’s home exercise studio.

Classic colour palette. Backlit mirror. Hair appliance storage in pullout. Subway tile custom shower. Extra large niches. PC: Justine Milton
Example of a small trendy master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and white floor alcove shower design in Calgary with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

The Master Bedroom balcony provides second story outdoor living with tree top views, access to the grass roof and a connection to the lively local neighborhood below. To offset the higher cost of the grass roof we custom engineered and attained city approval of one of the first uses of a grass roof to meet Low Impact Development stormwater mitigation requirements on a single family residence in Los Angeles. The roof drainage now drains directly to the street, but was installed in anticipation of installation of a 2,500gal rainwater re-use cistern under the front yard for irrigation and toliet flushing further enhancing the project's water conservation design.

So when the Society of Fellows asked me to redesign their guest rooms at Eliot House last year, my goal was to assemble an up-to-date, Harvard interior for the 21st century. The fundamental colors of Red (for Crimson), Blue & Yellow felt primarily appropriate for the venue. By blending elements from four eras on campus – Georgian, Arts & Crafts, Modernism and Counter Culture – I anticipated conjuring a sense of the past, from the vantage point of today. Notice the amount of years each style was culturally prevalent. The first 140 years of the college was run by British Loyalists. I wonder how Harvard changed afterwards? The campus certainly continued maintaining English standards of excellence, as did most of the country, by the way. Traditional furniture from this era remains timeless and becomes especially appealing when masterfully intertwined with today’s materials. That earthy Arts & Crafts period has more to do with the college than I’d first imagined. Its principles echo narratives of Thoreau at Walden Pond, Eagle Scouts, horse saddles and several clubs on campus.

These clients own a very unique home, originally constructed circa 1760 and extensively renovated in 2008. They were seeking some additional space for home exercise, but didn’t necessarily want to disturb the existing structure, nor did they want to live through construction with a young child. Additionally, they were seeking to create a better area for outdoor entertaining in anticipation of installing an in-ground pool within the next few years. This new pavilion combines all of the above features, while complementing the materials of the existing home. This modest 1-story structure features an entertaining / kitchenette area and a private and separate space for the homeowner’s home exercise studio.

Step into the primary suite of my beloved home, The French Chateau. Designing bedrooms is always a very personal endeavor, and designing our own bedroom was no exception. The space must serve as a sanctuary, providing solace at the end of each day, while also uplifting and inspiring us each morning. However, the task always becomes more complex when we are designing a primary suite for two individuals who may not always share the same vision or aesthetic preferences; my husband and I are no different. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In crafting this space, I desired a room that would bring a smile to our faces whether we were entering or leaving. It needed to encompass beauty that resonated with my love for French, feminine design while also providing comfort for my husband, who has a preference for a richer, more masculine palette. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The design of this primary suite revolves around neutral colors, with a touch of blue—a hue that both of us appreciate—as an accent color. The indulgence of luxurious linens eagerly welcomes us, creating an anticipation for rest after long and bustling days. Throughout the room, you'll notice various cherished family photos adorning our dressers, capturing precious memories. Additionally, a captivating original painting graces a sidewall, showcasing our favorite place, the Jardin des Tuileries at the Louvre in Paris. These personal touches imbue the space with a profound sense of home, rejuvenating our souls and infusing the atmosphere with a unique warmth.

Once home to antiquarian Horace Walpole, ‘Heckfield Place’ has been judiciously re-crafted into an ‘effortlessly stylish' countryside hotel with beautiful bedrooms, as well as two restaurants, a private cinema, Little Bothy spa, wine cellar, gardens and Home Farm, centred on sustainability and biodynamic farming principles. Spratley & Partners completed the dramatic transformation of the 430-acre site in Hampshire into the UK’s most eagerly anticipated, luxury hotel in 2018, after a significant programme of restoration works which began in 2009 for private investment company, Morningside Group. Later, modern additions to the site, which was being used as a conference centre and wedding venue, were largely unsympathetic and not in-keeping with the original form and layout; the house was extended in the 1980s with a block of bedrooms and conference facilities which were small, basic and required substantial upgrading. The rooms in the listed building had also been subdivided, creating cramped spaces and disrupting the historical plan of the house. After years of careful restoration and collaboration, this elegant, Grade II listed Georgian house and estate has been brought back to life and sensitively woven into its secluded landscape surroundings.

Mike and Anne of Barrington Hills desperately needed to update and renovate both their kid’s hall bath and guest bath, and in their 1980’s home each project presented a different set of unique challenges to overcome. When they set out to identify the right remodeling company to partner with, it was important to find a company that could help them to visualize design solutions for the bath renovations. When they came across Advance Design Studio’s website, they were immediately drawn to the solution-oriented remodeling process and the family friendly company. They say they chose Advance Design because of the integrated approach of “Common Sense Remodeling”, making the design, project management and construction all happen in one place. When they met with Project Designer Michelle Lecinski, they knew they chose the right company. “Michelle’s excellent work on the initial designs made it easy to proceed with Advance Design Studio,” Mike said. Like most homeowners anticipating a big renovation project, they had some healthy fears; with two bathrooms being remodeled at the same time they worried about timeframes and staying within budget. With the help of Michelle, and the “Common Sense” guidelines, they were confident that Advance Design would stay true, orchestrating all the moving parts to stay within both the estimated timeline and budget. The guest bath offered the biggest design challenge. A dormer obstruction made the already cramped shower awkward to access. Mike and Anne also wanted the shower size to be expanded, making it more accommodating. Working with Advance’s construction expert DJ Yurik, Michelle relocated the shower concealing the original dormer and creating a larger, more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing guest shower. The unsightly and not at all user-friendly closet was removed and replaced with elegant White Maple Dura Supreme cabinetry with much improved function featuring dual tall linen cabinets, a special makeup area and two sinks, providing a dual vanity which was extremely important for better guest use. The Fossil Brown quartz countertop is in pleasing contrast to the white cabinetry, and coordinates nicely with the mocha porcelain tile gracing the shower for an accent. The decorative glazed turquoise tile backsplash, tile border, and bottle niche adds a taste of marine green to the room, while marble-looking porcelain tile makes guests feel they are staying in a 5-star hotel. Polished nickel Kohler plumbing fixtures were chosen to add a touch of sophistication. This renovated guest bath is comfortable and elegant, and Anne and Mike’s house guests may never want to leave! “The end result was updated and restyled bathrooms that the client will enjoy and increase the value of their home,” Designer Michelle said. The children’s hall bath had its own set of challenges. The current placement of the sink was not conducive to the best use of the existing space, nor did it allow for any visual interest, something Advance’s designers always work to achieve even within the tight confines of a small bath. Advance removed the linen closet and used the gain in wall space to create a dramatic focal point on the vanity wall. They also took additional space that wasn’t being used for new Storm Gray Dura Supreme tall built-in linen cabinets, creating functional storage space that the former bath lacked. A customized glass splash panel was created for the bath, and the high ceilings with skylights were accented with a custom-made track lighting fixture featuring industrial pipe and cage materials. Authentic cement encaustic tile was used wall to wall surrounding the vanity to create a dramatic and interesting back drop for the new elegant and stately furniture-like double sink wall. Hand-made encaustic tile originated in Western Europe beginning in the 1850’s and reminded Mike and Anne of tile they had seen and loved from their travels overseas. Today, encaustic tile has made a re-appearance in today’s modern bath design with its wide array of appealing patterns and artistic use of color. Oil rubbed bronze Kohler fixtures echo the black accents in the beautiful tile pattern and reflect the matte black of the unique lighting detail. Easy to maintain Blanca Arabescato Quartz countertops add practicality and natural beauty and compliments the warm wood porcelain tile floors. This handsome bath has generated praise from friends and family even before it’s complete unveiling as photos of the space leaked out on social media! It’s not only completely functional to use, but especially pretty to look at. “Advance Design Studio did a terrific job for us. We really appreciated how easy it was to work with them on a complex project of the complete remodeling of two bathrooms. They very capably handled all the details from design, to project management, to construction. It is a great group of people to work with and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them again anytime,” Mike said.

Custom modern home office for two done in Echo wood wenge wood veneer with Hafele pullout table. Design Vitaly Zinovyev
Trendy home office photo in San Francisco

Once home to antiquarian Horace Walpole, ‘Heckfield Place’ has been judiciously re-crafted into an ‘effortlessly stylish' countryside hotel with beautiful bedrooms, as well as two restaurants, a private cinema, Little Bothy spa, wine cellar, gardens and Home Farm, centred on sustainability and biodynamic farming principles. Spratley & Partners completed the dramatic transformation of the 430-acre site in Hampshire into the UK’s most eagerly anticipated, luxury hotel in 2018, after a significant programme of restoration works which began in 2009 for private investment company, Morningside Group. Later, modern additions to the site, which was being used as a conference centre and wedding venue, were largely unsympathetic and not in-keeping with the original form and layout; the house was extended in the 1980s with a block of bedrooms and conference facilities which were small, basic and required substantial upgrading. The rooms in the listed building had also been subdivided, creating cramped spaces and disrupting the historical plan of the house. After years of careful restoration and collaboration, this elegant, Grade II listed Georgian house and estate has been brought back to life and sensitively woven into its secluded landscape surroundings.

This gorgeous Chicago backyard was designed and developed in several stages. First Rooftopia removed a damaged concrete slab, installed a new porcelain paver patio and rebuilt a fresh and modern stairway to the backdoor. The next phase of the project involved building a large custom pergola to keep the space open while providing shade and allow for more accent lighting over the dining and lounge. The outdoor kitchen incorporates a grill with a smoker and a double tap kegerator to pour refreshing hoppy beverages for those much anticipated post Covid summer gatherings! The garden bed has a mix of perennial grasses and flowers that accentuate the lemon yellow dining chairs with pops of orange for an overall joyful summer vibe.

Morpurgo Architects enhanced the approach to this French Provincial home by modifying the long driveway to create a circular courtyard in front of the house, thereby elevating the sense of anticipation prior to entering. We expanded the undefined front foyer, so that the new vestibule with grand staircase and mosaic flooring would be worthy of this significant home. In redesigning the kitchen, we concurrently opened the family room wall and extended it to meet a windowed corridor with a floor-to-ceiling glass space that blurs the distinction between the two rooms. The passageway, infused with sunlight, provides expansive views to the verdant landscaped property. As part of the overall expansion of this home, Morpurgo Architects increased the size of the wing that contains a family room, cabana, playroom and garage space. A new master bedroom wing was constructed as a bookend, establishing a symmetry for the French Provincial façade. This suite contains a sitting room, bedroom area with a tray ceiling, spacious closets and elegant bathrooms.

Michael & Aneta Hupfauer Review: StoneForest did an Amazing job coordinating our remodel from start to finish. We were surprised at how smoothly the process evolved and we completed our job earlier than anticipated. Their design ideas perfectly complimented our vision and our design concepts. We absolutely Love our kitchen and we are so thankful we chose StoneForest to manage our project. StoneForest offered flooring options that we could not find anywhere else. Wonderful 7 1/2" wide natural hickory floors brighten the kitchen, living room, and dining area and accentuate, perfectly, the cabinetry and countertops. Our Shaker style cabinetry is beautiful and very well constructed with soft-close drawers and doors and a beautiful deep stain. We chose two different color for the furniture elements (Island & Desk) and a golden brown for the base and wall cabinets. We also decided to use two different color and finish counter tops. One is a multi colored quartz with grey and brown hues. The outer counter top is a darker brown. The back splash brings all of the colors and textures together in perfect union.

Morpurgo Architects enhanced the approach to this French Provincial home by modifying the long driveway to create a circular courtyard in front of the house, thereby elevating the sense of anticipation prior to entering. We expanded the undefined front foyer, so that the new vestibule with grand staircase and mosaic flooring would be worthy of this significant home. In redesigning the kitchen, we concurrently opened the family room wall and extended it to meet a windowed corridor with a floor-to-ceiling glass space that blurs the distinction between the two rooms. The passageway, infused with sunlight, provides expansive views to the verdant landscaped property. As part of the overall expansion of this home, Morpurgo Architects increased the size of the wing that contains a family room, cabana, playroom and garage space. A new master bedroom wing was constructed as a bookend, establishing a symmetry for the French Provincial façade. This suite contains a sitting room, bedroom area with a tray ceiling, spacious closets and elegant bathrooms.

Oblong soaking tub, marble shower with twin roller system sliding glass shower doors and Infinity shower drain. Don Pearse Photographers Inc.
Freestanding bathtub - large traditional master white tile and marble tile marble floor and white floor freestanding bathtub idea in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and white countertops

After more than a decade in their new Alexandria home, our clients decided their kitchen was ready for a major refresh, both in form and function. The original stained wood cabinets and granite countertops had served them well, but the traditional design no longer fit with their evolving style which had become less formal and more transitional. The homeowners liked the idea of two-toned kitchen cabinets, so we opted for a combination of pure white and charcoal gray for dramatic contrast. Brushed gold fixtures and statement brass pulls add warmth and sophistication. The distinctive quartzite counters are a showstopper, with unique veining and striking color variation, from blue to gray to ochre. The shimmering blue-gray backsplash unites the entire space. The overall goal was to create an expansive entertaining kitchen that could accommodate our clients’ large gatherings of family and friends, and provide them with several zones for prepping, serving, seating, and socializing. Also high on the clients’ wish list: a more generous island, professional appliances, and better storage. We expanded the island in two directions to allow for comfortable seating at the counter with plenty of room for a table in the breakfast nook. An expandable bar height table in the adjacent dining area offers even more flexibility for eating and socializing. We designed a custom hutch which has a multitude of storage options and functionality – open display shelves, roll-outs, drawers, extra counter/serving space, as well as a beverage fridge and appliance garage/coffee center. On the opposite side of the kitchen, we replaced a small pantry closet with a furniture style built-in that took advantage of underutilized space. Anticipating issues with supply chain, we opted to use a local cabinet maker on this project which allowed us to fully customize the cabinets for optimal functionality. Other stand-out features include a Thermador appliance package, workstation farmhouse sink, ‘touch’ faucet, hot+cold water dispenser, and hidden toe-kick storage. Our clients now have a beautiful, cohesive space that reflects their personal style and fulfills their dream of a having an expansive kitchen where they can cook and entertain for years to come.

This gorgeous Chicago backyard was designed and developed in several stages. First Rooftopia removed a damaged concrete slab, installed a new porcelain paver patio and rebuilt a fresh and modern stairway to the backdoor. The next phase of the project involved building a large custom pergola to keep the space open while providing shade and allow for more accent lighting over the dining and lounge. The outdoor kitchen incorporates a grill with a smoker and a double tap kegerator to pour refreshing hoppy beverages for those much anticipated post Covid summer gatherings! The garden bed has a mix of perennial grasses and flowers that accentuate the lemon yellow dining chairs with pops of orange for an overall joyful summer vibe.

A post-war, Glen Park house was dark and tiny but had good bones and imaginable city views. It was one of those “little boxes on the hillside”. Our design transformed and expanded it into a bright, open, and comfortable four bedroom townhouse with panoramic city views. A huge new sliding skylight/roof hatch above an open staircase illuminates and seamlessly connects the central living and circulation spaces. All bedrooms plus a family room/guest suite are oriented towards the rear and front of house, ensuring direct connection to the out of doors, and privacy from family gathering spaces. The home is modern but has touches of warm traditional styling, anticipating a family with kids, a couple who enjoy entertaining, and or folks who like hunkering down with a good book and a morning cup of coffee. Structural Engineer: Gregory Paul Wallace SE Photographer: Open Homes Photography

Photography by Jenn Verrier
Walk-in shower - small modern 3/4 multicolored tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor walk-in shower idea in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, wood countertops, a wall-mount toilet and gray walls