This cozy sanctuary has been transformed from a drab sun-blasted deck into an inspirational home-above-home get away! Our clients work and relax out here on the daily, and when entertaining is cool again, they plan to host friends in their beautiful new space. The old deck was removed, the roof was repaired and new paver flooring, railings, a pergola and gorgeous garden furnishings & features were installed to create a one of a kind urban escape.

With the pending arrival of a beautiful baby girl, the homeowners of this 1928 Minneapolis Tudor wanted a basement that was conducive to a young child, but would still allow a place for family to gather and the occasional house guest. The original basement was typical; cold, lacking natural light with tiny, uncomfortably confined rooms and that “unique” basement smell. The goal was to reverse all of the ill effects of a rarely unappreciated space while increasing the performance of the older home. The frigid temperatures and wet, mildew odor was remedied by demolishing the entire slab floor and excavating to gain an extra six inches in ceiling height. It also allowed us to insulate to R-15, moisture proof under the new slab, install a drain tile and sump pump. Within the concrete slab is a hydronic, in-floor radiant heating system which further helps to add comfort to the space. Lastly, we also sprayed a closed-cell, expanding urethane foam on the inside of the foundation walls all the way to the first floor. To help bring more light down to the basement, we started by opening up the staircase on both sides. A curved wall bends light into the lower level while a countertop and cubbies below provide storage space for odds and ends. On the opposite wall, creatively placed cubbies provide places for paintings, ceramics and plants. We also removed the tiny 18” x 34” window on the south wall and installed a full-sized, high-efficiency, triple pane Pella egress window. To let lots of natural light into the window, we expanded the size of the cedar-lined egress well and included a built-in planter at the base to help bring life into an otherwise empty cavity. Small, unspecified spaces that became storage areas now have purpose. The areas are defined, yet open. Upon descending down the stairs, one is greeted by a large living room with curved walls, custom design media center, built-in daybed and bookshelves. Use of paint was important in the design. Naturally in older homes basements are going to have exposed beams, soffits and a whole gambit of nooks and crannies. Instead of disguising them, we played them up, which created a layer effect with the color. The color also adds a touch of playfulness which anyone, regardless of age, can enjoy. We scavenged the client’s garage and discovered that the previous homeowner kept the old, full-view glass front entry door in the garage. We re-installed the original glass knob and attached the door to sliding barn door hardware which was attached to the main structural beam of the lower level. On the other side of the door was the homeowners’ combined office and small fitness area. The office floor is a blend of thin strips of different colored cork. A built-in storage cabinet sits across from a site-built desk which forms to the curve of the dividing wall. A small, square hole in the curved wall provides a view to see who is coming down the stairs. Opposite of the office area and directly at the base of the stairs is a place for the homeowner’s treadmill. Hidden is the mechanical room, which is home to many green and energy efficient products. The washing machine is a low-water consumption unit while the dryer requires less energy to operate than most standard units. Both sit atop a checkerboard pattern of different colored VCT tiles. We also replaced the aging boiler, which only heated the first and second level, with a 95% efficient heat source for the entire house—including the basement. Behind the curved wall, the bathroom is conveniently located. A large, custom built no-formaldehyde added vanity supports the slab of remnant granite countertop. A piece of eco-resin wall panel, embedded with organic material, contains water in the shower and blends beautifully with the updated colors. Tucked under the stairs, we installed a dual-flush, low-water consumption toilet. Through creative space planning, we packed a lot of into a rather small space. As a result, we have three very happy homeowners who are enjoying their light, clean and safe lower level of their home—however, they’ve been hard pressed to think of it as a “basement”. highlights Moisture management system Insulated slab Hydronic in-floor heat Formaldehyde free cabinetry MN-made custom cabinets Ultra-low VOC paints Wool carpet Dual-flush toilet Cork floor No recessed lights Cedar egress window well with planter Re-used door Eco-resin

Our client reached out to Finesse, Inc. looking for a pet sanctuary for their two cats. A design was created to allow the fur-babies to enter and exit without the assistance of their humans. A cat door was placed an the exterior wall and a 30" x 80" door was added so that family can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. A pet friendly turf, designed especially with paw consideration, was selected and installed. The enclosure was built as a "stand alone" structure and can be easily dismantled and transferred in the event of a move in the future. Rob Kramig, Los Angeles

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Our client reached out to Finesse, Inc. looking for a pet sanctuary for their two cats. A design was created to allow the fur-babies to enter and exit without the assistance of their humans. A cat door was placed an the exterior wall and a 30" x 80" door was added so that family can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. A pet friendly turf, designed especially with paw consideration, was selected and installed. The enclosure was built as a "stand alone" structure and can be easily dismantled and transferred in the event of a move in the future. Rob Kramig, Los Angeles

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Impact windows and doors for hurricane protection. House designed by Holly Zickler and David Rifkind. Photography by Dana Hoff. Glass-and-glazing load calculations, analysis, supply and installation by Astor Windows and Doors.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

1960s hallway photo in Austin

Brooklyn backyard with pergola, built in children's activity wall, blue stone paving with synthetic grass inserts for the play area with swings. Outdoor storage boxes double up as benches.

Image Courtesy © Chris Becker
Example of a mid-sized beach style single-wall light wood floor and gray floor open concept kitchen design in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, marble backsplash, an island and green countertops

The homeowners had a very large and beautiful meadow-like backyard, surrounded by full grown trees and unfortunately mosquitoes. To minimize mosquito exposure for them and their baby, they needed a screened porch to be able to enjoy meals and relax in the beautiful outdoors. They also wanted a large deck/patio area for outdoor family and friends entertaining. We constructed an amazing detached oasis: an enclosed screened porch structure with all stone masonry fireplace, an integrated composite deck surface, large flagstone patio, and 2 flagstone walkways, which is also outfitted with a TV, gas fireplace, ceiling fan, recessed and accent lighting.

Our client reached out to Finesse, Inc. looking for a pet sanctuary for their two cats. A design was created to allow the fur-babies to enter and exit without the assistance of their humans. A cat door was placed an the exterior wall and a 30" x 80" door was added so that family can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. A pet friendly turf, designed especially with paw consideration, was selected and installed. The enclosure was built as a "stand alone" structure and can be easily dismantled and transferred in the event of a move in the future. Rob Kramig, Los Angeles

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional full sun and drought-tolerant backyard stone landscaping in Denver for summer.

Our client reached out to Finesse, Inc. looking for a pet sanctuary for their two cats. A design was created to allow the fur-babies to enter and exit without the assistance of their humans. A cat door was placed an the exterior wall and a 30" x 80" door was added so that family can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. A pet friendly turf, designed especially with paw consideration, was selected and installed. The enclosure was built as a "stand alone" structure and can be easily dismantled and transferred in the event of a move in the future. Rob Kramig, Los Angeles