Montalco Custom Cabinets with Built-in Light Valance. Photos by Laurie
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen photo in Vancouver with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Elegant closet photo in Toronto

Eclectic dining room photo in Seattle

We took a builder basic home and did what others said could not be done. We removed a structural wall that divided the family room -dining area with the living room. Moved the kitchen from its original layout to face the backyard with a view the whole family could enjoy. We focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality without sacrificing beauty. White walls, wood floors, modern furniture, and minimalist decor are all hallmark traits of a California aesthetic. A lot of cost were invested into changing the structure so we keep the materials simple, but we were still able to add wood features in the home like the island, the warm toned light fixture centered over the island adds depth to this personal home. Designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin Builder Artistic Design and Remodeling Photographer James Furman

We updated this Irvine condo from basic to contemporary without major changes to the layout, creating a huge impact with minimal timeline and inconvenience. We created an eat-in island kitchen table and installed gorgeous pendants. We brought in comfortable and beautiful furniture pieces perfect for the space and updated the bathroom materials and colors to better fit our client's style. Contemporary Irvine dining room: furniture, accessories, lighting, window treatments

Photography by Ken Wyner 2101 Connecticut Avenue (c.1928), an 8-story brick and limestone Beaux Arts style building with spacious apartments, is said to have been “the finest apartment house to appear in Washington between the two World Wars.” (James M. Goode, Best Addresses, 1988.) As advertised for rent in 1928, the apartments were designed “to incorporate many details that would aid the residents in establishing a home atmosphere, one possessing charm and dignity usually found only in a private house… the character and tenancy (being) assured through careful selection of guests.” Home to Senators, Ambassadors, a Vice President and a Supreme Court Justice as well as numerous Washington socialites, the building still stands as one of the undisputed “best addresses” in Washington, DC.) So well laid-out was this gracious 3,000 sf apartment that the basic floor plan remains unchanged from the original architect’s 1927 design. The organizing feature was, and continues to be, the grand “gallery” space in the center of the unit. Every room in the apartment can be accessed via the gallery, thus preserving it as the centerpiece of the “charm and dignity” which the original design intended. Programmatic modifications consisted of the addition of a small powder room off of the foyer, and the conversion of a corner “sun room” into a room for meditation and study. The apartment received a thorough updating of all systems, services and finishes, including a new kitchen and new bathrooms, several new built-in cabinetry units, and the consolidation of numerous small closets and passageways into more accessible and efficient storage spaces.

Bridgehampton, NY This classic, Hampton’s, shingle style house is located in the hills north of Bridgehampton, the property overlooks an open space preserve. The 3,800 square foot retreat, was designed for two brothers and their families to share. It includes two master bedroom suites and four additional bedrooms. To further accommodate two families, oversized kitchen and den areas were part of the planning. A basic cross axial, center hall, plan is articulated by means of a series of additive plan and roof line elements. The volumetric character is brought out by elements such as the recessed porch areas along the north and south facades where the second floor steps over and then behind the line of the first floor below

This customer from the historic city of Cardiff was keen to see what Tile Doctor could do to put some life back into their treasured Limestone kitchen floor that was laid in 2008. My first observations were mainly centred on the horrific condition of the surface which although adequately sealed initially the floor had not received any subsequent maintenance and its condition had deteriorated over time. The light shining in from the patio doors highlighted all the imperfections in the floor caused by surface wear and tear commonly seen in high traffic areas such as a kitchen. Upon closer inspection, there were further problems: the floor was stained and scuffed, and in most places the sealer had worn off completely allowing the dirt to become ingrained into the pores of the Limestone. Additionally the grout was recessed but was now flush with the tile surface due to dirt build-up. There were also areas contaminated with grease and kitchen cooking oil. The Limestone floor tiles were 20mm thick French Limestone, and had been laid very well so there was no requirement to do any tile or grout repairs however to get this floor back to its original condition the surface would need to be reconditioned using the Tile Doctor four stage burnishing system. I started by giving the floor a wash with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, focusing mainly on the grout lines in order to remove the muck that had built-up there. I used a special stiff grout brush for this activity; it’s quite narrow and ideal for grout scrubbing. This worked well, but the significant build-up of dirt along some of the grout lines meant more work was required. I tackled this problem with a hand scraper assisted with steam. At the end of this process, the whole floor was then rinsed down with water to remove any soil and the resulting slurry was then extracted using a wet vacuum. The next step was to start the burnishing process, which basically involves applying four diamond encrusted floor pads in sequence over the floor. Each pad is a different grade, starting with the most abrasive coarse pad and moving through to the finer grades using a little water to lubricate and rinsing away any slurry between each pad. I eventually finished with the extra fine pad which builds up shine and lustre on the tile; it had taken two days to clean the grout and burnish the Limestone but the floor was much improved and so after a final rinse down I left the floor to dry off overnight with the aid of the underfloor heating. During this time, I also addressed the stained Limestone in the area of the kitchen where the dustbin was situated. This had been a major upset for the customer and I’m happy to report I managed to deal with it. However, it was quite an involved process, so I’ll write about this in a separate post. On the third day I came back to seal the floor, checking first that it had dried sufficiently with a damp meter. Fortunately, the underfloor heating had done a great job of drying the stone and I was able to seal the floor using three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealant. This sealant not only provides a durable seal but also penetrates deep into the pores of the stone protecting it from within and enhancing the natural colours of the Limestone in the process. After the final layer of sealant, I worked over the floor again with the extra fine burnishing pad both to add shine again following sealing, and to ensure that no smear marks were visible as the lighting conditions were unforgiving and highlighted any imperfections. The customer was delighted with the results: so much so, in fact, that they booked me in to restore their Victorian hallway floor as well but that’s a story for another time! Julian Iancono SE Wales Tile Doctor

In addition to using fine woods as a medium, we also work with stone. This fire pit was designed and built around the Native American concept of the Medicine Wheel. While the theme of the Medicine Wheel is complex, the basics used in this piece are that North is associated with Winter, East with Spring, South with Summer and West with Autumn. Native Americans also associated certain colors with the seasons. Winter colors of black and white merge to yellows in Spring, pinks, reds and green in Summer and browns in Autumn. By using reclaimed marble, granite and onyx these colors are incorporated into the ring that surrounds the fire pit. This is a very labor intensive piece, but is a popular focal point of this outdoor setting.

This basic beauty makes it versatile enough to go from elegant to more relaxed setting. Confrot also means convenience, so plan for entertaiment center, game table, storage, and the right light for reading, casual dining, and other family activities.

We updated this Irvine condo from basic to contemporary without major changes to the layout, creating a huge impact with minimal timeline and inconvenience. We created an eat-in island kitchen table and installed gorgeous pendants. We brought in comfortable and beautiful furniture pieces perfect for the space and updated the bathroom materials and colors to better fit our client's style. -- Contemporary Irvine kitchen

Taking a builder basic honey oak kitchen to this stunning Pearl and Grey chef's dream. Adding all the designer touches; glass doors with mullions, Waterstone faucets, Miele coffee center, wine fridge, beverage fridge, custom range hood, glass tile back splash and Silestone counter tops.

The modern masterpiece you all have been waiting for has arrived in the desirable Fashion Square of Sherman oaks! The amazing curb appeal draws you in and continues into the dramatic entry impressing the most discerning eye! The grand scale ceiling height, state of the art design & incredibly open, airy floor plan create a seamless flow. This home offers 4 BR + 4.5 BA + office or 5th BR, approx. 5000 sq. ft. of inside living area, a unique 1200 sq. ft. upper wrap around deck while sitting proudly on a 8,400 sq. ft. lot. Chic kitchen w/ Caesar stone counters, custom backsplash, top of the line stainless steel appliances & large center island opens to dining area & living room. Massive accordion doors open to outdoor patio, large pool, built- in BBQ & grass area, promising ultimate indoor/outdoor living. Sleek master suite w/ fireplace, floating ceilings, oversized closet w/ dressing table, spa bath & sliding doors open to incredible deck. Impressive media room, walls of glass lends itself to tons of natural light. Features include: wide plank floors, control 4 system, security cameras, covered patio. Sophisticated and warm…this rare gem has it all. Our team at Regal worked long and hard hours to complete this job and create it exactly as the home owner dreamed!

We updated this Irvine condo from basic to contemporary without major changes to the layout, creating a huge impact with minimal timeline and inconvenience. We created an eat-in island kitchen table and installed gorgeous pendants. We brought in comfortable and beautiful furniture pieces perfect for the space and updated the bathroom materials and colors to better fit our client's style. Contemporary Irvine living room: furniture, accessories, window treatments

King of the Painters King of the Painters is the king of the painting jungle when it comes to interior and exterior projects. Our services include simple repainting of interior and exterior walls, basic and finished carpentry services, wall texturing, special wall surface effects (such as “marbleizing” and “faux finishes”), installation of recessed ceiling lights, all the way to drywall and acoustical ceiling repair. We also offer expert application of color glazes, specialty industrial coatings, including industrial enamels, epoxy, and urethane coatings. We are proud of the fact that a major portion of our new clients are referrals. King of the Painters, Inc. has earned its reputation by not only being locally owned and operated, but by ensuring quality and satisfaction. Our goal is to minimize the hassles typically associated with painting and construction work by making your painting project an enjoyable experience . . . rather than one you would like to forget. Remember, there is no substitute or compromise for quality and professionalism. Just ask some of our past and current clients gladly provided on request! Whether you need to paint your home, business, office building, shopping center or homeowners association, request a royal appointment right now by calling us anytime for a free, no-obligation estimate and expert color consultation.

We took a builder basic home and did what others said could not be done. We removed a structural wall that divided the family room -dining area with the living room. Moved the kitchen from its original layout to face the backyard with a view the whole family could enjoy. We focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality without sacrificing beauty. White walls, wood floors, modern furniture, and minimalist decor are all hallmark traits of a California aesthetic. A lot of cost were invested into changing the structure so we keep the materials simple, but we were still able to add wood features in the home like the island, the warm toned light fixture centered over the island adds depth to this personal home. Designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin Builder Artistic Design and Remodeling Photographer James Furman

Acton, MA 2008 sq ft varies Visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration The HingeHouse project was the result of a unique partnership between an independent architect and a pre-fabricated home manufacturer – a partnership among the first of its kind in the country. Today, many pre-fab companies have adopted this collaborative approach recognizing that homeowners are looking for unique, custom homes while taking advantage of reliable and predictable construction methods and costs. In 2008, the partnership was created to rethink pre-engineered post-and-beam and panelized systems to connect clients to a more modern and integrated set of design values. By integrating systems, factory design approach, manufacturing methodologies and construction sequences with design criteria grounded in sustainable planning and rigorous implementation, HingeHouse was developed. HingeHouse is a fully-customizable pre-fab home which can be configured to meet the needs of any site, and any family. It is flexible and expandable using Deck House engineered building components. Starting with basic floor plans that are optimized spatially to Deck’s standard components, the living spaces are rotated around a "hinge” point. This design solution addresses the limitations and challenges of a particular site, while highlighting the best aspects of it. HingeHouse considers passive solar orientation depending on where the home is placed on the site and how it is “hinged”. It provides for maximum cross-ventilation from prevailing winds, preserves existing site formations and trees, and works on sloping grades. It addresses specific desired views while mitigating unwanted adjacencies, and provides great flexibility for entry sequences. HingeHouse uses Deck’s standard sloped roof post-and-beam component system to create a lyrical, light-filled home. The western red cedar exterior is sculptural and dynamic. Interior spaces are lofty, with great view potential using Deck’s own custom-made mahogany windows. The “hinge” of the home, where the two building forms come together, has the added benefit of creating a desirable outdoor living room, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The "hinge” provides both a tool for maximizing customization and spatial orientation and a center of activity at the heart of the home. Since this partnership in 2008, Maryann Thompson Architects and MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS have worked with Acorn Deck House Company on numerous full or partial pre-fab projects in the Boston Area, Western Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan. We have become an advocate for their services and products because it offers advantages on a variety of levels including schedule, cost and quality. Services provided included visioning, programming, concept design, schematic design, construction documentation and construction administration. Evan’s Role: Project Designer & Project Manager