The client approached us as he had a property that benefited from an elevated position and water views over the Georges River. The current home needed a change to the layout, additional bedrooms and living spaces that captured the magnificent views and catering for their retirement. The existing property had a garage, rumpus room and two terrace’s within the front setback along the boundary which needed to remain as part of the proposal as it would not be permissible to reinstate them under the current planning rules. The floor plan of the development is meticulous in providing for the needs of the client. As seniors in their 70’s we were keen to provide easy access on a steep sloping block. The driveway, lift and elevation of the main floor level adjacent to the rear garden has achieved this brilliantly. Enjoyment of the stunning views over the river was of paramount importance and this has been elegantly achieved. There are great views from all three terraces, the entire upper floor, including the master bedroom, the lift, the rear patio and rear garden. The highlight of this home, however, is the enthusiastic manner which, both the client and designer approached the picturesque views. Large double glazed windows and doors optimally located provide wonderful thermal efficiency and a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors whilst ensuring privacy from neighbouring sites. The light and airy feeling in this space is complemented with the natural coastal finishes prevalent throughout the home.

As readers of architect/designer Katie Hutchison’s book The New Cottage (Taunton Press 2018), these homeowners approached KHS about designing a second home in Westerly, Rhode Island. Theirs is a double-long lot with street frontage on both ends, a short walk from the water. In addition to the new house, their wish list included a new lap pool (with associated patio) and new garage. Aesthetically, they were looking to create an informally elegant, human-scaled family compound, engaged with the site and connected with the outdoors. They further requested sustainable features/systems and low-maintenance materials. In response, KHS proposed an ell-shaped house that wraps two sides of a lap pool/patio. A porch-fronted two-story gabled component faces the main street and is flanked by the one-story primary suite in one leg of the ell and the one-story kitchen and rear porches in the other leg of the ell. The house is an efficient +/- 2800 square-feet and contains four bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms. A salt-box inspired garage is detached so as not to increase the building massing. It helps shape outdoor spaces and doesn’t block daylight and direct exterior access from the house. It faces the secondary street. Driveways off both streets offer different modes of arrival. The south-facing roof of the two-story volume – which includes three bedrooms and two baths – and the south-facing one-story roof of the kitchen and rear porches, as well as the south-facing roof of the garage support 47 photovoltaic solar panels, providing the bulk of the property’s electric power. Two oversized exterior folding glass doors off the living area and kitchen blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming abundant daylight, views of the pool and patio, as well as summer breezes. An airy living/dining area includes a long custom window seat and borders a semi-open kitchen beneath a cathedral ceiling. Living area built-in shelving frames a TV and surrounds a modern efficient pellet stove. A cheerful interior palette of soft hues features pops of color, Scandinavian wallpapers, custom textiles, and a dash of warm wood accents in the form of counters, built-in desks, and custom furnishings. On the exterior, natural shingles side the main volume and environmentally friendly and durable Boral board-and-batten side the one-story components and garage, communicating a legible hierarchy of spaces. The overall effect is a breezy, crisp New England home, pool patio, and garage for today’s living.

Our client wanted a clean traditional design with access to the driveway and a seating area with a bench. Our design included a paver path leading to the main walk, stone edging, ornamental trees to accent the features of the house, and lots of ferns and iris to soften the landscape.

In Seattle’s North Admiral neighborhood, this project began with a tear-down lot and the vision to create something new that still felt timeless. Built as a spec home, the design carefully considered the character of the surrounding homes, blending seamlessly into the block as if it had always been part of the community. Inside, warm finishes and natural wood cabinetry bring a sense of comfort and authenticity, while modern touches elevate the living experience. A two-sided gas fireplace creates cozy ambiance for cool Pacific Northwest nights, and a wet bar offers the perfect setup for entertaining. The primary suite features a spacious soaking tub, balancing everyday function with a touch of luxury. With four bedrooms and a detached alley-access garage, this home provides both convenience and charm. Thoughtfully designed from the ground up, it stands as a classic addition to the neighborhood — honoring tradition while embracing modern living.

Classic, timeless, and ideally positioned on a picturesque street in the 4000 block, discover this dream home by Jessica Koltun Home. The blend of modern architecture and transitional finishes evokes warmth while understated elegance remains constant throughout this Midway Hollow masterpiece. Countless custom features and finishes include museum-quality walls, panelled fireplace wall, reeded cabinetry, stately millwork, and white oak wood floors with custom patterns. First-floor amenities include a dedicated study, a formal and casual dining room, and a private primary suite that has direct access to the laundry room. The second floor features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an oversized game room that could also be used as a sixth bedroom. This is your opportunity to own a designer dream home.

I removed the window and old radiator giving direct access to the back yard and pool. A new flat radiator installed under the window.
Mid-sized urban galley light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood countertops and brown countertops

Home design - traditional home design idea in Toronto

Located on a prime corner lot in Shell beach is this quaint but contemporary beach house. Designed to be either a vacation retreat or full time residence, the floor plan provides 2 downstairs bedrooms perfect for kids or guests and a large upstairs master suite complete private deck. The great room space occupies the most desirable second floor location, with Ocean views out to the south. A mitered corner pocketing sliding door gives way to a spacious corner deck that wraps around the south and west sides of the house. From this main level deck there is access to the roof deck, which provides even better ocean views. The large roof deck contains a living area, bar area and dining area with built in kitchen amenities, which serves as a hub for outdoor living. The exterior of the house embodies the classic contemporary style, incorporating clear cedar eaves, standing seam metal roofing, smooth finish stucco and a CMU block spine wall which beckons visitors into the lower level entry off of Ocean Ave.

An aerial view of the completed project. The original staircase was replaced to provide better access to the lower patio. The lower patio was extended out into the yard. A stone path leads to a fire pit area.

This sophisticated wet bar area serves as a stylish and functional transition between the kitchen and living room. Custom navy shaker cabinetry is accented by elegant polished brass cup pulls, creating a classic yet modern look. The setup includes a high-end dual-zone wine fridge integrated seamlessly into the lower cabinets, providing easy access to beverages while hosting. With its clean lines and rich color palette, this dedicated social hub by Better Builders perfectly complements the open-concept flow of the home

This luxury property boasts a private 18-hole golf course, a world-class athletic club and spa, and of course, this heated 25-yard lap pool with year-round access. We constructed this pool in our own backyard – Colorado Springs. ---- Lap Pool with Dive Blocks Hot Tub Kids Splash Pool Fountains & Slide Lounge Area

Imagine a home nestled in Colorado’s mountains that feels as enduring as the landscape itself. East Watch is that place – efficient, tough, and thoughtfully designed to make mountain living effortless and enjoyable. It’s where modern ideas meet nature’s demands, creating a space that’s both beautiful and practical. Our clients wanted a mountain retreat that saved energy, stood strong against the elements, and stayed functional as life changes. High up at 8,200 feet, efficiency was key to cut heating costs, while durability meant handling winds up to 100mph and heavy snow. They also planned for the future with easy access – no stairs, wide doors, and spots for handrails if needed. Mountain homes can rack up bills and wear down fast from weather and fires. We solved that with smart solar heating that covers most warmth needs naturally, using big windows and heavy walls to store heat. For strength, steel framing and fire-safe materials keep everything secure. And for everyday ease, the layout follows “form follows function,” making spaces like the kitchen intuitive and the whole home barrier-free. The core idea? Work with the sun and the site. Windows face southeast for passive heat gain, with overhangs to block summer sun and shed snow. Inside, sloped ceilings let hot air escape, and thermal masses like the concrete floor hold warmth overnight. It’s a design that flows naturally, promoting comfort without extra effort. Built on steel posts and beams for unshakeable support, the exterior uses corten steel, stone, and glass – all local, low-maintenance, and fire-resistant. The roof is top-rated for fires, and the deck withstands the elements year after year. Efficient floor heating kicks in only when necessary, keeping things cozy and costs low. Simple and serene, with soft colors and clean shapes that let the views shine. Wide hallways and no steps make navigation easy, with thoughtful prep for any future needs. It’s a home that feels open, peaceful, and perfectly in tune with the outdoors. Since 2019, East Watch has been a haven of sustainability and strength. It reduces energy use, withstands the mountains’ challenges, and adapts to life’s stages – all while offering stunning views and daily comfort. A true example of design that enhances how you live, built for lasting joy and resilience.

This Boston area small mudroom bench and storage packs so much into a tiny space. In this design there is room for shoes, hooks for coats, open shelves for basets as well as a deep storage unit for hanging coats used less often. Cabinets that flip up make the most of the space that is above the reachable height of the unit. Drawers at the base of the storage unit provide easy access to the lower portion of that deep storage cabinet, typically difficult to reach with just shelves alone. Door fronts are in a shaker style, and crown and base molding complete the top and bottom of the units, and a butcher block bench seat adds the finishing touch to this small but useful entryway space. Closettec is the Boston and Providence area’s ONLY custom closet fabricators to combine custom closet, cabinetry, wood, stone, metal and glass fabrication all under one roof. We also serve the following areas outside of Boston – East Lyme, Niantic, Waterford, Mystic, Stonington, North Reading, Middleton, Lynnfield, Wakefield, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, Salem, Marblehead, Lynn, Saugus, Revere, Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester, Woburn, Burlington, Wilmington, Billerica, Tewksbury, Nashua, Lowell, Chelmsford, Derry, Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverill, Amesbury, Newburyport, Newton, Medford, Arlington, Somerville, Belmont, Cambridge, Watertown, Waltham, Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Dedham, Natick, Framingham, Westborough, Lincoln, Lexington, Wayland, Worcester, Narragansett, Newport, Jamestown.

wraparound tinted glass blocks UV
Small modern one-story wood exterior home idea in Los Angeles

Classic, timeless, and ideally positioned on a picturesque street in the 4100 block, discover this dream home by Jessica Koltun Home. The blend of traditional architecture and contemporary finishes evokes warmth while understated elegance remains constant throughout this Midway Hollow masterpiece. Countless custom features and finishes include museum-quality walls, white oak beams, reeded cabinetry, stately millwork, and white oak wood floors with custom herringbone patterns. First-floor amenities include a barrel vault, a dedicated study, a formal and casual dining room, and a private primary suite adorned in Carrara marble that has direct access to the laundry room. The second features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an oversized game room that could also be used as a sixth bedroom. This is your opportunity to own a designer dream home.

This client of ours loves to entertain. We were commissioned to completely redesign his backyard space to include a Pavilion, an outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit area. Preparation for this work included demolishing existing deteriorated concrete and a non-functioning Koi pond. We decided on a 12′ x 14′ layout for the Cedar Pavilion. Sconce lighting, infrared heating, and a ceiling fan were added to the scope of the Pavilion project to maximize the space’s usability. For the outdoor kitchen, we chose a 38″ Delta Heat unit for the grill with matching access doors, a 20K BTU Hestan Side Burner, and a Hestan Refrigerator. We chose soapstone for the countertop and backsplash, and we veneered the kitchen structure with natural San Miguel cobblestone. The construction of the fire pit area required engineering measures to prevent damage to the nearby pine trees’ root systems from the planned improvements. This was accomplished by designing a sophisticated ventilation system installed under the patio and seat wall to allow the tree roots to continue breathing. The firepit and surrounding seat wall were constructed of CMU block and veneered with natural San Miguel stone from Telluride. Light fixtures from Unique Lighting were discreetly tucked under the seat wall cap to enhance the area’s nighttime ambiance. Large decorative mossback landscape boulders were imported to create visual interest in the setting. The plant selection for the project included ‘Panchito’ Manzanita, Dwarf Burning Bush, ‘Isanti’ Dogwood, ‘White Bud’ Mugo Pine, Japanese Astilbe, ‘Blue Giant’ Hosta, and Variegated Iris.

Classic, timeless, and ideally positioned on a picturesque street in the 4100 block, discover this dream home by Jessica Koltun Home. The blend of traditional architecture and contemporary finishes evokes warmth while understated elegance remains constant throughout this Midway Hollow masterpiece. Countless custom features and finishes include museum-quality walls, white oak beams, reeded cabinetry, stately millwork, and white oak wood floors with custom herringbone patterns. First-floor amenities include a barrel vault, a dedicated study, a formal and casual dining room, and a private primary suite adorned in Carrara marble that has direct access to the laundry room. The second features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an oversized game room that could also be used as a sixth bedroom. This is your opportunity to own a designer dream home.

Located on a prime corner lot in Shell beach is this quaint but contemporary beach house. Designed to be either a vacation retreat or full time residence, the floor plan provides 2 downstairs bedrooms perfect for kids or guests and a large upstairs master suite complete private deck. The great room space occupies the most desirable second floor location, with Ocean views out to the south. A mitered corner pocketing sliding door gives way to a spacious corner deck that wraps around the south and west sides of the house. From this main level deck there is access to the roof deck, which provides even better ocean views. The large roof deck contains a living area, bar area and dining area with built in kitchen amenities, which serves as a hub for outdoor living. The exterior of the house embodies the classic contemporary style, incorporating clear cedar eaves, standing seam metal roofing, smooth finish stucco and a CMU block spine wall which beckons visitors into the lower level entry off of Ocean Ave.

Designer Danielle Lardani's clients love to cook, so they desired a new kitchen that appealed to them stylistically, while also supporting their passion for cooking. They wanted to include features that would make cooking together both efficient and enjoyable. Danielle fulfilled their dreams by creating a stunning, contemporary design that seamlessly matched the style of the rest of their home. She selected a horizontal, textured laminate by Wynnbrooke Cabinetry for the base perimeter cabinets, with a contrasting prep zone featuring Décor Cabinets in a Behr custom color, Adirondack Blue. To increase the efficiency of the space, the layout of the kitchen was reconfigured to create a more functional work triangle between the range, the refrigerator, and the sink. The new layout allows the homeowners to prep, cook and serve food with ease. To further enhance the modern look of the kitchen and accommodate her clients’ wishes, she chose floating shelves and a full-height backsplash to give the space a more open feel. Notable Design Details: - Danielle designed the new layout to include ample counter space for food prep. - She installed integrated lighting under the floating shelves and the upper cabinets in the prep-zone area to brighten these work spaces. - Danielle included a custom dish drawer in her cabinetry design. This optimized storage and allowed dinnerware to be easily accessible. - The knife block and utensil pull-out organizer keeps the clients’ cooking tools neat while also keeping them at arms reach.