Search results for "Building authentic" in Home Design Ideas

THE SETUP
Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes.
Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life.
Design Objectives:
Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen
Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château
Add a second oven
Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire
THE REMODEL
Design Challenges:
Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it
Accommodate for the thickness of the stones
Replicating château beam architecture
Replicating authentic French-country finishes
Find a spot for a new steam oven
Design Solutions:
Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques
Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls
Source true reclaimed beams
Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood
Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven
THE RENEWED SPACE
Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.”
“I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.”
And now?
“I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”

THE SETUP
Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes.
Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life.
Design Objectives:
Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen
Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château
Add a second oven
Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire
THE REMODEL
Design Challenges:
Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it
Accommodate for the thickness of the stones
Replicating château beam architecture
Replicating authentic French-country finishes
Find a spot for a new steam oven
Design Solutions:
Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques
Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls
Source true reclaimed beams
Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood
Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven
THE RENEWED SPACE
Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.”
“I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.”
And now?
“I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”

THE SETUP
Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes.
Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life.
Design Objectives:
Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen
Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château
Add a second oven
Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire
THE REMODEL
Design Challenges:
Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it
Accommodate for the thickness of the stones
Replicating château beam architecture
Replicating authentic French-country finishes
Find a spot for a new steam oven
Design Solutions:
Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques
Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls
Source true reclaimed beams
Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood
Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven
THE RENEWED SPACE
Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.”
“I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.”
And now?
“I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”
Find the right local pro for your project

A classic West Side loft in Hell’s Kitchen, Gallery’s main task was to renovate the large kitchen. The clients like to entertain, so in addition to remodeling the aesthetic, we expanded the footprint of the island and built an entirely new bar at the opposite end of the kitchen. Some design choices are a natural fit for the space. In this case, that meant leaning into the industrial vibe of the exposed concrete while bringing in some character with the material choices.
INDUSTRIAL CHIC
With an industrial aesthetic in mind, gray was a natural color choice for the fully custom Miralis cabinets. The backsplash was designed in a subway brick pattern, but rather than the typical porcelain or marble, a clay tile in a white matte tone resembling cement was chosen to further coordinate with the exposed concrete.
Stacked cabinets were installed to accommodate the tall loft ceilings. For contrast, we incorporated glass front cabinetry with lighting in some areas. The resulting marriage of concrete, glass, and wood is well-matched for an industrial chic loft kitchen.
Further highlighting the homeowners’ love of entertaining, we also built an entirely custom bar at one end of the space, featuring open shelving in contrasting wood tones with underlighting and a custom mirrored backsplash for an authentic bar feel.
ADVENTURES IN APPROACHING COLUMNS
Loft renovations tend to come with two common needs: how to fill all that space tastefully and how to work with those ever present columns. In the case of this loft kitchen renovation, it suited the industrial aesthetic not to wrap the concrete column as one typically would, but rather to leave it exposed, accentuating the raw character of the space. Partially as a result, the island expanded too, creating more room for functional additions such as a built-in microwave, wine fridge, and more open shelving to match the bar, outlined with a countertop overhang to optimize counter space and chair storage.
ANCHORED IN SYMMETRY
With a loft space as unusually large as this one, an ideal design strategy, especially when high ceilings are involved, is to anchor the kitchen on opposing sides. Here, one side is anchored by a large floor-to-ceiling pantry, while the other is anchored by the counter-depth fridge with cabinetry above. The connecting element is the counter space in the middle, resulting in the visual impact of a long kitchen run within the open floor plan of a loft.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS
- Entirely custom-built bar with custom mirrored backsplash templated specifically for this project
- Large, oversized island with seating all around, open shelving, and built-in microwave
- Subway backsplash tiles in clay rather than porcelain or marble
- Olympian white marble countertops
Considering a kitchen loft renovation in New York? Our expertise is in renovating all kinds of New York Spaces, from gut renovations of historic landmark buildings like brownstones and townhomes to kitchens and bathrooms in lofts and other apartments in managed buildings. Contact us to find out if our full-scale design-and-build approach is right for your project.

THE SETUP
Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes.
Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life.
Design Objectives:
Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen
Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château
Add a second oven
Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire
THE REMODEL
Design Challenges:
Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it
Accommodate for the thickness of the stones
Replicating château beam architecture
Replicating authentic French-country finishes
Find a spot for a new steam oven
Design Solutions:
Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques
Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls
Source true reclaimed beams
Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood
Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven
THE RENEWED SPACE
Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.”
“I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.”
And now?
“I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”

THE SETUP
Imagine how thrilled Diana was when she was approached about designing a kitchen for a client who is an avid traveler and Francophile. ‘French-country’ is a very specific category of traditional design that combines French provincial elegance with rustic comforts. The look draws on soothing hues, antique accents and a wonderful fusion of polished and relic’d finishes.
Her client wanted to feel like she was in the south of France every time she walked into her kitchen. She wanted real honed marble counters, vintage finishes and authentic heavy stone walls like you’d find in a 400-year old château in Les Baux-de-Provence.
Diana’s mission: capture the client’s vision, design it and utilize Drury Design’s sourcing and building expertise to bring it to life.
Design Objectives:
Create the feel of an authentic vintage French-country kitchen
Include natural materials that would have been used in an old French château
Add a second oven
Omit an unused desk area in favor of a large, tall pantry armoire
THE REMODEL
Design Challenges:
Finding real stone for the walls, and the craftsmen to install it
Accommodate for the thickness of the stones
Replicating château beam architecture
Replicating authentic French-country finishes
Find a spot for a new steam oven
Design Solutions:
Source and sort true stone. Utilize veteran craftsmen to apply to the walls using old-world techniques
Furr out interior window casings to adjust for the thicker stone walls
Source true reclaimed beams
Utilize veteran craftsmen for authentic finishes and distressing for the island, tall pantry armoire and stucco hood
Modify the butler’s pantry base cabinet to accommodate the new steam oven
THE RENEWED SPACE
Before we started work on her new French-country kitchen, the homeowner told us the kitchen that came with the house was “not my kitchen.”
“I felt like a stranger,” she told us during the photoshoot. “It wasn’t my color, it wasn’t my texture. It wasn’t my style… I didn’t have my stamp on it.”
And now?
“I love the fact that my family can come in here, wrap their arms around it and feel comfortable,” she said. “It’s like a big hug.”

A classic West Side loft in Hell’s Kitchen, Gallery’s main task was to renovate the large kitchen. The clients like to entertain, so in addition to remodeling the aesthetic, we expanded the footprint of the island and built an entirely new bar at the opposite end of the kitchen. Some design choices are a natural fit for the space. In this case, that meant leaning into the industrial vibe of the exposed concrete while bringing in some character with the material choices.
INDUSTRIAL CHIC
With an industrial aesthetic in mind, gray was a natural color choice for the fully custom Miralis cabinets. The backsplash was designed in a subway brick pattern, but rather than the typical porcelain or marble, a clay tile in a white matte tone resembling cement was chosen to further coordinate with the exposed concrete.
Stacked cabinets were installed to accommodate the tall loft ceilings. For contrast, we incorporated glass front cabinetry with lighting in some areas. The resulting marriage of concrete, glass, and wood is well-matched for an industrial chic loft kitchen.
Further highlighting the homeowners’ love of entertaining, we also built an entirely custom bar at one end of the space, featuring open shelving in contrasting wood tones with underlighting and a custom mirrored backsplash for an authentic bar feel.
ADVENTURES IN APPROACHING COLUMNS
Loft renovations tend to come with two common needs: how to fill all that space tastefully and how to work with those ever present columns. In the case of this loft kitchen renovation, it suited the industrial aesthetic not to wrap the concrete column as one typically would, but rather to leave it exposed, accentuating the raw character of the space. Partially as a result, the island expanded too, creating more room for functional additions such as a built-in microwave, wine fridge, and more open shelving to match the bar, outlined with a countertop overhang to optimize counter space and chair storage.
ANCHORED IN SYMMETRY
With a loft space as unusually large as this one, an ideal design strategy, especially when high ceilings are involved, is to anchor the kitchen on opposing sides. Here, one side is anchored by a large floor-to-ceiling pantry, while the other is anchored by the counter-depth fridge with cabinetry above. The connecting element is the counter space in the middle, resulting in the visual impact of a long kitchen run within the open floor plan of a loft.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS
- Entirely custom-built bar with custom mirrored backsplash templated specifically for this project
- Large, oversized island with seating all around, open shelving, and built-in microwave
- Subway backsplash tiles in clay rather than porcelain or marble
- Olympian white marble countertops
Considering a kitchen loft renovation in New York? Our expertise is in renovating all kinds of New York Spaces, from gut renovations of historic landmark buildings like brownstones and townhomes to kitchens and bathrooms in lofts and other apartments in managed buildings. Contact us to find out if our full-scale design-and-build approach is right for your project.

A tea pot, being a vessel, is defined by the space it contains, it is not the tea pot that is important, but the space.
Crispin Sartwell
Located on a lake outside of Milwaukee, the Vessel House is the culmination of an intense 5 year collaboration with our client and multiple local craftsmen focused on the creation of a modern analogue to the Usonian Home.
As with most residential work, this home is a direct reflection of it’s owner, a highly educated art collector with a passion for music, fine furniture, and architecture. His interest in authenticity drove the material selections such as masonry, copper, and white oak, as well as the need for traditional methods of construction.
The initial diagram of the house involved a collection of embedded walls that emerge from the site and create spaces between them, which are covered with a series of floating rooves. The windows provide natural light on three sides of the house as a band of clerestories, transforming to a floor to ceiling ribbon of glass on the lakeside.
The Vessel House functions as a gallery for the owner’s art, motorcycles, Tiffany lamps, and vintage musical instruments – offering spaces to exhibit, store, and listen. These gallery nodes overlap with the typical house program of kitchen, dining, living, and bedroom, creating dynamic zones of transition and rooms that serve dual purposes allowing guests to relax in a museum setting.
Through it’s materiality, connection to nature, and open planning, the Vessel House continues many of the Usonian principles Wright advocated for.
Overview
Oconomowoc, WI
Completion Date
August 2015
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Although this home appears to be a renovated farm house, it is actually new construction. The design concept behind this home was to capture the character and charm of a turn of the century home while providing the client with all the amenities of a modern home. The materials were selected to be period correct for an early 19th century farm house featuring 1/2 round gutters, actual field stone and board on board batten at the garage to create the authentic character of this home.
A Grand ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to
Studer Residential Designs, Inc.
Designer: Paul Studer
From: Cold Spring, Kentucky

Project Overview:
The project was a highly designed energy efficient residential new build in Colchester, Vermont by Red HouseBuilding and architect Elizabeth Herrmann using our Shou Sugi Ban – Gendai that was oiled with a Light Gray prefinish.
“Nestled into a steep Vermont hillside, this home was carefully designed and positioned to efficiently and thoughtfully take advantage of the challenging terrain and stunning mountain views. The house is characterized by a series of connected wedge-shaped volumes. Roof lines lift toward views and sunlight and provide airy, varied-height spaces within. Designed to make single-floor living possible, the home has all major living spaces including a bedroom suite and garage on the main level, with a dual-purpose guest room/office, bathroom, and dual-purpose art studio/exercise room below. Totaling just 2,200 square feet of finished area (with additional mechanical space and an unfinished garage), the house is small, though expansive in feel. A dramatically angled porch juts out over the hillside, expanding the living space by over 200 square feet in the warmer months.
This home is also a high-performance, energy-efficient home that takes advantage of solar exposure. Solar panels located just above the house generate power. The home is heated and cooled by just two air source heat pumps.
A natural, low-maintenance palette extends from interior to exterior including Shou Sugi Ban siding charred and stained a light gray, local maple wood flooring and cabinetry, and stone accents.”
Product: Gendai 1×6 select grade shiplap
Prefinish: Light Gray
Application: Residential – Exterior
SF: 2400SF
Designer: Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Builder: Red House Building
Date: November 2018
Location: Colchester, VT

Although this home appears to be a renovated farm house, it is actually new construction. The design concept behind this home was to capture the character and charm of a turn of the century home while providing the client with all the amenities of a modern home. The materials were selected to be period correct for an early 19th century farm house featuring 1/2 round gutters, actual field stone and board on board batten at the garage to create the authentic character of this home.
A Grand ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to
Studer Residential Designs, Inc.
Designer: Paul Studer
From: Cold Spring, Kentucky

From SinglePoint Design Build: “This project consisted of a full exterior removal and replacement of the siding, windows, doors, and roof. In so, the Architects OXB Studio, re-imagined the look of the home by changing the siding materials, creating privacy for the clients at their front entry, and making the expansive decks more usable. We added some beautiful cedar ceiling cladding on the interior as well as a full home solar with Tesla batteries. The Shou-sugi-ban siding is our favorite detail.
While the modern details were extremely important, waterproofing this home was of upmost importance given its proximity to the San Francisco Bay and the winds in this location. We used top of the line waterproofing professionals, consultants, techniques, and materials throughout this project. This project was also unique because the interior of the home was mostly finished so we had to build scaffolding with shrink wrap plastic around the entire 4 story home prior to pulling off all the exterior finishes.
We are extremely proud of how this project came out!”

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

Product: Authentic Limestone for Exterior Living Spaces.
Ancient Surfaces
Contacts: (212) 461-0245
Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com
Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com
The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' design style as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates into 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, BBQ, fireplace or Jacuzzi pool spa all out of old reclaimed Mediterranean stone pieces is no easy task and shouldn’t be created out of the lowest common denominator of building materials such as concrete, Indian slates or Turkish travertine.
The one thing you can bet the farmhouse on is that when the entire process unravels and when your outdoor living space materializes from the architects rendering to real life, you will be guaranteed a true Mediterranean living experience if your choice of construction material was as authentic and possible to the Southern Mediterranean regions.
We believe that the coziness of your surroundings brought about by the creative usage of our antique stone elements will only amplify that authenticity.
whether you are enjoying a relaxing time soaking the sun inside one of our Jacuzzi spa stone fountains or sharing unforgettable memories with family and friends while baking your own pizzas in one of our outdoor BBQ pizza ovens, our stone designs will always evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that one only gets while being on vacation is some exotic European island surrounded with the pristine beauty of indigenous nature and ancient architecture...

The location and placement of the Japanese Tea House is very specific and was based on mathematical, metaphysical and spiritual principles. This Tea House is an artistic version of an authentic style Tea House. It is meant to be a one of a kind art piece and yet has the functional capability of holding a traditional Tea ceremony.
Photo credits: Dan Drobnick

Color:Castle-Combe-Artisans-Walworth
Living room - small eclectic enclosed medium tone wood floor living room idea in Chicago with brown walls and no fireplace
Living room - small eclectic enclosed medium tone wood floor living room idea in Chicago with brown walls and no fireplace

This client wanted their Terrace Level to be comprised of the warm finishes and colors found in a true Tuscan home. Basement was completely unfinished so once we space planned for all necessary areas including pre-teen media area and game room, adult media area, home bar and wine cellar guest suite and bathroom; we started selecting materials that were authentic and yet low maintenance since the entire space opens to an outdoor living area with pool. The wood like porcelain tile used to create interest on floors was complimented by custom distressed beams on the ceilings. Real stucco walls and brick floors lit by a wrought iron lantern create a true wine cellar mood. A sloped fireplace designed with brick, stone and stucco was enhanced with the rustic wood beam mantle to resemble a fireplace seen in Italy while adding a perfect and unexpected rustic charm and coziness to the bar area. Finally decorative finishes were applied to columns for a layered and worn appearance. Tumbled stone backsplash behind the bar was hand painted for another one of a kind focal point. Some other important features are the double sided iron railed staircase designed to make the space feel more unified and open and the barrel ceiling in the wine cellar. Carefully selected furniture and accessories complete the look.

Sponsored
Westerville, OH
Custom Home Works
Franklin County's Award-Winning Design, Build and Remodeling Expert

Todd Tyler really exterior stucco for interior walls. Go authentic!
Mid-sized cottage guest bedroom photo in Los Angeles
Mid-sized cottage guest bedroom photo in Los Angeles

Color:Castle-Combe-Artisans-Rookwood
Mid-sized mountain style l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, black backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island
Mid-sized mountain style l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, black backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Color: Castle-Combe-Originals-Trowbridge
Example of a mid-sized danish open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround
Example of a mid-sized danish open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround
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