Sometimes great ideas are simple in concept and harder to transform into reality. The construction of this railing began with the scavenging of several riverbanks and lake shores for driftwood of many shapes including several long straight pieces. Then came the selection of the right piece for the right spot. The top of the newel post looks like a beaver just gnawed it. The railing was a real jigsaw puzzle. Joining it all into a sturdy handrail system that the inspector would approve of, was a combination of good carpentry skills, fast setting epoxy, and artistic luck. The resulting handrail wowed the homeowners and their friends. It sets the mood for a Colorado ski lodge getaway every time they descend the stairs. The wainscoting and doors are made from reclaimed white barn board. For this special job, no wood was joined, every edge was eased to look worn with a wavering block plane. Knots, bullet holes, gouges, old paint, saw marks and every other imperfection were embraced and showcased for the story they represented. Nothing looks new. The ceiling is treated with tongue and grooved, beveled cedar planks. There is nothing more incongruous than when a room is rustic but the sheetrock walls are left smooth - especially when the wall are left white. To give the walls an aged look we used a two-tone yellow-gold, coarse Venetian plaster. PHOTO CREDIT: John Ray

Entryway - modern entryway idea in Minneapolis

While we are not home inspectors, we are sometimes asked by clients who are considering buying an antique home to offer our thoughts and opinions on individual properties before they purchase them. Such was the case with Bryan and Erin in Smithfield, Rhode Island. When they called, they had already looked at the early nineteenth-century center chimney colonial on the hilltop and they were interested in looking again. Much of the house was original and, as is often the case in two-hundred-year-old buildings, long of tooth and ready for a new family to move in. Erin and Bryan decided to be that family and we were thrilled to work with them to make the house their own. That started with performing a full structural evaluation of the existing house and determining what repairs they needed to consider. We also designed a single-storey shed style addition that would house a new kitchen and bathroom. As with many projects undertaken on old buildings, it is wise to approach the work with a master plan in mind. We understand and share the hard truth that owning an antique property is often a financial burden and the decision to do so an expression of passion for… something different. Working with Bryan and Erin, we developed a master plan that established outlines for the work to happen over time. They started with extensive structural repairs in the basement and portions of the exterior walls. We also added a new foundation for the addition and decided to reframe the flooring system through the original house out through the addition. This spared us the task of rebuilding the original collapsing foundation along that wall. We created a kitchen with an open floorplan but used reclaimed hard pine flooring through the addition to match the original floors elsewhere. We also reproduced any original millwork from elsewhere in the house for the added space. Erin and Bryan aren’t farmers but they could be. Even before they moved in, they planted gardens and as our work wound down, they sent us home with vegetables daily.

While we are not home inspectors, we are sometimes asked by clients who are considering buying an antique home to offer our thoughts and opinions on individual properties before they purchase them. Such was the case with Bryan and Erin in Smithfield, Rhode Island. When they called, they had already looked at the early nineteenth-century center chimney colonial on the hilltop and they were interested in looking again. Much of the house was original and, as is often the case in two-hundred-year-old buildings, long of tooth and ready for a new family to move in. Erin and Bryan decided to be that family and we were thrilled to work with them to make the house their own. That started with performing a full structural evaluation of the existing house and determining what repairs they needed to consider. We also designed a single-storey shed style addition that would house a new kitchen and bathroom. As with many projects undertaken on old buildings, it is wise to approach the work with a master plan in mind. We understand and share the hard truth that owning an antique property is often a financial burden and the decision to do so an expression of passion for… something different. Working with Bryan and Erin, we developed a master plan that established outlines for the work to happen over time. They started with extensive structural repairs in the basement and portions of the exterior walls. We also added a new foundation for the addition and decided to reframe the flooring system through the original house out through the addition. This spared us the task of rebuilding the original collapsing foundation along that wall. We created a kitchen with an open floorplan but used reclaimed hard pine flooring through the addition to match the original floors elsewhere. We also reproduced any original millwork from elsewhere in the house for the added space. Erin and Bryan aren’t farmers but they could be. Even before they moved in, they planted gardens and as our work wound down, they sent us home with vegetables daily.

While we are not home inspectors, we are sometimes asked by clients who are considering buying an antique home to offer our thoughts and opinions on individual properties before they purchase them. Such was the case with Bryan and Erin in Smithfield, Rhode Island. When they called, they had already looked at the early nineteenth-century center chimney colonial on the hilltop and they were interested in looking again. Much of the house was original and, as is often the case in two-hundred-year-old buildings, long of tooth and ready for a new family to move in. Erin and Bryan decided to be that family and we were thrilled to work with them to make the house their own. That started with performing a full structural evaluation of the existing house and determining what repairs they needed to consider. We also designed a single-storey shed style addition that would house a new kitchen and bathroom. As with many projects undertaken on old buildings, it is wise to approach the work with a master plan in mind. We understand and share the hard truth that owning an antique property is often a financial burden and the decision to do so an expression of passion for… something different. Working with Bryan and Erin, we developed a master plan that established outlines for the work to happen over time. They started with extensive structural repairs in the basement and portions of the exterior walls. We also added a new foundation for the addition and decided to reframe the flooring system through the original house out through the addition. This spared us the task of rebuilding the original collapsing foundation along that wall. We created a kitchen with an open floorplan but used reclaimed hard pine flooring through the addition to match the original floors elsewhere. We also reproduced any original millwork from elsewhere in the house for the added space. Erin and Bryan aren’t farmers but they could be. Even before they moved in, they planted gardens and as our work wound down, they sent us home with vegetables daily.

Ryan Day Thompson
Inspiration for a contemporary wooden u-shaped staircase remodel with wooden risers

We often come across clients looking for small space ideas. Our first recommendation is always to go bright. The depth of our glaze color adds visual interest and a bold color choice helps make a space appear larger. Posh and polished (just like the homeowner) this stunning sapphire blue bathroom will have you in awe. The owner of this amazing lake house is our friend Rachel Shingleton of Pencil Shavings Studio. Her refined design-eye coupled with our bright and bold tile transformed this small bathroom into the perfect master bath. And could you believe it? This is a super simple project! Read on to learn more about this design and how to achieve the look yourself. Another great way to open up a small bathroom is by using smaller tile! Our regular Hexagons are the great example of this - approximately 2"x2" their small size maximizes the rest of the room, and their classic shape is perfect for a bathroom floor.

Example of a minimalist staircase design in DC Metro

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

Staircase - mid-sized rustic carpeted straight cable railing staircase idea in Denver with carpeted risers

SCFA
Example of a mid-sized classic detached two-car garage design in Philadelphia

The jetted tub is a haven for relaxation. A faux chandelier is lit by recessed lights and provides an elegant ambiance to the space. Photo credit: Perko Photography

Paul Despenas: Sunroom Season is around the corner! If you’re planning a new sunroom for the Spring/Summer now is the time to start your planning! Most homeowners I speak to have the assumption they can order a sunroom and have it installed a couple weeks later, not the case! From the time your sunroom project is ordered to start date is normally 4-6 weeks and as we get into the summer and fall months the wait can be as long as 8-10 weeks. Once you’ve made the decision to have a new sunroom installed the company needs to pull apply for permits and supply factory engineering to the inspectors, order locates and other building material for the production of this project. Now your sunroom is ordered and at the factory waiting its turn to go into production, once it has gone through the production and inspection process your room is loaded on the factory semi’s and shipped directly to one of the 2 Midwest Construction Showroom/Warehouses located in Iowa. Your room is in and your production manager will give you a call and let you know your estimated start date (weather permitting) and a few days before the crew shows up you will get the call you have been waiting for, My Name is Andy and we would like to get started on your sunroom next Tuesday. Your room will be delivered by the Midwest Construction Truck; Installers will have their own truck and trailer. The crew will start by removing and hauling away you existing deck, bore footings into the ground and having those inspected by the city officials, fill with concrete and let set. Roof lines will need to be prepared and back wall preparation. Once the footings are set we are ready to build the post and beam construction for the new engineered INSUL-DECK Engineered Floor System to be installed. Walls and roof are erected, deck, stairs and landing are finished up and the electrician is on his way to do his part. Still not done, trim out the back wall of the sunroom or old house wall we just enclosed with any number of options. Once everything is finished on our end then we need to have a final inspection by the city official and you can enjoy the outdoors from the indoors 365 days a year in your new Oasis All Season Sunroom built by Midwest Construction.

Corbin Henry
Example of a tuscan family room design in Sacramento

Design ideas for a mid-century modern landscaping in Sacramento.

This was a lovely bathroom renovation we did. The mirrors, shower glass, and cabinets are all custom made pieces. We did a split level Vanity to accommodate both clients heights and it came together perfectly.

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Toronto

Giving reclaimed barnboard new life. A blend of classic style and reclaimed materials creates an organic and stylish kitchen space. Photography by Eric Roth