Inspiration for a southwestern kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

Langhorne Carpet Company proudly announces its latest collaboration with Vermont Custom Rug Company’s David Hunt on an elegant reproduction of the early 19th century worsted wool carpet for the dining room of historic Hyde Hall. A National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site in Springfield, NY, eight miles north of Cooperstown, Hyde Hall is considered “one of the finest examples of the neoclassical country houses in the United States.” The agricultural estate was the project and prize of wealthy British-born landowner George Clarke (1768-1835). Clarke owned 120,000 acres in New York’s Leatherstocking Region and designed Hyde Hall on the bank of Otsego Lake with Albany architect Philip Hooker. The mansion, the estate’s centerpiece, was constructed from 1817 to 1835. Today, Hyde Hall resides within Glimmerglass State Park. Recent years have brought Hyde Hall a meticulous, history-driven, artisan-fueled restoration to recreate Clarke’s precise original vision. David Hunt chose Langhorne Carpet Company to recreate the Brussels looped pile carpet for the property’s dining room. Made from the finest worsted wool, a yarn used today almost exclusively in apparel, Brussels carpets were a 19th-century status symbol among America’s wealthiest citizens, including presidents and major landowners. According to Clarke’s scrupulously kept ledgers, in 1831 he purchased “122 linear yards of Brussels body carpet, along with 24 yards of Brussels border carpet from the showroom of Lowe & Connah in New York City for the sum of $308.00. A hefty amount for the period,” said Hunt. The carpet—which, Hunt said, may well be one of the first examples Wilton carpet woven in the United States—remained in the dining room through the end of the 19th century. As for the two tuffets? They not only survive—they also remain covered in the original textile. This existence of these original tuffets for nearly two centuries, said Hunt, is both incredibly rare and fortuitous. “Having a documented portion of the original carpet, intact 186 years after manufacture, is, for the textile historian, a gold mine of information. Although the border portion of the design remains most visible, having the ability to document and verify the yarn quality, sett (pattern) of the weave and most importantly the original colors is huge.” Hunt “dissected” the tuffets to reveal the yarn that, like in all Wilton weaves, is buried beneath the textile’s back, unexposed to sunlight, air, or cleaning agents. When he did, he found the carpet’s original colors and pattern. From there, he and Langhorne used a black-and-white photograph of the original carpet to create a botanical pattern for the field that would, he said, “honor the style of the border.” He then turned over the work to Langhorne, to create the patterns, match the dye colors, and weave the carpets on narrow looms much like the ones used 200 years ago. Langhorne, he added, is the only mill in the United States—and one of very few in the entire world—capable of doing such a job. “Langhorne has this wonderful capability to do all sorts of different things. I don’t think a lot of people understand that option is out there, and it’s a lot easier than you think to do it,” he said. What’s more, “They’re real people, working people—the folks on the loom, the weavers, the folks in the office: Except for the clothing, they’re the same type of people you would have found in a mill 200 years ago. It takes special people to do this, and that’s Langhorne.”

For the adults, there is a full bar, which is almost the size of the kitchen, adjacent to a main TV/Entertainment area. Sit at the dramatic marble counter top bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area. Ready for more dramatic effects? Check out the large television that is recessed in the wall and flanked by lighted recessed pockets.

. Sit at the dramatic marble countertop bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

A workout room was added off the bathroom in this basement. Photo: Marcia Hansen
Basement - small mediterranean underground carpeted basement idea in Other with gray walls

For the adults, there is a full bar, which is almost the size of the kitchen, adjacent to a main TV/Entertainment area. Sit at the dramatic marble counter top bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

For the adults, there is a full bar, which is almost the size of the kitchen, adjacent to a main TV/Entertainment area. Sit at the dramatic marble counter top bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

photography by Lincoln Barbour
Inspiration for a large transitional underground carpeted and beige floor basement remodel in Portland with beige walls

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Location: Bethesda, MD, USA This total revamp turned out better than anticipated leaving the clients thrilled with the outcome. Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Interior Designer: Anna Cave Susie Soleimani Photography Blog: http://graciousinteriors.blogspot.com/2016/07/from-cellar-to-stellar-lower-level.html

Step into this captivating basement remodel that transports you to the cozy and mysterious ambiance of a dark, moody Irish pub. The design seamlessly blends traditional elements with modern aesthetics, creating a space that exudes warmth, character, and a touch of nostalgia. The natural stone walls add a rustic and authentic charm. Beneath your feet, polished concrete floors give the space an industrial edge while maintaining a sleek and contemporary look. As you make your way towards the heart of the room, a custom home bar beckons. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the bar features a rich, dark wood that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding stone and concrete. Above the bar, a custom etched mirror takes center stage. The mirror is not just a reflective surface but a piece of art, adorned with a detailed family crest. Amidst the dim lighting, strategically placed fixtures and pendant lights cast a warm glow, creating intimate pockets of light and shadow throughout the room. In this basement retreat, the marriage of natural stone, polished concrete, and custom craftsmanship creates a dark, moody Irish pub feel that is both timeless and inviting.

For the adults, there is a full bar, which is almost the size of the kitchen, adjacent to a main TV/Entertainment area. Sit at the dramatic marble counter top bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

For the adults, there is a full bar, which is almost the size of the kitchen, adjacent to a main TV/Entertainment area. Sit at the dramatic marble counter top bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

Large elegant backyard patio photo in San Francisco with no cover

Sit at the dramatic marble countertop bar top on comfortable gray backed bar stools. Feel like a professional bar tender as you pull everything you need from the medium gray shaker style cabinets and matching shaker two level bar front thanks to the significant storage space beneath the serving area.

Reimagined as a quiet retreat on a mixed-use Mission block, this former munitions depot was transformed into a single-family residence by reworking existing forms. A bunker-like concrete structure was cut in half to form a covered patio that opens onto a new central courtyard. The residence behind was remodeled around a large central kitchen, with a combination skylight/hatch providing ample light and roof access. The multiple structures are tied together by untreated cedar siding, intended to gradually fade to grey to match the existing concrete and corrugated steel.

Concept and Backstory for this Trilogy Partners and bhh Partners Design: This home, though built recently, has a long history. It’s an old story about a family with a hardworking father and a loving mother and three kids who lived in Denver, but loved the mountains more than anything. About 1908 they decided to buy an old sheep station outside of Breckenridge. At first they lived in the simple shepherd’s cabin they referred to as the “Station House.” As the children grew, so did the family’s passion for horses, ranching, hunting, and fishing and the great outdoors, and it wasn’t long before everyone in the family began to refer to the Station House as home. Denver just became Denver, and it was certainly not where their hearts longed to be. A heavy bell large enough to be heard for several miles, which became known as the “Dinner Bell,” was installed by the front door to call the kids home for supper. After a few years, the family built a pole barn for the horses and a carriage, and then it became the place where they parked theModel T. About 1923 the eldest son returned from college. His first duty was to supervise the construction of “The Manor House.” Now that mother and father had the time to spend not just summer, but most of the year in the valley, it made sense that they build a real house. The Station House could be used by guests. The son had a lot to do and not much time because the house had to be finished in time for a very important event. A wedding, his wedding, was to happen in the spring, barely a year away.So the Manor House, built with local timbers and many local hands, rose up between the old Station House and the Pole Barn. And there was a first marriage at the house. As the family continued to grow,it seemed the Manor House had to grow with them and over the years, it reached out to either side until finally, it was connected by a long front porch to the Station House, just to the south, and the Pole Barn just to the north. The dinner Bell was installed beneath the gable in the front porch because children still needed to be called home from the hills. Fifty years passed and the fact that dozens of mothers, fathers, children, and grand children and even great grandchildren spread all over the country still called it Home didn’t seem strange to any of them. For this was where they came to share the most important things with the rest of their family. They came in the summers and winters, stayed sometimes a week, often longer, but at least once a year, if not a couple times more. They came for the most memorable days of their lives, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and sometimes for no reason other than they needed to be with their kin. On those saddest days, when one had passed away, they gathered to remember at the Manor House. They would bury their own in the family plot where the sheep once graced in a meadow that the elk favored in winter. There would be hugs, and tears. But for all, it was far better being sad ere than anywhere else. And now, a hundred years have passed since a family of five first set for in the valley. And the Manor House, the Station House, and Pole Barn all deserve a little sprucing up in time for another important event. For in the spring comes wedding number 32. Photo Credit: Michael Yearout

A complete metamorphosis was needed to bring out the buried treasure hidden beneath this yard, and a family of five rattlesnakes had to find a new home! Here’s the short list of the awkward elements that had to be remedied: First, the neighbors’ living room window peered perpetually (like, all the time) and directly into the yard with no privacy whatsoever. None. Second, the vast deep end swallowed up the patio and provided no place for furniture, or walking. Only tripping and treading water was allowed. Third, the sunken lawn must have been an arena of some sort! Intentionally excavated from natural grade a full -42″ from the patio, for no good reason. Fourth, the not-worth-a-visit ramada was the focal point for the entire yard. See it up close! It’s gone. Fifth, the spa was shoved against the farthest wall and provided no invitation. It was so bad, it never had a photo taken! See the statue peeing between the two short columns? It’s over there. Peeing in the corner as all little boys are want to do. Sixth, the bbq and fire place were non-functional and equally uninviting, and here’s a better view of just how crowded the furniture is. Don’t fall in! Last, we will not mention the boulder pile droppings distributed around the yard. Oops! Sorry. The first order of business was to spend several weeks tearing out everything but the pool shell. Then another few weeks were spent wheelbarrowing in a few hundred yards of top soil (there was no access) to fill the matador pit flush to a more relatable -18″. The large gaping trough was then discretely hidden with large removable stones, so it was out of sight but still serviceable. Second, the neighbor was screened instantly with a row of mature Texas Ebony trees in a raised planter, that also housed a sculptural ironwood tree as the focal point of the property, soon to be reflected in the pool’s richer Midnight Blue pebble tec finish. A hundred or so yards of shotcrete filled not only the reclaimed deep end, but also created a sun shelf and spa ledge, now the focal jewel in the foreground as a 360 overflow vanishing edge spa clad in Pewter glass tile from Oceanside Glass, and viewed from all the interior living spaces. The BBQ was tucked around the corner out of sight but still easy access. The fireplace for two gave way to a large inviting built in banco, with a splashes of colorful fabrics to draw one out. The fire pit serves about 10 people easily, for hours at a time. Last but not least, the foreground of the pool became a sweeping entry shelf extending the full length of the pool, bedecked with fiberoptic starlights and six glowing bubblers set low, to just barely break the surface of the water, giving a lovely and tranquil sound while sleeping away with all retractable doors wide open. Simple. Serene. Self-evident. That is the remedy. If your project needs a similar touch, more or less, drop me a line and we’ll figure out a plan.