Search results for "Careers" in Home Design Ideas

Context
After retiring from their careers in New Jersey, an active professional couple decided to move to Vermont to be closer to their family. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sensibly plan for the future by building a sunlit home in which they could comfortably age in place with predictable, low energy costs through the harsh Vermont winter. A spacious, open lot near a historic river village provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s favorite hobbies: gardening, woodworking, and yoga. The couple’s son, owner of Shelterwood Construction, would have the chance to showcase his meticulous craftsmanship in a home lovingly built for his parents.
Response
The home was built using very local natural materials that blend into the surrounding landscape. Cor-ten steel weathered clapboards transition from the earth to the wood clapboards above and the entire exterior has no finish, allowing the house to change and weather with the seasons. Many of the interior finishes, including the decorative stair wall, were made from locally-milled white pine that was harvested from the site.
This certified Passive House is designed to be lived in for a lifetime with wheelchair accessibility, wide doorways, accessible fixtures, and everything the couple needs located on the main level. Framed by large south-facing windows, the light-filled main living area includes a lofted ceiling transected with a glass bridge that connects the guest bedrooms above and looks out onto the garden and fruit trees below.
The attached barn, which creates a courtyard for gardens, houses a yoga studio and woodworking shop. With an ample array of solar panels and airtight construction to keep the heat in, the house is predicted to be net zero with no energy bills even in the coldest of Vermont winters. A Tesla Powerwall stores backup electricity for this all-electric home.

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton).
Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established.
In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

Context
After retiring from their careers in New Jersey, an active professional couple decided to move to Vermont to be closer to their family. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sensibly plan for the future by building a sunlit home in which they could comfortably age in place with predictable, low energy costs through the harsh Vermont winter. A spacious, open lot near a historic river village provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s favorite hobbies: gardening, woodworking, and yoga. The couple’s son, owner of Shelterwood Construction, would have the chance to showcase his meticulous craftsmanship in a home lovingly built for his parents.
Response
The home was built using very local natural materials that blend into the surrounding landscape. Cor-ten steel weathered clapboards transition from the earth to the wood clapboards above and the entire exterior has no finish, allowing the house to change and weather with the seasons. Many of the interior finishes, including the decorative stair wall, were made from locally-milled white pine that was harvested from the site.
This certified Passive House is designed to be lived in for a lifetime with wheelchair accessibility, wide doorways, accessible fixtures, and everything the couple needs located on the main level. Framed by large south-facing windows, the light-filled main living area includes a lofted ceiling transected with a glass bridge that connects the guest bedrooms above and looks out onto the garden and fruit trees below.
The attached barn, which creates a courtyard for gardens, houses a yoga studio and woodworking shop. With an ample array of solar panels and airtight construction to keep the heat in, the house is predicted to be net zero with no energy bills even in the coldest of Vermont winters. A Tesla Powerwall stores backup electricity for this all-electric home.
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Privately commissioned freehand painted geometric in-home mural. Created for a couple in Brighton, CO. One of the owners of the house has been a flight attendant for 19+ years, so we created something that was very personal to her. When she comes home, she has "Landed". She is in her safe place. Consistent place. Steady space. With her beloved husband and pup. Mural Size: approximately 114” L x 154” W. gneural™ is the creative studio of artist and innovative surface designer Debbie Clapper. Drawing nearly every day since the age of 9, Debbie has mastered the art of freehand drawing and painting without the aid of a ruler or straight edge. She has built a lush career around pattern illustration via her passion for abstract optical illusion art. Heavily inspired by M.C. Escher and graffiti, Debbie’s work strives to inspire and ignite imagination in all who interact with it. For 18 years she ran an award-winning graphic design studio, and now she focuses on creating innovative surface design and inspiring creativity. Contact Debbie today to discuss your own, one-of-a-kind, home or business project.

 
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This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be.
One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room.
Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in.
We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room.
Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it.
The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material.
The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze.
Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience.
The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island.
We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space.
Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD
Photography by: Michael Kaskel
For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash.
Paint colors:
Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024
Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23
Robert B. Narod Photography

115" Vutec Fusion-HD screen.
See more ideas at:
http://www.cchas.com/theater-and-media-rooms
Bubbenmoyer Photography

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton).
Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established.
In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

This handcrafted Ash bar stool combines everyday functionality with meaningful craftsmanship, creating seating that's as personal as it is practical. Built from solid USA-sourced Ash hardwood, this custom bar stool features a clean, modern profile with custom-fabricated metal legs and a one-of-a-kind epoxy inlay, making it a beautiful addition to kitchen islands, home bars, breakfast counters, and entertainment spaces.
Created for a client in Howell, Michigan, this custom hardwood bar stool was designed to celebrate the family's story. The seat features a detailed epoxy inlay of an excavator, honoring the client's family history and career, while the custom metal legs were fabricated into the shape of an "L" to represent their family name. Together, these personalized details transform a simple bar stool into a meaningful heirloom that reflects the people who use it every day.
The light, natural grain of the Ash hardwood creates a warm, contemporary appearance that allows the custom details to take center stage without overwhelming the design. Comfortable enough for everyday meals yet distinctive enough to become a conversation piece, this stool demonstrates how custom furniture can combine lasting functionality with personal significance.
Unlike mass-produced bar stools made from particle board, imported hardwood substitutes, or thin veneers, our seating is handcrafted from solid hardwood that's built to withstand everyday use for generations. Every piece of wood is individually selected for its strength, beauty, and natural character, ensuring each stool is truly one of a kind while offering exceptional durability that grows more beautiful with age.

This handcrafted Ash bar stool combines everyday functionality with meaningful craftsmanship, creating seating that's as personal as it is practical. Built from solid USA-sourced Ash hardwood, this custom bar stool features a clean, modern profile with custom-fabricated metal legs and a one-of-a-kind epoxy inlay, making it a beautiful addition to kitchen islands, home bars, breakfast counters, and entertainment spaces.
Created for a client in Howell, Michigan, this custom hardwood bar stool was designed to celebrate the family's story. The seat features a detailed epoxy inlay of an excavator, honoring the client's family history and career, while the custom metal legs were fabricated into the shape of an "L" to represent their family name. Together, these personalized details transform a simple bar stool into a meaningful heirloom that reflects the people who use it every day.
The light, natural grain of the Ash hardwood creates a warm, contemporary appearance that allows the custom details to take center stage without overwhelming the design. Comfortable enough for everyday meals yet distinctive enough to become a conversation piece, this stool demonstrates how custom furniture can combine lasting functionality with personal significance.
Unlike mass-produced bar stools made from particle board, imported hardwood substitutes, or thin veneers, our seating is handcrafted from solid hardwood that's built to withstand everyday use for generations. Every piece of wood is individually selected for its strength, beauty, and natural character, ensuring each stool is truly one of a kind while offering exceptional durability that grows more beautiful with age.

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton).
Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established.
In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton).
Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established.
In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

Regan Wood, reganwood.com
Living room - transitional living room idea in Seattle with beige walls
Living room - transitional living room idea in Seattle with beige walls

Privately commissioned freehand painted geometric in-home mural. Created for a couple in Brighton, CO. One of the owners of the house has been a flight attendant for 19+ years, so we created something that was very personal to her. When she comes home, she has "Landed". She is in her safe place. Consistent place. Steady space. With her beloved husband and pup. Mural Size: approximately 114” L x 154” W. gneural™ is the creative studio of artist and innovative surface designer Debbie Clapper. Drawing nearly every day since the age of 9, Debbie has mastered the art of freehand drawing and painting without the aid of a ruler or straight edge. She has built a lush career around pattern illustration via her passion for abstract optical illusion art. Heavily inspired by M.C. Escher and graffiti, Debbie’s work strives to inspire and ignite imagination in all who interact with it. For 18 years she ran an award-winning graphic design studio, and now she focuses on creating innovative surface design and inspiring creativity. Contact Debbie today to discuss your own, one-of-a-kind, home or business project.

Context
After retiring from their careers in New Jersey, an active professional couple decided to move to Vermont to be closer to their family. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to sensibly plan for the future by building a sunlit home in which they could comfortably age in place with predictable, low energy costs through the harsh Vermont winter. A spacious, open lot near a historic river village provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s favorite hobbies: gardening, woodworking, and yoga. The couple’s son, owner of Shelterwood Construction, would have the chance to showcase his meticulous craftsmanship in a home lovingly built for his parents.
Response
The home was built using very local natural materials that blend into the surrounding landscape. Cor-ten steel weathered clapboards transition from the earth to the wood clapboards above and the entire exterior has no finish, allowing the house to change and weather with the seasons. Many of the interior finishes, including the decorative stair wall, were made from locally-milled white pine that was harvested from the site.
This certified Passive House is designed to be lived in for a lifetime with wheelchair accessibility, wide doorways, accessible fixtures, and everything the couple needs located on the main level. Framed by large south-facing windows, the light-filled main living area includes a lofted ceiling transected with a glass bridge that connects the guest bedrooms above and looks out onto the garden and fruit trees below.
The attached barn, which creates a courtyard for gardens, houses a yoga studio and woodworking shop. With an ample array of solar panels and airtight construction to keep the heat in, the house is predicted to be net zero with no energy bills even in the coldest of Vermont winters. A Tesla Powerwall stores backup electricity for this all-electric home.
Photos (c) Irvin Serrano

This handcrafted Ash bar stool combines everyday functionality with meaningful craftsmanship, creating seating that's as personal as it is practical. Built from solid USA-sourced Ash hardwood, this custom bar stool features a clean, modern profile with custom-fabricated metal legs and a one-of-a-kind epoxy inlay, making it a beautiful addition to kitchen islands, home bars, breakfast counters, and entertainment spaces.
Created for a client in Howell, Michigan, this custom hardwood bar stool was designed to celebrate the family's story. The seat features a detailed epoxy inlay of an excavator, honoring the client's family history and career, while the custom metal legs were fabricated into the shape of an "L" to represent their family name. Together, these personalized details transform a simple bar stool into a meaningful heirloom that reflects the people who use it every day.
The light, natural grain of the Ash hardwood creates a warm, contemporary appearance that allows the custom details to take center stage without overwhelming the design. Comfortable enough for everyday meals yet distinctive enough to become a conversation piece, this stool demonstrates how custom furniture can combine lasting functionality with personal significance.
Unlike mass-produced bar stools made from particle board, imported hardwood substitutes, or thin veneers, our seating is handcrafted from solid hardwood that's built to withstand everyday use for generations. Every piece of wood is individually selected for its strength, beauty, and natural character, ensuring each stool is truly one of a kind while offering exceptional durability that grows more beautiful with age.

After the Sonoma County Fires of 2017 our clients are thrilled to be back at their
“Home on the Ridge”
Where the Deer and the Mountain Cats play.
Where gladness is heard.
And now peace is the word.
And the skies are not cloudy all day!
Room to room the main color is a warm gray lux vinyl floor that connects red and black accents throughout the home along with subtle greens like the surrounding hills of this newly completed home. This lovely owners have been married since they were 19 years old, over 50 years ago. They know what they like and what they don't like at this point in life. However, rebuilding had not been a part of the plan, so they had to jump in with both feet to explore today's options.
When my boss, David Frym, the owner of Northbay Kitchen and Bath in Petaluma introduced me to them, I instantly fell in love. They were not afraid to start all over again to create their haven. Working closely together with them using Dave's suggestions and design of every inch of custom cabinetry throughout the house, we were able to achieve this final installation.
Providing a whole house of specs and pulling in the beginnings of an interior design has been a gift in my career and I will always treasure this project, which is still in the works, but for now, ready to live in and enjoy, Thankfully our clients are Home.
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