inspired spa style sauna, steam shower, whirlpool tub, locker room to an adjacent gym have been very challenging, to capture all amenities that he was inquiring. Space was limited and how build partition walls, created a dilemma to achieve our goals. We had to reconstruct and move bearing posts to gain footsteps for our amazing and rejuvenating spa room. This New Spa was a state of art with a curved tiled bench inside steam room and an Infrared Sauna, soaking whirlpool tub, separate dressing and vanity area just separated from adjacent Gym through pocket doors. New gym with mirrored walls was faced the backyard with a large window. The main room was separated into an entertaining area with large bar and cabinetry, and some built INS facing the backyard. A new French door & window was added to back wall to allow more natural light. Built ins covered with light color natural maple wood tones, we were capturing his nature lifestyle. Through a double glass French door now you enter the state of the art movie theater room. Ceiling star panels, steps row seating, a large screen panel with black velvet curtains has made this space an Icon’s paradise. We have used embedded high quality speakers and surround sound equipped with all new era of projectors, receivers and multiple playing gadgets. The staircase to main level and closet space were redesigned allowing him additional hallway and storage space that he required to have, Intrigued color schemes and fascinating equipment’s has made this basement a place for serenity and excitement

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

What began as a simple kitchen ‘face-lift’ turned into a more complex kitchen remodel when it was determined that what the client was really seeking was to create a space which evoked the warmth of wood. The challenge was to take a dated (c. 1980’s) white plastic laminate kitchen with a white Formica counter top and transform it into a warmly, wood-clad kitchen without having to demolish the entire kitchen cabinetry. With new door and drawer faces and the careful ‘skinning’ of the existing laminate cabinets with a stained maple veneer; the space became more luxurious and updated. The counter top was replaced with a new quartz slab from Eurostone. The peninsula now accommodates counter-height seating. The Haiku bamboo ceiling fan from Big Ass Fans graces the family room. Photography: Manolo Langis

The outdoor kitchen boasts a Travertine backsplash stone with a custom ceramic mosaic, the focal point of the room. Wall Sconce Lighting illuminate the kitchen with a warm glow and reveal the depth of the dark Onyx Black Granite bar and countertops. Providing stark contrast to the granite, the bar and kitchen are faced with Austin Chop Limestone, a lovely and light natural stone. The kitchen houses a 30” grill with a motorized rotisserie featuring LED lighting, perfect for serving a crisped-to-perfection chicken! Completing the meal is no challenge with the double side burner, an ideal spot for sautéing vegetables. The two sets of double doors provide underneath counter space allowing for plenty of storage. And, of course, electrical outlets are placed for convenience and afford access for a Margarita machine or other necessary appliances! Pulling from the original brick color is the Flagstone Stamped Overlay with custom coloring. Fashioning a natural feel to the patio while replacing the previous plain concrete slab surface. The gas-powered fire pit filled with Lava Rock Aggregate is faced with matching stone to the kitchen/bar and requires no maintenance or ash cleanup.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

This project presented many challenges because of its unique “T” shape configuration. This “T” shaped design was selected to provide two faces for this corner layout, capture the Muskoka like view from almost every room in the home, while providing privacy in the court yard of this corner property. Three intersecting hand-cut roof lines were required in order to achieve the “T” shaped configuration. Roof design and approvals were required by an independent engineer due to the complexity of the roof structure. Using quality products, finishes and energy efficient materials, this home which contains over 7,000 square feet of total living space, delivers comfortable living and savings on heating and hydro costs, year after year.

Before this full kitchen expansion/remodel our clients had a very tight, roughly 92 sq./ft. galley kitchen with a standard size door opening at the far left and a single window in the facing wall. The kitchen couldn’t accommodate more than one person comfortably and felt a little dated and dark, even with a large overhead fluorescent fixture. To begin, we doubled the size of the entry into the whole dining room/kitchen area by taking out 3’ of the entryway wall, opening up the space to the rest of the house. We (SWD) knocked out the wall facing the dining room and expanded the kitchen by about 30 sq./ft by moving the stairs to the living room to the right and adding a 2-sided functional peninsula (complete with a range and wine racks) in place of the wall. One end of the peninsula T’s into a counter facing the gorgeous living room view of the surrounding woods. We stretched our design skills to the max to create a design with a significant amount of additional storage cabinets and more conveniently placed all-new appliances, while keeping a very open feel. The natural shaker vertical and stacked horizontal cabinets are contrasted with the dark Verde Peacock granite countertops creating a modern and clean, yet timeless look. The continuous backsplash of khaki glass subway tiles tie the soft and hard elements together. We replaced the dated fluorescent overhead light with an energy efficient LED whose curved glass and stainless steel elements mimic the range hood, and added super-slim dimmable under counter LED lighting. This kitchen now provides our clients with maximum function and style from a size-challenged space.

LIGHTING: Hudson Valley Lighting Wall sconces are an excellent way to add a source of accent or general lighting in the bathroom. The best place for lighting at the vanity is on each side of the mirror. It creates the most even light on your face. For the Ranchalow, I selected the Aged Brass Cornwall Sconce from Hudson Valley, and located one at each side of my mirror. Because my space is small and the profile of the sconce is as important as seeing it from the front, the Cornwall won! I love the brass finish and classic details that take inspiration from a 20th-century apothecary sink with the pipe and ball metalwork. It’s timeless and modern at the same time! The Blackwell surface mount from Hudson Valley is also perfect for this little bath. The details from the attachment points to the clear diffuser, signature diffuser, a piece of engineered “Fresnel glass” that was first used in lighthouse lense paired with a frosted shade fit the classic modern look I am wanted to achieve. Sconce - Hudson Valley Cornwall in Aged Brass

The owners of this very small master bath called JeanE in to give them more storage and make the room feel larger. This was a big challenge because we could not move any walls to gain more space! Before, the original face frame vanity cabinets had very little storage. They were lower in height and had large fillers and center stiles limiting the functionality. Reflected in the mirror, you can see that the door swung into the room making it feel smaller.

AV Architects + Builders Location: Tysons, VA, USA The Home for Life project was customized around our client’s lifestyle so that he could enjoy the home for many years to come. Designed with empty nesters and baby boomers in mind, our custom design used a different approach to the disparity of square footage on each floor. The main level measures out at 2,300 square feet while the lower and upper levels of the home measure out at 1000 square feet each, respectively. The open floor plan of the main level features a master suite and master bath, personal office, kitchen and dining areas, and a two-car garage that opens to a mudroom and laundry room. The upper level features two generously sized en-suite bedrooms while the lower level features an extra guest room with a full bath and an exercise/rec room. The backyard offers 800 square feet of travertine patio with an elegant outdoor kitchen, while the front entry has a covered 300 square foot porch with custom landscape lighting. The biggest challenge of the project was dealing with the size of the lot, measuring only a ¼ acre. Because the majority of square footage was dedicated to the main floor, we had to make sure that the main rooms had plenty of natural lighting. Our solution was to place the public spaces (Great room and outdoor patio) facing south, and the more private spaces (Bedrooms) facing north. The common misconception with small homes is that they cannot factor in everything the homeowner wants. With our custom design, we created an open concept space that features all the amenities of a luxury lifestyle in a home measuring a total of 4300 square feet. Jim Tetro Architectural Photography

inspired spa style sauna, steam shower, whirlpool tub, locker room to an adjacent gym have been very challenging, to capture all amenities that he was inquiring. Space was limited and how build partition walls, created a dilemma to achieve our goals. We had to reconstruct and move bearing posts to gain footsteps for our amazing and rejuvenating spa room. This New Spa was a state of art with a curved tiled bench inside steam room and an Infrared Sauna, soaking whirlpool tub, separate dressing and vanity area just separated from adjacent Gym through pocket doors. New gym with mirrored walls was faced the backyard with a large window. The main room was separated into an entertaining area with large bar and cabinetry, and some built INS facing the backyard. A new French door & window was added to back wall to allow more natural light. Built ins covered with light color natural maple wood tones, we were capturing his nature lifestyle. Through a double glass French door now you enter the state of the art movie theater room. Ceiling star panels, steps row seating, a large screen panel with black velvet curtains has made this space an Icon’s paradise. We have used embedded high quality speakers and surround sound equipped with all new era of projectors, receivers and multiple playing gadgets. The staircase to main level and closet space were redesigned allowing him additional hallway and storage space that he required to have, Intrigued color schemes and fascinating equipment’s has made this basement a place for serenity and excitement

A desire for a more modern and zen-like environment in a historical, turn of the century stone and stucco house was the drive and challenge for this sophisticated Siemasko + Verbridge Interiors project. Along with a fresh color palette, new furniture is woven with antiques, books, and artwork to enliven the space. Carefully selected finishes enhance the openness of the glass pool structure, without competing with the grand ocean views. Thoughtfully designed cabinetry and family friendly furnishings, including a kitchenette, billiard area, and home theater, were designed for both kids and adults.

Eye-Land: Named for the expansive white oak savanna views, this beautiful 5,200-square foot family home offers seamless indoor/outdoor living with five bedrooms and three baths, and space for two more bedrooms and a bathroom. The site posed unique design challenges. The home was ultimately nestled into the hillside, instead of placed on top of the hill, so that it didn’t dominate the dramatic landscape. The openness of the savanna exposes all sides of the house to the public, which required creative use of form and materials. The home’s one-and-a-half story form pays tribute to the site’s farming history. The simplicity of the gable roof puts a modern edge on a traditional form, and the exterior color palette is limited to black tones to strike a stunning contrast to the golden savanna. The main public spaces have oversized south-facing windows and easy access to an outdoor terrace with views overlooking a protected wetland. The connection to the land is further strengthened by strategically placed windows that allow for views from the kitchen to the driveway and auto court to see visitors approach and children play. There is a formal living room adjacent to the front entry for entertaining and a separate family room that opens to the kitchen for immediate family to gather before and after mealtime.

Our clients are seasoned home renovators. Their Malibu oceanside property was the second project JRP had undertaken for them. After years of renting and the age of the home, it was becoming prevalent the waterfront beach house, needed a facelift. Our clients expressed their desire for a clean and contemporary aesthetic with the need for more functionality. After a thorough design process, a new spatial plan was essential to meet the couple’s request. This included developing a larger master suite, a grander kitchen with seating at an island, natural light, and a warm, comfortable feel to blend with the coastal setting. Demolition revealed an unfortunate surprise on the second level of the home: Settlement and subpar construction had allowed the hillside to slide and cover structural framing members causing dangerous living conditions. Our design team was now faced with the challenge of creating a fix for the sagging hillside. After thorough evaluation of site conditions and careful planning, a new 10’ high retaining wall was contrived to be strategically placed into the hillside to prevent any future movements. With the wall design and build completed — additional square footage allowed for a new laundry room, a walk-in closet at the master suite. Once small and tucked away, the kitchen now boasts a golden warmth of natural maple cabinetry complimented by a striking center island complete with white quartz countertops and stunning waterfall edge details. The open floor plan encourages entertaining with an organic flow between the kitchen, dining, and living rooms. New skylights flood the space with natural light, creating a tranquil seaside ambiance. New custom maple flooring and ceiling paneling finish out the first floor. Downstairs, the ocean facing Master Suite is luminous with breathtaking views and an enviable bathroom oasis. The master bath is modern and serene, woodgrain tile flooring and stunning onyx mosaic tile channel the golden sandy Malibu beaches. The minimalist bathroom includes a generous walk-in closet, his & her sinks, a spacious steam shower, and a luxurious soaking tub. Defined by an airy and spacious floor plan, clean lines, natural light, and endless ocean views, this home is the perfect rendition of a contemporary coastal sanctuary. PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Contemporary • Colors: White, Beige, Yellow Hues • Countertops: White Ceasarstone Quartz • Cabinets: Bellmont Natural finish maple; Shaker style • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Polished Chrome • Lighting Fixtures: Pendent lighting in Master bedroom, all else recessed • Flooring: Hardwood - Natural Maple Tile – Ann Sacks, Porcelain in Yellow Birch • Tile/Backsplash: Glass mosaic in kitchen • Other Details: Bellevue Stand Alone Tub Photographer: Andrew, Open House VC

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Tim Street-Porter
Living room - mid-century modern living room idea in Los Angeles

Design ideas for a contemporary landscaping in Boston.

Before this full kitchen expansion/remodel our clients had a very tight, roughly 92 sq./ft. galley kitchen with a standard size door opening at the far left and a single window in the facing wall. The kitchen couldn’t accommodate more than one person comfortably and felt a little dated and dark, even with a large overhead fluorescent fixture. To begin, we doubled the size of the entry into the whole dining room/kitchen area by taking out 3’ of the entryway wall, opening up the space to the rest of the house. We (SWD) knocked out the wall facing the dining room and expanded the kitchen by about 30 sq./ft by moving the stairs to the living room to the right and adding a 2-sided functional peninsula (complete with a range and wine racks) in place of the wall. One end of the peninsula T’s into a counter facing the gorgeous living room view of the surrounding woods. We stretched our design skills to the max to create a design with a significant amount of additional storage cabinets and more conveniently placed all-new appliances, while keeping a very open feel. The natural shaker vertical and stacked horizontal cabinets are contrasted with the dark Verde Peacock granite countertops creating a modern and clean, yet timeless look. The continuous backsplash of khaki glass subway tiles tie the soft and hard elements together. We replaced the dated fluorescent overhead light with an energy efficient LED whose curved glass and stainless steel elements mimic the range hood, and added super-slim dimmable under counter LED lighting. This kitchen now provides our clients with maximum function and style from a size-challenged space.

Before this full kitchen expansion/remodel our clients had a very tight, roughly 92 sq./ft. galley kitchen with a standard size door opening at the far left and a single window in the facing wall. The kitchen couldn’t accommodate more than one person comfortably and felt a little dated and dark, even with a large overhead fluorescent fixture. To begin, we doubled the size of the entry into the whole dining room/kitchen area by taking out 3’ of the entryway wall, opening up the space to the rest of the house. We (SWD) knocked out the wall facing the dining room and expanded the kitchen by about 30 sq./ft by moving the stairs to the living room to the right and adding a 2-sided functional peninsula (complete with a range and wine racks) in place of the wall. One end of the peninsula T’s into a counter facing the gorgeous living room view of the surrounding woods. We stretched our design skills to the max to create a design with a significant amount of additional storage cabinets and more conveniently placed all-new appliances, while keeping a very open feel. The natural shaker vertical and stacked horizontal cabinets are contrasted with the dark Verde Peacock granite countertops creating a modern and clean, yet timeless look. The continuous backsplash of khaki glass subway tiles tie the soft and hard elements together. We replaced the dated fluorescent overhead light with an energy efficient LED whose curved glass and stainless steel elements mimic the range hood, and added super-slim dimmable under counter LED lighting. This kitchen now provides our clients with maximum function and style from a size-challenged space.