When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Small farmhouse kitchen photo in Minneapolis

This kitchen was designed for a family who decided to leave life in the big city and move up to Westchester for more room. The large space exuberates a calm, clean and classic feeling. “I love being brought in as a collaborative partner with both the architect and homeowner. It becomes my job as the kitchen designer to deliver on the vision of which the architect and homeowner are dreaming” says Bilotta Designer Randy O’Kane. The details become the focus, such as in this case, using just the right fluted Bendheim low iron Pyramid textured glass with just the correct proportions. Understanding the appliances (a mix of SubZero, Wolf and Miele) and their exterior panel and space requirements is critical. Framing out each doorway while lining up all the reveals can only happen when the architect has an eye for detail. Ira of Ira Grandberg Architects focuses on how all the surrounding rooms center on the kitchen so that from every angle you see one cohesive space, interfacing with the adjacent rooms. The client had specific "asks" as it related to the door style and color as well as the range and hood (a La Canche French Range by Art Culinaire in Matte Black with Brass Trim with a Custom Hood by Rangecraft.) Kismet is when there are "just the right" number of cooks creating this amazing kitchen. The challenge for the architect was designing a larger eat-in kitchen that did not feel overpowering. With all the light coming in from the many windows they wanted to keep the space bright but not use the typical white paint and so opted for a soft grey for the custom cabinetry. They decided to forgo the cabinet and countertop surfaces on the exterior wall so that they could have a large table for the family to eat meals at together. This also brought an enormous amount of light into the space – very inviting. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane Photographer: Kirt Washington Architect: Ira Grandberg Architects Builder: ABC Construction

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

A radical remodel of a modest beach bungalow originally built in 1913 and relocated in 1920 to its current location, blocks from the ocean. The exterior of the Bay Street Residence remains true to form, preserving its inherent street presence. The interior has been fully renovated to create a streamline connection between each interior space and the rear yard. A 2-story rear addition provides a master suite and deck above while simultaneously creating a unique space below that serves as a terraced indoor dining and living area open to the outdoors. Photographer: Taiyo Watanabe

Coastal Shingle Style on St. Andrew Bay Private Residence / Panama City Beach, Florida Architect: Eric Watson Builder: McIntosh-Myers Construction For this lovely Coastal Shingle–style home, E. F. San Juan supplied Loewen impact-rated windows and doors, E. F. San Juan Invincia® impact-rated custom mahogany entry doors, exterior board-and-batten siding, exterior shingles, and exterior trim and millwork. We also supplied all the interior doors, stair parts, paneling, mouldings, and millwork. Challenges: At over 10,000 square feet, the sheer size of this home—coupled with the extensive amount of materials we produced and provided—made for a great scheduling challenge. Another significant challenge for the E. F. San Juan team was the homeowner’s desire for an electronic locking system on numerous Invincia® doors we custom manufactured for the home. This was a first-time request for us, but a challenge we gladly accepted! Solution: We worked closely with the builder, Cliff Myers of McIntosh-Myers Construction, as well as the architect, Eric Watson, to ensure the timeliness of decisions as they related to the home’s critical production timeline. We also worked closely with our design engineer and the home’s engineer of record, Allen Barnes of Apex Engineering Group, to provide a solution that allowed for an electronic lock on our custom Invincia® mahogany doors. The completed home is a stunning example of coastal architecture that is as safe and secure as it is beautiful. --- Photography by Jack Gardner

THEME The main theme for this room is an active, physical and personalized experience for a growing boy. This was achieved with the use of bold colors, creative inclusion of personal favorites and the use of industrial materials. FOCUS The main focus of the room is the 12 foot long x 4 foot high elevated bed. The bed is the focal point of the room and leaves ample space for activity within the room beneath. A secondary focus of the room is the desk, positioned in a private corner of the room outfitted with custom lighting and suspended desktop designed to support growing technical needs and school assignments. STORAGE A large floor armoire was built at the far die of the room between the bed and wall.. The armoire was built with 8 separate storage units that are approximately 12”x24” by 8” deep. These enclosed storage spaces are convenient for anything a growing boy may need to put away and convenient enough to make cleaning up easy for him. The floor is built to support the chair and desk built into the far corner of the room. GROWTH The room was designed for active ages 8 to 18. There are three ways to enter the bed, climb the knotted rope, custom rock wall, or pipe monkey bars up the wall and along the ceiling. The ladder was included only for parents. While these are the intended ways to enter the bed, they are also a convenient safety system to prevent younger siblings from getting into his private things. SAFETY This room was designed for an older child but safety is still a critical element and every detail in the room was reviewed for safety. The raised bed includes extra long and higher side boards ensuring that any rolling in bed is kept safe. The decking was sanded and edges cleaned to prevent any potential splintering. Power outlets are covered using exterior industrial outlets for the switches and plugs, which also looks really cool.

Landscapes need not be overly edited to highlight the charms of modern architecture. To the contrary, natural, even rustic, foliage choice and placement can add enchanting warmth to homes and outdoor living spaces with clean lines. The paver and joint walkway adjacent to the home both reflects and complements the home's architecture. It also provides critical defensible space for fire fighters, improving the safety of the coastal canyon home. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Entry hall - contemporary light wood floor entry hall idea in San Diego with white walls and a dark wood front door

This Spectacular Gated Elegant Estate exudes class while capturing today's modern living by providing an exhilarating indoor-outdoor experience perfect for entertaining. With a half size basketball court in the backyard, a large swimming pool, and plenty of room for guests, this is the number one spot for entertaining and throwing a summer bbq. Plus, with the solar panels on the roof, you never have to worry about losing power at a critical moment, your home will just keep running.

These South Shore of Boston homeowners desired a larger kitchen as their existing had limited space to host family events and entertain guests – they turned to Renovisions to help transform their small, outdated kitchen with separate walk-in pantry into a beautiful, open and spacious inspirational room. Choosing the right cabinetry for the room and how to meet the needs of the client was critical to the overall success of this design. A traditional style was the framework of the home and the flat paneled doors on the white painted cabinetry support this aspect. Going vertical as possible with cabinets is a trend here to stay; keeping with that idea, we recommended the graceful tall pantry cabinet that flanks one side of the kitchen. This not only lends to an eye-appealing furniture-look, but adds significant storage space, allowing the cabinets to store items they may not use on a regular basis. In this case, the clients are amazed with the amount of storage they’ve gained and one that provides easy access to all interior items. Every inch of space was key to create this optimally functional kitchen. Must-haves such as tray dividers above the refrigerator are handy and the double pull-out trash/recycling bins on the right side of the sink were a simple and clean way to gain floor space and conceal unsightly trash. The focal point of this kitchen is the expansive, soft-grey colored contrasting island with larger, deeper drawers for pots, pans and platters. The client was excited to switch to an induction chef-series range that featured a divided oven that can accommodate two different temperatures. Fit and finish is important in any renovation and this certainly holds true in this kitchen project to personalize their space. The custom recessed panel columns with wainscot details add an architectural element that ties into the kitchen cabinet design and Carrera-look quartz countertops which provide a stunning classical look that ties nicely with the overall traditional style. These homeowners are excited to show off their open and spacious Renovision! “We really enjoyed our new kitchen and it’s amazing improvement over the holidays. We got rave reviews from all of our guests!” Steve & Mary S. (Duxbury)

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.

This project involved a complete, top-to-bottom renovation of a classic home originally built in 1920. We took this century-old structure and transformed it into a modern, energy-efficient, and beautifully finished home. The house was stripped to its bones, allowing us to address the core structure. A critical part of the project was adding comprehensive insulation to the entire building, which previously had none. We installed a full set of new, high-performance windows and doors to further enhance the home's efficiency. A major upgrade included the integration of a high-tech ducted heating and cooling system, bringing state-of-the-art climate control to the entire house. The exterior was given a complete facelift with brand-new siding, all new exterior trim, and a professional paint job, restoring its timeless curb appeal. The attention to detail continued inside with new trim throughout and a full interior repainting, resulting in a fresh, clean, and move-in-ready space that honors the home's historic character while providing all the comforts of modern living.