Bold, dramatic and singular home with a relaxed yet sophisticated interior. Minimal but not austere. Subtle but impactful. Mix of California and Colorado influences in a Minnesota foundation. Builder - John Kraemer & Sons / Architect - Sharratt Design Company / Troy Thies - Project Photographer

Very private backyard enclave waterfall
Design ideas for a contemporary partial sun backyard stone landscaping in DC Metro for summer.

Our clients came to us with a dream to create a home that was beautiful, filled with classic details yet embody a Modern French aesthetic. We started with the foundation, selecting materials that would be the building blocks for our design. One of the joys of this project was the client's love of color, primarily in hues of blue. A special moment in the kitchen with its jewel-like Azul Macauba Quartzite countertop, brass hardware, and sailor’s coat blue island. As we are designing for a family, practical touches along with luxury elements were a must. Creative thinking was used to reimagine the entry closet into a multi-purpose space including the laundry, drop zone, and pantry. The master bath was filled with a classic design from the scones, wallcoverings to crystal hardware...all to transport you to a french apartment overlooking the streets of Paris. A modern twist inserted was the approach for the family room fireplace. The clean lines of stacked stone were the perfect touch. Our clients' dream home became reality in our Modern French Project and will be loved for years to come.

Custom Home Built for Real Life Our clients came to us with a clear vision: a home that could adapt to their lifestyle and growing family. They needed a home built with intention, designed with the future in mind, and built around the routines they loved and the people they loved more. Open-Concept Living With Hosting in Mind Our clients hosted often and lived actively, so the main level had to be flexible for all of life’s moments. The goal was a space that felt grand without losing its warmth. Cooking together as a family mattered to our clients – the Wolf range, farmhouse sink, integrated appliances, and large island gave them a kitchen that flowed effortlessly while looking beautiful. This space also served as the bridge between other parts of the main level so that they would stay in view of the next. This created the perfect environment for gathering where everyone had their own spot without ever feeling apart from the whole group. For the living room, our clients wanted space that felt open without losing its warmth. Soaring ceilings created that sense of scale, while warm tones and materials, like the wood coffered ceiling and fireplace wall, kept it grounded. That same warmth carried outside, where an outdoor lounge with a fireplace and dining area made sure guests felt welcomed the moment they stepped out. A Backyard Built for Real Rest Every corner of the backyard was designed with one goal: to be the ultimate outdoor retreat. The elevated, white-brick-framed pool and integrated spa hot tub gave them a place to truly exhale. As the sun set, the fire pit lounge next to the pool became the hangout spot when they hosted their youth groups and family gatherings. Room to Grow With kids in the house, “custom” had to also mean flexible. Our clients had 2 young sons and needed their rooms to grow with them through the years. The two bedrooms and a full bath sat beside a loft that served as both their hangout-and-homework spot. The guest suite sat on the same level where a four-poster bed, floor-to-ceiling wood-look tile, and a frameless glass shower welcomed their guests from day one. A Retreat That’s Actually Theirs Between hosting and raising kids, this couple needed a suite that felt like a true escape. The wood-planked tray ceiling and French doors grounded the room in warmth the moment you walked in, while the ensuite bathroom carried a spa-like feeling with a freestanding soaking tub, custom double vanity, and a glass-enclosed shower. This Is What Approachable Luxury Looks Like The approachable luxury experience meant starting with conversations about how they wanted their space to live with them – how they hosted, how their kids played, how they wanted to feel walking through their own front door, and how we took their goals and experience and used it as the foundation of every decision that was made from start to finish. We wanted our clients to feel taken care of through the process and, most importantly, feel heard.

image: Travis Rhoads Photography
Design ideas for a small contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit.

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges. The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work. Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other. All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan. Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape. The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

Custom home near Miami, FL.
Inspiration for a large coastal beige two-story stucco house exterior remodel in Miami with a hip roof and a metal roof

Custom Home Built for Real Life Our clients came to us with a clear vision: a home that could adapt to their lifestyle and growing family. They needed a home built with intention, designed with the future in mind, and built around the routines they loved and the people they loved more. Open-Concept Living With Hosting in Mind Our clients hosted often and lived actively, so the main level had to be flexible for all of life’s moments. The goal was a space that felt grand without losing its warmth. Cooking together as a family mattered to our clients – the Wolf range, farmhouse sink, integrated appliances, and large island gave them a kitchen that flowed effortlessly while looking beautiful. This space also served as the bridge between other parts of the main level so that they would stay in view of the next. This created the perfect environment for gathering where everyone had their own spot without ever feeling apart from the whole group. For the living room, our clients wanted space that felt open without losing its warmth. Soaring ceilings created that sense of scale, while warm tones and materials, like the wood coffered ceiling and fireplace wall, kept it grounded. That same warmth carried outside, where an outdoor lounge with a fireplace and dining area made sure guests felt welcomed the moment they stepped out. A Backyard Built for Real Rest Every corner of the backyard was designed with one goal: to be the ultimate outdoor retreat. The elevated, white-brick-framed pool and integrated spa hot tub gave them a place to truly exhale. As the sun set, the fire pit lounge next to the pool became the hangout spot when they hosted their youth groups and family gatherings. Room to Grow With kids in the house, “custom” had to also mean flexible. Our clients had 2 young sons and needed their rooms to grow with them through the years. The two bedrooms and a full bath sat beside a loft that served as both their hangout-and-homework spot. The guest suite sat on the same level where a four-poster bed, floor-to-ceiling wood-look tile, and a frameless glass shower welcomed their guests from day one. A Retreat That’s Actually Theirs Between hosting and raising kids, this couple needed a suite that felt like a true escape. The wood-planked tray ceiling and French doors grounded the room in warmth the moment you walked in, while the ensuite bathroom carried a spa-like feeling with a freestanding soaking tub, custom double vanity, and a glass-enclosed shower. This Is What Approachable Luxury Looks Like The approachable luxury experience meant starting with conversations about how they wanted their space to live with them – how they hosted, how their kids played, how they wanted to feel walking through their own front door, and how we took their goals and experience and used it as the foundation of every decision that was made from start to finish. We wanted our clients to feel taken care of through the process and, most importantly, feel heard.

A whimsical English garden was the foundation and driving force for the design inspiration. A lingering garden mural wraps all the walls floor to ceiling, while a union jack wood detail adorns the existing tray ceiling, as a nod to the client’s English roots. Custom heritage blue base cabinets and antiqued white glass front uppers create a beautifully balanced built-in buffet that stretches the east wall providing display and storage for the client's extensive inherited China collection.

Gorgeous decking welcomes clients to this Studio Shed home office. This prefab studio is built up on one of two of our foundation options: a self-supported joist floor system, similar to a deck. The other option is a concrete pad. Photo by Studio Shed

This kitchen remodel of a 70’s home reflects the character of the existing home and some design features of that era while giving it a fresh, modern look. The client wanted the remodeled space to blend in with the rest of the home, retaining some of the 1970’s character while including all the best features of today’s kitchens. Removing the wall separating the informal eating area from the family room provided a nice open space allowing for a larger kitchen footprint and plenty of light throughout. A combination of Decor's Dove Wing painted and Natural stained Walnut cabinetry was chosen. The dark walnut, slab lower cabinets unite the kitchen with the darker wood theme found throughout the home, while the white, slim-shaker upper cabinets give the space a light and airy feeling. The beautiful vertical grain of the walnut is the foundation of a theme that is echoed throughout the space: tall & thin vertical lines without bulk or needless ornamentation. The unique design detail gives the kitchen a great balance of depth and character while still brightening the space. Walnut crown molding throughout defines the space and ties everything together. The vertical-set green Japanese tile from Virginia Tile, also characteristic of the 1970’s, serves as the backsplash and fills the range wall. The tall & slim theme is underscored by several design elements from the vertical tile and tall cabinet pulls in matte black from Top Knobs, to the thin quartz countertops, skinny shaker cabinet door style, and tall, slim refrigerator doors, all meant to eliminate excess bulk and lighten up the space. An impressive focal point in this kitchen is the custom walnut reeded hood, designed to reflect a popular 1970’s feature. Narrow walnut shelves below the white upper cabinets near the refrigerator provide a nice surprise to the eye. An extra long island, decked in polished 2cm Corian Quartz countertop in Novello, provides ample seating, storage, and task space, making it an ideal surface for serving, eating, meal prep, gathering, and entertaining. The client desired a long island with comfortable counter seating at one end for a family of five, including space for a baby’s high chair. High-end Bosch appliances and functional storage were also priorities. The dry bar on the opposite wall features additional storage and an Elica beverage refrigerator, framed by tall walnut larder cabinets on each end. The white larder cabinet doors pocket into the sides, revealing beautiful finished walnut interiors. Wall cabinets feature Decor’s integrated under-cabinet lighting, while puck lights illuminate the beverage center counter. This kitchen is bursting with integrated storage. Many deep drawers feature interior double drawers making smaller items more accessible. Decor’s spice drawer to the right of the range keeps spices organized, while divided tray storage on the left of the range keeps these taller items handy. While the design is inspired by the 1970’s, it exemplifies the best of the 2020’s, and the new space is open, bright, and functional for this family with young children.

The Rancho Estate provides a level of luxury that sets it apart from any residence in Los Angeles, breaking the record for the most expensive home ever sold in the Encino area. The Eden Group worked with the client to achieve all their development goals by providing integrated design and engineering services which developed concurrently achieving project milestones while staying within the construction budget. Our residential design team used modern aesthetics which entailed of design elements tailored to provide spacious and unparalleled views of the San Fernando Valley. Attracting a dream buyer is the most important aspect in the eyes of any real estate developer and that is why we chose two words to describe the amenities we incorporated into the design: Vast & Spectacular. The estate allows you to swim with infinite views, get your work out on at the indoor gym, shoot hoops with your friends in the indoor basketball court, go for a round of bowling with your child, chomp on popcorn in your theater, get a massage after the steam room at your private spa, putt a couple hole-in-ones, and if you get bored you can always choose to go for a ride from the collection inside your 16-car garage. Majestic high ceilings mixed wide span openings created a challenge for our engineers given the strict rules in the Baseline Hillside Ordinance and the California Building Code. Our structural engineers prepared innovative design plans which entailed of 150 deep pile foundations mixed with steel and laminated timber framing members. We also used permanent shoring techniques to reduce construction cost by eliminating the need for temporary shoring plans for both the structure foundation and on-site retaining walls. Given that California has some of the strictest stormwater management requirements and the total amount of non-permeable areas on this project, the client was required to construct a 35,000-gallon rain harvesting tank per the Low Impact Development Plan Best Management Practice (BMP’s) standards. Our specialized drainage design team captured all on-site stormwater through trench drains, area drains, and downspouts which routed water to a mechanical sump pump that connected to the storage tank for irrigation use later. Innovative design engineering techniques used on this project allowed for increased safety and sustainability making the Rancho Estate a masterpiece of contemporary construction.

Here in Florida, we’re blessed with great weather year-round. So it’s no surprise that outdoor entertaining areas are an extremely popular way to enhance outdoor living. When our clients requested an update to their existing outdoor kitchen while they were away on vacation, we were ready to hit the ground running. While their beautiful 2-story home on a golf course had a pool and covered lanai area, the existing outdoor kitchen just didn’t function well for their needs. Mainly, they craved additional counter space and more seating. And, as avid football fans, with a son playing on a renown Division 1 college team, they also wanted a large screen TV to watch games. After all, what better way to share game day excitement than at a barbecue with family and friends? A Bigger, Better Kitchen Layout Our brilliant design team came up with a much larger, u-shaped outdoor kitchen layout for increased functionality. The extra base cabinets provided plenty of storage as well as a foundation for additional countertop space. Adjacent to the sink, we added a 24” outdoor refrigerator to keep food and beverages chilled, and the high top bar allowed for more seating around the perimeter. For cooking, our clients selected a much larger Lynx grill and side burner to replace the original grill. While the kitchen was already set up for a grilling area, it required a hood, so we built and installed a custom hood for proper ventilation. Then, we added a large screen TV above the hood for easy viewing. Finishing Touches To softly illuminate the entire space at night, we installed additional recessed light fixtures into the ceiling and under the grill hood. We also tied the Cypress wood ceiling and the crown molding together into the design with a luxurious cabinet stain. Along with these finishing touches, we added a decorative travertine stone backsplash behind the grill and homogenized the front face of the bar for a polished, matching look. Ventilation Challenges With the outdoor kitchen lanai located directly under a second-floor living area, we had expected to tuck away ventilation ductwork between the second-level floor joists and the exterior wall running parallel to the grill hood. However, upon further investigation, we discovered the second floor joist system, in fact, ran perpendicular to the grill hood. In short, we needed a new way to hide the venting without compromising the original design. Our team came up with an inspired solution: Construction of a false wall behind the outdoor kitchen allowed us to run ductwork without creating a visible chase for the vent, thus maintaining a symmetrical look on both sides of the grill and decorative hood. Exceeding Expectations In the end, we didn’t just meet our clients’ needs for a beautiful outdoor kitchen update – we exceeded them. As planned, we completed the new outdoor kitchen while they were out of town. But when our clients returned from vacation, they were so impressed with the results (and the stress-free design/build experience) that they promptly hired us for another extensive remodel – a stunning home addition!

We love it when a home becomes a family compound with wonderful history. That is exactly what this home on Mullet Lake is. The original cottage was built by our client’s father and enjoyed by the family for years. It finally came to the point that there was simply not enough room and it lacked some of the efficiencies and luxuries enjoyed in permanent residences. The cottage is utilized by several families and space was needed to allow for summer and holiday enjoyment. The focus was on creating additional space on the second level, increasing views of the lake, moving interior spaces and the need to increase the ceiling heights on the main level. All these changes led for the need to start over or at least keep what we could and add to it. The home had an excellent foundation, in more ways than one, so we started from there. It was important to our client to create a northern Michigan cottage using low maintenance exterior finishes. The interior look and feel moved to more timber beam with pine paneling to keep the warmth and appeal of our area. The home features 2 master suites, one on the main level and one on the 2nd level with a balcony. There are 4 additional bedrooms with one also serving as an office. The bunkroom provides plenty of sleeping space for the grandchildren. The great room has vaulted ceilings, plenty of seating and a stone fireplace with vast windows toward the lake. The kitchen and dining are open to each other and enjoy the view. The beach entry provides access to storage, the 3/4 bath, and laundry. The sunroom off the dining area is a great extension of the home with 180 degrees of view. This allows a wonderful morning escape to enjoy your coffee. The covered timber entry porch provides a direct view of the lake upon entering the home. The garage also features a timber bracketed shed roof system which adds wonderful detail to garage doors. The home’s footprint was extended in a few areas to allow for the interior spaces to work with the needs of the family. Plenty of living spaces for all to enjoy as well as bedrooms to rest their heads after a busy day on the lake. This will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Trendy concrete floor bedroom photo in Houston with white walls

Trendy living room photo in San Francisco

Designed by Thayer Design Studio. We are a full-service interior design firm located in South Boston, MA specializing in new construction, renovations, additions and room by room furnishing for residential and small commercial projects throughout New England. From conception to completion, we engage in a collaborative process with our clients, working closely with contractors, architects, crafts-people and artisans to provide cohesion to our client’s vision. We build spaces that tell a story and create comfort; always striving to find the balance between materials, architectural details, color and space. We believe a well-balanced and thoughtfully curated home is the foundation for happier living.

Holly Hill, a retirement home, whose owner's hobbies are gardening and restoration of classic cars, is nestled into the site contours to maximize views of the lake and minimize impact on the site. Holly Hill is comprised of three wings joined by bridges: A wing facing a master garden to the east, another wing with workshop and a central activity, living, dining wing. Similar to a radiator the design increases the amount of exterior wall maximizing opportunities for natural ventilation during temperate months. Other passive solar design features will include extensive eaves, sheltering porches and high-albedo roofs, as strategies for considerably reducing solar heat gain. Daylighting with clerestories and solar tubes reduce daytime lighting requirements. Ground source geothermal heat pumps and superior to code insulation ensure minimal space conditioning costs. Corten steel siding and concrete foundation walls satisfy client requirements for low maintenance and durability. All light fixtures are LEDs. Open and screened porches are strategically located to allow pleasant outdoor use at any time of day, particular season or, if necessary, insect challenge. Dramatic cantilevers allow the porches to project into the site’s beautiful mixed hardwood tree canopy without damaging root systems. Guest arrive by vehicle with glimpses of the house and grounds through penetrations in the concrete wall enclosing the garden. One parked they are led through a garden composed of pavers, a fountain, benches, sculpture and plants. Views of the lake can be seen through and below the bridges. Primary client goals were a sustainable low-maintenance house, primarily single floor living, orientation to views, natural light to interiors, maximization of individual privacy, creation of a formal outdoor space for gardening, incorporation of a full workshop for cars, generous indoor and outdoor social space for guests and parties.

Designed by Thayer Design Studio. We are a full-service interior design firm located in South Boston, MA specializing in new construction, renovations, additions and room by room furnishing for residential and small commercial projects throughout New England. From conception to completion, we engage in a collaborative process with our clients, working closely with contractors, architects, crafts-people and artisans to provide cohesion to our client’s vision. We build spaces that tell a story and create comfort; always striving to find the balance between materials, architectural details, color and space. We believe a well-balanced and thoughtfully curated home is the foundation for happier living.