A fantastic and cute remodel and addition to a small single story home. The main challenge with this home is that the property is in a flood zone and the home was originally built too low to the ground. So part of the construction process will involve raising up the original floor level and augmenting the existing foundations to support the higher floor level. Outside of that small challenge, this remodel and addition came together really easily for my wonderful clients. Their main focus was to get as large of a great room as possible with a huge open kitchen, dining, and family room. The bedrooms are somewhat smaller to accommodate that request, but I was at least able to incorporate a home office for the work-from-home couple.

A fantastic and cute remodel and addition to a small single story home. The main challenge with this home is that the property is in a flood zone and the home was originally built too low to the ground. So part of the construction process will involve raising up the original floor level and augmenting the existing foundations to support the higher floor level. Outside of that small challenge, this remodel and addition came together really easily for my wonderful clients. Their main focus was to get as large of a great room as possible with a huge open kitchen, dining, and family room. The bedrooms are somewhat smaller to accommodate that request, but I was at least able to incorporate a home office for the work-from-home couple.

A fantastic and cute remodel and addition to a small single story home. The main challenge with this home is that the property is in a flood zone and the home was originally built too low to the ground. So part of the construction process will involve raising up the original floor level and augmenting the existing foundations to support the higher floor level. Outside of that small challenge, this remodel and addition came together really easily for my wonderful clients. Their main focus was to get as large of a great room as possible with a huge open kitchen, dining, and family room. The bedrooms are somewhat smaller to accommodate that request, but I was at least able to incorporate a home office for the work-from-home couple.

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.

An oasis away from home, Zen and relaxation was the theme we were going for with this guest bedroom. My clients wanted the guest room to have a hotel feel. This bedroom was a blank slate of unfinished walls revealing the studs, floors and open ceiling in my client’s basement. A monochromatic color story, neutral palette, harmonious and tranquil theme flows throughout the space. Using varying tints and shades of gray to achieve dimension was the foundation for designing this guest room. Creating a room that was not only a place to sleep but also functioned for multiple purposes was something my clients and I discussed during the consultation. It was imperative that we design a space for sleeping, lounging, watching television, reading, writing, and computer browsing. Because the space was not defined when we started we had to redefine the room—closing the walls, ceiling and floors. Creating a floor plan, ceiling treatment, furniture plan and layout was our mission the rest came together seamlessly. My clients were not only happy with their new guest room but also enjoyed the experience. Now they have a place to entertain their guest overnight in comfort. Photography by Haigwood Studios

Our client bought an older expansive bungalow in Manotick with a stunning waterfront backyard. This beautiful setting became the foundation for our open concept Kitchen and Family Room Design. Besides the usual great functional requirements, the client wanted a ‘Rockstar’ visual kitchen to complement an eclectic collection of Mid-Century Furniture and objects. The reclaimed Northern Wide plank Oak hardwood (colour: Mill creek, collection: Artifax), floor provides a rustic and comfortable grounding to the crisp modernism of the kitchen. The floor is especially practical as the inevitable scratches from the family dog can be easily corrected by the client. The Kitchen features a ‘Bridge’ design of walnut cabinetry surrounding the pro-style fridge and freezer. Other appliances are clustered with demi-tall pantries and form an interesting linear definition that suits the ‘Long’ Room of Kitchen and Family Room. A walnut Eating Bar and walnut interior for the dish pantry complete the triad of walnut in the Kitchen. High gloss white cabinets featuring handle-free design are topped with gray quartz. The stunning Noble Grey light marble backsplash is installed with a Horizontal grain to complement the linear definition. The Family Room features an offset linear fireplace that is balanced with a substantial walnut entertainment unit. The awkward and unmoveable doorway was incorporated into the design to create the effect of a unit that is much larger than it actually is. The walnut wood matches the Kitchen but is installed with a horizontal grain, repeating the character of the kitchen backsplash.

This particular client wanted a clean, neutral, sleek, transitional look to fit their professional lifestyles. The strategy was to have a neutral base, but buy several different groupings of decor and pillows to easily change the look of the room with out buying new furnishings. The art over the fireplace was chosen because of the variety of color in the picture. This was a good foundational piece to derive many different color schemes from. Andy McRory Photography

Natural, calm, family-centered. This client knew what she wanted and just needed some assistance getting there. Susan helped her out with imagery and product research, a first floor furniture plan and several working meetings to nail down the built-in functionality and look in the dining-room-turned-office/family drop-zone. Cork floors installed throughout give the home a warm and eco-friendly foundation. Pine-cones, tree trunk cookies, plants and lots of unstained wood make the family's focus on nature clear. The result: a beautiful and light-filled but relaxed and practical family space. Carpenter/Contractor: Sam Dennis From the client: We hired Susan to assist with a downstairs remodel. She brings a personalization that feels like getting advice from a family member at the same time adding helpful details of her industry knowledge. Her flexibly in work style allows her to come with plans fully researched and developed or to advise, plan and draw on the spot. She has been willing to do as much as we needed or to let us roll with our own ideas and time frame and consult with her as needed.

Ema Peter
Inspiration for a large contemporary light wood floor living room remodel in Vancouver with beige walls, a tile fireplace and a media wall

Kitchen - kitchen idea in Toronto

A fun project combining a love of color with a love for an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories. It was a great adventure figuring out how to marry the traditional style and good furniture that her husband grew up with and loved, with the funky vibe and saturated colors my client and her husband both wanted in their home. We started with high quality traditional furnishings and a classic oriental rug to lay the foundation. Then we added in modern elements, such as a gorgeous chunky wooden table for the eating area, paired with sleek warm white leather chairs and bold lighting that is anything but traditional. The top layer of Chihuly inspired glass, bright pottery, colorful fabrics, new dramatic custom curtains, and my client's own collections made everything just come together. Photos by Laura Kicey

Andreas and Naomi Kunert of Ancient Art of Stone created the stone artwork “Memories Surround Me.” This unique, fully functioning natural stone fireplace created in their studio on Vancouver Island was delivered to the clients’ new home 450 miles away in Spokane, Washington. The completed 22' tall commission was delivered in two pieces on Christmas Eve as an anniversary gift to the client’s wife. The clients requested Kunert to design an artwork which captured the essence of their 50 years together and that filled the required space within the design of the great room while not overwhelming it. They wished the piece to represent their passion for fly fishing, their love of the movement and patterns in the waters, and the stones experienced, both large and small. Kunert envisioned and proposed a scale drawing, suggesting the artwork rise from the “still waters” of polished basalt, with sandstone blocks on either side carved into shorelines, creating the desired secret caverns for their use. This cradles a lifetime of stories and adventures that rise into the all-encompassing Fibonacci sequence of life, a swirl of stones. A hybrid concrete substructure supported the tons of stone being secured to it and then moved. It was then enveloped in sandstone blocks which were carved, adding a granite mantle and glacial erratics, ascending into an astonishingly complex pattern of Sacred Geometry. Giving movement to the stone was intensely challenging, yet imperative in giving the piece a feeling of lightness and spiritual grace. The final challenge was to lift the piece by crane from the low bed onto the foundation within the initial framing of the house, which was set within an exclusive residential neighborhood in sub-zero temperatures. Ancient Art of Stone was intimately involved in every aspect of the project. They designed the artwork, sourced the stone, created the commission in their studio, and delivered and oversaw the final installation into the client’s home.

Saturday June 20, 1:30 to 3:00pm | Greenwich Village Urban Aerie by David Kamp, FASLA, of Dirtworks Landscape Architecture, PC For their award-winning terrace design, the landscape architects created a relaxing setting using the same materials they employed on their client’s beachfront hideaway (as part of this Dialogue, attendees visit the terrace where they’ll also get a presentation about the beach property). Contrasts in texture and color are carefully arranged. Cedar, weathered to a buff grey, is used throughout for decking and set off in places with borders of dark round stones. The wood is carefully treated so it’s smooth underfoot. Two bow front metal perimeter planters overflow with grasses, which soften the edges. Strategically placed cedar planters with amelanchier, also known as juneberry, are used as a screening device, to frame dramatic views from the apartment and provide some canopy. A single pine, together with the juneberry, provides sculptural interest. All the plants, which are either native or naturalized, weather the harsh winter winds and temperatures. Photo copyright Andrew Bordwin Studio Inc.

An already beautifully appointed home just needed a face lift in the tired kitchen to bring it up to par with the rest of the house. The clients originally considered refacing their existing kitchen cabinets, but then decided on a full remodel. The cabinets installed in the kitchen are Medallion Devonshire Door Style, Flat Center Panel, Painted White Chocolate. Hardware is Top Knobs 1 1/8” and 8 cc Appliance Pulls. The countertop is Giallo Traversella Granite 1/2” Round with 4” Backsplash on the Refrigerator and Garage walls. The backsplash is Petal Mosiac in the Foundation Color. A Blanco Diamond Silgranite sink in Truffle color and Moen Arbor Pullout Faucet in Chrome finish.

Our client bought an older expansive bungalow in Manotick with a stunning waterfront backyard. This beautiful setting became the foundation for our open concept Kitchen and Family Room Design. Besides the usual great functional requirements, the client wanted a ‘Rockstar’ visual kitchen to complement an eclectic collection of Mid-Century Furniture and objects. The reclaimed Northern Wide plank Oak hardwood (colour: Mill creek, collection: Artifax), floor provides a rustic and comfortable grounding to the crisp modernism of the kitchen. The floor is especially practical as the inevitable scratches from the family dog can be easily corrected by the client. The Kitchen features a ‘Bridge’ design of walnut cabinetry surrounding the pro-style fridge and freezer. Other appliances are clustered with demi-tall pantries and form an interesting linear definition that suits the ‘Long’ Room of Kitchen and Family Room. A walnut Eating Bar and walnut interior for the dish pantry complete the triad of walnut in the Kitchen. High gloss white cabinets featuring handle-free design are topped with gray quartz. The stunning Noble Grey light marble backsplash is installed with a Horizontal grain to complement the linear definition. The Family Room features an offset linear fireplace that is balanced with a substantial walnut entertainment unit. The awkward and unmoveable doorway was incorporated into the design to create the effect of a unit that is much larger than it actually is. The walnut wood matches the Kitchen but is installed with a horizontal grain, repeating the character of the kitchen backsplash.

This environmentally minded client in Milford Michigan. contacted us to create a rain garden. They were both master gardeners and had a very specific plants that they wanted to utilize in the waterwise location. The area was a small triangle shaped piece of ground between two driveways. We creatd a natural depression in the center of the garden for the rain to accumulate once the rain barrel was to capacity. The soil that we removed was used to fill the small raised planter bed that we constructed. This would keep the water away from the foundation and give the homeowners a spot to add a Green Japanese Maple and Hydrangea who like it a little drier. We then installed natural michigan fieldstone boulders as a transition form the grade level to the rain garden. Black onyx stone was used to frame the entire garden and it works very well with all of the colorful plant material. Landforms Inc.

Our clients already had a cottage on Torch Lake that they loved to visit. It was a 1960s ranch that worked just fine for their needs. However, the lower level walkout became entirely unusable due to water issues. After purchasing the lot next door, they hired us to design a new cottage. Our first task was to situate the home in the center of the two parcels to maximize the view of the lake while also accommodating a yard area. Our second task was to take particular care to divert any future water issues. We took necessary precautions with design specifications to water proof properly, establish foundation and landscape drain tiles / stones, set the proper elevation of the home per ground water height and direct the water flow around the home from natural grade / drive. Our final task was to make appealing, comfortable, living spaces with future planning at the forefront. An example of this planning is placing a master suite on both the main level and the upper level. The ultimate goal of this home is for it to one day be at least a 3/4 of the year home and designed to be a multi-generational heirloom. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

After downsizing from their family home, our clients moved to a brand new luxury townhouse in an exclusive 55+ resort-style community. Though they had some foundation furniture pieces, the public rooms still felt empty and cold. In addition, the stress of how and what to decorate was paralyzing our clients who already regretted some costly design decisions they made prior to engaging with us. We found creative ways to use what they had and enhanced the furniture plan by adding accent pieces that were both functional and beautiful. Layered textiles and décor items including the custom stair runner, area rugs, window treatments, throw pillows, wall art and unique accessories refined the spaces to feel “finished.”

Our clients requested an energy-efficient escape home on a 16-acre site in rural Elgin that would be maintenance friendly, age-in-place adaptable, and whose sculptural quality could harbor for their expressive family. With its dominant east-west axis, the maximizes control of solar gain control; its placement was carefully adjusted to allow all of the nearby trees to thrive. The standing seam roof’s pitch and azimuth provide optimal solar PV and fills a 20,000-gallon rainwater cistern. The age-in-place, step-less interior provides an expansive view at the south terrace. The cantilever of the board-formed foundation is a structurally expressive solution resolving an otherwise imposing mass. The curved prow of the north-pointing entry is a nod to local Elgin brick. A bowed and formally jubilant thermal chimney faces south for efficient passive ventilation. Photo credit: Chris Diaz General Contractor: Native (buildnative.com)