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.

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

design: Studio TOOP, 2011 location: Amersfoort, NL status: built in 2011, Tuinvreugd in combination with the client photos: Jolanthe Lalkens, 2014 When our clients bought this property the garden was filled with outbuildings that served as storage and cooling when the house once was a milk shop. Their first step was to tear down several of the buildings. The new deck is situated on the former foundation of one of the larger buildings. This space forms the heart of the garden. The benches that nearly surround it offer lots and lots of places to sit, so you can move as the sun and mood suit you. On the far side of the deck is raised bed that functions as a veggie garden. Situated 10 cm lower than the deck fine gravel (Nobre Cal) is used to make paths and seating areas surrounded by organically formed beds full of bright colored flowers. In the loose corner in the back of the garden there is a fire pit surrounded by low brick walls for seating. photos: Jolanthe Lalkens

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)

Michael Wilkinson The existing home has stucco siding. Matching the exterior of the addition to the Tudor home's stucco was outside the client's budget. Instead, we used Hardiepanel that has a stucco pattern. Wide Tru Exterior trim matches the width of the trim on the existing house. We mimicked the trim pattern of the existing house. We removed the existing rear deck as well as a 4-foot wide segment along the side of the house that led to a sliding door to a small office. The clients didn’t need outdoor access from the office, so we replaced the sliding door with a casement window. The foundation of the addition is piers. The pizza oven base acts as one of the piers. A large chimney was necessary for venting for the pizza oven. However, our designer used exterior elements and visual tricks to down-scale the tall chimney so it does not seem as imposing.

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 courtesy Dirtworks Landscape Architecture, PC

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

At M&P Interior Design Group, our mission is to change the way you think about home interior design and decoration. We are dedicated to providing quality service to our clients through our three design philosophies:THIS IS YOUR SPACE (NOT MINE)What do I mean by this? I will never come in and tell you what should be done within your space. Instead, during our first meeting, we'll sit and get to know one another. Taking time to learn and understand my clients before beginning the design process, allows me to learn the needs of each project. This is the key to designing a space reflective of each individual client, and creating an environment that improves their overall quality of life and enjoyment. FLUID INTERIOR DESIGN™ Over the last handful of years, interior design has reinvented itself! In keeping up with this notion that design- like fashion- navigates trends at a much faster rate than before, I have developed a design concept called 'fluid interior design'. Recognizing classic/ timeless pieces versus trends helps my clients and I to work within a budget to create stunning homes and commercial spaces that are on-trend, but able to be reinvented without breaking the bank! I work very closely with my clients and their project's needs to determine what within their space should be their 'foundation pieces' (or the pieces that will remain), versus their 'trendy / fluid' pieces (the items we know we can swap out within a few year's time). This concept has allowed my clients to feel much freer within their design decisions knowing nothing is ever set in stone. As life grows, changes, and continues to move around us - our spaces should adapt as well!

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.

Nestled in an undeveloped thicket between two homes on Monmouth road, the Eastern corner of this client’s lot plunges ten feet downward into a city-designated stormwater collection ravine. Our client challenged us to design a home, referencing the Scandinavian modern style, that would account for this lot’s unique terrain and vegetation. Through iterative design, we produced four house forms angled to allow rainwater to naturally flow off of the roof and into a gravel-lined runoff area that drains into the ravine. Completely foregoing downspouts and gutters, the chosen design reflects the site’s topography, its mass changing in concert with the slope of the land. This two-story home is oriented around a central stacked staircase that descends into the basement and ascends to a second floor master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The main entrance—a triangular form subtracted from this home’s rectangular plan—opens to a kitchen and living space anchored with an oversized kitchen island. On the far side of the living space, a solid void form projects towards the backyard, referencing the entryway without mirroring it. Ground floor amenities include a bedroom, full bathroom, laundry area, office and attached garage. Among Architecture Office’s most conceptually rigorous projects, exterior windows are isolated to opportunities where natural light and a connection to the outdoors is desired. The Monmouth home is clad in black corrugated metal, its exposed foundations extending from the earth to highlight its form.

Michael Wilkinson The existing home has stucco siding. Matching the exterior of the addition to the Tudor home's stucco was outside the client's budget. Instead, we used Hardiepanel that has a stucco pattern. Wide Tru Exterior trim matches the width of the trim on the existing house. We mimicked the trim pattern of the existing house. We removed the existing rear deck as well as a 4-foot wide segment along the side of the house that led to a sliding door to a small office. The clients didn’t need outdoor access from the office, so we replaced the sliding door with a casement window. The foundation of the addition is piers. The pizza oven base acts as one of the piers. A large chimney was necessary for venting for the pizza oven. However, our designer used exterior elements and visual tricks to down-scale the tall chimney so it does not seem as imposing.

Michael Wilkinson The existing home has stucco siding. Matching the exterior of the addition to the Tudor home's stucco was outside the client's budget. Instead, we used Hardiepanel that has a stucco pattern. Wide Tru Exterior trim matches the width of the trim on the existing house. We mimicked the trim pattern of the existing house. We removed the existing rear deck as well as a 4-foot wide segment along the side of the house that led to a sliding door to a small office. The clients didn’t need outdoor access from the office, so we replaced the sliding door with a casement window. The foundation of the addition is piers. The pizza oven base acts as one of the piers. A large chimney was necessary for venting for the pizza oven. However, our designer used exterior elements and visual tricks to down-scale the tall chimney so it does not seem as imposing.

Toronto's Premier Luxury Custom Home Builders We are a Toronto based, developer, builder and custom home specialist serving Toronto & Greater Toronto Area clients., toronto luxury home builders, toronto luxury homes, toronto custom homes, luxury custom homes, luxury design, luxury homes, huge homes, design, luxury amenities, elevator, luxury staircase, As a Tarion registered builder we stick to the highest of the standards in all of our developments making it a home for life for our clients. Our philosophy is to craft homes that welcome those who enter, designed for people & not for our egos. Our aim is to design & build the buildings of the future. Services Provided Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Custom Home, Demolition, Energy-Efficient Homes, Floor Plans, Foundation Construction, Green Building, Guesthouse Design & Construction, Historic Building Conservation, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Home Restoration, House Framing, House Plans, Land Surveying, Multigenerational Homes, New Home Construction, Pool House Design & Construction, Project Management, Roof Waterproofing, Site Planning, Site Preparation, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Design, Universal Design, Waterproofing

This living room is done in luxurious linen and blue velvet. A beautiful Greek Key rug in taupe and blue provides the pattern and foundation on oak wood floors. Traditional draperies with an ivory medallion sunburst pattern add to the background. Items collected by the clients on their travels have a place on the antique mirror coffee table and side table. Photo by Melinda Mandell.

The walk-out basement of this home originally constructed in the 1860’s had always been in use as an apartment, but the home was structurally sagging and in need of stabilization starting from the foundation on up. We needed to gut the basement to expose the structure to strengthen, shore up, jack up and stabilize the building. Seeing the basement in the demo’d state, exposed down to the dirt, was a horrifying and scary moment for our clients, but it was necessary. Sometimes, it’s just gotta look worse before it gets better! And now that it’s all put back together, it looks as good as new!

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.

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.

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 courtesy Dirtworks Landscape Architecture, PC