The dresser is a dresser and will grow with our little girl once she is past diapers and onwards to makeup / books / maps. The wood has an aged white finish and will carry the wear and tear of growing up beautifully.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Within the scope of the project we were asked to completely redesign a Master Suite and Kitchen in a 1400 sf residence. The home is essentially an art gallery as the owner continues to grow his collection of modern art. The inspiration for our design was to create a sleek White palette to showcase the collection. The white cabinets, light floors, marble counter top and backlit floating panels really let the Art pop. The bar and wine fridge can be hidden when not entertaining to keep the sleek design. The Kitchen plays well off the master bath with refined design, clean lines and white palette. Photos by: Tony Soluri

This small urban patio transformed into a productive, edible oasis.
Small elegant backyard patio vegetable garden photo in Santa Barbara with no cover

Cedar spa and flagstone deck look out over tranquil ocean view. The small weekend home on the flank of the rolling grassy coastal plain in Hollister Ranch (near Gaviota, CA) faces breath-taking panoramic views of ocean, islands, coastal plain, foothills and mountains.

Our client has a large collection of bonsai trees and wanted an exhibition space for the extensive collection and a workshop to tend to the growing plants. Together we came up with a plan for a beautiful garden with plenty of space and a water feature. The design also included a Japanese-influenced pavilion in the middle of the garden. The pavilion is comprised of three separate rooms. The first room is features a tokonoma, a small recessed space to display art. The second, and largest room, provides an open area for display. The room can be accessed by large glass folding doors and has plenty of natural light filtering through the skylights above. The third room is a workspace with tool storage. Photography by Todd Crawford

Cynthia Lynn
Small trendy front porch photo in Chicago with decking and a roof extension

Kitchen - small farmhouse galley laminate floor and gray floor kitchen idea in Portland with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

THEME Created for a baby girl, this room is magical, feminine and very pink. At its heart is the Carriage Crib, surrounded by a large oak tree with delightful animals, baby blocks, a cozy window seat and an upholstered play area on the floor. FOCUS The eye-catching size and detail of the Carriage Crib, with a dainty canopy held in place by woodland creatures immediately catches a visitor’s attention, and is enhanced by the piece’s fascinating colors and textures. Wall murals, fabrics, accent furniture and lighting accent the beauty of the crib. A handsome Dutch door with a minientrance just for her ensures that this princess feels at home as soon as she steps in the room. STORAGE The room has closet organizers for everyday items, and cubicle storage is beautifully hidden behind the wall letter blocks. GROWTH As the room’s occupant grows from baby to toddler to child and ‘tween, the room is easily transformed with age-appropriate toys, pictures, bedding and fabrics. The crib portion of the carriage can be removed and fitted with a larger mattress, saving both time and money in the future. Letter blocks are easily updated by simply removing the letters and replacing them with mirrors, colors or other images. SAFETY Standard precautions are taken to secure power outlets and keep exposed shelving out of reach. Thickly padded upholstered squares featuring colors and patterns that coordinate with the fabrics on the window seat and valance create a visually inviting, comfortable and safe place to play.

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Photos by Daniel Bosler

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Small eclectic medium tone wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace, white walls and no tv

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Interior Designers Firm in Miami Beach Florida, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL NEWCOMB, PALM BEACH GARDENS. Garden Area A quick look into the outdoor garden area reveals ergonomic furniture and beautiful Buddhist designs, all intended to give you peace and serenity whether you’re going for a morning stroll or passing through after a hard day at work. The garden is surrounded by a glass barrier and is accessible via a ramp, built with a stone walkway that matches the décor and keeps the immersion alive. On the left, upon entering the area, you will see several clean, white vases set against the beautiful garden backdrop and is accompanied by several potted trees, all of which reflect the beautiful atmosphere that Miami Beach has to offer. Further into the garden you have a sitting area with perfectly ergonomic furniture designed to let you relax, and forget about the troubles of the day. Even a quick walk through this garden is going to do a great job of putting you at peace, and it’s a great place to relax after a long, hard day at the office. Finally, the space does a great job of maintaining a natural appearance while integrating nature with just the right amount of pavement, flanked by just the right amount of grass. A barefoot stroll through this small, but relaxing garden is definitely going to be in order. J Design Group, Miami Beach Interior Designers – Miami, FL 225 Malaga Ave. Coral Gables, Fl 33134 305-444-4611 https://www.JDesignGroup.com

Photo by Grey Crawford
Small beach style beige one-story exterior home photo in Orange County with a hip roof

Brent A. Riechers
Photo of a small contemporary full sun rooftop vegetable garden landscape in Chicago.

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Photos by Daniel Bosler

Inspiration for a small contemporary full sun backyard gravel and wood fence vegetable garden landscape in Other.

Balcony - small transitional glass railing balcony idea in New York

Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary full sun rooftop vegetable garden landscape in Chicago.