This room was totally remodeled. The existing fireplace opening and plinth was faced with natural stone and wired to accept the TV. Installed custom angled wooden side cabinets for storage and media needs. Ceramic tile with underfloor heating throughout the basement. On the left side, was a simple storage closet which was totally transformed into a beautiful wine cellar with insulated glazing, cherry wood racks and shelving to display the wine. The space is air conditioned to maintain required temps. Photo: Ron Freudenheim

Photo of a mid-sized rustic partial sun backyard stone pond in Minneapolis for summer.

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

The composition of layers, the palette of shades, and the use of natural materials (concrete and granulate) give this stone his warm feel and romantic look. The Euroc stone is 100 percent frost-resistant and can therefore be used indoors and outdoors. With a variety of sizes it's easy to make that realistic random looking wall. Stone Design is durable, easy to clean, does not discolor and is moist, frost, and heat resistant. The light weight panels are easy to install with a regular thin set mortar (tile adhesive) based on the subsurface conditions. The subtle variatons in color and shape make it look and feel like real stone. After treatment with a conrete sealer this stone is even more easy to keep clean.

Oasis in the Desert You can find a whole lot of fun ready for the kids in this fun contemporary play-yard in the dessert. Theme: The overall theme of the play-yard is a blend of creative and active outdoor play that blends with the contemporary styling of this beautiful home. Focus: The overall focus for the design of this amazing play-yard was to provide this family with an outdoor space that would foster an active and creative playtime for their children of various ages. The visual focus of this space is the 15-foot tree placed in the middle of the turf yard. This fantastic structure beacons the children to climb the mini stumps and enjoy the slide or swing happily from the branches all the while creating a touch of whimsical nature not typically found in the desert. Surrounding the tree the play-yard offers an array of activities for these lucky children from the chalkboard walls to create amazing pictures to the custom ball wall to practice their skills, the custom myWall system provides endless options for the kids and parents to keep the space exciting and new. Rock holds easily clip into the wall offering ever changing climbing routes, custom water toys and games can also be adapted to the wall to fit the fun of the day. Storage: The myWall system offers various storage options including shelving, closed cases or hanging baskets all of which can be moved to alternate locations on the wall as the homeowners want to customize the play-yard. Growth: The myWall system is built to grow with the users whether it is with changing taste, updating design or growing children, all the accessories can be moved or replaced while leaving the main frame in place. The materials used throughout the space were chosen for their durability and ability to withstand the harsh conditions for many years. The tree also includes 3 levels of swings offering children of varied ages the chance to swing from the branches. Safety: Safety is of critical concern with any play-yard and a space in the harsh conditions of the desert presented specific concerns which were addressed with light colored materials to reflect the sun and reduce heat buildup and stainless steel hardware was used to avoid rusting. The myWall accessories all use a locking mechanism which allows for easy adjustments but also securely locks the pieces into place once set. The flooring in the treehouse was also textured to eliminate skidding.

A waterfall streams into the cold plunge spa, integrating quartzite, mixed Sierra boulders. Low maintenance plantings providing color spill around the pool edge; Catherine L Kauer

Measuring 118” x 59” x 6mm, Calacatta ThinSlab Porcelain marble-look slabs are ideal for residential and commercial installations – kitchen counters, vanity tops, shower surrounds and floor & wall applications. Unlike natural marble, ThinSlab Porcelain does not require sealing and will retain its polished or honed finish under all types of high-use conditions.

Chilipics Photography
Large minimalist wooden l-shaped staircase photo in Atlanta with wooden risers

Our design for an apartment located in the West End-Collegiate Historic District Extension in Manhattan addressed a number of challenges to unleash the potential of this 2.500-square-foot space in an elegant pre-war building. When purchased by our client, the property was in estate condition and needed extensive work, requiring demolition and a complete makeover of the living spaces, as well as the addition of contemporary climate control. Among the spatial and design challenges, the primary bathroom was exposed to the entry foyer of the apartment, and the dining room and kitchen were each closed-in and lacking light. The dining room’s promise as a bright, convivial space was fulfilled by adding double pocket doors opening to the living room, kitchen and foyer, establishing a seamless flow through the entertaining spaces while bringing in much-needed light. We designed a chic and modern solution for the primary bedroom’s lack of privacy, creating a walk-in closet that serves as a transitional vestibule in the bedroom, adding both visual intrigue and additional storage space while shielding the viewscape from the apartment entrance through the foyer to the bedroom. To add a three-zone central air conditioning system, we took advantage of the kitchen facing an interior courtyard, placing the air conditioning condensers here, which also satisfied landmark property restrictions. The climate control system was accomplished without lowering ceiling heights. Finally, we worked with the client to choose classic finishes and fixtures that reflect and enhance the historic nature of the property, and are also contemporary and timeless. These include unlacquered brass hardware, herringbone oak flooring with a stencil border, black-and-white bathrooms, and paneling, trim, and moldings that are simple and elegant. POP Architecture was the architect for the project, and Godwin Construction was the general contractor.

Photography By Matthew Millman
Example of a huge trendy open concept carpeted and beige floor living room design in San Francisco with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Al Karevy
Farmhouse exterior home photo in Boston

AFTER of a main bath facelift. The old floor tile was still in good condition updated with new wall tiles to match, new larger vanity to reclaim wasted space, carrera marble top, new medicine cabinet , vanity light and update window trim to match medicine cabinet

This sunny and warm alcove studio in NYC's London Terrace is a great example of balance within scale. The apartment was transformed from estate condition into a lovely and cozy alcove studio. The apartment received a full overhaul including new kitchen, bathroom, added alcove with sliding glass door partition, updated electrical and a fresh coats of plaster and paint.

All's abloom for endless outdoor living possibilities with this paver patio and sunroom combination. The immaculately landscaped exterior can be enjoyed from the comfort of this Nashville custom sunroom.

With being the largest LVT plank on the market, rigid plank technology allows easy handing and installation. COREtec Plus XL is inert and dimension-ally Stable; it will not expand or contract under normal conditions. COREtec Plus XL is Green Guard Gold certified for indoor air quality to help keep your home healthy and happy.

Keith Issac
Example of a large beach style galley dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash and an island

Our client had a classic kitchen that was in good condition, however she wanted to update it to give it a more updated look. It was a large kitchen with a good layout and the cabinets were all in great condition. Cabinet refacing was the best solution for this kitchen remodeling project. They went with the Lowland door in maple and done in dove white, while the island was done in a light American walnut. To enhance the view of the entire kitchen, we also made the island all one height. To finish the new look we also installed a new quartz countertop in Unique Arabescato, a tile backsplash and LED lighting was added under the cabinets and inside the cabinet with glass doors. The electrical outlets were also removed from the center of the backsplash and replaced by angle powers strips located under the cabinets, this makes the backsplash look totally free and can show off more.

Chamaechrista fasciculata / Partridge Pea

“This design originated with the client’s desire to duplicate the warmth of Tuscan Architecture,” says Stolz. “The vision that South Coast Architects set forth was to create the feel of an old Tuscan Village as a private residence at their golf community, ‘The Hideaway’ in La Quinta, California. However, we had to keep in mind that we were still designing for a desert lifestyle, which meant an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living and capturing the spectacular views of the golf course and neighboring mountains,” Stolz adds. “The owners had spent a lot of time in Europe and knew exactly what they wanted when it came to the overall look of the home, especially the stone,” says Muth. “The mason ended up creating a dozen mock-ups of various stone profiles and blends to help the family decide what really worked for them. Ultimately, they selected Eldorado Stone’s Orchard Cypress Ridge profile that offers a beautiful blend of stone sizes and colors.” “The generous use of Eldorado Stone with brick detailing over the majority of the exterior of the home added the authenticity and timelessness that we were striving for in the design,” says Stolz. “Our clients want the very best, but if we can duplicate something and save money, what client would say no? That’s why we use Eldorado Stone whenever we can. It gives us the opportunity to save money and gives clients exactly the look they desire so we can use more of their budget in other areas.” Stolz explained that Eldorado Stone was also brought into the interior to continue that feel of authenticity and historical accuracy. Stone is used floor to ceiling in the kitchen for a pizza oven, as well as on the fireplace in the Great Room and on an entire wall in the master bedroom. “Using a material like Eldorado Stone allows for the seamless continuation of space” says Stolz. “Stone is what made the house so authentic-looking” says Muth. “It’s such an integral part of the house that it either was going to be a make or break scenario if we made the wrong choice. Luckily, Eldorado Stone really made it!” Eldorado Stone Profile Featured: Orchard Cypress Ridge with a khaki grout color (overgrout technique) Eldorado Brick Profile Featured: Cassis ModenaBrick with a khaki grout color (overgrout technique) Architect: South Coast Architects Website: www.southcoastarchitects.com Builder: Andrew Pierce Corporation, Palm Desert, CA Website: www. andrewpiercecorp.com Mason: RAS Masonry, Inc. Bob Serna, Corona, CA Phone: 760-774-0090 Photography: Eric Figge Photography, Inc.