Before their move, the family had always lived in subdivisions. “Our previous homes were a great place to raise our kids, and we always loved getting to know our neighbors,” she notes. However, she and her husband began looking for a home with a little extra outdoor space and a more manageable interior that would accommodate them as they grew older. Though they’d toured many houses and even put contracts on a few, this Westwood ranch-style home spoke to them as soon as they stepped foot through the front door. “The house and the property just had the feeling I was looking for, even though it wasn’t in the best condition yet. It was just so peaceful.” Peacefulness and a connection to nature were the main focuses for the renovation. The homeowners sought the help of Rochelle McAvin of LU Design Build to make their vision come to life. “I needed a designer who understood my love for gently-used furniture, which I find more personal and interesting. They also needed to get the look I was going for; Mid-century modern with a twist. I felt that LU Design Build was creating the kind of projects I was looking for.” Designer Rochelle McAvin has worked in the design build industry for over six years, and she focuses mainly on residential remodeling. For all projects, she believes in letting the clients’ priorities fuel the design. “Form follows function, and we wanted to make this house as efficient and comfortable as possible for the homeowners.” The goal of the project was to create a personal oasis for the pair they could enjoy for years to come while leaving a minimal environmental footprint. They aimed to make the space feel calm, serene and interesting without making the entire house white. The home is interesting from the moment you enter. To the right of the front door is a sunken living room that the homeowners lovingly call “The Pit.” Built in 1967, the sunken living room was original to the home, but the previous owners leveled the space in a 1980s remodel. Both the new owners and Rochelle agreed that restoring the sunken floor plan gave the home character, though they made it smaller to increase coziness and intimacy. Primarily used as a family gathering place and game room, “The Pit” needed ample seating and enough space for visitors to pull up a chair and enjoy each other’s company. The large couch was a find from Stash Home, and the gray swivel chair and roomy coffee table came from Pottery Barn. The homeowner finished off the space with vintage ottomans from an estate sale to act as side tables. Large windows at the front of the room give a perfect view of the pond just outside and let in plenty of natural light during the day. Dimmable light fixtures from West Elm give the room a warm glow once the sun sets. Because the homeowners don’t always require a lot of seating, they opted for a table in their dining room with many removable leaves, allowing it to shrink down to the size of a desk. A Napoleon electric fireplace adds to the warm ambience at dinners, gently lighting the striking wallpaper. White oak floors and tongue-and-groove white ceilings lead from the front of the home back into the main living space. The living room has vaulted ceilings and an original brick fireplace. The homeowners wanted to find a perfect balance between bright and cozy; the windows and the added skylights gave the room great natural light, but the team added an oiled plywood wall to warm up the color scheme. The fireplace, painted beige in a previous remodel, received a fresh coat of gray paint to act as the room’s anchor. The homeowner found the majority of the home’s furniture from Facebook marketplace. Buying furniture second-hand is a great way to recycle interesting pieces and minimize one’s environmental footprint in the remodeling process. “She has such a good eye bringing in earthy, vintage pieces that made every space more personal and cozy,” says Rochelle. “I think she nailed it!” In the kitchen, the homeowner desired a space that “felt like any other room. I didn’t want it to scream ‘kitchen.’” To achieve this look, the team chose natural Missouri limestone from SFI for the island and countertops. The walnut cabinets are custom-made from Hulls Cabinetry; the bottom cabinets are painted evergreen to match the lush trees shown through the large windows. Lucite hardware with brass accents from CB2 add interest and ease. The Facebook marketplace table keeps the space light and fun. To avoid clutter, the team created a butler’s pantry off the kitchen to house the family’s odds and ends, as well as the wife’s house plant collection. “We created a bright, functional space for her off the main living area for her to stow all her keepsakes," comments Rochelle. "She’s a collector, and we wanted to give all her things a home without affecting the rest of the home’s design.” Rochelle knew the main bedroom needed a calming, relaxing vibe for both homeowners to enjoy. “I don’t spend much time in my bedroom, but I wanted it to feel like a getaway, almost like our own personal hotel room,” the wife notes. She and Rochelle chose the softest carpet they could find. A Harlequin “Foxley” wallpaper accent wall elevates the suite, complemented by walls painted in a custom gray/taupe. A tree trunk headboard in gray adds a final natural element. “Our last bathroom was very large, and it was always cold,” the wife says. “We wanted this bathroom to be as warm as possible.” They kept the bathroom’s layout relatively small, but it allowed enough space for all the wife’s requests, including a matte eco-friendly Perlato Vittoria tub in lapis stone, zero-entry shower and Missouri limestone vanity. Heated porcelain floors designed to mimic slate paired with high-gloss, straight stacked tile on the walls keep the bathroom both natural and eye-catching. “This project was so organic from beginning to end,” says Rochelle. “The homeowner and I made changes to the design as we went along. Our constant collaboration is what made this home so customized for them. It really fits their personality." “We don’t intend to move again, so with this house, we really went for it,” the wife says. “It’s everything we wanted from the start: easy to live in, peaceful, beautiful. I’m so happy every time I come home because I know this space made for us.”

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

New Reveal for freedomRail puts everything you need right at your fingertips. Choose from canvas baskets, laundry hampers, slide out shoe shelves, pant racks and more! Available in white and nickel at OrganizedLiving.com.

This home remodel was an incredible transformation that turned a traditional Boulder home into an open concept, refined space perfect for hosting. The Melton design team aimed at keeping the space fresh, which included industrial design elements to keep the space feeling modern. Our favorite aspect of this home transformation is the openness from room to room. The open concept allows plenty of opportunities for this lively family to host often and comfortably.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Living room - 1950s living room idea in Portland with a music area and white walls

Gut renovation of a triplex apartment in New York city meat packing area. In this project, we identified the challenge of renovating a triplex as finding a way to integrate the stairs, so as to not take up the entire width of a narrow house, as well as to minimize the feeling of constantly having to run up and down to connect floors. This twelve-foot-wide townhouse consists of a cellar living room, a master bedroom suite on the upper floor, and a kitchen and dining area on the entry level. In trying to weave together these different floors, the aim of the project was to transform the stairs and steps into a fluid space that combines transition and rest. The steps were designed to be integrated with the architecture, cantilevering from the wall and almost disappearing. The living room on the ground plane folds into the garden through steps and a full-window wall, effectively extending the garden into the living room. From the garden to the entry level, the stairs were transformed into a platform and space for meditation within the open-space living room, dining room and kitchen. The introduction of a skylight midway through the length of the triplex permits natural light to flow to the back of the home, blending into the natural light coming in through the window facing the garden. The skylight also revealed a view of the trees hanging over the townhouse, framing the master bedroom suite from above and extending down with a view towards the garden

Located in the Langley Fork Historic District in McLean, Virginia, this residence was designed to speak to the formal massing seen in the existing neighborhood fabric of stately traditional homes. The simplicity and clean lines of the stucco and limestone façade blends harmoniously with its surroundings. Traditional forms, interjected with modern twists, create a tension that carries throughout the design, creating a home that feels warm and familiar while clean and distilled at the same time. Photo Credit: Gordon Beall Photography

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

This powder room is complementary to the traditional style of this Hinsdale, IL home. Normandy Designer Stephanie Bryant, CKD worked closely with the homeowners in order to further enhance the existing charm of their home.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

As we wanted to maximize the space, create more light and visually extend the wall, when remodeling this master bathroom we chose to cover the walls with light-colored glass tiles. The aqua/seafoam color is very soothing and spa-like, giving a refreshing sparkle to the room, and a beautiful combination with the cappuccino-colored wood cabinetry. The vertical design of the glass tiles with the stripes, covering the master bath walls, was intended to give the space a contemporary, eclectic feel as well as echo the vertical lines of the pair of windows in the vanity area. To accentuate the aquatic, clean, translucent effect of the walls, we created an accent piece above the bathtub. A custom mosaic in the same greenish-blue hues enhance the water effect that we aimed to achieve - we wanted to echo ripples of the water's surface, constantly shifting and moving in rhythmic patterns in shades of blue and green (the appearance of moving water when viewed from below the surface). The vision we had with the striped tile effect, the mosaic and the glass tiles was one of Water. Our aim was to create a space that felt serene and tranquil. We felt that the combination of the shimmering aquatic colors (sea foam, sea spray, water green, etc.) of the walls and the rich cappuccino cabinetry reflected Earth and Water, the warmth of the dark brown perfectly balancing the coolness of the aquatic colors (also incorporating green, earth-friendly products and recyclable glass). We chose to be consistent in the vertical theme to achieve the effect of running water or a waterfall.

Bowman Architecture
Large elegant master dark wood floor bedroom photo in Orange County with white walls, a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

Madrona Passive House, a new Seattle home designed by SHED Architecture & Design and built by Hammer & Hand, combines contemporary design with high performance building to create an environmentally responsive and resource-efficient house. The home’s airtight, super-insulated building envelope and passive design minimize energy consumption while providing superior thermal comfort to occupants. A heat recovery ventilator supplies constant fresh air to the home’s interior while recovering 90% of thermal energy from exhaust air for reuse inside. A rooftop solar photovoltaic array will provide enough energy to offset most, perhaps all, of the home’s energy consumption on a net annual basis. To manage stormwater the project employs permeable pavers for site hardscape and two cisterns to capture and control rainwater from the home’s roof and the green roof on the garage. By investing in sustainable site development strategies, efficient building systems and an advanced envelope, the project aims to respect the home’s environmentally critical site and achieve one of the world’s most demanding building energy standards: Passive House. Photos by Mark Woods Photography.

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