Example of a trendy living room design in Ahmedabad

Trendy 3/4 gray tile gray floor and double-sink bathroom photo in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Chicago

Alice Cottrell Interior Design | Rick Rozas Design Photo Credit: Stephen Karlisch
Inspiration for a large 1960s master carpeted and gray floor bedroom remodel in Dallas with no fireplace and brown walls

Photography by John Reed Forsman
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts enclosed living room design in Minneapolis with green walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Halkin Mason Photography
Trendy indoor rectangular pool house photo in Philadelphia

Bedroom - mid-sized cottage guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Other with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a farmhouse deck design in San Diego

Zeke Ruelas
Large trendy backyard deck photo in Los Angeles with no cover

Tricia Shay Photography
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped concrete floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Milwaukee with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink and an island

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

photos by Paul Burk
Patio - traditional backyard patio idea in DC Metro with a fire pit and no cover

Design ideas for a transitional partial sun landscaping in Boston with a pergola.

Powder room - rustic brown tile powder room idea in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a vessel sink and brown countertops

An Organic Southwest style wine seller with built-in wine fridge. Architect: Urban Design Associates, Lee Hutchison Builder: R-Net Custom Homes Interior Designer: Bess Jones Interiors Photography: Dino Tonn

Cesar Rubio
Bathroom - mid-sized industrial white tile bathroom idea in San Francisco with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls and yellow cabinets

CHAD CHENIER PHOTOGRAPHY
Inspiration for a timeless courtyard brick patio vertical garden remodel in New Orleans

For the William Cook House (c. 1809) in downtown Beverly, Massachusetts, we were asked to create an addition to create spatial and aesthetic continuity between the main house, a front courtyard area, and the backyard pool. Our carriage house design provides a functional and inviting extension to the home’s public façade and creates a unique private space for personal enjoyment and entertaining. The two-car garage features a game room on the second story while a striking exterior brick wall with built-in outdoor fireplace anchors the pool deck to the home, creating a wonderful outdoor haven in the home’s urban setting. Photo Credit: Eric Roth

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth