This 2250 sq. ft. space soars above New York City's Fifth Avenue overlooking the beautiful Central Park. The owner had an extensive art collection and wanted the rooms to reflect their artistic sensibility and warmth. The furnishings combined their love of modern art with their dreamy nostalgia. Many of the pieces were centered around the owner's love of contemporary furniture, many of which were created by famous furniture designer Mario Bellini. Each room tells a story, one that the owner will continue to tell throughout the years. Featured brands include: Mario Bellini furnishings, Armani Casa, and Flos and Artemide lighting, and Venetian plaster.

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

Paint by Sherwin Williams Body Color - City Loft - SW 7631 Trim Color - Custom Color - SW 8975/3535 Master Suite & Guest Bath - Site White - SW 7070 Girls' Rooms & Bath - White Beet - SW 6287 Exposed Beams & Banister Stain - Banister Beige - SW 3128-B Flooring & Tile by Macadam Floor & Design Hardwood by Kentwood Floors Hardwood Product Originals Series - Plateau in Brushed Hard Maple Windows by Milgard Windows & Doors Window Product Style Line® Series Window Supplier Troyco - Window & Door Window Treatments by Budget Blinds Lighting by Destination Lighting Fixtures by Crystorama Lighting Interior Design by Tiffany Home Design Custom Cabinetry & Storage by Northwood Cabinets Customized & Built by Cascade West Development Photography by ExposioHDR Portland Original Plans by Alan Mascord Design Associates

A major challenge of this Bloomfield Hills kitchen renovation was to rethink its spatial layout to create a more functional dining and entertaining area. The homeowners also wanted a warm, inviting space filled with natural light, unique design elements and a cohesive flow that honored the character of the home. Adjusting the depth of the perimeter Inspira Cabinetry Concordia cabinets made room for a perfectly sized island that provides seating without overwhelming the space, notes the designer. Modifying walls and windows, including removing a small window by the buffet that allows the inclusion of statement cabinetry, lets more natural light flow into the space. Incorporating glass doors into the buffet gives it a China cabinet-inspired look. Along the perimeter, a Blanco PRECIS low-divide Silgranit sink is paired with a Moen Align pull-down faucet below the sink, with Bosch dishwasher close at hand. A 36″ Dual-Fuel Professional Range from Monogram is topped with a custom range hood with Zephyr liner. Flash Series ceramic wall tile from Arizona Tile covers the walls, adding light and shine. A Monogram refrigerator and freezer, as well as Presrv refrigerator drawers from Zephyr and GE Profile microwave oven are also featured. One standout feature of the previous kitchen was a brick wall with a fireplace, which the designer knew she wanted to keep. As a complement, existing ceiling beams were wrapped with natural wood, which adds warmth and continuity to the space. Playing with a mix of black, gold and creamy tones ensures a balance of bold accents and soft neutrals while replacing the original slate floor tiles with large wood planks offers a better connection to the kitchen’s new design vision.

This home features a unique architectural design that emphasizes texture over color. Throughout the interior and exterior of the home, the materials truly shine. Smooth glass, chunky wood, rough stone, and textured concrete are combined to create a neutral palate that has interest and the feeling of movement. Despite such heavy building materials, the architectural design of the home feels much lighter than the traditional rustic mountain home thanks to expansive windows that flood the interior with natural light and create a connection between the inside of the home and out. This connection between the inside and out creates a true feeling of a mountain escape while the laid-back approach to the design creates a relaxing retreat experience. The A5f series of windows with double pane glazing was selected for the project for the clean and modern aesthetic, the durability of all-aluminum frames, and the ease of installation with integrated nail flange. High-performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals all contribute to better performance than is seen in traditional aluminum windows. This means that larger expanses of glazing provide the feeling of indoor-outdoor integration while also maintaining comfort and protection from the weather year-round.

Designed to blend style and function, this custom built-in anchors the dining room with rich wood tones, clean lines, and thoughtful detailing. The cabinetry offers a mix of deep drawers and mesh-front doors for concealed storage and media equipment, while the crisp white quartz countertop creates contrast and usability. A gallery wall and wall-mounted lighting frame the TV with a personal, artful touch. Just beyond the sliding doors, the indoor-outdoor connection to the patio continues the California-casual lifestyle this Carpinteria home was designed for.

The alcove entry to the master suite looking back into the formal living room; the brick feature wall was once the exterior wall of the home, but now adds rustic warmth to the entry. The master bedroom suite is an addition to the existing footprint of the home. Where a window used to be is now a doorway into the small entry alcove with a feature wall showcasing the old exterior brick; the original window was reused in the bathroom facing the front of the home for continuity. The spacious master bedroom opens into a sitting room with gorgeous high windows. The new closet offers ample storage, and the bathroom features a beautiful marble tile floor, matching vanities, and a custom tiled shower. Welcome home! Laurie Coderre Designs Ryan Long Photography

Designed and built by MAADKreatif™ Studio, this home in Northern Colorado is an on-going conversation with the wild, expansive, and awe-inspiring nature just outside its door. Standing at over 6800 feet above sea level on a 40-acre property bordering more than 650,000 acres of forest land and the Rocky Mountain wilderness, Marc Gerritsen, principal architect of MAADKreatif™, had to contend with wind factor exceeding 150 miles per hour, massive snow loads, extreme danger of wild fires, water shortage, dry climate, and intense year round sun exposure in designing the sprawling headquarters. “Instead of dictating, acquiescing or adapting to Mother Nature, I engage her in a friendly banter”, Marc says with a smile. “We designed and engineered the main building to withstand extreme conditions, but nature had plenty to say in regards to the location, form, orientation, and cladding of the massive structure. “Although we have 40-acres of land to work with, much of it is too steep, exposed, or impenetrable to build on” Marc continues, “the building stands on the only location where we could carve out a large enough area without inflicting too much damage on the land. As it happens, it is also the best location we could hope for. From this location, we have a Southwest orientation that gives the building the optimum amount of sun exposure in the winter, protection from the strong easterly wind, access to water, and a vast, un-interrupted views of the bright city lights, vast plains and the majestic snow-capped mountains”. The building’s frontage features two sets of 24 feet long panoramic windows to take it all in, and its slightly sloped roofline allows high wind to glide over the building and sends melted snow into a 1800 gallon underground concrete cistern. And, to protect the building from wild fires, the entire structure is cladded in raw steel. Exposure to the sun, wind, rain, and snow has begun to corrode the raw metal and transformed its cold, polished, steely surface into a warm, rusty patina that will continue to darken overtime while the extremely low humidity in the air will stop the rusted steel from withering away. And so, the friendly banter between man and nature continues. “Our home embodies the philosophy of Resilient Design + Living,” said Adria Lake, “it is built to last and thrive in any condition, not by force or concessions, but through an on-going conversation and collaboration with nature.”

2015 Home Tour Participant Looking to add more living space for this growing family, Homeowners of this 1923 St Paul home made the decision to finish their basement. A full new floor plan was designed to include a long list of must haves. The new space included: a new bedroom, family room for the kids to play, an additional room for guests and/or study, new 3/4 bath, easy access for bicycle storage in laundry, low pile carpet that is comfortable for the kids to play, and warmth for the MN winters! A great floor plan was designed that integrated the family room and guest bed/study that also creates wonderful sight lines and a great flow. The basement was updated with all new windows including two egress windows. Beautiful rainglass pocket doors were installed to the bath and laundry to continue the flow of natural light from room to room. Custom natural oak millwork and beautiful door knobs by Rejuvenation Hardware were installed throughout. To match the charm of the home, subway tile and hex tile floors were installed in the new bath and shower. The bath was finished with a stock vanity, mirror, lighting, and Kohler plumbing fixtures. Modern features were also integrated throughout including Hudson Reed wall mount radiators and a NEST thermostat. One of our favorite features of this project, is the original support header and column that we decided to keep exposed. The homeowners took it upon themselves to sand the aged wood down to its natural color and it truly creates a unique piece of art. Castle and the Homeowners couldn’t be happier with the finished product. Photographer: Lisa Brunnel

The client came to us to assist with transforming their small family cabin into a year-round residence that would continue the family legacy. The home was originally built by our client’s grandfather so keeping much of the existing interior woodwork and stone masonry fireplace was a must. They did not want to lose the rustic look and the warmth of the pine paneling. The view of Lake Michigan was also to be maintained. It was important to keep the home nestled within its surroundings. There was a need to update the kitchen, add a laundry & mud room, install insulation, add a heating & cooling system, provide additional bedrooms and more bathrooms. The addition to the home needed to look intentional and provide plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Low maintenance exterior finish materials were used for the siding and trims as well as natural field stones at the base to match the original cabin’s charm.

The warm coloured basement wood staircase is offset by the exposed concrete walls to continue with the home's contemporary feel.
Mid-sized minimalist wooden straight metal railing staircase photo in Vancouver with wooden risers

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

Barton Creek Residence - Custom Design - Jim Nix - AIA - Austin Architect - Nix Group Architects – Residential and Commercial Architecture Firm - Austin Texas – 78701. Front entry walk and custom entry courtyard gate leads to a courtyard bridge and the main two-story entry foyer beyond. Privacy courtyard walls are located on each side of the entry gate. They are clad with Texas Lueders stone and stucco, and capped with standing seam metal roofs. Custom-made ceramic sconce lights and recessed step lights illuminate the way in the evening. Elsewhere, the exterior integrates an Engawa breezeway around the perimeter of the home, connecting it to the surrounding landscaping and other exterior living areas. The Engawa is shaded, along with the exterior wall’s windows and doors, with a continuous wall mounted awning. The deep Kirizuma styled roof gables are supported by steel end-capped wood beams cantilevered from the inside to beyond the roof’s overhangs. Simple materials were used at the roofs to include tiles at the main roof; metal panels at the walkways, awnings and cabana; and stained and painted wood at the soffits and overhangs. Elsewhere, Texas Lueders stone and stucco were used at the exterior walls, courtyard walls and columns.

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

2015 Home Tour Participant Looking to add more living space for this growing family, Homeowners of this 1923 St Paul home made the decision to finish their basement. A full new floor plan was designed to include a long list of must haves. The new space included: a new bedroom, family room for the kids to play, an additional room for guests and/or study, new 3/4 bath, easy access for bicycle storage in laundry, low pile carpet that is comfortable for the kids to play, and warmth for the MN winters! A great floor plan was designed that integrated the family room and guest bed/study that also creates wonderful sight lines and a great flow. The basement was updated with all new windows including two egress windows. Beautiful rainglass pocket doors were installed to the bath and laundry to continue the flow of natural light from room to room. Custom natural oak millwork and beautiful door knobs by Rejuvenation Hardware were installed throughout. To match the charm of the home, subway tile and hex tile floors were installed in the new bath and shower. The bath was finished with a stock vanity, mirror, lighting, and Kohler plumbing fixtures. Modern features were also integrated throughout including Hudson Reed wall mount radiators and a NEST thermostat. One of our favorite features of this project, is the original support header and column that we decided to keep exposed. The homeowners took it upon themselves to sand the aged wood down to its natural color and it truly creates a unique piece of art. Castle and the Homeowners couldn’t be happier with the finished product. Photographer: Lisa Brunnel

A continuous full height slab runs uninterrupted from countertop to ceiling, its bold gray veining creates a dramatic singular composition. A long floating vanity in the graphite shaker provides generous drawer storage beneath an undermount vessel sink.

Full gut renovation and facade restoration of an historic 1850s wood-frame townhouse. The current owners found the building as a decaying, vacant SRO (single room occupancy) dwelling with approximately 9 rooming units. The building has been converted to a two-family house with an owner’s triplex over a garden-level rental. Due to the fact that the very little of the existing structure was serviceable and the change of occupancy necessitated major layout changes, nC2 was able to propose an especially creative and unconventional design for the triplex. This design centers around a continuous 2-run stair which connects the main living space on the parlor level to a family room on the second floor and, finally, to a studio space on the third, thus linking all of the public and semi-public spaces with a single architectural element. This scheme is further enhanced through the use of a wood-slat screen wall which functions as a guardrail for the stair as well as a light-filtering element tying all of the floors together, as well its culmination in a 5’ x 25’ skylight.