This brownstone, located in Harlem, consists of five stories which had been duplexed to create a two story rental unit and a 3 story home for the owners. The owner hired us to do a modern renovation of their home and rear garden. The garden was under utilized, barely visible from the interior and could only be accessed via a small steel stair at the rear of the second floor. We enlarged the owner’s home to include the rear third of the floor below which had walk out access to the garden. The additional square footage became a new family room connected to the living room and kitchen on the floor above via a double height space and a new sculptural stair. The rear facade was completely restructured to allow us to install a wall to wall two story window and door system within the new double height space creating a connection not only between the two floors but with the outside. The garden itself was terraced into two levels, the bottom level of which is directly accessed from the new family room space, the upper level accessed via a few stone clad steps. The upper level of the garden features a playful interplay of stone pavers with wood decking adjacent to a large seating area and a new planting bed. Wet bar cabinetry at the family room level is mirrored by an outside cabinetry/grill configuration as another way to visually tie inside to out. The second floor features the dining room, kitchen and living room in a large open space. Wall to wall builtins from the front to the rear transition from storage to dining display to kitchen; ending at an open shelf display with a fireplace feature in the base. The third floor serves as the children’s floor with two bedrooms and two ensuite baths. The fourth floor is a master suite with a large bedroom and a large bathroom bridged by a walnut clad hall that conceals a closet system and features a built in desk. The master bath consists of a tiled partition wall dividing the space to create a large walkthrough shower for two on one side and showcasing a free standing tub on the other. The house is full of custom modern details such as the recessed, lit handrail at the house’s main stair, floor to ceiling glass partitions separating the halls from the stairs and a whimsical builtin bench in the entry.

Reverse Shed Eichler This project is part tear-down, part remodel. The original L-shaped plan allowed the living/ dining/ kitchen wing to be completely re-built while retaining the shell of the bedroom wing virtually intact. The rebuilt entertainment wing was enlarged 50% and covered with a low-slope reverse-shed roof sloping from eleven to thirteen feet. The shed roof floats on a continuous glass clerestory with eight foot transom. Cantilevered steel frames support wood roof beams with eaves of up to ten feet. An interior glass clerestory separates the kitchen and livingroom for sound control. A wall-to-wall skylight illuminates the north wall of the kitchen/family room. New additions at the back of the house add several “sliding” wall planes, where interior walls continue past full-height windows to the exterior, complimenting the typical Eichler indoor-outdoor ceiling and floor planes. The existing bedroom wing has been re-configured on the interior, changing three small bedrooms into two larger ones, and adding a guest suite in part of the original garage. A previous den addition provided the perfect spot for a large master ensuite bath and walk-in closet. Natural materials predominate, with fir ceilings, limestone veneer fireplace walls, anigre veneer cabinets, fir sliding windows and interior doors, bamboo floors, and concrete patios and walks. Landscape design by Bernard Trainor: www.bernardtrainor.com (see “Concrete Jungle” in April 2014 edition of Dwell magazine). Microsoft Media Center installation of the Year, 2008: www.cybermanor.com/ultimate_install.html (automated shades, radiant heating system, and lights, as well as security & sound).

Example of a 1960s bathroom design in San Francisco

Photograpy by Liz Linder ( http://www.lizlinder.com/).
Small transitional backyard brick patio photo in Boston

This modern farmhouse located outside of Spokane, Washington, creates a prominent focal point among the landscape of rolling plains. The composition of the home is dominated by three steep gable rooflines linked together by a central spine. This unique design evokes a sense of expansion and contraction from one space to the next. Vertical cedar siding, poured concrete, and zinc gray metal elements clad the modern farmhouse, which, combined with a shop that has the aesthetic of a weathered barn, creates a sense of modernity that remains rooted to the surrounding environment. The Glo double pane A5 Series windows and doors were selected for the project because of their sleek, modern aesthetic and advanced thermal technology over traditional aluminum windows. High performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals allows the A5 Series to deliver high performance values and cost effective durability while remaining a sophisticated and stylish design choice. Strategically placed operable windows paired with large expanses of fixed picture windows provide natural ventilation and a visual connection to the outdoors.

Inspiration for a scandinavian light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Birmingham with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Stunning staircase design - Contemporary Twilight Residential Interior Design Project in Aventura, Florida by DKOR Interiors. Photos by Alexia Fodere

Michael Gullon, Phoenix Photographic
Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped kitchen pantry remodel in Baltimore with green cabinets, granite countertops and raised-panel cabinets

Country white tile freestanding bathtub photo in Orange County with white cabinets, white walls and recessed-panel cabinets

Lesley Unruh
Example of a trendy limestone tile bathroom design in New York with an integrated sink

The black and white palette is paired with the warmth of the wood tones to create a “spa-like” feeling in this urban design concept. Salient features: free-standing vanity medicine cabinet decorative pendant lights 3 dimensional accent tiles

Contemporary White Kitchen
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls and an island

Jim Bartsch Photography
Walk-in shower - mid-sized beige tile and stone tile limestone floor walk-in shower idea in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets and recessed-panel cabinets

Photography: Jeff Cate
Minimalist u-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash and marble backsplash

Todd Wright
Small eclectic pink tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub photo with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, granite countertops and gray walls

The walkway that we closed up in the kitchen is now home to the new stainless steel oven and matching hood vent. Previously, the oven sat on the reverse side of the kitchen which did not allow for an overhead vent. Our clients will certainly notice a difference in cooking now that the space is properly ventilated! The new wall also allows for additional cabinet storage. A space-saving Lazy Suzan sits in the lower cabinets to the left of the oven, while a stack of wide utensil drawers conveniently occupies the right side. Final photos by Impressia Photography.

Photo by KuDa Photography
Cottage u-shaped light wood floor and gray floor kitchen pantry photo in Portland with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops and brown countertops

Tricia Shay Photography
Large trendy courtyard concrete patio photo in Milwaukee with no cover

Bernard Andre Photography SDG Milne Design and Build I am the photographer and cannot answer any questions regarding the design, finishing, or furnishing. For any question you can contact the architect: http://www.simpsondesigngroup.com/