Side Addition to Oak Hill Home After living in their Oak Hill home for several years, they decided that they needed a larger, multi-functional laundry room, a side entrance and mudroom that suited their busy lifestyles. A small powder room was a closet placed in the middle of the kitchen, while a tight laundry closet space overflowed into the kitchen. After meeting with Michael Nash Custom Kitchens, plans were drawn for a side addition to the right elevation of the home. This modification filled in an open space at end of driveway which helped boost the front elevation of this home. Covering it with matching brick facade made it appear as a seamless addition. The side entrance allows kids easy access to mudroom, for hang clothes in new lockers and storing used clothes in new large laundry room. This new state of the art, 10 feet by 12 feet laundry room is wrapped up with upscale cabinetry and a quartzite counter top. The garage entrance door was relocated into the new mudroom, with a large side closet allowing the old doorway to become a pantry for the kitchen, while the old powder room was converted into a walk-in pantry. A new adjacent powder room covered in plank looking porcelain tile was furnished with embedded black toilet tanks. A wall mounted custom vanity covered with stunning one-piece concrete and sink top and inlay mirror in stone covered black wall with gorgeous surround lighting. Smart use of intense and bold color tones, help improve this amazing side addition. Dark grey built-in lockers complementing slate finished in place stone floors created a continuous floor place with the adjacent kitchen flooring. Now this family are getting to enjoy every bit of the added space which makes life easier for all.

Homearama 2016: An Introduction Welcome to Homearama 2016: An Introduction where we will take you into the process for creating a showcase home – a phenomenal 12 month long project filled with plenty of blood, sweat and tears. Mostly sweat with the actual even held in middle of a regular Kentucky July – consistently high 90s and a humidity that can steam any pair of glasses. Our Team Nevertheless, we are so proud of all those who helped contribute to creating a beautiful home for our ever-patient homeowners. This gorgeous “Southern Belle” took home 3 of the 6 awards given by the Building Industry Association at the River Crest Development: Best Kitchen Cabinetry (M&H Cabinetry), Best Closet Design (Closets by Design), and Best Lighting (Ferguson). Also cheers to our builder, Chad Stoyell of Stoyell Built Homes for winning 3rd place in the popular vote for Best Builder! He, of course, is at the top of our list as Stoyell Built Homes pride themselves in custom homes built with impeccable craftsmanship. Our Southern Belle did not detour from his reputation! Beautifully executed detail can be found everywhere from the hot/cold exterior hose hookup to the wooden dormer over the front porch. In addition, the house is a looker – a home you can’t find in just any neighborhood. Notice the bold symmetry with the stone walls flanking the large front porch. Windows placed high on either side of the front facade provide plenty of light while maintaining privacy. Our landscaper, Chad Rodgers, complemented the symmetry with matching Japanese Maples that in due time will grow up to be perfectly positioned. Concrete planters anchor the front door, while bold blue rocking chairs brighten up the facade two by two. Natural Wood Elements Chad Stoyell, the builder, used real material throughout the house and the front door is no exception. This beauty is made of solid wood. The natural beauty of wood is continued in this wooden open dormer. The lighting fixture keeps that southern charm going with lantern accents – also seen in the fixtures flanking the garage door. Hydrangeas line the driveway along the side of the house. Great craftsmanship on the shake siding and stone application. View of the back porch, including two seating areas-a cozy fireplace and a patio for those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! And on a final note, we just love the accessibility of the patio from the garage! The door to the right of the table and chairs leads directly into the garage! Stay tuned for what door #2 leads to…. Stay Tuned for More Hope you liked our introduction on this great project – Homearama 2016! Please stay tuned for more insight on the design process of each space. I can’t wait to show you the inside of this Southern Belle. Enjoy!

A newly retired couple had purchased their 1989 home because it offered everything they needed on one level. He loved that the house was right on the Mississippi River with access for docking a boat. She loved that there was two bedrooms on the Main Level, so when the grandkids came to stay, they had their own room. The dark, traditional style kitchen with wallpaper and coffered ceiling felt closed off from the adjacent Dining Room and Family Room. Although the island was large, there was no place for seating. We removed the peninsula and reconfigured the kitchen to create a more functional layout that includes 9-feet of 18-inch deep pantry cabinets The new island has seating for four and is orientated to the window that overlooks the back yard and river. Flat-paneled cabinets in a combination of horizontal wood and semi-gloss white paint add to the modern, updated look. A large format tile (24” x 24”) runs throughout the kitchen and into the adjacent rooms for a continuous, monolithic look.

Retractable living room doors open the great room to outdoors. A fresh interpretation of the western farmhouse, The Sycamore, with its high pitch rooflines, custom interior trusses, and reclaimed hardwood floors offers irresistible modern warmth. When merging the past indigenous citrus farms with today’s modern aesthetic, the result is a celebration of the Western Farmhouse. The goal was to craft a community canvas where homes exist as a supporting cast to an overall community composition. The extreme continuity in form, materials, and function allows the residents and their lives to be the focus rather than architecture. The unified architectural canvas catalyzes a sense of community rather than the singular aesthetic expression of 16 individual homes. This sense of community is the basis for the culture of The Sycamore. The western farmhouse revival style embodied at The Sycamore features elegant, gabled structures, open living spaces, porches, and balconies. Utilizing the ideas, methods, and materials of today, we have created a modern twist on an American tradition. While the farmhouse essence is nostalgic, the cool, modern vibe brings a balance of beauty and efficiency. The modern aura of the architecture offers calm, restoration, and revitalization. Located at 37th Street and Campbell in the western portion of the popular Arcadia residential neighborhood in Central Phoenix, the Sycamore is surrounded by some of Central Phoenix’s finest amenities, including walkable access to premier eateries such as La Grande Orange, Postino, North, and Chelsea’s Kitchen. Project Details: The Sycamore, Phoenix, AZ Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Sonora West Development Developer: EW Investment Funding Interior Designer: Homes by 1962 Photography: Alexander Vertikoff Awards: Best in American Living Award for Best Single Family Production Home 4,501-5,000 sq ft Built for Sale Gold Nugget Award of Merit – Best Residential Detached Collection of the Year

The challenge with this project was to add a new era-sensitive upstairs bathroom and transform the downstairs double bath in an early 20th century NC farmhouse. We updated the baths with 21st century style and materials with keeping the farmhouse aesthetic in the details. Downstairs Double-bath Remodel: While the farmhouse inspired the room’s bead board chair rail, farmhouse utility inspired making its trim a continuous useable shelf throughout the room. The idea of utility came into play again in the custom moveable shelving system we created to hide the water heater while still allowing access when necessary. We designed a roomy shower space, tiled floor to ceiling in vintage penny tile with a Grohe rainshower system, a rain glass panel wall and a rain glass shower window to maximize the benefits of the natural light through single bathroom window. True to the house’s heritage we also installed a claw foot soaking tub (made with modern light weight resin) and 20th C. farmhouse inspired faucets and vanity light, and a pedestal sink. Above the soaking tub and it’s tiled roman faucet half wall we designed built in cubbies for towels etc. and a custom shelf reachable while in the bath tub. We took space from a closet on the other side of the original bath wall to fit in the soaking tub area. Utilizing the space to the maximum degree, we also made the space between the shower and bath tub a built-in linen closet. The vintage floor tile (patterned in the 1920’s) is our age-appropriate statement piece. We also sourced vintage half light solid wood doors. In one, to again utilize the natural light coming from the exterior bedroom windows and the bathroom window, we created the half light by cutting out a solid door and installing satin finished glass. In the other we sourced vintage “crackle glass” film and placed it on both sides of the existing glass panels.

Staying within the footprint of the room and moving walls to open the floor plan created a roomy uncluttered feel, which opened directly off of the master bedroom. Granting access to two separate his and hers closets, the entryway allows for a gracious amount of tall utility storage and an enclosed Asko stacked washer and dryer for everyday use. A gorgeous wall hung vanity with dual sinks and waterfall Caesarstone Mitered 2 1/4″ square edge countertop adds to the modern feel and drama that the homeowners were hoping for. As if that weren’t storage enough, the custom shallow wall cabinetry and mirrors above offer over ten feet of storage! A 90-degree turn and lowered seating area create an intimate space with a backlit mirror for personal styling. The room is finished with Honed Diana Royal Marble on all of the heated floors and matching polished marble on the walls. Satin finish Delta faucets and personal shower system fit the modern design perfectly. This serene new master bathroom is the perfect place to start or finish the day, enjoy the task of laundry or simply sit and meditate! Alicia Gbur Photography

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

Although this Hinsdale home was only about a decade old, the floor plan and finishes already felt dated. The homeowners expressed that the layout wasn’t working—particularly the disconnect between spaces they used and those they didn’t. O’Brien Harris was originally brought in to renovate the kitchen, but it quickly became clear that a more holistic transformation was needed. The formal dining room, located at the front of the house, had long gone unused. Along with design Brynn Olson, O’Brien Harris reimagined the space as a high-gloss wine lounge that now opens onto the front terrace. The adjacent covered porch was enclosed and converted into a light-filled new dining room, making entertaining and everyday meals more inviting and accessible. O’Brien Harris also fully paneled the great room, adding built-in bookcases and reshaping existing arches to bring depth, warmth, and architectural continuity. The galley-style kitchen is now the heart of the home. Designed for a family that loves to cook and entertain, it features a central island and a secondary wall of storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to house refrigeration, freezer drawers, and extensive dish storage, outfitted with a library ladder. The cabinet finishes are a blend of painted surfaces and light oak, offering warmth without heaviness. Icebox-style strap hinges and latches bring refined vintage character to the space while emphasizing functionality with beauty. In the primary bath, O’Brien Harris introduced painted cabinetry beneath a waterfall stone counter to coordinate with upholstered panels and full marble finishes. His-and-hers vanities and custom stone flooring complete the serene, tailored retreat. This was a deeply transformative project, not only in terms of layout, but in the way the spaces now flow and function together—with O’Brien Harris cabinetry anchoring it all in timeless craftsmanship.

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

Standard features include heat sentry and dual setting halogen lighting. Available in seven widths, all Wolf Pro Wall Hoods have the classic stainless steel finish. DESIGN FEATURES: Heavy-duty, 16-gauge brushed stainless steel with classic finish—continually welded seams, hemmed edges and sides Stainless steel enclosed liner Recessed easy-access controls Infinite-speed blower control Heat sentry feature Halogen lighting with two settings Heat lamps available on 27” deep models only – bulbs not included Removable, dishwasher-safe, restaurant-grade stainless steel baffle filters SPECIFICATIONS: Exterior Finish Stainless Steel Bottom of Hood to Countertop 30" to 36" Discharge Vertical or Horizontal Duct Size 10" Round Electrical Requirements 110/120 V AC 60 Hz, 15 amp dedicated circuit RELATED ACCESSORIES OFFERED: 300 CFM Internal Blower (814419) 450 CFM Internal Blower (814420) 600 CFM Internal Blower (814421) 900 CFM Internal Blower (814422) 600 CFM In-Line Blower (808331) 1100 CFM In-Line Blower (808332) Remote 600 CFM Blower (801640) Remote 900 CFM Blower (801641) Remote 1200 CFM Blower (801642) Remote 1500 CFM Blower (804701) Recirculating Kit (811838) Recirculating Filter (808171) Horizontal Discharge Kit (811088) 30" x 38" Backsplash (810425) Backsplash with Racks (810432) 6" Duct Cover (810710) 12" Duct Cover (810717) 18" Duct Cover (810724) 24" Duct Cover (810731) 30" Duct Cover (813969) Make-Up Air Damper (820071) PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Overall Widths 30", 36", 42", 48", 54", 60" and 66" Overall Height 18" Overall Depth 27"

Wolf Pro Wall Chimney Hoods provide the ultimate in ventilation. With standard elements like heat sentry and dual setting halogen lighting, Wolf elevates the need for ventilation to an enjoyable perk. DESIGN FEATURES: Heavy-duty, 16-gauge brushed stainless steel construction in the classic finish Stainless steel enclosed liner Continually welded seams, hemmed edges and sides and hand finished craftsmanship Recessed easy-access controls Infinite-speed blower controls Heat sentry feature automatically turns unit on when heat is sensed and automatically adjusts blower speed Halogen lighting with two settings Removable, dishwasher-safe, restaurant-grade stainless steel baffle filters Transition with backdraft damper included SPECIFICATIONS: Exterior Finish Stainless Steel Bottom of Hood to Countertop 30" to 36" Discharge Vertical Duct Size 10" Round Electrical Requirements 110/120 V AC 60 Hz, 15 amp dedicated circuit RELATED ACCESSORIES OFFERED: 300 CFM Internal Blower (814419) 450 CFM Internal Blower (814420) 600 CFM Internal Blower (814421) 900 CFM Internal Blower (814422) 1100 CFM In-Line Blower (808332) 900 CFM Remote Blower (801641) 1200 CFM Remote Blower (801642) 1500 CFM Remote Blower (804701) 36" x 38" Backsplash (810426) Backsplash with Racks (810433) 6" Duct Cover (811020) 12" Duct Cover (811024) 18" Duct Cover (811028) 24" Duct Cover (811032) Make-Up Air Damper (820771) PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Overall Widths 36", 42", 48" and 54" Overall Height 18" Overall Depth 24"

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

Ocean Blue Pools LLC is widely recognized for extravagant swimming pool construction and unmatched customer service. Our specialties include custom designed swimming pools, spas, beautiful rock and stone water features and astounding outdoor kitchens and living spaces. The designing process incorporates classic principles, proportioned balance and expert design in accordance with your topography and space. We strive to make your outdoor living space as user friendly as it is beautiful. With profound focus on our client’s needs, we will design around your unique lifestyle and taste and create a space that is inviting, comfortable, safe, and engages the senses. Your swimming pool, which becomes the focal point, is just one component of the backyard. The landscape, lighting, water features, fire pit or outdoor kitchen will define your pool and evoke emotion. Our design team will offer several feature choices to create the most exciting and relaxing outdoor environment using the harmony of these elements. The design process begins with a consultation to understand your lifestyle and vision for your new outdoor living space. We will inquire about your usage plans and the vision you would like to achieve. We take into consideration, location of views, site conditions and accessibility. We will examine your homes existing architectural design to ensure continuity and flow from your home into to your new outdoor living space. Our design team and graphic artists will then transform your vision into conceptual drawings and renderings. A visual presentation will also be prepared to convey the look and feel of the proposed project. Under the design process, materials will be recommended which may include: pavers, travertine, glass tile, stone veneer, precast concrete, landscape and lighting. The final design drawings will provide an accurate representation of your new outdoor living space. Once the design process is complete, we will construct your project to the exact vision of the original design concept. We will maintain relentless attention to detail with our latest innovations and technology. All projects are managed from decades of experience by our trained superintendent who will manage timeframes, quality, and most of all, the client’s expectations. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. Randall Schmidt / Design and Construction

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Taking good care of this home and taking time to customize it to their family, the owners have completed four remodel projects with Castle. The 2nd floor addition was completed in 2006, which expanded the home in back, where there was previously only a 1st floor porch. Now, after this remodel, the sunroom is open to the rest of the home and can be used in all four seasons. On the 2nd floor, the home’s footprint greatly expanded from a tight attic space into 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The kitchen remodel, which took place in 2013, reworked the floorplan in small, but dramatic ways. The doorway between the kitchen and front entry was widened and moved to allow for better flow, more countertop space, and a continuous wall for appliances to be more accessible. A more functional kitchen now offers ample workspace and cabinet storage, along with a built-in breakfast nook countertop. All new stainless steel LG and Bosch appliances were ordered from Warners’ Stellian. Another remodel in 2016 converted a closet into a wet bar allows for better hosting in the dining room. In 2018, after this family had already added a 2nd story addition, remodeled their kitchen, and converted the dining room closet into a wet bar, they decided it was time to remodel their basement. Finishing a portion of the basement to make a living room and giving the home an additional bathroom allows for the family and guests to have more personal space. With every project, solid oak woodwork has been installed, classic countertops and traditional tile selected, and glass knobs used. Where the finished basement area meets the utility room, Castle designed a barn door, so the cat will never be locked out of its litter box. The 3/4 bathroom is spacious and bright. The new shower floor features a unique pebble mosaic tile from Ceramic Tileworks. Bathroom sconces from Creative Lighting add a contemporary touch. Overall, this home is suited not only to the home’s original character; it is also suited to house the owners’ family for a lifetime. This home will be featured on the 2019 Castle Home Tour, September 28 – 29th. Showcased projects include their kitchen, wet bar, and basement. Not on tour is a second-floor addition including a master suite.

Side Addition to Oak Hill Home After living in their Oak Hill home for several years, they decided that they needed a larger, multi-functional laundry room, a side entrance and mudroom that suited their busy lifestyles. A small powder room was a closet placed in the middle of the kitchen, while a tight laundry closet space overflowed into the kitchen. After meeting with Michael Nash Custom Kitchens, plans were drawn for a side addition to the right elevation of the home. This modification filled in an open space at end of driveway which helped boost the front elevation of this home. Covering it with matching brick facade made it appear as a seamless addition. The side entrance allows kids easy access to mudroom, for hang clothes in new lockers and storing used clothes in new large laundry room. This new state of the art, 10 feet by 12 feet laundry room is wrapped up with upscale cabinetry and a quartzite counter top. The garage entrance door was relocated into the new mudroom, with a large side closet allowing the old doorway to become a pantry for the kitchen, while the old powder room was converted into a walk-in pantry. A new adjacent powder room covered in plank looking porcelain tile was furnished with embedded black toilet tanks. A wall mounted custom vanity covered with stunning one-piece concrete and sink top and inlay mirror in stone covered black wall with gorgeous surround lighting. Smart use of intense and bold color tones, help improve this amazing side addition. Dark grey built-in lockers complementing slate finished in place stone floors created a continuous floor place with the adjacent kitchen flooring. Now this family are getting to enjoy every bit of the added space which makes life easier for all.