Phil and Rocio, little did you know how perfect your timing was when you came to us and asked for a “small but perfect home”. Fertile ground indeed as we thought about working on something like a precious gem, or what we’re calling a NEW Jewel. So many of our clients now are building smaller homes because they simply don’t need a bigger one. Seems smart for many reasons: less vacuuming, less heating and cooling, less taxes. And for many, less strain on the finances as we get to the point where retirement shines bright and hopeful. For the jewel of a home we wanted to start with 1,000 square feet. Enough room for a pleasant common area, a couple of away rooms for bed and work, a couple of bathrooms and yes to a mudroom and pantry. (For Phil and Rocio’s, we ended up with 1,140 square feet.) The Jewel would not compromise on design intent, envelope or craft intensity. This is the big benefit of the smaller footprint, of course. By using a pure and simple form for the house volume, a true jewel would have enough money in the budget for the highest quality materials, net-zero levels of insulation, triple pane windows, and a high-efficiency heat pump. Additionally, the doors would be handcrafted, the cabinets solid wood, the finishes exquisite, and craftsmanship shudderingly excellent. Our many thanks to Phil and Rocio for including us in their dream home project. It is truly a Jewel! From the homeowners (read their full note here): “It is quite difficult to express the deep sense of gratitude we feel towards everyone that contributed to the Jewel…many of which I don’t have the ability to send this to, or even be able to name. The artistic, creative flair combined with real-life practicality is a major component of our place we will love for many years to come. Please pass on our thanks to everyone that was involved. We look forward to visits from any and all as time goes by." –Phil and Rocio Read more about the first steps for this Jewel on our blog. Reclaimed Wood, Kitchen Cabinetry, Bedroom Door: Pioneer Millworks Entry door: NEWwoodworks Professional Photos: Loren Nelson Photography

A complete remodel of a 70s-era home re-imagines its original post-modern architecture. The new design emphasizes details such as a phoenix motif (significant to the family) that appears on a fountain as well as at the living room fireplace surround, both designed by the firm. Mahogany paneling, stone and walnut flooring, elaborate ceiling treatments, steel picture windows that frame panoramic views, and carved limestone window surrounds contribute new texture and character.

The interior details are simple, elegant, and are understated to display fine craftsmanship throughout the home. The design and finishes are not pretentious - but exactly what you would expect to find in an accomplished Maine artist’s home. Each piece of artwork carefully informed the selections that would highlight the art and contribute to the personality of each space. © Darren Setlow Photography

Custom built-ins contribute to the midcentury aesthetic of this renovated bathroom in a historically significant Boston-area home.
Bathroom - mid-century modern bathroom idea in Boston

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison

Photo of a landscaping in Boston.

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

A complete remodel of a 70s-era home re-imagines its original post-modern architecture. The new design emphasizes details such as a phoenix motif (significant to the family) that appears on a fountain as well as at the living room fireplace surround, both designed by the firm. Mahogany paneling, stone and walnut flooring, elaborate ceiling treatments, steel picture windows that frame panoramic views, and carved limestone window surrounds contribute new texture and character.

Home Spa & Gym by IndoTeak Design IndoTeak Design manufactures and distributes the greenest and most beautiful FSC Certified 100% Teak floors, tiles, and furniture designs in the world. Reclaimed and hand-crafted from vintage buildings slated for demolition or damaged by nature throughout Indonesia, IndoTeak salvages precious old growth teak beams and panels, giving them new life. Using every part of this precious wood, IndoTeak Design believes and practices ZERO waste at it's factory. By developing Aged Teak resources into sustainable building materials, we offer VOC-free, Formaldehyde-free products with a rich environmental story and ornate history which simultaneously contribute to a projects' LEED certification. Vertically integrated, IndoTeak Design can fill orders from under 1,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft plus. Watch for our furniture line launching soon.

Dawson and Clinton transformed a dated 2,500 square foot building into a luxurious four bedroom, three-bath contemporary condominium. To contribute to the architecture of the neighborhood, the building’s design was created to compliment the surrounding homes while eluding to the contemporary aesthetic of the interior. Wood is used throughout the home as a consistent element to provide a contrast between these warm tones and the minimalistic theme where clean lines are emphasized. This San Francisco condominium features a Bulthaup kitchen with white glass and walnut paneling. The layout of the kitchen works to make the space feel open, and emphasize the overall design approach.

The overall design was done by Ewa pasek of The ABL Group. My contribution to this was the stone specification and architectural details.
Eat-in kitchen - small traditional galley eat-in kitchen idea in Chicago with quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, no island and white countertops

Off-white Decora maple cabinets, an Ethan Allen chandelier and Seapearl quartzite grey and green countertops transformed an outdated kitchen into a peaceful sanctuary. A high gloss ceramic handmade tile, Light Ocean from Quemere International, reflects light from the kitchen's large window. Stamped concrete island cabinets provide an enchanting color contrast to the Chantille cabinets. Amish wood stools offer understated seating. Top Knobs trunk pulls in polished nickel contribute to this kitchen’s high class. The existing kitchen floor plan in this 20-year-old Fairfax Station did not require enlarging. The homeowners upgraded to a double oven and converted from electric to gas. In the breakfast room, a Hinkley chandelier above a Lee Industries table accommodates eight, with an open view of an updated fireplace. After removing the wall between living and breakfast rooms, in-house lead carpenter Bruce designed and built the classic columns on either side of the arch between the rooms. The rooms are painted in Benjamin Moore Titanium, and the wet bar boasts an Arabesque Carrara marble backsplash. Photographer Greg Hadley

The design for this home in Palo Alto looked to create a union between the interior and exterior, blending the spaces in such a way as to allow residents to move seamlessly between the two environments. Expansive glazing was used throughout the home to complement this union, looking out onto a swimming pool centrally located within the courtyard. Within the living room, a large operable skylight brings in plentiful sunlight, while utilizing self tinting glass that adjusts to various lighting conditions throughout the day to ensure optimal comfort. For the exterior, a living wall was added to the garage that continues into the backyard. Extensive landscaping and a gabion wall was also created to provide privacy and contribute to the sense of the home as a tranquil oasis.

Revamping the pantry is a transformative project that elevates both form and function in the kitchen space. Introducing adjustable shelving and pull-out trays optimizes storage, making it easier to access and organize a variety of items. Customized storage solutions for spices, canned goods, and dry ingredients enhance efficiency and reduce clutter. Consideration of lighting, such as LED strips or motion-sensor lights, improves visibility and adds a modern touch. A fresh coat of paint or stylish wallpaper can breathe new life into the pantry, contributing to an overall aesthetic upgrade. Additionally, investing in a smart organization system, such as labeled bins or baskets, ensures everything has a designated place. Redoing the pantry is not just about practicality; it's an opportunity to create a well-organized, visually appealing space that enhances the overall kitchen experience.

As you can see, this wine cellar space is quite small. At 6.5' by 7', it posed a bit of a challenge. Of course, our wine cellar builders rose to the occasion, managing to fit a whopping 526 consecutive bottles into the wine cellar design TX. Wine Cellar Specialists 4421 Cedar Elm Richardson, TX 75082 (972) 454-0480 winecellarspec.com

A modern, yet traditionally inspired SW Portland home with sweeping views of Mount Hood features an exposed timber frame core reclaimed from a local rail yard building. A welcoming exterior entrance canopy continues inside to the foyer and piano area before vaulting above the living room. A ridge skylight illuminates the central space and the loft beyond. The elemental materials of stone, bronze, Douglas Fir, Maple, Western Redcedar. and Walnut carry on a tradition of northwest architecture influenced by Japanese/Asian sensibilities. Mindful of saving energy and resources, this home was outfitted with PV panels and a geothermal mechanical system, contributing to a high performing envelope efficient enough to achieve several sustainability honors. The main home received LEED Gold Certification and the adjacent ADU LEED Platinum Certification, and both structures received Earth Advantage Platinum Certification. Photo by: David Papazian Photography

Design: Louis Poulsen A/S in cooperation with the Navy Buildings Department Concept: The fixture primarily provides a downward directed soft light by means of the white lacquered inner conical reflector. The outer reflector, the main shade, contributes to directing the light up- and downwards, while at the same time spreading the soft diffuse light. The inside of the main shade is illuminated through an opening in the inner conical reflector. Finish: White, Dark grey, Red, Green, Blue powder coated or Brass. Material: Shade: Spun aluminium or spun brass. Suspension: Spun aluminium. Struts: Stainless steel. Mounting: Canopy: White. Cord type: 3-conductor, 18 AWG white PVC power cord. Cord length: 12'. Weight: Max. 3.3 lbs. Label: cULus, dry location, IBEW.

Where: Colorado What: Residential Home Product: AquaFir™ Natural Wood Siding Solution: Wire Brushed, Shiplap, color: Driftwood Honoring its Western heritage and natural beauty, much of the new construction in Colorado has called on Montana Timber Products' various rustic natural wood siding solutions. This build utilizes a combination of stone, made-to-rust steel, and AquaFir™, Wire Brushed, Shiplap natural wood siding; all in a varying degree of earth tones to blend with the natural landscape. Montana Timber Products offers many different natural reclaimed barn wood alternative and authentic reclaimed barn wood siding solutions. One of the advantages of Montana Timber Products is the customization options of all of the products. Each product is milled to order with a profile, texture, color, and style of your choice. The Shiplap and Channel Rustic (Shiplap with a reveal) profiles are popular choices that have both a utility and aesthetic purpose. The Montana Timber Products AquaFir™ product line featured in this project is a great solution to bridge the gap between mountain rustic and mountain contemporary architectural design. The Shiplap profile and Wire Brush texture contribute greatly to this natural reclaimed barn wood alternative siding solution. Similar to the multi-chromatic ranchwood™ product line, the AquaFir™ line offers a more subtle multi-chromatic finish, resulting in a fresh, slightly less rustic, contemporary beauty. Whether you are looking for siding, beams, flooring, or interior accents, Montana Timber Products offers a solution for your rustic needs. All Montana Timber Products’ prefinished wood siding utilizes Seal-Once, a 100% NO VOC waterproofer with a 10 year limited warranty against water ingress.

2012 NARI CAPITAL COTY, MERIT AWARD WINNER, RESIDENTIAL BATH $30,000 to $60,000 The owners of this contemporary home in Centreville, Virginia, had a dated master bathroom suite that didn’t meet their modern tastes or their needs. To make the changes they wanted, the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes determined that the room would need to be gutted. All the partition walls had to go, as did the old whirlpool tub. And all of the plumbing and fixtures had to be relocated to new positions to meet the new design’s criteria. The clients previously replaced the bathroom windows with glass blocks. Thus, contemporary glass blocks were used instead of partition walls to add openness to this new bathroom layout. Large polished limestone tiles were used on the bathroom floors and walls, and stylish glass tiles were used as an accent. A free-standing oval tub adds to the room’s contemporary look and saves a lot of space as well. A two-person shower stall with a modern body spray shower system was also installed. Custom built high level cabinetry and vanities, and modern lighting—both recessed and hanging fixtures— contribute greatly to the success of the final project.