The owners of this prewar apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan wanted to combine two dark and tightly configured units into a single unified space. StudioLAB was challenged with the task of converting the existing arrangement into a large open three bedroom residence. The previous configuration of bedrooms along the Southern window wall resulted in very little sunlight reaching the public spaces. Breaking the norm of the traditional building layout, the bedrooms were moved to the West wall of the combined unit, while the existing internally held Living Room and Kitchen were moved towards the large South facing windows, resulting in a flood of natural sunlight. Wide-plank grey-washed walnut flooring was applied throughout the apartment to maximize light infiltration. A concrete office cube was designed with the supplementary space which features walnut flooring wrapping up the walls and ceiling. Two large sliding Starphire acid-etched glass doors close the space off to create privacy when screening a movie. High gloss white lacquer millwork built throughout the apartment allows for ample storage. LED Cove lighting was utilized throughout the main living areas to provide a bright wash of indirect illumination and to separate programmatic spaces visually without the use of physical light consuming partitions. Custom floor to ceiling Ash wood veneered doors accentuate the height of doorways and blur room thresholds. The master suite features a walk-in-closet, a large bathroom with radiant heated floors and a custom steam shower. An integrated Vantage Smart Home System was installed to control the AV, HVAC, lighting and solar shades using iPads.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

The owners of this prewar apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan wanted to combine two dark and tightly configured units into a single unified space. StudioLAB was challenged with the task of converting the existing arrangement into a large open three bedroom residence. The previous configuration of bedrooms along the Southern window wall resulted in very little sunlight reaching the public spaces. Breaking the norm of the traditional building layout, the bedrooms were moved to the West wall of the combined unit, while the existing internally held Living Room and Kitchen were moved towards the large South facing windows, resulting in a flood of natural sunlight. Wide-plank grey-washed walnut flooring was applied throughout the apartment to maximize light infiltration. A concrete office cube was designed with the supplementary space which features walnut flooring wrapping up the walls and ceiling. Two large sliding Starphire acid-etched glass doors close the space off to create privacy when screening a movie. High gloss white lacquer millwork built throughout the apartment allows for ample storage. LED Cove lighting was utilized throughout the main living areas to provide a bright wash of indirect illumination and to separate programmatic spaces visually without the use of physical light consuming partitions. Custom floor to ceiling Ash wood veneered doors accentuate the height of doorways and blur room thresholds. The master suite features a walk-in-closet, a large bathroom with radiant heated floors and a custom steam shower. An integrated Vantage Smart Home System was installed to control the AV, HVAC, lighting and solar shades using iPads.

Where possible existing elements were kept: Lower cabinets of this playroom were saved from demolition and converted for the AV equipment. Upper shelves were added and given a matching finish. photo Eduard Hueber © archphoto.com

The primary style of this new lounge space could be classified as an American-style pub, with the rustic quality of a prohibition-era speakeasy balanced by the masculine look of a Victorian-era men’s lounge. The wet bar was designed as three casual sections distributed along the two window walls. Custom counters were created by combining antiqued copper on the surface and riveted iron strapping on the edges. The ceiling was opened up, peaking at 12', and the framing was finished with reclaimed wood, converting the vaulted space into a pyramid for a four-walled cathedral ceiling. Neals Design Remodel Robin Victor Goetz

Inspiration for a contemporary dark wood floor family room remodel in Chicago with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace and a tv stand

The living room features petrified wood fireplace surround with a salvaged driftwood mantle. Nearby, the dining room table retracts and converts into a guest bed.

Multiple projects have been completed in and around this small house including the creation of a master suite, implementation of 2 gardens, an exterior A/V system that allows the owner to project movies on the back of his house, a stainless steel kitchen, new dining room and a converted garage into home office renovation.

Guest Bedroom
Bedroom - traditional bedroom idea in Raleigh with blue walls

The masonry fireplace is converted into a two sided ribbon fireplace with built-in TV above. All AV equipment is concealed in a cabinet on the side of the fireplace. In collaboration with Cynthia Paggie, Paggie Designs. Photography by Shane Quesinberry.

This Garden Apt level of a Brooklyn brownstone was converted into a luxe screening room with a basic kitchen area built of reclaimed chestnut wood and soapstone countertops. The old chimney was converted into an A/V cabinet, with the projector mounted above.

Screen porch converted to 3-season room. Design by Monica Lewis, CMKBD, MCR, UDCP of J.S. Brown & Co.
Inspiration for a timeless porch remodel in Columbus with a roof extension

The media room makes use of 2 shallow steps for stadium seating, and the tray ceiling conceals ductwork.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed carpeted home theater remodel in DC Metro with a projector screen and red walls

TWD converted an outdated fireplace by adding stone, a seat and mantle. A small custom TV niche with matching stone was also built to compliment the fireplace. All AV equipment is neatly stored out of sight in the storage compartments below the TV.

DHD Crosby Street Loft in SOHO, NYC The Crosby Street Loft building is located on a cobblestone block in the Soho Cast Iron Historic District. Built in 1882, it was formerly a department store, and converted in 2001 to a 10-unit loft condominium. Our renovation of a second floor loft retains and celebrates many of the original details, including generous, open spaces, 14 foot plus ceiling heights, Corinthian-style columns, and a continuous 120 foot exposed brick wall with integrated archways. The design was a collaborative process, integrating elements discovered on the client’s world travels. Design features include a 12 foot tall glass lounge, two fireplaces, Control4 smart home system, a stone, cold-rolled steel and custom walnut cabinet kitchen and living room, and a luxurious master suite reminiscent of a 5-star hotel. http://www.dhd.nyc Architect: David Howell, R.A. Project Manager: Jill Diamant Interior Design: Melissa Pinto MEP Engineer: TSF Engineering, PC Structural Engineer: Gilsanz, Murray, Steficek LLP A/V Consultant: Smart Spaces Lighting Designer: Alina Ainza General Contractor: Interior Alterations, Inc Photo by Andrea Brizzi

We converted this 16x27 foot basement to a 7.1 home cinema with 12' wide, 2.35 screen and Sony projector along with two rows of seating. An RTI automation system was used to control A/V as well as lighting and climate. Other products used were Marantz, Sony, Parasound, Screen Innovations and Middle Atlantic.

DHD Crosby Street Loft in SOHO, NYC The Crosby Street Loft building is located on a cobblestone block in the Soho Cast Iron Historic District. Built in 1882, it was formerly a department store, and converted in 2001 to a 10-unit loft condominium. Our renovation of a second floor loft retains and celebrates many of the original details, including generous, open spaces, 14 foot plus ceiling heights, Corinthian-style columns, and a continuous 120 foot exposed brick wall with integrated archways. The design was a collaborative process, integrating elements discovered on the client’s world travels. Design features include a 12 foot tall glass lounge, two fireplaces, Control4 smart home system, a stone, cold-rolled steel and custom walnut cabinet kitchen and living room, and a luxurious master suite reminiscent of a 5-star hotel. http://www.dhd.nyc Architect: David Howell, R.A. Project Manager: Jill Diamant Interior Design: Melissa Pinto MEP Engineer: TSF Engineering, PC Structural Engineer: Gilsanz, Murray, Steficek LLP A/V Consultant: Smart Spaces Lighting Designer: Alina Ainza General Contractor: Interior Alterations, Inc Photo by Andrea Brizzi

A large attic space was converted to a comfortable home theater/media room.
Trendy home theater photo in Portland

The entire wall surrounding the fireplace is a 3' thick brick wall with the chimney in the middle and 3' deep closets on either end. In order to put up wallboard, a steel frame was built over the entire face. In order to support the 16' mantle, made of a single length of exotic wood, steel bolts needed to be attached to the steel frame. The original firebox was a wood burning fireplace. It was converted to a gas insert. The closets on either end were converted to pantry shelving. The hardwood flooring is Brazilian cherry, a renewable resource. Can you see the surround sound speakers in the wall on each side of the television? These invisible speakers required a very thin application of spackle around the edges and a thin coat of paint over the top. Photograph by Mike Seidl