A traditional kitchen as shown uses different finishes in the cabinetry to create the look of furniture. Different heights on the countertops designate multiple areas for cooking, food prep and sitting at the counter to have a snack while watching TV in the family room beyond. The designer was able to achieve the client's goal of having the food prep area segregated from other areas of the kitchen for the purpose of entertaining and traffic flow.

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

Dania Bagia Photography In 2014, when new owners purchased one of the grand, 19th-century "summer cottages" that grace historic North Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Old Saratoga Restorations was already intimately acquainted with it. Year after year, the previous owner had hired OSR to work on one carefully planned restoration project after another. What had not been dealt with in the previous restoration projects was the Eliza Doolittle of a garage tucked behind the stately home. Under its dingy aluminum siding and electric bay door was a proper Victorian carriage house. The new family saw both the charm and potential of the building and asked OSR to turn the building into a single family home. The project was granted an Adaptive Reuse Award in 2015 by the Saratoga Springs Historic Preservation Foundation for the project. Upon accepting the award, the owner said, “the house is similar to a geode, historic on the outside, but shiny and new on the inside.”

I was called into this home to re-decorate for the new owners. Although they loved the finishes that already existed in the home - floor stain, wall and ceiling colors, window treatments, there were a few things that didn't work for their family that needed to be changed. In addition, they needed all new furniture to fill this house that would reflect the coastal location, but remain traditional in style. I accomplished this with the exception of one surprise space! photo by Holger Obenaus

When this young family of four and their aging dog, Bernie, moved into their new home, it was evident that changes needed to be made for the house to work for them. The kitchen was cramped and crowded and didn’t allow for the large family gatherings they enjoyed hosting. Without a mudroom between the garage and kitchen, there was no place to drop groceries, schoolbags, coats or boots. And an unused dining room sat empty, save for the furniture. We immediately set out to open up walls and make better use of the space. A mudroom was added, outfitted with cabinetry lockers for jackets and schoolbags with room for baskets for shoes under the bench. A glass pocket door was installed to let the light flow from the window on the front of the house into the adjacent kitchen. In the kitchen, we took advantage of the unused dining room and broke through the wall creating one large, open plan, kitchen and family room. An expansive island was installed to provide seating in the kitchen and give sight lines from the sink to the family room from which to keep an eye on the littles while they played. A desk area was also created in front of one of the windows, giving great light for homework and crafts. While the floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room kept us to a galley kitchen layout, their dog, Bernie was thankful we maintained his views of the park-like setting in the backyard.

Located in stylish Chelsea, this updated five-floor townhouse incorporates both a bold, modern aesthetic and sophisticated, polished taste. Palettes range from vibrant and playful colors in the family and kids’ spaces to softer, rich tones in the master bedroom and formal dining room. DHD interiors embraced the client’s adventurous taste, incorporating dynamic prints and striking wallpaper into each room, and a stunning floor-to-floor stair runner. Lighting became one of the most crucial elements as well, as ornate vintage fixtures and eye-catching sconces are featured throughout the home. Photography: Emily Andrews Architect: Robert Young Architecture 3 Bedrooms / 4,000 Square Feet

Azalea is The 2012 New American Home as commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders and was featured and shown at the International Builders Show and in Florida Design Magazine, Volume 22; No. 4; Issue 24-12. With 4,335 square foot of air conditioned space and a total under roof square footage of 5,643 this home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. It was designed and constructed to achieve the highest level of “green” certification while still including sophisticated technology such as retractable window shades, motorized glass doors and a high-tech surveillance system operable just by the touch of an iPad or iPhone. This showcase residence has been deemed an “urban-suburban” home and happily dwells among single family homes and condominiums. The two story home brings together the indoors and outdoors in a seamless blend with motorized doors opening from interior space to the outdoor space. Two separate second floor lounge terraces also flow seamlessly from the inside. The front door opens to an interior lanai, pool, and deck while floor-to-ceiling glass walls reveal the indoor living space. An interior art gallery wall is an entertaining masterpiece and is completed by a wet bar at one end with a separate powder room. The open kitchen welcomes guests to gather and when the floor to ceiling retractable glass doors are open the great room and lanai flow together as one cohesive space. A summer kitchen takes the hospitality poolside. Awards: 2012 Golden Aurora Award – “Best of Show”, Southeast Building Conference – Grand Aurora Award – “Best of State” – Florida – Grand Aurora Award – Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind $2,000,001 – $3,000,000 – Grand Aurora Award – Green Construction Demonstration Model – Grand Aurora Award – Best Energy Efficient Home – Grand Aurora Award – Best Solar Energy Efficient House – Grand Aurora Award – Best Natural Gas Single Family Home – Aurora Award, Green Construction – New Construction over $2,000,001 – Aurora Award – Best Water-Wise Home – Aurora Award – Interior Detailing over $2,000,001 2012 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, HBA of Metro Orlando – First Place – Custom Home 2012 Major Achievement Award, HBA of Metro Orlando – Best Interior Design 2012 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Outdoor Living Space of the Year – Specialty Room of the Year 2012 Gold Nugget Awards, Pacific Coast Builders Conference – Grand Award, Indoor/Outdoor Space – Merit Award, Best Custom Home 3,000 – 5,000 sq. ft. 2012 Design Excellence Awards, Residential Design & Build magazine – Best Custom Home 4,000 – 4,999 sq ft – Best Green Home – Best Outdoor Living – Best Specialty Room – Best Use of Technology 2012 Residential Coverings Award, Coverings Show 2012 AIA Orlando Design Awards – Residential Design, Award of Merit – Sustainable Design, Award of Merit 2012 American Residential Design Awards, AIBD – First Place – Custom Luxury Homes, 4,001 – 5,000 sq ft – Second Place – Green Design

Light, bright family room with a smoke leuders mantel. Stained wood beams accent the pale tones in the room. Tall French doors with transoms give a light airy feel to the room. Photography by Danny Piassick. Architectural design by Charles Isreal.

Set in the Somerset hills, this beautiful old barn hadn’t been updated since its conversion back in the ’90s and the owners were keen to give it a refresh and bring it in line with 21st century living. We were tasked with creating a fresh, contemporary home filled with natural light and a space that was super stylish but also inviting and practical enough to stand up to the day-to-day needs of family life. The project covered everything from interior design to spatial planning, bathroom design, lighting, colour schemes, bespoke cabinetry, window treatments right down to furniture and accessories. We re-developed an annexe to create a decadent master suite; a grown-up haven for relaxation, with its own private sitting room, dressing room and bathroom. A formal drawing room and double-height reception hall were added, for that real sense of grandeur every time you walk in and we accentuated the original exposed beam detailing with hidden state-of-the-art lighting. Concealed doors were used to make the space as versatile as possible – meaning the ground floor can adapt from one large open-plan room, perfect for entertaining, to more intimate, private spaces in a flash. This flexibility also allows the layout to evolve with the family. The new-look barn is a modern light-filled wonder meets characterful country home and the serene space is one the family now want to spend lots of time in.

The clean lines of the contemporary living room mixes with the warmth of Walnut wood flooring. Pewabic tiles add interest to the slate fireplace. Photo Beth Singer Photography

Interior Concepts K. Hovnanian Homes Outstanding Single Family Detached $700,000 - $849,999 The Birkdale Willowsford Aldie, VA
Living room - transitional light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Baltimore with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Originally built in the 1940’s as an austere three-bedroom partial center-hall neo-colonial with attached garage, this house has assumed an entirely new identity. The transformation to an asymmetrical dormered cottage responded to the architectural character of the surrounding City of Falls Church neighborhood. The family had lived in this house for seven years, but recognized that the plan of the house, with its discreet box-like rooms, was at odds with their desired life-style. The circulation for the house included each room, without a distinct circulation system. The architect was asked to expand the living space on both floors, and create a house that unified family activities. A family room and breakfast room were added to the rear of the first floor, and the existing spaces reconfigured to create an openness and connection among the rooms. An existing garage was integrated into the house volume, becoming the kitchen, powder room and mudroom. Front and back porches were added, allowing an overlap of family life inside the house and outside in the yard. Rather than simply enlarge the rectangular footprint of the house, the architect sought to break down the massing with perpendicular gable roofs and dormers to alleviate the roof line. The Craftsman style provided texture to the fenestration. The broad roof overhangs provided sun screening and rain protection. The challenge of unifying the massing led to the development of the breakfast room. Conceived as a modern element, the one-story massing of the breakfast room with roof terrace above twists the volume 45% to the mass of the main house. Materials and detailing express the distinction. While the main house is clad in the original brick and new horizontal siding with trim and details appropriate to its cottage vocabulary, the breakfast room exterior is clad in vertical wide-board tongue-and-groove siding to minimize the texture. The steel hand railing on the roof terrace above accentuates the clean lines of this special element. Hoachlander Davis Photography

This 6500 s.f. new home on one of the best blocks in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, was designed for the needs of family with two work-from-home professionals. We focused on well-scaled rooms and excellent flow between spaces. We applied customized classical detailing and luxurious materials over a modern design approach of clean lines and state-of-the-art contemporary amenities. Materials include integral color stucco, custom mahogany windows, book-matched Calacatta marble, slate roofing and wrought-iron railings.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

This is by far everybody’s favorite space. The kitchen is definitely the heart of the home where the dinner is getting ready, the homework is done, and in the family room the whole family can relax in front of the fireplace, while watching TV, listening to music, or playing video games. Whites with warm walnuts, light marble, and splashes of color are the key features in this modern family headquarters. The kitchen was meticulously designed to accommodate storage for numerous kitchen gadgets, cookware, and dinnerware that the family owned. Behind these simple and clean contemporary kitchen cabinet doors, there are multiple ergonomic and functional features that make this kitchen a modern chef’s dream

Large trendy mudroom photo in Gloucestershire with gray walls

This 6500 s.f. new home on one of the best blocks in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, was designed for the needs of family with two work-from-home professionals. We focused on well-scaled rooms and excellent flow between spaces. We applied customized classical detailing and luxurious materials over a modern design approach of clean lines and state-of-the-art contemporary amenities. Materials include integral color stucco, custom mahogany windows, book-matched Calacatta marble, slate roofing and wrought-iron railings.

Azalea is The 2012 New American Home as commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders and was featured and shown at the International Builders Show and in Florida Design Magazine, Volume 22; No. 4; Issue 24-12. With 4,335 square foot of air conditioned space and a total under roof square footage of 5,643 this home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. It was designed and constructed to achieve the highest level of “green” certification while still including sophisticated technology such as retractable window shades, motorized glass doors and a high-tech surveillance system operable just by the touch of an iPad or iPhone. This showcase residence has been deemed an “urban-suburban” home and happily dwells among single family homes and condominiums. The two story home brings together the indoors and outdoors in a seamless blend with motorized doors opening from interior space to the outdoor space. Two separate second floor lounge terraces also flow seamlessly from the inside. The front door opens to an interior lanai, pool, and deck while floor-to-ceiling glass walls reveal the indoor living space. An interior art gallery wall is an entertaining masterpiece and is completed by a wet bar at one end with a separate powder room. The open kitchen welcomes guests to gather and when the floor to ceiling retractable glass doors are open the great room and lanai flow together as one cohesive space. A summer kitchen takes the hospitality poolside. Awards: 2012 Golden Aurora Award – “Best of Show”, Southeast Building Conference – Grand Aurora Award – “Best of State” – Florida – Grand Aurora Award – Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind $2,000,001 – $3,000,000 – Grand Aurora Award – Green Construction Demonstration Model – Grand Aurora Award – Best Energy Efficient Home – Grand Aurora Award – Best Solar Energy Efficient House – Grand Aurora Award – Best Natural Gas Single Family Home – Aurora Award, Green Construction – New Construction over $2,000,001 – Aurora Award – Best Water-Wise Home – Aurora Award – Interior Detailing over $2,000,001 2012 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, HBA of Metro Orlando – First Place – Custom Home 2012 Major Achievement Award, HBA of Metro Orlando – Best Interior Design 2012 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Outdoor Living Space of the Year – Specialty Room of the Year 2012 Gold Nugget Awards, Pacific Coast Builders Conference – Grand Award, Indoor/Outdoor Space – Merit Award, Best Custom Home 3,000 – 5,000 sq. ft. 2012 Design Excellence Awards, Residential Design & Build magazine – Best Custom Home 4,000 – 4,999 sq ft – Best Green Home – Best Outdoor Living – Best Specialty Room – Best Use of Technology 2012 Residential Coverings Award, Coverings Show 2012 AIA Orlando Design Awards – Residential Design, Award of Merit – Sustainable Design, Award of Merit 2012 American Residential Design Awards, AIBD – First Place – Custom Luxury Homes, 4,001 – 5,000 sq ft – Second Place – Green Design

Harbor View is a modern-day interpretation of the shingled vacation houses of its seaside community. The gambrel roof, horizontal, ground-hugging emphasis, and feeling of simplicity, are all part of the character of the place. While fitting in with local traditions, Harbor View is meant for modern living. The kitchen is a central gathering spot, open to the main combined living/dining room and to the waterside porch. One easily moves between indoors and outdoors. The house is designed for an active family, a couple with three grown children and a growing number of grandchildren. It is zoned so that the whole family can be there together but retain privacy. Living, dining, kitchen, library, and porch occupy the center of the main floor. One-story wings on each side house two bedrooms and bathrooms apiece, and two more bedrooms and bathrooms and a study occupy the second floor of the central block. The house is mostly one room deep, allowing cross breezes and light from both sides. The porch, a third of which is screened, is a main dining and living space, with a stone fireplace offering a cozy place to gather on summer evenings. A barn with a loft provides storage for a car or boat off-season and serves as a big space for projects or parties in summer.