Every inch of the inside and outside living areas are re-conceived in this full house and guest-house renovation in Berkeley. In the main house the entire floor plan is flipped to re-orient public and private areas, with the formerly small, chopped up spaces opened and integrated with their surroundings. The studio, previously a deteriorating garage, is transformed into a clean and cozy space with an outdoor area of its own. A palette of screen walls, Corten steel, stucco and concrete connect the materiality and forms of the two spaces. What was a drab, dysfunctional bungalow is now an inspiring and livable home for a young family. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

This home was a typical Toll Brothers contemporary from the early ‘90’s. The exterior had reached the end of its life, with decayed cedar siding and a deteriorated roof. Greg & Tamara decided to use this opportunity to radically remake their home - to update its modern appeal and set it apart from any other suburban tract house. Spring Creek Design created a new deck, new siding design, entryways and sculptural landscaping for the home. Design Criteria: - Replace siding and give the home a bold, modern look. - Update the home’s landscaping with a spare modernism. - Add a new deck with an outdoor kitchen. Special Features: - Bold new exterior features fiber-cement panels and siding. -Three different colors are used to clearly define the shapes of the home. - Cantilevered concrete entryways features “floating” concrete slab landings. - Azek deck with tempered glass railings. - Custom wine-bottle light fixtures adorn the outdoor kitchen. - Massive planting boxes of Cor-Ten steel form the basis of a low-maintenance, dramatic landscape. - Custom-fabricated square gutters and downspouts compliment the linearity of the home’s design.

If you're looking to create an outdoor kitchen for your BBQ needs, you may find that not all material are suitable due to being exposed to the sun & weather. This customer went with 3cm granite, which is a better choice because it's thick enough to lay directly on cabinets without support, which means no worries about lamination deteriorating over time! An outdoor kitchen like this will make your home the place to be at this summer, with no worries about enough space!

The design of this Milwaukee bathroom remodel fits this 1930s home with a built-in linen cabinet, a leaded glass window, 3 arched doorways, and historic trim, doors and door knobs. This 1930s bathroom remodel in Milwaukee’s Story Hill neighborhood includes accessibility features including grab bars, a walk-in shower and a handheld showerhead. The goals of this project: + Maintain the historic charm of the 1930s bathroom + Design with accessibility features for aging in place Highlights of this Milwaukee Bathroom Remodel: Walk-In Shower & Bathtub – The homeowners wanted their bathroom to include accessibility features. We added grab bars and reinforced some areas for future grab bars if needed. The walk-in shower has a minimal threshold and a handheld showerhead for easy use. Heated Floors & Built-In Linen Cabinet – A built-in linen cabinet had been deteriorating over the years and was partly unusable because of the radiator being in the way. We removed the radiator and installed electric floors as the heat source. We also refaced, painted and added roll outs behind the bottom doors of the cabinet. New Vanity – The homeowners needed more storage and countertop space so we replaced the pedestal sink with a vanity. A traditional style faucet fixture looks similar to what you would have originally seen in this 1930s home. The countertop is quartz that looks like a classic marble without the maintenance of marble. A traditional profile edge gives it an elevated look. A new medicine cabinet over the sink also provides storage in a bathroom the entire family uses. Arched Doorways – This bathroom features three arched doorways – one in the entryway, one over the bathtub and one near the toilet. Our team carefully worked around the arches, as It was important to keep these architectural elements. Tilework – The patterned floor tile is a fresh take on the traditional black and white historical bathrooms. It pairs seamlessly with the traditional subway tile walls and hexagon shower floor tile. Historic Design Elements – Custom doors and trim match the existing in the home, as well as door knobs. It was important to salvage and clean up the leaded glass window and keep the existing arches. Bead board walls, cabinet hardware and overhead lighting were carefully selected to fit the period of the home.

The homes in Heritage Hills in Chapel Hill, NC are representative of the popularity and explosive growth of American Home Ownership that occurred during the economic expansion that followed the end of WW II. They were designed and built to foster the benefits and sense of “community”, where families could come together and share theirs and their children’s lives. They are typically in very desirable locations within their larger communities, and remodeling them with modern amenities, increasing the performance and efficiency of them, and having them Green Certified (independent third-party verified) makes them extremely attractive to buyers, and helps to raise other property values within the neighborhood. Green Certified Remodeled Homes offer significant value and advantage in the marketplace over similar homes in their area, which is especially important as a new, younger era of home buyers enter the market. Current trends suggest that younger (as well as many “seasoned”) homeowners are interested in smaller, more efficient (and thus affordable) homes situated closer to shopping, their work, entertainment opportunities, and access to the economic and environmental benefits of mass transit. These older homes also offer an additional value that is continuing to gain visibility and appreciation in the market place. They were built from lumber from slower-growth trees (denser and harder wood), and as such offer superior structural support compared to the same home built using lumber from today’s faster-growing (softer and less-dense wood) trees. Robin and Kent had lived in their 2-story Gambrel Roof home in Heritage Hills since 1994. The house was structurally sound, due in large part to the old-growth (and denser) yellow pine that was used in its framing. They loved the quiet neighborhood, its sense of community and amenities, and their home. It suited their life-style and needs; and they had decided that they would remain in the home. It was showing its age, and was in need of general repairs and maintenance, and its energy, water, and indoor air quality performance was continuing to increase their ongoing cost of ownership. Robin loved the screen porch that looked out on their private and nicely landscaped back yard, but she wanted to be able to use it in the colder months of the year. She was unsatisfied with the kitchen and the mud room / laundry room, and the darkness of other living spaces. A previous water leak in the laundry room had resulted in a large patch of mold that had compromised flooring, wall board, and insulation and contributed to the homes reduced indoor air quality. The home lacked insulation in the crawl, and inadequate insulation in the attic. The single HVAC unit had been replaced a few years earlier with a more efficient unit, but with a single programmable thermostat control on the first floor and aging and un-insulated ducting, the second floor was often over-heated in the summer months. The original wood windows had begun to deteriorate and were drafty and inefficient, and the original wood-burning fireplace was an open conduit for escaping conditioned air as well as an inlet for wood-smoke smelling air being pulled into the home. The siding had been replaced a few years earlier with a cement-fiber product, but the exterior wood trim was compromised and beginning to look unsightly. Its original architecture had been altered over the years in ways that presented ongoing maintenance and durability issues, as well as disrupting the elegance of the original design. Kent has worked for over 30 years in the Environmental Sciences field, and is considered to be a national expert in understanding the sources of, and human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments. He had always been very conscious and cautious about the effects on indoor air quality that the construction, furnishings, and products used in home had on him and his family. Project Goals Increase the performance of their home by improving energy efficiency by at least 40% and lowering their natural gas and electric utility costs. Increase the performance of their home by reducing water usage by at least 40% and lowering the water utility costs. Increase the comfort of their home that was being compromised by an inadequate HVAC design, inadequate insulation, inefficient and compromised wood windows, and copious air intrusions and drafts. Improve the healthiness of the homes indoor air quality that was being compromised by an open wood-burning fireplace, and prior water intrusion that had allowed colonies of mold to thrive. Create a new Kitchen, Family Room, Home Office, Mudroom, and Laundry Room that featured some of the latest designs and trends and harmonized with the rest of the homes charm. Increase the usefulness and aesthetics of the screened porch by creating a warm and inviting semi-conditioned 3-Season Room that extended the times during the year that it was comfortable. Introduce day-lighting into areas of the home that were dark and uninviting. Brighten and harmonize all of the interior finishes. Protect and restore the exterior of the home with superior-performing products and finishes. Achieve Gold Level Green Home Certification in conformance with the ICC 700-2012 National Green Building Standards (NGBS).

This outdated and deteriorating master bathroom needed a modern update after sustaining a leak. We had worked with them in the past on their kitchen and they knew the design and remodeling level of excellence we brought to the table, so they hired us to design a modern master-suite. We removed a garden tub, allowing for a walk-in shower, complete with a heated towel rack and drying area. We were able to incorporate showcasing of their orchids in the design with an orchid shelf on the exterior of the shower, as well as searching high and low to provide vessel bowl sinks that had a unique shape and utilizing contemporary lights. The end result is a spa-like master suite, that was beyond what they had hoped for and has them loving where they live. Discussions have begun for their next project.

Customer Photo: "My husband found this chair for $5.00 at a thrift store. With my new cushions I have a beautiful a piece of Danish Mid Century Modern to be proud of!"

Sisal fiber is exceptionally strong and durable and is one of the most hard-wearing natural fibers. It does not absorb moisture easily and resists saltwater deterioration so it’s an excellent option for seaside home decor. Sustainably harvested in Southern China where the hot, dry climate offers perfect growing conditions. Mitered cotton borders and non-skid latex backing.

Surface Saver penetrates up to 1/4 to form a chemical bond deep within the substrate to provide long lasting protection against deterioration or staining due to water absorption. Surface Saver will not impair the natural breathing characteristics of treated substrates, nor will it produce a film or coating. Surface Saver will help concrete and masonry surfaces to resist common issues such as cracking, efflorescence, spalling, staining, and other damages caused by intrusion of water. Surface Saver will also help to reduce the formation of efflorescence and the growth of mold and mildew. Uses: Unsealed concrete, broom finished concrete, trowel finished concrete, stamped colored concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, concrete pavers, brick pavers, pavers, clay tile, unglazed tile, cement, brick, stone, and other masonry. Common Applications: driveway sealer, walkway and sidewalk sealer, patio and pool deck sealer, brick house and chimney sealer, clay tile roof sealer, garage floor sealer, warehouse floor sealer, basement wall and floor sealer, and other concrete and masonry applications. Surface Saver maintain the natural, unsealed look and feel of the substrate. Will never peel, flake or fade. UV resistant, non-yellowing. No surface film or coating to maintain. Resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing salts. Provides excellent resistance to mold, mildew, and fungus. Can be applied to interior & exterior, vertical & horizontal, above & below grade surfaces. Surface Saver Sealer will cause water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Breathable, low VOC. 5 gallon covers up to 750-1000 Square Feet in one coat, or up to 500 Square feet in 2 coats. Surface Saver Sealer can be purchased in 5 gallon pails shipped UPS Ground to all 48 U.S. States except Alaska & Hawaii at: www.surfacerestoration.com/shop

This construction progress photo captures the newly poured concrete stair landing and foundation before installation of the Fortress steel stair system, Deckorators Vista composite stair treads, and Westbury Tuscany aluminum railing. The upgraded stairway was designed to replace an unsafe, deteriorated access route with a durable, code-compliant solution that provides safe and reliable access from the patio to the waterfront.

Renovation of a cabin originally built in 1910 on an island in a Maine lake. The renovation included removing the existing deteriorated kitchen and bathroom and building a new kitchen, bathroom and laundry room addition. New pine wall boards and all new oak flooring throughout. The screened porch and entry stairs were replaced. New metal roof and interior and exterior painting.

The owners of a lovely traditional New England home needed to replace an old brick patio that was deteriorating, in part because the roots of a magnificent maple tree were nudging the bricks out of place. They decided to take the opportunity to install a new terrace and garden that would unify their indoor and outdoor spaces while addressing the problem of the tree roots. Home Outside designer Samantha Anderson created a design for a curving terrace that wraps around the back of the house with two areas for different times of day; the sunny morning terrace has seating that faces outward for coffee and garden viewing, while the evening terrace has a table for summer dining under the shade of the maple tree. Samantha recommended replacing the brick—which didn't complement the red siding—with Goshen stone, which beautifully reflects light and brightens up the whole patio. She enlarged the thresholds to the kitchen and greenhouse and sited the grill right outside the French doors to the dining room. A large circular bed around the maple gives its roots some breathing room, and the circle is neatly edged with cobble stones. The bed is planted with tough, shade-loving plants such as epimediums, hostas, Aster 'October Skies,' hellebores, evergreen Christmas fern, Carex 'Ice Dance,' ajuga, and variegated Solomon's Seal.

Severe water rot caused structural deterioration that we removed and replaced before giving the customer the bathroom of her dreams.
Alcove bathtub - mid-sized craftsman master single-sink and medium tone wood floor alcove bathtub idea in Boise with open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, a drop-in sink, laminate countertops, a built-in vanity and beige walls

Existing house before the transformation. The house was in need of much work, termite damages, old and peeling paint, kitchen and interior rooms deteriorated, old-style cabinetry & tile work.

Quickly restores outdoor weathered and heavily greyed wood surfaces. Deck Cleaner & Brightener will remove grey wood fiber, stains, tannin bleeding, water stains, mildew, mold and discoloured surface fiber from decks, fences, wood siding and log homes. Use to restore wood to its natural color and prepare for re-coating. Coverage: 100 - 200 sq.ft per gallon Features & Benefits: Water-based formula Removes gray wood fiber, water stains, mildew and mold Rejuvenates wood by removing deteriorated fibers Safe on treated lumber and exotic wood Safe for use around surrounding vegetation if pre-wetted prior to application Benefits: Contains no bleach Water rinse clean-up Biodegradable Easy to use Available in 5 gallon size with concentrated formula For Use On: Wood decks Fences Railings Siding Log homes Cedar shakes Gazebos APPLICATION TIPS: Deck Cleaner & Brightener is for outdoor weathered wood surfaces using a low pressure pump sprayer. Some dilution with water for lightly grayed wood is possible. Heavily weathered wood surfaces may look fibrous after rinsing. Wood rich in tannin may darken during restoration. If this occurs, Deck Brightener can be used to re-brighten wood. Order Deck Cleaner & Brightener shipped via UPS Ground to all 48 U.S. States except Alaska & Hawaii at: www.surfacerestoration.com/shop

Studio Home replaced this kitchen's old deteriorating laminate countertop with a new Pental Quartz countetop. Studio Home also removed the old laminate backsplash and replaced it with new beveled 3"x6" white subway tile and as an accent installed a glass linear mosaic tile. The old sink and faucet were also replaced with new sleek plumbing fixtures.

Vicarage renovation and restoration project for St. Andrew’s Church. The vicarage had a flood damaging the entire 1st floor. Over the years the space had deteriorated and various tenants had painted over and over and even put stables into 120 year old moldings and other wood detail. We wanted to bring the original integrity back to the space by matching the original hardwood flooring, refinishing and staining moldings where possible, building & extending moldings to match where they could not be salvaged, such as the plate rail that was missing parts, and removing old gunky paint. It was also important to make the space feel fresh and beautiful. The church has Gothic elements so we wanted to bring that feeling along with the beauty of the church into the vicarage space.

This homeowner has a lovely concrete house that had some deteriorating concrete benches on their rooftop. We were hired to replace them with a similar historic feel.

This natural stream restoration project is located in southern Lancaster County, PA. The project consisted of removal of existing deteriorating stream bank supports. We then excavated the banks of the stream to allow for installation of new natural stone retaining walls. The stream was also widened slightly to improve flow and help prevent future flooding. This was an additional phase of a larger project. Below is some pictures of the stream restoration.