Example of a trendy open concept beige floor family room design in Orange County with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Inspiration for a coastal l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black cabinets

Laundry room - transitional laundry room idea in Chicago

CliqStudios cabinets featured in project by Simone Development, Southington, CT. https://www.facebook.com/SimoneDevelopmentLLC

Dining room - rustic dining room idea in Minneapolis

Example of a mid-sized mountain style detached two-car garage design in Minneapolis

double door front entrance w/ covered porch
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless concrete floor front door remodel with a black front door

Farmhouse medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room photo in Chicago with white walls

3D Rendering prepared for potential buyers of a new condominium development in Philadelphia.
Example of a small minimalist master beige tile and stone tile freestanding bathtub design in San Francisco with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, limestone countertops and brown walls

Interior design by SOCO Interiors. Photography by Giovanni. Built by Stock Development.
Example of a classic gray tile double shower design in Miami

Justin Krug Photography
Patio - huge cottage backyard concrete patio idea in Portland with a fireplace and a roof extension

Example of a mountain style detached two-car garage design in Minneapolis

The kitchen is glossy and modern, but off-set by the rough concrete block wall pattern on the interior wall. The block wall is replicated from the existing exterior concrete block wall to bring the outdoor inside. Photo by Elon Schoenholz

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and marble backsplash

Kitchen - mid-sized modern l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white cabinets

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

William Maccollum, Art Grey Photography
Trendy living room photo in Los Angeles

Example of a mountain style family room design in Minneapolis with a stone fireplace