Kitchen Deep Dive: Designed for Flow In this Nokesville kitchen, every cabinetry decision began with space planning. We carefully evaluated workflow, sightlines, and proportion to create a layout that feels open — yet grounded. The perimeter cabinetry features Medallion Cabinetry in Maple with Potter’s Mill Reverse Raised Panel doors, finished in Sea Salt with a Graphite Dry Brush. The softer perimeter tone keeps the room feeling light and expansive while allowing architectural details to stand out subtly. To anchor the space, we designed the island and hood in Knotty Alder, using the same door style but finished in Dockside stain. The warmth and texture of the wood create contrast and depth — drawing the eye inward and establishing the island as a natural gathering point. Maintaining consistent door styling throughout ensures visual cohesion, while the material and finish contrast introduces dimension without disrupting flow. Thoughtful proportion. Intentional finish selection. Design that supports how the space is truly used.

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This Jersey City, NJ space was the first permanent ‘home’ for the yoga studio, so it was essential for us to listen well and design a space to serve their needs for years to come. Through our design process, we helped to guide the owners through the fit-out of their new studio location that required minimal demolition and disruption to the existing space. Together, we converted a space originally used as a preschool into a welcoming, spacious yoga studio for local yogis. We created one main yoga studio by combining four small classrooms into a single larger space with new walls, while all the other program spaces (including designated areas for holistic treatments, massage, and bodywork) were accommodated into pre-existing rooms. Our team completed all demo, sheetrock, electrical, and painting aspects of the project. (The studio owners did some of the work themselves, and a different company installed the flooring and carpets.) The results speak for themselves: a peaceful, restorative space to facilitate health and healing for the studio’s community. Looking to renovate your place of business? Contact the Houseplay team; we’ll help make it happen! Photo Credit: Anne Ruthmann Photography

The shower nook was positioned on the curb wall so it wouldn't disrupt the back wall design. Coming from a downtown Chicago high-rise condo, these folks were ready to expand their space. The jack-and-jill bathroom for the lower level bedrooms had been oddly laid out with a narrow line-up of sink, tub, and toilet. By moving one short wall about two feet, jackhammering out 3 old drains of 9-inch-thick concrete, and adding 6 new ones, the space was expanded so each spare bedroom now has its own en suite, private bathroom with shower, along with new HVAC ducts to serve each room. Also on the lower level, the family activity room was a little “tired.” So, we fashioned decorative beams and installed new LED can lights. Planning for a future move, we gutted and refitted the large mother-in-law bathroom with elegant tall and overhead cabinets with built-in lighting. Throughout this level, carpet was replaced with concrete-compatible hardwood flooring.

We wanted to frame the windows to take advantage of the view from the 37th floor of the high rise condo building. We wanted a crisp & clean look, with a contemporary color palette of soft greys, creams and metallics.

As a manager of a building or property, you quickly learn the art of mediation. One minute you may be working with a vendor to keep the building’s operating system running efficient and smooth; the next moment you may be calming a tenant down after finding the change in the system disrupted his office’s workflow. Give and take; it’s the only way to make sure every day runs perfectly. Overall, you have two goals to strive for in everything you do. 1. Keep the building running properly, upgrading systems as appropriate, and striving to do all you can on a pre-established budget. 2. Keep the building occupants happy, with as little disruption as possible. While some changes are minor, barely registering on a building occupant’s mind, with HVAC challenges, that’s rarely the case. If a HVAC contractor is replacing an air handler, for instance, and disconnects one and moves to the next unit, it may cause major disruptions to sensitive areas of a building. And if the occupant wasn’t prepared for the disruption, you can have a mighty unhappy customer on your hand. Anytime you are working on HVAC projects throughout your building, there are strategies you can put into place to keep things running smooth. Communicate with occupants Communication is key to any good relationship, and as a property manager, this rule is a great place to start. If you will be working with the HVAC equipment, block out the timeframe for work to be done, and understand the potential consequences of the process. Then communicate this process with every point of contact you have throughout the building. The more detail you can provide, the less surprises you’ll have throughout the process. You can also work with your building’s occupants before the process begins, finding out if there are better timeframes than others. Establish a realistic schedule As a property manager, its easy to provide your expectations for the HVAC project at hand, and request that the proposal be written in such a way that work is completed on your timeframe. Unfortunately, many contractors want your business and will agree to anything upfront in order to win the bid, knowing full well the work will take longer than specified. Instead of projecting your timeframes into the proposal process, ask for HVAC project bids to establish realistic schedules of how long the process will take, and what areas of your property will be most effected throughout the schedule. This will help you avoid crises between you and the contractor, and you and your tenants. Plan for the whole system If one small piece of your HVAC system is weak, its easy to fix that one small piece. But how will that impact your overall system? Will it cause weak spots in different parts of the building – maybe a corner office will have reduced air flow, and therefore be colder in the winter and warmer in the summer? When retrofitting new pieces with older existing systems, its easy to reduce the efficiency of your entire system. Before agreeing to certain repairs, make sure you understand how it will impact your entire system overall. An easy way of handling this problem is by working with the same HVAC contractor again and again, He will understand your system’s potential, and know when to make repairs, and when to replace. Have points of contact available for immediate assistance In many cases, problems arise because connections can’t be made. Can the HVAC contractor get a hold or you or another person that can make decisions at a moments notice if a problem arises? Do you have access to decision makers throughout the building that may be impacted by this change? Many projects have been put on hold simply because a person in authority can’t be found to give the go-ahead to move forward. If you have access to these people during the time of the project, you’ll be able to complete the project in record time. Test Finally, if you can test things in stages, or test when the potential for problems is the smallest, you reduce the chances of bigger emergency issues falling into your lap. If you’ll be installing a new terminal unit, can you make the switch on a Saturday morning when the building is largely unoccupied? If you’re replacing a large system, can you replace and test in phases so the entire project isn’t released at once? Most issues can be avoided with just a little strategy from the beginning. If you’ve never had a HVAC maintenance team to help you stay on track with your building’s heating and cooling, now may be the time to find out how easy a team approach makes the process.

When the view out of your kitchen window is too spectacular to disrupt it with a large range hood, Siena is the perfect solution! This extractor is discreetly flush mounted, allowing the cabinetry and outdoors to take center stage. However, when it’s time to cook, Siena will easily do the job: with a powerful 600 CFM and in-line blower (sold separately), which can mounted in the attic for added silence and peacefulness. The 43” x 27” size provides excellent capture of fumes and the Perimeter Aspiration Technology has been included increasing suction 35%, making it a highly effective hood despite its out-of-sight location. Also, its bright halogen lighting is dimmable to set just the right mood. Both the lighting and the 4 speed blower are conveniently operated by an ergonomic remote control.

This Jersey City, NJ space was the first permanent ‘home’ for the yoga studio, so it was essential for us to listen well and design a space to serve their needs for years to come. Through our design process, we helped to guide the owners through the fit-out of their new studio location that required minimal demolition and disruption to the existing space. Together, we converted a space originally used as a preschool into a welcoming, spacious yoga studio for local yogis. We created one main yoga studio by combining four small classrooms into a single larger space with new walls, while all the other program spaces (including designated areas for holistic treatments, massage, and bodywork) were accommodated into pre-existing rooms. Our team completed all demo, sheetrock, electrical, and painting aspects of the project. (The studio owners did some of the work themselves, and a different company installed the flooring and carpets.) The results speak for themselves: a peaceful, restorative space to facilitate health and healing for the studio’s community. Looking to renovate your place of business? Contact the Houseplay team; we’ll help make it happen! Photo Credit: Anne Ruthmann Photography

This Jersey City, NJ space was the first permanent ‘home’ for the yoga studio, so it was essential for us to listen well and design a space to serve their needs for years to come. Through our design process, we helped to guide the owners through the fit-out of their new studio location that required minimal demolition and disruption to the existing space. Together, we converted a space originally used as a preschool into a welcoming, spacious yoga studio for local yogis. We created one main yoga studio by combining four small classrooms into a single larger space with new walls, while all the other program spaces (including designated areas for holistic treatments, massage, and bodywork) were accommodated into pre-existing rooms. Our team completed all demo, sheetrock, electrical, and painting aspects of the project. (The studio owners did some of the work themselves, and a different company installed the flooring and carpets.) The results speak for themselves: a peaceful, restorative space to facilitate health and healing for the studio’s community. Looking to renovate your place of business? Contact the Houseplay team; we’ll help make it happen! Photo Credit: Anne Ruthmann Photography

The new kitchen . . . Sometimes, in remodel designs, it is best to keep things simple. Do small things to affect utility, flow and aesthetics. For this mid-century modern, for all their noted openness, the kitchen was closed off from the public, living areas. Hard to entertain to a wall. This we fixed. The other big flaw was the flow. While there was no way to economically change the path of travel through the kitchen. Nudging here and there could at least reduce the disruption at the core kitchen work areas. See the before and after plans and the photos: Photo Credits - Beatrice McGinnis

The aesthetics of minimalism | Louder and louder. More and more color. Ever faster. No wonder there is a longing in our hectic times for tranquillity and simplicity and for ideas that allow us to draw new strength, like Axor Starck. This collection of bathroom fittings is impactful with its slender form, clear functionality and world-renowned design. The collection is modern because it is uncompromisingly minimalistic; there are no disruptive elements, no unnecessary decoration. | Available at www.shopstudio41.com

A clean-lined, contemporary kitchen where functionality meets finesse. Behind the warm wood paneling lies a set of Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer drawers, perfectly integrated to maintain the home's serene, minimalist aesthetic. These panel-ready appliances disappear into the custom flat-front cabinetry, offering all the advanced cooling performance Sub-Zero is known for—without disrupting the visual harmony of the space. This clever design solution is perfect for clients who prioritize both innovation and elegance in their daily living.

This kitchen was designed for a family that loves to cook, gather, and make memories together - but the original layout wasn’t quite up to the task. The small island and tiered bar created separation rather than connection, and storage was lacking for such a well-loved space. By extending and re-orienting the island, we not only created more prep space but also expanded the pantry for added function. A fresh coat of warm white paint, paired with creamy cabinetry, helped brighten the space while keeping the rich cherry hardwoods feeling balanced. We maximized storage with under-island cabinets and a secondary row of uppers, ensuring every inch was put to good use. A counter-depth fridge improved traffic flow, and a sleek barn door on the pantry allowed for easy access without disrupting seating at the island. The result? A kitchen that truly lives up to its name - open, welcoming, and ready for every gathering.

Just because it's an office, doesn't mean it has to feel cold and sterile. This stunning loft-style space in Ottawa's Byward Market was the perfect canvas to transform into a comfortable, relaxed yet sophisticated space for boutique public affairs firm Compass Rose. The clients wanted a refreshed space that reflected the growing company's culture and values. The company's brand colours, including forest green, copper, brown, black and white are incorporated throughout all the furnishings and decor, including the stunning mural wall in a private office that we created from a storage closet. The wall art includes scenes depicting the brand story, as well imagery symbolic of the work done in this space. We also added an airy boardroom that incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows to avoid disrupting the flow of the open concept space. The result is a stunning and relaxing atmosphere that fosters creativity, collaboration and, of course, a backdrop for the amazing social events this firm is known for.

Just because it's an office, doesn't mean it has to feel cold and sterile. This stunning loft-style space in Ottawa's Byward Market was the perfect canvas to transform into a comfortable, relaxed yet sophisticated space for boutique public affairs firm Compass Rose. The clients wanted a refreshed space that reflected the growing company's culture and values. The company's brand colours, including forest green, copper, brown, black and white are incorporated throughout all the furnishings and decor, including the stunning mural wall in a private office that we created from a storage closet. The wall art includes scenes depicting the brand story, as well imagery symbolic of the work done in this space. We also added an airy boardroom that incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows to avoid disrupting the flow of the open concept space. The result is a stunning and relaxing atmosphere that fosters creativity, collaboration and, of course, a backdrop for the amazing social events this firm is known for.