Julie Soefer
Transitional family room photo in Houston

Open concept kitchen - large transitional dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Kansas City with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, two islands, flat-panel cabinets and beige backsplash

Overlooking the kitchen, dining and living room of this timber framed home that was repurpsoed from an old tobacco barn. The herringbone brick and wide plank floors certainly mix well with the timbers, stone, metals. Timber Framer: Lancaster County Timber Frames /General Contractor: Historic Restorations

Patio - mid-sized traditional backyard gravel patio idea in Cleveland with a fire pit and no cover

When we work on a private residence, we take every care to understand and respect that this is not just a property, structure or set of blueprints. This is your home. We listen first, working with your vision and sense of style, but combining your ideas with our extensive knowledge of finishes, materials and how to consider every last detail in order to create an overall look and feel that will really "wow."

Susan Gilmore
Example of a classic kitchen design in Minneapolis

This was an exterior remodel and backyard renovation, added pool, bbq, etc.
Example of a large minimalist backyard concrete paver patio kitchen design in Los Angeles with an awning

Example of a mid-sized classic l-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls and two islands

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Photo by Allan Zepeda
Example of a small trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in New York with white walls

Despite its Old World finishes, the kitchen has every convenience a modern chef could hope for, including a Wolf range and a built-in Miele espresso machine. Custom hood is made from stainless steel and hammered copper. Photography Alain Jaramillo

Francis Dzikowski
Example of a trendy light wood floor living room library design in New York with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a coastal freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room remodel in Miami with beige walls and no fireplace

This entry way is truly luxurious with a charming locker system with drawers below and cubbies over head, the catch all with a cabinet and drawer (so keys and things will always have a home), and the herringbone installed tile on the floor make this space super convenient for families on the go with all your belongings right where you need them.

Steve Tague Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary brown tile pebble tile floor alcove shower remodel in Portland

Dove White shaker Grabill Cabinetry and soft 4”x8” stacked glass backsplash tiles create a sleek and rectilinear design. The White Galaxy granite countertop, with a radius seating area, marries the two tones, while breaking up the rigid hard lines of the design by creating a visually appealing cohesive room. Ceiling height cabinetry adds volume to the space. The stainless steel appliances contemporize this kitchen while details, like the crown molding, add a traditional touch to this overall transitionally timeless design.

Adrian Wilson
Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in New York with brown walls

Ultimate luxury backyard. Designed for large parties and backyard oasis. Complete with pool, pool par, sunken fire pit, pool rain curtain, sunken outdoor kitchen, sunken fire pit, fireplace, covered pergolas drop down tv's and more!