Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Transitional l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

On this project, a bright and modern apartment on central park west, we were fortunate enough to have already established a strong working relationship with the architect. having collaborated on a number of projects in the past, we were already acquainted with working as a team, which allowed us to hit the ground running.

Originally built in 1955, this modest penthouse apartment typified the small, separated living spaces of its era. The design challenge was how to create a home that reflected contemporary taste and the client’s desire for an environment rich in materials and textures. The keys to updating the space were threefold: break down the existing divisions between rooms; emphasize the connection to the adjoining 850-square-foot terrace; and establish an overarching visual harmony for the home through the use of simple, elegant materials. The renovation preserves and enhances the home’s mid-century roots while bringing the design into the 21st century—appropriate given the apartment’s location just a few blocks from the fairgrounds of the 1962 World’s Fair.

Family room - traditional family room idea in Cleveland

Ann Strand Photography and Design
Inspiration for a transitional landscaping in Denver.

Wild Geranium / Geranium maculatum
This is an example of a landscaping in Minneapolis.

Evergreen Huckleberry / Vaccinium ovatum Photo: Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Great Valley gum plant (Grindelia camporum). Photo by Pete Veilleux of East Bay Wilds.
This is an example of a landscaping in San Francisco.

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Photo of a landscaping in St Louis.

Tradition meets today in this pared-down classic. The enduring charm of inset cabinetry is combined with double-door wall cabinets, a graceful ogee profile, and recessed panel doors to recall vintage style. The color scheme establishes the light / dark theme: white perimeter cabinets support honed “Jet Mist” granite tops, while the black paneled island features 2” thick marble-like quartz. Antique bin pulls are reinterpreted here with an updated square silhouette and repeat the brass accents on the knobs and island pendant trims. Continuing the nostalgia is the timeless apron-front “farmhouse” sink. Handmade subway tiles yield understated depth to the backsplash. Holding the place of honor over the range is a mosaic of stylized houndstooth echoing the neutral palette. That pattern is playfully reiterated in the pillows on the paneled banquette. Contemporary touches are found in the cheerful red cushion, double tripod table base, and the simple brass-lined dome pendant. Adjacent to the kitchen is a dramatic black wet bar whose Gothic mullion doors reflect the curve of the demilune base cabinet. The focal point is another mosaic backsplash, here with a diamond motif. Mixed metals make a statement with a satin nickel faucet, hammered nickel bar sink, and brass decorative hardware. This project was designed by Bilotta Designer Paula Greer in collaboration with Maria LoIacono Interiors. Written by Paulette Gambacorta adapted for Houzz.

Example of a classic dark wood floor single front door design in Chicago with yellow walls and a black front door

Photo and landscape design by Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds.
Photo of a landscaping in San Francisco.

Cantoni designer Nicole George collaborates with an established architect to create beautiful interiors and a stunning custom kitchen for the modern home he built for his family in Fort Worth. https://www.cantoni.com/topic/villa+quantum.do?from=ac Photos by Cody Ulrich

Our clients already had a cottage on Torch Lake that they loved to visit. It was a 1960s ranch that worked just fine for their needs. However, the lower level walkout became entirely unusable due to water issues. After purchasing the lot next door, they hired us to design a new cottage. Our first task was to situate the home in the center of the two parcels to maximize the view of the lake while also accommodating a yard area. Our second task was to take particular care to divert any future water issues. We took necessary precautions with design specifications to water proof properly, establish foundation and landscape drain tiles / stones, set the proper elevation of the home per ground water height and direct the water flow around the home from natural grade / drive. Our final task was to make appealing, comfortable, living spaces with future planning at the forefront. An example of this planning is placing a master suite on both the main level and the upper level. The ultimate goal of this home is for it to one day be at least a 3/4 of the year home and designed to be a multi-generational heirloom. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Inspiration for a transitional white one-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Los Angeles with a tile roof

What started as a kitchen and two-bathroom remodel evolved into a full home renovation plus conversion of the downstairs unfinished basement into a permitted first story addition, complete with family room, guest suite, mudroom, and a new front entrance. We married the midcentury modern architecture with vintage, eclectic details and thoughtful materials.

On this project, a bright and modern apartment on central park west, we were fortunate enough to have already established a strong working relationship with the architect. having collaborated on a number of projects in the past, we were already acquainted with working as a team, which allowed us to hit the ground running.

In coming to Minnesota from Iceland, the owners of Home 4 found themselves more than 3,000 miles away from home, hoping to build something new – literally and figuratively – that would feel like home for their family of five. They purchased a scenic piece of land in Rochester and identified a general idea of the spaces they would need, but they struggled with how to define a sense of character that would incorporate their culture and identity into the design. The architect-led design team was tasked with creating a house that would help establish the homeowners’ roots in a new country while still recalling familiar comforts of their heritage. The result is a warm family home that combines elements of Nordic design with a touch of American farmhouse aesthetic. Gracious proportions, custom woodworking, and cheerful details create a welcoming atmosphere, while modern conveniences like a large mudroom and second-floor laundry help day-to-day life feel easy. Around each corner, a new detail greets the eye, from the Lundie-inspired column at the staircase, to the double-heart detail inscribed in the woodwork, to the custom table designed for the breakfast nook. Each element is lovely individually, but experiencing the holistic effect as the details intentionally pair and play together helps to craft a house that feels like home. Most important, the homeowners’ history, heritage, and hopes are melded together into a home that represents their family. Each unique element and carefully considered material combine to form a house that feels as if it could have belonged to this family for generations, even though it is brand new.