Our first execution for this Bucktown family was a rooftop garden with a cedar pergola and planter boxes, hanging flower baskets and a small terrace retreat for their growing kids, way back in…2002? Just fine for the time, and it aged pretty well. Fast-forward 20 years, kids grown, and a complete makeover was needed. With the 606 Trail running to the left and the iconic St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic church in the near distance, we didn’t want too much impeding the views. And our clients wanted each of the 3 terrace spaces to work really hard and provide them maximum flexibility for the family. So we removed all our previous work and laid porcelain tile patios on 3 levels, then built a metal pergola and screening elements on the main rooftop space to create a feeling of embracing enclosure and provide structure for climbing vines. Other elements – a water feature, green roof succulent trays on the garage and main rooftops, planters with trees, shrubs and perennials, a standup bar, top-shelf outdoor furniture, strip lighting, heaters, cozy teen hangout – all made the space fully 3-season usable and luxuriously comfortable.

Vintage scaffolding - Old 56 Salvage rents these for wedding photo easels.

Our first execution for this Bucktown family was a rooftop garden with a cedar pergola and planter boxes, hanging flower baskets and a small terrace retreat for their growing kids, way back in…2002? Just fine for the time, and it aged pretty well. Fast-forward 20 years, kids grown, and a complete makeover was needed. With the 606 Trail running to the left and the iconic St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic church in the near distance, we didn’t want too much impeding the views. And our clients wanted each of the 3 terrace spaces to work really hard and provide them maximum flexibility for the family. So we removed all our previous work and laid porcelain tile patios on 3 levels, then built a metal pergola and screening elements on the main rooftop space to create a feeling of embracing enclosure and provide structure for climbing vines. Other elements – a water feature, green roof succulent trays on the garage and main rooftops, planters with trees, shrubs and perennials, a standup bar, top-shelf outdoor furniture, strip lighting, heaters, cozy teen hangout – all made the space fully 3-season usable and luxuriously comfortable.

Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES Connecticut's premier and only featured outdoor kitchen designer in Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS.Outdoor Living fabulously designer and master outdoor kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CT. raises the bar when it comes to living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The Preferred Properties team has 14 outdoor Kitchens featured nationally in publications such as Hearth & Home magazine, Signature Kitchens & Bath outdoor living section, and hard cover Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS where Gotowala is the only featured Outdoor kitchen designer from Connecticut. For more on this project and great outdoor kitchen ideas go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CONNECTICUT. www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

Photo by Amanda Kirkpatrick
Inspiration for a transitional exterior home remodel in Austin

Photo © Bruce Damonte
1950s bathroom photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, multicolored walls and a console sink

Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES raises the bar for his creative envisioning on how one should live beyond the walls of ones own home fabulously. With over three decades of design build masonry as one of the best his team not only raises the bar but raises the grade to the second level of this outdoor living fabulously space newly created around the expanded mahogany deck. The outdoor fireplace with Tuscany Fire pizza oven is built from the bottom up to the second level of this spectacular Greenwich, Ct. home. For more on this project go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CONNECTICUT. OUTDOOR KITCHENS CT. www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com

The beautiful, old barn on this Topsfield estate was at risk of being demolished. Before approaching Mathew Cummings, the homeowner had met with several architects about the structure, and they had all told her that it needed to be torn down. Thankfully, for the sake of the barn and the owner, Cummings Architects has a long and distinguished history of preserving some of the oldest timber framed homes and barns in the U.S. Once the homeowner realized that the barn was not only salvageable, but could be transformed into a new living space that was as utilitarian as it was stunning, the design ideas began flowing fast. In the end, the design came together in a way that met all the family’s needs with all the warmth and style you’d expect in such a venerable, old building. On the ground level of this 200-year old structure, a garage offers ample room for three cars, including one loaded up with kids and groceries. Just off the garage is the mudroom – a large but quaint space with an exposed wood ceiling, custom-built seat with period detailing, and a powder room. The vanity in the powder room features a vanity that was built using salvaged wood and reclaimed bluestone sourced right on the property. Original, exposed timbers frame an expansive, two-story family room that leads, through classic French doors, to a new deck adjacent to the large, open backyard. On the second floor, salvaged barn doors lead to the master suite which features a bright bedroom and bath as well as a custom walk-in closet with his and hers areas separated by a black walnut island. In the master bath, hand-beaded boards surround a claw-foot tub, the perfect place to relax after a long day. In addition, the newly restored and renovated barn features a mid-level exercise studio and a children’s playroom that connects to the main house. From a derelict relic that was slated for demolition to a warmly inviting and beautifully utilitarian living space, this barn has undergone an almost magical transformation to become a beautiful addition and asset to this stately home.

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson's false cypress - ideal for skinny spaces Le jardinet

Joining Living area and Dining Area is soft sage green and wine.
Example of a tuscan dining room design in New York

Kevin Schrier

Custom outdoor fireplace and wood fired pizza oven by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES Connecticut. Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES Connecticut's premier and only featured outdoor kitchen designer in Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS.Outdoor Living fabulously designer and master outdoor kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CT. raises the bar when it comes to living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The Preferred Properties team has 14 outdoor Kitchens featured nationally in publications such as Hearth & Home magazine, Signature Kitchens & Bath outdoor living section, and hard cover Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS where Gotowala is the only featured Outdoor kitchen designer from Connecticut. For more on this project and great outdoor kitchen ideas go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CONNECTICUT. www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

Outdoor kitchen island with DCS GRILL by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES Connecticut.Outdoor Living fabulously designer and master outdoor kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CT. raises the bar when it comes to living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The Preferred Properties team has 14 outdoor Kitchens featured nationally in publications such as Hearth & Home magazine, Signature Kitchens & Bath outdoor living section, and hard cover Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS where Gotowala is the only featured Outdoor kitchen designer from Connecticut. For more on this project and great outdoor kitchen ideas go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CONNECTICUT. www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

WINNER: Silver Award – One-of-a-Kind Custom or Spec 4,001 – 5,000 sq ft, Best in American Living Awards, 2019 Affectionately called The Magnolia, a reference to the architect's Southern upbringing, this project was a grass roots exploration of farmhouse architecture. Located in Phoenix, Arizona’s idyllic Arcadia neighborhood, the home gives a nod to the area’s citrus orchard history. Echoing the past while embracing current millennial design expectations, this just-complete speculative family home hosts four bedrooms, an office, open living with a separate “dirty kitchen”, and the Stone Bar. Positioned in the Northwestern portion of the site, the Stone Bar provides entertainment for the interior and exterior spaces. With retracting sliding glass doors and windows above the bar, the space opens up to provide a multipurpose playspace for kids and adults alike. Nearly as eyecatching as the Camelback Mountain view is the stunning use of exposed beams, stone, and mill scale steel in this grass roots exploration of farmhouse architecture. White painted siding, white interior walls, and warm wood floors communicate a harmonious embrace in this soothing, family-friendly abode. Project Details // The Magnolia House Architecture: Drewett Works Developer: Marc Development Builder: Rafterhouse Interior Design: Rafterhouse Landscape Design: Refined Gardens Photographer: ProVisuals Media Awards Silver Award – One-of-a-Kind Custom or Spec 4,001 – 5,000 sq ft, Best in American Living Awards, 2019 Featured In “The Genteel Charm of Modern Farmhouse Architecture Inspired by Architect C.P. Drewett,” by Elise Glickman for Iconic Life, Nov 13, 2019

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath was hired as the bathroom remodeling contractor for this Delafield master bath and closet. This black and white boho bathrooom has industrial touches and warm wood accents. The original space was like a labyrinth, with a complicated layout of walls and doors. The homeowners wanted to improve the functionality and modernize the space. The main entry of the bathroom/closet was a single door that lead to the vanity. Around the left was the closet and around the right was the rest of the bathroom. The bathroom area consisted of two separate closets, a bathtub/shower combo, a small walk-in shower and a toilet. To fix the choppy layout, we separated the two spaces with separate doors – one to the master closet and one to the bathroom. We installed pocket doors for each doorway to keep a streamlined look and save space. BLACK & WHITE BOHO BATHROOM This master bath is a light, airy space with a boho vibe. The couple opted for a large walk-in shower featuring a Dreamline Shower enclosure. Moving the shower to the corner gave us room for a black vanity, quartz counters, two sinks, and plenty of storage and counter space. The toilet is tucked in the far corner behind a half wall. BOHO DESIGN The design is contemporary and features black and white finishes. We used a white cararra marble hexagon tile for the backsplash and the shower floor. The Hinkley light fixtures are matte black and chrome. The space is warmed up with luxury vinyl plank wood flooring and a teak shelf in the shower. HOMEOWNER REVIEW “Kowalske just finished our master bathroom/closet and left us very satisfied. Within a few weeks of involving Kowalske, they helped us finish our designs and planned out the whole project. Once they started, they finished work before deadlines, were so easy to communicate with, and kept expectations clear. They didn’t leave us wondering when their skilled craftsmen (all of which were professional and great guys) were coming and going or how far away the finish line was, each week was planned. Lastly, the quality of the finished product is second to none and worth every penny. I highly recommend Kowalske.” – Mitch, Facebook Review

custome stone fireplace and wood fired pizza oven by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES.Outdoor Living fabulously designer and master outdoor kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CT. raises the bar when it comes to living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The Preferred Properties team has 14 outdoor Kitchens featured nationally in publications such as Hearth & Home magazine, Signature Kitchens & Bath outdoor living section, and hard cover Creative Homeowner's BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS where Gotowala is the only featured Outdoor kitchen designer from Connecticut. For more on this project and great outdoor kitchen ideas go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES CONNECTICUT. www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com