This beautiful St. Anthony mid-century home needed some major updates to the kitchen and main bathroom. The original 1972 kitchen and bathroom were extremely dark and quirky – an old bidet in the bathroom and cooktop shoved into the corner of the kitchen made it difficult for the homeowners to cook and clean efficiently in both spaces. The remodel gave them the opportunity to create a new layout in each of the rooms – the kitchen was opened to the eat-in area, the cooktop was relocated for a better work triangle, and more counter space was added through a small island. Custom bench seats were added to the eat-in area for added storage and character to the kitchen. The bathroom was reconfigured to eliminate the old 70’s bidet, and a useless storage cabinet, which allowed us to add a large, walk in shower with bench and a separate soaking tub. The same cabinetry and earthy color palette was used in the bathroom to create cohesion and to emphasize the mid-century character of the home. What was created is much brighter, more functional and is a timeless yet new space for the homeowners to enjoy as they age in the home.

We're just about to finish a table we have been working with for over 8 months! Albert and Carolyn contacted us over a year ago regarding a Cyprus tree Carolyn's father had planted in #smithmountainlakeva over 50 years ago. The challenge was on. The tree had to be cut down in the lake by a barge and then a crane connected to the barge was used to hoist the tree onto the barge where it was then boated to a dockyard and our work began. We drove down to Smith Mountain Lake and Brian used his chainsaw to saw off the branches while another team worked with a large backhoe to hoist the newly cut logs onto Brian's trailer where we then took them back to #fairfieldva. There we worked with Shaun Lohr, owner of @Woodlore, LLC to both mill and dry the wood using Shaun's wood kiln. The wood was saturated from water and took a long time to dry. Drop leaf tables require very precise measurements and straight boards, especially along the rule joint, which is the joint where the hanging leaf meets the tabletop. The Cyprus boards after being dried quickly became extremely springy and made building the table extremely difficult. We had a few other adventures building this table as well.

This beautiful St. Anthony, MN mid-century home needed some major updates to the kitchen and main bathroom. The original 1972 kitchen and bathroom were extremely dark and quirky – an old bidet in the bathroom and cooktop shoved into the corner of the kitchen made it difficult for the homeowners to cook and clean efficiently in both spaces. The remodel gave them the opportunity to create a new layout in each of the rooms – the kitchen was opened to the eat-in area, the cooktop was relocated for a better work triangle, and more counter space was added through a small island. Custom bench seats were added to the eat-in area for added storage and character to the kitchen. The bathroom was reconfigured to eliminate the old 70’s bidet, and a useless storage cabinet, which allowed us to add a large, walk in shower with bench and a separate soaking tub. The same cabinetry and earthy color palette was used in the bathroom to create cohesion and to emphasize the mid-century character of the home. What was created is much brighter, more functional and is a timeless yet new space for the homeowners to enjoy as they age in the home.

This dog run was installed in Smithtown Long Island NY by Gappsi. A dog run is useful for giving your dog a safe and happy environment to play in while also maintaining a clean back yard. This dog run is built with a black chain link fence to keep the dog within the specific area. A synthetic turf is then laid across the selected area within the fence. The turf allows easy clean up and prevents a muddy environment. Using a prepared rca base and using a high quality durable turf with a double-coated backing makes it extremely difficult for any tear. The turf allows easy drainage for liquid waste and allows easy clean up for solid waste. To clean up any dog run a simple hose down is all that is needed.

PBA designed the renovation of this two story, 1,800 square foot, Henderson’s Wharf penthouse condominium in the historic Fell’s Point community to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The existing floor plan was configured with living spaces on the lower level, and bedrooms with terraces on the upper level: PBA inverted the layout by creating a generous foyer at the lower level entry with a stair leading to the living spaces on the upper level. The lower level was renovated for a master suite and guest bedroom, while the upper floor was converted to an open great room taking advantage of the breathtaking views of the Harbor (along with a powder room, office and laundry room). The project presented very difficult challenges since sanitary plumbing lines could not be relocated due to the unavailability of access from the unit below, so the design was forced to conform with existing lower level plumbing locations. In addition, PBA utilized computer aided design (BIM) to route ductwork throughout the unit due to extremely limited space.

Thermofoil cabinet doors in the color "Gold Cherry". These cabinet doors were paired with Thermofoil cabinets in a solid color, which is what is usually done when a wood grain is used in the design.

This dog run was installed in Smithtown Long Island NY by Gappsi. A dog run is useful for giving your dog a safe and happy environment to play in while also maintaining a clean back yard. This dog run is built with a black chain link fence to keep the dog within the specific area. A synthetic turf is then laid across the selected area within the fence. The turf allows easy clean up and prevents a muddy environment. Using a prepared rca base and using a high quality durable turf with a double-coated backing makes it extremely difficult for any tear. The turf allows easy drainage for liquid waste and allows easy clean up for solid waste. To clean up any dog run a simple hose down is all that is needed.

PBA designed the renovation of this two story, 1,800 square foot, Henderson’s Wharf penthouse condominium in the historic Fell’s Point community to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The existing floor plan was configured with living spaces on the lower level, and bedrooms with terraces on the upper level: PBA inverted the layout by creating a generous foyer at the lower level entry with a stair leading to the living spaces on the upper level. The lower level was renovated for a master suite and guest bedroom, while the upper floor was converted to an open great room taking advantage of the breathtaking views of the Harbor (along with a powder room, office and laundry room). The project presented very difficult challenges since sanitary plumbing lines could not be relocated due to the unavailability of access from the unit below, so the design was forced to conform with existing lower level plumbing locations. In addition, PBA utilized computer aided design (BIM) to route ductwork throughout the unit due to extremely limited space.

This dog run was installed in Smithtown Long Island NY by Gappsi. A dog run is useful for giving your dog a safe and happy environment to play in while also maintaining a clean back yard. This dog run is built with a black chain link fence to keep the dog within the specific area. A synthetic turf is then laid across the selected area within the fence. The turf allows easy clean up and prevents a muddy environment. Using a prepared rca base and using a high quality durable turf with a double-coated backing makes it extremely difficult for any tear. The turf allows easy drainage for liquid waste and allows easy clean up for solid waste. To clean up any dog run a simple hose down is all that is needed.

PebbleTec® Tahoe Blue pool built by Texas Pools. Builder Paul Ryan said,“They were anticipating a 'country cottage' feel to this home when they purchased it. They were never really happy with it, until the pool showed up! The pool needed to feel like a meandering stream as it made its way down to the lower level. Views were important, and keeping the rear pond view was paramount. So, by manipulating the shape of the pool, adding an oversize flag stone shelf in the water, and providing a soothing 'trickling' waterfall, the image was complete. From the rear patio it looks and feels like you are sitting next to a back country stream. The design of the house was a bit unusual in that the rear patio angled back towards the other side of the house. This made it extremely difficult to design the pool in such a way that it seemed to be a meandering stream and still make it a functional swim space. The large flagstone tanning shelf did the trick and added that little bit of extra realism for the home owners.”

Falcon House is located on Falcon Ridge Road, which winds along a steeply inclined ridge in a stretch of foothills within Carmel Valley in Monterey County. An old lichen covered barn and split rail, cedar fences characterize this area known as Markham Ranch, and contrast sharply with the preponderance of sprawling, large estate-style homes, many more at-home in the Italian countryside than any landscape of California. Designed for a young family, Falcon House responds to the family’s desire to live a more modest lifestyle, eschewing overt displays of extravagance for an intimate and deferential relation to nature. The 3,200-square-foot residence occupies a difficult portion of the northern slope of a hillside, overlooking a verdant valley and oriented toward Castle Rock in the distance. The steep terrain necessitated a compartmentalized plan capable of negotiating the gentle hillock at the center of the site. A corridor bridge spans two pieces of the house, uniting living and sleeping spaces and allowing an existing watercourse to flow essentially through the house unobstructed. Large panels of glass open the living spaces to the landscape, beneath the deep overhang of a butterfly roof. Operable clerestories placed high on the window-wall allow prevailing breezes to cool the interior spaces. The bedroom wing of the house hugs the hillside as it turns to the west, ensuring privacy from the main living spaces. The sense of seclusion and protection of this wing is reinforced by its lower roofline and its embedment into the hill. Initial resistance by neighboring homeowners has given way to appreciation, having seen the results of careful siting and a material and color palate sympathetic to the surrounding hillsides. The dwelling embodies an attitude of respect for the landscape, and through that perspective Falcon House has become as natural a part of its environment as the hawks flying overhead. 2008 AIA Orange County Chapter Merit Award

Amazing Kitchen and Bathroom Transformation! -------------HIGHLIGHTS ---------- *Extreme heat resistance – Perfect for countertops! Don’t worry about melting your porcelain slab if you need to put down a hot pan straight from the stove. It’s a great surface material for performing all of your temperature-based tasks without having to be concerned with wear or tear. *Stain-free–it’s almost impossible to stain porcelain. Whereas with marble or quartzite, you risk nasty stains every time you spill dark liquids or food items on it. Even just a touch can cause permanent damage. But the same cannot be said for porcelain, which can be cleaned in a jiffy and will not absorb or resorb stainable substances. *Will, not scratch or wear – It’s super difficult to cause any scratches or chips on a porcelain surface. Unless it were to be rammed by a bulldozer, it can’t be hurt. Anything from dropping a kitchen knife to resting heavy bricks upon it will not cause it to crack or wear down. It’s invincible compared to the caution you must exercise when dealing with a marble surface. -------REMODEL SPECS:-------- *Cabinet Style: Affinity European Frameless: Already a popular concept in Europe-these extralarge-format porcelain slabs are fairly new to the US market, *Wood Species- Paint Grade Finish /White Dove, *Cabinet Box- 3/4" Plywood, *Hinges-Fully Concealed Cup-Hinge, Six-Way Adjustable, Self-Closing, Integrated Soft-Close, *Drawer Guides/Full-Extension Under-Mount, Self-Closing, Soft-Close With Under Cabinet Led, *Strip Lighting (under the cabinetry), *Porcelain Slabs Hyper White (countertop and island), *Porcelain Slabs Calcatta Hyper White (backsplash)

PBA designed the renovation of this two story, 1,800 square foot, Henderson’s Wharf penthouse condominium in the historic Fell’s Point community to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The existing floor plan was configured with living spaces on the lower level, and bedrooms with terraces on the upper level: PBA inverted the layout by creating a generous foyer at the lower level entry with a stair leading to the living spaces on the upper level. The lower level was renovated for a master suite and guest bedroom, while the upper floor was converted to an open great room taking advantage of the breathtaking views of the Harbor (along with a powder room, office and laundry room). The project presented very difficult challenges since sanitary plumbing lines could not be relocated due to the unavailability of access from the unit below, so the design was forced to conform with existing lower level plumbing locations. In addition, PBA utilized computer aided design (BIM) to route ductwork throughout the unit due to extremely limited space.

PBA designed the renovation of this two story, 1,800 square foot, Henderson’s Wharf penthouse condominium in the historic Fell’s Point community to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The existing floor plan was configured with living spaces on the lower level, and bedrooms with terraces on the upper level: PBA inverted the layout by creating a generous foyer at the lower level entry with a stair leading to the living spaces on the upper level. The lower level was renovated for a master suite and guest bedroom, while the upper floor was converted to an open great room taking advantage of the breathtaking views of the Harbor (along with a powder room, office and laundry room). The project presented very difficult challenges since sanitary plumbing lines could not be relocated due to the unavailability of access from the unit below, so the design was forced to conform with existing lower level plumbing locations. In addition, PBA utilized computer aided design (BIM) to route ductwork throughout the unit due to extremely limited space.

The tightly constrained footprint of the affectionately named “Box on the Rock” is a response to a limited budget and difficult site. Shallow underground hillside waterways run across the site often daylighting in unexpected and unwanted locations. These necessitated relatively expensive pier footings thus motivating an extremely efficient 2,000 sq ft footprint. With no initial resources to develop the wild scrub and rock landscape of the 3-acre property, the home becomes a lone outpost settling the higher ground of the larger natural site --a literal box on a rock. Given these limitations, the architecture of this outpost needs to provide for all indoor and outdoor functions within its area. With the extremes of the wine country microclimate on the exposed site, this becomes an even more critical requirement for year-round comfort. The central courtyard and the cantilevered deck are strategically carved out of the diagrammatic box to ensure that over the course of the day, temperate options for both sun and shade are always available. In particular, the geometry of the overhang at the front cantilevered deck and the inward angle of its exterior glass walls are carefully calibrated to capture morning sun and winter warming while shielding the internal space from the harshest summer glare. Later in the day the central courtyard comes alive as the sunniest developed outdoor space, yet one that is naturally cooled by capturing the valley cross breezes. With an economy of means, this simple form morphs to amplify the experience of the dramatic site and create an expansive feeling home that belies its small footprint. Each adjustment to the diagrammatic box negotiates the functional and environmental needs to foster self-contained and site-specific living with a minimal environmental impact. Photo by Bruce Damonte

PBA designed the renovation of this two story, 1,800 square foot, Henderson’s Wharf penthouse condominium in the historic Fell’s Point community to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The existing floor plan was configured with living spaces on the lower level, and bedrooms with terraces on the upper level: PBA inverted the layout by creating a generous foyer at the lower level entry with a stair leading to the living spaces on the upper level. The lower level was renovated for a master suite and guest bedroom, while the upper floor was converted to an open great room taking advantage of the breathtaking views of the Harbor (along with a powder room, office and laundry room). The project presented very difficult challenges since sanitary plumbing lines could not be relocated due to the unavailability of access from the unit below, so the design was forced to conform with existing lower level plumbing locations. In addition, PBA utilized computer aided design (BIM) to route ductwork throughout the unit due to extremely limited space.

The Small Flush Hybrid-Fyre™ wood insert is a compact sized unit that can fit where most inserts never have before. Its size is perfect for smaller masonry and zero clearance fireplaces with its 14 inch depth and 1.2 cubic foot firebox. It features a never before seen flue connection with a detachable flue collar that makes for quick and easy installations that are typically very difficult with a unit of this size. A large fire viewing glass area is surrounded by a rectangular door and a concealed blower that increases heat transfer up to 1,000 square feet. The Small Flush Wood burning insert is extremely efficient and clean-burning because it features the world’s cleanest burning technology, Hybrid-Fyre™. Hybrid-Fyre allows this unit to run at 76% overall efficiency and produce only 0.89 grams of emissions per hour, emitting virtually no smoke or carbon monoxide. The GreenStart™ igniter option adds to the efficiency of this insert because it can start its own fire with just the push of a button.

Amazing Kitchen and Bathroom Transformation! -------------HIGHLIGHTS ---------- *Extreme heat resistance – Perfect for countertops! Don’t worry about melting your porcelain slab if you need to put down a hot pan straight from the stove. It’s a great surface material for performing all of your temperature-based tasks without having to be concerned with wear or tear. *Stain-free–it’s almost impossible to stain porcelain. Whereas with marble or quartzite, you risk nasty stains every time you spill dark liquids or food items on it. Even just a touch can cause permanent damage. But the same cannot be said for porcelain, which can be cleaned in a jiffy and will not absorb or resorb stainable substances. *Will, not scratch or wear – It’s super difficult to cause any scratches or chips on a porcelain surface. Unless it were to be rammed by a bulldozer, it can’t be hurt. Anything from dropping a kitchen knife to resting heavy bricks upon it will not cause it to crack or wear down. It’s invincible compared to the caution you must exercise when dealing with a marble surface. -------REMODEL SPECS:-------- *Cabinet Style: Affinity European Frameless: Already a popular concept in Europe-these extralarge-format porcelain slabs are fairly new to the US market, *Wood Species- Paint Grade Finish /White Dove, *Cabinet Box- 3/4" Plywood, *Hinges-Fully Concealed Cup-Hinge, Six-Way Adjustable, Self-Closing, Integrated Soft-Close, *Drawer Guides/Full-Extension Under-Mount, Self-Closing, Soft-Close With Under Cabinet Led, *Strip Lighting (under the cabinetry), *Porcelain Slabs Hyper White (countertop and island), *Porcelain Slabs Calcatta Hyper White (backsplash)

The tightly constrained footprint of the affectionately named “Box on the Rock” is a response to a limited budget and difficult site. Shallow underground hillside waterways run across the site often daylighting in unexpected and unwanted locations. These necessitated relatively expensive pier footings thus motivating an extremely efficient 2,000 sq ft footprint. With no initial resources to develop the wild scrub and rock landscape of the 3-acre property, the home becomes a lone outpost settling the higher ground of the larger natural site --a literal box on a rock. Given these limitations, the architecture of this outpost needs to provide for all indoor and outdoor functions within its area. With the extremes of the wine country microclimate on the exposed site, this becomes an even more critical requirement for year-round comfort. The central courtyard and the cantilevered deck are strategically carved out of the diagrammatic box to ensure that over the course of the day, temperate options for both sun and shade are always available. In particular, the geometry of the overhang at the front cantilevered deck and the inward angle of its exterior glass walls are carefully calibrated to capture morning sun and winter warming while shielding the internal space from the harshest summer glare. Later in the day the central courtyard comes alive as the sunniest developed outdoor space, yet one that is naturally cooled by capturing the valley cross breezes. With an economy of means, this simple form morphs to amplify the experience of the dramatic site and create an expansive feeling home that belies its small footprint. Each adjustment to the diagrammatic box negotiates the functional and environmental needs to foster self-contained and site-specific living with a minimal environmental impact. Photo by Bruce Damonte