CHATHAM MARSHVIEW HOUSE This Cape Cod green home provides a destination for visiting family, support of a snowbird lifestyle, and an expression of the homeowner’s energy conscious values. Looking over the salt marsh with Nantucket Sound in the distance, this new home offers single level living to accommodate aging in place, and a strong connection to the outdoors. The homeowners can easily enjoy the deck, walk to the nearby beach, or spend time with family, while the house works to produce nearly all the energy it consumes. The exterior, clad in the Cape’s iconic Eastern white cedar shingles, is modern in detailing, yet recognizable and familiar in form. MORE: https://zeroenergy.com/chatham-marshview-house Architecture: ZeroEnergy Design Construction: Eastward Homes Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Sheli Lee-Fierstine
Example of a mid-sized minimalist open concept dark wood floor family room design in DC Metro with beige walls

Example of a transitional family room design in Other

To learn more about our 55 year tradition in the design/build business and our 2 complete showrooms, visit: http://www.kbmart.netKitchen & Bath Mart

Second homes and vacation homes are such fun projects for us and when Portland residents Leslie and Phil found their dream house on the fairway in central Oregon, they asked us to help them make it feel like home. Updates to carpet and paint refreshed the palette for new furnishings, and the homeowners requested we use their treasured art and accessories to truly create that “homey” feeling. We “shopped” their Portland home for items that would work with the rooms we’d designed throughout the house, and the result was immediately familiar and welcoming. We also collaborated on custom stair railings and new island brackets with local master Downtown Ornamental Iron and redesigned a rustic slab fireplace mantel with a local craftsman. We’ve enjoyed additional projects with Leslie and Phil in their Portland home and returned to Bend to refresh the kitchen with quartz slab countertops, a bold black tile backsplash and new appliances. We aren’t surprised to hear this “vacation home” has become their primary residence much sooner than they’d planned!

Elegant, eclectic, timeless villa interior design for a family with two small children, in cozy - familiar style associations, with artful, contemporary touches and subtly integrated sophisticated details.

This kitchen was part of a grander complete home re-design and remodel. The client grew up in this 1950’s family home and has now become owner in his adult life. Designing and remodeling this childhood home that the client was very bonded and familiar with was a tall order. This modern twist of mid-century modern combined with an eclectic fusion of modern day materials and concepts fills the room with a powerful presence while maintaining its clean lined austerity and elegance. Photo credit: Fred Donham of PhotographerLink

Dresner Design possesses the expertise to design cutting edge, cost-effective kitchens, baths and closets for developer’s multi-unit projects. They were recently part of the design team for The Ronsley, River North's best new luxury condominium development. This former industrial timber loft building was transformed into an incredible 41-unit building, and Dresner Design was hired to design both the kitchens and baths using Italian cabinetry from Stosa Cucine. Challenges: All the units were the same but with varying configurations. The goal was to make all the units feel and look the same but each of the layouts was different- making 30 layouts in all. Concept: The kitchens and baths were designed to be sleek and modern, blending in with the loft style. The kitchen islands fabricated with wood compliments the wood ceilings and beams typical of loft living. White kitchens are always timeless and the Ronsley used the most beautiful and high-end cabinetry made of 100% lacquer. Photography by Jim Tschetter

Mixing contemporary style with traditional architectural features, allowed us to put a fresh new face, while keeping the familiar warm comforts. Multiple conversation areas that are cozy and intimate break up the vast open floor plan, allowing the homeowners to enjoy intimate gatherings or host grand events. Matching white conversation couches were used in the living room to section the large space without closing it off. A wet bar was built in the corner of the living room with custom glass cabinetry and leather bar stools. Carrera marble was used throughout to coordinate with the traditional architectural features. And, a mixture of metallics were used to add a touch of modern glam.

This inviting living room encapsulates traditional design with its rich texture and a soothing palette. The plush, neutral-toned Perigold sectional exudes comfort, with blue accents adding a regal touch that elevates the ensemble. Centering the room, Crate & Barrel’s troupe square pine wood coffee table stands as a hallmark of classic style, surrounded by seating that beckons guests to linger. Black-framed artwork adds visual interest, creating a gallery-like effect that’s both personal and elegant. The fireplace, a timeless feature, anchors the living space with its warm presence. This traditional living room with blue accents is a curated blend of the familiar and the sophisticated—ideal for moments of leisure and gracious hosting.

A familiar shape, the hexagon makes a great impression! Shown here is an artful combination of our hexagon border, open joint tile and solid carrara marble.

Three generations have shared summers together at this very special place called Merry Hill. Recognizing their shifting needs and looking forward to future generations, the clients wanted to both drastically change their beloved family lake house and yet not change it at all. This new iteration of the cottage is nearly double the size of the original, transforming their summer home into a four-season getaway while evoking the character of the original house in a new and fresh way. The main cottage, boathouse and sleeping cabin all have broad, shallow-pitched roofs with generous overhangs that derive their form from their mid-century predecessor. Expansive openings, wood interiors, operable clerestories, and local stone double-stacked fireplaces are all familiar to the clients but rendered in different scales. Designed for resiliency and sustainability, the new retreat employs an integrated generator, geothermal heating, solar arrays, and battery storage as well as incorporates passive strategies such as sun orientation, earth sheltering, and cross ventilation to keep the interior at an ideal temperature all year round. The resulting form, detailing, and material selections of this new build allows for the seamless continuity of memory-making for a sentimental family.

This project showcases the timeless appeal of a traditional house, thoughtfully reimagined for modern living. The design emphasizes balance, warmth, and functionality, blending classic architectural elements with clean contemporary finishes. Wide-plank hardwood flooring, elegant wall detailing, and carefully selected neutral tones create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere throughout the home. At the heart of the space, the open-concept layout seamlessly connects the kitchen, dining, and living areas, encouraging natural flow and everyday comfort. The kitchen features refined cabinetry, generous storage, and a layout designed for both practicality and gathering. Adjacent to it, the dining area offers a welcoming setting for family meals and entertaining, while the living space provides a bright, airy environment enhanced by abundant natural light. Large glass openings extend the interior outward, strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor living — a hallmark of today’s traditional homes. Every detail, from lighting fixtures to material selections, was chosen to preserve the home’s classic character while introducing a fresh, updated aesthetic. The result is a traditional residence that feels both familiar and elevated: elegant, comfortable, and designed to stand the test of time.

This stunning exterior accent wall showcases a custom blend of the Quarry Mill's Balkan and Jura real thin stone veneer. Balkan is a natural thin cut limestone veneer with stunning dark tones. The veneer is a mix of the different faces or parts of the quarried limestone. The familiar and warm gold tones of the outer parts of the limestone slabs contrast beautifully against the uniquely dark interior of the stone. Balkan falls loosely into the castle rock or square rec style due to the split rectangular pieces, however, the individual pieces are slightly smaller than most of our other castle rock options. This stone blends nicely with some of our other products to provide a less formal and old-world look. Our sales team is happy to work with you to create a custom blend.

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

This 7,500 square feet home, situated on a waterfront site in Sag Harbor, New York, was designed as a shared vacation home for four brothers and their families. A collaborative effort between the clients and Cecil Baker + Partners yielded a contemporary home that pays homage to the Eastern Long Island vernacular. The home is composed of three distinct volumes that step back from one another to optimize both the water view and privacy. The two outer wings take on familiar cedar-clad, pitched roof geometry while the central three-story glass box links them together and anchors the home. The two car garage, with a private living space above, projects from the main house via a breezeway, defining a private garden. The interior of the home integrates warm, tactile materials and clean modern lines. The use of full-height windows, floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, and an operable overhead glass door creates an indoor-outdoor living experience and floods the home with natural light. The subtle choreography of the interior space lends flexibility to the Client for both social and private uses of the home. The first floor contains an open plan for the kitchen, living room, dining area and sunroom, and the second floor includes two full master suites facing the bay, a guest room with spectacular water views, and a children's room that overlooks the garden. The fully finished basement holds a large playroom, a gym, a full spa bath and a wine cellar. In addition, views in all directions are unobstructed from a third floor roof terrace. Michael Grimm Photography

Three generations have shared summers together at this very special place called Merry Hill. Recognizing their shifting needs and looking forward to future generations, the clients wanted to both drastically change their beloved family lake house and yet not change it at all. This new iteration of the cottage is nearly double the size of the original, transforming their summer home into a four-season getaway while evoking the character of the original house in a new and fresh way. The main cottage, boathouse and sleeping cabin all have broad, shallow-pitched roofs with generous overhangs that derive their form from their mid-century predecessor. Expansive openings, wood interiors, operable clerestories, and local stone double-stacked fireplaces are all familiar to the clients but rendered in different scales. Designed for resiliency and sustainability, the new retreat employs an integrated generator, geothermal heating, solar arrays, and battery storage as well as incorporates passive strategies such as sun orientation, earth sheltering, and cross ventilation to keep the interior at an ideal temperature all year round. The resulting form, detailing, and material selections of this new build allows for the seamless continuity of memory-making for a sentimental family.

Located in the Langley Fork Historic District in McLean, Virginia, this residence was designed to speak to the formal massing seen in the existing neighborhood fabric of stately traditional homes. The simplicity and clean lines of the stucco and limestone façade blends harmoniously with its surroundings. Traditional forms, interjected with modern twists, create a tension that carries throughout the design, creating a home that feels warm and familiar while clean and distilled at the same time. Photo Credit: Gordon Beall Photography

A large and spacious custom Gialluisi basement...Take a look at the unique, crafted details of the mouldings and ceiling light fixtures! The gray colored walls provide a warm atmosphere while the floor carpet suggests a more familiar touch. Go to www.gialluisihomes.com or call 908-206-4659 for additional information.