The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what’s become known as the “party dock”… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer’s platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall – and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down… smores, anyone? John Bessler

Aerostat F27 Cage Pendant Light, by Fabbian, has been favored by designers for it unique diffuser shape reminiscent of a contemporary school house design. The Guillaume Delvigne designed collection offers universal appeal to both modern and more traditional design style. The Aerostat F27 with Cage pendant accentuates the shiny white blown glass globe with a metal cage accent. The cage is offered in three different finishes- brass, black nickel or copper. The pendants provide diffused ambient illumination and are well suited for residential and contract applications. They work individually and in groupings of various sizes. Residential applications include: kitchen, dining, entryways, living and sleeping areas. Contract applications include: retail, hospitality, office areas, conference rooms.

This Paradise Valley modern estate was selected Arizona Foothills Magazine's Showcase Home in 2004. The home backs to a preserve and fronts to a majestic Paradise Valley skyline. Architect CP Drewett designed all interior millwork, specifying exotic veneers to counter the other interior finishes making this a sumptuous feast of pattern and texture. The home is organized along a sweeping interior curve and concludes in a collection of destination type spaces that are each meticulously crafted. The warmth of materials and attention to detail made this showcase home a success to those with traditional tastes as well as a favorite for those favoring a more contemporary aesthetic. Architect: C.P. Drewett, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ. Photography by Dino Tonn.

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what’s become known as the “party dock”… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer’s platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall – and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down… smores, anyone? John Bessler

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what’s become known as the “party dock”… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer’s platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall – and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down… smores, anyone? John Bessler

Our clients, a busy husband and wife, live in a top floor condo in an historic brick townhouse. With hectic professional lives, they had not had much time for home improvement but finally felt ready to make some changes. At the top of their to-do list were the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen, a small, enclosed utility space, featured dated tile flooring and backsplash and a floor plan that made the small space feel even more cramped. Meanwhile, the bathroom was also in need of a refresh, and the homeowners hoped to replace their tub with a safer walk-in shower with bench seating. We began by introducing subtle changes to stitch together the home’s living areas. We opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room, which had been mostly enclosed. The small kitchen had featured a traditional work triangle with refrigerator, stove, and sink/prep/cleaning area along three separate walls. Unfortunately the room was too cramped for this particular layout. Instead, we placed the stove on the same wall as the fridge, which allowed a larger opening to the dining room. We kept the overhanging cabinetry in the kitchen but chose a new unit with separate cabinets facing both the kitchen and dining room for extra storage opportunities. With extra countertop at the sink, the half-wall, and on either side of the stove, the homeowners now have plenty of cooking prep space. The homeowners favor a crisp white palette, and the pearl Omega cabinets that they selected are a perfect fit. A mix of brushed nickel and glass knob pulls offer visual and textile variety. For the countertops, we installed elegant white Quartz Calacatta Novus with a graceful dark wave pattern. The backsplash is Feather Gray Manhattan Field Tile. Refinished and repainted moulding creates a seamless flow among the living spaces. In the dining and living rooms, the color-averse homeowners decided to try Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray. We also removed tile flooring from the kitchen in favor of restoring the original oak hardwoods, uniting this room with the rest of the condo. In the bathroom, we removed the tub in favor of a curb-less walk-in shower with built-in marble bench seating. We fitted Vintage Studio’s Starry White wall tile and Bianco Carrera honed floor tile, and installed a new vanity (with a Cambria Queen Anne marble top) and Robern medicine cabinet. We were delighted to work on the project with Elizabeth Tanny – a New York-based interior designer who is also the sister and sister-in-law of the homeowners. Elizabeth worked with our clients on artwork and furniture selections, as well as paint colors. Photo by Shelly Harrison

Renovations of the lower level prompted a move to streamline the main level, and incorporate modern elements into the more traditional decor. When we switched an ornate mirror in favor of a rustic modern option, the details of this beautiful table were allowed to really sing. Simplifying the items placed on the table added cohesion between the mirror, table, and Chinese Terracotta Army statues which guard the space. DaubmanPhotography@Cox.net

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

This Paradise Valley modern estate was selected Arizona Foothills Magazine's Showcase Home in 2004. The home backs to a preserve and fronts to a majestic Paradise Valley skyline. Architect CP Drewett designed all interior millwork, specifying exotic veneers to counter the other interior finishes making this a sumptuous feast of pattern and texture. The home is organized along a sweeping interior curve and concludes in a collection of destination type spaces that are each meticulously crafted. The warmth of materials and attention to detail made this showcase home a success to those with traditional tastes as well as a favorite for those favoring a more contemporary aesthetic. Architect: C.P. Drewett, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ. Photography by Dino Tonn.

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what’s become known as the “party dock”… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer’s platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall – and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down… smores, anyone? John Bessler

In this photo: Custom cabinetry designed by Architect C.P. Drewett featuring Macassar Ebony and Swiss Pearwood. This Paradise Valley modern estate was selected Arizona Foothills Magazine's Showcase Home in 2004. The home backs to a preserve and fronts to a majestic Paradise Valley skyline. Architect CP Drewett designed all interior millwork, specifying exotic veneers to counter the other interior finishes making this a sumptuous feast of pattern and texture. The home is organized along a sweeping interior curve and concludes in a collection of destination type spaces that are each meticulously crafted. The warmth of materials and attention to detail made this showcase home a success to those with traditional tastes as well as a favorite for those favoring a more contemporary aesthetic. Architect: C.P. Drewett, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ. Photography by Dino Tonn.

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Jeffrey Totaro
Transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Philadelphia with beige walls and a standard fireplace

Our clients, a busy husband and wife, live in a top floor condo in an historic brick townhouse. With hectic professional lives, they had not had much time for home improvement but finally felt ready to make some changes. At the top of their to-do list were the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen, a small, enclosed utility space, featured dated tile flooring and backsplash and a floor plan that made the small space feel even more cramped. Meanwhile, the bathroom was also in need of a refresh, and the homeowners hoped to replace their tub with a safer walk-in shower with bench seating. We began by introducing subtle changes to stitch together the home’s living areas. We opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room, which had been mostly enclosed. The small kitchen had featured a traditional work triangle with refrigerator, stove, and sink/prep/cleaning area along three separate walls. Unfortunately the room was too cramped for this particular layout. Instead, we placed the stove on the same wall as the fridge, which allowed a larger opening to the dining room. We kept the overhanging cabinetry in the kitchen but chose a new unit with separate cabinets facing both the kitchen and dining room for extra storage opportunities. With extra countertop at the sink, the half-wall, and on either side of the stove, the homeowners now have plenty of cooking prep space. The homeowners favor a crisp white palette, and the pearl Omega cabinets that they selected are a perfect fit. A mix of brushed nickel and glass knob pulls offer visual and textile variety. For the countertops, we installed elegant white Quartz Calacatta Novus with a graceful dark wave pattern. The backsplash is Feather Gray Manhattan Field Tile. Refinished and repainted moulding creates a seamless flow among the living spaces. In the dining and living rooms, the color-averse homeowners decided to try Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray. We also removed tile flooring from the kitchen in favor of restoring the original oak hardwoods, uniting this room with the rest of the condo. In the bathroom, we removed the tub in favor of a curb-less walk-in shower with built-in marble bench seating. We fitted Vintage Studio’s Starry White wall tile and Bianco Carrera honed floor tile, and installed a new vanity (with a Cambria Queen Anne marble top) and Robern medicine cabinet. We were delighted to work on the project with Elizabeth Tanny – a New York-based interior designer who is also the sister and sister-in-law of the homeowners. Elizabeth worked with our clients on artwork and furniture selections, as well as paint colors. Photo by Shelly Harrison

In this photo: Custom cabinetry designed by Architect C.P. Drewett and composed of glass, Macassar Ebony, and Swiss Pearwood. This Paradise Valley modern estate was selected Arizona Foothills Magazine's Showcase Home in 2004. The home backs to a preserve and fronts to a majestic Paradise Valley skyline. Architect CP Drewett designed all interior millwork, specifying exotic veneers to counter the other interior finishes making this a sumptuous feast of pattern and texture. The home is organized along a sweeping interior curve and concludes in a collection of destination type spaces that are each meticulously crafted. The warmth of materials and attention to detail made this showcase home a success to those with traditional tastes as well as a favorite for those favoring a more contemporary aesthetic. Architect: C.P. Drewett, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ. Photography by Dino Tonn.

Conceived more similar to a loft type space rather than a traditional single family home, the homeowner was seeking to challenge a normal arrangement of rooms in favor of spaces that are dynamic in all 3 dimensions, interact with the yard, and capture the movement of light and air. As an artist that explores the beauty of natural objects and scenes, she tasked us with creating a building that was not precious - one that explores the essence of its raw building materials and is not afraid of expressing them as finished. We designed opportunities for kinetic fixtures, many built by the homeowner, to allow flexibility and movement. The result is a building that compliments the casual artistic lifestyle of the occupant as part home, part work space, part gallery. The spaces are interactive, contemplative, and fun. More details to come. ​ credits: design: Matthew O. Daby - m.o.daby design / construction: Cellar Ridge Construction / structural engineer: Darla Wall - Willamette Building Solutions / photography: Erin Riddle - KLIK Concepts

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Conceived more similar to a loft type space rather than a traditional single family home, the homeowner was seeking to challenge a normal arrangement of rooms in favor of spaces that are dynamic in all 3 dimensions, interact with the yard, and capture the movement of light and air. As an artist that explores the beauty of natural objects and scenes, she tasked us with creating a building that was not precious - one that explores the essence of its raw building materials and is not afraid of expressing them as finished. We designed opportunities for kinetic fixtures, many built by the homeowner, to allow flexibility and movement. The result is a building that compliments the casual artistic lifestyle of the occupant as part home, part work space, part gallery. The spaces are interactive, contemplative, and fun. More details to come. ​ credits: design: Matthew O. Daby - m.o.daby design / construction: Cellar Ridge Construction / structural engineer: Darla Wall - Willamette Building Solutions / photography: Erin Riddle - KLIK Concepts

Aaron Dougherty Photo
Example of a large tuscan medium tone wood floor vestibule design in Dallas with white walls and a medium wood front door