About: Abandoned two years ago by a previous contractor, and overwhelmed by the challenges associated with building an updated porch respectful to this Queen Anne style home, J. Francis Company, LLC was referred to the customer by Maynes & Associates, Architects. Perched at the highest point on the North Side with a panoramic view is where Deb Mortillaro and Mike Gonze make their residence. Owners of the famous Dreadnought Wines and Palate Partners in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Deb & Mike wanted a porch to use for entertaining & wine tasting parties. Design features include reuse of original porch footers, mahogany tongue & groove flooring, a railing system that compliments the original design yet complies with the code and features a clear coated Cyprus top rail. The original porch columns were most likely stone bases with wood posts that have been replaced with columns to enhance the updated look. The curved corner has been reproduced including a custom-built curved handrail. The whole porch comes together, tying in the red mahogany floor, Cyprus handrail, and stained bead board ceiling. The finished result is a breathtakingly beautiful wrap-around porch with ample room for guests and entertaining. Testimonial: "Our beloved porch had been taken down to be rebuilt for two years before we met the great folks at J. Francis Company. We knew this porch had great potential and all it would take was the right people to make it happen - ones with vision and great craftsmanship. In conjunction with our architect, Greg Maynes, Dave Myers of J. Francis Company guided this project along with tremendous skill and patience. His creative suggestions and practical thought made the process painless and exciting. The head carpenter JK was a marvel and added touches that made a spectacular difference. We use our home and especially this porch to entertain both clients and friends throughout the year. They all have been anxiously waiting to hear that it is done. A pleasant surprise will be theirs when they arrive."

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

About: Abandoned two years ago by a previous contractor, and overwhelmed by the challenges associated with building an updated porch respectful to this Queen Anne style home, J. Francis Company, LLC was referred to the customer by Maynes & Associates, Architects. Perched at the highest point on the North Side with a panoramic view is where Deb Mortillaro and Mike Gonze make their residence. Owners of the famous Dreadnought Wines and Palate Partners in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Deb & Mike wanted a porch to use for entertaining & wine tasting parties. Design features include reuse of original porch footers, mahogany tongue & groove flooring, a railing system that compliments the original design yet complies with the code and features a clear coated Cyprus top rail. The original porch columns were most likely stone bases with wood posts that have been replaced with columns to enhance the updated look. The curved corner has been reproduced including a custom-built curved handrail. The whole porch comes together, tying in the red mahogany floor, Cyprus handrail, and stained bead board ceiling. The finished result is a breathtakingly beautiful wrap-around porch with ample room for guests and entertaining. Testimonial: "Our beloved porch had been taken down to be rebuilt for two years before we met the great folks at J. Francis Company. We knew this porch had great potential and all it would take was the right people to make it happen - ones with vision and great craftsmanship. In conjunction with our architect, Greg Maynes, Dave Myers of J. Francis Company guided this project along with tremendous skill and patience. His creative suggestions and practical thought made the process painless and exciting. The head carpenter JK was a marvel and added touches that made a spectacular difference. We use our home and especially this porch to entertain both clients and friends throughout the year. They all have been anxiously waiting to hear that it is done. A pleasant surprise will be theirs when they arrive."

For the second phase, we moved down to the Basement. We kept the friendly sloth – what better way to invite folks on down? Again we lightened up the walls and created different sections in the large open area. We were able to display some wonderful antiques and art pieces in this Landing. The antique dresser is the perfect for the sloped ceiling and a great source for storage. We repositioned the loveseat along the longest wall and created a built-in effect with the homeowner’s bookcases. The homeowners are avid readers so we organized their book collection and mixed in found objects like an old radio and typewriter to keep the shelving interesting. The homeowners told me that they rarely used their Basement prior to the redesign, and now it is one of their favorite spots in the home. That’s definitely what we like to hear! Enjoy!

We were excited to take on this master bathroom remodel for a young couple looking to update their recently purchased condo on the water in Playa Del Rey. They were looking for a modern version of the classic his and hers bathroom complete with double shower and colors inspired by the nearby Pacific Ocean. Located on the top floor of their building the master bathroom features a sky light allowing for natural light. The true double shower features a Kohler shower tower with built in body sprayers, hand held and dual shower heads. Unique to this design is that the double shower also features dual shower benches. There are even two shower niches to ensure that both sides are equal. Marble was used throughout the shower and bathroom. Above the commode is a floating toiletry cabinet mounted to the wall. All of the cabinetry is espresso. The bottom of the cabinet allows for open shelving. The his and hers vanities are separated by a full height center linen closet and drawers. Since wall space was at a premium, towel rings were mounted to the cabinetry and an integrated towel bar is on the shower door. Robe hooks hang on the glass shower walls. The walls of the bathroom are green with an accent tile separating the marble wainscoting. The accent tiles are an ocean themed blue / green mix. The bathroom is finished off with a pocket door.

Check out this slick kitchen from our friends at Waldron Construction Custom Builders featuring GE and Zephyr appliances. This kitchen is a great real-life example of GE’s exclusive slate finish. The folks at Waldron Construction did a tremendous job integrating the slate finish with the dark cabinets and offsetting both with the lighter and warmer tones of the backsplash, countertops and flooring. An interesting design element in this kitchen is the hood. It’s the only appliance in the kitchen that is not in slate finish as slate is an exclusive GE finish and the homeowner wanted a more powerful ventilation system than GE offers. Despite the different finish, the stainless steel hood plays nicely with the other slate appliances in the kitchen thanks to the stainless steel accents on the appliances and similar finishes on the cabinet hardware and faucet.

Scandinavian kilims and Swedish rugs have the unique ability to harmonize effortlessly with many different interior design styles: Hygge, Organic Modern, New Nordic, Contemporary, Danish Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, Cubism, Folk Art, Nomadic, and Industrial. Incorporating warp strands and tightly interwoven wefts, Scandinavian kilim rugs use colorfully designed wool for weft strands, making them highly desired by collectors and interior designers. In addition to abundant symbolism, various pattern placements, floral designs and rich shades of yellow, white and gray. A leading figure in modern Scandinavian rug-making and Swedish textile art is Märta Måås-Fjetterström, whose flat-weave rugs you will find at Esmaili Rugs and Antiques. Unbelievably skilled in imagining composition, form and line, Måås-Fjetterströms weavers like Barbro Nilsson, Ida Rydelius, Ingrid Dessau, Ingegerd Silow, Anna Andersson, Marianne Richter rug creations are full of natural visions transformed into decorative works of art considered esteemed ornamental treasures by rug historians and enthusiasts.

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

Owner designed and remodeled small half-bathroom in south Atlanta suburb. Gut remodel with updated (corrected) electrical, updated (corrected) plumbing, Kohler toilet, IKEA Silveran vanity (partial-wall mount; mounted to be 37" high to top of sink, my preference), IKEA Silveran medicine cabinet, IKEA Silveran cabinet, and retrofitted an IKEA Lillangen sink (which normally goes with a different vanity). Paint is Olympic One "Thin Ice" (paint not recommended, was disappointing for the "best" Olympic sells at Lowe's; color is great, though). Chrome fixtures with faucet by Glacier Bay (unknown model; Home Depot clearance find) and chrome door knobs (also from Home Depot). Blinds are from SelectBlinds.com and are Bamboo 1" faux wood. Wall art is from Etsy.com (look up dictionary prints if you want to find similar). Tile is from Lowe's, by Style Selections, and called Skyros Gray (highly recommended, good quality). Grout color is Silver by MAPEI (Lowe's). Silver MAPEI grout-look cauking along top and bottom of baseboard tiles (upper floor home so can't use grout). Unfortunately the sink and toilet were a different shade of white but the toilets were all fairly new and it's more noticeable in the photo than in real life. Used 3 LED new work IC recessed lights, LED under-cabinet light from Home Depot off of same switch as the lights but with a switch on-board, and a basic contractor-grade ceiling fan with some Dynamat-like material applied to the casing which reduces its noise significantly off of its own switch. GFCI outlet has a nightlight built in and, not shown, is another GFCI outlet retrofitted into the medicine cabinet. Don't worry, that silicone caulking around the toilet has been improved to a professional look with the Silver caulking over it to blend better since this photo, so don't hold that against me! In fact, don't hold anything you don't like against me... just posting this to give folks some ideas WITH the actual units used, unlike most postings on Houzz. ©Kil|Photography

Opening this wall required a beam to be added, but it has made a tremendous difference in connecting these two spaces.
Cottage home design photo in Other

Owner designed and remodeled small half-bathroom in south Atlanta suburb. Gut remodel with updated (corrected) electrical, updated (corrected) plumbing, Kohler toilet, IKEA Silveran vanity (partial-wall mount; mounted to be 37" high to top of sink, my preference), IKEA Silveran medicine cabinet, IKEA Silveran cabinet, and retrofitted an IKEA Lillangen sink (which normally goes with a different vanity). Paint is Olympic One "Thin Ice" (paint not recommended, was disappointing for the "best" Olympic sells at Lowe's; color is great, though). Chrome fixtures with faucet by Glacier Bay (unknown model; Home Depot clearance find) and chrome door knobs (also from Home Depot). Blinds are from SelectBlinds.com and are Bamboo 1" faux wood. Wall art is from Etsy.com (look up dictionary prints if you want to find similar). Tile is from Lowe's, by Style Selections, and called Skyros Gray (highly recommended, good quality). Grout color is Silver by MAPEI (Lowe's). Silver MAPEI grout-look cauking along top and bottom of baseboard tiles (upper floor home so can't use grout). Unfortunately the sink and toilet were a different shade of white but the toilets were all fairly new and it's more noticeable in the photo than in real life. Used 3 LED new work IC recessed lights, LED under-cabinet light from Home Depot off of same switch as the lights but with a switch on-board, and a basic contractor-grade ceiling fan with some Dynamat-like material applied to the casing which reduces its noise significantly off of its own switch. GFCI outlet has a nightlight built in and, not shown, is another GFCI outlet retrofitted into the medicine cabinet. Don't worry, that silicone caulking around the toilet has been improved to a professional look with the Silver caulking over it to blend better since this photo, so don't hold that against me! In fact, don't hold anything you don't like against me... just posting this to give folks some ideas WITH the actual units used, unlike most postings on Houzz. ©Kil|Photography

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

"There are only three walls in the house that are not white, and two of them were painted that way when we moved in," explains Bobbie. She chose a very dark blue for the wall in the dining room to set off the warmth of wooden furnishings. Whereas two other walls are essentially glass, the darkness of the paint envelops occupants and creates a sense of intimacy. The 1960's Lane dining table was an auction win. "Ninety percent of our home décor is vintage from the 1950s and 1960s, and we use everything," Bobbie says. "Other than electronics, kitchen items, towels and bed linens, I rarely buy anything that is brand new anymore!" Wall Color: Mysterious, Benjamin Moore Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2013 Houzz

Langhorne Carpet Company proudly announces its latest collaboration with Vermont Custom Rug Company’s David Hunt on an elegant reproduction of the early 19th century worsted wool carpet for the dining room of historic Hyde Hall. A National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site in Springfield, NY, eight miles north of Cooperstown, Hyde Hall is considered “one of the finest examples of the neoclassical country houses in the United States.” The agricultural estate was the project and prize of wealthy British-born landowner George Clarke (1768-1835). Clarke owned 120,000 acres in New York’s Leatherstocking Region and designed Hyde Hall on the bank of Otsego Lake with Albany architect Philip Hooker. The mansion, the estate’s centerpiece, was constructed from 1817 to 1835. Today, Hyde Hall resides within Glimmerglass State Park. Recent years have brought Hyde Hall a meticulous, history-driven, artisan-fueled restoration to recreate Clarke’s precise original vision. David Hunt chose Langhorne Carpet Company to recreate the Brussels looped pile carpet for the property’s dining room. Made from the finest worsted wool, a yarn used today almost exclusively in apparel, Brussels carpets were a 19th-century status symbol among America’s wealthiest citizens, including presidents and major landowners. According to Clarke’s scrupulously kept ledgers, in 1831 he purchased “122 linear yards of Brussels body carpet, along with 24 yards of Brussels border carpet from the showroom of Lowe & Connah in New York City for the sum of $308.00. A hefty amount for the period,” said Hunt. The carpet—which, Hunt said, may well be one of the first examples Wilton carpet woven in the United States—remained in the dining room through the end of the 19th century. As for the two tuffets? They not only survive—they also remain covered in the original textile. This existence of these original tuffets for nearly two centuries, said Hunt, is both incredibly rare and fortuitous. “Having a documented portion of the original carpet, intact 186 years after manufacture, is, for the textile historian, a gold mine of information. Although the border portion of the design remains most visible, having the ability to document and verify the yarn quality, sett (pattern) of the weave and most importantly the original colors is huge.” Hunt “dissected” the tuffets to reveal the yarn that, like in all Wilton weaves, is buried beneath the textile’s back, unexposed to sunlight, air, or cleaning agents. When he did, he found the carpet’s original colors and pattern. From there, he and Langhorne used a black-and-white photograph of the original carpet to create a botanical pattern for the field that would, he said, “honor the style of the border.” He then turned over the work to Langhorne, to create the patterns, match the dye colors, and weave the carpets on narrow looms much like the ones used 200 years ago. Langhorne, he added, is the only mill in the United States—and one of very few in the entire world—capable of doing such a job. “Langhorne has this wonderful capability to do all sorts of different things. I don’t think a lot of people understand that option is out there, and it’s a lot easier than you think to do it,” he said. What’s more, “They’re real people, working people—the folks on the loom, the weavers, the folks in the office: Except for the clothing, they’re the same type of people you would have found in a mill 200 years ago. It takes special people to do this, and that’s Langhorne.”

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

For the second phase, we moved down to the Basement. We kept the friendly sloth – what better way to invite folks on down? Again we lightened up the walls and created different sections in the large open area. We were able to display some wonderful antiques and art pieces in this Landing. The antique dresser is the perfect for the sloped ceiling and a great source for storage. We repositioned the loveseat along the longest wall and created a built-in effect with the homeowner’s bookcases. The homeowners are avid readers so we organized their book collection and mixed in found objects like an old radio and typewriter to keep the shelving interesting. The homeowners told me that they rarely used their Basement prior to the redesign, and now it is one of their favorite spots in the home. That’s definitely what we like to hear! Enjoy!

We contracted with Chester County Kitchen and Bath (CCKAB) to completely renovate our master bathroom first, followed by a complete kitchen renovation and the building of a family room addition off the kitchen. John Noland, the VP at CCKAB for such project development, was simply fantastic. He spent many hours with us, discussing our ideas of what we wanted the house to look like, and then he produced outstanding overall technical designs for each project before we ever signed the contract. John used his design software to develop dramatic and really useful drawings and graphic depictions of each aspect of the different projects; these drawings enabled us to refine the different projects over several weeks. John's initial cost estimates were spot-on, as was his proposed project timeline. When we added major changes to the original designs, John worked with us and the general (sub)contractor to incorporate the changes to the overall project without bursting the budget or blowing the timeline. John's able deputy, Stacy Nass, was simply amazing as the Project Manager. She juggled the scheduling of subcontractors, suppliers, cabinetry, appliance installation, etc. with aplomb and professionalism, and it was principally due to her careful attention to detail that the projects ran so smoothly and finished on time. The technical expertise of John, Stacy, and the rest of the staff at CCKAB are matched by their warm interpersonal skills. Having heard all the horror stories from friends about contractors they've used for home projects, we consider ourselves fortunate to have hired the folks from Chester County Kitchen and Bath. In the end, we were so very impressed with the final results - John and Stacy and their many collaborators really did help us create our dream home.

DCI/Design Contractors, Inc. Bath renovation in older home
Transitional bathroom photo in Providence