Our client was a family with younger children that came to us through the recommendations of former customers. Their existing house had been remodeled by them 10 years earlier and was well-suited to the married couple. With the addition of two younger children, they realized that the house just didn’t function very well for their family. Fortunately, the husband and wife took their time thinking about what they wanted, and by the time they met with us, had their needs well laid out. We brought in local Architect, James Stroupe, and recommended him to the client as a collaborative professional who could help us achieve their goals. This proved to be the case. Jim quickly produced design drawings for them within six weeks that clearly reflected all of the client’s needs and preferences while at the same time dramatically re-creating the home in a beautiful contemporary design. The new home required a complete reconstruction of the existing house that left only one bathroom unaltered. New square footage was added at the lower level to expand and reconfigure the living area, while an entirely new upstairs wing was constructed to create space for a new master suite with views out toward the ocean. The entire roof was rebuilt, all new windows and interior doors were added and the full exterior received a new modern looking stucco finish. Stainless steel cable railings were added to the decks to create an updated look, and fine hardwood accents were used to pull the design together. Our efforts produced a new three bedroom, three bath home with a large and inviting ground floor patio area, wide open living areas on the first floor with new kitchen, bathroom and dining room. The photographs in this section show the striking results- clean lines, dramatic architectural touches, and light, open and airy interior spaces. Our client was very pleased with the results.

30 Years of Construction Experience in the Bay Area | Best of Houzz! We are a passionate, family owned/operated local business in the Bay Area, California. At Lavan Construction, we create a fresh and fit environment with over 30 years of experience in building and construction in both domestic and international markets. We have a unique blend of leadership combining expertise in construction contracting and management experience from Fortune 500 companies. We commit to deliver you a world class experience within your budget and timeline while maintaining trust and transparency. At Lavan Construction, we believe relationships are the main component of any successful business and we stand by our motto: “Trust is the foundation we build on.”

Travertine floor tiles are very appealing and very hardwearing, but without the protection of a sealer to stop dirt becoming ingrained in the pores of the stone their appearance will degrade. Fortunately, this can be remedied as demonstrated in these pictures of a Travertine floor I recently polished at a house in Weston Favell, Northampton. This owner of the property had called me out as their kitchen floor was looking very sorry for itself and he was concerned that a lot of holes were appearing which was making cleaning the floor difficult as dirt was getting trapped in the holes. I went over and carried out a test clean on two separate tiles in the kitchen and the customer was amazed at how clean they came up and especially the grout. The kitchen was stunning, but unfortunately the state of the Travertine tiled floor was bringing down its overall appearance. Impressed with the test clean they were keen to get the whole floor renovated so we agreed a price and I scheduled the work in for the following month. I returned on the agreed data and made a start by protecting the kitchen units by removing the plinths and covering base units and the appliances with a protective film. We then commenced the cleaning process to remove surface dirt by cleaning with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean paying special attention to the grout lines. The holes in the Travertine were filled with a stone resin, mixing it to closely match the colours of the stone. The resin was allowed to dry before starting to re-polish the Travertine using a set of Tile Doctor Diamond encrusted burnishing pads. These pads are applied individually to each tile in sequence starting with a coarse 400-grit pad before moving onto the 800-grit and finishing with the fine 1500 grit pad. A little water is used to lubricate the process along the way and the floor is rinsed in between each pad with the resulting residue extracted from the floor using a wet vacuum. The process takes some time, but it really brings up the polished appearance of the stone and the results are well worth the effort. After a final rinse the floor was inspected and then left to dry off fully overnight. When we returned the next day, the floor had dried, and we were able to give the floor a final polish with a very fine 3000-grit burnishing pad applied with a little water sprayed onto the tile. Finally, the floor was then sealed with two coats of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which provides excellent protection without changing the colour of the stone to provide a natural look. The client was over the moon with the outcome and surprised at the improvement. They were left with a floor that would be easy to clean and maintain. Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

30 Years of Construction Experience in the Bay Area | Best of Houzz! We are a passionate, family owned/operated local business in the Bay Area, California. At Lavan Construction, we create a fresh and fit environment with over 30 years of experience in building and construction in both domestic and international markets. We have a unique blend of leadership combining expertise in construction contracting and management experience from Fortune 500 companies. We commit to deliver you a world class experience within your budget and timeline while maintaining trust and transparency. At Lavan Construction, we believe relationships are the main component of any successful business and we stand by our motto: “Trust is the foundation we build on.”

This newly constructed open floor plan home with a large finished basement is ideal for this fun-loving couple. We were fortunate to be included in the very beginning stages of construction space planning to optimize room placement, layout, and spacing. From there, we worked side-by-side with homeowners and contractor in selecting all of the details from floors and doors to lighting and window treatments. These empty nesters love to entertain. Both the main level and the downstairs offer great flow. A bit of luxury was added in the master bathroom with this soaker tub and custom tile shower.

If there’s one thing Nelson, British Columbia is known for, it’s snow. Every year thousands of skiers and snowboarders flock to Nelson, located in interior BC, to get a dose of the area's famous fresh powder. However, along with epic snow comes freezing temperatures. During the winter season, Nelson typically averages a low of 12 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 degrees Celsius) and a high of 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.) When combined with the humidity the area usually receives in the winter months, these already freezing temperatures can feel significantly cooler. Our customer took this into account when designing his Nelson-area home. The homeowner wanted to get the most out of the location and climate without spending a fortune on heating. With this in mind, a passive solar home was designed and constructed. This type of home is designed to harness, store and distribute solar energy in the winter to heat the home without the use of mechanical or electrical devices. However, with average lows hovering around 12 degrees Fahrenheit, a little more was needed to take the bite out of the chilly air. Ultimately we determined our Prestyl Heating Panels would be a great way to add heat to this home. They transfer sun-like-warmth directly to people and objects and are zone-controlled, which allows the user to heat only the spaces they are using. Ultimately what this means is you can increase your comfort while decreasing your heating costs: A perfect solution for an environmentally-conscious/budget-conscious homeowner in a ski town.

Design ideas for a mid-sized coastal backyard landscaping in Philadelphia.

We were called in, in hopes our Pond Reconstruction skills could fix this customers woes. The existing pond was problematic and a bit of an eyesore. There were various leaks, section of random concrete as well as DIY pond implements. The overall construction of the pond was also far from These are just a few of the reasons why it’s imperative that you never hire a contractor based on price. Shortcuts lead to short term solutions. Always seek out a Certified Aquascape Contractor for any water feature project. -anyway- We vowed to rectify the situation with a reconstructed and remodeled work of art. After all the water was pumped out we began disassembling the pond. All aquatic life was removed with some being salvaged for reuse. Next was on to the large boulders as well as other rock and gravel throughout the pond. The random concrete and DIY implement creation abominations were removed along with the liner. Fortunately an Aquascape skimmer was installed, which we were able to re-use. Once everything was removed we began excavating for the new pond. New liner, underlayment, and biofalls were installed. We reused the existing boulders as well as brought in more since the pond was made larger. Driftwood was installed to naturalize the pond and aquatic plants and fish were reintroduced. a few landscape boulders were placed around the pond and it was finished off with a bit of fresh mulch. This pond reconstruction project is located in Ephrata, PA Lancaster County.

30 Years of Construction Experience in the Bay Area | Best of Houzz! We are a passionate, family owned/operated local business in the Bay Area, California. At Lavan Construction, we create a fresh and fit environment with over 30 years of experience in building and construction in both domestic and international markets. We have a unique blend of leadership combining expertise in construction contracting and management experience from Fortune 500 companies. We commit to deliver you a world class experience within your budget and timeline while maintaining trust and transparency. At Lavan Construction, we believe relationships are the main component of any successful business and we stand by our motto: “Trust is the foundation we build on.”

Back in April of 2016, YIMBY reported on new building applications for 846 Monroe Street, in Brooklyn’s Ocean Hill neighborhood. Since then, work has begun on the vacant, 28-foot-wide lot, and now, we have the reveal for the project, which is being designed by Joshua Felix of J Goldman Design/BEAM Group. The architect of record for the site is BMG Design Build, as listed on the Department of Buildings permits, and the project is being developed by Shimon Kaufman. The structure will total four floors and eight units, spanning 7,304 square feet in total. With units averaging under 700 square feet apiece, rentals are very likely. Fortunately, despite the probability of apartments, the design does not compromise on basic architectural decency, and lacks the PTAC units that characterize the exteriors of the vast bulk of new developments of the same typology in New York City. The facade will also be fairly attractive, featuring a mix of grey brick, and black and white paneling. A small area covered in brown gives a pop of muted color that is just enough to add some visual variety to the exterior.

Starting Each Day Clean and Refreshed In This Classically-Modern, Marble Masterpiece In 1985, the previous owner of the house had added an addition of which part included a 17 feet by 13 feet space off the master bedroom for both a master bath and walk-in closet. Irrespective of the dated red carpet that blanketed the entire bathroom of this 1964 colonial in Annandale, VA, the combination bathroom/closet space had its other oddities, primarily in that there was no shower. The current homeowners -- a family of five, who has been in the home for 7 years, was tired of going down the hall to use the kids’ bathroom to take a shower before work. The renovation that they have created now is a bright and luxurious space that one could bask in all day. They used this bathroom renovation opportunity to total remake the layout and function of this essential room that sets the tone for the day ahead. Prior to the renovation, the existing bathroom oddly had two entrances, a typical one off of the master bedroom, but another straight off the upstairs hallway. As the toilet was out in the open in the previous design, ensuring that this second door was closed when company was in town was essential and a nuisance. As you entered the room, situated below the arc window, a large soaking tub that was covered on three sides with wooden steps dominated the room from the corner it projected. A relatively small 42” single bowl sink did not leave much space for his and hers toiletries, and there was no other linen closet or cabinetry for storage in the bathroom. The 8 foot by 5 foot closet with accordion doors had poorly laid out rungs not letting the storage space to be fully utilized. At over 220 square feet, the room did offer considerable space to work with, yet the existing layout, which even included a partition wall behind the vanity, felt cramped and dysfunctional. The homeowners wished to create a classic yet modern, private, deluxe bathroom that would better integrate into their master suite and enable them to start and end each day in a luxurious way. They wanted to maintain having a soaking tub, add in a large shower, have an enclosed commode, expand to include double sinks, and add more storage for toiletries and linens. We worked with the customer to develop a creative design with extensive plumbing rework that accomplished all these needs and more. The first order of business was to gut out all the carpet, tub, cabinetry, and non-load bearing partition walls. The new tub would be generally in the same location, but as the previous walk-in closet would be repurposed for the commode and the walk-in shower additional water lines, plumbing, and draining needed to be added; fortunately the room below is the garage, which enabled the team to frame out some bulkheads to accomplish this complex plumbing. Following the framing, including walling up the second entrance to the bathroom, adding in a pocket door for the commode, and creating the shape of the new shower, the team also laid down the wiring for one of the luxuries of this room – heated flooring. A glossy percaline boarder, and two-inch hexagon shape percaline tiles cover the entire floor, making it much easier and cleaner than the previous carpet. Marble look tile is predominant throughout the bathroom as despite the angled frameless glass door, the entire shower is covered in 18 inch polished marble look tiles. The shower coats the user in water from either the overhead rain head, large main showerhead and/or the hand held sprayer. Over 7 feet of white Italian Statuetto marble countertop, enable the couple to have two sink bowls and plenty of room on each side. The bowls are exposed in this stainless steel console sink design which required the team to ensure that the exposed plumbing looked pristine, and painting the bottom of the porcelain bowl to match the coloring. The white cast-iron 72-inch Cecilia claw-foot soaking tub and its chrome lion’s paws complement that other chrome and white used throughout the room. A tall, almost floor-to-ceiling linen closet finished in arctic white is nestled in the corner near the tub, enabling ample storage of towels, etc. Other cabinetry includes an 18 inch-wide vanity with decorative footing is centered between the two sinks, and a 27 inch wall mounted cabinet with shelf is above the Kohler Devonshire elongated toilet. Billowing cloud colored grey blue paint was a great choice for this room to pick up on the veining in the marble. Mirrored medicine chests, a chandelier, wall sconces, and overhead recessed lighting also were incorporated into the design and function of the new room. The artful combination of classic design from material choices, such as free-standing Victorian claw-foot tub along with the modern design as seen in the angled shower, frameless medicine cabinet mirrors, and frosted glass pocket door on the commode, make this bathroom quite a masterpiece. The clients are enjoying having their private space and not having the use the kids’ bathroom anymore.

This Carmel Valley complete remodel truly defines an open-concept living space that is elegant, functional, and full of beautiful finishes. Taking center stage in the kitchen is a gorgeous, large island that features cabinetry in a very on-trend jewel toned blue hue that perfectly accents the primary palette of white and grey throughout the rest of the space. Other beautiful details include the custom hood, walk-in pantry, and the unique marbled mosaic subway tiled backsplash. Subtle brass fixtures and accents accentuate the modern feel while top of the line appliances add the finishing touch for this home chef. Fortunately, one of the best benefits of living in southern California are the mild temperatures that make it possible to enjoy outdoor living spaces nearly year-round. The addition of a large sliding door in the family room expanded this client’s access to a lovely outdoor patio and eating area, complete with recessed heating for cooler months, while a beautiful custom fireplace/entertainment center created the perfect spot for the whole family to enjoy.

Kitchen - mid-sized transitional kitchen idea in New York with white cabinets, limestone countertops and stainless steel appliances

Melanie's inspiration for this sunroom was the grand era of the 1920’s when the prosperous gold coast of Long Island was built. The Sun Room pays homage to the glamorous, opulent lifestyles of the wealthy industrialists who were the residents of the Gold Coast estates in the 1920’s. We preserved the original aged brick walls and intricate metal work in the windows and chose materials for the room that would reflect and refresh the original design. Melanie chose two teal and white Mamounia rugs from The Rug Company in silk and wool to reflect the pattern in the metal work on the windows. Natural light was a major component when designing the sun room so we used reflective objects from mirrored pillows, brass light fixtures, brass objects in addition to a huge brass wall mirror to capture the natural sun light in the room. The estate is set on 6 rolling acres of land, so we used oversized planters with boxwood, and a huge aceda palm tree in the oversized ottoman to bring that outdoors into the room. A one-of-a-kind natural, driftwood table with teal resin from Andrianna Shamara's brings more nature into the room and sits in front of the waterproof Vondom sofa which was custom-made in Valencia Spain. All of the seating in the Sun Room is outdoor furniture and waterproof. A huge Brass sputnik light fixture sits above the sun room reflecting more light into the large brass mirror. An Ironies honeycomb table brings in texture to the room and holds reflective brass candlesticks and large piece of turquoise Slag Glass sits on an Oscar De La Renta book, another American style icon. A Milo Baughman brass bar carts holds a Christofle Martini shaker, martini glasses and a Gabriella Crespi brass and crystal ice bucket would service the captains of industries who displayed their fortunes from the industrial revolution with lavish parties in the their grand estates to celebrate the opportunities and accomplishments that they had worked so hard to achieve. The unprecedented economic prosperity was a distinctly unique aspect of Americana when wealthy industrialists, a hard working generation, helped promote American design and American Dreams. Photo by Alan Barry.

These clients win the award for ‘Most Jarrett Design Projects in One Home’! We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to work with these kind folks so consistently over the years. The most recent project features their master bath, a room they have been wanting to tackle for many years. We think it was well worth the wait! It started off as an outdated space with an enormous platform tub open to the bedroom featuring a large round column. The open concept was inspired by island homes long ago, but it was time for some privacy. The water closet, shower and linen closet served the clients well, but the tub and vanities had to be updated with storage improvements desired. The clients also wanted to add organized spaces for clothing, shoes and handbags. Swapping the large tub for a dainty freestanding tub centered on the new window, cleared space for gorgeous his and hers vanities and armoires flanking the tub. The area where the old double vanity existed was transformed into personalized storage closets boasting beautiful custom mirrored doors. The bathroom floors and shower surround were replaced with classic white and grey materials. Handmade vessel sinks and faucets add a rich touch. Soft brass wire doors are the highlight of a freestanding custom armoire created to house handbags adding more convenient storage and beauty to the bedroom. Star sconces, bell jar fixture, wallpaper and window treatments selected by the homeowner with the help of the talented Lisa Abdalla Interiors provide the finishing traditional touches for this sanctuary. Jacqueline Powell Photography

Home offices have now become staples in most households around the world offering people a space to work and be productive day in and day out. How circumstances have changed! In this day and age, many do not have to leave their houses to reach their workplace. This particular office space was once an unused bedroom. Who wouldn’t appreciate calling this beautiful room their place of work? The impressive large window was the starting point in the design process. Identical custom built-ins house printers and office supplies. They were installed on both sides for added storage. Solid wood shelves supported by custom black metal brackets display fun memorabilia and ornaments. They also complete the symmetry look. One of the home owners’ requisites was to have a place for visitors to stay overnight. This beautiful chair opens into a one-person bed for convenience. A new light fixture, a double barn door, an area rug, two computer chairs, and two desk lamps complete the look. If you are fortunate enough to have your own office space in your home, kudos to you. Grab a coffee and get to work!

This is a very custom Wine cellar that Brandner Design was fortunate enough to collaborate on with CLB Architects from Jackson Hole WY. Brandner Design built much of the architectural steel, doors, furniture and accents.

Back in April of 2016, YIMBY reported on new building applications for 846 Monroe Street, in Brooklyn’s Ocean Hill neighborhood. Since then, work has begun on the vacant, 28-foot-wide lot, and now, we have the reveal for the project, which is being designed by Joshua Felix of J Goldman Design/BEAM Group. The architect of record for the site is BMG Design Build, as listed on the Department of Buildings permits, and the project is being developed by Shimon Kaufman. The structure will total four floors and eight units, spanning 7,304 square feet in total. With units averaging under 700 square feet apiece, rentals are very likely. Fortunately, despite the probability of apartments, the design does not compromise on basic architectural decency, and lacks the PTAC units that characterize the exteriors of the vast bulk of new developments of the same typology in New York City. The facade will also be fairly attractive, featuring a mix of grey brick, and black and white paneling. A small area covered in brown gives a pop of muted color that is just enough to add some visual variety to the exterior.

The Home While looking for space where their active family could expand, these homeowners turned to Black Forest, with trees that remind them of their Indiana years. A stunning Pikes Peak view underscores how fortunate they are to live in Colorado. This home features classic nods to the owner’s French heritage while embracing a thoroughly of-the-moment Colorado lifestyle. Priorities for these homeowners included blending outdoor and indoor spaces wherever possible with generously proportioned windows and doors, porches, patios and balconies. A gracious lime-washed brick entry punctuates a simplified white stucco and black-frame-windowed exterior with traditional rooflines. Dramatic open spaces on the main floor comfortably accommodate the everyday activities of this busy family of four, while providing for welcomed visits from family and friends. A functional, open kitchen is designed for serious cooking, a butler’s pantry for staples, and serveware storage and dining spaces that effortlessly host after-school snacking to multi-course meals. A main-level, Peak-view office comfortably supports working at home, complete with a beer cave and tasting nook for hosting fellow aficionados after work is done. Guests will find comfort and privacy in a ma in-level guestroom suite or sleepover fun in the built-in bunks of the expansive over-garage bonus room. This home is a true collaboration that blends the homeowner’s long-held vision of their ideal home brought to life by the builder’s vision and design/build process that achieves something truly…Warm and welcoming in the Forest. The Builder Stauffer & Sons Construction is a true Design-Build team creating some of the finest living spaces in the Pikes Peak region for over twenty years. We’ve developed an easy point-of-entry to the Design-Build process that begins with our very popular Conceptual Design and Budgeting Agreement. This affordable, low-commitment step provides answers to the early-stage questions of “what and how much?” With this critical information in place, a robust collaboration between client and builder ensues, resulting in a thoughtfully designed home that strikes a balance between size and scope and budget. The Interior Design Family, friends and soon-to-be friends are welcomed into this updated version of a French country farmhouse through a bricked archway and a solid arch-top entry door. Once inside, a sweeping gallery of windows adorned with flower-filled window boxes sets a nice foreground to the ponderosa pine forest. A great room with a two-story, lime-washed, brick fireplace sits juxtaposed to a cozy farm-styled kitchen with large island, plenty of storage and a Pikes Peak view. This family home features a simple, clean design with warm, wooden beams and solid, white-oak flooring. This home is designed to be lived in. Wherever you go, downstairs, upstairs or out on the porch, this home wraps around you and is a delightful place to enjoy.