Our clients struggled with the fractured layout of their traditional Tudor style home in Weston MA. Typical for the time period in which it was built, a series of unconnected rooms and a kitchen too small for the gathering of the family or entertaining guests was literally cramping their style. The homeowners were seeking to reimagine the space, making room for larger gatherings while maintaining the intimacy of separate individual spaces. A truly collaborative process between the homeowner and our design team resulted in a blending of formal and casual design transforming the space into a bright and flexible living area that allows for both cozy family dinners or a party for a crowd. To open the fractured space, the Feinmann team removed two walls between the kitchen and the family room. A bright, casual dining area with functional built-in seating anchors one end of the room. Upgrades in appliances and ample work surfaces make this a true cooks kitchen. The painted cabinetry along the perimeter of the kitchen keeps the space feeling bright while the rich, dark brown lyptus wood cabinetry on the island adds warmth and contrast. The black walnut bar invites guests to linger while keeping them out of the busy cooking area. Sunlight, pond views and an elegant raised coffered ceiling in the seating area off the kitchen create a cozy place to relax, take in the view of the pond or catch a game on the new custom wireless audio flat screen television. What was once a divided floor plan is now a truly connected space thanks to the ingenuity and vision of the Feinmann design team. Photos by John Horner

The Billiards room of the home is the central room on the east side of the house, connecting the office, bar, and study together.
Inspiration for a large timeless enclosed medium tone wood floor, brown floor, tray ceiling and wall paneling game room remodel in Baltimore with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace and no tv

Example of a large trendy galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, beige backsplash and stainless steel appliances

A place to relax, read and play games and a little office space is how our outbuilding in Mill Valley was described. It added an extra living room and some coveted square footage to a hard to add onto home in a desirable part of town. The outbuilding was placed on axis with the main house, connected by a deck with a view to the yard in between. To keep all the books and games in order, the main room was lined with fin-ply cabinetry. The floor is an engineered wide plank rustic oak. A simple clean burning wood fireplace will provide heat when needed. The outbuilding has the feel of a classic summer cabin, only with better insulation for year round use. PHOTOGRAPHER JOSEPH SCHELL CONTRACTOR ABACUS BUILDERS

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

In this combination living room/ family room, form vs function is at it's best.. Formal enough to host a cocktail party, and comfortable enough to host a football game. The wrap around sectional accommodates 5-6 people and the oversized ottoman has room enough for everyone to put their feet up! The high back, stylized wing chair offers comfort and a lamp for reading. Decorative accessories are placed in the custom built bookcases freeing table top space for drinks, books, etc. Magazines and current reading are neatly placed in the rattan tray for easy access. The overall neutral color palette is punctuated by soft shades of blue around the room. LORRAINE G VALE photo by Michael Costa

Paul Dyer Photography
Transitional concrete floor game room photo in San Francisco with beige walls

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

Mid-sized trendy light wood floor family room photo in Miami with white walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The lower level of this modern farmhouse features a large game room that connects out to the screen porch, pool terrace and fire pit beyond. One end of the space is a large lounge area for watching TV and the other end has a built-in wet bar and accordion windows that open up to the screen porch. Photography by Todd Crawford

The Design Firm
Example of a transitional open concept dark wood floor game room design in Houston with red walls and a wall-mounted tv

Carlos Domenech
Example of a large trendy gender-neutral medium tone wood floor and beige floor kids' room design in Miami with white walls

This project was featured in Midwest Home magazine as the winner of ASID Life in Color. The addition of a kitchen with custom shaker-style cabinetry and a large shiplap island is perfect for entertaining and hosting events for family and friends. Quartz counters that mimic the look of marble were chosen for their durability and ease of maintenance. Open shelving with brass sconces above the sink create a focal point for the large open space. Putting a modern spin on the traditional nautical/coastal theme was a goal. We took the quintessential palette of navy and white and added pops of green, stylish patterns, and unexpected artwork to create a fresh bright space. Grasscloth on the back of the built in bookshelves and console table along with rattan and the bentwood side table add warm texture. Finishes and furnishings were selected with a practicality to fit their lifestyle and the connection to the outdoors. A large sectional along with the custom cocktail table in the living room area provide ample room for game night or a quiet evening watching movies with the kids. To learn more visit https://k2interiordesigns.com To view article in Midwest Home visit https://midwesthome.com/interior-spaces/life-in-color-2019/ Photography - Spacecrafting

Basement Media Room
Example of an urban underground white floor basement design in Cincinnati with white walls

The lower level of this modern farmhouse features a large game room that connects out to the screen porch, pool terrace and fire pit beyond. One end of the space is a large lounge area for watching TV and the other end has a built-in wet bar and accordion windows that open up to the screen porch. The TV is concealed by barn doors with salvaged barn wood on a shiplap wall. Photography by Todd Crawford

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

The terrace level (basement) game room is perfect for keeping family and friends entertained. Just beyond the game room is a well outfitted exercise room.

Northern Michigan is the ultimate getaway destination with serene views and abundance of outdoor recreation. This remote Up North house offers nothing short of that. With the nearest major town almost 45 minutes away, it was essential this vacation home offered all the amenities for entertainment and relaxation. Spire worked with the client to create the perfect lake house retreat with comfort and convenience during any season or weather. The living room with an attached game room is a versatile space that offers endless entertainment. A 65” TV was installed over the fireplace in the custom stone wall. The adjustable mount allows the TV to lower for comfortable viewing from either the couch or pool table. A pair of Meridian Audio DSP7200 custom color matched speakers equipped with a Meridian Audio 218 digital controller were strategically installed on each side of the fireplace. The floor-standing speakers compliment the natural stone while providing astonishingly life-like sound, perfect for streaming live concerts. The powerful audio extends to the upper level of the home. Spire installed B&W 700 series bookshelf speakers in the executive office and a Triad custom speaker bar in the master bedroom. These speakers are ideal for smaller rooms, while elevating the TV experience. The large living room windows offer beautiful lake views and ample lighting. Lutron Palladiom shades were installed to easily control the natural light in the living room, master bedroom and bathroom. They are custom designed and fully automated to let in the morning sun or achieve partial shading or complete privacy. Whether set on a schedule or controlled from an iPad, the shades operate quietly and seamlessly. The technology was designed to be enjoyed just as much indoors as outdoors. With the whole home audio system, high-quality sound can flow throughout the indoor rooms as well as the outdoor patio. While the location may be remote, Spire ensured the WiFi and network connection is strong both throughout the yard and inside the home. A Lutron HomeWorks QS system integrates the control of all the interior and exterior lighting including motion sensing for the exterior pathway. Since this is not a permanent residence, a control and security system was very important. A personalized Savant system was integrated for full home control of lighting, climate, entertainment and security from anywhere with a smart device . This includes the ability to control the multiple landscape light zones with timed scenes. The Doorbird cameras and chimes with the integration of camera feeds into the Savant Control provides remote communication with visitors at any of the exterior doors. Remote access also allows rebooting of all essential systems from any location.

In the Recreation Room, a video distribution system connected to three televisions allows the family to watch a game – or many games – from all angles of the room. Technology and integration by Mills Custom Audio/Video; Architecture and general contracting by Page Custom Homes; Interior Design by Marvin Herman and Associates.