Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

Photo Whit Preston
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard l-shaped pool house remodel in Austin

Balthazar Korab
Inspiration for a contemporary beige floor laundry room remodel in Detroit with white cabinets and white countertops

This 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 original mid-century style 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. The kitchen was part of a grander complete home re-design and remodel. A modern version of a mid-century His and Hers grand master bathroom was created to include all the amenities and nothing left behind! This bathroom has so much noticeable and hidden “POW” that commands its peaceful spa feeling with a lot of attitude. Maintaining ultra-clean lines yet delivering ample design interest at every detail, This bathroom is eclectically a one of a kind luxury statement. The concept in the laundry room was to create a simple, easy to use and clean space with ample storage and a place removed from the central part of the home to house the necessity of the cats and their litter box needs. There was no need for glamour in the laundry room yet we were able to create a simple highly utilitarian space. If there is one room in the home that requires frequent visitors to thoroughly enjoy with a huge element of surprise, it’s the powder room! This is a room where you know that eventually, every guest will visit. Knowing this, we created a bold statement with layers of intrigue that would leave ample room for fun conversation with your guests upon their prolonged exit. We kept the lights dim here for that intriguing experience of crafted elegance and created ambiance. The walls of peeling metallic rust are the welcoming gesture to a powder room experience of defiance and elegant mystical complexity. It's a lucky house guest indeed who gets to stay in this newly remodeled home. This on-suite bathroom allows them their own space and privacy. Both Bedroom and Bathroom offer plenty of storage for an extended stay. Rift White Oak cabinets and sleek Silestone counters make a lovely combination in the bathroom while the bedroom showcases textured white cabinets with a dark walnut wrap. Photo credit: Fred Donham of PhotographerLink

Inspiration for a small eclectic dining room remodel in San Francisco with yellow walls

Fusion Cork flooring is clean, durable as stone, and warm to walk on, and is fabulous for people suffering from allergies and asthma
Bedroom photo

This guest bedroom and bath have been transformed into a perfect private area for family and friends to stay while they visit. The original design has been revamped to create a guest experience that exceeds all expectations.

© Jeff Herr Photo
Guesthouse - traditional detached guesthouse idea in Atlanta

This charming kids guest room was design with fun and whimsy in mind. The client wanted to transform a spare bedroom into a guest room for kids. We achieved some fun and flare with a new coat of paint and Eskayel wallpaper to give the space character and movement. We furnished the room with a daybed that includes a trundle to accommodate two children. We added boho elements like a bright vintage Moroccan rug and mixed textures with pillows and blankets that have graphic patterns. The cave chair serves as a reading nook for bedtime stories and the mirrors on the walls add a bit of Middle Eastern flare. Photos by Amber Thrane.

Floating stairs are crafted from solid oak beams salvaged from a barn in Oregon. The stringer is black painted steel. The enclosed stairwell acts as a sculptural anchor. Behind the stairwell on the left is a laundry closet concealed by a large sliding door and steps leading up to the mud room. photos by scott hargis

This much-beloved home had been lived in for decades, and had seen its family grow and children leave. The now empty-nester homeowners decided it was time for a change. The floor plan was updated to prioritize a larger family room and more efficient use of space for the back-of-house functions. The family room is now large enough for the whole extended family to visit, while the re-invented study is graced with custom built-ins. The first floor has a comfortable back entry with a large mudroom and laundry room that can be closed off, and the hall bathroom has been re-arranged for a more comfortable guest experience. Circulation spaces have been reworked for greater efficiency and ease of movement. High quality materials and custom detailing have been used throughout, and the best elements have been enhanced. A new, timeless aesthetic reigns supreme, both polished and comfortable. This once tired home is now ready to be loved for years to come.

Softer than hardwood or stone, we compare the comfort of our floors to that of carpeting. You get a softer warmer floor that supports the body rather than one that cause your feet to ache after mere minutes. And unlike carpeting, a quick sweeping is all that is needed instead of expensive and loud vacuuming.

Kids' bedroom (girl)
Small transitional dark wood floor bedroom photo in Austin with white walls

You know that enchanting feeling you get when stepping into a luxury boutique hotel or that coveted Airbnb that’s always fully booked? Imagine a guest bathroom that echoes that experience — an atmosphere draws visitors in -- that’s their own welcoming and serene retreat. A place where visiting friends or family feel like they’ve checked into a beautiful getaway—filled with bright natural light, classic tile underfoot, crisp white walls, and a sophisticated play of pattern. Where the exquisite finishes, thoughtful layout, soaking tub, black vanity with quartz counter, black framed mirror, wood mahogany door, linen closet, and city motif wallpaper have been curated for comfort and style. A pampered “stay-a-while” guest experience. Photography by Patricia Burke

Example of a country living room design in New York

This much-beloved home had been lived in for decades, and had seen its family grow and children leave. The now empty-nester homeowners decided it was time for a change. The floor plan was updated to prioritize a larger family room and more efficient use of space for the back-of-house functions. The family room is now large enough for the whole extended family to visit, while the re-invented study is graced with custom built-ins. The first floor has a comfortable back entry with a large mudroom and laundry room that can be closed off, and the hall bathroom has been re-arranged for a more comfortable guest experience. Circulation spaces have been reworked for greater efficiency and ease of movement. High quality materials and custom detailing have been used throughout, and the best elements have been enhanced. A new, timeless aesthetic reigns supreme, both polished and comfortable. This once tired home is now ready to be loved for years to come.

Vivian Johnson
Example of a small transitional living room design in San Francisco with white walls

Archer & Buchanan designed a standalone garage in Gladwyne to hold a client’s vintage car collection. The new structure is set into the hillside running adjacent to the driveway of the residence. It acts conceptually as a “gate house” of sorts, enhancing the arrival experience and creating a courtyard feel through its relationship to the existing home. The ground floor of the garage features telescoping glass doors that provide easy entry and exit for the classic roadsters while also allowing them to be showcased and visible from the house. A contemporary loft suite, accessible by a custom-designed contemporary wooden stair, accommodates guests as needed. Overlooking the 2-story car space, the suite includes a sitting area with balcony, kitchenette, and full bath. The exterior design of the garage incorporates a stone base, vertical siding and a zinc standing seam roof to visually connect the structure to the aesthetic of the existing 1950s era home.

Our Clients, the proud owners of a landmark 1860’s era Italianate home, desired to greatly improve their daily ingress and egress experience. With a growing young family, the lack of a proper entry area and attached garage was something they wanted to address. They also needed a guest suite to accommodate frequent out-of-town guests and visitors. But in the homeowner’s own words, “He didn’t want to be known as the guy who ‘screwed up’ this beautiful old home”. Our design challenge was to provide the needed space of a significant addition, but do so in a manner that would respect the historic home. Our design solution lay in providing a “hyphen”: a multi-functional daily entry breezeway connector linking the main house with a new garage and in-law suite above.