Custom sliding barn doors
Elegant exterior home photo in Portland Maine

Entry door to barn
Inspiration for a timeless vestibule remodel in Portland Maine with a light wood front door

Barn sidewall elevation.
Large elegant brown three-story wood exterior home photo in Portland Maine

Garage - rustic garage idea in Cleveland

Interior ladder stairs to upper loft with custom metal railings.
Staircase - traditional staircase idea in Portland Maine

Example of a mountain style garage design in Cleveland

Interior of timber frame barn
Inspiration for a timeless shed remodel in Portland Maine

Custom mortise and tenoned pine staircase and railing
Staircase - traditional staircase idea in Portland Maine

Barn sidewall with swinging barn doors and entry door.
Inspiration for a large timeless brown three-story wood exterior home remodel in Portland Maine

Inspiration for a rustic bathroom remodel in Dallas

The Boston City Hall Brick paver is repeated on the front walkways keeping the design connected between the front and back yards. Here a small Jumbo Cobblestone flared apron is installed by the driveway to add contrast to the brick and tie into the old world style of the property. A Used Granite post is installed in concrete with a hitching post for an added feature. Kona, the retriever, is the gatekeeper to the property.....

Entry door to barn with custom metal strap hinges.
Elegant vestibule photo in Portland Maine with a light wood front door

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic underground concrete floor and beige floor home design remodel in Philadelphia with brown walls

The new carriage style garage doors add character and detail to the previous simple exterior.
Inspiration for a huge timeless detached four-car garage remodel in New York

Photo of a large farmhouse partial sun front yard gravel driveway in Boston for fall.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Martha O’Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Builder | Troy Thies, Photography | Ben Nelson, Designer
Example of a large trendy l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in Minneapolis with white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink and shaker cabinets

Original, post and beam structure exposed for repairs.
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse exterior home remodel in New York

Inspiration for a large timeless look-out basement remodel in Philadelphia with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace