The owners of this historic house on a promontory surrounded by water asked Morpurgo Architects to maximize ocean views while expanding their home for their growing family. Conforming to The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission’s requirements, our modifications to the existing structure are sympathetic to the original Stuccoed Mission-style and contextually in keeping with neighboring historic homes. This challenging site presented numerous constraints, including adherence to oceanfront setbacks and environmental and zoning regulations. We overcame imposing restrictions to develop a dynamic plan that fulfilled the clients’ programmatic and aesthetic needs. The kitchen was identified by our clients as the focal point of family activity. We maximized this lifestyle concept by developing the kitchen into a spacious living area with commanding views of the water. Renovations to the third floor allowed Morpurgo Architects to create an outdoor space offering a panorama of the historic surrounding communities.

Maderno #9903-3 Size: 42 in. x 51 ft. =180 sq.ft (per bolt) wallcoverings are packaged and sold in a bolt
Example of an urban bedroom design in New York

RUSTIC KITCHENS DESIGN Gather information and pictures that show styles and products that appeal to you. Use kitchen and bath magazines as well as decorating and remodeling magazines to help identify your preferences. Get design input and wish list items from friends and family members. Establish a budget with which you are comfortable.

Example of a mid-sized trendy galley cork floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island, white countertops, flat-panel cabinets and black appliances

Some may have passed by this diamond in the rough, but my clients had a true gut feeling that an addition and total renovation would turn heads after completion, and boy were they right! We literally flipped the garage location, re-routed circulation and increased habitable areas to create great curb appeal, an open concept and easy flow throughout the home. A gut renovation to the interior includes a new spacious kitchen, dining and living rooms, a gas fireplace, two additional bedrooms, a bonus room, as well as a new powder room, primary bathroom and second floor laundry. New windows and apertures throughout increase natural light indoors — tenfold — creating a warm and welcoming feeling. The exterior transformation makes it hard to even identify the original home. This total modification is a testament to never judge a book by its cover. Check out the before photos at the end of the gallery to see how far this project came!

This project involved replacing a worn and damaged garage door spring for a homeowner in Evanston, IL. The door had become heavy, noisy, and difficult to lift, creating a safety concern for the family. Our team inspected the system, identified the failing spring, and installed a new high‑cycle torsion spring designed for long‑term durability. We also performed a full system balance, tightened all hardware, and lubricated the moving components to ensure smooth and quiet operation. The result was a safer, easier‑to‑use garage door with improved performance and reliability. Projects like this highlight the importance of proper garage door maintenance and professional installation. Our goal is always to provide homeowners with safe, dependable, and long‑lasting solutions.

Mathew and his team at Cummings Architects have a knack for being able to see the perfect vision for a property. They specialize in identifying a building’s missing elements and crafting designs that simultaneously encompass the large scale, master plan and the myriad details that make a home special. For this Winchester home, the vision included a variety of complementary projects that all came together into a single architectural composition. Starting with the exterior, the single-lane driveway was extended and a new carriage garage that was designed to blend with the overall context of the existing home. In addition to covered parking, this building also provides valuable new storage areas accessible via large, double doors that lead into a connected work area. For the interior of the house, new moldings on bay windows, window seats, and two paneled fireplaces with mantles dress up previously nondescript rooms. The family room was extended to the rear of the house and opened up with the addition of generously sized, wall-to-wall windows that served to brighten the space and blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The family room, with its intimate sitting area, cozy fireplace, and charming breakfast table (the best spot to enjoy a sunlit start to the day) has become one of the family’s favorite rooms, offering comfort and light throughout the day. In the kitchen, the layout was simplified and changes were made to allow more light into the rear of the home via a connected deck with elongated steps that lead to the yard and a blue-stone patio that’s perfect for entertaining smaller, more intimate groups. From driveway to family room and back out into the yard, each detail in this beautiful design complements all the other concepts and details so that the entire plan comes together into a unified vision for a spectacular home. Photos By: Eric Roth

Mountain style red two-story board and batten gable roof photo in Minneapolis

In coming to Minnesota from Iceland, the owners of Home 4 found themselves more than 3,000 miles away from home, hoping to build something new – literally and figuratively – that would feel like home for their family of five. They purchased a scenic piece of land in Rochester and identified a general idea of the spaces they would need, but they struggled with how to define a sense of character that would incorporate their culture and identity into the design. The architect-led design team was tasked with creating a house that would help establish the homeowners’ roots in a new country while still recalling familiar comforts of their heritage. The result is a warm family home that combines elements of Nordic design with a touch of American farmhouse aesthetic. Gracious proportions, custom woodworking, and cheerful details create a welcoming atmosphere, while modern conveniences like a large mudroom and second-floor laundry help day-to-day life feel easy. Around each corner, a new detail greets the eye, from the Lundie-inspired column at the staircase, to the double-heart detail inscribed in the woodwork, to the custom table designed for the breakfast nook. Each element is lovely individually, but experiencing the holistic effect as the details intentionally pair and play together helps to craft a house that feels like home. Most important, the homeowners’ history, heritage, and hopes are melded together into a home that represents their family. Each unique element and carefully considered material combine to form a house that feels as if it could have belonged to this family for generations, even though it is brand new.

Country l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

David Ward
Arts and crafts exterior home photo in Chicago

Focused on creating an inspiring and stress free experience for clients, Emily and her talented rolodex of contractors, architects and consultants take projects of all sizes from dream to reality. Emily personally works one-on-one with each client to first discover how they want their space to feel. She then helps them identify the needs of the space, both aesthetically and functionally. About Emily: Fashion designer turned interior designer, Emily Wallach, fuses West Coast simplicity with East Coast glamour for spaces that are luxurious and liveable. After her successful career in fashion, Emily’s passion for creating stylish, contemporary spaces led her to start her eponymous interior design firm in 2012. Since then, she has brought her design simplicity to fabulous New York apartments, New Jersey manors and commercial hospitality venues. Emily’s refreshing design sensibility results in interiors that evoke a welcoming sense of peace and impeccable taste. Planning an upcoming project? Give us a call now at (646) 320-1561 to get started!

A Modern Apartment Makeover in Brooklyn, New York. This one bedroom apartment was transformed into a sleek and structured home for a single-father looking to create a space that identified with his personal style but was also accommodating to having his kids visit and to entertain family and friends. Check out the photo tour of this beautifully renovated, NYC apartment. The project included the combined Living and Dining Room, Master Bedroom, bathroom, entry foyer and kitchen.

When planning a family, finding time to find yourself in your home gets tricky. That’s where we can help as we did with this lovely, young family. With a great house and lots of room to work with, we set out to make the spaces interesting and identifiable to the people that live there. Now this open floor plan gives them an array of favorite spots to make memories as young kids come into the mix.

Dining room - contemporary dining room idea in San Francisco

Some may have passed by this diamond in the rough, but my clients had a true gut feeling that an addition and total renovation would turn heads after completion, and boy were they right! We literally flipped the garage location, re-routed circulation and increased habitable areas to create great curb appeal, an open concept and easy flow throughout the home. A gut renovation to the interior includes a new spacious kitchen, dining and living rooms, a gas fireplace, two additional bedrooms, a bonus room, as well as a new powder room, primary bathroom and second floor laundry. New windows and apertures throughout increase natural light indoors — tenfold — creating a warm and welcoming feeling. The exterior transformation makes it hard to even identify the original home. This total modification is a testament to never judge a book by its cover. Check out the before photos at the end of the gallery to see how far this project came!

Example of a minimalist freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office design in San Francisco with white walls

Over the course of six weeks we took their home from slightly outdated to stylishly modern. We began our work in the kitchen. Their existing space included oak raised panel cabinets and laminate countertops. We identified two problems right off the bat. First, the kitchen was home to an unfortunately placed island that broke up the room and made for horrible traffic flow. Second, the family was “oaked out,” with obviously dated oak cabinets abounding. The homeowners also requested that their countertops be replaced with a durable and low-maintenance material. To begin, we replaced the island and created a peninsula to open up the kitchen. We upgraded the cabinets with Showplace Wood cherry cabinets in a truffle finish that matched the home’s entertainment center in the adjacent living room. Next, we replaced the family’s door with a Showplace Wood Concord style for a more modern feel. Finally, we swapped the existing laminate counters with Cambria natural quartz countertops in the Canterbury finish for a beautiful, maintenance free work surface. Moving into the laundry room, we installed matching cabinets in this space as well. Last but not least, we installed new Wilsonart HD countertops and a Swanstone sink. With the remodel complete, we checked in with our homeowners and are happy to report pleased customers all around!