The challenge: take a run-of-the mill colonial-style house and turn it into a vibrant, Cape Cod beach home. The creative and resourceful crew at SV Design rose to the occasion and rethought the box. Given a coveted location and cherished ocean view on a challenging lot, SV’s architects looked for the best bang for the buck to expand where possible and open up the home inside and out. Windows were added to take advantage of views and outdoor spaces—also maximizing water-views were added in key locations. The result: a home that causes the neighbors to stop the new owners and express their appreciation for making such a stunning improvement. A home to accommodate everyone and many years of enjoyment to come.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

GOALS After recently completing indoor renovations, the homeowners were now ready to focus on updating and improving their property. The home lacked curb appeal and was void of any landscape. The land sloped down to the right of the house where decaying retaining walls needed to be addressed and the backyard needed a complete overhaul. – Add curb appeal – Create seasonal interest – Replace failing retaining walls – Create a cohesive space in both the front and rear yards APPROACH The timber wall in the rear yard was removed along with the decaying wall in the front yard. The updated design incorporated a new masonry retaining wall to complement the stucco finish on the house. A natural moss rock wall was added to the front right side of the house to help even out the grade along the foundation. A selection of hardy plants were selected to soften the architecture of the home, providing year-round interest and immense curb appeal. PLANTING COMPONENTS • Large specimen trees, such as hinoki cypress and holly were used to add height and to anchor the home within the landscape. • Southern magnolia and birch trees were placed in the lawn to add color and shade. • Flowering hydrangea, carpet roses, azaleas and perennials such as geranium, liriope, astilbe, coreopsis and nepeta were used to create seasonal interest. RESULT The redesigned landscape provided the finishing touch to the home’s renovations, restoring its curb appeal and adding tremendous value to the home overall.

Great decorators know that no matter how classic the furniture, color can make it feel modern and glamorous. The bold colors make the room look vibrant and interesting

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

Experience luxury in Belmont, MA with a stunning bathroom remodel. Artful design, improved lighting, and elegant details create a haven of relaxation.

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

We wanted to create a comfortable and tranquil retreat in this sunroom, a place where my clients could lounge and escape the world. We used oversized chaises, a soft color story, and interesting textures to accomplish this relaxed aesthetic. We layered warm, sandy creams and soft grays to create a casual, monochromatic palette that lends itself to a more subdued eclectic vibe and a truly relaxed atmosphere. We also made sure to incorporate a whole jungle worth of plants! Plants are the best way to bring life into your home. Not only do plants beautify your space, but they also have some pretty wonderful health benefits! They detoxify your home by improving indoor air quality. They are also known to boost your mood & lift your spirit!

A complete renovation of a CT lakeside residence, creating a timeless family retreat with refined interiors, improved flow, custom details, and expansive views that connect the home to nature. Sculptural lighting elements, including statement pendants and thoughtfully integrated ceiling fixtures, add warmth and visual interest while complementing the home’s architectural details and curated interiors.

Beaux arts architecture of Blairsden was inspiration for kitchen. Homeowner wanted clean airy look while repurposing cold commercial cooking space to an aesthetically pleasing functional kitchen for family and friends or for a catering staff during larger gatherings. Aside from the hand made LaCornue range, no appliances were to be be in the kitchen so as not to interfere with the aesthetic. Instead, the appliances were moved to an adjacent space and celebrated as their own aesthetic with complimentary stainless steel cabinetry and tiled walls. The color pallet of the kitchen was intentionally subtle with tones of beige white and grey. Light was reintroduced into the space by rebuilding the east and north windows. Traffic pattern was improved by moving range from south wall to north wall. Custom stainless structural window, with stainless steel screen and natural brass harlequin grill encapsulated in insulated frosted glass, was engineered to support hood and creates a stunning backdrop for the already gorgeous range. All hardware in kitchen is unlacquered natural brass intentionally selected so as to develop its own patina as it oxides over time to give a true historic quality. Other interesting point about kitchen: All cabinetry doors 5/4" All cabinetry interiors natural walnut All cabinetry interiors on sensors and light up with LED lights that are routed into frames of cabinetry Magnetic cutlery dividers in drawers enable user to reposition easily Venician plaster walls Lava stone countertops on perimeter Marble countertop island 2 level cutting boards and strainers in sink by galley workstation

The objective was to create a warm neutral space to later customize to a specific colour palate/preference of the end user for this new construction home being built to sell. A high-end contemporary feel was requested to attract buyers in the area. An impressive kitchen that exuded high class and made an impact on guests as they entered the home, without being overbearing. The space offers an appealing open floorplan conducive to entertaining with indoor-outdoor flow. Due to the spec nature of this house, the home had to remain appealing to the builder, while keeping a broad audience of potential buyers in mind. The challenge lay in creating a unique look, with visually interesting materials and finishes, while not being so unique that potential owners couldn’t envision making it their own. The focus on key elements elevates the look, while other features blend and offer support to these striking components. As the home was built for sale, profitability was important; materials were sourced at best value, while retaining high-end appeal. Adaptations to the home’s original design plan improve flow and usability within the kitchen-greatroom. The client desired a rich dark finish. The chosen colours tie the kitchen to the rest of the home (creating unity as combination, colours and materials, is repeated throughout). Photos- Paul Grdina

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls and no fireplace

This project is a full bathroom remodel designed in a transitional style, combining clean modern lines with timeless finishes. The space was completely reimagined with new wood-look tile flooring, a custom-built vanity, and quartz countertops that bring both durability and elegance. The shower was rebuilt as a walk-in design featuring frameless sliding glass doors, large-format tile, and a recessed niche with detailed mosaic for added visual interest. A matching quartz curb was installed to create continuity with the vanity surfaces, while brushed brass fixtures and hardware add warmth and contrast throughout the space. Lighting was upgraded with a modern vanity fixture and LED mirror, enhancing both functionality and ambiance. Additional improvements include full interior painting and the installation of a dedicated electrical outlet to support a smart toilet. The result is a clean, functional, and elevated bathroom designed for everyday comfort with a refined aesthetic.

Photo of a large traditional full sun backyard stone outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in San Francisco.

Wild Lupine / Lupinus perennis

Photo: Paul Finkel
Huge trendy white two-story stucco flat roof photo in Austin

The homeowners were very concerned about over-improving their modest split-level home built in 1961. They liked the “mid-century modern” feel and wanted to enhance that vibe. Top on their wish list was to replace the portable dishwasher with a built-in and add a peninsula for seating and workspace. To keep the labor cost down, the soffits and existing ceiling lighting was left intact. The first option was to keep the existing cabinets; however, the original layout did not allow adequate counter space on either side of the cooktop. After considered the price of new cabinets, they realized the value of having a brand new kitchen. The fun begins in the design phase. We chose the horizontal grain laminate to blend with the color of the existing woodwork in the home. The textured rhomboid shaped tile steals the show when accented with contrasting grout. The kitchen is a little mod and a little hip. And fits in perfectly as today’s “mid-century modern” home.

We recently enjoyed the opportunity to remodel three floors of a nineteenth-century Cambridge home with our project partners, architect Tom Downer and designer Jayme Kennerknecht/LDa Architects. . • The owners – a family of four that includes both a teenager and a toddler - wanted a house better suited to entertaining but also appropriate for family together time. Specific improvements on their wish list included a playroom that could handle differing family needs, a custom bar for entertaining, a new fireplace, and an inviting kitchen that would remain distinct but be better connected to adjoining rooms. • Adding a fireplace to the living room involved rebuilding the entire back wall of the home. The fireplace mantel was custom designed to match an existing mantel in the nearby dining room, which is original to the home. • In the playroom, care was taken to create zones for three members of the family: The mother enjoys crafting and now has a station directly below existing skylights, the teenager has a semi-private nook at the back of the space for relaxing, and the youngest in the family can enjoy toys and games placed along one wall alongside a rug for playing on the floor. On the same level, we created a separate guest bedroom with a new closet and a window designed to match other windows throughout the home. • The kitchen is fully upgraded and custom designed to accommodate the mother’s cooking habits, with specific elements including a farmer’s sink in the island and a stainless steel counter with an integrated sink for food preparation placed behind it on the counter. To improve storage in the much-used room, corner drawer units were installed instead of lazy Susan cabinets. Also, the homeowners were not interested in an open floor plan, but did want to improve access to the living room and yard beyond. This was achieved by expanding the opening between the two rooms allowing the cook to engage with family and guests and have a clear view when children are playing in the yard. Photo by Shelly Harrison