Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Historically a working mill site, the original structure was built in the 1800’s. In need of a gentle nudge into the 21st century, the owners and members of the design team were very careful to maintain the original charm, while bringing the home into the realm of livability. Thoughtful siting of new “out buildings” for a home offi ce and garage and landscaping enhanced yet preserved the sylvan landscape. A new, painted wood entrance was added to the original entry door, which successfully appears to have always been there. A new sun room addition was constructed adjacent to the kitchen and commands breathtaking views. New windows throughout and a copper roof made the most of necessary improvements. The interior was carefully renovated with built-in shelving in the living room, a modern kitchen and updated bathrooms, all maintaining as much reverence for the original structure as possible.

Bethany Nauert
Inspiration for a tropical dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Los Angeles with multicolored walls

The design goals of this multi-generational remodel were very personal. The core objective was to create two independent homes in one. The clients wished to incorporate their love of Key West architecture, create a light-filled open floor Architectural Design: Sennikoff Architects. Landscape Design: TIR Design Studio. Architectural Detailing: Zieba Builders. Photography: Ken Henry.

A young family with two small children was willing to renovate in order to create an open, livable home, conducive to seeing everywhere and being together. Their kitchen was isolated so was key to project’s success, as it is the central axis of the first level. Pineapple House decided to make it, literally, the “heart of the home.” We started at the front of the home and removed one of the two staircases, plus the existing powder room and pantry. In the space gained after removing the stairwell, pantry and powder room, we were able to reconfigure the entry. We created a new central hall, which was flanked by a new pantry and new powder room. This created symmetry, added a view and allowed natural light from the foyer to telegraph into the kitchen. We change the front door swing to enhance the view and the traffic flow upon entry into the house. The improvements were honored in 2018 when this home won an ASID Design Excellence Award for the year's Best Kitchen. Galina Coada Photography

This Rancho Bernardo home exterior was transformed into this beautifully tranquil and drought-resistant gathering area with an electric firepit. What a way to utilize all the outdoor space making every part livable from the comfort of your own home! www.choosechi.com. Photos by Scott Basile, Basile Photography.

The owners inherited this waterfront family cottage, razed it and rebuilt it. The owner sought a comfortable, four-season cottage retreat that allows for entertaining and privacy. The new construction focused on achieving the best possible view of the river and nearby conservation land. The home features walls of windows, three outdoor decks and a screened in- porch. The exposed wood provides texture that fits with the outdoor surroundings. The best features in this home are the windows, textured wood, and the multiple decks. Two of the living room walls are completely devoted to windows overlooking the river. Textured wood is present throughout the house from the ceiling beams to the floors. The house also features not one or two, but three decks and a screened in porch to allow for outdoor entertaining and enjoying nature’s beauty. The space’s livability has been greatly improved with the rebuild. The house now has a second floor with two bedrooms, a half bath, and a fully functional loft. The downstairs has an expanded living room with floor to ceiling windows, the kitchen went from a small galley set up to a full gourmet kitchen, and an additional bedroom and full bath rounds out the first floor living space.

A mirrored chest, a fuzzy chair, and a golden unicorn - only improved by some sparkle & skulls. Photography by Laura Desantis-Olsson
Mid-sized transitional carpeted bedroom photo in New York with purple walls

Tim & Elissa have a beautiful home in the most desirable Wyomissing neighborhood. Broad sidewalks under stately oaks, with nearby parks makes it a perfect place to raise a growing family. But their 2-bedroom mid-century rancher was becoming a squeeze. They asked Spring Creek Design to come up with a cost-effective solution to their space problem, while also tackling some of the home’s aged infrastructure. Design Criteria: - Increase living space by adding a new 2nd storey Master Suite. - Enhance livability with an open floorplan on the first floor. - Improve the connection to the outdoors. - Update basics systems with new windows, HVAC and insulation. - Update interior with paint & refinished floors. Special Features: - Bright, mid-century modern design is true to the home’s vintage. - Custom steel cable railings at both stairways. - New open plan creates strong connections between kitchen, living room, dining room and deck. - High-performance Pella windows throughout, including a new triple-panel slider to the deck.

The Johnson-Thompson house is the oldest house in Winchester, MA, dating back to the early 1700s. The addition and renovation expanded the structure and added three full bathrooms including a spacious two-story master bathroom, as well as an additional bedroom for the daughter. The kitchen was moved and expanded into a large open concept kitchen and family room, creating additional mud-room and laundry space. But with all the new improvements, the original historic fabric and details remain. The moldings are copied from original pieces, salvaged bricks make up the kitchen backsplash. Wood from the barn was reclaimed to make sliding barn doors. The wood fireplace mantels were carefully restored and original beams are exposed throughout the house. It's a wonderful example of modern living and historic preservation. Eric Roth

The owners of a 1970’s non - descript “spec house” came with the primary goal of expanding the existing garage to add three additional cars, and a less precise secondary goal of updating the existing house. We started with a master plan and recommended that the garage be a separate structure linked to the house with a breezeway. The greater benefi t to this was that the breezeway also serves as a gracious gateway to outdoor entertainment areas in the rear of the property. The project included a new front entrance portico, a new rear entrance / mudroom / laundry, a new kitchen, and an expanded and renovated master suite. Updates to the original sterile living areas of the existing house improved livability and personalized the space with a much greater level of intimacy, richness and detail.