Home design - craftsman home design idea in Vancouver

Another angle of a side view of a home we installed new, vinyl siding & soffit/fascia/gutters for.
Example of a classic beige vinyl exterior home design in Chicago

Arts and crafts home design photo in Vancouver

Example of an arts and crafts kitchen design in Vancouver

Powers Photography, Fort Dodge, IA

Inspiration for a craftsman home design remodel in Vancouver

Here's a corner section of one of our renovated homes. BEAR installed vinyl siding and soffit/fascia/gutters for this customer.
Traditional beige vinyl exterior home idea in Chicago

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

This 1970s ranch home in South East Denver was roasting in the summer and freezing in the winter. It was also time to replace the wood composite siding throughout the home. Since Colorado Siding Repair was planning to remove and replace all the siding, we proposed that we install OSB underlayment and insulation under the new siding to improve it’s heating and cooling throughout the year. After we addressed the insulation of their home, we installed James Hardie ColorPlus® fiber cement siding in Grey Slate with Arctic White trim. James Hardie offers ColorPlus® Board & Batten. We installed Board & Batten in the front of the home and Cedarmill HardiPlank® in the back of the home. Fiber cement siding also helps improve the insulative value of any home because of the quality of the product and how durable it is against Colorado’s harsh climate. We also installed James Hardie beaded porch panel for the ceiling above the front porch to complete this home exterior make over. We think that this 1970s ranch home looks like a dream now with the full exterior remodel. What do you think?

Arts and crafts light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Powers Photography, Fort Dodge, IA

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.

Powers Photography, Fort Dodge, IA

Powers Photography, Fort Dodge, IA

This simple home was updated to create a vessel for family life. We also insulated and air sealed to dramatically improve comfort and reduce energy use, including getting off fossil fuel - though they did insist on a wood cookstove.

This 1970s ranch home in South East Denver was roasting in the summer and freezing in the winter. It was also time to replace the wood composite siding throughout the home. Since Colorado Siding Repair was planning to remove and replace all the siding, we proposed that we install OSB underlayment and insulation under the new siding to improve it’s heating and cooling throughout the year. After we addressed the insulation of their home, we installed James Hardie ColorPlus® fiber cement siding in Grey Slate with Arctic White trim. James Hardie offers ColorPlus® Board & Batten. We installed Board & Batten in the front of the home and Cedarmill HardiPlank® in the back of the home. Fiber cement siding also helps improve the insulative value of any home because of the quality of the product and how durable it is against Colorado’s harsh climate. We also installed James Hardie beaded porch panel for the ceiling above the front porch to complete this home exterior make over. We think that this 1970s ranch home looks like a dream now with the full exterior remodel. What do you think?

CLOSEUP- Our vinyl siding provides minute details, which produce a beautiful simulated wood grain. Enjoy the look you want, with none of the maintenance!

This 1970s ranch home in South East Denver was roasting in the summer and freezing in the winter. It was also time to replace the wood composite siding throughout the home. Since Colorado Siding Repair was planning to remove and replace all the siding, we proposed that we install OSB underlayment and insulation under the new siding to improve it’s heating and cooling throughout the year. After we addressed the insulation of their home, we installed James Hardie ColorPlus® fiber cement siding in Grey Slate with Arctic White trim. James Hardie offers ColorPlus® Board & Batten. We installed Board & Batten in the front of the home and Cedarmill HardiPlank® in the back of the home. Fiber cement siding also helps improve the insulative value of any home because of the quality of the product and how durable it is against Colorado’s harsh climate. We also installed James Hardie beaded porch panel for the ceiling above the front porch to complete this home exterior make over. We think that this 1970s ranch home looks like a dream now with the full exterior remodel. What do you think?