The knee wall behind the bathtub is topped with a marble slab and trimmed with glass mosaic tile. Similar tile is used in the shower waterfall accent. Photography provided by Ashley Sullivan Exposurely

This home, built in 1847, is the oldest included in the Lee County Historic Register. The master bath and kitchen had framing dating to the original build. Both rooms were out of square and plumb. The owners decided to tear out and square up. Had they not, the kitchen, with addition, would have a 5” slope across 25’. The entire home features original heart pine floors. The foyer floor had been refinished so many times that it required stabilization from below. The surface was so thin that it required the services of a specialist to sand before we refinished, saving the original floor. The second floor was added earlier this century and now required a large engineered beam to allow for the kitchen addition. The kitchen windows are now Marvin brand clad wood (TDL). If you look closely, you will see we used a rounded bead on the archway. The daughter’s bath is contained in a very small space. We built the knee wall. The knee wall had to be beveled to accommodate the walk door swing and access the toilet. Rohl sinks were used in both kitchens and bathrooms, along with unlacquered Newport Brass faucets to allow them to patina to a beautiful and natural aged look. The new kitchen island countertop we installed is Honed Kronos Dolomite with smoked soapstone surrounds. There is a new “hidden room” above the kitchen featuring a Murphy cabinet door entry. The second flat roof floor deck, built over 20 years ago, had floor paver tiles that required a custom match. We sliced brick to achieve this. This home site features a large oak tree. The owners appreciate the sensory enhancements it provides and are determined to preserve the backyard centerpiece. This necessitated an 18” from edge railing setback. The railing features a herringbone design which we rebuilt for proportionality following the edge setback. This project required a rework of the massive roof valleys feeding the copper conductor boxes which was completed using 10’ PVC sheets, 6” copper downspouts and copper conductor boxes. We also added ½ round copper gutters with copper downspouts. We then added a steel frame with copper standing seam eyebrow roof over the 2nd floor balcony door. The traditional tongue and groove front porch floor warped and buckled. We replaced it with sassafras wood after rebuilding the framing to accommodate the new flooring. After extensive Building Science research, we installed 2 dehumidifying fans in the front porch crawl space to keep the porch floor boards smooth. We found the original 18’X18”X16’ tall original columns had some rot. During repair, we found structural defects. Replacement involved placing the 4x4 iron posts on a concrete foundation. We built new columns of sassafras then wrapped the iron posts.

Katherine Dashiell of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Annapolis, MD collaborated with Lauer Construction on this multi-room project to create a transitional style inspired kitchen, bathroom and mudroom remodel featuring Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen perimeter cabinets are the Rockwell full overlay door style in a Moonshine finish, paired with kitchen island cabinets in the Mineral Grey finish. The kitchen also includes Jefferey Alexander Marlo Knobs and Sullivan Pulls in Polished Chrome. The mudroom cabinets are the Rockwell full overlay door style in a Mineral Grey finish. The flooring is Pacific Caramel 8x8 tile. The bathroom cabinets are the Rockwell full overlay door style in a Mineral Grey finish with a Nickel Linen Glaze. The bathroom also includes Picadilly Gloss Perla 4x12 tile with Thassos Bar Liner and Deep Ocean Stone Mosaic for the shower wall and Stateworks Lugnez 12x24 and 2x2 for the shower floor. Throughout these spaces, the countertops, knee wall toppers, shower curb and bench are Cambria Brittanicca quartz. Photos courtesy of BTW Images.

This stunning home features custom Crown Point Cabinetry in the kitchen, art studio, master bath, master closet, and study. The custom cabinetry displays maple wood desired white and gray paint colors, and a fabulous green in the master bath, Barnstead doors, and square Inset construction. Design details include appliance panels, finished ends, finished interiors, glass doors, furniture finished ends, knee brackets, valances, wainscoting, and a solid wood top!! Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry

This stunning home features custom Crown Point cabinetry in the kitchen. Design details include appliance panels, finished ends, finished interiors, specialty leaded glass doors, furniture ends, knee brackets, custom wainscoting with specialty glass, pegged doors and drawer fronts, Arts & Crafts moulding & brackets, as well as custom beam coverings. Wood: Quartersawn White Oak & Maple Finish: Vintage Dawn Stain & Cottage Cream Paint Doors: Craftsman with Pegs Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry

This home had a small covered patio and the homeowners wanted to create a new space that included an outdoor kitchen and living room complete with a fireplace. They were having a pool built as well and really wanted to have a nice space to enjoy their backyard. We did demo work to remove an existing patio, planters and a pond. Their new space consists of 900 SF of patio area covered with a Versailles pattern travertine. The new freestanding covered patio with a breezeway is 650 SF with brick columns and arches to match the home. A small covered area was built alongside the outdoor kitchen. The ceiling is painted tongue and groove with beautiful reclaimed beams. The fireplace is a custom masonry wood burning fireplace with a cast stone mantle. The knee walls built to the side of the fireplace are complemented with two cast stone benches. The outdoor kitchen is 12 linear feet with a granite counter and back splash and brick fascia. The grill is a 42” RCS grill is complete with a fridge, ice maker and storage drawers. The vent hood is a Vent-a-hood with a custom cast stone cover. TK Images

TR Knapp Architects
Example of an arts and crafts basement design in Chicago

Custom Surface Solutions - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows a remodeled master bathroom with 12" x 24" tile on a vertical offset pattern used on the walls and floors. Includes glass mosaic accent band and shower box, and Fantasy Brown marble knee wall top and seat surface.

Maxine Schnitzer Photography
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in DC Metro

Sarah Reynolds
Inspiration for a modern gender-neutral reach-in closet remodel in Dublin with white cabinets

A kneeling figure, crafted from aluminum rods, greets visitors to the lower garden.
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Charlotte.

Inspiration for a transitional master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Boston with gray walls

Inspiration for a transitional master ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom remodel in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and a one-piece toilet

This house is discreetly tucked into its wooded site in the Mad River Valley near the Sugarbush Resort in Vermont. The soaring roof lines complement the slope of the land and open up views though large windows to a meadow planted with native wildflowers. The house was built with natural materials of cedar shingles, fir beams and native stone walls. These materials are complemented with innovative touches including concrete floors, composite exterior wall panels and exposed steel beams. The home is passively heated by the sun, aided by triple pane windows and super-insulated walls. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

This home in Napa off Silverado was rebuilt after burning down in the 2017 fires. Architect David Rulon, a former associate of Howard Backen, known for this Napa Valley industrial modern farmhouse style. Composed in mostly a neutral palette, the bones of this house are bathed in diffused natural light pouring in through the clerestory windows. Beautiful textures and the layering of pattern with a mix of materials add drama to a neutral backdrop. The homeowners are pleased with their open floor plan and fluid seating areas, which allow them to entertain large gatherings. The result is an engaging space, a personal sanctuary and a true reflection of it's owners' unique aesthetic. Inspirational features are metal fireplace surround and book cases as well as Beverage Bar shelving done by Wyatt Studio, painted inset style cabinets by Gamma, moroccan CLE tile backsplash and quartzite countertops.

It's all in the details with this bathroom! Quartz waterfall cap on the pony wall of the shower mirrors the waterfall edge on the vanity. We also used quartz to cap the ledges of the niches, and the shower bench. Stack stone wainscoting surrounds the freestanding tub area. Custom his and hers vanity cabinets with a Cappuccino stain include hidden electrical, individualized storage areas, and coordinating framed mirrors over vanity. Same linear glass mosaic tile was used as an accent for the vanity backsplash, and decorative bands running through shower. Polished travertine-looking porcelain tile installed on shower walls. 2.5" wood-look hexagon tiles installed on shower floor. Rustic barn door was custom designed and stained for this project. Ran wood-look porcelain planks at a 45 degree angle on bathroom floor, and installed matching tile baseboads. LED can lights and bubble glass pendant lights illuminate the space. Photo Credit: David Elton

A contemporary ranch with many amenities and fantastic views. This project includes a main residence, a bunkhouse, a ranch, and a sports barn with office suites. The design features the use of natural materials like wood, and stone, light colors, reclaimed amber accents, and warm elements.

Custom Surface Solutions - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows a remodeled master bathroom with 12" x 24" tile on a vertical offset pattern used on the walls and floors. Includes glass mosaic accent band and shower box, and Fantasy Brown marble knee wall top and seat surface.