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We love it when a home becomes a family compound with wonderful history. That is exactly what this home on Mullet Lake is. The original cottage was built by our client’s father and enjoyed by the family for years. It finally came to the point that there was simply not enough room and it lacked some of the efficiencies and luxuries enjoyed in permanent residences. The cottage is utilized by several families and space was needed to allow for summer and holiday enjoyment. The focus was on creating additional space on the second level, increasing views of the lake, moving interior spaces and the need to increase the ceiling heights on the main level. All these changes led for the need to start over or at least keep what we could and add to it. The home had an excellent foundation, in more ways than one, so we started from there.
It was important to our client to create a northern Michigan cottage using low maintenance exterior finishes. The interior look and feel moved to more timber beam with pine paneling to keep the warmth and appeal of our area. The home features 2 master suites, one on the main level and one on the 2nd level with a balcony. There are 4 additional bedrooms with one also serving as an office. The bunkroom provides plenty of sleeping space for the grandchildren. The great room has vaulted ceilings, plenty of seating and a stone fireplace with vast windows toward the lake. The kitchen and dining are open to each other and enjoy the view.
The beach entry provides access to storage, the 3/4 bath, and laundry. The sunroom off the dining area is a great extension of the home with 180 degrees of view. This allows a wonderful morning escape to enjoy your coffee. The covered timber entry porch provides a direct view of the lake upon entering the home. The garage also features a timber bracketed shed roof system which adds wonderful detail to garage doors.
The home’s footprint was extended in a few areas to allow for the interior spaces to work with the needs of the family. Plenty of living spaces for all to enjoy as well as bedrooms to rest their heads after a busy day on the lake. This will be enjoyed by generations to come.

A small shed dormer provides headroom for the stairs that transform this attic into an elegant owners' suite with custom closet, dressing room, and ensuite bath. At the same time, the owners upgraded insulation and installed rooftop solar and air source heat pump to increase the comfort and efficiency of the entire home.

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.
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We equipped the extra long island with two dishwashers. With seven people in the family, dishes are used up quickly. The double dishwasher will help increase efficiency. The island also features built-in shelving and storage for easy-to-access cookbooks.
Photo by: Brian Krebs

This project was focused on eeking out space for another bathroom for this growing family. The three bedroom, Craftsman bungalow was originally built with only one bathroom, which is typical for the era. The challenge was to find space without compromising the existing storage in the home. It was achieved by claiming the closet areas between two bedrooms, increasing the original 29" depth and expanding into the larger of the two bedrooms. The result was a compact, yet efficient bathroom. Classic finishes are respectful of the vernacular and time period of the home.

Bamboo Blinds brings a touch of the outdoors inside and adds textural interest to any room. These bamboo blinds are versatile and can be dressed up or dressed down depending on your design preference. For increased privacy, light control and energy efficiency select a tighter weave.
Bamboo Blinds/ Woven Wood Shades from 3 Day Blinds are
-Great for rooms with rich wood tones.
-Exotic and natural textures enhance decor.
Bamboo Blinds have many names including Woven Wood Shades, Bamboo Shades and Matchstick Shades. Regardless of the name they enhance your room décor with exotic and natural textures that conveys casual elegance to your home. Bamboo Blinds will look striking with their warm wood tones and make your home comfortable for a long time.

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

This neglected farmhouse has found a new family. Together we will undo the exterior muddling of the past, restore the interior spaces and create an amazing home for future generations to enjoy. As part of the process, we are improving the function, durability, energy efficiency and appearance of this home. We are converting a screen porch into a much-needed mudroom, air sealing the walls, increasing the insulation throughout, using resilient materials, and restoring the trim with classic details. Thanks to the amazing clients and excellent building crew, this restoration has been a truly rewarding process; transforming a village eyesore into a beautiful home.

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.

In collaboration with Green Hammer, this forested lot in the West Hills achieved the goals of increased daylight, improved energy efficiency, and optimized functionality through a series of mindful space planning, finish, and fixture decisions. By re-orienting the split level stair circulation, individual yet interconnected spaces were clearly defined, while celebrating the home’s connection to its natural setting.

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.

GENEVA CABINET COMPANY, LLC. Lake Geneva WI. - Vacation home is renovated with refreshing new cherry cabinetry from Plato Woodwork, Inc. for increased efficiency while maintaining its rustic charm. Cherry cabinetry in the Briar finish with a flat sheen. Hardware from Schlub in Italian Nickel, custom panels for SubZero refrigerator, Thermador dishwasher, microwave, ovens and range are in stainless steel. Countertops Caesarstone Quartz, with raised bar with footrest. Photography by S.Photography/Shanna Wolf

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.

Molok® is a clean, safe and economical solution for
efficient and environmentally-friendly waste collection:
- emptying with a crane is clean and safe, keeping the yard tidy;
- lifting-based emptying is safe and ergonomic;
- vertical design saves space;
- coolness of the ground keeps the waste odorless;
- compaction of waste increases capacity.
Please contact us - our VSA Vilnius experts can offer the best solution for your location and requirements.

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.

Interior Rehab/Renovation and Rear addition for a Multi-unit residential building in the historic Little Italy neighborhood. We converted this vintage 2 flat into a lovely private residence for the owners duplexing the 1st & 2nd floors. We also designed a separate "In-Law" unit at the gardel level for rentals.
We also added a "living" Green roof which increased thermal efficiency and reduced energy costs for the owners. Probably the 1st and only Green roof in the Little Italy neighborhood for a private residence.
Overall a very positive and sustainable renovation adding tons of Value for the client and great for the environment.

The Taranto Bidet isn’t an ordinary toilet seat, it’s much more. Besides its sleek and modern design the non-electric retractable nozzle offers a hygienic experience without the need of electricity. This bidet offers adjustable water pressure, side control knob for efficient operation, and designed with a mechanical waterway for increased longevity. Save yourself some time while in your lavatory all while also saving trees with this eco-friendly bidet.

A simple improvement to increase storage, organization and efficiency in a kitchen are cutlery dividers. It's the best way to minimize drawer clutter and be confident that you know exactly where the next utensil you need is. We also refaced the kitchen cabinets in white Formica, upgraded the cabinet doors with soft-close hinges and new roll out-drawers for lower cabinet storage.
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