If you are familiar with our work, at Berry Design Build, you know that to us each project is more than just sticks and mortar. Each home, each client, each family we have the privilege to work with becomes part of our team. We believe in the value of excellence, the importance of commitment, and the significance of delivery. This renovation, along with many, is very close to our hearts because it’s one of the few instances where we get to exercise more than just the Design Build division of our company. This particular client had been working with Berry for many years to find that lifetime home. Through many viewings, agent caravans, and lots of offers later she found a house worth calling home. Although not perfectly to her personality (really what home is until you make it yours) she asked our Design Build division to come in and renovate some areas: including the kitchen, hall bathroom, master bathroom, and most other areas of the house; i.e. paint, hardwoods, and lighting. Each project comes with its challenges, but we were able to combine her love of mid-century modern furnishings with the character of the already existing 1962 ranch. Photos by Nicole Cosentino

In this beautiful Houston remodel, we took on the exterior AND interior - with a new outdoor kitchen, patio cover and balcony outside and a Mid-Century Modern redesign on the inside: "This project was really unique, not only in the extensive scope of it, but in the number of different elements needing to be coordinated with each other," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "Our entire team really rose to the challenge." OUTSIDE The new outdoor living space includes a 14 x 20-foot patio addition with an outdoor kitchen and balcony. We also extended the roof over the patio between the house and the breezeway (the new section is 26 x 14 feet). On the patio and balcony, we laid about 1,100-square foot of new hardscaping in the place of pea gravel. The new material is a gorgeous, honed-and-filled Nysa travertine tile in a Versailles pattern. We used the same tile for the new pool coping, too. We also added French doors leading to the patio and balcony from a lower bedroom and upper game room, respectively: The outdoor kitchen above features Southern Cream cobblestone facing and a Titanium granite countertop and raised bar. The 8 x 12-foot, L-shaped kitchen island houses an RCS 27-inch grill, plus an RCS ice maker, lowered power burner, fridge and sink. The outdoor ceiling is tongue-and-groove pine boards, done in the Minwax stain "Jacobean." INSIDE Inside, we repainted the entire house from top to bottom, including baseboards, doors, crown molding and cabinets. We also updated the lighting throughout. "Their style before was really non-existent," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer with Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. "They did what most families do - got items when they needed them, worrying less about creating a unified style for the home." Other than a new travertine tile floor the client had put in 6 months earlier, the space had never been updated. The drapery had been there for 15 years. And the living room had an enormous leather sectional couch that virtually filled the entire room. In its place, we put all new, Mid-Century Modern furniture from World Market. The drapery fabric and chandelier came from High Fashion Home. All the other new sconces and chandeliers throughout the house came from Pottery Barn and all décor accents from World Market. The couple and their two teenaged sons got bedroom makeovers as well. One of the sons, for instance, started with childish bunk beds and piles of books everywhere. "We gave him a grown-up space he could enjoy well into his high school years," says Lisha. The new bed is also from World Market. We also updated the kitchen by removing all the old wallpaper and window blinds and adding new paint and knobs and pulls for the cabinets. (The family plans to update the backsplash later.) The top handrail on the stairs got a coat of black paint, and we added a console table (from Kirkland's) in the downstairs hallway. In the dining room, we painted the cabinet and mirror frames black and added new drapes, but kept the existing furniture and flooring. "I'm just so pleased with how it turned out - especially Lisha's coordination of all the materials and finishes," says Wayne. "But as a full-service outdoor design team, this is what we do, and our all our great reviews are telling us we're doing it well."

An eclectic style was utilized in this kitchen by the use of different eras of decor. The vintage clocks, for instance, play beautifully off the modern floral's. The use of a glass paneled antique door definitely adds intrigue as its not something typically seem above kitchen cupboards, but blends seamlessly with the rest of the style. Samantha Day

Villa Lumina, in Paphos, Cyprus, blends modern architecture and practicality with nature preservation. We made sure to harmonize nature with the modern style, integrating trees into the overall design for the house and terrace. The materials used, like stone, wood, and porcelain stoneware, not only match the Cypriot scenery but are also long-lasting and environmentally friendly. For instance, stone surfaces look nice and are able to withstand the elements well, whereas wood keeps the warmth inside. The villa has two separate parts - a spacious open plan kitchen, dining and living area, and a more secluded part containing a main bedroom, walk-in closet, kids' rooms, and private bathrooms. Entering the house leads to a courtyard which is connected to the terrace and pool area and extends the living space. Villa Lumina shows how to make living spaces that fulfill people's needs without hurting the environment. Size / 351 sq.m. Year / 2023 Location / Paphos, Cyprus

This 100 year old, Federalist style home in the East End of Pittsburgh, was due for an update. The house sported original cabinetry and plumbing. The project included the entire house, to some degree, and some rooms, the kitchen, for instance, was a total gut job. Engineered hardwood was added to the rooms where old tar linoleum was installed, allowing for the original red oak to compliment these rooms easily. The master bathroom had previously undergone a minor remodel and I updated the entire house with new, mostly saturated, paint color by Benjamin Moore. My client had quite a nice collection of Baker furniture and upscale area rugs, and I took my cues from those pieces that were incorporated within the new design. My client has increased the value of his home substantially, and has recently upgraded the small exterior courtyard area with lovely perennials and new pavers and a fire pit; elements that are typically not found in a small city lot. The newly rennovated courtyard is a gathering spot for many outdoor parties that my client is famous for his hosting.

At SENCE ARCHITECTS, we know in utilizing every square meter of a home efficiently. With this philosophy in mind, we designed the Harmony home with a focus on rational thinking to maximize the use of every zone of space. Our idea aimed to keep things simple yet striking. We used a light natural color palette to evoke a sense of tranquility, and the clean flowing lines of the interior create a seamless transition between different areas of the home. The light camel-colored sofa group and coffee tables with natural textures contribute to the overall atmosphere of the interior. For the materials used in the home, we chose ones that were as close to nature as possible. This means that all the materials visually and to the touch were like they were from nature. For instance, we used stone travertine textures for the kitchen worktop and apron, while porcelain tiles were used on the floor, and the fronts themselves are natural wood. ​Finally, we incorporated rounded shapes into the design of the sofa, armchair, and partition between the sofa group and the entrance area to emphasize the visual softness of the interior. Size / 150 sq.m. Year / 2023 Location / Cyprus, Limassol

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

In this beautiful Houston remodel, we took on the exterior AND interior - with a new outdoor kitchen, patio cover and balcony outside and a Mid-Century Modern redesign on the inside: "This project was really unique, not only in the extensive scope of it, but in the number of different elements needing to be coordinated with each other," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "Our entire team really rose to the challenge." OUTSIDE The new outdoor living space includes a 14 x 20-foot patio addition with an outdoor kitchen and balcony. We also extended the roof over the patio between the house and the breezeway (the new section is 26 x 14 feet). On the patio and balcony, we laid about 1,100-square foot of new hardscaping in the place of pea gravel. The new material is a gorgeous, honed-and-filled Nysa travertine tile in a Versailles pattern. We used the same tile for the new pool coping, too. We also added French doors leading to the patio and balcony from a lower bedroom and upper game room, respectively: The outdoor kitchen above features Southern Cream cobblestone facing and a Titanium granite countertop and raised bar. The 8 x 12-foot, L-shaped kitchen island houses an RCS 27-inch grill, plus an RCS ice maker, lowered power burner, fridge and sink. The outdoor ceiling is tongue-and-groove pine boards, done in the Minwax stain "Jacobean." INSIDE Inside, we repainted the entire house from top to bottom, including baseboards, doors, crown molding and cabinets. We also updated the lighting throughout. "Their style before was really non-existent," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer with Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. "They did what most families do - got items when they needed them, worrying less about creating a unified style for the home." Other than a new travertine tile floor the client had put in 6 months earlier, the space had never been updated. The drapery had been there for 15 years. And the living room had an enormous leather sectional couch that virtually filled the entire room. In its place, we put all new, Mid-Century Modern furniture from World Market. The drapery fabric and chandelier came from High Fashion Home. All the other new sconces and chandeliers throughout the house came from Pottery Barn and all décor accents from World Market. The couple and their two teenaged sons got bedroom makeovers as well. One of the sons, for instance, started with childish bunk beds and piles of books everywhere. "We gave him a grown-up space he could enjoy well into his high school years," says Lisha. The new bed is also from World Market. We also updated the kitchen by removing all the old wallpaper and window blinds and adding new paint and knobs and pulls for the cabinets. (The family plans to update the backsplash later.) The top handrail on the stairs got a coat of black paint, and we added a console table (from Kirkland's) in the downstairs hallway. In the dining room, we painted the cabinet and mirror frames black and added new drapes, but kept the existing furniture and flooring. "I'm just so pleased with how it turned out - especially Lisha's coordination of all the materials and finishes," says Wayne. "But as a full-service outdoor design team, this is what we do, and our all our great reviews are telling us we're doing it well."

Example of a trendy home design design in New York

8. Come Off the Wall to Create Depth Think outside the box (or off the wall in this instance). Yes, we admit this last method doesn’t directly involve a wall or even a ‘linear fireplace’ exactly but stick with us for a second. A hanging fireplace is a great way to create multiple levels of depth with the large wall acting as background. This helps break away from the typical static fireplace and gives a totally new dimension and flow to your room. This article was a collaboration by: Cory John Ploessl and Paige Huntress-Parr

This 100 year old, Federalist style home in the East End of Pittsburgh, was due for an update. The house sported original cabinetry and plumbing. The project included the entire house, to some degree, and some rooms, the kitchen, for instance, was a total gut job. Engineered hardwood was added to the rooms where old tar linoleum was installed, allowing for the original red oak to compliment these rooms easily. The master bathroom had previously undergone a minor remodel and I updated the entire house with new, mostly saturated, paint color by Benjamin Moore. My client had quite a nice collection of Baker furniture and upscale area rugs, and I took my cues from those pieces that were incorporated within the new design. My client has increased the value of his home substantially, and has recently upgraded the small exterior courtyard area with lovely perennials and new pavers and a fire pit; elements that are typically not found in a small city lot. The newly rennovated courtyard is a gathering spot for many outdoor parties that my client is famous for his hosting.

A traditional 1926 cottage was transformed into a stunning, contemporary home. The focal point from both inside and out is a 3-story floating wood and stainless staircase, showcased by oversized windows and dramatic lighting. Walnut cabinetry with a distinct stain and natural slab surfaces offset the metals used throughout – Including at the interior and exterior of the fireplace. Reclaimed wood floors pay homage to the industrial area the home is situated in. In designing this home restrictions set forth by the building department were key. For instance, in order for the project to be considered a remodel the existing 8’ tall perimeter walls had to remain in place. The homeowners desperately wanted 9’ tall ceilings, so with crafty engineering and framing we were able to embellish the existing wall framing to achieve the added height. Clearstory windows allow much needed light into the spaces and creates the illusion of spaciousness, while maintaining wall areas for key furnishings and artwork. Every inch of space maximizes storage throughout the 2,600 square foot home. A cabinet for shoe storage immediately inside the front door also serves as a key component at the staircase and provides a platform to highlight sculptural artwork. Unique products and details, such as a metal link shower curtain and custom built-in guest beds with strategically placed outlets and horizontal surfaces to allow for electronics to be close at hand, elevate this home to the next level.

In June of 2015 an amazing sudden summer storm hit our area with violent winds, rain, and tornados. In the aftermath, my clients found, on top of losing 30 or so trees on their property overall, one had actually struck their home, piercing the roof in their great room. The great room was the very last room in their house that we hadn't done a complete overhaul in. Sure, we had tweaked it, purchased a few pieces of furniture, reworked the layout, but the colors and design were much the same as they had been for decades. Since things needed to be repaired and painted already, it was decided to jump in with both feet and totally rethink the room, change almost everything, and add architectural details that seemed to be missing in the original design from the 1980's. So not only were the color palette, rugs, and furnishings changed, but some very important architectural interest was added. For instance, a new, more elegant post was added at the back of the space, visually connecting the downstairs with the loft above. Also, three beaded beams have been added across the vaulted ceiling, as well as a large chandelier, giving warmth, light and visual heft to the peak and upper corners of the room. The fireplace was given a total facelift as well. New original artwork, which had inspired the palette for the space, is now highlighted inside a custom panel over a beautiful new mantel and fireplace surround. Even though this project started with something quite unexpected and scary, my clients tell me that the results are something that they just love and enjoy whether at home just the two of them, or entertaining extended family and friends. Photos by Laura Kicey

Awarded by the Classical institute of art and architecture , the linnean house has a restrained and simple elevation of doors and windows. Nestled in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the Linnean House is classical in both plan and elevation throughout its award-winning house plans. The main mass, comprising of the most formal and public spaces, is a spatial triptych along a symmetrical main axis. Inside the luxury home, the limestone façade, simple but well-proportioned with classical elements, extends itself into both the entry portico and main foyer with consistent proportions and materiality. This introduction allows the flanking living and dining rooms to be perceived as separate pavilions, each equipped with eight equal-proportioned French doors symmetrical of the main axis. Beyond the classical spaces are two wings which lead to the master suite and a kitchen/family space, respectively. Both of which are situated to queue from the French door axis, a focal feature in the repeatedly published home design. At the entry foyer, the stark stone luxury architecture is warmed by two symmetrical wood armoire-like freestanding sculptural objects, a persistent theme throughout the luxury house. In the kitchen, for instance, stand four similar wood armoire objects at opposite corners that act as columns and help give this space a sense of boundary and enclosure. The master bath vanity, in similar fashion, is introduced as a central free-standing form anchoring itself as a notable presence in the space. Lastly, the wine room is designed as a series of free-standing heavy wood cavity walls spanned only by a hint of glass.

Dino Tonn Photography
Inspiration for a large mediterranean travertine floor sunroom remodel in San Diego with a standard ceiling

Carrie Culp
Home office - transitional home office idea in Seattle

A conservatory can be added to even quite narrow lots and small dark houses. In this instances we open up the wall separating the kitchen and dining room, and opened up both to the new rear conservatory. In doing so we brought much-needed light into dark interiors, and established a positive link from those interiors to the terrace and garden beyond.

Driftwood Custom Home was constructed on vacant property between two existing houses in Chemainus, BC. This type of project is a form of sustainable land development known as an Infill Build. These types of building lots are often small. However, careful planning and clever uses of design allowed us to maximize the space. This home has 2378 square feet with three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Add in a living room on the main floor, a separate den upstairs, and a full laundry room and this custom home still feels spacious! The kitchen is bright and inviting. With white cabinets, countertops and backsplash, and stainless steel appliances, the feel of this space is timeless. Similarly, the master bathroom design features plenty of must-haves. For instance, the bathroom includes a shower with matching tile to the vanity backsplash, a double floating vanity, heated tiled flooring, and tiled walls. Together with a flush mount fireplace in the master bedroom, this is an inviting oasis of space.

Designer: Joe Inscoe Location: Cabinet Discounters – Annapolis Specie: Maple Finish: Oatmeal and Zinc Overlay: FOLC Doors: Hillsbrad Drawer: 5-pc Flat Start your New Year with a New Kitchen! With the New Year finally here, it might be time to freshen up that outdated kitchen. Brighton Cabinetry offers custom cabinets across the Midwest and the East coast. Finding a dealer near you is easy! Just check out our Find a Dealer Page by clicking HERE. Not sure if you want light or dark colors on your cabinetry? Why not try using both? By accenting your kitchen with darker colors it will help certain pieces’ pop in color. For instance, in our shown kitchen you will see that the perimeter cabinets are painted in our Oatmeal finish, and the island and coffee bar are done in the contrasting dark color of Zinc. Brighton offers many ways to dress up your cabinetry to give it that extra flair. In the pictures you might have noticed the bun feet on the island. Bun feet give that chic look that will most likely never go out of style. With a bun foot you can give your kitchen a bit more of a comfortable feel, and a look that is like furniture style which is a design that people are looking for. Don’t forget about your accessories and storage! There are many different options that allow you to conveniently place away your items. From your pots and pans down to your spices, Brighton offers different choices to fit your needs, and if we don’t have it as a standard, your designer can custom quote an item to specifically fit your cabinetry needs. Some examples in the pictures are: Drawer Plate Organizer Double Knife Blocks Pullout Spice Racks Deluxe Rollouts Cutlery Dividers