Photos by Beth Singer Architecture/Build: Luxe Homes Design Build
Large trendy dark wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Detroit with metallic walls, a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace

This well-loved 1960’s split-level home was in need of a makeover both in terms of design and function! OPEN CONCEPT Our clients wanted an open-concept layout for their Lower-Level and Main Floor spaces. This was no easy feat, given that the split-level construction of this home isolated the Kitchen and Family Room from the rest of the house. But we rose to the challenge! How did we do it?! To bring more harmony to this 1960’s closed off split-level construction, we enlarged the entryways of the Kitchen and the Dining Room across the Hallway to brighten up the two rooms and allow for better traffic flow between them. The worn out mixed flooring materials were replaced with new porcelain tiles in the Foyer and new beautiful engineered hardwood floors unified all three levels. The 3 sets of staircases were updated for safety by raising the railing to Building Code Standards. Then they were redressed with new black metal pickets, Oak treads, posts and handrails. KITCHEN The tight kitchen with a dysfunctional layout was brought back to life with the creation of new dining and working zones and plenty of counter space and concealed storage. How did we do it?! A peninsula serving as the Breakfast table was installed along shallow-depth cabinetry as you enter the Kitchen. The fridge, stove and sink were relocated to the end of the Kitchen with big windows and more counter space. A row of tall pantries and an appliance garage were installed along one side of the room to offer plenty of storage and hide frequently used small appliances. FAMILY ROOM Our Clients spent a lot of time in their Family Room but felt isolated from the rest of the house when they were in it. The room was dim and the stone-clad wood burning fireplace, which they rarely used, took up a lot of space. Here’s how we gave this Family Room a makeover Removing dated wainscoting and wallpaper and replacing it with freshly painted walls in neutral tones with an accent colour catapulted this Family Room out of the stone ages! The stone-clad fireplace in the middle of the room was removed and replaced with a slim electric fireplace at one end of the room. Add on the beautiful built-out clad with porcelain tiles and you’ve got a cozy and stylish reading nook. When you and your home are ready for an upgrade, we're the Renovator You Can Count On™. It's our promise. Contact us to get started!

Foyer - mid-sized transitional marble floor and gray floor foyer idea in Minneapolis with beige walls and a brown front door

The fireplace in the center is called a Bay type fireplace. This one is from Heat & Glo, unfortunately it's discontinued. The hallway in the back connects with the bedrooms.

Open concept kitchen - large transitional galley light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

This 80 year old farm house was in need of an update. The kitchen and dining areas were cramped, dark and isolated from one another. The homeowner requested an open floor plan with more storage and space where her children could play while she was busy in the kitchen. Thompson Remodeling flipped the existing positions of the dining room and kitchen and removed walls to open up the space. The new kitchen has bright white cabinets, quartz countertops and an island with a butcher block counter. A custom banquette provides seating and a spot for the kids to play and do homework while its bench doubles as hidden storage. The wet bar in the dining space has loads of pantry space. The existing floors were very uneven, so we used a vinyl plank flooring that would allow more give for installation. It looks just like weathered pine and will offer very easy care for the busy family.

We focused on opening up this small, isolated, galley style kitchen into a space where these home owners could entertain, cook, and have an occasional glass of wine. Honestly - check out that wine refrigerator! By removing the central wall between the dining room and kitchen, it allowed light to flow through the entire home. We added a large pantry to ensure we maintained plenty of storage space while creating this open floorplan. White cabinets, dark countertops, and a medium tone hardwood floor leave this space feeling timeless and elegant. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co.

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

We focused on opening up this small, isolated, galley style kitchen into a space where these home owners could entertain, cook, and have an occasional glass of wine. Honestly - check out that wine refrigerator! By removing the central wall between the dining room and kitchen, it allowed light to flow through the entire home. We added a large pantry to ensure we maintained plenty of storage space while creating this open floorplan. White cabinets, dark countertops, and a medium tone hardwood floor leave this space feeling timeless and elegant. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co.

This custom home theater has sound traps in both corners and features extensive acoustical treatment in the walls, ceiling and floor. These have been engineered to completely isolate it from the surrounding living space. The theater includes custom speakers, a Lutron Radio RA total home control system, tiered seating, custom carpeting, LED Lighting, and an acoustically transparent screen.

Mark Scowen
Kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen idea in Auckland with flat-panel cabinets, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, an island and white cabinets

This 80 year old farm house was in need of an update. The kitchen and dining areas were cramped, dark and isolated from one another. The homeowner requested an open floor plan with more storage and space where her children could play while she was busy in the kitchen. Thompson Remodeling flipped the existing positions of the dining room and kitchen and removed walls to open up the space. The new kitchen has bright white cabinets, quartz countertops and an island with a butcher block counter. A custom banquette provides seating and a spot for the kids to play and do homework while its bench doubles as hidden storage. The wet bar in the dining space has loads of pantry space. The existing floors were very uneven, so we used a vinyl plank flooring that would allow more give for installation. It looks just like weathered pine and will offer very easy care for the busy family.

This 3,000 sq. ft. West Village duplex, penthouse loft was designed as a one bedroom apartment. The space was created out of 2 factory buildings; the main floor is bisected by a three foot masonry wall. Rosenberg Kolb’s new design creates new openings in this wall and makes living, dining, kitchen and guestroom/study areas that are open to each other but can also be isolated with a series of cherrywood door-walls. With small windows on the main living floor, two large skylights bring daylight to the previously dark areas of the loft. Upstairs the master bedroom and bath have continuous windows with a spectacular view of the Hudson River. Rosenberg Kolb finished the bathroom floor and walls with glass mosaic tiles. The second level opens to two large deck areas commanding panoramic views of the Hudson River from the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge. The detailing here has a ‘nautical’ theme with weathered teak furniture and cedar decking, running lights, stainless cabling and circular steel stairs.

This 3,000 sq. ft. West Village duplex, penthouse loft was designed as a one bedroom apartment. The space was created out of 2 factory buildings; the main floor is bisected by a three foot masonry wall. Rosenberg Kolb’s new design creates new openings in this wall and makes living, dining, kitchen and guestroom/study areas that are open to each other but can also be isolated with a series of cherrywood door-walls. With small windows on the main living floor, two large skylights bring daylight to the previously dark areas of the loft. Upstairs the master bedroom and bath have continuous windows with a spectacular view of the Hudson River. Rosenberg Kolb finished the bathroom floor and walls with glass mosaic tiles. The second level opens to two large deck areas commanding panoramic views of the Hudson River from the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge. The detailing here has a ‘nautical’ theme with weathered teak furniture and cedar decking, running lights, stainless cabling and circular steel stairs.

This 3,000 sq. ft. West Village duplex, penthouse loft was designed as a one bedroom apartment. The space was created out of 2 factory buildings; the main floor is bisected by a three foot masonry wall. Rosenberg Kolb’s new design creates new openings in this wall and makes living, dining, kitchen and guestroom/study areas that are open to each other but can also be isolated with a series of cherrywood door-walls. With small windows on the main living floor, two large skylights bring daylight to the previously dark areas of the loft. Upstairs the master bedroom and bath have continuous windows with a spectacular view of the Hudson River. Rosenberg Kolb finished the bathroom floor and walls with glass mosaic tiles. The second level opens to two large deck areas commanding panoramic views of the Hudson River from the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge. The detailing here has a ‘nautical’ theme with weathered teak furniture and cedar decking, running lights, stainless cabling and circular steel stairs.

Gardner/Fox provided architectural, interior design and construction services to create an entertainment area in a full unfinished walk- out basement. A large custom bar beckons to all who descend the staircase. Innovative storage solutions at the bar include shelving in a column that opens from 3 sides, an under counter refrigerator paneled to match the bar cabinets, and glass cabinets to display the homeowners stemware. Dave Stimmel designed custom display cases for the homeowners NCAA fencing trophies and swords. New walls were erected to seal off mechanical equipment in the corner adjacent to the bar and also a separate exercise room off of the sitting area. An arched walkway beneath the stairs provides better flow & opens up an other wise isolated corner. Follow the wide hallway beyond the fireplace to French doors and a new pool area. From there, another arched opening leads to a changing area and a full bath room.

Danny Piassick
Large contemporary beige one-story stucco exterior home idea in Dallas