Our retired clients approached us to renovate the Kitchen and Powder Room in their 1993 home, which they have lived in for 30 years. As they love to entertain and have visits with their grandchildren, they needed the Renovation to focus on creating an updated and open concept Main Floor to make their home to look and feel more spacious and inviting. Their Kitchen was outdated and cramped, lacking in counter space and storage. The Powder Room was dated, and the plumbing fixtures were lacking in both looks and function. As they love to cook and bake, a more open and functional Kitchen was a must. The closed off Main Floor was lacking in flow and function. As the Dining Room and Living Room both felt closed off and isolated, they were often unused. As well, the Main Staircase was carpeted with wooden pickets, and needed a modern facelift. After working closely with the clients to understand their wants and needs, one of our talented Sosna designers, Camila, was able to create a design plan that not only optimized functionality but also made the space uniquely theirs. During the planning stage, it was discovered that an exhaust pipe that went from the Basement, and through the Main Floor to the roof could be removed. Removing this pipe freed up a lot of space, allowing for more storage to be added. Camila then worked closely with the construction area of the Sosna team to provide our clients with the home of their dreams. Our team first removed the walls separating the Living Room, Dining Room, and Kitchen to create a brighter, more open space. We then brought up an existing window sill to match the window at the Kitchen sink to make space for an extra long countertop and plenty of cabinetry. We built a large peninsula with 4 seats in the Kitchen, functioning much like an Island. The peninsula was positioned to face Kitchen window, providing a direct view to their beautiful backyard. We made sure to incorporate plenty of storage space, and practical features. Appliance garages were installed to store unsightly small appliances, and a coffee station was added, perfect for mornings and afternoon visits with family and friends. The Powder Room plumbing was updated, providing the space with a modern look, and more efficient fixtures, and the staircase was given a beautiful modern update that will be much easier to maintain. Our clients and their beautiful dog stayed with their daughter’s family during the renovation. While it was wonderful to spend time with family, it’s always nice to be home again. Our proven process and detailed planning enabled us to keep our promise to get the project completed on time. In the end, we were able to create an open concept space that was both inviting and functional, perfect for entertaining and cooking. Our clients were thrilled with the results and have already started planning their next get-together. If you love your home, but looking to make it more functional and comfortable for your specific needs, we're the Renovator You Can Count On. It's our promise. Contact us to get started!

A common complaint from by clients is that their old kitchens are too isolated, so you end up with a lonely cook, or too many people in the kitchen visiting when the cooking needs to be done. The solution is simple—knock out some wall and create a living space which is integrated with the adjacent rooms, making the kitchen the center—or “heart”—of the home. This is the finished kitchen, open to the living room, with the renovated fireplace. Photo by Mike Medford.

Lot 435 on Deer Trail offered our design team an opportunity to take our signature Mountain Modern architectural style floor plan as lot 178 and modify it to our clients desires and unique lot characteristics. This customization began with a preference to give the master suite its own retreat like setting isolated from the main home. Tailored to the slight slope of the lot our architectural staff nestled a large oversized two car garage, shop and office below the master suite. This sensitivity to the lot orientations differentiates our approach from a more conventional approach which often places the same exact home design on different lots within the community. The result is a home tailored to the site reducing the overall mass. Steel, wood and stone exterior materials balance practicality with aesthetics while keeping cost in mind. A guest home adjacent to the garage is also carefully designed and situated to honor the main home while maintaining privacy for our clients. Similar architectural elements and materials fostered a harmony between the two structures. The main home is a tad over 3000sft plus the garage with the guest home in the 800 sft range. Currently in design development the plan is to break ground Spring of 2021. Bill Reid and the Team of Reid Residential coupled with the Bills construction firm RemodelWest offer complete design-build packages for those desiring to escape to one of the best kept secrets in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.

Small glass retreat on a mountain lake. A small simple tiny house connected to nature.
Example of a small danish gray one-story glass exterior home design in Atlanta with a metal roof

“I learned to let workers walk around to gape at the ornate details during their first visit before trying to engage them with any business.” This 1904 home was built by partners of the Pantages Theaters. Oak floors with marquetry borders, ornate plaster ceilings, beveled glass windows, molded trim, and carved figureheads create an elegant home. Unfortunately a multiyear leak had ruined a corner of the dining room, so specialists were found to match the original decorative plaster and basket weave inlaid flooring. Workers painstakingly set 10,000 finish nails into the flooring. “We want to retrofit to Passivhaus standards.” We undertook a thorough sealing of the old walls and attic, insulated the basement with polyiso, and blew piles of cellulose in the attic. Windows on the second floor and basement were replaced with triple glazed units, while the elegant first floor windows were refurbished and fitted with interior storms. Barred from removing the interior plaster or exterior stucco, we insulated the first floor walls from above. Analysis of dollars per BTU saved guided our decision to not remove the stucco to outsulate with mineral wool. In the end, we cut heat losses by 84% from an EUI of 121 to just 19, and received Built Green 4-Star certification. “We’d like to view Mt. Rainier from the master bedroom.” The entire second floor was demolished back to the studs, except for the elegant central stair hall. The floor plan was completely rearranged to fit three bedrooms plus a study under the existing roof. New waste plumbing pipes were threaded down through the house in two directions to serve the new family bathroom, split into a bathing chamber and a toilet chamber. “We love to cook and entertain dinner guests.” The old servant kitchen, tucked away in the back with its own separate stair, was replaced by a new mud room and bathroom. The old 3 foot door from dining to kitchen was widened to an 8 foot archway, carefully replicating the door casing so it appears to be original. The new kitchen has views to the back yard garden, soapstone countertops, custom cherry cabinets, a glass tile splash, energy- and water-efficient appliances, and even a filtered water stub out for the espresso maker. “I really want 4 more inches of head room in the basement.” We demolished the old slab, excavated without undermining the shallow footings, installed new gravel, insulation, vapor retarder and concrete slab. The northeast basement corner was thermally isolated to become a root cellar which will store food produced by the entire yard’s conversion to permaculture. The basement now houses the guest bed and bath, family room, laundry, and mechanical room. “We expected lead paint, but I’ve never seen asbestos in plaster before.” The hazmat crew did all necessary plaster demo. Trim and doors were carefully removed, labeled, and stored for reinstallation. Lead RRP and construction IAQ procedures were vigorously followed. When the new HRV and flexible ventilation tubing arrived on site, we set up a clean room where all HVAC materials were stored and cut prior to installation to assure pristine air quality. “We don’t want to draw our fresh air from down near the ground.” The old laundry chute, our only existing vertical chase, had been promised three times over for plumbing, wiring, and ducts. So we routed the new fresh air duct from the basement HRV up through the old furnace chimney to the sky, a symbol of clean green replacing dirty fossil fuel.

If you must be home isolating at least have some fun doing it in style! This all in basement brings games and fun for all!
Basement - transitional walk-out carpeted and beige floor basement idea in Jacksonville with a bar and beige walls

This twin home was the perfect home for these empty nesters – retro-styled bathrooms, beautiful fireplace and built-ins, and a spectacular garden. The only thing the home was lacking was a functional kitchen space. The old kitchen had three entry points – one to the dining room, one to the back entry, and one to a hallway. The hallway entry was closed off to create a more functional galley style kitchen that isolated traffic running through and allowed for much more countertop and storage space. The clients wanted a transitional style that mimicked their design choices in the rest of the home. A medium wood stained base cabinet was chosen to warm up the space and create contrast against the soft white upper cabinets. The stove was given two resting points on each side, and a large pantry was added for easy-access storage. The original box window at the kitchen sink remains, but the same granite used for the countertops now sits on the sill of the window, as opposed to the old wood sill that showed all water stains and wears. The granite chosen (Nevaska Granite) is a wonderful color mixture of browns, greys, whites, steely blues and a hint of black. A travertine tile backsplash accents the warmth found in the wood tone of the base cabinets and countertops. Elegant lighting was installed as well as task lighting to compliment the bright, natural light in this kitchen. A flip-up work station will be added as another work point for the homeowners – likely to be used for their stand mixer while baking goodies with their grandkids. Wallpaper adds another layer of visual interest and texture. The end result is an elegant and timeless design that the homeowners will gladly use for years to come. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Nestled in an undeveloped thicket between two homes on Monmouth road, the Eastern corner of this client’s lot plunges ten feet downward into a city-designated stormwater collection ravine. Our client challenged us to design a home, referencing the Scandinavian modern style, that would account for this lot’s unique terrain and vegetation. Through iterative design, we produced four house forms angled to allow rainwater to naturally flow off of the roof and into a gravel-lined runoff area that drains into the ravine. Completely foregoing downspouts and gutters, the chosen design reflects the site’s topography, its mass changing in concert with the slope of the land. This two-story home is oriented around a central stacked staircase that descends into the basement and ascends to a second floor master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The main entrance—a triangular form subtracted from this home’s rectangular plan—opens to a kitchen and living space anchored with an oversized kitchen island. On the far side of the living space, a solid void form projects towards the backyard, referencing the entryway without mirroring it. Ground floor amenities include a bedroom, full bathroom, laundry area, office and attached garage. Among Architecture Office’s most conceptually rigorous projects, exterior windows are isolated to opportunities where natural light and a connection to the outdoors is desired. The Monmouth home is clad in black corrugated metal, its exposed foundations extending from the earth to highlight its form.

The main concept behind this project was to create a home, which allows for tremendous privacy for both the parents and the children, and at the same time doesn’t create extreme isolation between the both. Elevation is vital in allowing that to happen, by having a stretched out area, the house faces the North, in order to get a clear view of Lake Marriout and also for the breezy fresh air to access the house. The home is built on two different plots of land, one includes: children’s house (bedrooms, garage, living area, etc…) the second plot includes: dining area, master bedroom, main reception. All of that is connected by stairway and patio to give it the “homey” vibe

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage white one-story brick house exterior remodel in Other with a clipped gable roof and a shingle roof

If you must be home isolating at least have some fun doing it in style! This all in basement brings games and fun for all!
Transitional walk-out carpeted and beige floor basement photo in Baltimore with a bar and beige walls

Mid-sized transitional backyard stone patio photo in Philadelphia with a fire pit and a gazebo

This charming family home in Belmont was in dire need of some tender loving care. The original builder-grade cabinetry and countertops were outdated and in need of an upgrade. The kitchen was once isolated from the dining room and living room, making entertaining guests a real chore. Cooking in the kitchen meant being cut off from the rest of the household, leading to a disconnect during family time. So, we decided to make some sweeping changes. The most transformative change was the removal of the load bearing wall separating the kitchen and living room. This created a spacious open-concept kitchen with a massive island, perfect for hosting and socializing. We upgraded the cabinets to reflect a contemporary aesthetic and added a stunning hood vent. The built-in hutch was replaced by a refrigerator and beverage center, providing ample storage space and more practical usage. The kitchen was also equipped with modern features such as roll-out trays, a trash can pull-out, spice racks, and utensil organizers. We replaced the older-style double door base cabinets with modern drawer bases for easy access, and increased the height of the cabinets from 30 inches to 36 inches, giving the kitchen a fresh, airy look and additional storage space. The laundry room also received a makeover, with new cabinets above the washer and dryer and a tall linen/storage closet, making it more functional and storage-friendly. The small pantry closet was transformed into a sprawling 12 foot deep walk-in pantry with new shelves, cabinetry and lighting, providing ample space for all your pantry essentials. We also upgraded the flooring on the first floor with durable LVP flooring, elevating the overall aesthetic and feel of the home. All of these changes were completed in a mere 21 days, from start to finish.

Located in a traditional row house in Charlottesville, this full-home renovation was primarily focused on opening up a cramped, inefficient kitchen and integrating it into the social space of the home. Where previously the kitchen was a small dark and closed off, we dissolved the boundaries between the isolated rooms and opened it up to the dining room and entry foyer to create a porous and inviting kitchen command center. A punched opening to the entryway with a sliding pocket door allows an occupant in the kitchen to greet guests arriving for a dinner party, or communicate with the kids as they are getting ready for school. Floating maple shelves bridge the boundary between the kitchen and the dining room and connect the two spaces functionally and aesthetically. A maple plywood ceiling with a perimeter light strip completes the material palette of the kitchen which consists of white and grey painted cabinets, soapstone countertop, a white tile backsplash, and the warm tones of natural wood. In addition to the kitchen renovation, Alloy also updated various other items throughout the house that include installation of maple floors, window replacement, and a storage zone at the entry complete with Muuto Dot coat hooks and custom shoe storage below with a painted paneling surround. Andrea Hubbell Photography

Example of a trendy home design design in Nashville

Mr. and Mrs. Parks loved they're home, but they felt it was too isolated and far from medical facilities, so they decided to move in their rental, which is located in Olympia. This started an ambitious remodeling to turn the rental into a home.

This 1,400 sq. ft. studio, built in 2018 for Grammy Award–winning drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Adam Box, was one of the earliest full-scale NILES design–build projects. After years of session and touring work, Adam had a clear vision for his own creative home—a space that combined comfort, vibe, and technical precision. Our team partnered closely with him through every phase of the design and build process to bring that vision to life. The studio features a full Control Room, a spacious Live Room, two amp isolation booths, and a large dedicated ISO booth engineered specifically for dry drum capture. Each room is fully wired for a complete live-tracking environment, enabling an entire band to plug in and record seamlessly. The Live Room is sonically open and collaborative, while the Control Room is fine-tuned for long stretches of creative focus and accurate monitoring. Aesthetic direction played a major role in this project. Natural stonework, warm wood details, and a comfortable, lived-in feel create a distinctive character throughout the space. Adam added many of his own finishing touches, giving the studio an unmistakable personal identity that reflects his style and musical approach. The result is a studio that delivers both atmosphere and performance—an inspiring hub for writing, tracking, mixing, and producing at the highest level.

green exterior garden with koi pond
Design ideas for an asian landscaping in Other.

This remodel/addition to an existing home transformed the original living room and kitchen into a single great-room while opening up communication to the backyard. The previous home’s kitchen was isolated from the living room and both rooms had no interaction with the outdoor spaces. The project’s elevated ceiling heights and used architectural features, such as beams, to connect and define the spaces of the great room. The inclusion of the multi-slide door emphasized the relationship to the newly designed yard with updated landscaping. This project is a great example of how exterior upgrades and the transformation of a single space can dramatically change the way a family enjoys their home.