Search results for "Issue locations" in Home Design Ideas

Terran Landscapes http://www.terranlandscapes.com
Project Entry: Fishers Woodland Garden
2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner
Category: Theme Garden $15,000-$30,000
Award Level: Bronze
Photo Description:
We were contracted by the client to design a calming space for their staff to relax, take a walk, and enjoy a leisurely lunch as well as to provide their grandchildren a place to run and pick flowers. The space was originally dominated by large trees and had been overgrown with ivy, sumac and aggressive vines, providing an unwelcome, dark space with little color or visual appeal. The client requested a colorful blend of shrubs and perennials that would provide interest throughout the seasons, as well as provide privacy by screening the street traffic along Carisbrooke Road.
Our goal was to create the privacy screen along the road by layering plants from the ground to the tree canopy. The theme was to let nature inspire the landscape, allowing a space that was originally woodland to become an enhanced version of itself, creating a beautiful habitat for birds and butterflies to excite the senses and satisfy all who enjoy the beauty of nature.
We began by clearing the brush and removing all aggressive vines and ivy that jeopardized the health of the trees. We kept and transplanted all non- invasive or native plant material in the area to various locations throughout the property. Several yards of compost were then tilled into the soil and the existing trees fertilized to provide a rich growing environment.
A few challenges occurred during the design process. It was decided that a new generator was to be installed in the woodland and due to a future addition to the house, we were forced to eliminate planned additional impervious pathway surfaces. We provided screening to hide the generator and buffer the noise, and created a meandering path and sitting area out of natural woodchips instead of the proposed bluestone to solve the impervious space issue. The woodchips add a sense of informality and invite the viewer to walk slowly through the space. The reduced noise from the additional screening of the generator allows for quiet reflection as chipmunks scurry and hummingbirds dart about between the flowers.
Our plant palette consists of shady understory plants that thrive and flower vigorously from spring through fall. A tall, lush, evergreen backdrop of Ilex opaca and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ provides the screening and blends into a middle layer of ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood, hydrangeas and winterberry hollies. Beautiful perennials and groundcovers bloom along the woodland path, providing a low visual layer of color and texture. Movement throughout the garden is provided by the graceful Calamagrostis brachytricha and Hakenchloa that soften the nearby hardscaping. The woodland floor is full of shade-loving Solomon’s seal, hosta, astilbe, ferns, bleeding heart, Tiarella and Aconitum.
The street side of this woodland required plants with a preference for a little more sun and drought tolerance. A palette of oakleaf hydrangea, Agastache, Liatris and Rudbeckia softens the fence line and provides the desired color.
As designed and installed, the woodland garden successfully provides the client’s family and office staff a quiet space where they can take a peaceful moment and enjoy nature.
Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

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This unit, located in a 4-flat owned by TKS Owners Jeff and Susan Klimala, was remodeled as their personal pied-à-terre, and doubles as an Airbnb property when they are not using it. Jeff and Susan were drawn to the location of the building, a vibrant Chicago neighborhood, 4 blocks from Wrigley Field, as well as to the vintage charm of the 1890’s building. The entire 2 bed, 2 bath unit was renovated and furnished, including the kitchen, with a specific Parisian vibe in mind.
Although the location and vintage charm were all there, the building was not in ideal shape -- the mechanicals -- from HVAC, to electrical, plumbing, to needed structural updates, peeling plaster, out of level floors, the list was long. Susan and Jeff drew on their expertise to update the issues behind the walls while also preserving much of the original charm that attracted them to the building in the first place -- heart pine floors, vintage mouldings, pocket doors and transoms.
Because this unit was going to be primarily used as an Airbnb, the Klimalas wanted to make it beautiful, maintain the character of the building, while also specifying materials that would last and wouldn’t break the budget. Susan enjoyed the hunt of specifying these items and still coming up with a cohesive creative space that feels a bit French in flavor.
Parisian style décor is all about casual elegance and an eclectic mix of old and new. Susan had fun sourcing some more personal pieces of artwork for the space, creating a dramatic black, white and moody green color scheme for the kitchen and highlighting the living room with pieces to showcase the vintage fireplace and pocket doors.
Photographer: @MargaretRajic
Photo stylist: @Brandidevers
Do you have a new home that has great bones but just doesn’t feel comfortable and you can’t quite figure out why? Contact us here to see how we can help!

These homeowners approached Renovisions to remodel their master bath. With their kids off at college it was time to do something for themselves. They wanted an elegant upscale look with a spacious shower with glass enclosure, a high-end whirlpool bathtub and custom built in for towels. Their existing tub presented a safety issue when they opened & closed the windows which were located directly behind the tub. The new design includes a free standing tub/whirlpool with custom rounded and removable wood panels to access electrical and plumbing components. This allows a safe pass way around the tub as well as a more open feel. The adjacent shower boasts a generous space with an open style created by the use of 3/8” shower glass enclosure on 2 sides. Custom cubbies and corner seat were built into the Crema marfil marble tiles.
12″x24″ porcelain tiles were installed in a herringbone pattern providing a beautiful and unique appearance setting a neutral stage to showcase the burgundy cherry custom vanities with beaded detail and matching tower with Victorian glass.
Crema Marfil marble countertops on the vanities and slab on tub featured ogee edges lending a real elegant feel to the room. The Piece de Resistance was the exquisite antique brass widespread faucets, hand held shower, shower head, matching antique brass accessories and cabinet hardware all decorated with Swarovski cut crystals.
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This home is located on Lake Austin and the exterior of the home is stucco with clean lines. Lots of windows allow the fabulous view at the back of the home to be the main art filtering from one room to the next. When the owners purchased this home, their vision was to brighten it up and to make it light and airy. The original home used dark colors and created the Texas Hill Country Tuscan "want to be" decor. Budget was an issue and rather than tear out the cabinets throughout the home we had them painted and used the color to anchor all the other colors we used throughout the home. Celine Coly, interior designer and homeowner worked hand and glove selecting hardwood flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures, etc. to make it all come together while staying within the budget.

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage.
For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized.
Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed.
“Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said.
The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family.
“We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said.
The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience.
“I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison.
One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said.
The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said.
The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new.
The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime.
“They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added.
“Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said.
The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves.
“I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.”
Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home.
Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way.
“I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said.
A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby.
“I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said.
Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said.
“The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said.
“I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

A family of four with two young girls and cats needed a brand new master bath to accommodate a family member with MS. They tasked us with creating a luxurious master bath in a modern rustic style that was ADA-accessible and could accommodate the client's walker and wheelchair in the future.
Their key issues were that the shower was relatively small, with a curb the client had to step over. They also had a large jacuzzi tub with a tub deck built around it, but the couple never used it. The main bathroom only had one vanity with minimal counter space available, and the dated finishes and materials looked tired - so they were more than ready for a beautiful transformation.
To create an ADA-accessible main bath, we relocated the shower to an interior corner, allowing for the addition of a larger ADA-accessible shower with zero entry and a bench the client could easily transfer onto for bathing. The arrangement of this space would also allow for a walker and wheelchair to easily move through the walkways for access to the shower.
We moved the toilet to where the shower had been located originally with ADA accessibility features and installed luxurious double vanities along the entire vanity wall, with a modern linen tower cabinet for added storage. Since the client loved the modern rustic aesthetic, we incorporated their chosen style with elements like the Calacatta porcelain tile, cabinet hardware, mason jar lights, and wood-framed mirrors.Photo: Vivos Images

6 Winker Lane
Another quality new home by Andy Frank, renown local builder who has been building beautiful homes in Westport for over 25 years
NEW CONSTRUCTION | $2,995,000 |
It does not get better than this…Unbelievable new construction..Exquisite design and finishes. This stunning colonial sited on a deep 1.18 acre property conveniently located in Red Coat on a quiet cul-de-sac near the new YMCA. Three finished floors, 8406SF which includes 2210SF in the lower level, 6 bedrooms and 6 and 2 half baths. Incredible gourmet kitchen with 2 islands, breakfast bar, butler’s pantry, breakfast room all open to the bright family room with fireplace, 1st floor office/study with fireplace… Great 10FT ceilings on 1st floor and beautiful finishes and incredible design throughout every space of this home. Relaxing is easy in the luxurious master suite with French doors to sitting room, fireplace, private balcony and his & hers huge walk-in closets. The fabulous finished lower level features family room/den with fireplace, gym, play room and full bath also potential wine cellar and movie theater. Professionally landscaped leveled lot is private and has plenty of room for pool and before CO is issued potential for guest cottage on the property.

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A family of four with two young girls and cats needed a brand new master bath to accommodate a family member with MS. They tasked us with creating a luxurious master bath in a modern rustic style that was ADA-accessible and could accommodate the client's walker and wheelchair in the future.
Their key issues were that the shower was relatively small, with a curb the client had to step over. They also had a large jacuzzi tub with a tub deck built around it, but the couple never used it. The main bathroom only had one vanity with minimal counter space available, and the dated finishes and materials looked tired - so they were more than ready for a beautiful transformation.
To create an ADA-accessible main bath, we relocated the shower to an interior corner, allowing for the addition of a larger ADA-accessible shower with zero entry and a bench the client could easily transfer onto for bathing. The arrangement of this space would also allow for a walker and wheelchair to easily move through the walkways for access to the shower.
We moved the toilet to where the shower had been located originally with ADA accessibility features and installed luxurious double vanities along the entire vanity wall, with a modern linen tower cabinet for added storage. Since the client loved the modern rustic aesthetic, we incorporated their chosen style with elements like the Calacatta porcelain tile, cabinet hardware, mason jar lights, and wood-framed mirrors.

Celine Coley Interior Designer. This home is located on Lake Austin and the exterior of the home is stucco with clean lines. Lots of windows allow the fabulous view at the back of the home to be the main art filtering from one room to the next. When the owners purchased this home, their vision was to brighten it up and to make it light and airy. The original home used dark colors and created the Texas Hill Country Tuscan "want to be" decor. Budget was an issue and rather than tear out the cabinets throughout the home we had them painted and used the color to anchor all the other colors we used throughout the home. Celine Coly, interior designer and homeowner worked hand and glove selecting hardwood flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures, etc. to make it all come together while staying within the budget.

6 Winker Lane
Another quality new home by Andy Frank, renown local builder who has been building beautiful homes in Westport for over 25 years
NEW CONSTRUCTION | $2,995,000 |
It does not get better than this…Unbelievable new construction..Exquisite design and finishes. This stunning colonial sited on a deep 1.18 acre property conveniently located in Red Coat on a quiet cul-de-sac near the new YMCA. Three finished floors, 8406SF which includes 2210SF in the lower level, 6 bedrooms and 6 and 2 half baths. Incredible gourmet kitchen with 2 islands, breakfast bar, butler’s pantry, breakfast room all open to the bright family room with fireplace, 1st floor office/study with fireplace… Great 10FT ceilings on 1st floor and beautiful finishes and incredible design throughout every space of this home. Relaxing is easy in the luxurious master suite with French doors to sitting room, fireplace, private balcony and his & hers huge walk-in closets. The fabulous finished lower level features family room/den with fireplace, gym, play room and full bath also potential wine cellar and movie theater. Professionally landscaped leveled lot is private and has plenty of room for pool and before CO is issued potential for guest cottage on the property.

This client’s house had great bones to work with, but also had a few things that made their kitchen less functional. Their main issue with the space was that their cooktop was located on the island, and since the island wasn’t very big, it limited the amount of usable counterspace. Also, they had a microwave oven stack that was housed in a massive brick enclosure that also took up a lot of valuable space. In our design, we decided to replace the cooktop and oven with a gas range and relocated it to the back wall on the L. We also move the refrigerator to the wall opposite of the sink to create the perfect working triangle. All of the cabinetry to the right of the range serves as a dry bar with lots of storage including nice display storage for wine. Originally the house had a butler’s pass between the dining room and kitchen. We decided to transform this space by closing it in on both sides and creating a nice walk-in pantry, something the kitchen did not have before! We extended their island and added space for seating on one side. The kitchen has a beautiful vaulted ceiling that we added a beam to across the center. For materials, we chose a white and grey palette with some blue and wood tones. The backsplash is a beautiful marble mosaic with blue and grey. The countertops are luna plena quartzite, and we incorporated a custom wood wrap around the hood to match the beams. We are thrilled with how we were able to help transform this kitchen into a beautiful functional space.

A family of four with two young girls and cats needed a brand new master bath to accommodate a family member with MS. They tasked us with creating a luxurious master bath in a modern rustic style that was ADA-accessible and could accommodate the client's walker and wheelchair in the future.
Their key issues were that the shower was relatively small, with a curb the client had to step over. They also had a large jacuzzi tub with a tub deck built around it, but the couple never used it. The main bathroom only had one vanity with minimal counter space available, and the dated finishes and materials looked tired - so they were more than ready for a beautiful transformation.
To create an ADA-accessible main bath, we relocated the shower to an interior corner, allowing for the addition of a larger ADA-accessible shower with zero entry and a bench the client could easily transfer onto for bathing. The arrangement of this space would also allow for a walker and wheelchair to easily move through the walkways for access to the shower.
We moved the toilet to where the shower had been located originally with ADA accessibility features and installed luxurious double vanities along the entire vanity wall, with a modern linen tower cabinet for added storage. Since the client loved the modern rustic aesthetic, we incorporated their chosen style with elements like the Calacatta porcelain tile, cabinet hardware, mason jar lights, and wood-framed mirrors.

This client’s house had great bones to work with, but also had a few things that made their kitchen less functional. Their main issue with the space was that their cooktop was located on the island, and since the island wasn’t very big, it limited the amount of usable counterspace. Also, they had a microwave oven stack that was housed in a massive brick enclosure that also took up a lot of valuable space. In our design, we decided to replace the cooktop and oven with a gas range and relocated it to the back wall on the L. We also move the refrigerator to the wall opposite of the sink to create the perfect working triangle. All of the cabinetry to the right of the range serves as a dry bar with lots of storage including nice display storage for wine. Originally the house had a butler’s pass between the dining room and kitchen. We decided to transform this space by closing it in on both sides and creating a nice walk-in pantry, something the kitchen did not have before! We extended their island and added space for seating on one side. The kitchen has a beautiful vaulted ceiling that we added a beam to across the center. For materials, we chose a white and grey palette with some blue and wood tones. The backsplash is a beautiful marble mosaic with blue and grey. The countertops are luna plena quartzite, and we incorporated a custom wood wrap around the hood to match the beams. We are thrilled with how we were able to help transform this kitchen into a beautiful functional space.

Beyond aesthetic updates, we had to address several issues that the homeowners found frustrating about their old kitchen. The biggest problem was a lack of flow. To create better circulation, we relocated the doorway to the formal dining room and replaced a peninsula with an island. The previous location of the refrigerator was inconvenient; it offered no adjacent counter space and was separated from other work areas by the main traffic path through the kitchen. The new kitchen layout has a more functional work triangle and provides better access to the informal dining space. Relocating a laundry room door allowed us to create a large walk-in pantry; replacing a swinging door with a sliding barn door assures that the walking path remains clear.
We paired white Shaker cabinets with Fusion Gray quartzite countertops and selected a complementary gray for the island, completing the design with a custom cherry island top. New hardwood flooring ties the home’s foyer, kitchen and formal/informal dining areas together. Custom millwork in the adjacent dining room adds the finishing touch.
Jenn Verrier Photography

Celine Coly www.livingwithchic.com This home is located on Lake Austin and the exterior of the home is stucco with clean lines. Lots of windows allow the fabulous view at the back of the home to be the main art filtering from one room to the next. When the owners purchased this home, their vision was to brighten it up and to make it light and airy. The original home used dark colors and created the Texas Hill Country Tuscan "want to be" decor. Budget was an issue and rather than tear out the cabinets throughout the home we had them painted and used the color to anchor all the other colors we used throughout the home. Celine Coly, interior designer and homeowner worked hand and glove selecting hardwood flooring, tile, plumbing fixtures, etc. to make it all come together while staying within the budget.

Located within a building constructed in 1937, this apartment retained many of the signature features of New York’s golden age of residential architecture when we first encountered it in 2012—a spacious foyer and living room, wide halls, and beautiful wood floors. Creative professionals keen to color and material, our clients took issue with the kitchen. Also emblematic of prewar apartment living, this room was tucked away in a dim, narrow space, and did not accommodate the couple’s love of entertaining. While they didn’t want to remove any walls separating the kitchen from the living room, our client desired a kitchen that would not only reflect their taste, but also feel larger and better connected to the rest of the apartment.
In response, we removed a wall between the kitchen and adjoining dining area, which enhanced the space’s volume and allowed daylight to penetrate more deeply into the kitchen. New cabinetry was designed to expand storage capacity and enclose new appliances, while expressing the client’s personality. We extended cabinetry into the dining area, to provide additional storage for dinnerware.
To maximize the sense of spaciousness, we removed the kitchen’s tile floor and replaced it with oak flooring similar to the original oak flooring installed throughout the apartment. All flooring was sanded, ebonized, and refinished to create a more seamless flow between spaces. The dark hue creates contrast with the white plaster walls, as well, engendering a new sense of drama and elegance in all the interiors.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards
Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and
needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We
were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will
become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through
two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy,
fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom—
making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

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This Mid Century Modern home was designed and lived in by the architect in 1966. Since then there was one other owner but not much was updated to the home. When the current homeowners moved in they found many plumbing and electrical issues that accumulated overtime. They decided it was time for the kitchen, which had a hole in the floor from water damage, to be fixed and updated. They wanted a more open concept in the tight, galley, 60's style kitchen. To do so we needed to move the powder room to another location. New cabinets, flooring, counters, and backsplash were selected for the remodel. And after a lot of construction work was done to update the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical their dreams came true. The homeowners taste and style fits perfectly with the architects intentions for the design of the home.
Cabinet Walls and Talls: Dura Supreme Bria series, Alpine door, High Pressure Laminate, Frosty White
Granite: Black Uba Tuba
Photos By: Kate Benjamin Photography LLC

This client’s house had great bones to work with, but also had a few things that made their kitchen less functional. Their main issue with the space was that their cooktop was located on the island, and since the island wasn’t very big, it limited the amount of usable counterspace. Also, they had a microwave oven stack that was housed in a massive brick enclosure that also took up a lot of valuable space. In our design, we decided to replace the cooktop and oven with a gas range and relocated it to the back wall on the L. We also move the refrigerator to the wall opposite of the sink to create the perfect working triangle. All of the cabinetry to the right of the range serves as a dry bar with lots of storage including nice display storage for wine. Originally the house had a butler’s pass between the dining room and kitchen. We decided to transform this space by closing it in on both sides and creating a nice walk-in pantry, something the kitchen did not have before! We extended their island and added space for seating on one side. The kitchen has a beautiful vaulted ceiling that we added a beam to across the center. For materials, we chose a white and grey palette with some blue and wood tones. The backsplash is a beautiful marble mosaic with blue and grey. The countertops are luna plena quartzite, and we incorporated a custom wood wrap around the hood to match the beams. We are thrilled with how we were able to help transform this kitchen into a beautiful functional space.
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