Grace Design Associates
Inspiration for a mediterranean full sun side yard formal garden in Santa Barbara.

Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Wilmington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

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.

Inspiration for a transitional bedroom remodel in Kansas City

Patrick Olin
Elegant beige two-story stone exterior home photo in Tampa with a hip roof

Example of a transitional gray floor and double-sink bathroom design in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Andrew Kist A 750 square foot top floor apartment is transformed from a cramped and musty two bedroom into a sun-drenched aerie with a second floor home office recaptured from an old storage loft. Multiple skylights and a large picture window allow light to fill the space altering the feeling throughout the days and seasons. Views of New York Harbor, previously ignored, are now a daily event. Featured in the Fall 2016 issue of Domino, and on Refinery 29.

Inspiration for a 1960s backyard concrete patio remodel in Los Angeles with no cover

Please see this Award Winning project in the October 2014 issue of New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine: NYC&G http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/October-2014/NYCG-Innovation-in-Design-Winners-Kitchen-Design/ It was also featured in a Houzz Tour: Houzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29691278/list/houzz-tour-loving-the-old-and-new-in-an-1880s-brooklyn-row-house Photo Credit: Hulya Kolabas

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless beige two-story wood gable roof remodel in Atlanta

Photography by Raquel Langworthy
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master white tile and ceramic tile cement tile floor and green floor alcove shower remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink, concrete countertops and a hinged shower door

The mosaic tile wall adds texture to the airy space, while the contrasting dark wood base of the kitchen island adds warmth and sets the stage for the luxurious Hanoi Pure White marble countertops.

Warren Jagger
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Providence with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances

Bathroom - cottage white tile and subway tile cork floor and brown floor bathroom idea in Burlington with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, wood countertops, a hinged shower door and a trough sink

This home is sold, yet showcases the talent of the team at Don Mills Builders. The main living area is pictured on the cover of the current issue of our local "The Real Estate Book".

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor family room remodel in New York with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and gray walls

Designed by Lauren Hunt of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Charlotte, NC this transitional style white and grey kitchen design features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in 2 finishes. The perimeter kitchen cabinets features a White finish and the kitchen island cabinets feature a Summit Grey finish. Kitchen countertops are marble in the color Fantasy Brown. Kitchen appliances are KitchenAid and Whirlpool. Kitchen tile backsplash is Soho Studio Alchimia White 3' x 12". For the customer, "working with Lauren and everyone involved was a pleasure. She was always quick to respond and address any issue I had. It was a relief turning the project over with complete faith in her." Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media LLC.

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Los Angeles with a niche

KitchenLab Interiors’ first, entirely new construction project in collaboration with GTH architects who designed the residence. KLI was responsible for all interior finishes, fixtures, furnishings, and design including the stairs, casework, interior doors, moldings and millwork. KLI also worked with the client on selecting the roof, exterior stucco and paint colors, stone, windows, and doors. The homeowners had purchased the existing home on a lakefront lot of the Valley Lo community in Glenview, thinking that it would be a gut renovation, but when they discovered a host of issues including mold, they decided to tear it down and start from scratch. The minute you look out the living room windows, you feel as though you're on a lakeside vacation in Wisconsin or Michigan. We wanted to help the homeowners achieve this feeling throughout the house - merging the causal vibe of a vacation home with the elegance desired for a primary residence. This project is unique and personal in many ways - Rebekah and the homeowner, Lorie, had grown up together in a small suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Lorie had been Rebekah's babysitter and was like an older sister growing up. They were both heavily influenced by the style of the late 70's and early 80's boho/hippy meets disco and 80's glam, and both credit their moms for an early interest in anything related to art, design, and style. One of the biggest challenges of doing a new construction project is that it takes so much longer to plan and execute and by the time tile and lighting is installed, you might be bored by the selections of feel like you've seen them everywhere already. “I really tried to pull myself, our team and the client away from the echo-chamber of Pinterest and Instagram. We fell in love with counter stools 3 years ago that I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger on, thank god, because then they started showing up literally everywhere", Rebekah recalls. Lots of one of a kind vintage rugs and furnishings make the home feel less brand-spanking new. The best projects come from a team slightly outside their comfort zone. One of the funniest things Lorie says to Rebekah, "I gave you everything you wanted", which is pretty hilarious coming from a client to a designer.