Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

Inspiration for a large coastal open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Cooking for Two Location: Plymouth, MN, United States When this couple’s last child graduated from college they began the process of looking for a new home. After a lengthy search they decided to stay with the neighborhood they loved, saving money by remodeling rather than starting over. The top priorities on their wish list were adding character to their 1990’s era home with a classic white kitchen and a larger island while keeping within the existing footprint. With the intention of honing their cooking skills, they were also considering better appliances and two ovens. Challenges and Solutions Design a larger island with seating for at least two. The existing island was small and the area behind the seating was less than recommended clearances. To solve this challenge, the seating area of the island was extended out into the open area of the kitchen. This created a larger island with seating for three, extra storage and a bookshelf across from the range. The original kitchen had a range with microwave above, so adding another oven was a challenge with limited wall space. Because the adjoining dining room is used infrequently, the homeowner was open to placing the second oven and microwave in the walkway. This made room for the small buffet between the built in refrigerator and ovens, creating one of her favorite areas. The client requested a white painted kitchen but wanted to make sure it had warmth and character. To achieve this the following elements were chosen: 1) Cabinets painted with Benjamin Moore Capitol White, a luminous and warm shade of white. 2) The Range hood was painted with warm metallic shades to reflect the bronze of the Ashley Norton hardware. 3) Black Aqua Grantique granite was chosen for countertops because it looks like soapstone and adds contrast. 4) Walker Zanger Café tile in Latte was chosen for it’s handmade look with uneven edges. 5) The to-the-counter-cabinet with glass door shows off serving dishes and lends sophisticated charm. The result is a welcoming classic kitchen, where this couple enjoys cooking more often and sharpening their skills with gourmet appliances. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg Photography

Brendon Pinola
Example of a mid-sized classic brick floor and red floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Birmingham with gray walls and no fireplace

Kim Sargent
Example of a tuscan dining room design in New York with orange walls

Huge elegant backyard stamped concrete patio kitchen photo in Las Vegas with a roof extension

Brendon Pinola
Mid-sized elegant brick floor and red floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in Birmingham with gray walls and no fireplace

Brendon Pinola
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless brick floor and red floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Birmingham with gray walls and no fireplace

Example of a large classic backyard patio design in Minneapolis with decking and a roof extension

Brendon Pinola
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized traditional brick floor and red floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Birmingham with gray walls and no fireplace

Transitional patio photo in Orange County

Living/ dining space with fireplace opening to the courtyard
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Denver with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Inspiration for a mediterranean dining room remodel in Orlando

Patio - transitional patio idea in Orange County

Some clients have such great taste, that it’s easy to help create the kitchen of their dreams. Our client in this case had such passion for the design of her own kitchen that it made it such a fun collaborative experience that you don’t always get with clients. She put her heart and soul into making sure every detail was exactly the way she wanted. This kitchen is only a small piece of a well-appointed home. The 1” thick custom door (from Bilotta’s private custom cabinet collection), traditionally styled, yet not overly so, matches beautifully with the details of the adjacent rooms. The grey colored cabinetry blends with the colors in the adjoining rooms creating the perfect centerpiece. The client chose a massive stone Francois & Co. Toulouse Shelf w/ Concave Stack hood from a dealer in London and had it shipped over on a boat! She selected beautiful “Mother of Pearl” knobs from Anthropologie and adorned select cabinets with them like pieces of jewelry. The naturally pearlescent clay tile, the Quartzite countertops and the lanterns above the island were all chosen to mirror these knobs. The lanterns were also chosen to replicate the movement of the gold pattern in the knobs. The client opted to turn the tile on the diagonal as it felt more fluid and in keeping with the movement in the knobs and lanterns. The stone hood, tile, and quartzite sample coordinated perfectly. The room was equipped with a mix of SubZero Wolf and Miele appliances with a Kohler apron sink. The space of course has the perfect amount of accessories for making it more than just visually appealing – it’s a baker’s dream with a lift up for a frequently used mixer. There’s a built-in paper towel holder and just the right amount of utensil dividers, cutlery dividers, tray dividers, roll-outs and even a secret pantry with matching cabinetry hidden in the corner. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane, CKD & Senior Designer Builder: Rob Norr, Nordic Construction Architect: Brad Demotte Photographer: Anthony Acocella

Inspiration for a coastal living room remodel in Los Angeles

Mountain style formal and open concept living room photo in Sacramento

Complete Kitchen Remodel by Hatfield Builders, Chad Hatfield CR, CKBR, NARI and Interior Design by Lindy Jo Crutchfield, Allied ASID. Hatfield Builders gutted and scraped the old kitchen back to the studs, installed new materials, fixtures, appliances and added a fresh coat of paint. Cabinetry is a prefinished, inset, shaker design from Canyon Creek Cabinet Company, which is run to the top of the 10' ceiling. Mocha Ceasarstone runs the perimeter of the Kitchen while a beautiful granite marbled with grays, caramels, whites and creams is the centerpiece of the room. Sophisticated and clean 12x24 tiles run on the floor in a brick pattern, while 3x6 subway tiles set off the dark perimeter countertops. A lantern-style, cream mosaic washed with a hint of milk chocolate and green set off the gorgeous Wolf range. This Kitchen is truly one to behold.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless medium tone wood floor and brown floor dining room remodel in Charleston with blue walls and no fireplace