Featured in Modern Luxury Magazine: “Sky High” by Maile Pingel (Fall 2021) Featured in Architectural Digest: “This Contemporary San Francisco Condo Is A Lesson In How To Live With Art” by Saiqa Ajmal (June 2022)

This project began as a wilderness retreat for the homeowners at their rural estate. They already had a large outdoor area complete with a pond, and detached garage in the perfect location to tie into an outdoor entertaining area/kitchen for the swimming pool. The homeowners were hoping that the design team at Legendary Escapes could create something magical for their small grandchildren, and for the grownups to enjoy for summertime relaxation. When the discussion turned to themes, the cartoon SpongeBob came up, and our team found a direction to go, either to the homeowners delight, possibly mixed with a bit of apprehension at the thought of a cartoony theme as a result. We promised subtle surprise and delight - and the homeowner decided to let the team go with their vision. The pool is a very abundant sized swimming pool, much larger than the average residential swimming pool. The sunledge was also made larger after the pool layout, providing even more space for chairs and play area for small children. One of the special surprises the owners didn't even know about until after they were in were the secret port holes that were re-seated with magnifying glass - and showcased miniature characters behind them, that when viewed through the glass looked giant in size. The waterfall/slide combination also features a large grotto - themed and decorated with elements that remind visitors to the space of the lessons and themes of the cartoon. The castle is solid, carved concrete - mixed and sculpted on site and hand placed. As the waterfall began to take shape, the outside was created as a sand castle, providing the perfect whimsical backdrop for the slide, and accents including a pair of flipper outfitted legs of what we can only think is mermaid man. One of the biggest surprises on this project came when Al found an old wooden boat at an auction, which he bought, took back to the job and cut it in half - creating the tail end of a boating incident, much like SpongeBob would have had when he missed the direction of the curve sign while out boating. (The joke in the show is that he can't ever get his drivers license because he doesn't know how to steer.) The other end of the boat became a vertical storage space for firewood or other pool side needs. The two parts of the boat became anchor pieces for what became the "wharf wall" which is the perfect area to lead people into the swimming pool retreat. The pool has three different entertaining patio levels, including the lower wharf level, swim up bar and raised concrete counter at the deep end of the pool. The middle section of patio is perfect for relaxing and watching kids play in the pool with the deck jets and sun ledge, and the upper area is adjacent to the outdoor kitchen area, also designed and created out of concrete (carved timbers) as the cabinetry and under bar areas. The pool was completed with ecoFinish on the sun ledge, interior of the spa, grotto and the slide. The main swimming area of the pool was vinyl liner, constructed in the special hybrid way of the team. With the project complete, the homeowners and family thoroughly enjoyed their backyard retreat. Any hesitation at the initial theme ideas were fully appreciated as they developed along the way, with the final project a subtle blend of function and whimsy, meeting everything that they could have asked for in a backyard entertaining retreat. Their advice is to just trust Al and the team through the process, because the results will be more than you would ever hope for. If our team can help you create a backyard or custom retreat, which includes a pool and plenty of outdoor entertaining options to surprise and delight you and your family, please reach out to start your design discussions.

What do you do when your family outgrows your family room? Ask Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom! As her six kids got older, she realized her family room had turned into a space no one wanted to spend time in. So, she turned to us to help transform the space into a colorful, inviting room that’s perfect for playing games, music lessons and spending time together. Photos by Kristen Loken for Design Mom

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

Rob Fisher, principal, and builder, has built new homes in the Northern Virginia area for almost 25 years. He has overseen the design, development, construction, and customer satisfaction of some of the most exclusive communities and reputable builders in the area. He began his career with Foley Custom Homes in Vienna, VA before moving on to serve as a supervisor for NVR. In 1986 he joined A&A Partnership in Alexandria, Virginia. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for Harborside, a waterfront community of luxury townhouses in the heart of Old Town. In 1994 Rob joined Pulte Homes to open StoneRidge Builders, a division of Pulte Homes offering high end, semi-custom homes to the Mid Atlantic market. Under StoneRidge Builders, Rob oversaw such notable projects as McLean Hundred (McLean); Ashgrove Plantation & Clarks Crossing (Vienna); and Timberlake and Windsong Estates (Oakton). Rob led Pulte’s efforts in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in customer satisfaction. During his tenure as Vice President of Customer Relations for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Pulte won an unprecedented five JD Power and Associates New Home Customer Satisfaction Awards. The experiences and lessons learned in building some of the most exclusive projects in Northern Virginia, while creating an industry benchmark in customer satisfaction, helped create the foundation upon which Fisher Custom Homes was established. In 2010, Rob decided to turn his passion for building homes into a personal business, and Fisher Custom Homes was born. Over the course of the last several years, Rob has worked diligently to establish himself as one of the most prestigious and sought-after custom home builders in the Vienna, VA and surrounding areas. Rob’s quality, attention to detail and personal touch has earned him a reputation as the ‘builder of choice’ among his peers, his homeowners, and prospective buyers.

Wrestling is this family’s sport. Applying lessons from the mat, this couple won their dream kitchen. Similar to pinning one’s opponent, the remodeling process takes visualization, determination, and keeping one’s eye on the prize. These clients came to us with a clear vision of their new kitchen. They knew what they wanted it to look like and how they needed the space to function for their family. Their goal was to transform an outdated floor plan that included a dark, small kitchen into a bright, open space with counters galore, an island with seating and room for a large dining table. The couple had recently purchased this home from the husband’s parents. This was where he was raised. The family home was very special to them and now it was time to make it ‘theirs’. Just as in focus as their vision, was their budget. They knew it was tight, but were willing to make reasonable concessions. Walls were removed, flooring changed and the new kitchen switched places with the dining area. This change allowed the sun porch to become more inviting, an unexpected bonus. Semi-custom cabinetry, in contrasting paint colors, and quartz counter tops brighten the space. The galley design with island seating makes cooking for the family and entertaining larger groups enjoyable. The entire process was smooth and the result aesthetically fabulous with all the function they desired. This project was one of our favorites because we were thrilled to be able to help provide this dream kitchen on a budget to some of the very nicest clients, a winning result for all. Matt Villano Photography

Always Love helping Clients enjoy their homes to the fullest! It is about now..... Covid taught us so many lessons, so many of my clients want to enjoy how hard they work in their own spaces. This is just another example of using every inch of your real estate. This new entertainment space has already gone for a couple of spins - Enjoy! # Golf Simulator/Workout Room. Conditioned Wine Cellar Space. Basement Bar for Game Night - Go Dawgs! #designbuild #designtransforms #uga

A St. Charles couple who were looking to stay in their current home for the long haul needed to do some updating to their master and hall bathroom. Right Bath was able to help them modernize these 1980’s spaces. The hall bathroom provides a good lesson in contrasting colors. The dark sienna maple cabinet’s pop next to the light natural stone tile and Winter Onyx shower surround and vanity top. The master bathroom sticks with the more traditional beiges bringing a perfect harmony of design to these rooms.

The desired mood for this home was a mix of approachable and comfortable, yet stylish. These clients love art, wine and travel, and have collected many treasures over the years that were important to include. While we wanted to nod to both the Modern Farmhouse trend and a comfortable classic design, we did not want to be completely dictated by either style. We needed to seamlessly mesh design styles without scrapping everything they had ever loved. An important lesson here is that starting fresh (like with a new home) does not mean you have to start completely over! In fact, the best interiors surround you with what you genuinely love.

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

This bright and inviting home office remodel is a lesson in how to blend functionality with comfort. French doors create an elegant entrance while allowing natural light to flow through the space. A soft gray wall color paired with crisp white trim provides a calm backdrop for productivity, while rich hardwood floors and a woven area rug add warmth and texture. The leather armchair and industrial-style bookcase bring a masculine yet approachable vibe, perfect for reading, brainstorming, or unwinding between Zoom calls. Built with intention, this space effortlessly balances work and relaxation.

The approach to Edge House, a walk through verdant woodland abundant with ferns and moss, is a lesson in arrival. What appears is a woodsy yet contemporary dwelling divided into two volumes, framing an ocean view. Located on an island off Midcoast, Maine, Edge House is a low-slung cabin that hugs the rocky coast. The client commissioned Charles Rose Architects to design a simple cottage retreat that could take full advantage of the view, while also remaining inconspicuously nestled in the trees. The solution was a simple wood-shingled structure that features large glass windows, connecting both structure and inhabitant to the site. From the water’s edge, only a few hundred meters away, the house is barely visible. The selection of contextual materials, specifically cedar shingles, was meant to embed the structure in the landscape. For the interior, bedrooms are purposefully small, and beds were positioned close to the full-height windows, allowing occupants to immerse themselves in the view. Clerestory windows under the roof further amplify the quality of natural light and create a weightless effect on the roof from the outside. The stone fireplace, located in the living room, was crafted with stones gathered from the site as another way to bring the outdoors in.

The primary bathroom is a lesson in warmth and simplicity: the wood tiles bring warmth and coziness to this bathing nook creates instant relaxation and a spa feeling.

This bright and inviting home office remodel is a lesson in how to blend functionality with comfort. French doors create an elegant entrance while allowing natural light to flow through the space. A soft gray wall color paired with crisp white trim provides a calm backdrop for productivity, while rich hardwood floors and a woven area rug add warmth and texture. The leather armchair and industrial-style bookcase bring a masculine yet approachable vibe, perfect for reading, brainstorming, or unwinding between Zoom calls. Built with intention, this space effortlessly balances work and relaxation.

This bright and inviting home office remodel is a lesson in how to blend functionality with comfort. French doors create an elegant entrance while allowing natural light to flow through the space. A soft gray wall color paired with crisp white trim provides a calm backdrop for productivity, while rich hardwood floors and a woven area rug add warmth and texture. The leather armchair and industrial-style bookcase bring a masculine yet approachable vibe, perfect for reading, brainstorming, or unwinding between Zoom calls. Built with intention, this space effortlessly balances work and relaxation.

This modern kitchen services a family with 4 teen-aged kids, frequent out-of-town guests, many friends and family gatherings. At one point, my client even ran a catering business from her home. This kitchen gets used everyday! It was great fun to work with these wonderful people on their complete remodel. The house features many windows, amazing Salt Lake Valley views, and two-story, high ceilings! Many thanks to Jessica from Prolific, Ink. for the photography (and the camera lessons!).

All Weather teamed up with the Property Brothers and Emmy nominated actress and comedian Cheryl Hines on this week’s episode of HGTV’s hit show CELEBRTIY IOU. In the Cheryl Hines Gifts a Garage Makeover episode, Cheryl surprises Sarita, her close friend of nearly 20 years, by transforming her underused detached garage into a gorgeous multi purpose guest suite and work space. Sarita started as Cheryl’s assistant, turned into a close friend as well as a nanny for her daughter Catherine. “Sarita is a part of the family and Catherine wouldn’t be who she is today without her.” said Hines. “She taught Cat so much.” Cheryl Hines learned a very important lesson about demolition from the Property Brothers. you can’t scream because all the stuff flies into your mouth. Hines wields a reciprocating saw and sledgehammer and knocks down shelves in the episode. The newly renovated garage features All Weather Series 8100 Multi Slide Doors and Counter Top Sliding Windows to allow natural light and fresh air in; a sophisticated kitchenette, spa inspired bathroom, built in desk, spacious walk-in closet and a Murphy Bed for the perfect mother-in law suite and personal retreat. Check out the Project Photos from this life-changing garage renovation. Now in its third season, Celebrity IOU gives celebrities a chance to show their deepest gratitude to friends, family and mentors by giving them a surprise renovation courtesy of Drew and Jonathan Scott.

Nestled in a home in Thrapston, this stunning kitchen was the result of a chance connection over golf, and it turned into something simply perfect for a lovely family. There’s a great story behind this kitchen. It might never have happened if not for a few golf lessons with a brilliant local pro, who, as it turned out, needed a kitchen. The result is a beautiful room that we’re proud to have delivered from start to finish. We used Crown Imperial’s Midsomer range for this project, painted in Sage and Blush. The Royal Calacatta Gold Quartz worktops bring a soft, luxurious feel to the space, and the Karndean herringbone floor adds warmth and texture underfoot. Bosch appliances and a standout gold Quooker tap bring both function and flair. That Quooker, especially, was a decision that took a bit of bravery, but it paid off. There are a few design details that really make this kitchen special to us. The tall units in Blush add a soft accent, with matching tiles at the opposite end of the room to tie the whole space together. A curved pilaster helps soften the corner, making the tall units feel less imposing. And the centralised hob with integrated canopy hood gives the room a far cleaner, more balanced finish, even if it did require a bit of head scratching during the design stage. We handled the entire project, from removing the old kitchen to the final finishing touches. That included plumbing, electrics, plastering, and the new flooring—every step was taken care of by our team. This kitchen is more than just a pretty space – it’s full of considered design choices and lovely touches that really suit the family who lives here. We adore how it turned out. A truly lovely room for a lovely family.

All Weather teamed up with the Property Brothers and Emmy nominated actress and comedian Cheryl Hines on this week’s episode of HGTV’s hit show CELEBRTIY IOU. In the Cheryl Hines Gifts a Garage Makeover episode, Cheryl surprises Sarita, her close friend of nearly 20 years, by transforming her underused detached garage into a gorgeous multi purpose guest suite and work space. Sarita started as Cheryl’s assistant, turned into a close friend as well as a nanny for her daughter Catherine. “Sarita is a part of the family and Catherine wouldn’t be who she is today without her.” said Hines. “She taught Cat so much.” Cheryl Hines learned a very important lesson about demolition from the Property Brothers. you can’t scream because all the stuff flies into your mouth. Hines wields a reciprocating saw and sledgehammer and knocks down shelves in the episode. The newly renovated garage features All Weather Series 8100 Multi Slide Doors and Counter Top Sliding Windows to allow natural light and fresh air in; a sophisticated kitchenette, spa inspired bathroom, built in desk, spacious walk-in closet and a Murphy Bed for the perfect mother-in law suite and personal retreat. Check out the Project Photos from this life-changing garage renovation. Now in its third season, Celebrity IOU gives celebrities a chance to show their deepest gratitude to friends, family and mentors by giving them a surprise renovation courtesy of Drew and Jonathan Scott.