Chad Chenier
Inspiration for a large contemporary formal living room remodel in New Orleans

Photography by Natalie Marotta This special project is an extensive renovation of Better Homes And Gardens’ “The House You Asked For” of 1953. While the California Case Study-inspired architecture was an interesting break from 1950’s boxes, its extensive single-pane glass, internal roof drains, and slab construction were leading to structural deterioration through condensation and leaks, and a massive carbon footprint. The renovation took the form of slight plan adjustments–giving the kitchen more space, combining two entry doors into one entry space, adjusting the bedroom-bathroom area–and reworking the roof. We added a raised portion to carry ducts for conditioning and ventilation, which was also an opportunity to create spatial interest and bring in light from above, and we re-sloped the roof to drain to the perimeter instead of the middle of the house. Carbon-sequestering wood fiberboard insulation was added to the walls, and the windows were replaced with triple-glazed units. With new heat pump heating, cooling, and water heating, the operational carbon footprint was reduced by 93%.

Massive Great room has defined areas for dining, bar & pool table, wine room, dining, and lounging and enjoying company and the fantastic water views of Lake Tahoe

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Charleston American Tradition showcase home highlights premium custom home building in Akron, Ohio. Featuring a thoughtfully designed 2,400 square-foot floor plan, this layout offers 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, perfectly balancing spacious open-concept living with private family areas. As one of our most popular and versatile home designs, the Charleston is celebrated for offering the latest in modern architectural design alongside clever, abundant storage solutions tailored for growing families.The heart of this custom home centers around a gourmet kitchen equipped with expansive counter space, a massive central kitchen island built for family gatherings, and a giant walk-in pantry that ensures everything has its place. Just off the main living area, a dedicated pocket office provides the perfect quiet space to organize household bills or work from home. This functional workspace transitions effortlessly into a luxurious owner's retreat, featuring an expansive master bedroom, two large walk-in closets, and a deluxe owner's bath complete with a custom tile shower. On the opposite side of the home, the additional bedrooms are intentionally zoned to give children or guests their own private, quiet spaces.The home’s unique interior and exterior architectural features elevate everyday living into a true luxury experience. Inside the open-concept great room, a dramatic double tray ceiling adds a unique, high-end design detail that emphasizes the height and airiness of the main living space. Extending your living area outdoors, a spacious rear covered porch offers a fantastic spot for seamless outdoor living, backyard dining, and weekend entertaining. From the elegant master suite to the welcoming layout, this Charleston American Tradition design is the ultimate reflection of quality Ohio craftsmanship and timeless style.

Check out this newly refreshed kitchen and custom reading nook! Every element, surface, accessory, corner, and window treatment in this entire kitchen is completely new, EXCEPT the cabinets & appliances. We are known for our ability to create massive transformations without necessarily breaking the bank. DiD consistently presents our clients with multiple options as to how their home can be redone and always takes into account the ‘comfort zone’ of our clients. The new end result is a happy, bright space that feels softly flooded with sunshine! Take a look at more details in the newly redone family room here.

This brand new modern build required an ultra modern landscape. The backyard features architectural concrete steppingstones, walkways, patios and pool coping. The pavilion has dining and lounging areas with an outdoor TV and fireplace. A natural stone bench terminates the far end of the pool and is surrounded with Beech hedging, Japanese Maples and forest like plantings. The front has an exposed aggregate driveway and limestone steppingstones and walkways to get you to the front door. Another custom cantilevered stone bench gives us a sense of entry. A massive Red Maple was carefully preserved through the build. Gardens feature Japanese Maples, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Ferns and Japanese Forest Grasses.

Wild View Farm includes a new “Forever home” (we deconstructed an existing house with a 90% landfill diversion rate), and enhancements to several working barns. The 80 acre site was an original homestead farm from the 1890’s. Both its buildings and soil had become severely degraded. The owners are working to holistically restore this property and make it a model of modern regenerative farming. They are planting hundreds of trees, re-introducing livestock and working with Dryland Agroecology Research and High Plains Permaculture to restore the soil. The -51 HERS rated home is not just energy-efficient - it’s a model of “Regenerative design”. The deep green house design included multiple challenges – foremost was how to create a Passive Solar design that also took full advantage of the massive views to the West. We solved it with an L shaped building that optimized passive and active solar strategies on the south face, then actively protected the western facade with a giant covered porch and tuned glazing. The home’s leading-edge energy package includes a Ground source heat pump, a large roof-mounted solar PV array, battery back-up, EV chargers, and Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), Energy Star Appliances and windows, a robust foam insulation shell and LED lighting. We also endeavored to craft a modern day interpretation of the farmhouse typology, with a low-slung simple gable-roofed form that would feel like it’s always been there. The exterior material palette of limestone, cementitious stucco and heavy timber gives it a rich Colorado Modern Farmhouse feel. The home is full of custom details like walls of vaulted glass to capture the sweeping mountain views, an AI Smart Home control system, a sleeping loft for kids and guests, a hard-working Butler’s Pantry, a gourmet outdoor kitchen, a pool & spa, a cozy office nook for reading, and a lovely built-in bench for morning coffee. Phase 2 of this project will include a Farmworker ADU and a full renovation of the existing historic barn. Built by Skycastle Construction. Interior Design by Kimball Modern and Rodwin Architecture. Landscaping by EDI. Photography by Dane Cronin Photo

Desiring an oversized traditional yet timeless chef's kitchen, this homeowner turned to Shore & Country Kitchens who took major steps to significantly enlarge it. The renovation required the design team to find a creative way to “bump out” the existing space and create five additional feet to accommodate a massive island. The island, mantle of the hood, interior of glass hutch cabinet, and floating shelves were finished in Antique Leather on Maple and accented with brushed gold hardware for a warm burnished look. And behind each and every Burlington Recessed Inset cabinet door finished in Alpine White, hides a variety of uniquely Wood-Mode storage ideas. From roll-out storage drawers and a magic corner that provide deeper storage with easier access to items, to Tray Partitions and Peg Drawer to neatly store cooking pans and dishware. To finish off the design, the kitchen features interior cabinet lighting throughout, integrated lighting in floating shelves, and under cabinet integrated lighting, along with glass front upper cabinets, offering a place to show off prized dishware. Designed by Bob Blanco Shore & Country Kitchens Fairfield, CT

? South Surrey Full Home Transformation ? This project was a complete 3,500 sq. ft. full-gut renovation that transformed an outdated home into a stunning, modern living space designed for both everyday living and entertaining. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by a custom-built staircase that sets the tone for the craftsmanship and attention to detail carried throughout the entire home. The heart of the renovation is the breathtaking custom kitchen, featuring floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a massive waterfall island, integrated lighting, premium finishes, and carefully selected materials that blend warmth with modern elegance. The home includes 4 fully renovated bedrooms, each designed to maximize comfort, functionality, and style. Every bathroom was reimagined with custom cabinetry, quartz surfaces, designer fixtures, and timeless finishes. Downstairs, the basement was completely transformed into an entertainer's dream with a custom-built bar, creating the perfect space for hosting family and friends. From the flooring and millwork to the lighting and architectural details, every square foot of this home was rebuilt from the ground up. This wasn't a cosmetic update—it was a true studs-to-finish renovation, where every detail was thoughtfully designed and expertly executed. Project Highlights: ✔️ 3,500 sq. ft. Full Gut Renovation ✔️ Custom Kitchen with Waterfall Island ✔️ 4 Bedrooms Completely Renovated ✔️ Custom Basement Bar ✔️ Custom Staircase ✔️ New Flooring Throughout ✔️ Custom Millwork & Cabinetry ✔️ Designer Bathrooms ✔️ Modern Lighting Package ✔️ Complete Interior Transformation A project of this scale takes vision, planning, and craftsmanship—and we're proud to have brought this South Surrey home back to life. Completed by LuxCraft Renovations | A Division of Cal Platinum Construction Group ?✨ #SouthSurrey #LuxuryRenovation #FullHomeRenovation #KitchenDesign #CustomCabinetry #BasementBar #CustomStaircase #LuxuryHomes #QuartzCountertops #InteriorDesign #RenovationExperts #LuxCraftRenovations #CalPlatinumConstructionGroup #BeforeAndAfter #DreamHome

This brand new modern build required an ultra modern landscape. The backyard features architectural concrete steppingstones, walkways, patios and pool coping. The pavilion has dining and lounging areas with an outdoor TV and fireplace. A natural stone bench terminates the far end of the pool and is surrounded with Beech hedging, Japanese Maples and forest like plantings. The front has an exposed aggregate driveway and limestone steppingstones and walkways to get you to the front door. Another custom cantilevered stone bench gives us a sense of entry. A massive Red Maple was carefully preserved through the build. Gardens feature Japanese Maples, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Ferns and Japanese Forest Grasses.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Windsor Modern Farmhouse in Akron, Ohio, effortlessly balances classic architectural details with modern elements. Designed with an expansive open-concept layout, this floor plan maximizes spatial flow, offering abundant storage and generous proportions to entertain guests and cook simultaneously. The premium kitchen is fully equipped for culinary pursuits, showcasing a large walk-in pantry, extensive counter space, and an optional "messy kitchen" secondary prep zone to keep the main island pristine. To accommodate modern family needs, the massive first-floor flex room has been custom-tailored into an executive home office, featuring premium built-in cabinets and shelving to ensure staying organized while working from home is completely effortless. For added main-level luxury, a beautifully appointed first-floor guest suite provides ultimate comfort and seclusion for out-of-town visitors. The thoughtful design details continue as you head upstairs. The private primary owner’s retreat serves as a quiet upper-level sanctuary, showcasing a double-bowl vanity and independent, separate walk-in closets. This primary suite is conveniently located adjacent to the second-floor laundry room, which has been upgraded with a brilliant, custom-built dog washing station perfect for keeping four-legged family members clean. Overlooking the home's main level, the spacious upstairs loft has been beautifully converted into a versatile bonus room. This adaptive upper lounge area functions as a multi-use flex zone, serving as the perfect design canvas for a children's playroom, a home workout fitness room, or a dedicated media and game room.

Minimalist kitchen design that features concealed range hood, massive island, linear sink window, and custom cabinets.
Large trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, quartz backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

A panoramic view of the primary social hub featuring a massive waterfall-edge island. The design highlights the seamless integration of natural stone surfaces with wide-plank white oak flooring. The removal of structural walls has created a direct sightline into the family room, emphasizing the scale of the dual-island layout.

This space is defined by its massive floor to ceiling windows and a sculptural, textured fireplace wall that serves as the room’s architectural centerpiece. To honor the symmetry of the architecture, we staged the room with four wood accent chairs. The low profile of the seating ensures the desert views remain unobstructed, while the organic wood frames and neutral upholstery soften the clean, modern lines of the room. By pairing these with a solid stone coffee table and a plush, textured rug, we’ve created a formal retreat that feels high end yet deeply inviting.

Stunning transformation of a 160 year old Victorian home in very bad need of a renovation. This stately beach home has been in the same family for over 70 years. It needed to pay homage to its roots while getting a massive update to suit the needs of this large family, their relatives and friends. DREAM...DESIGN...LIVE...

Our clients for this grand mountain lodge wanted the warmth and solidness of timber to contrast many of the contemporary steel, glass and stone architecture more prevalent in the area recently. A desire for timberwork with ‘GRRRR’ equipped to handle the massive snowloads in this location, ensured that the timbers were fit to scale this awe-inspiring 8700sq ft residence. Working with Peter Rose Architecture + Interiors Inc., we came up with unique designs for the timberwork to be highlighted throughout the entire home. The Kettle River crew worked for 2.5 years designing and erecting the timber frame as well as the 2 feature staircases and complex heavy timber mouldings and mantle in the great room. We also coordinated and installed the direct set glazing on the timberwork and the unique Unison lift and slide doors that integrate seamlessly with the timberwork. Huge credit should also be given to the very talented builder on this project - MacDougall Construction & Renovations, it was a pleasure to partner with your team on this project.

coastal custom kitchen with vertical shiplap walls into horizontal shiplap ceilings and white tray ceiling molding. 2 huge custom oak center islands giving the coastal vibe and seating for 4 with marble countertops and a custom massive black metal 72" vent hood with

Luxury transitional kitchen renovation featuring custom blue-green cabinetry, marble countertops, brass hardware, and a handcrafted wood island. Designed and built by a high-end residential renovation contractor for a timeless, functional family kitchen.

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!