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.

This dining room features a large distressed table flanked by a church pew on one side and mismatched dining room chairs on the other. A large buffet sits against an amazing exposed brick wall. The walls feature old recipes from grandma framed along with grandma's china mixed with some other beautiful pieces. The dining room also has an amazing pressed tin ceiling and Castle Comb wood floors.

Carrera marble subway tile and marble hex floor tile create a classic, timeless mater bathroom. The pedestal tub has a view to Mount Rainer, and is lighted by a Tom Dixon pendant. Alex Hayden Photography.

Completed in 2018, this Westlake Hills duplex, designed by Alterstudio Architects, underwent a dramatic transformation by mixing light & airy with dark & moody design. The goal of the project was to create a more intimate environment using a more saturated and dramatic palette. Additionally, it draws from warmer wood tones such as walnut alongside luxurious textures, particularly in navy, dark grey, and emerald green. The end result is an elegant, timeless, and comfortable space conducive to cozying up with a book at the end of a long day.

This brownstone renovation was a full gut project in every sense of the word. On top of installing new floors, a kitchen and bath renovation, and all the typical restoration and refinishing involved in a brownstone built in 1899, we also completely updated the exterior, constructed a balcony that was not originally there, and converted the space from a single-family home into an an owner’s triplex. A newly separated studio rental on the garden level offers the opportunity for supplemental income, an uncommon and welcome addition to a New York brownstone. A TRANSITIONAL GEM The result is a two-family brownstone that perfectly combines classic townhouse living with today’s modern needs, including SmartHome technology that we installed to control Bluetooth speakers, Nest thermostats, and the security system. The overall aesthetic goal was to pay homage to the historical periods the brownstone has lived through in a cohesive way that is the hallmark of modern transitional style. In the kitchen, white Shaker-style cabinetry, a subway tile backsplash, and marble rather than quartz countertops bring a classically upscale sensibility. To modernize the space further, we opened up the back wall to create floor-to-ceiling windows that are also doors, opening up into the newly built balcony. TIMELY TOUCHES This brownstone renovation included many quintessential elements, such as millwork like the ceiling medallions. We restored some and custom built others, perfectly recreating their original appearance. The heated master bathroom is now serene, with a walk-in shower featuring a subtly modern linear drain. A herringbone Carrera marble tiled floor and marble slab sink complete the scene. In the powder room, we embraced a contemporary look by pairing dark hexagonal floors with light chevron tiles, accented with dramatic navy blue wallpaper. With its clear-cut 1920s-style, we selected the wall sconce to reference one of the brownstone’s earlier eras. DESIGN DETAILS Natural oak herringbone floors we installed throughout the entire home bring a modern yet warm touch. We restored the wood-burning marble fireplace, which is fully functioning. An elegant staircase with a custom-crafted black wooden banister and white balusters winds up and down alongside a real brick interior wall that we restored and refinished. In this brownstone renovation, we were also able to create ceiling height, an unexpected yet aesthetically pleasing side benefit. When working on the joists and beams to level out the floors (a common issue in pre-war renovations) we added ceiling height in the main parlor floor by taking the second floor and raising the ceiling an entire foot. The end result is a main floor with stunning 9-foot ceilings. SOME HIGHLIGHTS - Solid natural oak herringbone floors throughout - A fully restored, refinished, and functioning wood burning fireplace with a marble mantle - Complete exterior renovation of the facade, cornices, windows, mouldings, and even the ironwork, including the railings leading up to the stoop and those facing the street - A brand new central air and heating system with uniquely modern vents – look above the couch in the living room with the fuzzy rug and large painting Considering a brownstone renovation? Contact us today! We specialize in brownstone renovations in New York as well as all pre-war apartments. When you work with a design-and-build firm like Gallery to renovate your brownstone, you get the full range of our expertise in working with all the finest details and pre-war architectural elements of these classic New York spaces. We also handle every step of the process, from filing permits and organizing schedules to sourcing custom pieces and building entirely new rooms (or even balconies). Call us for a free initial consultation when you’re ready.

Timmerman Photography Sculpture by Mayme Kratz This is a home we initially built in 1995 and after it sold in 2014 we were commissioned to come back and remodel the interior of the home. We worked with internationally renowned architect Will Bruder on the initial design on the home. The goal of home was to build a modern hillside home which made the most of the vista upon which it sat. A few ways we were able to achieve this were the unique, floor-to-ceiling glass windows on the side of the property overlooking Scottsdale, a private courtyard off the master bedroom and bathroom, and a custom commissioned sculpture Mayme Kratz. Stonecreek's particular role in the project were to work alongside both the clients and the architect to make sure we were able to perfectly execute on the vision and design of the project. A very unique component of this house is how truly custom every feature is, all the way from the window systems and the bathtubs all the way down to the door handles and other features.

Completed in 2018, this Westlake Hills duplex, designed by Alterstudio Architects, underwent a dramatic transformation by mixing light & airy with dark & moody design. The goal of the project was to create a more intimate environment using a more saturated and dramatic palette. Additionally, it draws from warmer wood tones such as walnut alongside luxurious textures, particularly in navy, dark grey, and emerald green. The end result is an elegant, timeless, and comfortable space conducive to cozying up with a book at the end of a long day.

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

The original master bathroom in this 1980’s home was small, cramped and dated. It was divided into two compartments that also included a linen closet. The goal was to reconfigure the space to create a larger, single compartment space that exudes a calming, natural and contemporary style. The bathroom was remodeled into a larger, single compartment space using earth tones and soft textures to create a simple, yet sleek look. A continuous shallow shelf above the vanity provides a space for soft ambient down lighting. Large format wall tiles with a grass cloth pattern complement red grass cloth wall coverings. Both balance the horizontal grain of the white oak cabinetry. The small bath offers a spa-like setting, with a Scandinavian style white oak drying platform alongside the shower, inset into limestone with a white oak bench. The shower features a full custom glass surround with built-in niches and a cantilevered limestone bench. The spa-like styling was carried over to the bathroom door when the original 6 panel door was refaced with horizontal white oak paneling on the bathroom side, while the bedroom side was maintained as a 6 panel door to match existing doors in the hallway outside. The room features White oak trim with a clear finish.

Located right off the Primary bedroom – this bathroom is located in the far corners of the house. It should be used as a retreat, to rejuvenate and recharge – exactly what our homeowners asked for. We came alongside our client – listening to the pain points and hearing the need and desire for a functional, calming retreat, a drastic change from the disjointed, previous space with exposed pipes from a previous renovation. We worked very closely through the design and materials selections phase, hand selecting the marble tile on the feature wall, sourcing luxe gold finishes and suggesting creative solutions (like the shower’s linear drain and the hidden niche on the inside of the shower’s knee wall). The Maax Tosca soaker tub is a main feature and our client's #1 request. Add the Toto Nexus bidet toilet and a custom double vanity with a countertop tower for added storage, this luxury retreat is a must for busy, working parents.

The goal here was a primary bath that reads like a retreat without losing the warmth of the rest of the house. The vanity wall anchors the room: a custom double vanity in a deep olive-gray, with raised-panel doors, a bank of deep drawers, and a countertop tower that separates the two stations and keeps daily clutter off the counter. A white, softly veined stone surface runs the full length, and a pair of arched, molded mirrors , finished to match the cabinetry, sit beneath textured glass sconces that scatter light across the ceiling. Across the room the palette shifts. The corner shower is wrapped floor to ceiling in large-format porcelain with bronze and amber movement, closed in frameless glass and lit by recessed cans overhead. Inside: a rainfall head, a handheld on a slide bar, a built-in bench, a recessed niche, and a hexagon mosaic floor. The freestanding soaking tub sits alongside with a wall-mounted filler and a long tiled ledge for bath products. A skylight keeps the whole room daylit. The result is calm and grounded — spa-quiet without being cold.

While the master bathroom may be the most simple of all the bathrooms in terms of the design, it was actually the most difficult to execute. The homeowners wanted a serene, clean escape, but needed ample storage and wanted to incorporate a slightly more luxurious feel. Alongside the homeowner Daniella, the designers looked through many different tile options, finally settling on Bianco Dolomiti – Direto polished marble. They all loved the bright white background with the slight variation and veining, which gave it more character than a traditional Thassos. The designers opted to use 12 x 24 tiles to create a focus wall behind the vanity, which created the perfect backdrop for the custom-made floating vanity, medicine cabinets, wall mounted faucets and sconces. The designers originally wanted the floor to be cement, but when they saw the Area grey porcelain tile installed at the NEMO Tile Red Bank showroom, they knew it would be perfect. They opted for the larger 48 x 48 tiles to minimize the number of seams, which maintains the focus on the beautiful Bianco Dolomiti – Direto marble.

Photo Credits: Aaron Leitz
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master gray tile and travertine tile dark wood floor and black floor walk-in shower remodel in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, an integrated sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and gray countertops

Susan Gilmore Photography
Inspiration for a transitional master carpeted bedroom remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls and a two-sided fireplace

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

Herringbone pattern select grade White Oak floor, custom made by Hull Forest Products. www.hullforest.com. Photo by Marci Miles.
Bedroom - mid-sized zen master dark wood floor bedroom idea in New York

Alongside Jeff King & Company, Marina Blvd., won CotY 2016 National Winner of Landscape Design/Outdoor Living The project was to transform an existing flat roof and master bedroom suite floor into a dramatic deck with kitchen, dining and living areas leading to a stair to an upper deck for America’s Cup race viewing. The existing home is a 3-story 4,000 square foot Spanish Mission-style home built in the 1920’s and sits directly across from the St. Francis Yacht Club on Marina Boulevard in San Francisco – a prime location. No changes were possible for the historic façade and the new construction was to be out of view from the street, as much as possible. Going up the traditionally detailed stairway with decorative railing, you land at the third floor which becomes contemporary in style for the redesigned master bedroom suite, guest bath, sitting room and the roof deck. Large roof decks require careful attention to waterproofing and a Bison pedestal system was used to create a level deck surface and easy maintenance. Heavy ceramic tile pavers were interspersed with walkable in-floor skylights on the main deck with ipe wood floors at the upper deck and stairs. From both the master bedroom and the outdoor deck you can access a sitting room with large pocket or sliding doors to enclose it. If watching the fireworks on July 4th and it gets cold, people can move to the sitting room which has a fireplace to watch in a heated environment. The sitting room gas fireplace is surrounded by steel with a figured steel panel re-purposed from old sea pier metal that has been cleaned and sealed. A guest bath is adjacent to the master bath for guest use. A square recessed pattern tile was used to tie the old Spanish Mission-style feeling into the new more contemporary walls. In a large home that was short on storage, a large built-in armoire was built into the master bathroom for extra capacity. The project took two and a half years to complete including design and construction, in part due to historic reviews by the State of California.

Truro Low maintenance decking
Inspiration for a small timeless backyard deck remodel in Boston

Built-in shelving, reclaimed hardwood floors and wood beams make this bedroom cozy, offsetting the clean simplicity of the American Clay plaster walls. Photography: Pam Singleton