This growing family needed more living space in their 1926 St. Paul, MN Bungalow, and had great potential in their unfinished attic for a new master suite. Castle began working with the city to grandfather some existing conditions in, like the steeper stairs and lower ceiling height to comply with building codes. New insulation, interior walls, electrical, heating, and a full interior finish was planned. The finished space incorporates traditional millwork matching the lower level of the home, a custom built-in bookshelf, new white doors, and pre-finished white oak hardwood floors in a rich Licorice stain. The dark floors and oil-bronze accents throughout the space really anchors the room and completes an overall bright color pallet with high contrast. In the new bathroom, a cement tile floor was selected to tie in the homeowner’s classy flair. Switching the finishes to polished brass inside the bathroom really brings a lux and regal feel to the space. Paired with traditional subway tile, white vanity, refurbished vintage medicine cabinet, and neutral walls, the new bathroom is elegant, yet understated. One of our favorite features is the use of the two existing dormers. One dormer was converted into a new walk-in closet with custom glass closet doors, so the light can still shine into the bedroom. The 2nd dormer, we left open for a quaint sitting and reading nook. See full details (including before photos) at http://www.castlebri.com/attics/project-3299-1/ Designed by: Emily Blonigen

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Striving to define a new modern aesthetic, the Litze bath collection was designed to give everything a purpose. This lead to a thoughtful, modern, refined—and surprisingly multifaceted look. Striving to define a new modern aesthetic, the Litze bath collection was designed to give everything a purpose. This lead to a thoughtful, modern, refined—and surprisingly multifaceted look. Space designed by Tommy Zung, Studio Zung

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Completed in 2011, this home is designed for a steeply sloping urban lot in Vienna, Virginia. In response to a tight zoning code that limited the building's footprint, we designed a compact plan that rises 3 stories and draws inspiration from the historic character of this small town consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work. Utilizing our favorite Great Room Scheme, the main level is planned with a classic front porch, 2-story entry hall, formal dining room, Kitchen/Breakfast area, large Mud Room with separate entrance and, finally, the Great Room itself. The lower level is the Entertainment hub of the house and contains a guest suite, shop, exercise area, family room and play area with wet bar. Upstairs, 3 kid's bedrooms, 2 full baths, laundry area, Master Suite with large sleeping area and a 5 piece master bath with large walk-in closet are all efficiently arranged to maximize room size. Our clients were interested in a very expressive exterior formalism while staying within the traditional architectural norm of Vienna. We responded with a series of gable dormers, bay windows and a hexagonal sitting room clad with complimentary siding materials and bold colors. Eventually, the back of the structure will be finished out with a large deck at the main level and elaborate staircase that descends to the rear yard.

Beautiful 5 BR 4.5 BA complete gut rehab down to the studs inside and out. New roof, shingles, windows, Hardi siding and drain tile system in basement. New dual zoned HVAC. 4 levels of finished living space w/3 BRS including master suite on one level. Gourmet kitchen w/new Bosch appliances, modern cabinets and quartz counter tops and breakfast bar w/water fall edge. Additional den and office. Modern high end light fixtures and 4 inch recessed lighting thru out. 4 inch oak hardwood flooring. Custom made oak stairs. All baths have modern vanities and Ghroe fixtures. Basement lowered to full height w/family room w/wet bar, bedroom, full bath, laundry room w/new washer and dryer and storage. New cement slab 2.5 car garage, side walks, iron fencing w/locking gate in front and cedar privacy fencing on sides and rear. New large deck off main level and balcony off master suite. Full dig out of basement, to give 8' ceiling, full floor plan redesign, on all three levels, a second floor master suite, a full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates to upgrade to code compliance.

Fusion Cork flooring is clean, durable as stone, and warm to walk on, and is fabulous for people suffering from allergies and asthma

The overarching design intent for this 1,455-square-foot West Vine Street condominium was to make the spaces contemporary and functional. The renovation began with an unexpected structural deficiency in the form of a post located in the middle of the living room that was causing a three-inch dip in the floor. It was removed and replaced with steel columns running down through the walls and into a footing pad with a three-foot depth. The main living spaces underwent significant changes; the kitchen was reconfigured to open up a formerly cramped space, and the removal of a wall made room for a cascading island with Cesarstone countertops—a crowning feature. Additionally, an electrical panel was relocated to be able to wrap the refrigerator with a wood veneer frame. Notable materials include eight-inch-wide ‘Esplanade’ French oak plank floors chosen to complement the reclaimed wood-wrapped ceiling beams, which feature a combination of LED downlighting and uplighting. A sleek gas fireplace with horizontal slate surround and paneled wall backing replaced an old wood-burning stove—furthering the design program. Pacheco-Robb Architects dismantled an existing spiral stair and replaced it with a cable-rail system—a nautical nod—which is noteworthy for the way it meets code; by running a contiguous oak banister for the entire length of the stair, they were able to avoid having to add a second railing, which would shrink the already narrow stairwell. Upstairs, a tight bedroom with gabled ceilings was addressed by adding a solar-operated skylight with built-in shade, plus minimalistic furnishings. Structural changes in the master bedroom included eliminating a closest to widen the room, and reconfiguring a bathroom to fit a small walk-in closet in lieu of a long, thin hallway. The formerly unfinished rooftop deck is now accessed via a six-foot door that opens more than 90 degrees. Azek decking was laid over the rubber roof, and two-inch stanchions were located around the rail’s outer edge. By opening the floor plan and streamlining the aesthetic, the place now breathes.

This growing family needed more living space in their 1926 St. Paul, MN Bungalow, and had great potential in their unfinished attic for a new master suite. Castle began working with the city to grandfather some existing conditions in, like the steeper stairs and lower ceiling height to comply with building codes. New insulation, interior walls, electrical, heating, and a full interior finish was planned. The finished space incorporates traditional millwork matching the lower level of the home, a custom built-in bookshelf, new white doors, and pre-finished white oak hardwood floors in a rich Licorice stain. The dark floors and oil-bronze accents throughout the space really anchors the room and completes an overall bright color pallet with high contrast. In the new bathroom, a cement tile floor was selected to tie in the homeowner’s classy flair. Switching the finishes to polished brass inside the bathroom really brings a lux and regal feel to the space. Paired with traditional subway tile, white vanity, refurbished vintage medicine cabinet, and neutral walls, the new bathroom is elegant, yet understated. One of our favorite features is the use of the two existing dormers. One dormer was converted into a new walk-in closet with custom glass closet doors, so the light can still shine into the bedroom. The 2nd dormer, we left open for a quaint sitting and reading nook. See full details (including before photos) at http://www.castlebri.com/attics/project-3299-1/ Designed by: Emily Blonigen

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach