Enlarging and reconfiguring this endearing 100 year old Palo Alto cottage gives the home a new life in the twenty-first century. When it comes to architecture and interior design, character and charm go a long way, but natural light, spaciousness, and fluidity are just as essential to creating a home. Over the course of design process, the FGA team explored inventive ways to maximize this 1920s Palo Alto home’s potential while maintaining its historic perspective. The new design connects, modernizes, and functionalizes the floor plan and cleans up outdated 1960s renovations. To achieve this, a new second wing was added to the original structure using the same French Tudor and half-timber style. The U-shaped courtyard configuration now creates a quaint centralized patio area easily accessible by French doors on both wings. The new wing houses a ground floor family room directly off the kitchen and an enlarged private master suite above. To take advantage of existing interior space, the second floor was reimagined by clearing out a warren of small, dark servant rooms. An unused elevator shaft was also removed affording larger, brighter, and more cohesive spaces on the ground floor and a cleaner, simplified exterior roof line that enhances the home's appearance from the street.

This fairly new home was built on Daniel Island right on beautiful Smythe Park. The homeowners purchased the five-year-old home because of its location and potential, but they had great plans to make it more modern and unique to their styles by incorporating transitional and modern design. They decided to go very white, creating a sleek, clean look while contrasting it against stained, dark hardwood floors. The project included adding new hardware, applying a fresh coat of paint to the entire interior (walls and ceilings), adding new light fixtures, refinishing the floors throughout the home and remodeling the master bathroom, morning kitchen, main kitchen and butler’s pantry cabinetry with newly refinished cabinetry, countertops and fixtures. What a remarkable transformation! The family able to create a fresh new look while keeping the architectural bones of the home in tact. Photography by: Brennan Wesley

Enlarging and reconfiguring this endearing 100 year old Palo Alto cottage gives the home a new life in the twenty-first century. When it comes to architecture and interior design, character and charm go a long way, but natural light, spaciousness, and fluidity are just as essential to creating a home. Over the course of design process, the FGA team explored inventive ways to maximize this 1920s Palo Alto home’s potential while maintaining its historic perspective. The new design connects, modernizes, and functionalizes the floor plan and cleans up outdated 1960s renovations. To achieve this, a new second wing was added to the original structure using the same French Tudor and half-timber style. The U-shaped courtyard configuration now creates a quaint centralized patio area easily accessible by French doors on both wings. The new wing houses a ground floor family room directly off the kitchen and an enlarged private master suite above. To take advantage of existing interior space, the second floor was reimagined by clearing out a warren of small, dark servant rooms. An unused elevator shaft was also removed affording larger, brighter, and more cohesive spaces on the ground floor and a cleaner, simplified exterior roof line that enhances the home's appearance from the street.

A Minneapolis, Minnesota family recently purchased a fixer-upper home. In the basement, there was a sauna. However, the non-brand sauna was horribly designed and rundown. The couple knew the potential of this 5’x’7’ space and contacted Finnleo to make their sauna dream a reality. The video below shows how the homeowners gutted out the old sauna and converted it to become the prized feature of their home. With their Finnleo cedar custom sauna completed, including the Himalaya rock tower heater operated by the SaunaLogic2 control with mobile app, the couple says the sauna has enhanced their lives immensely. It is their favorite end-of-day retreat from their busy lives. “We feel lucky to have a relaxing “home spa” that we can retreat to every single day, sometimes even twice a day. And to top it off, we love the ease of starting and controlling our sauna from anywhere, using our cell phones and the SL2 mobile app,” states the couple.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Simple yet beautiful hallway bathroom.
Small trendy 3/4 gray tile porcelain tile and white floor alcove bathtub photo in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and quartzite countertops

This exquisite master suite combines rough hewn reclaimed wood, custom milled reclaimed fir, VG fir, hot rolled steel, custom barn doors, stone, concrete counters and hearths and limestone plaster for a truly one of kind space. The suite's entrance hall showcases three gorgeous barn doors hand made from from reclaimed jarrah and fir. Behind one of the doors is the office, which was designed to precisely suit my clients' needs. The built in's house a small desk, Sub Zero undercounter refrigerator and Miele built in espresso machine. The leather swivel chairs, slate and iron end tables from a Montana artist and dual function ottomans keep the space very usable while still beautiful. The walls are painted in dry erase paint, allowing every square inch of wall space to be used for business strategizing and planning. The limestone plaster fireplace warms the space and brings another texture to the room. Through another barn door is the stunning 20' x 23' master bedroom. The VG fir beams have a channel routed in the top containing LED rope light, illuminating the soaring VG fir ceiling. The bronze chandelier from France is a free form shape, providing contrast to all the horizontal lines in the room. The show piece is definitely the 150 year old reclaimed jarrah wood used on the bed wall. The gray tones coordinate beautifully with all the warmth from the fir. We custom designed the panelized fireplace surround with inset wood storage in hot rolled steel. The cantilevered concrete hearth adds depth to the sleek steel. Opposite the bed is a fir 18' wide bifold door, allowing my outdoor-loving clients to feel as one with their gorgeous property. The final space is a dream bath suite, with sauna, steam shower, sunken tub, fireplace and custom vanities. The glazed wood vanities were designed with all drawers to maximize function. We topped the vanities with antique corbels and a reclaimed fir soffit and corner column for a dramatic design. The corner column houses spring loaded magnetic doors, hiding away all the bathroom necessities that require plugs. The concrete countertop on the vanities has integral sinks and a low profile contemporary design. The soaking tub is sunk into a bed of Mexican beach pebbles and clad in reclaimed jarrah and steel. The custom steel and tile fireplace is beautiful and warms the bathroom nicely on cool Pacific Northwest days. www.cascadepromedia.com

Designed by Marc Jean-Michel of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Bethesda MD, this converted bedroom remodeled as transitional style inspired primary bathroom features Ultracraft Cabinetry in the Piper door style with Raw Cotton finish. The bathroom vanity are MSI Q Quartz in the color Shell White. The bathroom also features products not supplied by Reico but considered during the design process. The products include Loft Lilac 3/4” Penny Round Glass Tile, Pergola Wood White 12.5” Hexagon Matte Porcelain Tile and Highwater Blanco Fishscale Matte 2x5 Ceramic Tile from Tile Bar; Kohler sinks and medicine cabinets; Delta plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware in Champagne Bronze; and a Duchess Acrylic Double Slipper Clawfoot Tub painted Plum Luck from Restoria Bathtub. “Our new primary bathroom is a dream come true. Marc at Reico was a huge help in laying out the vanities, as the design is a unique corner shape. He used his immense knowledge to help space the drawers and cabinets and helped me visualize the final product throughout the design phase,” said the client. “We brought our tile samples to our appointment and took time to evaluate all potential finishes before making selections. Marc was a huge help through the entire process. Our bathroom is a perfect retreat and we love it. Big thanks to Reico!” Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Building this addition was such a treat! We were able to create an oasis for our homeowners with a luxurious, coastal master bedroom and bathroom. This walk in shower and freestanding tub truly make the space feel like a resort getaway! The curbless entry to the shower ensures the homeowner will be able to stay in their home for years to come. The cool neutral pallet is chic, yet timeless.

Popular Tanner Ridge location in Central Saanich with well maintained 2 level family home on a nicely landscaped & level 1/4 acre lot.(over 11,000 sq/ft). Built in 1970 with lots of updates. 2000 sq/ft, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, updated kitchen with quartz counters, stainless appliances & eating bar. Separate dining area leads to wrap around deck with access to the rear yard. Large living room with wood burning f/p insert. 3 beds up, Master bdrm has walk-in closet & 2 pce ensuite. Main bath has heated floor. Oak floors on main. Lower level features a large family/rec room, 3 pce bath & 4th bedroom. Laundry room. Potential for additional accommodation. Yard has in-ground sprinklers, large entertaining deck & above ground pool. Storage shed. Single car garage plus large side parking for RV/boat. 200 amp service, 2013 H/W tank. Newer roof, newer windows thru-out. Quiet location, easy access to the Highway, 20 minutes to Victoria, 10 min to Airport, 15 min to ferries. Close to bus route.

This spectacular family home situated above Lake Hodges in San Diego with sweeping views, was a complete interior and partial exterior remodel. Having gone untouched for decades, the home presented a unique challenge in that it was comprised of many cramped, unpermitted rooms and spaces that had been added over the years, stifling the home's true potential. Our team gutted the home down to the studs and started nearly from scratch. The goal was to dramatically open up the living space and modernize the home, while capitalizing on the stunning views the property had to offer. With the existing floor plan, only bedrooms had partial views, with common living areas relegated to the back portion, preventing residents from enjoying the expansive sightlines available to the home. The completely reimagined floorplan included relocating the kitchen and Master Suite to the opposite side of the home to take better advantage of the views and natural light. All bathrooms and the laundry room were completely remodeled along with installing new doors, windows, and flooring throughout the home and completely upgrading all electrical and plumbing. The end result is simply stunning. Light, bright, and modern, the new version of this home demonstrates the power of thoughtful architectural planning, creative problem solving, and expert design details.

Introducing Sustainable Luxury in Westchester County, a home that masterfully combines contemporary aesthetics with the principles of eco-conscious design. Nestled amongst the changing colors of fall, the house is constructed with Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and reclaimed wood, manifesting our commitment to sustainability and carbon sequestration. Glass, a predominant element, crafts an immersive, seamless connection with the outdoors. Featuring coastal and harbor views, the design pays homage to romantic riverscapes while maintaining a rustic, tonalist color scheme that harmonizes with the surrounding woods. The refined variation in wood grains adds a layered depth to this elegant home, making it a beacon of sustainable luxury.

Photos by: Brian La Freniere
Example of a huge mountain style master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile drop-in bathtub design in Seattle with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

The clients for this project saw potential to reinvent a small, one-story, 1940’s El Cerrito Bungalow, to support their unique and balanced, work-from-home lifestyle. They craved a modern, fresh approach to their day-to-day life with side-by-side, private work spaces, with the ability to open or close the connection between the two large offices. The home renovation and addition accommodates their spiritual interests as well with a room solely dedicated to meditation, yoga and tai chi. The creation of a small library near the entrance of the home provides a warm environment for research and leisure reading for this dynamic and creative couple. In order to achieve all of their requests, we kept portions of two sides of the original house and wedged a new, modern, 2-story addition in the middle while also extending the home to the rear. This allowed for a spacious master bedroom suite on the first floor complete with a wet room and Japanese soaking tub. Integral color cement plaster, natural wood and clear anodized aluminum create an authentic, rich, textural experience. The home offers lots of natural light, high wood ceilings, and a fun indoor/outdoor living experience that maximizes the use of the existing yard. The clients love their new home and hope that the design will raise the aesthetic bar for the neighborhood.

Enlarging and reconfiguring this endearing 100 year old Palo Alto cottage gives the home a new life in the twenty-first century. When it comes to architecture and interior design, character and charm go a long way, but natural light, spaciousness, and fluidity are just as essential to creating a home. Over the course of design process, the FGA team explored inventive ways to maximize this 1920s Palo Alto home’s potential while maintaining its historic perspective. The new design connects, modernizes, and functionalizes the floor plan and cleans up outdated 1960s renovations. To achieve this, a new second wing was added to the original structure using the same French Tudor and half-timber style. The U-shaped courtyard configuration now creates a quaint centralized patio area easily accessible by French doors on both wings. The new wing houses a ground floor family room directly off the kitchen and an enlarged private master suite above. To take advantage of existing interior space, the second floor was reimagined by clearing out a warren of small, dark servant rooms. An unused elevator shaft was also removed affording larger, brighter, and more cohesive spaces on the ground floor and a cleaner, simplified exterior roof line that enhances the home's appearance from the street.

Popular Tanner Ridge location in Central Saanich with well maintained 2 level family home on a nicely landscaped & level 1/4 acre lot.(over 11,000 sq/ft). Built in 1970 with lots of updates. 2000 sq/ft, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, updated kitchen with quartz counters, stainless appliances & eating bar. Separate dining area leads to wrap around deck with access to the rear yard. Large living room with wood burning f/p insert. 3 beds up, Master bdrm has walk-in closet & 2 pce ensuite. Main bath has heated floor. Oak floors on main. Lower level features a large family/rec room, 3 pce bath & 4th bedroom. Laundry room. Potential for additional accommodation. Yard has in-ground sprinklers, large entertaining deck & above ground pool. Storage shed. Single car garage plus large side parking for RV/boat. 200 amp service, 2013 H/W tank. Newer roof, newer windows thru-out. Quiet location, easy access to the Highway, 20 minutes to Victoria, 10 min to Airport, 15 min to ferries. Close to bus route.

Enlarging and reconfiguring this endearing 100 year old Palo Alto cottage gives the home a new life in the twenty-first century. When it comes to architecture and interior design, character and charm go a long way, but natural light, spaciousness, and fluidity are just as essential to creating a home. Over the course of design process, the FGA team explored inventive ways to maximize this 1920s Palo Alto home’s potential while maintaining its historic perspective. The new design connects, modernizes, and functionalizes the floor plan and cleans up outdated 1960s renovations. To achieve this, a new second wing was added to the original structure using the same French Tudor and half-timber style. The U-shaped courtyard configuration now creates a quaint centralized patio area easily accessible by French doors on both wings. The new wing houses a ground floor family room directly off the kitchen and an enlarged private master suite above. To take advantage of existing interior space, the second floor was reimagined by clearing out a warren of small, dark servant rooms. An unused elevator shaft was also removed affording larger, brighter, and more cohesive spaces on the ground floor and a cleaner, simplified exterior roof line that enhances the home's appearance from the street.

Popular Tanner Ridge location in Central Saanich with well maintained 2 level family home on a nicely landscaped & level 1/4 acre lot.(over 11,000 sq/ft). Built in 1970 with lots of updates. 2000 sq/ft, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, updated kitchen with quartz counters, stainless appliances & eating bar. Separate dining area leads to wrap around deck with access to the rear yard. Large living room with wood burning f/p insert. 3 beds up, Master bdrm has walk-in closet & 2 pce ensuite. Main bath has heated floor. Oak floors on main. Lower level features a large family/rec room, 3 pce bath & 4th bedroom. Laundry room. Potential for additional accommodation. Yard has in-ground sprinklers, large entertaining deck & above ground pool. Storage shed. Single car garage plus large side parking for RV/boat. 200 amp service, 2013 H/W tank. Newer roof, newer windows thru-out. Quiet location, easy access to the Highway, 20 minutes to Victoria, 10 min to Airport, 15 min to ferries. Close to bus route.

This Grant Park house was built in 1999. With that said, this bathroom was dated, builder grade with a tiny shower (3 ft x 3 ft) and a large jacuzzi-style 90s tub. The client was interested in a much larger shower, and he really wanted a sauna if squeeze it in there. Because this bathroom was tight, I decided we could potentially go into the large walk-in closet and expand to include a sauna. The client was looking for a refreshing coastal theme, a feel good space that was completely different than what existed. This renovation was designed by Heidi Reis with Abode Agency LLC, she serves clients in Atlanta including but not limited to Intown neighborhoods such as: Grant Park, Inman Park, Midtown, Kirkwood, Candler Park, Lindberg area, Martin Manor, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Decatur, and Avondale Estates. For more information on working with Heidi Reis, click here: https://www.AbodeAgency.Net/