This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.

This particular project is a Beautiful custom made two tone Kitchen Remodeling and home remodeling project. The most important priority for this homeowner was to bring her 1960s vinyl flooring, outdated bathroom and rundown kitchen cabinets to a more modern and chic kitchen. The potential in this project always reminds us that no job is finished until the final details are put. Adding Modern amenities which mix brilliantly with classic finishes in this Project. As seen in the photo, notice how the colors keep the natural flow throughout the kitchen. The clients had wanted a Uilitarian Island, an additional prep farm sink, and wine cooler. The client also was requesting much needed stools. We went with an eccentric piece for the stools as shown in our photos. The perimeter cabinets are in a soft gray which allows the warm toned island to stand out as a grounding feature. For lighting we chose Skylights. Skylights offer ample lighting, we also chose to use lights along the under mount and island pendants. When we consulted about the remodeling of the dining room and kitchen floors , we agreed on it receiving a fresh look with all new flooring . We chose from the Hallmark Modern Collection, which now flows from the kitchen through to the welcoming entry and living room. This project also included a bedroom and bathroom addition, all new doors, electrical & lighting, flooring and master bath renovation. As for the suite bathroom, the main priority for the clients was to have a bathroom where they could disconnect and feel like at some sort of retreat. The suite bath now screams elegance and retreat with a large soaker tub, expansive glass enclosed shower and dual vanities. We agreed on a neutral yet eccentric tile using a surf linear blue mosaic touch that brings a soothing feel to the retreat. We hope you enjoyed the photos please message us with any questions!

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

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

The Berry Group
Rustic exterior home idea in Atlanta

Front Curb View: This is how you style a home for sale! When we started, this condo townhome in Meadowvale, the north-west are of Mississsauga, Ontario (neighbour to Toronto) had great bones and a luxurious layout but was a bit worn. After we reviewed each room to see how the space could be presented in the best light to potential buyers, my clients took this advice to heart and ran with it. Not only does the home now have stunning grey/brown wood-look Laminate floors in the front foyer, living room and dining room, with premium neutral carpet on the stairs and upper levels. The basement has this new luxury wood-look rubber tile that completes the space nicely. Add to that the fresh paint job throught in white (with a hint of blue) that's set off by white baseboards and the whole space is modern with a touch of home! Now, it's a Stunning + Spacious Sought-After 3 Bedroom Executive Townhome On A Quite Enclave In Prime Mississauga! Totally $$updated With an Energy Saver Gas Heater! Contemporary Flooring('17). Striking Living Room W/Cathedral + Ceiling Flanked By Windows & W/O To Patio! Entertain In The Separate Dining Rm W/Chandelier + Eat-In Kitchen W/Stainless Apps + Granite Counters. Large Master W/His-Hers Closets And Semi-Ensuite Bath. Fin Basement With Wood Fireplace!

Keep your options open! Live in this very well-maintained home as is or rebuild to suit your version of OG life. The large sunny bedroom on the first floor with full bath could be another Master. A fourth bedroom is currently used as a den. The 2nd floor has potential for an additional bathroom as there is plumbing already in the wall. With 0.35 acres in an R-12 zone, there may be approximately 2,000 sq. ft that could be added to this home which is already at a roomy 2,791 sq. ft. An addition and renovation were done in 2004 with new central air recently installed. Casual, comfortable, and welcoming, this home is adjacent to a beautiful salt marsh and offers tidal water views and a wonderful outdoor lifestyle. Watch Egrets and Herons feed their young. Kayak down Ollie's Creek toward... ...Long Island Sound. Enjoy this pretty setting year-round! The owners particularly love the vistas during a quiet snowfall. It is surrounded by nature yet mere steps to all that Old Greenwich has to offer. Quiet serenity and privacy on a cul-de-sac with train station, shops, restaurants, and schools nearby. Lovingly maintained, this home has been in the same family for over 50 years. The owner's credo has always been, ''If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well'' and it shows.

This project was exciting from the start--a contemporary 80's house that still had its original master bathroom, with all of its intense peach color, powder blue formica counters, grainy oak cabinetry, and miles of linoleum floors....so much potential! The original bathroom was long, low-ceilinged, and narrow, with a single tall window at the far end. Knowing that the adjacent space was a walk-in closet featuring the same type of window, and that the room was in the front gable of the house, my hope was that we could gain vertical and horizontal space by removing the wall separating the two rooms, and also vault the ceiling.... We did just that, and now with a vaulted ceiling and expanded footprint, the bathroom has a luxurious and relaxing feel, just as my clients had wanted. With the gable end wall highlighted with clear cedar planks (further accenting its vertical lines and feeling so at home in the house's wooded setting), a beautiful limestone floor, a Mid-Century styled ceiling fixture, and an antique botanical print framed especially for the space-- the marriage of traditional and contemporary elements into a funky, eclectic mix, reflects the style of the house and its occupants. The pinky peach and cramped footprint of this bathroom is now a distant memory, and a lovely, serene space now has taken its place. Photos by Laura Kicey

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

The Erosion Sink is a defining design for Gore Design Co. First created for a client in 2004 and shortly thereafter published in Dwell Magazine™, the Erosion Sink remains special to us. Each one is unique, no two are the same. All aspects of this topographic sink can be customized, from color and size to the shape and layout of the erosion pattern. Brandon Gore personally creates each concrete Erosion Sink, spending more than 40 hours on the form and 200-300% more time hand-finishing the cast sink. This original design is often imitated but never duplicated as the essence and nuance cannot be gained by impersonation. If you want to learn more, please visit our website at www.goredesignco.com

This exciting ‘whole house’ project began when a couple contacted us while house shopping. They found a 1980s contemporary colonial in Delafield with a great wooded lot on Nagawicka Lake. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated but it had plenty of space and potential. We toured the home, learned about their design style and dream for the new space. The goal of this project was to create a contemporary space that was interesting and unique. Above all, they wanted a home where they could entertain and make a future. At first, the couple thought they wanted to remodel only the kitchen and master suite. But after seeing Kowalske Kitchen & Bath’s design for transforming the entire house, they wanted to remodel it all. The couple purchased the home and hired us as the design-build-remodel contractor. First Floor Remodel The biggest transformation of this home is the first floor. The original entry was dark and closed off. By removing the dining room walls, we opened up the space for a grand entry into the kitchen and dining room. The open-concept kitchen features a large navy island, blue subway tile backsplash, bamboo wood shelves and fun lighting. On the first floor, we also turned a bathroom/sauna into a full bathroom and powder room. We were excited to give them a ‘wow’ powder room with a yellow penny tile wall, floating bamboo vanity and chic geometric cement tile floor. Second Floor Remodel The second floor remodel included a fireplace landing area, master suite, and turning an open loft area into a bedroom and bathroom. In the master suite, we removed a large whirlpool tub and reconfigured the bathroom/closet space. For a clean and classic look, the couple chose a black and white color pallet. We used subway tile on the walls in the large walk-in shower, a glass door with matte black finish, hexagon tile on the floor, a black vanity and quartz counters. Flooring, trim and doors were updated throughout the home for a cohesive look.

This was the Master Bedroom - some romantic details. DTSH Interiors selected the furniture and arrangement, as well as the window treatments. DTSH Interiors formulated a plan for six rooms; the living room, dining room, master bedroom, two children's bedrooms and ground floor game room, with the inclusion of the complete fireplace re-design. The interior also received major upgrades during the whole-house renovation. All of the walls and ceilings were resurfaced, the windows, doors and all interior trim was re-done. The end result was a giant leap forward for this family; in design, style and functionality. The home felt completely new and refreshed, and once fully furnished, all elements of the renovation came together seamlessly and seemed to make all of the renovations shine. During the "big reveal" moment, the day the family finally returned home for their summer away, it was difficult for me to decide who was more excited, the adults or the kids! The home owners kept saying, with a look of delighted disbelief "I can't believe this is our house!" As a designer, I absolutely loved this project, because it shows the potential of an average, older Pittsburgh area home, and how it can become a well designed and updated space. It was rewarding to be part of a project which resulted in creating an elegant and serene living space the family loves coming home to everyday, while the exterior of the home became a standout gem in the neighborhood.

Our clients were looking to erase the 90s from their master bathroom and create a space that blended their contemporary tastes with natural elements. This bathroom had wonderful bones with a high ceiling and plenty of space, but we were able to work with our clients to create a design that better met their needs and utilized the space to its full potential. We wanted to create a sense of warmth in this large master bathroom and adding a fireplace to the space did the trick. By moving the tub location, we were able to create a stunning accent wall of stacked stone that provided a home for the fireplace and a perfectly dramatic backdrop for the new freestanding bathtub. The sculptural copper light fixture helps to soften the stone wall and allowed us to emphasize those vaulted ceiling. Playing with metal finishes is one of our favorite pastimes, and this bathroom was the perfect opportunity to blend sleek matte black plumbing fixtures with a mirrored copper finish on the light fixtures. We tied the vanity wall sconces in with a dramatic sculptural chandelier above the bath tub by using copper finishes on both and allowing the light fixtures to be the shining stars of this space. We selected a clean white finish for the custom vanity cabinets and lit them from below to accentuate their floating design. We then completed the look with a waterfall quartz counter to add an elegant texture to the area and extended the stone onto the shower bench to bring the two elements together. The existing shower had been on the small side, so we expanded it into the room and gave them a more spacious shower complete with a built-in bench and recessed niche. Hard surfaces play an important role in any bathroom design, and we wanted to use this opportunity to create an interesting layer of texture through our tile selections. The bathroom floor utilizes a large-scale plank tile installed in a herringbone pattern, while the shower and walls are tiled in a polished white tile to add a bit of reflectivity. The newly transformed bathroom is now a sophisticated space the brings together sleek contemporary finishes with textured natural elements and provides the perfect retreat from the outside world.

We converted this small master bathroom into a large feeling oasis by raising the ceiling, adding lighting, and upgrading all features and fixtures. The large format multi-tiles compliment the counter tops and give this bathroom style and elegance. Photo Credit: marilyn cunningham photography

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

Bedroom - spacious bedroom with light hardwood floors, white custom closet, gray walls and white trims in Los Altos.
Example of a large transitional guest light wood floor and white floor bedroom design in San Francisco with gray walls

Bringing this condo’s full potential out with modernization and practicality took creativity and thoughtfulness. In this full remodel we chose matching quartz countertops in a style that replicates concrete, throughout for continuity. Beginning in the kitchen we changed the layout and floorplan for a more spacious, open concept. White shaker cabinets with custom soffits to fit the cabinetry seamlessly. Continuing the concrete looking countertops up, utilizing the same quarts material for simplicity and practicality in the smaller space. A white unequal quartz sink, with a brushed nickel faucet matching the brushed nickel cabinet hardware. Brand new custom lighting design, and a built-in wine fridge into the peninsula, finish off this kitchen renovation. A quick update of the fireplace and television nook area to update its features to blend in with the new kitchen. Moving on to the bathrooms, white shaker cabinets, matching concrete look quarts countertops, and the bushed nickel plumbing fixtures and hardware were used throughout to match the kitchen’s update, all for continuity and cost efficiency for the client. Custom beveled glass mirrors top off the vanities in the bathrooms. In both the master and guest bathrooms we used a commercially rated 12”x24” porcelain tile to mimic vein cut travertine. Choosing to place it in a stagger set pattern up to the ceiling brings a modern feel to a classic look. Adding a 4” glass and natural slate mosaic accent band for design, and acrylic grout used for easy maintenance. A single niche was built into the guest bath, while a double niche was inset into the master bath’s shower. Also in the master bath, a bench seat and foot rest were added, along with a brushed nickel grab bar for ease of maneuvering and personal care. Seamlessly bringing the rooms together from the complete downstairs area, up through the stairwell, hallways and bathrooms, a waterproof laminate with a wood texture and coloring was used to both warm up the feel of the house, and help the transitional flow between spaces.

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

When the developer found this brownstone on the Upper Westside he immediately researched and found its potential for expansion. We were hired to maximize the existing brownstone and turn it from its current existence as 5 individual apartments into a large luxury single family home. The existing building was extended 16 feet into the rear yard and a new sixth story was added along with an occupied roof. The project was not a complete gut renovation, the character of the parlor floor was maintained, along with the original front facade, windows, shutters, and fireplaces throughout. A new solid oak stair was built from the garden floor to the roof in conjunction with a small supplemental passenger elevator directly adjacent to the staircase. The new brick rear facade features oversized windows; one special aspect of which is the folding window wall at the ground level that can be completely opened to the garden. The goal to keep the original character of the brownstone yet to update it with modern touches can be seen throughout the house. The large kitchen has Italian lacquer cabinetry with walnut and glass accents, white quartz counters and backsplash and a Calcutta gold arabesque mosaic accent wall. On the parlor floor a custom wetbar, large closet and powder room are housed in a new floor to ceiling wood paneled core. The master bathroom contains a large freestanding tub, a glass enclosed white marbled steam shower, and grey wood vanities accented by a white marble floral mosaic. The new forth floor front room is highlighted by a unique sloped skylight that offers wide skyline views. The house is topped off with a glass stair enclosure that contains an integrated window seat offering views of the roof and an intimate space to relax in the sun.