In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Lido House, Autograph Collection Photographer: Ryan Garvin
Example of a beach style light wood floor bedroom design in Orange County with blue walls

The transformation of a single story 1,000 square foot, two bedroom and one bath house to a two story, 2,500 square foot, four bedroom and three bath house. The craftsman style home scope includes a dual master suite with private balcony, full reworking of structure to create an open floor plan with entertaining kitchen, fireplace and relocation of 1st floor bathroom.

Jeri Koegel
Beach style master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Orange County with white walls

Lake views, daylight and a private master suite were the primary goals of this second floor remodel. Having started as a lake cottage, several previous remodels resulted in an awkward floor plan and major structural issues. New beams were added in the floor and ceiling and both were completely re-framed to level the nearly 4” of sag. The master bedroom was moved to the lakeside with large windows, a vaulted ceiling and private master bath. An addition made space for two more bedrooms filled with daylight.

Roehner Ryan
Large country white two-story mixed siding gable roof photo in Phoenix with a metal roof

©Teague Hunziker
Large 1950s master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with white walls

Stonebreaker renovated a small 1950's home in St. Charles, Illinois. The floor plan consisted of small closed off rooms. We opened up the plan and added a master suite and bath off the back of the house.

The pre-renovation structure itself was sound but lacked the space this family sought after. May Construction removed the existing walls that separated the overstuffed G-shaped kitchen from the living room. By reconfiguring in the existing floorplan, we opened the area to allow for a stunning custom island and bar area, creating a more bright and open space. Budget analysis and project development by: May Construction

Silo Point constructed a group of exceptional 2-story townhouses on top of a 10-story parking structure. Recently, we had the opportunity to renovate one of these unique homes. Our renovation work included replacing the flooring, remodeling the kitchen, opening up the stairwell, and renovating the master bathroom, all of which have added significant resale value to the property. As a final touch, we selected some stunning artwork and furnishings to complement the new look.

Tim Moses
Example of a transitional eat-in kitchen design in Oklahoma City with a double-bowl sink, granite countertops, gray backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Example of a transitional dining room design in Seattle

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Located in the Midtown East neighborhood of Turtle Bay, this project involved combining two separate units to create a duplex three bedroom apartment. The upper unit required a gut renovation to provide a new Master Bedroom suite, including the replacement of an existing Kitchen with a Master Bathroom, remodeling a second bathroom, and adding new closets and cabinetry throughout. An opening was made in the steel floor structure between the units to install a new stair. The lower unit had been renovated recently and only needed work in the Living/Dining area to accommodate the new staircase. Given the long and narrow proportion of the apartment footprint, it was important that the stair be spatially efficient while creating a focal element to unify the apartment. The stair structure takes the concept of a spine beam and splits it into two thin steel plates, which support horizontal plates recessed into the underside of the treads. The wall adjacent to the stair was clad with vertical wood slats to physically connect the two levels and define a double height space. Whitewashed oak flooring runs through both floors, with solid white oak for the stair treads and window countertops. The blackened steel stair structure contrasts with white satin lacquer finishes to the slat wall and built-in cabinetry. On the upper floor, full height electrolytic glass panels bring natural light into the stair hall from the Master Bedroom, while providing privacy when needed. archphoto.com

This was originally a spec house, the first house in a new development, Laurel Springs, which I had started in 2001 on half of our 50 acre property. The lower level, two bedrooms and utility areas was built into the sloping site. The main living areas and master bedroom were above, opening to a surrounding deck and overlooking a pond, while the entry and carport were cut into the hill. The structural system is basically post and beam heavy timber with SIPPS (structural insulated plywood panels) panels spanning between the beams, and leaning against each other to form three gables of graduating sizes (Living/Dining, Master Bedroom and Entry) A flat roof connected the spaces between. Finish Materials are Cedar shingles, Tennessee Sand Stone and copper roofs. The house was purchased in 2005 as a vacation home by Don and Maria Kosick. In 2013 our daughter Jadideah and her husband Ken bought the house, which they have named Spyglass, as a weekend getaway from their home in Atlanta. Less

Silo Point constructed a group of exceptional 2-story townhouses on top of a 10-story parking structure. Recently, we had the opportunity to renovate one of these unique homes. Our renovation work included replacing the flooring, remodeling the kitchen, opening up the stairwell, and renovating the master bathroom, all of which have added significant resale value to the property. As a final touch, we selected some stunning artwork and furnishings to complement the new look.

5000 square foot 3 bedroom + 3 1/2 bath vacation home near White Pass Ski Resort. Separate master suite connected to the main house structure via glass bridge. 16' windows open up to views of Cowlitz River Valley below.

Owner
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Indianapolis