Master Suite with Universal Design elements accessed a mere 15 feet from front door of the home thru the dining room via this 'secret' door. Photo Credit: Barbara Brown Photography

designed in collaboration with Larsen Designs, INC and B2LAB. Contractor was Huber Builders. custom cabinetry by d KISER design.construct, inc. Photography by Colin Conces.

Originally a nearly three-story tall 1920’s European-styled home was turned into a modern villa for work and home. A series of low concrete retaining wall planters and steps gradually takes you up to the second level entry, grounding or anchoring the house into the site, as does a new wrap around veranda and trellis. Large eave overhangs on the upper roof were designed to give the home presence and were accented with a Mid-century orange color. The new master bedroom addition white box creates a better sense of entry and opens to the wrap around veranda at the opposite side. Inside the owners live on the lower floor and work on the upper floor with the garage basement for storage, archives and a ceramics studio. New windows and open spaces were created for the graphic designer owners; displaying their mid-century modern furnishings collection. A lot of effort went into attempting to lower the house visually by bringing the ground plane higher with the concrete retaining wall planters, steps, wrap around veranda and trellis, and the prominent roof with exaggerated overhangs. That the eaves were painted orange is a cool reflection of the owner’s Dutch heritage. Budget was a driver for the project and it was determined that the footprint of the home should have minimal extensions and that the new windows remain in the same relative locations as the old ones. Wall removal was utilized versus moving and building new walls where possible. Photo Credit: John Sutton Photography.

On the second floor, the side addition allowed us to expand the master suite to create a large walk-in closet, bathroom with double vanity, shower and freestanding tub.

Mid-sized cottage master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Kansas City with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Kansas City with beige walls

Bedroom - mid-sized country master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Kansas City with beige walls

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

Example of a transitional living room design in Minneapolis

This stunning master bathroom started with a creative reconfiguration of space, but it’s the wall of shimmering blue dimensional tile that really makes this a “statement” bathroom. The homeowners’, parents of two boys, wanted to add a master bedroom and bath onto the main floor of their classic mid-century home. Their objective was to be close to their kids’ rooms, but still have a quiet and private retreat. To obtain space for the master suite, the construction was designed to add onto the rear of their home. This was done by expanding the interior footprint into their existing outside corner covered patio. To create a sizeable suite, we also utilized the current interior footprint of their existing laundry room, adjacent to the patio. The design also required rebuilding the exterior walls of the kitchen nook which was adjacent to the back porch. Our clients rounded out the updated rear home design by installing all new windows along the back wall of their living and dining rooms. Once the structure was formed, our design team worked with the homeowners to fill in the space with luxurious elements to form their desired retreat with universal design in mind. The selections were intentional, mixing modern-day comfort and amenities with 1955 architecture. The shower was planned to be accessible and easy to use at the couple ages in place. Features include a curb-less, walk-in shower with a wide shower door. We also installed two shower fixtures, a handheld unit and showerhead. To brighten the room without sacrificing privacy, a clearstory window was installed high in the shower and the room is topped off with a skylight. For ultimate comfort, heated floors were installed below the silvery gray wood-plank floor tiles which run throughout the entire room and into the shower! Additional features include custom cabinetry in rich walnut with horizontal grain and white quartz countertops. In the shower, oversized white subway tiles surround a mermaid-like soft-blue tile niche, and at the vanity the mirrors are surrounded by boomerang-shaped ultra-glossy marine blue tiles. These create a dramatic focal point. Serene and spectacular.

Design Services Provided - Architect was asked to convert this 1950's Split Level Style home into a Traditional Style home with a 2-story height grand entry foyer. The new design includes modern amenities such as a large 'Open Plan' kitchen, a family room, a home office, an oversized garage, spacious bedrooms with large closets, a second floor laundry room and a private master bedroom suite for the owners that includes two walk-in closets and a grand master bathroom with a vaulted ceiling. The Architect presented the new design using Professional 3D Design Software. This approach allowed the Owners to clearly understand the proposed design and secondly, it was beneficial to the Contractors who prepared Preliminary Cost Estimates. The construction duration was nine months and the project was completed in September 2015. The client is thrilled with the end results! We established a wonderful working relationship and a lifetime friendship. I am truly thankful for this opportunity to design this home and work with this client!

Gallery Wall / hallway of Master Suite. photo by Holly Lepere
Hallway - mid-sized 1950s medium tone wood floor hallway idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Jeff Herr Photography
Example of a transitional master light wood floor bedroom design in Atlanta with green walls and no fireplace

Master bathroom with walk-in wet room featuring MTI Elise Soaking Tub. Floating maple his and her vanities with onyx finish countertops. Greyon basalt stone in the shower. Cloud limestone on the floor.

The Clayton, MO master bathroom addition includes a walk-in closet with floor-to-ceiling shelving. A window above the built-in chest of drawers sends natural light into the bathroom through a glass panel pocket door. Photo by Toby Weiss

Situated in one of Portland Oregon's older neighborhoods, this quaint bungalow needed to expand for a growing family. The existing garage was torn down to make room for the addition. The new space gives the home owners a family room and bike storage on the first floor. The second floor has the new master bedroom, master bathroom, laundry room, and nursery. Sean Barnett-Polymath Studio

Lake Cabin Home Addition - Master Bathroom
Bathroom - large transitional master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, beige floor and double-sink bathroom idea in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door, brown countertops and a built-in vanity

Governor's House Master Bedroom by Lisa Tharp. 2019 Bulfinch Award - Interior Design. Photo by Michael J. Lee
Bedroom - coastal master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom idea with white walls

Mark B. Perry, Jr.
Inspiration for a large timeless master carpeted and beige floor bedroom remodel in Raleigh with gray walls and no fireplace