Rob Karosis Photography
Example of a classic entryway design in Boston with white walls

Rosenberg Kolb Architects is proud to announce our renovation of a 1747 timber frame house on Nantucket Island, completed in 2011. The first historic renovation project in Nantucket to receive LEED Gold status. The project was given a Grand Award by Eco Home Magazine in July, 2011. The project included: Restructuring the foundations to align and stabilize the structure in addition to providing for a new insulated crawl space; A 260 square foot addition for a kitchen, bath, and new entry; New cedar shingles, roof shingles, and restored historic windows; The house met the strict regulations of Nantucket's Historic District. On the inside, LEED Gold certification was met through: High R-value insulation and reduced air leakage; High efficiency heating, air conditioning, plumbing fixtures, and appliances; Low-emission paints and finishes as well as a clay wall finish; Using reclaimed materials from the original house and other sites. The project has been published in: N Magazine July 2011 Eco Home Magazine July 2011 New England Home June 2011

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

In addition to the large island offering plenty of seating space, there is a perimeter sink to compliment the Galley Workstation in the island with clean-up, stainless Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf convection steam oven and oven, Wolf microwave, Sub-Zero under-counter two drawer freezer and Sub-Zero tall wine/beverage refrigerator.

photos by Steve Chenn
Example of a mountain style kitchen design in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Transitional master white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, beige floor and double-sink alcove shower photo in San Diego with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, an integrated sink, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Photography by William Quarles. Cabinetry by Kitchens Bath and Beyond, custom built with Conestoga Doors. The color/finish was painted with Benjamin Moore Black Jack (black) and Bone Black (light gray). The counter tops are granite "Super White". Designer, Jill Frey Kitchen Design.

Trendy bedroom photo in Denver

September is an interesting month in the garden, as mild weather permits annuals to continue their colorful display. Meanwhile, fall-blooming perennials like Sedum, Fountain Grass and Joe Pye Weed remind us of the change in season ahead.

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

In this small Manhattan apartment our aim was to make the space appear and feel as large as possible. Meanwhile, we tried to maximize the functionality of the space according to the client's needs. Photos taken by Ricard Cadan Photography