The Blue Butterfly Sanctuary is the site of an old navel housing facility. The base was constructed in the early 90’s and then inhabited for only three years before becoming a ghost town. After 20 years and miles and miles of red tape the VOA (Veterans of America) got the go ahead to convert these 76 abandoned houses into homes for homeless single mother veterans and their children. As a single mama myself, and as a person who believes that every human who so desires to should have a place they can call home, this project moved me. I joined forces with my stellar sister, Justina Blakeney and together with the helping hands of a few dear friends, a dose of DIY genius, and a bunch of love, we turned this house into a home. On a shoestring ;-) Photographed by Danae Rolyn

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, USA Our modern farm style home design was exactly what our clients were looking for. They had the charm and the landscape they wanted, but needed a boost to help accommodate a family of four. Our design saw us tear down their existing garage and transform the space into an entertaining family friendly kitchen. This addition moved the entry of the home to the other side and switched the view of the kitchen on the side of the home with more natural light. As for the ceilings, we went ahead and changed the traditional 7’8” ceilings to a 9’4” ceiling. Our decision to approach this home with smart design resulted in removing the existing stick frame roof and replacing it with engineered trusses to have a higher and wider roof, which allowed for the open plan to be implemented without the use of supporting beams. And once the finished product was complete, our clients had a home that doubled in space and created many more opportunities for entertaining and relaxing in style. Stacy Zarin Photography

The Blue Butterfly Sanctuary is the site of an old navel housing facility. The base was constructed in the early 90’s and then inhabited for only three years before becoming a ghost town. After 20 years and miles and miles of red tape the VOA (Veterans of America) got the go ahead to convert these 76 abandoned houses into homes for homeless single mother veterans and their children. As a single mama myself, and as a person who believes that every human who so desires to should have a place they can call home, this project moved me. I joined forces with my stellar sister, Justina Blakeney and together with the helping hands of a few dear friends, a dose of DIY genius, and a bunch of love, we turned this house into a home. On a shoestring ;-)

Cape Cod is a vacation hot spot due not only to its vicinity to amazing beaches and seafood, but also because of its historic seaside charm. The Winstead Inn & Beach Resort located in Harwich, MA, is the perfect place to enjoy everything Cape Cod has to offer. If you are lucky enough to stay in the "Commodore's Quarters" prepare to be greeted with the soothing sounds of moving water and the rich textures of historic natural stone. This charming getaway reminds you of years past with STONEYARD® Boston Blend™ Mosaic, a local natural stone that was used as cladding, on retaining walls, stair risers, and in a water feature. Corner stones were used around the top of the retaining walls and water feature to maintain the look and feel of full thickness stones. Visit www.stoneyard.com/winstead for more photos, info, and video!

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

Exelia's Multi-Seal System is quick and easy to install. Simply connect the tiles together and you're ready to train. Go ahead do 100 jumping jacks, we guarantee Exelia will never detach or move! Pictured: Anthracite

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, USA Our modern farm style home design was exactly what our clients were looking for. They had the charm and the landscape they wanted, but needed a boost to help accommodate a family of four. Our design saw us tear down their existing garage and transform the space into an entertaining family friendly kitchen. This addition moved the entry of the home to the other side and switched the view of the kitchen on the side of the home with more natural light. As for the ceilings, we went ahead and changed the traditional 7’8” ceilings to a 9’4” ceiling. Our decision to approach this home with smart design resulted in removing the existing stick frame roof and replacing it with engineered trusses to have a higher and wider roof, which allowed for the open plan to be implemented without the use of supporting beams. And once the finished product was complete, our clients had a home that doubled in space and created many more opportunities for entertaining and relaxing in style. Stacy Zarin Photography

Design and construction of kitchen and dining room addition with family room and fireplace. At our first meeting, Mark and Regina were working with an Architectural firm that was pressuring them to move ahead with a design that they felt did not meet their needs. It was a difficult and challenging problem to marry their family’s needs and budget to the quirky Architecture of their side set, Dutch Colonial home. We were able to identify the more subtle issues and developed a design that includes a new family entrance with Dutch door, mudroom, powder room, kitchen with soapstone counters, family room with fireplace and an open inviting family eating nook with large windows and a raised ceiling.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

Trio of herb pots near kitchen door.
Inspiration for a large rustic drought-tolerant and full sun backyard stone landscaping in New York for summer.

Our mission on this project was to replace an existing basic garage with a functional and attractive new multi-bay garage to house several collector automobiles. The homeowners also had a wish list for a mudroom addition, a kitchen re-do, a bathroom renovation, and systems modifications. Requirements for the garage were specific: a hydraulic lift for working on cars, a second story for storage, and heating and insulation. Serious green thumbs, the couple wanted space for gardening equipment as well. And the garage design should complement the traditional style of the existing house, a classic Chestnut Hill stone colonial revival, built around 1925. As we progressed with the design, the storage room upstairs got upgraded to a multi-purpose studio/loft with a full bath and a shaded balcony. Although the Philadelphia zoning code permits a detached garage at this location, the proposed size—both the footprint and the height needed to accommodate a lift—exceeded the zoning code limits. We shepherded the design through a lengthy zoning review process and obtained a variance, enabling construction to move ahead. Once finishing touches on the interior of the house are completed, we’ll have more photos to share.

This newly built custom residence turned out to be spectacular. With Interiors by Popov’s magic touch, it has become a real family home that is comfortable for the grownups, safe for the kids and friendly to the little dogs that now occupy this space.The start of construction was a bumpy road for the homeowners. After the house was framed, our clients found themselves paralyzed with the million and one decisions that had to be made. Decisions about plumbing, electrical, millwork, hardware and exterior left them drained and overwhelmed. The couple needed help. It was at this point that they were referred to us by a friend.We immediately went about systematizing the selection and design process, which allowed us to streamline decision making and stay ahead of construction. We designed every detail in this house. And when I say every detail, I mean it. We designed lighting, plumbing, millwork, hard surfaces, exterior, kitchen, bathrooms, fireplace and so much more. After the construction-related items were addressed, we moved to furniture, rugs, lamps, art, accessories, bedding and so on. The result of our systematic approach and design vision was a client head over heels in love with their new home. The positive feedback we received from this homeowner was immensely gratifying. They said the only thing that they regret was not hiring Interiors by Popov sooner!

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.

The Deistel’s had an ultimatum: either completely renovate their home exactly the way they wanted it and stay forever – or move. Like most homes built in that era, the kitchen was semi-dysfunctional. The pantry and appliance placement were inconvenient. The layout of the rooms was not comfortable and did not fit their lifestyle. Before making a decision about moving, they called Amos at ALL Renovation & Design to create a remodeling plan. Amos guided them through two basic questions: “What would their ideal home look like?” And then: “What would it take to make it happen?” To help with the first question, Amos brought in Ambience by Adair as the interior designer for the project. Amos and Adair presented a design that, if acted upon, would transform their entire first floor into their dream space. The plan included a completely new kitchen with an efficient layout. The style of the dining room would change to match the décor of antique family heirlooms which they hoped to finally enjoy. Elegant crown molding would give the office a face-lift. And to cut down cost, they would keep the existing hardwood floors. Amos and Adair presented a clear picture of what it would take to transform the space into a comfortable, functional living area, within the Deistel’s reasonable budget. That way, they could make an informed decision about investing in their current property versus moving. The Deistel’s decided to move ahead with the remodel. The ALL Renovation & Design team got right to work. Gutting the kitchen came first. Then came new painted maple cabinets with glazed cove panels, complemented by the new Arley Bliss Element glass tile backsplash. Armstrong Alterna Mesa engineered stone tiles transformed the kitchen floor. The carpenters creatively painted and trimmed the wainscoting in the dining room to give a flat-panel appearance, matching the style of the heirloom furniture. The end result is a beautiful living space, with a cohesive scheme, that is both restful and practical.