Inspiration for an industrial exterior home remodel in Philadelphia

In the top floor of the Hopkinson House lived a neglected, dingy corner apartment facing Washington Square. The new owner purchased the unit and undertook a complete gut renovation of the space. With parallels to her own life, the owner craved a new, fresh, light filled, colorful space to call her own. The design centers around a retractable suede wall panel system which when open, draws in the western sun, creating a spacious living area. When closed, it allows for a guest bedroom complete with Murphy bed. Fine finishes accent the space throughout and wood shelving provide displays for an extensive teapot collection.

This Dutch Renaissance Revival style Brownstone located in a historic district of the Crown heights neighborhood of Brooklyn was built in 1899. The brownstone was converted to a boarding house in the 1950’s and experienced many years of neglect which made much of the interior detailing unsalvageable with the exception of the stairwell. Therefore the new owners decided to gut renovate the majority of the home, converting it into a four family home. The bottom two units are owner occupied, the design of each includes common elements yet also reflects the style of each owner. Both units have modern kitchens with new high end appliances and stone countertops. They both have had the original wood paneling restored or repaired and both feature large open bathrooms with freestanding tubs, marble slab walls and radiant heated concrete floors. The garden apartment features an open living/dining area that flows through the kitchen to get to the outdoor space. In the kitchen and living room feature large steel French doors which serve to bring the outdoors in. The garden was fully renovated and features a deck with a pergola. Other unique features of this apartment include a modern custom crown molding, a bright geometric tiled fireplace and the labyrinth wallpaper in the powder room. The upper two floors were designed as rental units and feature open kitchens/living areas, exposed brick walls and white subway tiled bathrooms.

Before shot of a home that was completed overgrown and neglected in Long Hill Township NJ.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun front yard brick landscaping in New York.

Custom Design Project: Designer needed to add interest to an oft-neglected long hallway and chose antique fern prints from our extensive print collection in a custom size 47"x72" OD that we framed in gold leaf wood moulding.

A small boutique hotel in the Grenadines overlooking the island of Mustique was an exercise in local artisanship. The hotel consists of an historic house that contained remnants of British Colonial furniture, and an old beachfront structure that was left in disrepair after years of neglect. We breathed new life into these spaces by whitewashing surfaces and commissioning local artisans to create pieces out of seashells and driftwood to give this property its simple, elegant, Island character.

A neglected backyard in deep shade needed a redesign. Clean and usable garden was built full of shade tolerant perennials and shrubs. As this garden will mature in years to come it will provide owners with lush vegetation and plenty of room to entertain and play.

This home was not even visible from the street because of the overgrown and neglected landscape. There was no obvious entrance to the front door, and the garden area was surprisingly spacious once the over grown brush was removed. We added an arbored and walled patio in the rear garden, near the kitchen, for morning coffee and meditation. .

Located in Church Hill, Richmond’s oldest neighborhood, this very early 1900s Victorian had tons of historical details, but the house itself had been neglected (badly!). The home had two major renovation periods – one in 1950’s, and then again in the 1980s’s, which covered over or disrupted the original aesthetics of the house (think open ductwork, framing and drywall obscuring the beautiful mantels and moldings, and the hot water heater taking up valuable kitchen space). Our Piperbear team had to “undo” much before we could tackle the restoration of the historical features, while at the same time modernizing the layout.

From neglected hoarder house to showplace! This post-war traditional ranch was remodeled into a sophisticated contemporary home by Tim Braseth of ArtCraft Homes, completed in 2013. Located in the Crenshaw Manor neighborhood of central Los Angeles with direct access to neighboring Culver City and downtown L.A. via the new Expo line. Space reconfiguration resulted in 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Features include all-new custom kitchen with stainless steel appliances, glass tile bathrooms, and solid oak floors throughout. The private master retreat features its own glass-tiled en suite bathroom with dual vanities, generously-sized walk-in closet, vaulted ceiling and French doors to the expansive patio with a direct view to the distant Hollywood sign. Remodel by ArtCraft Homes. Staging by Leslie Whitlock. "After" photography by Marc Angeles of Unlimited Style.

CAPITAL DESIGN: Ionic Order (Roman) - Scamozzi Capital CAPITAL MATERIAL: PolyStone® Fiberglass Composite CAPITAL SIZE: 10" x 4-7/8" x 16-3/8" PROJECT LOCATION: New Haven, Connecticut PROJECT COMMENTS: Consulting with Chadsworth, the architects chose a Scamozzi column capital, which was nearly an exact replica of the severely damaged originals at the main entrance. The house was originally built in 1895. Like much of the house, which had been neglected for many decades, the original capitals ultimately proved to be held together by 150 years of paint. The capitals are a key feature of a strongly symmetrical facade, and the architects were grateful to remain true to the original design intent. This house is a late and rare example of very strict Georgian revival done in the East Rock neighborhood. The original house owner, Moritz Spier, was a warm-hearted coal merchant known to have carried the accounts of hundreds of families through the many economic downturns of that period. The house had few owners, and its highly detailed interior woodwork has thankfully remained unpainted. Because of its large foyer and wide open central staircase, the geometry of the house helped it survive a trend of partitioning large houses into Yale graduate student apartments. The Scamozzi capitals utilized for the renovation of this historic home were (8) of Chadsworth's PolyStone® fiberglass composite capitals. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ROBERT NARRACCI, EXTERIOR, RESIDENTIAL, RENOVATION

In the winter months that somehow always seem to last at least forever (or even longer, if that's possible), we tend to neglect the spaces of our patios. Mostly because there is no sane reason for us to even exist there. What's the point of being there if it's way too cold to get out of the house unless getting out is absolutely necessary? No point at all. But while we sit at our homes and enjoy the warmth they provide, everything on our patios is left to die in a slow, miserable death. It doesn't probably happen over one winter season or two, but one way or the other, it's simply inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, except probably diamonds, if you believe the Bond movie. Sooner or later there will come a time when you have to dispose of your old patio furniture and get a new set. You will most likely discover it in the spring or summer when the damage is already done. If you need furniture that will last more than just a handful of years, check Toja furniture. We are well known and well liked for the qualities of our furniture which involve great durability and weather-resistance. Our sofas, chair and dining sets are meant to last for a long time and they're designed in a way that never goes out of style.

Lincoln has a lot of woods, woods that have grown up in neglect and are mostly oaks with tall trunks. This habitat creates a dearth of habitat for birds and other edge-loving species. This owner wanted to encourage birds while keeping views to neighbors' yards minimal, and have some large lawn play area that didn't look out of place. We created lobes of lawn within the woods, two large bean-shaped rooms with lots of edge and plant species for supporting birds.

Before the Remodel – Pool Area The pool area was neglected and unappealing. The water looked dirty and lifeless, while the surrounding screen was stained and weathered, blocking light instead of creating an inviting atmosphere. Outdated colors made the space feel dull and unattractive, and the entire area lacked the charm and care a backyard oasis deserves.

I gave the house a new look; it previously looked gloomy and neglected. I used high-quality materials, including special ones for plant care and to delay the reappearance of mold. With the right tools and my experience, I was able to finish washing it in two days, which helped my client keep costs low.

The outdoor space is often a neglected area as far as makeovers for holiday festivities are concerned. This Christmas, make sure that your garden space is not left out. Here is a blog with more tips for the purpose. http://blog.californiafenceco.com/5-best-ways-to-decorate-your-garden-with-christmas-lights/

Richard Morris Hunt, the Dean of American Architecture, designed Le Chalet on Bellevue Avenue in Newport in 1870. Hunt chose the Stick Style for the 9,700 square-foot summer cottage after garnering significant attention for his Stick Style design of the Griswold House, now the NewportArt Museum. Hunt’s original plans for Le Chalet called for an ornate Stick Style edifice, extensive porches, cast iron roof cresting, and a large two-story carriage house. However, these plans, especially the interiors, were believed to be scaled back at the time of construction. Le Chalet had a succession of owners, each of whom made minor alterations to the home. When the clients purchased the property the house had lost significant detail on its east elevation, was in a neglected state and warranted a full renovation.

Richard Morris Hunt, the Dean of American Architecture, designed Le Chalet on Bellevue Avenue in Newport in 1870. Hunt chose the Stick Style for the 9,700 square-foot summer cottage after garnering significant attention for his Stick Style design of the Griswold House, now the NewportArt Museum. Hunt’s original plans for Le Chalet called for an ornate Stick Style edifice, extensive porches, cast iron roof cresting, and a large two-story carriage house. However, these plans, especially the interiors, were believed to be scaled back at the time of construction. Le Chalet had a succession of owners, each of whom made minor alterations to the home. When the clients purchased the property the house had lost significant detail on its east elevation, was in a neglected state and warranted a full renovation.

Don't neglect to decorate your bathroom. Beautiful drapes like these provide contrast with the wall and floor while still keeping in harmony.
Mid-sized minimalist master light wood floor freestanding bathtub photo in Chicago with gray walls