2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

Inspiration for a home bar remodel in New York

With a restrained hand, out interior designer set about bringing a new life in our clients petite apartment while also introducing easy to maintain, durable surfaces and furnishings as they love to entertain and have a lively St. Bernard. And as they had an extensive book collection and a single three-foot wide closet, the key challenge here was to make the best use of the entire space while injecting it with charming whimsy. After falling in love with our designer’s presentation, our clients went for a complete apartment overhaul and started from scratch. Since the space is small, our designer Anna S. wanted to create an urgent sense of vibrancy without coming off as too heavy handed. So she worked in expressive colors and decorative extras in small doses for subtle impact. Starting the project by changing several of the unit’s light fixtures for brighter, more minimal styles, Anna surveyed the apartment room to room to devise clever storage solutions that are easy on the eye. As they have friends over often, Anna created a warm and inviting living room boasting a slightly feminine take on mid-century modern layered with colorful pillows, patterned rugs, and eclectic art that doesn’t take over the apartment. In the kitchen, she added a strong yet gender neutral burlap wallpaper, floating wooden shelves, and new plumbing fixtures that were more sophisticated than the original, standard ones in place. However, our favorite part of the apartment is the moody, statement-making foyer. Though it was a long and narrow barely used, neglected space, Anna brought in wallpaper from Tempaper that features a matte black background covered with gold bird and floral illustrations, and added a long row of black glass cabinets and several large gold mirrors for an added sense of glamorous drama and an extra amount of storage space to boot.

Our client came to us with a desire to take an overgrown, neglected space and transform it into a clean contemporary backyard for the family to enjoy. Having had less than stellar experiences with other contractors, they wanted to find a trustworthy company; One that would complement their style and provide excellent communication. They saw a JRP banner at their son's baseball game at Westlake High School and decided to call. After meeting with the team, they knew JRP was the firm they needed to give their backyard a complete overhaul. With a focus on sleek, clean lines, this contemporary backyard is captivating. The outdoor family room is a perfect blend of beauty, form, and function. JRP reworked the courtyard and dining area to create a space for the family to enjoy together. An outdoor pergola houses a media center and lounge. Restoration Hardware low profile furniture provides comfortable seating while maintaining a polished look. The adjacent barbecue is perfect for crafting up family dinners to enjoy amidst a Southern California sunset. Before renovating, the landscaping was an unkempt mess that felt overwhelming. Synthetic grass and concrete decking was installed to give the backyard a fresh feel while offering easy maintenance. Gorgeous hardscaping takes the outdoor area to a whole new level. The resurfaced free-form pool joins to a lounge area that's perfect for soaking up the sun while watching the kids swim. Hedges and outdoor shrubs now maintain a clean, uniformed look. A tucked-away area taken over by plants provided an opportunity to create an intimate outdoor dining space. JRP added wooden containers to accommodate touches of greenery that weren't overwhelming. Bold patterned statement flooring contrasts beautifully against a neutral palette. Additionally, our team incorporated a fireplace for a feel of coziness. Once an overlooked space, the clients and their children are now eager to spend time outdoors together. This clean contemporary backyard renovation transformed what the client called "an overgrown jungle" into a space that allows for functional outdoor living and serene luxury. Photographer: Andrew - OpenHouse VC

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

Our clients knew they wanted to live in Wicker Park, within walking distance of everything the neighborhood has to offer. They found an 1890s cottage-style home on a great street and fell in love with its charm. Unfortunately, the house had fallen into a state of serious neglect and needed significant work. Excited, but also a bit overwhelmed, our clients came to us for help with a gut renovation. We were able to guide them through the entire process from the start of demo through placement of the final decorative object. The process was fun and rewarding and, upon completion, our clients were left with a tailored and sophisticated home that is just as stylish as they are.

These homeowners relocated to Indianapolis and wanted a traditional home in the Meridian Hills area that offered family living space off the kitchen. “It’s what we were used to, but we had trouble finding exactly what we were looking for.” They spent a lot of time thinking about the possibilities of a remodel. They had space both within and outside the house that were under-utilized and decided to embark on a significant renovation project. We endeavored to completely rework the current floor plan in hopes of addressing all their needs and wants. Plans included relocating the kitchen, moving the exterior walls by a couple of feet, raising the ceiling, and moving the office. The results of these changes were dramatic. Additionally the family now enjoys a larger and updated entrance with storage and closets that is perfect for their two active daughters and two often muddy labs, a beautiful kitchen with improved functionality that is filled with tons of natural light, as well as a cozy hearth room, ideal for relaxing together as a family. The once neglected screened porch is now a unique and inviting office with workspace for everyone. Once these improvements were made the view to the back of the house was now apparent, the couple decided to enhance their outdoor living space as well. We added a new patio, a custom pergola, water feature and a fire pit. “Now it’s a private spot to relax and connect with the outdoors. It really highlights the style of the house and we love it,” says the homeowner.

We took this dated Master Bathroom and leveraged its size to create a spa like space and experience. The expansive space features a large vanity with storage cabinets that feature SOLLiD Value Series – Tahoe Ash cabinets, Fairmont Designs Apron sinks, granite countertops and Tahoe Ash matching mirror frames for a modern rustic feel. The design is completed with Jeffrey Alexander by Hardware Resources Durham cabinet pulls that are a perfect touch to the design. We removed the glass block snail shower and the large tub deck and replaced them with a large walk-in shower and stand-alone bathtub to maximize the size and feel of the space. The floor tile is travertine and the shower is a mix of travertine and marble. The water closet is accented with Stikwood Reclaimed Weathered Wood to bring a little character to a usually neglected spot!

These homeowners relocated to Indianapolis and wanted a traditional home in the Meridian Hills area that offered family living space off the kitchen. “It’s what we were used to, but we had trouble finding exactly what we were looking for.” They spent a lot of time thinking about the possibilities of a remodel. They had space both within and outside the house that were under-utilized and decided to embark on a significant renovation project. We endeavored to completely rework the current floor plan in hopes of addressing all their needs and wants. Plans included relocating the kitchen, moving the exterior walls by a couple of feet, raising the ceiling, and moving the office. The results of these changes were dramatic. Additionally the family now enjoys a larger and updated entrance with storage and closets that is perfect for their two active daughters and two often muddy labs, a beautiful kitchen with improved functionality that is filled with tons of natural light, as well as a cozy hearth room, ideal for relaxing together as a family. The once neglected screened porch is now a unique and inviting office with workspace for everyone. Once these improvements were made the view to the back of the house was now apparent, the couple decided to enhance their outdoor living space as well. We added a new patio, a custom pergola, water feature and a fire pit. “Now it’s a private spot to relax and connect with the outdoors. It really highlights the style of the house and we love it,” says the homeowner.

Location: Cohasset, MA, USA When my clients purchased this historic house, they saw that this garden held great potential, even though the property had been somewhat neglected. They wanted the new landscape to evoke the feeling of an Olde Maine house that time had forgotten. Sitting on the front veranda in the shade of the treasured Horse Chestnut and Maple trees that flank each side of the house, we explored the possibilities together. The front yard sloped a bit too much for comfort, so we determined that building a stone wall in the middle would create a terrace, making both parts of the lawn more usable. Visions of parties and children's weddings came to mind. We put a set of elegant arching steps in the middle, leading down to the sunken garden. Large, mature Rhododendrons were planted at the base of the Horse Chestnut and Maple trees just off the front veranda. Boxwoods undulate beneath the trees with Vinca as a ground cover. Ticonderoga stone was used for the walls and steps, which was the closest match to the existing stone foundation. The exquisite masonry by Doug Brooks Masonry makes this staircase as elegant as a tiered wedding cake.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

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.

©️Maxwell MacKenzie THE HOME, ESSENTIALLY A RUIN WAS PRESERVED THROUGH NEGLECT. A CLARIFIED HISTORIC RENOVATION REMOVES BAY WINDOWS AND 1950’S WINDOWS FROM THE MAIN FAÇADE. TWO WINGS AND A THIRD FLOOR AND A SYMPATHETIC STAIRWAY ACCOMMODATE MODERN LIFE. MASONS WERE TASKED TO MAKE THE STONE WORK LOOK AS THOUGH “A FARMER BUILT THE WALLS DURING THE NON-PLANTING SEASON,” THE FINAL DESIGN SIMPLIFIES THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN AND LEAVES LOGICAL LOCATIONS FOR EXPANSION INTO COMING DECADES. AMONG OTHER AWARDS, THIS TRADITIONAL YET HISTORIC RENOVATION LOCATED IN MIDDLEBURG, VA HAS RECEIVED 2 AWARDS FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE.. AND A NATIONAL PRIVATE AWARD FROM VETTE WINDOWS WASHINGTON DC ARCHITECT DONALD LOCOCO UPDATED THIS HISTORIC STONE HOUSE IN MIDDLEBURG, VA.lauded by the American Institute of Architects with an Award of Excellence for Historic Architecture, as well as an Award of Merit for Residential Architecture

These homeowners relocated to Indianapolis and wanted a traditional home in the Meridian Hills area that offered family living space off the kitchen. “It’s what we were used to, but we had trouble finding exactly what we were looking for.” They spent a lot of time thinking about the possibilities of a remodel. They had space both within and outside the house that were under-utilized and decided to embark on a significant renovation project. We endeavored to completely rework the current floor plan in hopes of addressing all their needs and wants. Plans included relocating the kitchen, moving the exterior walls by a couple of feet, raising the ceiling, and moving the office. The results of these changes were dramatic. Additionally the family now enjoys a larger and updated entrance with storage and closets that is perfect for their two active daughters and two often muddy labs, a beautiful kitchen with improved functionality that is filled with tons of natural light, as well as a cozy hearth room, ideal for relaxing together as a family. The once neglected screened porch is now a unique and inviting office with workspace for everyone. Once these improvements were made the view to the back of the house was now apparent, the couple decided to enhance their outdoor living space as well. We added a new patio, a custom pergola, water feature and a fire pit. “Now it’s a private spot to relax and connect with the outdoors. It really highlights the style of the house and we love it,” says the homeowner.

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

The Abraham Knowlton House (c. 1725) was nearly demolished to make room for the expansion of a nearby commercial building. Thankfully, this historic home was saved from that fate after surviving a long, drawn out battle. When we began the project, the building was in a lamentable state of disrepair due to long-term neglect. Before we could begin on the restoration and renovation of the house proper, we needed to raise the entire structure in order to repair and fortify the foundation. The design project was substantial, involving the transformation of this historic house into beautiful and yet highly functional condominiums. The final design brought this home back to its original, stately appearance while giving it a new lease on life as a home for multiple families. Winner, 2003 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation Photo Credit: Cynthia August

It’s been said that when you dream about a house, the basement represents your subconscious level. Perhaps that was true in the past, when basements were often neglected. But in most of today’s new builds and remodels, lower levels are becoming valuable living spaces. If you’re looking at building or renovating, opening up that lower level with sufficient light can add square footage and value to your home. In addition, having access to bright indoor areas can help combat cabin fever, which peaks in late winter. Looking at the photos here, you’d never know what you’re seeing is a lower level. That’s because a smart builder knew that bringing natural light into the space was key. Our job, in furnishing the space, was to make the most of that light. The off-white walls and light grey carpet provide a good base. A grey sectional sofa with clean, modern lines easily fits into the spacious room. It’s an ideal piece to encourage people to spend time together. The strong, forgiving linen resists staining, and like a blank canvas this true neutral allows for accessorizing with various throws and pillows depending on the season. The cream-colored throw echoes the light colors in the space, while the nubby pillow adds a textured contrast.