The Tudor style arch on the carved stone fireplace is one of the many found throughout the house. An opulently patterned wool and silk rug from Stark Carpet and a French nineteenth century chandelier add Old-World touches.

The original English conservatories were designed and built in cooler European climates to provide a safe environment for tropical plants and to hold flower displays. By the end of the nineteenth century, Europeans were also using conservatories for social and living spaces. Following in this rich tradition, the New England conservatory is designed and engineered to provide a comfortable, year-round addition to the house, sometimes functioning as a space completely open to the main living area. Nestled in the heart of Martha’s Vineyard, the magnificent conservatory featured here blends perfectly into the owner’s country style colonial estate. The roof system has been constructed with solid mahogany and features a soft color-painted interior and a beautiful copper clad exterior. The exterior architectural eave line is carried seamlessly from the existing house and around the conservatory. The glass dormer roof establishes beautiful contrast with the main lean-to glass roof. Our construction allows for extraordinary light levels within the space, and the view of the pool and surrounding landscape from the Marvin French doors provides quite the scene. The interior is a rustic finish with brick walls and a stone patio floor. These elements combine to create a space which truly provides its owners with a year-round opportunity to enjoy New England’s scenic outdoors from the comfort of a traditional conservatory.

My clients were excited about their newly purchased home perched high in the hills over the south Bay Area, but since the house was built in the early 90s, the were desperate to update some of the spaces. Their main powder room at the entrance to this grand home was a letdown: bland, featureless, dark, and it left anyone using it with the feeling they had just spent some time in a prison cell. These clients spent many years living on the east coast and brought with them a wonderful classical sense for their interiors—so I created a space that would give them that feeling of Old World tradition. My idea was to transform the powder room into a destination by creating a garden room feeling. To disguise the size and shape of the room, I used a gloriously colorful wallcovering from Cole & Son featuring a pattern of trees and birds based on Chinoiserie wallcoverings from the nineteenth century. Sconces feature gold palm leaves curling around milk glass diffusers. The vanity mirror has the shape of an Edwardian greenhouse window, and the new travertine floors evoke a sense of pavers meandering through an arboreal path. With a vanity of midnight blue, and custom faucetry in chocolate bronze and polished nickel, this powder room is now a delightful garden in the shade. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Nestled here, the home boasts prominent gable forms and bowed windows to coherently organize the interior spaces and the circulation spaces linking them.

The house is located in Conyers Farm, a residential development, known for its’ grand estates and polo fields. Although the site is just over 10 acres, due to wetlands and conservation areas only 3 acres adjacent to Upper Cross Road could be developed for the house. These restrictions, along with building setbacks led to the linear planning of the house. To maintain a larger back yard, the garage wing was ‘cranked’ towards the street. The bent wing hinged at the three-story turret, reinforces the rambling character and suggests a sense of enclosure around the entry drive court. Designed in the tradition of late nineteenth-century American country houses. The house has a variety of living spaces, each distinct in shape and orientation. Porches with Greek Doric columns, relaxed plan, juxtaposed masses and shingle-style exterior details all contribute to the elegant “country house” character.

Ronnette Riley Architect was retained to renovate a landmarked brownstone at 117 W 81st Street into a modern family Pied de Terre. The 6,556 square foot building was originally built in the nineteenth century as a 10 family rooming house next to the famous Hotel Endicott. RRA recreated the original front stoop and façade details based on the historic image from 1921 and the neighboring buildings details. Ronnette Riley Architect’s design proposes to remove the existing ‘L’ shaped rear façade and add a new flush rear addition adding approx. 800 SF. All North facing rooms will be opened up with floor to ceiling and wall to wall 1930’s replica steel factory windows. These double pane steel windows will allow northern light into the building creating a modern, open feel. Additionally, RRA has proposed an extended penthouse and exterior terrace spaces on the roof. The interior of the home will be completely renovated adding a new elevator and sprinklered stair. The interior design of the building reflects the client’s eclectic style, combining many traditional and modern design elements and using luxurious, yet environmentally conscious and easily maintained materials. Millwork has been incorporated to maximize the home’s large living spaces, front parlor and new gourmet kitchen as well as six bedroom suites with baths and four powder rooms. The new design also encompasses a studio apartment on the Garden Level and additional cellar created by excavating the existing floor slab to allow 8 foot tall ceilings, which will house the mechanical areas as well as a wine cellar and additional storage.

This new garage/workshop for a rural historic property was designed to reflect a nineteenth century outbuilding that had seen several expansions. Historic gable and shed shapes are used to reduce the mass of the structure. Other features include six-over-six, double-hung sash windows along with bands of casement windows, a standing-seam metal roof, and a traditional barn red paint.

Ronnette Riley Architect was retained to renovate a landmarked brownstone at 117 W 81st Street into a modern family Pied de Terre. The 6,556 square foot building was originally built in the nineteenth century as a 10 family rooming house next to the famous Hotel Endicott. RRA recreated the original front stoop and façade details based on the historic image from 1921 and the neighboring buildings details. Ronnette Riley Architect’s design proposes to remove the existing ‘L’ shaped rear façade and add a new flush rear addition adding approx. 800 SF. All North facing rooms will be opened up with floor to ceiling and wall to wall 1930’s replica steel factory windows. These double pane steel windows will allow northern light into the building creating a modern, open feel. Additionally, RRA has proposed an extended penthouse and exterior terrace spaces on the roof. The interior of the home will be completely renovated adding a new elevator and sprinklered stair. The interior design of the building reflects the client’s eclectic style, combining many traditional and modern design elements and using luxurious, yet environmentally conscious and easily maintained materials. Millwork has been incorporated to maximize the home’s large living spaces, front parlor and new gourmet kitchen as well as six bedroom suites with baths and four powder rooms. The new design also encompasses a studio apartment on the Garden Level and additional cellar created by excavating the existing floor slab to allow 8 foot tall ceilings, which will house the mechanical areas as well as a wine cellar and additional storage.

Clean-lined and smooth on the surface, closer inspection shows Burdett's sumptuous side. Making allusion to late nineteenth century opulence, we adorn the interior of Burdett's shade with richly gathered pleating. While the pendant's subdued silhouette serves a contemporary sensibility, its lavish surprise rewards close appreciation.

This early 90's contemporary home was in need of some major updates and when my clients purchased it they were ready to make it their own. The home features large open rooms, great natural light and stunning views of Lake Washington. These clients love bold vibrant colors and clean modern lines so the goal was to incorporate those in the design without it overwhelming the space. Balance was key. The end goal was for the home to feel open and airy yet warm and inviting. This was achieved by bringing in punches of color to an otherwise white or neutral palate. Texture and visual interest were achieved throughout the house through the use of wallpaper, fabrics, and a few one of a kind artworks.

Ronnette Riley Architect was retained to renovate a landmarked brownstone at 117 W 81st Street into a modern family Pied de Terre. The 6,556 square foot building was originally built in the nineteenth century as a 10 family rooming house next to the famous Hotel Endicott. RRA recreated the original front stoop and façade details based on the historic image from 1921 and the neighboring buildings details. Ronnette Riley Architect’s design proposes to remove the existing ‘L’ shaped rear façade and add a new flush rear addition adding approx. 800 SF. All North facing rooms will be opened up with floor to ceiling and wall to wall 1930’s replica steel factory windows. These double pane steel windows will allow northern light into the building creating a modern, open feel. Additionally, RRA has proposed an extended penthouse and exterior terrace spaces on the roof. The interior of the home will be completely renovated adding a new elevator and sprinklered stair. The interior design of the building reflects the client’s eclectic style, combining many traditional and modern design elements and using luxurious, yet environmentally conscious and easily maintained materials. Millwork has been incorporated to maximize the home’s large living spaces, front parlor and new gourmet kitchen as well as six bedroom suites with baths and four powder rooms. The new design also encompasses a studio apartment on the Garden Level and additional cellar created by excavating the existing floor slab to allow 8 foot tall ceilings, which will house the mechanical areas as well as a wine cellar and additional storage.

Thoughtful details invite guests to escape daily living and sink into luxury and comfort. Nineteenth century Chinese textiles adorn the walls with intricate embroidery and patterns that portray hidden stories of life long ago. The large picture window was added to flood light into the space. It becomes an art piece of its own by framing out native flora, capturing and celebrating each season of the year.

The addition was placed between the existing, flat roofed garage and the historic Mid-Nineteenth Century, Queen Anne style house. With the addition of a gable roof to the garage and extending the kitchen into the side yard the design accomplished both a large, open kitchen allowing river views and to pull the existing garage structure into the style of the main house. Joanne Tall

We recently enjoyed the opportunity to remodel three floors of a nineteenth-century Cambridge home with our project partners, architect Tom Downer and designer Jayme Kennerknecht/LDa Architects. . • The owners – a family of four that includes both a teenager and a toddler - wanted a house better suited to entertaining but also appropriate for family together time. Specific improvements on their wish list included a playroom that could handle differing family needs, a custom bar for entertaining, a new fireplace, and an inviting kitchen that would remain distinct but be better connected to adjoining rooms. • Adding a fireplace to the living room involved rebuilding the entire back wall of the home. The fireplace mantel was custom designed to match an existing mantel in the nearby dining room, which is original to the home. • In the playroom, care was taken to create zones for three members of the family: The mother enjoys crafting and now has a station directly below existing skylights, the teenager has a semi-private nook at the back of the space for relaxing, and the youngest in the family can enjoy toys and games placed along one wall alongside a rug for playing on the floor. On the same level, we created a separate guest bedroom with a new closet and a window designed to match other windows throughout the home. • The kitchen is fully upgraded and custom designed to accommodate the mother’s cooking habits, with specific elements including a farmer’s sink in the island and a stainless steel counter with an integrated sink for food preparation placed behind it on the counter. To improve storage in the much-used room, corner drawer units were installed instead of lazy Susan cabinets. Also, the homeowners were not interested in an open floor plan, but did want to improve access to the living room and yard beyond. This was achieved by expanding the opening between the two rooms allowing the cook to engage with family and guests and have a clear view when children are playing in the yard. Photo by Shelly Harrison

Eclectic exterior home photo in Boston

We mixed tans and grays and browns and blacks to create an entirely updated look for this hip kitchen - and threw in a few rustic pieces! This slim profile glazed ceramic tile is influenced by the hand-crafted shapes and highly variegated color expanses of nineteenth century Chicago brick heritage. Reclaimed…Revitalized…Remarkable! For the backsplash, we used the Eastside BRX color from the Urban District BRX ceramic tile collection by Marazzi. It is laid with H144 Misty Gray grout. The nickel bearing stainless steel sink is an Artisan Manufacturing 16 Gauge single bowl sink from their Premium Series (AR3118-D9). Photo Credit: Justin Tearney

Elizabeth Brosnan Hourihan was responsible for the interior design of a top-to-bottom renovation of a seven-story townhouse in Manhattan. It was brought back to its nineteenth-century glory, with period American, English, and French furniture, while incorporating the state-of-the-art systems and amenities that a large family requires. For these clients’ discerning taste, Elizabeth found subtle, fine antique rugs, and nineteenth- and early twentieth-century paintings, sculptures, and prints. The dining room is an especially magical space, because a pièce de résistance was commissioned for it – hand-painted wallcovering panels portraying a verdant eighteenth-century scene is installed throughout the room and creates a calm, harmonious environment all its own. Architect, Claus Rademacher, AIA. Photography, Paul Warchol.

The house is located in Conyers Farm, a residential development, known for its’ grand estates and polo fields. Although the site is just over 10 acres, due to wetlands and conservation areas only 3 acres adjacent to Upper Cross Road could be developed for the house. These restrictions, along with building setbacks led to the linear planning of the house. To maintain a larger back yard, the garage wing was ‘cranked’ towards the street. The bent wing hinged at the three-story turret, reinforces the rambling character and suggests a sense of enclosure around the entry drive court. Designed in the tradition of late nineteenth-century American country houses. The house has a variety of living spaces, each distinct in shape and orientation. Porches with Greek Doric columns, relaxed plan, juxtaposed masses and shingle-style exterior details all contribute to the elegant “country house” character.

The house is located in Conyers Farm, a residential development, known for its’ grand estates and polo fields. Although the site is just over 10 acres, due to wetlands and conservation areas only 3 acres adjacent to Upper Cross Road could be developed for the house. These restrictions, along with building setbacks led to the linear planning of the house. To maintain a larger back yard, the garage wing was ‘cranked’ towards the street. The bent wing hinged at the three-story turret, reinforces the rambling character and suggests a sense of enclosure around the entry drive court. Designed in the tradition of late nineteenth-century American country houses. The house has a variety of living spaces, each distinct in shape and orientation. Porches with Greek Doric columns, relaxed plan, juxtaposed masses and shingle-style exterior details all contribute to the elegant “country house” character.