Ed Ritger Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in San Francisco

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.

This is an example of a large country tile screened-in back porch design in Baltimore with a roof extension.

Design/Build by Vanillawood Photography by Josh Partee
Example of a 1950s l-shaped medium tone wood floor and multicolored floor kitchen design in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a french country patio remodel in San Francisco with a pergola

Patrick & Topaze McCaffery - Taproot Garden Design & Fine Gardening "Instead of a fence, the homeowners opted for a custom built metal framework trellis with honeysuckle vines which, in time, will create an area of sweet scents to mask any odors from the trash and recycling bins."

This is an example of a cottage screened-in back porch design in San Francisco with decking and a roof extension.

Elegant enclosed carpeted and beige floor home theater photo in Los Angeles with gray walls and a projector screen

Classic Island beach cottage exterior of an elevated historic home by Sea Island Builders. Light colored white wood contract wood shake roof. Juila Lynn

Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern concrete floor great room design in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a rustic backyard stone patio remodel in Seattle with no cover and a fireplace

Nathan Schroder
Photo of a transitional backyard landscaping in Dallas.

Peter Murdock
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in New York

Example of a cottage exterior home design in New York

Tria Giovan, Photo, Paul Rankin Interiors
Entryway - traditional entryway idea in New York

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Open-plan family room and kitchen featuring coffered ceilings and expansive water views flow harmoniously together. David Burroughs
Example of a classic formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Baltimore with white walls

Large rustic brown two-story wood gable roof idea with a shingle roof

Casey Dun
Tuscan master bedroom photo in Dallas