This new home, like some in mid-town Toronto, occupies a half-width lot of 25’. The long narrow home had a tiny backyard, with only 32’ from the house to the property line. The owners were hoping to have a pool, so they asked Betz how they could get maximum enjoyment from the minimal space available.

Converting a home office into a nursery for a growing family presented some interesting challenges because of the spatial limitations. Originally, the space housed an enclosed side porch in this small 1940's post war cottage style home. During the planning stage, the decision was made that the design elements of the nursery would be consistent with those previously used in the refurbished home…a soft, sophisticated mix of traditional furnishings accented with contemporary styled pieces and elements set within a monochromatic color scheme. Knowing that the expected child was a girl enabled the exploration of a full range of feminine options. To maximize style, unify the space, and preserve the impression of childlike innocence a decision was reached to use minimalist colors. Winter Morning coats the walls with just a hint of pink as seen in the sky at sunrise. Texture is introduced in a blush linen; its hue was chosen to increase spatial perception within this compact nursery. The same linen covers the crib bumper pads and upholsters the small scale glider. Blush is repeated in the chenille braid on the bumper pads, the pleat closures for the tailored striped silk crib skirt and, again, on the trim of the stripped silk drapery panels which are hung to the ceiling adding visual height and providing yards of gentle softness to the area. Antique botanicals from the owner's childhood provide femininity and a connection to the past. Mounted from the ceiling is a small glazed chandelier with clear crystal and rose quartz pendants perfectly suited for the little charmer who will occupy this room. The space may be small in size, but it is large in style, functionality, and filled with love.

Eucalyptus-veneer cabinetry and a mix of countertop materials add organic interest in the kitchen. A water wall built into a cabinet bank separates the kitchen from the foyer. The overall use of water in the house lends a sense of escapism. Featured in the November 2008 issue of Phoenix Home & Garden, this "magnificently modern" home is actually a suburban loft located in Arcadia, a neighborhood formerly occupied by groves of orange and grapefruit trees in Phoenix, Arizona. The home, designed by architect C.P. Drewett, offers breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain from the entire main floor, guest house, and pool area. These main areas "loft" over a basement level featuring 4 bedrooms, a guest room, and a kids' den. Features of the house include white-oak ceilings, exposed steel trusses, Eucalyptus-veneer cabinetry, honed Pompignon limestone, concrete, granite, and stainless steel countertops. The owners also enlisted the help of Interior Designer Sharon Fannin. The project was built by Sonora West Development of Scottsdale, AZ.

This new home occupies a corner lot in a prestigious golf course development in Markham. The owners wanted maximum enjoyment of the yard with minimum maintenance. Consequently, the designers at Betz incorporated premium quality natural stone hardscapes which they augmented with dense plantings to enhance privacy. (24 x 33, custom rectangular)

Converting a home office into a nursery for a growing family presented some interesting challenges because of the spatial limitations. Originally, the space housed an enclosed side porch in this small 1940's post war cottage style home. During the planning stage, the decision was made that the design elements of the nursery would be consistent with those previously used in the refurbished home…a soft, sophisticated mix of traditional furnishings accented with contemporary styled pieces and elements set within a monochromatic color scheme. Knowing that the expected child was a girl enabled the exploration of a full range of feminine options. To maximize style, unify the space, and preserve the impression of childlike innocence a decision was reached to use minimalist colors. Winter Morning coats the walls with just a hint of pink as seen in the sky at sunrise. Texture is introduced in a blush linen; its hue was chosen to increase spatial perception within this compact nursery. The same linen covers the crib bumper pads and upholsters the small scale glider. Blush is repeated in the chenille braid on the bumper pads, the pleat closures for the tailored striped silk crib skirt and, again, on the trim of the stripped silk drapery panels which are hung to the ceiling adding visual height and providing yards of gentle softness to the area. Antique botanicals from the owner's childhood provide femininity and a connection to the past. Mounted from the ceiling is a small glazed chandelier with clear crystal and rose quartz pendants perfectly suited for the little charmer who will occupy this room. The space may be small in size, but it is large in style, functionality, and filled with love.

Trish Watson, Owner and Property Stylist with Su Casa Home Staging & ReDesign, is a certified, award-winning staging professional. She combines her love of style and design to create stunning spaces that sell for above listing every time. Trish services the Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington and surrounding areas and provides both occupied and vacant home staging services. Her niche is vacant homes because she loves the blank slate upon which she can “tell the story of the home”. She loves to create a lifestyle so any potential buyer walking through the home can envision themselves living in that home. Su Casa works with both realtors and homeowners to help increase property value and speed of sale. Please do not hesitate to reach out and schedule and appointment with Trish today!

Eucalyptus-veneer cabinetry and a mix of countertop materials add organic interest in the kitchen. A water wall built into a cabinet bank separates the kitchen from the foyer. The overall use of water in the house lends a sense of escapism. Featured in the November 2008 issue of Phoenix Home & Garden, this "magnificently modern" home is actually a suburban loft located in Arcadia, a neighborhood formerly occupied by groves of orange and grapefruit trees in Phoenix, Arizona. The home, designed by architect C.P. Drewett, offers breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain from the entire main floor, guest house, and pool area. These main areas "loft" over a basement level featuring 4 bedrooms, a guest room, and a kids' den. Features of the house include white-oak ceilings, exposed steel trusses, Eucalyptus-veneer cabinetry, honed Pompignon limestone, concrete, granite, and stainless steel countertops. The owners also enlisted the help of Interior Designer Sharon Fannin. The project was built by Sonora West Development of Scottsdale, AZ. Read more about this home here: http://www.phgmag.com/home/200811/magnificently-modern/

This vacant condo definitely has the most palladian windows in it. The light is incredible. Adding punches of colours made this condo come alive. If you have a vacant property or an occupied property and you are planning to list it, give us a call for a consultation. We have been helping realtors, home owners, house flippers and investors sell their properties for over 10 years. Call 514-222-5553 for more information

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY GRAND AWARD WINNER A single family home in Oakton, VA built in late 80’ was occupied by family of four for 10 years. The owner wishes to expand the living space, finish the basement, add a sunroom/breakfast area addition, eliminate the deck and put in a screen porch. Also convert the laundry room to an office/mudroom area. The basement has gained a new bar area, a total new bathroom with shower and large vanities and all amenities, media area with gas fireplace and mantel surrounded with matching cherry bookcases and granite tops, recess lights, surround sound system, wood floor and steps. New French doors lead to a brick patio. The first floor gained this new 16’x20’ cathedral ceiling sunroom/breakfast addition surrounded with large arched windows and French slider leading into new screen porch. The kitchen lay-out gained three more feet in width. Also by removing partition wall between the kitchen and existing family room, the first floor now has total open floor plan. The fireplace in existing family room was converted to gas. The new kitchen design touts new appliances and a beautiful large furniture style island that is the focal point of the space. The island is made from cherry cabinetry stained in espresso and topped with a multi-color exotic granite counter. The wrap-around natural stained cherry cabinets around the perimeter include the display cabinets and bench seat in the dining room. A tumbled marble backsplash, wide plank mahogany floors and stainless steel appliances complete this gourmet kitchen. The screen porch is done with Trex decking and the cathedral ceiling is covered in beaded panels . The corner gas fireplace surround is Ledgestone. The new addition has given this family a place to gather and relax for years to come.

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley

A rarely used drop-in tub occupied a large footprint in the condo’s primary bathroom. Our clients preferred to have a generous walk-in shower, so we reconfigured the layout and eliminated the bathtub altogether which also allowed space for a freestanding linen cabinet. We paired large scale porcelain floor tiles with marble penny rounds in the custom-tiled shower and storage niche. The timeless marble, white, and gray palette is accented with brushed nickel fixtures and accessories providing the owners with a stylish, sophisticated bathroom.

Featured in the November 2008 issue of Phoenix Home & Garden, this "magnificently modern" home is actually a suburban loft located in Arcadia, a neighborhood formerly occupied by groves of orange and grapefruit trees in Phoenix, Arizona. The home, designed by architect C.P. Drewett, offers breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain from the entire main floor, guest house, and pool area. These main areas "loft" over a basement level featuring 4 bedrooms, a guest room, and a kids' den. Features of the house include white-oak ceilings, exposed steel trusses, Eucalyptus-veneer cabinetry, honed Pompignon limestone, concrete, granite, and stainless steel countertops. The owners also enlisted the help of Interior Designer Sharon Fannin. The project was built by Sonora West Development of Scottsdale, AZ.

A.F. Wright Photography
Example of a hallway design in DC Metro

Converting a home office into a nursery for a growing family presented some interesting challenges because of the spatial limitations. Originally, the space housed an enclosed side porch in this small 1940's post war cottage style home. During the planning stage, the decision was made that the design elements of the nursery would be consistent with those previously used in the refurbished home…a soft, sophisticated mix of traditional furnishings accented with contemporary styled pieces and elements set within a monochromatic color scheme. Knowing that the expected child was a girl enabled the exploration of a full range of feminine options. To maximize style, unify the space, and preserve the impression of childlike innocence a decision was reached to use minimalist colors. Winter Morning coats the walls with just a hint of pink as seen in the sky at sunrise. Texture is introduced in a blush linen; its hue was chosen to increase spatial perception within this compact nursery. The same linen covers the crib bumper pads and upholsters the small scale glider. Blush is repeated in the chenille braid on the bumper pads, the pleat closures for the tailored striped silk crib skirt and, again, on the trim of the stripped silk drapery panels which are hung to the ceiling adding visual height and providing yards of gentle softness to the area. Antique botanicals from the owner's childhood provide femininity and a connection to the past. Mounted from the ceiling is a small glazed chandelier with clear crystal and rose quartz pendants perfectly suited for the little charmer who will occupy this room. The space may be small in size, but it is large in style, functionality, and filled with love.

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley

This project is a (new) pool within an (existing) pool! The client asked me to remodel their extra large 1970s trapezoid pool that was lacking a spa and seating area. They wanted to make it into a focal feature of their yard allowing them to entertain and capture there scenic view in ways that the previous configuration prevented. On this property, it made sense for the new spa to be on the uphill side adjacent to the master bedroom -- not only for convenience but also for enjoying the views, and allowing us to overflow the spa so that the water could return downhill back to the pool. This is where the cylindrical glass tile “jewel” is situated. The vibrant color of glass was chosen to compliment (be the opposite of, in order to visually resonate and create a higher energy feel) with the ocher seen in the natural stone palette that the house gave us as precedent. Once the spas location was decided, the best views enjoyed by this property are located where the chaise lounges are now in the finished design. The previous pool occupied the space, and this prime area could not be accessed at all! Our second order of business was to carve out a destination space from the previous pool and give it back to be a furniture area for entertaining. Locating the chaise lounger deck across the pool presented a challenge that became a fun opportunity not to be passed up. The overflowing spa water had to return to the pool somehow, and the flowing water had to be crossed over to get to the Chaise lounge viewing deck. The solution? A bridge of course! And with the stairs ascending up to the spa, why not have a stairway like water feature underneath the bridge? The final touch on this design was omitting the weak and poorly executed vanishing edge, which had a horizon line finishing right into the rooftops of the homes below. Not the best aesthetic! To block the roof lines of the homes below and direct your eyes up to the mountain peaks beyond, a stone clad raised planter became the central focal point of the yard, allowing us to create a beautiful agave, yucca, and cacti display to be enjoyed from every angle of the home. Altogether the new configuration really plays off the angular shapes of the home, extends the pallet of materials around the yard, and makes the new space all that more enjoyable for the owners private and public entertainment.

Dancer Concrete Design was contacted to find the best way to deliver a finished concrete floor in such a different type of space. The home’s design is of two intersecting circles that make up the garage and main living space. A basement sits below half of the structure while a structural concrete pad supports the other half circle. The floor finishing would take place in the living room, dinning room, and into the kitchen. For this project the owners were fully occupying the space. Of course this process aesthetically enhances the space, but we have also found it to increase the durability of our floors. After mechanically removing the grout we move to additional polishing steps and our two-step sealing process of densification and stain guard. Densifying is a reactive penetrating sealer that makes the concrete even stronger and resistant to scratches, stains and other contaminants. The homeowner selected a natural concrete finish – no added stains or dyes – and the final day, the team polished the floor to the desired finish, a level one, 400-grit shine.

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley