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!

The casual family room occupies a space that wraps around the adjacent kitchen and family dining area. A lofty open-beamed ceiling and plastered fireplace volume anchor the seating area. A rough-hewn mesquite plank on blackened-steel brackets mediates between the fireplace and recessed flat-screen TV. The owner's home office is seen here, tucked into full-height panelling that rolls back to become kitchen cabinets to the left-hand side of this view. Photo Credit: Undine Prohl

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

About This Project: Stunning 180' ocean and bay views abound from this spacious 3,500 sq. ft. home sitting perfectly on a 9,300 square foot lot on an ideal upper ridge-line overlooking the sea. Take in stunning sunsets while floating in the pool, playing games in the yard or entertaining friends via the ideal indoor/outdoor floor plan. Privacy awaits you beyond the entry gate as you are welcomed by the expansive views. The master suite occupies the entirety of the second-floor yielding yet more phenomenal views and seclusion that is sure to please any homeowner! 41 West is a member of the Certified Luxury Builders Network. Certified Luxury Builders is a network of leading custom home builders and luxury home and condo remodelers who create 5-Star experiences for luxury home and condo owners from New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Naples. As a Certified Luxury Builder, 41 West is proud to feature photos of select projects from our members around the country to inspire you with design ideas. Please feel free to contact the specific Certified Luxury Builder with any questions or inquiries you may have about their projects. Please visit www.CLBNetwork.com for a directory of CLB members featured on Houzz and their contact 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.

•Architects: Aires Mateus •Location: Lisbon, Portugal •Architect: Manuel Aires Mateus •Years: 2006-20011 •Photos by: Ricardo Oliveira Alves •Stone floor: Ancient Surface A succession of everyday spaces occupied the lower floor of this restored 18th century castle on the hillside. The existing estate illustrating a period clouded by historic neglect. The restoration plan for this castle house focused on increasing its spatial value, its open space architecture and re-positioning of its windows. The garden made it possible to enhance the depth of the view over the rooftops and the Baixa river. An existing addition was rebuilt to house to conduct more private and entertainment functions. The unexpected discovery of an old and buried wellhead and cistern in the center of the house was a pleasant surprise to the architect and owners.

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

The second floor is at the disposal of children - three charming talented and intelligent daughters. Upstairs there are girls' bedrooms, a bathroom and a room that brings everyone together. lounge room for spending time with girlfriends, embroidery with mom, playing piano, and reading books. This is a special room that owners will use for creativity, recreation and communication. Modern interpretation of the Ukrainian chamber. Chamber was the main room of at ancient times, the Ukrainian residence, a maid, a sitting room. Historically, the upper room was called the upper room in a medieval apartment building. A special place was occupied by a painting by a Ukrainian artist.

This 3,500 SF home was inspired by the 100 year old collage that formally occupied the site. The owners wanted the house to reflect the intimate cottage feel while also allowing for prime lake views. Interior finishes and furniture were selected to blend with the exterior and fit into the client's desire for simple Adirondack- themed aesthetic.

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.

About This Project: Stunning 180' ocean and bay views abound from this spacious 3,500 sq. ft. home sitting perfectly on a 9,300 square foot lot on an ideal upper ridge-line overlooking the sea. Take in stunning sunsets while floating in the pool, playing games in the yard or entertaining friends via the ideal indoor/outdoor floor plan. Privacy awaits you beyond the entry gate as you are welcomed by the expansive views. The master suite occupies the entirety of the second-floor yielding yet more phenomenal views and seclusion that is sure to please any homeowner! Campagna Homes is a member of the Certified Luxury Builders Network. Certified Luxury Builders is a network of leading custom home builders and luxury home and condo remodelers who create 5-Star experiences for luxury home and condo owners from New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Naples. As a Certified Luxury Builder, Campagna Homes is proud to feature photos of select projects from our members around the country to inspire you with design ideas. Please feel free to contact the specific Certified Luxury Builder with any questions or inquiries you may have about their projects. Please visit www.CLBNetwork.com for a directory of CLB members featured on Houzz and their contact information.

We were contacted by a client from Formby asking for advice on how to remove a thick layer of floor leveller from her Quarry tiled floor. I suspect at some point in the past a previous owner had decided to cover the tiles with lino and a cement-based levelling compound was applied to level the floor first. My client had tried to remove it herself but found it very hard going and after realising she had quite a project on her hands decided to call us instead and see if we could help with the restoration. I worked out a quote for the client which would include removing the self-levelling compound, cleaning up the tiles and then sealing them to improve its appearance and protect it going forward. The quote was accepted, and a date agreed for the restoration to be completed which would take two days. We have a variety of tools that we can use for removing cement but in this case, I decided to use an air operated pin gun. The head of the gun has long pins of different length which are fired at the floor gently chipping away at the floor compound, this made short work of breaking up the cement so it could be swept away. A lot easier than the method the client had previously tried. With the floor clear of cement, it was given an acid wash with Tile Doctor Acid Gel scrubbed in with a buffing machine fitted with a black pad. The acidic formula cleans up the stone of old cement including fine particles of dust. Afterwards the gel was rinsed off the floor with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. We let the floor dry out overnight and returned the next morning to apply the sealer. For the best results, the stone needs to be dry so before sealing I always take several moisture readings with a damp meter to make sure. The results were good so the first of what would be three coats of sealer were applied to the floor. I used Tile Doctor Colour Grow for sealing, it is an impregnating sealer that works by occupying the pores in the store thereby protecting it from within, it also brings out the colour in the stone. Once done the floor looked great, the old self-levelling compound was gone and the rich colours in the tile had been restored. In fact is was only when finished did we realise these were in fact Baked Clay Quarry Tiles, minerals are added during manufacturing to give then colour, although 95% clay they are very tough like stone. The client was over the moon with the outcome, the floor had been restored to its’ former glory. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to keep the floor in good condition. It is pH neutral so will ensure the newly applied sealer is not compromised and the floor will continue to look good for a long while to come. Andrew Robb Merseyside Tile Doctor

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.

•Architects: Aires Mateus •Location: Lisbon, Portugal •Architect: Manuel Aires Mateus •Years: 2006-20011 •Photos by: Ricardo Oliveira Alves •Stone floor: Ancient Surface A succession of everyday spaces occupied the lower floor of this restored 18th century castle on the hillside. The existing estate illustrating a period clouded by historic neglect. The restoration plan for this castle house focused on increasing its spatial value, its open space architecture and re-positioning of its windows. The garden made it possible to enhance the depth of the view over the rooftops and the Baixa river. An existing addition was rebuilt to house to conduct more private and entertainment functions. The unexpected discovery of an old and buried wellhead and cistern in the center of the house was a pleasant surprise to the architect and owners.

About This Project: Stunning 180' ocean and bay views abound from this spacious 3,500 sq. ft. home sitting perfectly on a 9,300 square foot lot on an ideal upper ridge-line overlooking the sea. Take in stunning sunsets while floating in the pool, playing games in the yard or entertaining friends via the ideal indoor/outdoor floor plan. Privacy awaits you beyond the entry gate as you are welcomed by the expansive views. The master suite occupies the entirety of the second-floor yielding yet more phenomenal views and seclusion that is sure to please any homeowner! Distinctive Domain is a member of the Certified Luxury Builders Network. Certified Luxury Builders is a network of leading custom home builders and luxury home and condo remodelers who create 5-Star experiences for luxury home and condo owners from New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Naples. As a Certified Luxury Builder, Distinctive Domain is proud to feature photos of select projects from our members around the country to inspire you with design ideas. Please feel free to contact the specific Certified Luxury Builder with any questions or inquiries you may have about their projects. Please visit www.CLBNetwork.com for a directory of CLB members featured on Houzz and their contact information.

Designed in 1914 by Wilder and White, Architects, of New York City, the original owner of this property was Dr. William Englesby. In 1956 the house was willed to the University of Vermont. It served as a dormitory for twenty-seven women students until the new president of UVM, John Fey, arrived in 1958 and the university remodeled the house to serve as his residence. It has since been occupied by succeeding UVM presidents. This was an intriguing space to design due to the rarity of such a large garden in the city. We installed a front walk with a ramp from pavers and custom cut bluestone. We carried this look to the back of the house by installing a paver patio with bluestone inlay along with some steps. Colorful plantings completed the area and gave it an elegant feel.

About This Project: Stunning 180' ocean and bay views abound from this spacious 3,500 sq. ft. home sitting perfectly on a 9,300 square foot lot on an ideal upper ridge-line overlooking the sea. Take in stunning sunsets while floating in the pool, playing games in the yard or entertaining friends via the ideal indoor/outdoor floor plan. Privacy awaits you beyond the entry gate as you are welcomed by the expansive views. The master suite occupies the entirety of the second-floor yielding yet more phenomenal views and seclusion that is sure to please any homeowner! Showcase Builders is a member of the Certified Luxury Builders Network. Certified Luxury Builders is a network of leading custom home builders and luxury home and condo remodelers who create 5-Star experiences for luxury home and condo owners from New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Naples. As a Certified Luxury Builder, Showcase Builders is proud to feature photos of select projects from our members around the country to inspire you with design ideas. Please feel free to contact the specific Certified Luxury Builder with any questions or inquiries you may have about their projects. Please visit www.CLBNetwork.com for a directory of CLB members featured on Houzz and their contact information.

The last building of phase one of the Edgmont master plan was the Pool house. This particular picture shows the bonus room above the newly constructed garage. Because this room would not be occupied all the time, even though there is temperature control the home owners decided that engineered Acacia would provide both the beauty they wanted with the stability of an engineered floor. This engineered floor was prefinished. Interestingly, it can be installed as a floating floor below grade for expansion and contraction or in this project’s case it was nailed down.

Designed in 1914 by Wilder and White, Architects, of New York City, the original owner of this property was Dr. William Englesby. In 1956 the house was willed to the University of Vermont. It served as a dormitory for twenty-seven women students until the new president of UVM, John Fey, arrived in 1958 and the university remodeled the house to serve as his residence. It has since been occupied by succeeding UVM presidents. This was an intriguing space to design due to the rarity of such a large garden in the city. We installed a front walk with a ramp from pavers and custom cut bluestone. We carried this look to the back of the house by installing a paver patio with bluestone inlay along with some steps. Colorful plantings completed the area and gave it an elegant feel.