With stunning views of several acres of green space and glistening blue waters of Beaver Lake Dam, this home owner presented us with a stunning exterior design backyard renovation and interior design project. Since the entry point of the backyard was the formal dining room we began there. We designed and installed new lighting, table, furnishings, draperies and custom built in cabinetry and created a seamless transition to the adjacent covered veranda. On the veranda, which opened to a newly renovate oversized patio, we added heating, TV and cozy couches. For the expansive patio we used outdoor woven material and natural tones to create an upbeat renovation. we used swivel chairs, beautiful and durable upholstery and outdoor carpeting. We designed several unique places of comfort on the patio that would be used individually or as one expansive deck area for large gatherings. We installed an outdoor kitchen with bar style seating, a family style table farm table with seating for ten, a fire pit area with near by hot tub and a secluded seating area with sectionals and a stone fireplace. From the luxury patio, a beautiful stoned staircase lead the way to to pool house and pool. So the stunning views of the nature and bay could be enjoyed, the client’s builder engineered the pool house into the sloping natural landscape. To create a sensation of being surrounded by nature even while inside the pool house, we brought into the pool house interior, the natural greens and blues from the expansive views of the pasture and bay outside. In the pool house a Nanawall wall of doors and beautiful stone looks out onto the pool and beyond. We continued this sensation of being one with nature even while inside the pool house by installing an organic table built from natural materials and using beautiful, neutral natural oak reeding on the back of the island and natural woven counter stools. For comfort and convenience we installed sectionals with pull out sleeping and TVs from every angle, so you can even watch your favorite programs from the pool! For guest comfort, we designed and built a new bathroom, again with natural motif including Pom Franz on the wall paper, mirrors with natural woven textures, hand made subway tiles and ship lap walls.

The comfortable elegance of this French-Country inspired home belies the challenges faced during its conception. The beautiful, wooded site was steeply sloped requiring study of the location, grading, approach, yard and views from and to the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. The client desired an old world look and feel, requiring a sensitive approach to the extensive program. Large, modern spaces could not add bulk to the interior or exterior. Furthermore, it was critical to balance voluminous spaces designed for entertainment with more intimate settings for daily living while maintaining harmonic flow throughout. The result home is wide, approached by a winding drive terminating at a prominent facade embracing the motor court. Stone walls feather grade to the front façade, beginning the masonry theme dressing the structure. A second theme of true Pennsylvania timber-framing is also introduced on the exterior and is subsequently revealed in the formal Great and Dining rooms. Timber-framing adds drama, scales down volume, and adds the warmth of natural hand-wrought materials. The Great Room is literal and figurative center of this master down home, separating casual living areas from the elaborate master suite. The lower level accommodates casual entertaining and an office suite with compelling views. The rear yard, cut from the hillside, is a composition of natural and architectural elements with timber framed porches and terraces accessed from nearly every interior space flowing to a hillside of boulders and waterfalls. The result is a naturally set, livable, truly harmonious, new home radiating old world elegance. This home is powered by a geothermal heating and cooling system and state of the art electronic controls and monitoring systems.

Bedroom - contemporary bedroom idea in Chicago

This kitchen renovation started when the ceiling light began to flicker on and off. Realizing the age of that light fixture brought the homeowners to wonder just how long the rest of their appliances would last. The kitchen was more than fifteen years old. Remodeling the kitchen was the opportunity they needed to create the space they desperately wanted. First on the list was an area to entertain and cook, second was that is be Kid friendly for their grandchildren, and third, they wanted the kitchen to open up to their adjacent living room. All new appliances, quality Fieldstone cabinets, and new hardwood flooring throughout the first floor brought this kitchen up to speed. They liked the idea of extending the counter to create a large seating area. This turned out to be the best loved feature of their new kitchen. Working with the designer and the granite company, they made a unique “tear drop” extension of the counter for seating. The old “breakfast” table moved out! Bright, airy and beautiful- the homeowners are thrilled.

Huge trendy master white tile and marble tile marble floor bathroom photo in Chicago with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an undermount tub and gray walls

On a hillside site within the Sugar Ridge Resort residential development, this villa with contemporary design features captures the magnificent views along the Antiguan west coastline and beyond to Nevis and St Kitts. The material palette is simple – wood shingles, painted plaster, travertine tiles, hardwood and stainless steel. The design layout ensures that the ever-present cooling breezes filter through all the rooms and spaces ensuring comfortable, sustainable living both inside and out. The infinity-edge pool and deck, at a slightly lower level than the main residence, offer further opportunities to enjoy the views.

Michael Gullon, Phoenix Photographic
Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped kitchen pantry remodel in Baltimore with green cabinets, granite countertops and raised-panel cabinets

The Millbrook Barn project consisted of the complete renovation of a dilapidated barn and chicken coop, located behind a small farm house in Millbrook, New York. As the smaller main house could not accommodate space for the children to play, the family wanted to update their unused space to create an expansive indoor playroom and gathering space. The strategy for this project was to renovate the barn and pool house using sustainable and reclaimed materials, to produce an intersection of modern and antique design In contrast to the all-white main house, we selected a deep charcoal grey for the new barn’s exterior. A subtle, sophisticated tension between traditional, rustic elements and more contemporary details prevails throughout, from wood-paneled walls and barn doors, to clean-lined square windows inspired by artist Donald Judd’s minimalist compound in Marfa, Texas. In our design, we wanted to create an authentic experience of the space, without having to fake farmhouse details. A number of kitchen and bathroom surfaces are made of prefabricated concrete, including the shower enclosures, fireplace, kitchen cabinets and three-inch-thick countertops. The floors throughout are made from engineered wood, with a driftwood-like finish that matches the weathered look of the salvaged cedar ceiling timbers. The lower, western wing of the L-shaped structure (originally the chicken coop) provides ample room for family feasts in the airy, open kitchen, living and dining area. Rounding out the architectural program is an upstairs bedroom loft which accommodates an overflow of guests, and features an inviting window seat and daybed. The loft overlooks the pool and sits above an attached pool house with boys’ and girls’ changing and shower rooms below. Solar panels, lined discretely along one slope of the standing-seam metal roof, power the pool’s heater. The interior decoration reflects the same chic but humble sensibility that characterizes the overall architectural design. In the playroom, paper globe lanterns hang above slouchy, brightly-hued chairs by Italian designer Paola Lenti; in the living and dining area, they enliven a suite of simple wicker and linen-covered chairs, some from the family’s existing home. Accessories in the space include raw silk rugs, boldly patterned kilims and rugged lighting features, which contribute to an overall rustic, yet elegant feel throughout.

LEICHT, www.LeichtFL.com, www.Leicht.com, http://www.leicht.com/en-us/find-a-showroom/ Photo: Kuo-Min Lee Program: TOBIA/ H 220h oak anthracite Handles: 770.000 SensoMatic 860.413 vertical recessed handle Countertop: AP E 2 stainless steel / Silestone Sink: Artinox Faucet: Dornbracht, model: Tara Ultra Electrical Appliances: Electrolux/ Liebherr

Homeowners aimed to bring the lovely outdoors into better view when they removed the two 90's dated columns that divided the kitchen from the family room and eat-in area. They also transformed the range wall when they added two wood encasement windows which frame the custom zinc hood and allow a soft light to penetrate the kitchen. Custom beaded inset cabinetry was designed with a busy family of 5 in mind. A coffee station hides behind the appliance garage, the paper towel holder is partially concealed in a rolling drawer and three custom pullout drawers with soft close hinges hold many items that would otherwise be located on the countertop or under the sink. A 48" Viking gas range took the place of a 30" electric cooktop and a Bosch microwave drawer is now located in the island to make space for the newly added beverage cooler. Due to size and budget constaints, we kept the basic footprint so every space was carefully planned for function and design. The family stayed true to their casual lifestyle with the black honed countertops but added a little bling with the rustic crystal chandelier, crystal prism arched sconces and calcutta gold herringbone backsplash. But the owner's favorite add was the custom island designed as an antique furniture piece with the essenza blue quartzite countertop cut with a demi-bull stepout. The kids can now sit at the ample sized counter and enjoy breakfast or finish homework in the comfortable cherry red swivel chairs which add a pop to the otherwise understated tones. This newly remodeled kitchen checked all the homeowner's desires.

Ciro Coelho Photography
Contemporary beige one-story exterior home idea in Santa Barbara with a metal roof

Elegant kitchen photo in Other

A charming 1920s colonial had a dated dark kitchen that was not in keeping with the historic charm of the home. The owners, who adored British design, wanted a kitchen that was spacious and storage friendly, with the feel of a classic English kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client, while architect Greg Lewis redesigned the home to accommodate a larger kitchen, new primary bath, mudroom, and butlers pantry. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

_Client is a film and television exec who wants an engaging sitting area on the recreation and entertainment level of his residence _We create a lush VIP lounge adjacent to his home theater _Reface existing fireplace with four dark 47” x 98” porcelain panels _Bookend fireplace and surround with custom, high-back, channeled, velvet banquettes _Brass inset bands on face of fireplace create the presence of a mantel and mimic the horizontal channels on the banquettes _Modern brass and quartz sconces and a central gold starburst chandelier are all programmed to produce a variety of lighting options and atmospheres _Add gold textured wall covering between the coffers for diffused reflective illumination, which augments our layers of lighting and brings depth to the ceiling _Walls and columns are covered in a metallic faux bois paper product that reacts with dimension when illuminated _Yin/yang cocktail table purposely unites the dark, rich bronze tones with the room's warm, antique brass accents _Two pairs of gold nesting tables provide mobility and options for guests’ drinks and food _Drink tables with a polished brass base & black mirrored top accommodate guests at the banquettes _Lush fabrics and metallic pillows add glamour _Charcoal wool area rug anchors and warms the space _All doors, trim, and coffers are painted in the same dark, iron ore hue to help unify the space. _New VIP lounge offers both function and style for intimate conversations as well as high-profile parties

Master bathroom at home on Russell Rd. in Alexandria. Photo by Greg Hadley
Example of a trendy subway tile bathroom design in DC Metro

These homeowners came to us to update their kitchen, yet stay within the existing footprint. Their goal was to make the space feel more open, while also gaining better pantry storage and more continuous counter top space for preparing meals and entertaining. We started towards achieving their goals by removing soffits around the entire room and over the island, which allowed for more storage and taller crown molding. Then we increased the open feeling of the room by removing the peninsula wall cabinets which had been a visual obstruction between the main kitchen and the dining area. This also allowed for a more functional stretch of counter on the peninsula for preparation or serving, which is complimented by another working counter that was created by cornering their double oven on the opposite side of the room. At the same time, we shortened the peninsula by a few inches to allow for better traffic flow to the dining area because it is a main route for traffic. Lastly, we made a more functional and aesthetically pleasing pantry wall by tailoring the cabinetry to their needs and creating relief with open shelves for them to display their art. The addition of larger moldings, carved onlays and turned legs throughout the kitchen helps to create a more formal setting for entertaining. The materials that were used in the kitchen; stone floor tile, maple cabinets, granite counter tops and porcelain backsplash tile are beautiful, yet durable enough to withstand daily wear and heavy use during gatherings. The lighting was updated to meet current technology and enhance the task and decorative lighting in the space. The can lights through the kitchen and desk area are LED cans to increase energy savings and minimize the need for light bulb changes over time. We also installed LED strip lighting below the wall cabinets to be used as task lighting and inside of glass cabinets to accent the decorative elements.

Intentional design programing yielded conforming the appliances and cabinetry to the occupants, rather than just for aesthetics.
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and quartzite countertops

David Duncan Livingston
Open concept kitchen - transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances

Example of an eclectic white tile bathroom design in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and red walls