The Abraham Knowlton House (c. 1725) was nearly demolished to make room for the expansion of a nearby commercial building. Thankfully, this historic home was saved from that fate after surviving a long, drawn out battle. When we began the project, the building was in a lamentable state of disrepair due to long-term neglect. Before we could begin on the restoration and renovation of the house proper, we needed to raise the entire structure in order to repair and fortify the foundation. The design project was substantial, involving the transformation of this historic house into beautiful and yet highly functional condominiums. The final design brought this home back to its original, stately appearance while giving it a new lease on life as a home for multiple families. Winner, 2003 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation Photo Credit: Cynthia August

A neutral office composes this wonderful office design. Blacks, whites and beige set the tone for a light, bright, and airy home office perfect for those who work for home or those who just need space to study. A custom built in serves the purpose for both function with an abundance of storage on top and below but also is aesthetically pleasing. Inspirational quotes line the walls and fill in the built in for added decor. A pop of green and the area rug from Urban Outfitters gives this space the modern bohemian vibe.

Using a blend of CertainTeed siding products; oversized super corners in white accent and frame in the natural clay siding and perfection shake
Traditional exterior home idea in Detroit

A front view of this Dutch Colonial style residence showing a field-stone walkway leading to a large traditional pedimented entry portico set against a rustic stone facade. The first and second floor windows are aligned, allowing for an organized and traditional exterior, while the asymmetric massing adds to the overall visual interest of the residence and suggests a home built over time. Photo Credit: David A. Beckwith

Rising amidst the grand homes of North Howe Street, this stately house has more than 6,600 SF. In total, the home has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three powder rooms. Designed with an extra-wide floor plan (21'-2"), achieved through side-yard relief, and an attached garage achieved through rear-yard relief, it is a truly unique home in a truly stunning environment. The centerpiece of the home is its dramatic, 11-foot-diameter circular stair that ascends four floors from the lower level to the roof decks where panoramic windows (and views) infuse the staircase and lower levels with natural light. Public areas include classically-proportioned living and dining rooms, designed in an open-plan concept with architectural distinction enabling them to function individually. A gourmet, eat-in kitchen opens to the home's great room and rear gardens and is connected via its own staircase to the lower level family room, mud room and attached 2-1/2 car, heated garage. The second floor is a dedicated master floor, accessed by the main stair or the home's elevator. Features include a groin-vaulted ceiling; attached sun-room; private balcony; lavishly appointed master bath; tremendous closet space, including a 120 SF walk-in closet, and; an en-suite office. Four family bedrooms and three bathrooms are located on the third floor. This home was sold early in its construction process. Nathan Kirkman

A charming English Cottage custom design by Brent Gibson and build by Chris Moock. Stone, Stucco, and half timbers create a beautiful home nestled among an English Garden. The warm design says "welcome", and is very inviting for anyone to call home!

Tuscan Stone Mantels uses a centuries old process to produce fine architectural stonework. By using this process, our stone is completely formed and finished by hand reflecting the beauty of natural quarried stone. By employing modern gypsums and techniques, we are able to offer products of strength and durability for numerous architectural applications such as mantels & over-mantels, entertainment centers, cladding, niches, shelving, corbels/brackets, molding, kitchen hoods, columns, pediments, and more. Tuscan Stone Mantels provides architects, builders, designers and homeowners with hand crafted stone products of exceptional beauty and durability.

At the top of a steep hill in Chapel Hill’s Governors Club, where the view reaches all the way to Raleigh, architect Keith Shaw sited the Daphne and Crowell Little residence that, at first viewing, brings to mind an English country cottage. Vines curl over and around the wooden doors of the detached two-car garage. The house, with its steeply pitched hip roof, flared eves, gray cedar shingle siding, and crisp white columns and trim, rests quietly amidst lush landscaping. A perfectly scaled, pedimented portico provides a covered entrance to the double front doors. Photo by Allen Weiss

The plaster mouldings in this house were in fairly good shape and contributed to the charm of the project. So we decided to keep them in their original state any by painting the walls ceiling and the architectural details with a flat white we were able to create a new mood that was in line with the contemporary furniture and fixings of the dwelling.

Brantley Photography
Entryway - mediterranean entryway idea in Miami

Modern Interior featuring Miami crown molding. This unique Art Deco molding combines a broader step design with a sloping, rounded line. This crown molding's design allows for two installation options: extended onto the ceiling, the stepped design seems to continue on, lending to the illusion of a recessed ceiling. If Miami crown molding is extended down the wall, it softens the sharp edged corners of the room, and gives a graceful "layered" look

Who says the appliances need to be stainless. Don't be afraid to be different. Black hides a multitude of sins. It also helps ground a room. Photo by: Picture Perfect LLC

Charles Hilton Architects
Traditional brown brick exterior home idea in New York

Traditional White Colonial home with green shutters. Expansive property surrounds this equally large home. This classic home is complete with white vinyl siding, white entryway / windows, and red brick chimneys.

Photo: Faith Towers Media © 2015 Houzz
Elegant living room photo in Boston

This hillside home combines stucco, stone, and cedar shakes for exceptional craftsman character. A dramatic cathedral ceiling heightens the open living room with central fireplace and built-ins. Porches flank the living room to allow its rear wall of windows uninterrupted views of the outdoors. The two rear porches are entered through the dining room and master bedroom, while the breakfast and dining rooms enjoy screened porch access. The master bedroom is topped by a tray ceiling and features a lovely private bath and walk-in closet. A versatile bedroom/study and full bath are nearby. Downstairs are two more bedrooms, each with an adjacent covered patio, another full bath, and a generous family room with fireplace.

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel. Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Large elegant gray three-story vinyl gable roof photo in New York with a shingle roof

This urban townhouse took on new life when it was renovated for a couple relocating from New York City. The owner’s sophisticated taste, cultivated from world travels, paired with the character of the existing home and resulted in a fresh and colorful gem in the heart of the historic downtown. Extensive approvals from the local Historic District Commission preceded an addition on the rear of the time-honored building and a complete restoration of the exterior. The addition encompasses a first-floor, finished garage with arch doors that open to the gardens, ideal for entertaining. Above the garage accommodates the master bedroom, walk-in closets and a bathroom suite. The exterior restoration allowed the addition of window pediments, shutters with authentic hardware and gaslight features. Pocket gardens surround the townhouse and boast multiple plantings that complement a historic environment. The interior of the home was restructured to allow for reworking of the main stair. The reconfigured flight can now carry the weight of books and art alongside ascending residents and guests. Amid construction, two previously hidden fireplaces were uncovered. By the end of the renovation, four fireplaces were entirely refurbished and now lend immense aesthetic to interior design. The interior finishes within the home keep visitors engaged and impressed. From imported Italian tile to contextually historic light switches, the colorful décor is appealing to all senses. Specially painted walls coordinate with furnishings, bookcases and art. Photos: Greg West Photography