In the design of Model 1, we complimented the ranch style specs of the home with a design of light linens, soft wood tones with added texture in the accessories, pillows and blankets. In the living room, we brought in a cozy and welcoming feeling. The den area we kept a more masculine look with dark leather accent chairs and whiskey themed accessories to allude to a masculine study area that will pull the room together. The Primary bedroom features a stunning Cal King bed along with rustic, light wood toned furniture. Along with 2 cozy chairs, creating a comfortable seating area for potential buyers to envision themselves enjoying a cup of coffee in their own room. The second level loft area is designed for the kids play and study space. With a comfortable sofa to watch tv and a small desk area for homework or crafts. The girl's Horse room is themed with specific horse styled artwork and accessories to bring the story to life. Altogether this upscale ranch styled home is inviting and comfortable for all family types to enjoy.

In the design of Model 1, we complimented the ranch style specs of the home with a design of light linens, soft wood tones with added texture in the accessories, pillows and blankets. In the living room, we brought in a cozy and welcoming feeling. The den area we kept a more masculine look with dark leather accent chairs and whiskey themed accessories to allude to a masculine study area that will pull the room together. The Primary bedroom features a stunning Cal King bed along with rustic, light wood toned furniture. Along with 2 cozy chairs, creating a comfortable seating area for potential buyers to envision themselves enjoying a cup of coffee in their own room. The second level loft area is designed for the kids play and study space. With a comfortable sofa to watch tv and a small desk area for homework or crafts. The girl's Horse room is themed with specific horse styled artwork and accessories to bring the story to life. Altogether this upscale ranch styled home is inviting and comfortable for all family types to enjoy.

This dream bathroom has everything one can wish for an ideal bathroom escape. It doesn’t just look fabulous – it works well and it is built to stand the test of time. This bathroom was designed as a private oasis, a place to relax and unwind. Spa-like environment is created by expansive double-sink custom vanity, an elegant free standing tub, and a spacious two-person barrier-free shower with a floating bench. Toilet is concealed within a separate nook behind a pocket door. Main bathroom area is outlined by a tray ceiling perimeter. The room looks open, airy and spacious. Nothing interferes with the ceiling design and overall space configuration. It hasn’t always been that way. Former layout had serious pitfalls that made the room look much smaller. The shower concealed behind solid walls protruded into the main area clashing with the tray ceiling geometry. Massive shower stall took up significant amount of the room leaving no continuous wall space for a double sink vanity. There were two separate vanities with a dead corner space between them. At the same time, the toilet room was quite spacious with just one fixture in the far end. New layout not only looks better, it allows for a better functionality and fully reveals the space potential. The toilet was relocated to occupy the former linen closet space slightly expanded into adjacent walk-in closet. Shower was moved into the bigger alcove, away from the tray ceiling area. It opened up the room while giving space for a gorgeous wall-to-wall vanity. Having a full glass wall, the shower extends the space even further. Sparkling glass creates no barrier to the eyesight. The room feels clean, breezy and extra spacious. Gorgeous frameless shower enclosure with glass-to-glass clamps and hinges shows off premium tile designs of the accent shower wall. Free standing tub remained in its original place in front of the window. With no solid shower walls nearby, it became a focal point adorned with the new crystal chandelier above it. This two-tier gorgeous chandelier makes the bathroom feel incredibly grand. A touch of luxury is showing up in timeless polished chrome faucet finish selections as well. New expansive custom vanity has his and her full height linen towers, his and her sink cabinets with two individual banks of drawers on the sides and one shared drawer cabinet in the middle containing a charging station in the upper drawer. Vanity counter tops and floating shower seat top are made of high-end quartz. Vessel sinks resemble the shape and style of the free-standing tub. To make the room feel even more spacious and to showcase the shower area in the reflection, a full size mirror is installed over the vanity. Crystal sconces are installed directly into the mirror. Crisp classic white tile gives the room a timeless sense of polish and luxury. Walls around the perimeter of the entire bathroom are tiled half way. Three rows of 12”x 24” porcelain tile resembling white marble are crowned with a thin row of intricate glass tiles with marble accents, and a chair rail tile. Tile design flows into a spacious barrier-free two-person walk-in shower. Two more tile patterns of the same tile collection are brought into play. Rear wall is adorned with a picture frame made out of 12”x12” tiles laid at 45 degree angle within the same chair rail and glass tile border. Shower floor is made of small hexagon tiles for proper drainage. Shower area has two hidden from plain sight niches to contain shampoo bottles and toiletries. The rear side of the niches is made of glass mosaics for a waterfall effect. To showcase the picture frame inside the shower, the accent shower wall is washed with cascading light from a discrete LED strip tucked in a cove behind “floating” shower ceiling platform. Multiple shower heads (two ceiling-mount rain heads, one multi-functional wall mount shower head, and a handheld shower) are able to provide a fully customizable shower experience. Despite of many hard surfaces and shiny finishes, which can sometimes lead to a cold impersonal feeling, this bathroom is cozy and truly welcoming. This sense of warms is maintained by exclusive multi-functional layered lighting. Carefully designed groups of lights (all having a dimmer control) can be used simultaneously, in various combinations, or separately to create numerous different effects and perfect atmosphere for every mood and occasion. Some lights have smart controls and can be operated remotely. Amazing effect can be achieved by dimmable toe kick perimeter lighting. With the ceiling lights turned off, the vanity looks as if it is floating in the air. Multifaceted crystal fixtures produce cascades of sparkling rainbow reflections dancing around the room and creating an illusion of a starry sky. Programmable radiant heating floor offers additional warmth and comfort to the room. This bathroom is well suited for either a quick morning shower or a night in for ultimate relaxation with a champagne toast and a long soak in the freestanding tub.

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

Our clients were looking to erase the 90s from their master bathroom and create a space that blended their contemporary tastes with natural elements. This bathroom had wonderful bones with a high ceiling and plenty of space, but we were able to work with our clients to create a design that better met their needs and utilized the space to its full potential. We wanted to create a sense of warmth in this large master bathroom and adding a fireplace to the space did the trick. By moving the tub location, we were able to create a stunning accent wall of stacked stone that provided a home for the fireplace and a perfectly dramatic backdrop for the new freestanding bathtub. The sculptural copper light fixture helps to soften the stone wall and allowed us to emphasize those vaulted ceiling. Playing with metal finishes is one of our favorite pastimes, and this bathroom was the perfect opportunity to blend sleek matte black plumbing fixtures with a mirrored copper finish on the light fixtures. We tied the vanity wall sconces in with a dramatic sculptural chandelier above the bath tub by using copper finishes on both and allowing the light fixtures to be the shining stars of this space. We selected a clean white finish for the custom vanity cabinets and lit them from below to accentuate their floating design. We then completed the look with a waterfall quartz counter to add an elegant texture to the area and extended the stone onto the shower bench to bring the two elements together. The existing shower had been on the small side, so we expanded it into the room and gave them a more spacious shower complete with a built-in bench and recessed niche. Hard surfaces play an important role in any bathroom design, and we wanted to use this opportunity to create an interesting layer of texture through our tile selections. The bathroom floor utilizes a large-scale plank tile installed in a herringbone pattern, while the shower and walls are tiled in a polished white tile to add a bit of reflectivity. The newly transformed bathroom is now a sophisticated space the brings together sleek contemporary finishes with textured natural elements and provides the perfect retreat from the outside world.

Our clients were looking to erase the 90s from their master bathroom and create a space that blended their contemporary tastes with natural elements. This bathroom had wonderful bones with a high ceiling and plenty of space, but we were able to work with our clients to create a design that better met their needs and utilized the space to its full potential. We wanted to create a sense of warmth in this large master bathroom and adding a fireplace to the space did the trick. By moving the tub location, we were able to create a stunning accent wall of stacked stone that provided a home for the fireplace and a perfectly dramatic backdrop for the new freestanding bathtub. The sculptural copper light fixture helps to soften the stone wall and allowed us to emphasize those vaulted ceiling. Playing with metal finishes is one of our favorite pastimes, and this bathroom was the perfect opportunity to blend sleek matte black plumbing fixtures with a mirrored copper finish on the light fixtures. We tied the vanity wall sconces in with a dramatic sculptural chandelier above the bath tub by using copper finishes on both and allowing the light fixtures to be the shining stars of this space. We selected a clean white finish for the custom vanity cabinets and lit them from below to accentuate their floating design. We then completed the look with a waterfall quartz counter to add an elegant texture to the area and extended the stone onto the shower bench to bring the two elements together. The existing shower had been on the small side, so we expanded it into the room and gave them a more spacious shower complete with a built-in bench and recessed niche. Hard surfaces play an important role in any bathroom design, and we wanted to use this opportunity to create an interesting layer of texture through our tile selections. The bathroom floor utilizes a large-scale plank tile installed in a herringbone pattern, while the shower and walls are tiled in a polished white tile to add a bit of reflectivity. The newly transformed bathroom is now a sophisticated space the brings together sleek contemporary finishes with textured natural elements and provides the perfect retreat from the outside world.

Inspiration for a modern exterior home remodel in Dallas

This dream bathroom has everything one can wish for an ideal bathroom escape. It doesn’t just look fabulous – it works well and it is built to stand the test of time. This bathroom was designed as a private oasis, a place to relax and unwind. Spa-like environment is created by expansive double-sink custom vanity, an elegant free standing tub, and a spacious two-person barrier-free shower with a floating bench. Toilet is concealed within a separate nook behind a pocket door. Main bathroom area is outlined by a tray ceiling perimeter. The room looks open, airy and spacious. Nothing interferes with the ceiling design and overall space configuration. It hasn’t always been that way. Former layout had serious pitfalls that made the room look much smaller. The shower concealed behind solid walls protruded into the main area clashing with the tray ceiling geometry. Massive shower stall took up significant amount of the room leaving no continuous wall space for a double sink vanity. There were two separate vanities with a dead corner space between them. At the same time, the toilet room was quite spacious with just one fixture in the far end. New layout not only looks better, it allows for a better functionality and fully reveals the space potential. The toilet was relocated to occupy the former linen closet space slightly expanded into adjacent walk-in closet. Shower was moved into the bigger alcove, away from the tray ceiling area. It opened up the room while giving space for a gorgeous wall-to-wall vanity. Having a full glass wall, the shower extends the space even further. Sparkling glass creates no barrier to the eyesight. The room feels clean, breezy and extra spacious. Gorgeous frameless shower enclosure with glass-to-glass clamps and hinges shows off premium tile designs of the accent shower wall. Free standing tub remained in its original place in front of the window. With no solid shower walls nearby, it became a focal point adorned with the new crystal chandelier above it. This two-tier gorgeous chandelier makes the bathroom feel incredibly grand. A touch of luxury is showing up in timeless polished chrome faucet finish selections as well. New expansive custom vanity has his and her full height linen towers, his and her sink cabinets with two individual banks of drawers on the sides and one shared drawer cabinet in the middle containing a charging station in the upper drawer. Vanity counter tops and floating shower seat top are made of high-end quartz. Vessel sinks resemble the shape and style of the free-standing tub. To make the room feel even more spacious and to showcase the shower area in the reflection, a full size mirror is installed over the vanity. Crystal sconces are installed directly into the mirror. Crisp classic white tile gives the room a timeless sense of polish and luxury. Walls around the perimeter of the entire bathroom are tiled half way. Three rows of 12”x 24” porcelain tile resembling white marble are crowned with a thin row of intricate glass tiles with marble accents, and a chair rail tile. Tile design flows into a spacious barrier-free two-person walk-in shower. Two more tile patterns of the same tile collection are brought into play. Rear wall is adorned with a picture frame made out of 12”x12” tiles laid at 45 degree angle within the same chair rail and glass tile border. Shower floor is made of small hexagon tiles for proper drainage. Shower area has two hidden from plain sight niches to contain shampoo bottles and toiletries. The rear side of the niches is made of glass mosaics for a waterfall effect. To showcase the picture frame inside the shower, the accent shower wall is washed with cascading light from a discrete LED strip tucked in a cove behind “floating” shower ceiling platform. Multiple shower heads (two ceiling-mount rain heads, one multi-functional wall mount shower head, and a handheld shower) are able to provide a fully customizable shower experience. Despite of many hard surfaces and shiny finishes, which can sometimes lead to a cold impersonal feeling, this bathroom is cozy and truly welcoming. This sense of warms is maintained by exclusive multi-functional layered lighting. Carefully designed groups of lights (all having a dimmer control) can be used simultaneously, in various combinations, or separately to create numerous different effects and perfect atmosphere for every mood and occasion. Some lights have smart controls and can be operated remotely. Amazing effect can be achieved by dimmable toe kick perimeter lighting. With the ceiling lights turned off, the vanity looks as if it is floating in the air. Multifaceted crystal fixtures produce cascades of sparkling rainbow reflections dancing around the room and creating an illusion of a starry sky. Programmable radiant heating floor offers additional warmth and comfort to the room. This bathroom is well suited for either a quick morning shower or a night in for ultimate relaxation with a champagne toast and a long soak in the freestanding tub.

Alyssa Kirsten
Small trendy multicolored tile multicolored floor and concrete floor shower curtain photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet and quartz countertops

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

This playroom is a wonderland for the kids, but also has potential to be an elegant space later on. The elaborate arches offer a unique design to necessary support columns. A white board/chalk board/cork board is a great place for arts and crafts, while floor to ceiling built-in closets provide storage and display space.

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

A truly special property located in a sought after Toronto neighbourhood, this large family home renovation sought to retain the charm and history of the house in a contemporary way. The full scale underpin and large rear addition served to bring in natural light and expand the possibilities of the spaces. A vaulted third floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom with a cozy library/lounge that walks out to the third floor deck - revealing views of the downtown skyline. A soft inviting palate permeates the home but is juxtaposed with punches of colour, pattern and texture. The interior design playfully combines original parts of the home with vintage elements as well as glass and steel and millwork to divide spaces for working, relaxing and entertaining. An enormous sliding glass door opens the main floor to the sprawling rear deck and pool/hot tub area seamlessly. Across the lawn - the garage clad with reclaimed barnboard from the old structure has been newly build and fully rough-in for a potential future laneway house.

Deck - 1960s side yard second story wood railing deck idea in New York with no cover