Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2017 Houzz
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in New York

Mandy Loriot - photo of an old bombay chest I bought in poor condition at an antique warehouse, stripped the old cracked leather off of it, and gave it some love to fashion it after old French furniture. The gold frame needs to be hung with something in it, but for now it is sitting on the chest.

Photo of a large transitional partial sun backyard stone landscaping in Chicago for summer.

Spinach is easy to grow in shallow pots or window boxes, and you can harvest leaves as needed for sandwiches, salads, and soups. Photo by Steve Masley

This home addition was intended to expand the home to provide the space needed for the growing new family. The existing kitchen was gutted, expanded and opened up to a family room and nook area. Custom inset cabinets were our preference; however cost was a significant concern. The owner researched multiple companies and standard product lines to save on her budget. After careful analysis, we discovered that it was just as cost effective to use the local custom cabinet maker we preferred. This allowed for more precise detailing and unique features. The goal of a classical farm house kitchen character updated with modern features was able to be obtained much to the home owner's delight. A family room was added to this home, opening up to a screen porch that takes advantage of a previously unused side yard. The much needed new rear entry provides the family a space for their laundry room and is now the primary entry point from the detached garage. Great care was taken to ensure that the home’s new detailing could have been built this way originally. The space however needed to have a modern function for a modern family. The homes existing exterior had aluminum siding and trim which concealed original millwork and shingles. When the nondescript materials were removed, it was discovered that the original was in poor condition. Careful attention was taken to replace and/or repair original materials wherever possible around the entire home, in order to create a seamless exterior character.

Liatris squarrosa / scaly blazingstar
Photo of a landscaping in Other.

The first target was a mudroom addition which detracted from the otherwise architecturally interesting home and was so poorly conditioned that it was virtually unusable. In the same footprint, the team created a highly-insulated space with a welcoming entrance and eat-in dining area that opens to the gardens.

Example of a farmhouse dining room design in DC Metro

This is a very small space that measures approximately 20x14 feet and gets very little sunlight. The client is from New Orleans where they still maintain a house and wanted something that would remind them of home so we went with a contemporary take on the New Orleans-style courtyard. This space was unused and the landscape died as a result of poor soil conditions, poor drainage and heavy shade long before we took on the project. Our mission was to 1) Invite the homeowner into a space they were familiar and comfortable with, and 2) Involve all of their senses (aesthetics for the eyes, water fountain for the ears, fragrant flowers and herbs for the nose). This picture is the left side of this outdoor living space which features a refurbished fountain. The client had this fountain laying in the corner of the courtyard, broken and forgotten. We had a specialist restore it and give it the patina that creates the sort of character you would expect from a New Orleans style courtyard. Again, this is a very small area that was unused and is now a permanent and regular part of this client's daily living.

Nyssa sylvatica / black tupelo Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Inspiration for a rustic landscaping in New York.

Photo Credit Sarah Greenman
Transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Existing wooden deck was in poor condition, cramped and disconnected from the garden. Designed and constructed new low maintenance deck with two sets of stairs, using buffed aluminum framing, stainless steel cable, hardwood handrail, trex boards and pvc cladding. Driveway narrowed to form path to rear garden with adjacent planting areas. Condenser screened with painted aluminum gates and pvc panels. Garage used only for storage. Designed and built by Howard Katz Architects LLC

This is a very small space that measures approximately 20x14 feet and gets very little sunlight. The client is from New Orleans where they still maintain a house and wanted something that would remind them of home so we went with a contemporary take on the New Orleans-style courtyard. This space was unused and the landscape died as a result of poor soil conditions, poor drainage and heavy shade long before we took on the project. Our mission was to 1) Invite the homeowner into a space they were familiar and comfortable with, and 2) Involve all of their senses (aesthetics for the eyes, water fountain for the ears, fragrant flowers and herbs for the nose). This picture is the right side of this outdoor living space which features an area that allows the homeowner to read, one of their favorite activities, in a cozy and private environment. We used multiple flowers and colors, along with a variety of ground cover.

This home addition was intended to expand the home to provide the space needed for the growing new family. The existing kitchen was gutted, expanded and opened up to a family room and nook area. Custom inset cabinets were our preference; however cost was a significant concern. The owner researched multiple companies and standard product lines to save on her budget. After careful analysis, we discovered that it was just as cost effective to use the local custom cabinet maker we preferred. This allowed for more precise detailing and unique features. The goal of a classical farm house kitchen character updated with modern features was able to be obtained much to the home owner's delight. A family room was added to this home, opening up to a screen porch that takes advantage of a previously unused side yard. The much needed new rear entry provides the family a space for their laundry room and is now the primary entry point from the detached garage. Great care was taken to ensure that the home’s new detailing could have been built this way originally. The space however needed to have a modern function for a modern family. The homes existing exterior had aluminum siding and trim which concealed original millwork and shingles. When the nondescript materials were removed, it was discovered that the original was in poor condition. Careful attention was taken to replace and/or repair original materials wherever possible around the entire home, in order to create a seamless exterior character.

This property was completely outdated and in very poor condition. The LKRDC team gave this waterfront cottage a MAJOR renovation from foundation to rooftop and everything in between. For more renovation projects visit, http://www.lkrdc.com photo by Melissa Quintal

This home addition was intended to expand the home to provide the space needed for the growing new family. The existing kitchen was gutted, expanded and opened up to a family room and nook area. Custom inset cabinets were our preference; however cost was a significant concern. The owner researched multiple companies and standard product lines to save on her budget. After careful analysis, we discovered that it was just as cost effective to use the local custom cabinet maker we preferred. This allowed for more precise detailing and unique features. The goal of a classical farm house kitchen character updated with modern features was able to be obtained much to the home owner's delight. A family room was added to this home, opening up to a screen porch that takes advantage of a previously unused side yard. The much needed new rear entry provides the family a space for their laundry room and is now the primary entry point from the detached garage. Great care was taken to ensure that the home’s new detailing could have been built this way originally. The space however needed to have a modern function for a modern family. The homes existing exterior had aluminum siding and trim which concealed original millwork and shingles. When the nondescript materials were removed, it was discovered that the original was in poor condition. Careful attention was taken to replace and/or repair original materials wherever possible around the entire home, in order to create a seamless exterior character.

To make matters worse, the decking and railings were in poor condition and required maintenance. We were asked to provide a solution for a deck that was often unusable and a view that was frequently blocked.

Some spaces are best understood before and after. Our Carytown Kitchen project demonstrates how a small space can be transformed for minimal expense. First and foremost was maximizing space. With only 9 sf of built-in counter space we understood these work surfaces needed to be kept free of small appliances and clutter - and that meant extra storage. The introduction of high wall cabinets provides much needed storage for occasional use equipment and helps keep everything dust-free in the process. Photograph by Stephen Barling.

Sometimes the cost of painting an existing vanity vs. a new vanity isn't only the cost of the labor, fixing the old doors, the inside shelves were in poor condition, and the overall space the vanity provided was sub par...so we did replace the vanity and they have so much more functioning space. We did however paint the linen cabinet and the adjoining wall, and it really makes it look built it. I think this transformation is a home run!!!