Rustic Farmhouse: Garvin-Weeks Farmstead The Garvin-Weeks Farmstead in beautiful North Reading, built c1790, has enjoyed a first floor makeover complete with a new kitchen, family room and master suite. Particular attention was given to preserve the historic details of the house while modernizing and opening up the space for today’s lifestyle. The open concept farmhouse style kitchen is striking with its antique beams and rafters, handmade and hand planed cabinets, distressed floors, custom handmade soapstone farmer’s sink, marble counter tops, kitchen island comprised of reclaimed wood with a milk paint finish, all setting the stage for the elaborate custom painted tile work. Skylights above bathe the space in natural light. Walking through the warm family room gives one the sense of history and days gone by, culminating in a quintessential looking, but fabulously updated new England master bedroom and bath. A spectacular addition that feels and looks like it has always been there! Photos by Eric Roth

2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER Project Scope The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases. While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones. The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors. Challenges Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex. Solutions The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight. Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights. The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room. The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry. One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing. Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.

The goal of the project was to update the kitchen and butler's pantry of this over 100 year old house. The kitchen and butler's pantry cabinetry were from different eras and the counter top was disjointed around the existing sink, with an old radiator in the way. The clients were inspired by the cabinetry color in one of our projects posted earlier on Houzz and we successfully blended that with personalized elements to create a kitchen in a style of their own. The butler's pantry behind the range wall with it's lit glass door cabinets matches the kitchen's style and acts as a backdrop for the custom range hood and uniquely tiled wall. We maximized the counter space around the custom Galley sink by replacing the old radiator that was in the way with a toe space heater, and by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher.

Rustic Farmhouse: Garvin-Weeks Farmstead The Garvin-Weeks Farmstead in beautiful North Reading, built c1790, has enjoyed a first floor makeover complete with a new kitchen, family room and master suite. Particular attention was given to preserve the historic details of the house while modernizing and opening up the space for today’s lifestyle. The open concept farmhouse style kitchen is striking with its antique beams and rafters, handmade and hand planed cabinets, distressed floors, custom handmade soapstone farmer’s sink, marble counter tops, kitchen island comprised of reclaimed wood with a milk paint finish, all setting the stage for the elaborate custom painted tile work. Skylights above bathe the space in natural light. Walking through the warm family room gives one the sense of history and days gone by, culminating in a quintessential looking, but fabulously updated new England master bedroom and bath. A spectacular addition that feels and looks like it has always been there! Photos by Eric Roth

The goal of the project was to update the kitchen and butler's pantry of this over 100 year old house. The kitchen and butler's pantry cabinetry were from different eras and the counter top was disjointed around the existing sink, with an old radiator in the way. The clients were inspired by the cabinetry color in one of our projects posted earlier on Houzz and we successfully blended that with personalized elements to create a kitchen in a style of their own. The butler's pantry behind the range wall with it's lit glass door cabinets matches the kitchen's style and acts as a backdrop for the custom range hood and uniquely tiled wall. We maximized the counter space around the custom Galley sink by replacing the old radiator that was in the way with a toe space heater, and by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher.

The clients in this charming ranch home had a wish for an updated kitchen that felt a part of the home by blending into the existing space. Their existing eat-in kitchen, while spacious, lacked the character of the rest of the home. Rich woods and earth tones filled the cozy rooms leaving the outdated kitchen uninspired. Supple cherry tones of the new cabinetry and alluring cashmere hues in the one-o-a-kind granite countertops wrap you in warmth and invite you to take a seat at the grand island. Turned posts and arched trim details throughout draw your eyes around this timeless kitchen. Zachary Seib Photography

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to quality of design. For this petite Cape-style home along the Eagle River in Ipswich, Massachusetts, we focused on creating a warm, inviting space designed for family living. Radiating from the kitchen – the “heart” of the home – we created connections to all the other spaces in the home: eating areas, living areas, the mudroom and entries, even the upstairs. Details like the highly functional yet utterly charming under-the-stairs drawers and cupboards make this house extra special while the open floor plan gives it a big house feel without sacrificing coziness. In 2018, the home was updated with interior trim details, including new shaker paneling on the staircase and custom newel post, a TV built-in with shelves and drawers and beadboard back, and a half wall bookshelf with columns to replace the wall dividing the living room from dining room. The client also wanted a gas fireplace to enjoy during the winter, but didn't want to lose their beautiful marsh views. We designed the fireplace to go below the window, vented out the rear, with pebbled tile surround and benches flanking either side for storage.

Thse clients came to me for a kitchen refresh. Keeping the existing floor plan but updating as much as possible. After explaining my thoughts, they chose to go with a much larger project. The wall to the garage wash pushed bach 12" to allow for the island to happen. This almost couldn't happen as there is a support post in the garage we had to keep. I designed the last pantry area as on 10" deep, allowing us to conceal that behind the cabinets. Then, we opend up the wall to the dining room to make the rooms one large space. The wall to the family room was also openend up, leaving the half wall to allow for the kitchen eating area. They wanted to incorporate a bar area, without it feeling like a "bar" The fabulous tall custom unit houses their wine collection and then half of the dining room buffet area holds glassware and other bar items. I helped the clients with all of the design choices.We all wanted to keep the space classic, war, functional and with mixed materials. I chose to use the same countertop material for the backsplash, to keep the space feeling as large as possible.

Bright master bedroom featuring traditional mahogany furniture and animal prints. The bed features a removable canopy and high and low post options.
Example of a large classic master medium tone wood floor bedroom design in Orange County with beige walls and no fireplace

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy! Photo by: Tim Furlong Jr.

This 4-drawer alder base cabinet (which matches the home’s kitchen cabinetry) provides generous storage. Its laminate banjo counter extends over the toilet, providing extra counter space. The toilet location was kept where it was in the original hall bath -- only turning it 90 degrees – this saved plumbing costs. A grab bar on the left improves safety.

EuroGallery is the exciting new partnership between Gallery and A-Nathstudio, an acclaimed architectural and design studio based in Italy. The EuroGallery partnership serves to strengthen our commitment to delivering high quality kitchens and bathrooms at competitive prices. While A-Nathstudio is essential in providing design and organizational support, they also facilitate our exclusive access to exceptional tailor-made cabinetry within the European Union. It’s here that high quality materials meet truly functional and customizable design for every space. We collaborate with the premier European brands for kitchen and bathroom design: La Cornue, Martini, Pittori, Salvatori, L’Ottocento, Brummel amongst others. Our international Team is able to help with any customization requests, communicate project updates and provide post-sale assistance.

Calling all home enthusiasts and professionals! ? We've got the latest scoop on 2023's top home decor trends that buyers are loving! From bold color schemes and biophilic designs, to eclectic furniture and Hygge-inspired spaces, plus the evergreen trend of sustainable design, our latest blog post covers it all. If you're thinking about giving your home a fresh look, or if you're a professional staying updated on trends, you'll find these insights extremely useful. ??? Click the link to read the full article and to get ideas that could transform your next project! https://statelyhomestaging.com/blog/embracing-todays-stylish-living-home-decor-trends-that-steal-the-show/ Join the conversation on stylish, sustainable, and comfortable living. Don't forget to share your thoughts and favorite trends in the comments!

This beautiful kitchen has everything on the client's wish list, from state of the art appliances, plenty of functional and well placed storage, a large island for prep and entertaining needs, and just the right amount of today's clean updated look with a twist of traditional. Open to the Dining Room and Family Room, this kitchen is perfect for celebrating with family and friends.

Completed in 2011, this home is designed for a steeply sloping urban lot in Vienna, Virginia. In response to a tight zoning code that limited the building's footprint, we designed a compact plan that rises 3 stories and draws inspiration from the historic character of this small town consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work. Utilizing our favorite Great Room Scheme, the main level is planned with a classic front porch, 2-story entry hall, formal dining room, Kitchen/Breakfast area, large Mud Room with separate entrance and, finally, the Great Room itself. The lower level is the Entertainment hub of the house and contains a guest suite, shop, exercise area, family room and play area with wet bar. Upstairs, 3 kid's bedrooms, 2 full baths, laundry area, Master Suite with large sleeping area and a 5 piece master bath with large walk-in closet are all efficiently arranged to maximize room size. Our clients were interested in a very expressive exterior formalism while staying within the traditional architectural norm of Vienna. We responded with a series of gable dormers, bay windows and a hexagonal sitting room clad with complimentary siding materials and bold colors. Eventually, the back of the structure will be finished out with a large deck at the main level and elaborate staircase that descends to the rear yard.

Photo: Amy Rizer Photography © 2018 Houzz
Example of a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo design with blue walls

Updated Spec Home: Kitchen & Breakfast Area This week’s post in the series Updated Spec Home will feature the Kitchen & Breakfast Area. This home is truly an open concept where the Kitchen and Breakfast Area share the same space with the Great Room so it was especially important that everything flowed seamlessly. Kitchen The Kitchen is galley-style with very cabinets and a large peninsula. The cabinets had a honey maple stain and the countertops were white solid surface. On the bright side, the appliances were stainless steel. The previous homeowners had added a large hutch to the peninsula which we removed. We wanted the wall to be a feature in the space. Updates included painting the cabinets light gray, replacing the countertops with a “carrara like” quartz, and replacing the cabinet hardware. We also added a stunning backsplash in an ogee design which we ran up the entire peninsula wall. Our contractor Brad Anderson built the floating shelves, and we added color vases to finish off the feature wall. Breakfast Area We took advantage of the Breakfast Area’s vaulted ceiling by adding this gorgeous chandelier in a white finish with seeded glass. A disadvantage of the vaulted ceiling was no wall space on either side of the window. This left us with few options for window treatments. We decide to go with a cornice board in this beautiful vine fabric with a soft shade underneath for privacy. We made a statement on a large wall with a grouping of botanical artwork. For furniture, we mixed the upholstered chairs around the oval table and added a painted etagere to display plates and glasses. We selected two backless stools with cane tops in a gray painted finish for the peninsula. My mom and sister would say the Kitchen is too beautiful to cook in, but I know better…Enjoy!

MOSES LAKE MODERN LAKE HOUSE Are you ready to start your project? We look forward to working with you on your next remodel or new custom built home, from the design process through construction and delivery. Book a service with us! Consultations, Property Research and Project Consultations, Permit Set, Pierce County Site Visit, Washington State Project Design Review. Indoor, outdoor, and all general construction contracting services! All other services, we have got you covered! https://dcsbuilt.com/contact-us Residential, exterior, installation, install, Development, Permits, Exterior, custom, deck, rafters, soffit, fascia, new, existing, rafter, beam, brace, post, anchor, carpentry, framing, load, truss, purlin, tie down, joist, hanger, support, sub frame, refinish, update, renovate, remodel, paint, before, after, railing, stairway, tread, step, sturdy, structure Anderson Island, Vashon Island, Mcneil Island, Washington, Puget Sound, Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor, University Place, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Long Branch, Fort Lewis, Fox Island, Mcchord, Olympia, Shelton, Belfair, Pierce County, King County, Sumner, Puyallup, South Hill, Edgewood, Auburn, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Parkland, Graham, Spanaway, Eatonville, Covington, Elk Plain, Tacoma, Kent, Lakewood, Maple Valley, Des Moines, Auburn, Issaquah, New Castle, Tukwilla

Rustic Farmhouse: Garvin-Weeks Farmstead The Garvin-Weeks Farmstead in beautiful North Reading, built c1790, has enjoyed a first floor makeover complete with a new kitchen, family room and master suite. Particular attention was given to preserve the historic details of the house while modernizing and opening up the space for today’s lifestyle. The open concept farmhouse style kitchen is striking with its antique beams and rafters, handmade and hand planed cabinets, distressed floors, custom handmade soapstone counter and farmer’s sink, kitchen island comprised of reclaimed wood and marble top all setting the stage for the elaborate custom painted tile work. Skylights above bathe the space in natural light. Walking through the warm family room gives one the sense of history and days gone by, culminating in a quintessential looking, but fabulously updated new England master bedroom and bath. A spectacular addition that feels and looks like it has always been there! Photos by Eric Roth