Check out the spectacular views on this Brooklyn rooftop garden! Our design included a total makeover of a previously barren space, including replacing the dingy looking concrete pavers with ipe wood deck tiles. We also designed a custom L-shaped ipe bench with seats that lift up for storage and planters filled with soft grasses built into the back of the bench. The lush looking plantings in this garden are in a mix of ipe and fiberglass pots and include Tardiva hydrangeas, white multi-stem birch trees, Mexican feather grasses, boxwoods, angelonia, purple coneflower, and a weeping redbud tree. The planters are illuminated with LED low-voltage up-lights for a dramatic nighttime effect.

Large pots can be used as focal points in the garden, with or without plantings inside. Large, historic home from the 1930's overlooking downtown Santa Cruz. My clients are self-described "plantaholics" and tend to buy many plants, only to have them die. They have an extensive gardening area and low water budget. Our main goal was to make the overall design cohesive between various areas of the garden while utilizing interesting and unusual plant selections - a very fun project for me! We removed over 3,000 square feet of traditional grass and replaced it with several lawn alternatives. The first is a walkable groundcover that uses a fraction of the water of regular grass (and can be seen here in several seasons, one of which has tiny flowers); The second is a California native grass that grows long (or can be kept short) and can tolerate some shade. Both of these are excellent choices for clients with children or dogs who want a green patch without using excessive water. My clients love plants from Australia and South Africa so plants from the Proteacea and other Southern Hemisphere beauties are used predominantly throughout the project. Clean, flowing water is so important for wildlife and the beautiful stone fountain is a constant gathering spot for birds and other animals. My clients are beyond thrilled with their gorgeous, nature-filled garden and ever-expanding plant knowledge.

The pinnacle of modern living in our light-filled and exquisitely designed kitchen—a harmonious blend of aesthetics and practicality. Behold the breathtaking new modern two-tone kitchen, a culinary masterpiece seamlessly fusing style and functionality. The open kitchen design, adorned with chic open shelving, radiates a contemporary vibe, while Jenn-Air appliances take the cooking experience to unparalleled heights. Illuminated by natural light streaming through strategically added windows, this kitchen is a refreshing retreat. The raised flooring height creates a dedicated space for a dining table, making it an ideal setting for family meals or entertaining guests. Culinary adventures have just received a stylish upgrade for our delighted clients!

A young colonial in the heart of Rye New York had everything going for it, except a dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The clients tapped Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn to help them layout a new kitchen in their challenging, dog leg shaped room. A small breakfast peninsula and working island helped pull together the oddly shaped kitchen into a streamlined, light filled space with all the storage amenities typical of a Studio Dearborn kitchen. The bar area, with undercounter refrigeration for wine and beverages, also features a locking cabinet for liquor and open wine storage. Desk area has file drawer and Docking Drawer charging drawer. Countertops: White Macauba, Rye Marble and Stone, Rye NY. Hardware: Studio Pulls from Hickory Hardware. Sinks: Kraus. Lighting: Currey & Co. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Backsplash tile: Casablanca Tile and Stone, Harrison NY. Photography: Adam Kane Macchia

Our long-time clients wanted a bit of outdoor entertainment space at their Boston penthouse, and while there were some challenges due to location and footprint, we agreed to help. The views are amazing as this space overlooks the harbor and Boston’s bustling Seaport below. With Logan Airport just on the other side of the Boston Harbor, the arriving jets are a mesmerizing site as their lights line up in preparation to land. The entire space we had to work with is less than 10 feet wide and 45 feet long (think bowling-alley-lane dimensions), so we worked extremely hard to get as much programmable space as possible without forcing any of the areas. The gathering spots are delineated by granite and IPE wood floor tiles supported on a custom pedestal system designed to protect the rubber roof below. The gas grill and wine fridge are installed within a custom-built IPE cabinet topped by jet-mist granite countertops. This countertop extends to a slightly-raised bar area for the ultimate view beyond and terminates as a waterfall of granite meets the same jet-mist floor tiles… custom-cut and honed to match, of course. Moving along the length of the space, the floor transitions from granite to wood, and is framed by sculptural containers and plants. Low-voltage lighting warms the space and creates a striking display that harmonizes with the city lights below. Once again, the floor transitions, this time back to granite in the seating area consisting of two counter-height chairs. "This purposeful back-and-forth of the floor really helps define the space and our furniture choices create these niches that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.” - Russell The terrace concludes with a large trough planter filled with ornamental grasses in the summer months and a seasonal holiday arrangements throughout the winter. An ‘L’-shaped couch offers a spot for multiple guests to relax and take in the sounds of a custom sound system — all hidden and out of sight — which adds to the magical feel of this ultimate night spot.

With an ideal location in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, this dated Victorian residence had "beautiful bones" but had been sitting on the market for a year before being purchased with plans to revitalize the interior. Interior designer, Noel Han, explained, "Historical Victorian homes in this area often have beautiful architectural elements that I aim to preserve, but the floor plan and layout tend to be stuffy, not live-able and not light filled. Modern families want bright, light-filled, spacious rooms that take advantage of outdoor views and living spaces, and function well for storage, meals and entertaining." Preserving the architectural integrity and special features of the home was one of Han's goals but at the same time, she re-designed the space, moving walls and adding windows to create an open floorplan that flowed easily between the kitchen and outdoor living spaces. Where the range once stood in the original design, now an entire wall of windows provides panoramic views of the outdoors and fills the kitchen with light. Below the windows, Han designed a long bank of base cabinets with drawers to provide plenty of storage and work surface. Light now pours into the space even on foggy days. The range was moved to the opposite wall so that beautiful window views could be added to the kitchen. Han selected a palette of finishes with an eye toward creating a "soft color aesthetic". "White painted finishes are very popular right now but would have felt stark and cold in this space," she explained. "The French grey paint from Dura Supreme was a perfect complement for this vintage Victorian home, to create a classic color scheme". "This beautiful home already had hardware elements with a vintage brass finish, so I carefully selected antiqued, brushed brass hardware, plumbing and metal finishes to blend with the original elements," said Han. She continued, "The La Cornue French Range adds modern function with a French antique look." "I appreciate working with Dura Supreme cabinetry because of the quality of the cabinetry, fast delivery and the custom options. I'm able to create beautiful architectural details like the pull-out columns on both sides of the range and the curved mullion doors on the furniture hutch, and they offer a stunning palette of finishes and styles," explained Han. For the bath cabinetry, Han created a similar palette of finishes and styles to create a complementary look throughout the entire home. Product Details: Perimeter: Dura Supreme Cabinetry shown in the St. Augustine door style and Mullion Pattern #15 door style with a “Zinc” painted finish. Kitchen Island: Dura Supreme Cabinetry shown in the St. Augustine door style with a Clove stain and Black Accent finish on Cherry wood. For more information about Noel Han, Interior Designer, click to her website here www.atelnoel.com. For more information about Gilmans Kitchens and Baths, click to their website here www.gkandb.com. Photography by: Ned Bonzi www.nedbonzi.com. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

A grand, light-filled kitchen and dining space with soaring ceilings and a wall of black steel casement windows and doors overlooking a private garden. Crystal chandeliers add a touch of old-world elegance against the crisp white brick backdrop, while a long wooden dining table paired with cognac leather chairs anchors the eat-in area. An oversized white quartz waterfall island commands the kitchen side, complemented by a glass-front display shelf and polished brass fixtures. Woven bamboo roman shades and lush potted palms soften the architectural grandeur, striking a balance between historic townhouse character and refined contemporary design.

This kitchen has a new layout which resulted in more organized storage and work space. Each drawer fills special needs. A flush mounted ceiling hood give it an open feel. A custom baking center keeps like items in their proper place and accessible. Off white glazed cabinets and ogee edged quartz countertops make an elegant statement. A raised live-edge bar and beverage cooler make entertaining a breeze.

Achillea Terra cotta - Yarrow, along with hens and chicks succulents, echeveria elegance. This expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

This soothing transitional kitchen has an extremely comfortable and welcoming feel due to the color scheme. The perimeter cabinets are Sonoma Maple in Pebble Java while the contrasting island is Shadow Charcoal. The Cambria quartz countertops are Sussex on the perimeter and Darlington for the island. To add height to this room, we took the wall cabinets up to the 9 foot ceiling with a decorative stacked crown. The long wall features two very large pantry cabinets as well as a nice buffet/butlers pantry area with glass doors and appliance garages. Storage is maximized in this kitchen leaving the homeowner with cabinet space to fill! Many conveniences are included such as the waste basket pullout, pots and pans drawers, roll outs in the pantry cabinet, and of course, the appliance garages! This was a great project to work on!

This corner lot in the city's southwest has a large river rock planting beds that are filled with custom plantings and lighting along with a custom engraved address rock. The entrance to the backyard has a custom built lattice entry feature with an overhead arch. The backyard has a tile walkway, stone pillars feature on the fence, exposed aggregate patios, and a circular greenspace surrounded by custom lite Swedish columnar aspen trees that provide privacy from the neighbouring homes. Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

A description of the homeowners and space from Linnzy, the Presidential Pools, Spas & Patio designer who worked on this project: "The homeowners can be described as an active family of three boys. They tend to host family and friends and wanted a space that could fill their large backyard and yet be functional for the kids and adults. The contemporary straight lines of the pool match the interior of the house giving them a resort feel in the very own backyard! The large pergola is a perfect area to cool off in the shade while enjoying a large outdoor kitchen as well as an oversized fire pit for the cooler nights and roasting marshmallows. They wanted a wow factor as the pool is the main focal point from the living room, and the oversized wall and rain sheer did the trick!"

This soothing transitional kitchen has an extremely comfortable and welcoming feel due to the color scheme. The perimeter cabinets are Sonoma Maple in Pebble Java while the contrasting island is Shadow Charcoal. The Cambria quartz countertops are Sussex on the perimeter and Darlington for the island. To add height to this room, we took the wall cabinets up to the 9 foot ceiling with a decorative stacked crown. The long wall features two very large pantry cabinets as well as a nice buffet/butlers pantry area with glass doors and appliance garages. Storage is maximized in this kitchen leaving the homeowner with cabinet space to fill! Many conveniences are included such as the waste basket pullout, pots and pans drawers, roll outs in the pantry cabinet, and of course, the appliance garages! This was a great project to work on!

Check out the spectacular views on this Brooklyn rooftop garden! Our design included a total makeover of a previously barren space, including replacing the dingy looking concrete pavers with ipe wood deck tiles. We also designed a custom L-shaped ipe bench with seats that lift up for storage and planters filled with soft grasses built into the back of the bench. The lush looking plantings in this garden are in a mix of ipe and fiberglass pots and include Tardiva hydrangeas, white multi-stem birch trees, Mexican feather grasses, boxwoods, angelonia, purple coneflower, and a weeping redbud tree. The planters are illuminated with LED low-voltage up-lights for a dramatic nighttime effect.

Learn seed starting basics and get a jump start on growing the flower garden of your dreams with the new book, Cut Flower Garden. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Written by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai. Photos by Michèle M. Waite. Published by Chronicle Books.

Built by Avvio Fine Homes, this modern custom home is found in The Queensway neighbourhood of Etobicoke, in the Greater Toronto Area. Completed in 2019, the bold exterior is finished with contrasting colours of concrete masonry brick and block, vinyl soffits, and black vinyl windows. The carport is finished with vinyl soffits and skylights to provide warmth to the façade, while the flat and angled roofs allow this home to stand out from the rest. The abundance of windows, skylights and sliding doors fill the interior with natural light.

Beau Meyer Photography
Mid-sized elegant u-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor eat-in kitchen photo with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

San Marino based clients were interested in developing a property that had been in their family for generations. This was an exciting proposition as it was one of the last surviving bayside double lots on the scenic Coronado peninsula in San Diego. They desired a holiday home that would be a gathering place for their large, close- knit family. San Marino based clients were interested in developing a property that had been in their family for generations. This was an exciting proposition as it was one of the last surviving bayside double lots on the scenic Coronado peninsula in San Diego. They desired a holiday home that would be a gathering place for their large, close-knit family. Facing the Back Bay, overlooking downtown and the Bay Bridge, this property presented us with a unique opportunity to design a vacation home with a dual personality. One side faces a bustling harbor with a constant parade of yachts, cargo vessels and military ships while the other opens onto a deep, quiet contemplative garden. The home’s shingle-style influence carries on the historical Coronado tradition of clapboard and Craftsman bungalows built in the shadow of the great Hotel Del Coronado which was erected at the turn of the last century. In order to create an informal feel to the residence, we devised a concept that eliminated the need for a “front door”. Instead, one walks through the garden and enters the “Great Hall” through either one of two French doors flanking a walk-in stone fireplace. Both two-story bedroom wings bookend this central wood beam vaulted room which serves as the “heart of the home”, and opens to both views. Three sets of stairs are discretely tucked away inside the bedroom wings. In lieu of a formal dining room, the family convenes and dines around a beautiful table and banquette set into a circular window bay off the kitchen which overlooks the lights of the city beyond the harbor. Working with noted interior designer Betty Ann Marshall, we designed a unique kitchen that was inspired by the colors and textures of a fossil the couple found on a honeymoon trip to the quarries of Montana. We set that ancient fossil into a matte glass backsplash behind the professional cook’s stove. A warm library with walnut paneling and a bayed window seat affords a refuge for the family to read or play board games. The couple’s fine craft and folk art collection is on prominent display throughout the house and helps to set an intimate and whimsical tone. Another architectural feature devoted to family is the play room lit by a dramatic cupola which beacons the older grandchildren and their friends. Below the play room is a four car garage that allows the patriarch space to refurbish an antique fire truck, a mahogany launch boat and several vintage cars. Their jet skis and kayaks are housed in another garage designed for that purpose. Lattice covered skylights that allow dappled sunlight to bathe the loggia affords a comfortable refuge to watch the kids swim and gaze out upon the rushing water, the Coronado Bay Bridge and the romantic downtown San Diego skyline. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Betty Ann Marshall Construction: Bill Lyons Photographer: Laura Hull Styling: Zale Design Studio

A young colonial in the heart of Rye New York had everything going for it, except a dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The clients tapped Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn to help them layout a new kitchen in their challenging, dog leg shaped room. A small breakfast peninsula and working island helped pull together the oddly shaped kitchen into a streamlined, light filled space with all the storage amenities typical of a Studio Dearborn kitchen. The bar area, with undercounter refrigeration for wine and beverages, also features a locking cabinet for liquor and open wine storage. Desk area has file drawer and Docking Drawer charging drawer. Countertops: White Macauba, Rye Marble and Stone, Rye NY. Hardware: Studio Pulls from Hickory Hardware. Sinks: Kraus. Lighting: Currey & Co. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Backsplash tile: Casablanca Tile and Stone, Harrison NY. Photography: Adam Kane Macchia