Kitchen - small contemporary single-wall kitchen idea in New York

When Menges & Curtis Pharmacy opened during the height of the Industrial Revolution on Saratoga Springs’ main street, its druggists mixed tinctures and remedies to their own formulas, examined and treated patients and even applied leeches if it was deemed appropriate. By 2010, the family that had owned the Menges & Curtis for the past 50 years was struggling with the conventional pharmacist’s lot in modern life: handing out prepared medications for an increasingly lower insurance reimbursements, and trying to make up the difference by selling spa and personal care products. All the while, M&C’s traditional clientele was drifting away to chain drugstores, supermarkets and retailers such as Walmart stores, which were dispensing medications at low margins to lure shoppers into their aisles while they waited for their prescriptions. The owner restructured his business plan, selling his traditional pharmacy assets to a chain and creating a partnership with a “compounding shop” in Latham to go back to time-honored methods of creating personally formulated nutritional and vitamin supplements, hormone balancers and natural wellness herbal extracts for preventative health maintenance, chronic illnesses, veterinary and pediatric care. Now a new business with an old-school ethos, Fallon Wellness Pharmacy needed substantial renovations to its iconic storefront in the S.W. Ainsworth Building in Saratoga’s Broadway Historic District. The low ceilings made the space feel cramped, and storage was ineffective. The new partners called upon Old Saratoga Restorations to project manage a complete modernization of the space, adding graceful private consultation rooms and compounding labs to comply with health and safety codes, while respecting the integrity of the ornate High Victorian 1871 brick commercial block building.

Mountain style patio photo in Nashville

Photo by Caitlin Atkinson
This is an example of a modern landscaping in San Francisco.

Photo taken in the garden of Bob Butera and Marilyn Sifford. This moss garden is "in progress", shown after three years. Photo by Jay Sifford
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Charlotte.

Rainfall Shower Wedi Waterproof Shower Systems offer reliable, cost-efficient solutions for constructing 100 % waterproof and mold proof showers. These systems are easy to install and open up a whole new world of design possibilities for showers, wet areas and baths. Wedi shower systems blend the traditional values of design flexibility and robustness while offering the added benefits that come with state of the art material and manufacturing technologies. Used in combination with Wedi Building Panels on walls, our shower bases offer an excellent alternative to traditional installation methods. No more pre-sloping, pan liner cracks or membrane pin holes, clogged drain weep holes and mold growth. Plus, reduce the traditional installation time and down times for a full shower floor preparation for tiling. Ironwood Renovation LLC is a Certified Installer for Wedi waterproof shower systems in Snohomish, WA

Irregular bluestone stepper path and woodland shade garden.
Inspiration for a traditional shade stone landscaping in Boston.

Kitchen, dining area and fire feature. Jason Liske photographer
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard gravel patio remodel in San Francisco with a bbq area

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Country kitchen photo in San Francisco

L-shaped kitchen with a ton of style & charm! Two-tone kitchen with a taupe perimeter and a wood island give this space warmth, complimented by the brass fixtures and finishes. The backsplash stone was created with large format tile to appear like a stone slab - who would know?!

Sleek lines.Slender cable railings ny Keuka Studios, inc.
Example of a minimalist exterior home design in New York

This modern lake house is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The residence overlooks a mountain lake with expansive mountain views beyond. The design ties the home to its surroundings and enhances the ability to experience both home and nature together. The entry level serves as the primary living space and is situated into three groupings; the Great Room, the Guest Suite and the Master Suite. A glass connector links the Master Suite, providing privacy and the opportunity for terrace and garden areas. Won a 2013 AIANC Design Award. Featured in the Austrian magazine, More Than Design. Featured in Carolina Home and Garden, Summer 2015.

Rainfall Shower Wedi Waterproof Shower Systems offer reliable, cost-efficient solutions for constructing 100 % waterproof and mold proof showers. These systems are easy to install and open up a whole new world of design possibilities for showers, wet areas and baths. Wedi shower systems blend the traditional values of design flexibility and robustness while offering the added benefits that come with state of the art material and manufacturing technologies. Used in combination with Wedi Building Panels on walls, our shower bases offer an excellent alternative to traditional installation methods. No more pre-sloping, pan liner cracks or membrane pin holes, clogged drain weep holes and mold growth. Plus, reduce the traditional installation time and down times for a full shower floor preparation for tiling. Ironwood Renovation LLC is a Certified Installer for Wedi waterproof shower systems in Snohomish, WA

Staircase - 1950s floating open and cable railing staircase idea in Orange County

Southwest kitchen photo in Albuquerque

A NJ garden design project. Sweet Woodruff and Phlox subulata are in full bloom. We service the NY & NJ areas. http://www.summersetgardens.com/ 845-590-7306

Example of a large country detached studio / workshop shed design in New York

mparchphoto, Richard Grenier Builder
Example of a transitional home design design in Denver