After many years of having no outdoor living space and dealing with overgrown plants and trees the owner’s decided it was time to revitalize their backyard. They knew they wanted a large sitting area with a wood burning fireplace, room for outdoor dining and a place for the grill. A connecting walk would be needed to get guests from the driveway to the outdoor space. Last but not least, the owners wanted the ability to and a reason for stepping out of their unusable patio doors. The designers decided from the start the fireplace would be the prominent feature and focal point for the entire project. A large fireplace accented with sitting walls and arbors was positioned to anchor the corner of the patio. Stone was chosen to set the fireplace apart as its own element. Brick was used for the sitting walls and brick accents were added to the fireplace to tie into the house. An inlaid herringbone brick detail was incorporated above the stone mantle to simulate artwork which is typically found above indoor fireplaces. Flagstone was used for the wall caps and hearth to match the patio and thicker flagstone tread stock was used for the mantle and top. The arbors were added to visually balance the pergolas at the opposite side of the patio. For the patio the designers created a series of offset spaces to help subtly divide the space into two areas, sitting and dining. Two large existing trees also help dictate the shape of the patio. Cut flagstone was chosen for the surface bordered by a double soldier edge of brick. The brick edging also surrounds a decorative gravel area topped with an urn fountain which provides a secondary focal point and the sound of water. Large flagstone treads were used for the steps leading to the previously unused patio doors. Opposite the fireplace a short walk leads to a square transition area with a statue chosen by the owner. The statue provides a strong focal point when entering from the driveway. A longer walk leads from this space along the house to the driveway. The pergolas and arbors were designed by the landscape designer as part of this project but were ultimately contracted separately by the owner. The larger square pergola was intended as an area for a bench or two separate from the main patio. The longer pergola was added later in the design phase to help provide shade to the interior of the house. The arbors at the fireplace were added to balance out the wood elements at the opposite side while adding additional architectural interest to the fireplace. While this project was predominantly hardscaping, planting and lighting were also incorporated into the design. Several large existing trees were retained and serious of smaller understory trees were added to help enclose the space. The designer’s took advantage of the large trees to place down lights on the branches to achieve a moonlight effect at night. Additional lighting was used on the pergola, to accent focal points, to up light the smaller trees and around the patio. Massed planting of Japanese forest grass provides bold foliage color for the shady garden. A mulch path leads off behind the fireplace to another garden and a secluded area ideal for a bench or small table and chairs. Additional plantings were added along the rear property line to screen and unsightly fence. This project has obviously completely changed the way the owners use their backyard. They now have a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors with the use of the patio doors. The large patio allows for entertaining small gatherings outdoors for the first time. The fireplace has definitely become the primary gathering place for family and friends.

Large transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile cement tile floor, gray floor and double-sink bathroom photo in DC Metro with furniture-like cabinets, brown cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Scarlet Chaillet
Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in Austin

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Our clients were relocating from the upper peninsula to the lower peninsula and wanted to design a retirement home on their Lake Michigan property. The topography of their lot allowed for a walk out basement which is practically unheard of with how close they are to the water. Their view is fantastic, and the goal was of course to take advantage of the view from all three levels. The positioning of the windows on the main and upper levels is such that you feel as if you are on a boat, water as far as the eye can see. They were striving for a Hamptons / Coastal, casual, architectural style. The finished product is just over 6,200 square feet and includes 2 master suites, 2 guest bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, sunroom, home bar, home gym, dedicated seasonal gear / equipment storage, table tennis game room, sauna, and bonus room above the attached garage. All the exterior finishes are low maintenance, vinyl, and composite materials to withstand the blowing sands from the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Small minimalist gray one-story wood house exterior photo in Seattle with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a black roof

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

This fireplace surround was created using natural limestone plaster applied to standard drywall and carved into a stone block pattern. The primary reasons for using this technique are its lower cost compared to quarried stone, lower weight, and the ability to choose any color and pattern that is desired. Scott Nelson

This primary suite is truly a private retreat. We were able to create a variety of zones in this suite to allow room for a good night’s sleep, reading by a roaring fire, or catching up on correspondence. The fireplace became the real focal point in this suite. Wrapped in herringbone whitewashed wood planks and accented with a dark stone hearth and wood mantle, we can’t take our eyes off this beauty. With its own private deck and access to the backyard, there is really no reason to ever leave this little sanctuary.

Giallo Fiorito from Brazil is a warm, golden granite having dark surrounds with a medium level of variation. In this project white cabinets are added to modernize the kitchen and full height granite backsplash is applied from the same slab as the counters give a smooth and consistent look. Full height granite backsplash are very popular these days and are also extremely easy to clean. We can say that the primary reasons homeowners choose full height granite backsplash are its sleek look and cleanliness.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge VA in collaboration with Potomac Home Improvements, this primary bathroom features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in a White finish. The vanity countertops are MSI Q Smoked Pearl. The bathroom includes Italgraniti Lux Calacatta Mont Blanc field tiles, Islandstone Waveline Breeze Matte glass accent tiles and Islandstone Sliced Pebble Grey shower floor and under tub accent tiles. “The client was a joy to work with, full of energy and excitement for this project. He was looking for a spa-like feel in his Primary Bathroom. He had definitive ideas about what he did not want which helped steer me in the right direction,” said Angie. “We expanded the shower, added a freestanding tub in lieu of the existing garden tub, and brightened up the bath with white cabinetry, a light vanity top and a frameless, custom shower door. Removing the large tub deck and surround enabled the space to feel open and grand as well.” “The bathroom project exceeded all my expectations. Everyone performing the work was professional and the design of the new bathroom is fantastic. Well worth the effort and the costs were reasonable,” said the client. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

Kelsey McDaniel from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Richmond, VA, collaborated with Lyerly Builders to design a transitional-inspired kitchen featuring Green Forest cabinetry. The kitchen includes Green Forest cabinets in the Park Place door style, with a White finish for the perimeter and a Speciale Grey finish for the island, complemented by LG Viatera Roccco quartz countertops. The kitchen also includes Top Knobs Amwell Honey Bronze hardware and KitchenAid appliances. The client shared their thoughts: “Two primary reasons our project was successful were the great array of choices in Reico’s showroom and Kelsey. The whole experience was not stressful. The cabinets and countertops are beautiful.” Kelsey noted, “The clients came to me with a clear vision, and together we turned that vision into reality during their new build. This large-scale project was a joy to work on with such wonderful clients. The house features a mix of neutral colors—whites, grays, blues, and pops of gold—that tie it all together. They chose a look-alike Carrara marble quartz and stainless-steel KitchenAid appliances to accent the kitchen area.” “This project is the highlight of my portfolio, and it was an absolute pleasure to be part of their experience!” Photos courtesy of Regarday, LLC

Kitchen photo in Houston

This primary suite is truly a private retreat. We were able to create a variety of zones in this suite to allow room for a good night’s sleep, reading by a roaring fire, or catching up on correspondence. The fireplace became the real focal point in this suite. Wrapped in herringbone whitewashed wood planks and accented with a dark stone hearth and wood mantle, we can’t take our eyes off this beauty. With its own private deck and access to the backyard, there is really no reason to ever leave this little sanctuary.