Updating historic John Hudson Thomas-designed Berkeley bungalow to modern code. Remodel designed by Lorin Hill, Architect included adding an interior stair to provide access to new second-story bedroom with ensuite bath. Main floor renovation included new kitchen, bath as well as bringing all services up to code. Project involved extensive use of traditional materials and craftsmanship.

An existing outdated back porch structure was removed and replaced with a larger outdoor living area designed to truly fit this family’s current lifestyle. It encompasses the entire back of the house with a low sloping vaulted ceiling and is accessible from all spaces. Special emphasis was given to the kitchen area where grandchildren participate in cooking the catch of the day from family fishing trips! Dining and sitting spaces are also provided with a fireplace that can be viewed through French doors from the Living Room. The master suite is updated with a modernized bathroom that features a walk-in tub and a large accessible shower.

Welcome to Preston Vineyard! This community offers the peace and quiet of the country life while also providing easy access to all the city amenities. It also has access to St. Tammany’s award-winning schools in Madisonville and Covington. We are conveniently located on Highway 190 just east of Highway 1077 in Covington, Louisiana! With a location like this, it is super convenient to hop on the interstate and go wherever your heart desires! Whether it be to Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Hammond, Ponchatoula, Slidell, or the lovely beaches in Mississippi or Alabama, the journey is endless!

This Sherman Oaks walk-in shower remodel was designed to balance modern aesthetics with everyday accessibility. A clean white tile palette brings a bright, refreshed feel to the space, while sleek glass enclosure details keep the design open and minimal. Thoughtfully integrated accessibility features, including a fold-down shower bench and built-in grab bars, provide added safety and comfort without compromising the overall look.

A slide out storage drawer next to a double oven provides easy access to pantry items.
Example of a classic medium tone wood floor kitchen design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Mike Kaskel
Transitional kitchen photo in San Francisco

The paneled refrigerator and tall pantry enclose the display hutch with it's mirror panel back splash. The custom cabinetry is frameless style, providing full access to the interior of the cabinets.

This project is a new 5,900 sf. primary residence for a couple with three children. The site is slightly elevated above the residential street and enjoys winter views of the Potomac River. The family’s requirements included five bedrooms, five full baths, a powder room, family room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, walk-in pantry, mudroom, lower level recreation room, exercise room, media room and numerous storage spaces. Also included was the request for an outdoor terrace and adequate outdoor storage, including provision for the storage of bikes and kayaks. The family needed a home that would have two entrances, the primary entrance, and a mudroom entry that would provide generous storage spaces for the family’s active lifestyle. Due to the small lot size, the challenge was to accommodate the family’s requirements, while remaining sympathetic to the scale of neighboring homes. The residence employs a “T” shaped plan to aid in minimizing the massing visible from the street, while organizing interior spaces around a private outdoor terrace space accessible from the living and dining spaces. A generous front porch and a gambrel roof diminish the home’s scale, providing a welcoming view along the street front. A path along the right side of the residence leads to the family entrance and a small outbuilding that provides ready access to the bikes and kayaks while shielding the rear terrace from view of neighboring homes. The two entrances join a central stair hall that leads to the eat-in kitchen overlooking the great room. Window seats and a custom built banquette provide gathering spaces, while the French doors connect the great room to the terrace where the arbor transitions to the garden. A first floor guest suite, separate from the family areas of the home, affords privacy for both guests and hosts alike. The second floor Master Suite enjoys views of the Potomac River through a second floor arched balcony visible from the front. The exterior is composed of a board and batten first floor with a cedar shingled second floor and gambrel roof. These two contrasting materials and the inclusion of a partially recessed front porch contribute to the perceived diminution of the home’s scale relative to its smaller neighbors. The overall intention was to create a close fit between the residence and the neighboring context, both built and natural. Builder: E.H. Johnstone Builders Anice Hoachlander Photography

The 3rd guest bedroom is located on the second floor with French doors providing access to a water front balcony. The large walk-in closet is an added amenity.

Northern Michigan is the ultimate getaway destination with serene views and abundance of outdoor recreation. This remote Up North house offers nothing short of that. With the nearest major town almost 45 minutes away, it was essential this vacation home offered all the amenities for entertainment and relaxation. Spire worked with the client to create the perfect lake house retreat with comfort and convenience during any season or weather. The living room with an attached game room is a versatile space that offers endless entertainment. A 65” TV was installed over the fireplace in the custom stone wall. The adjustable mount allows the TV to lower for comfortable viewing from either the couch or pool table. A pair of Meridian Audio DSP7200 custom color matched speakers equipped with a Meridian Audio 218 digital controller were strategically installed on each side of the fireplace. The floor-standing speakers compliment the natural stone while providing astonishingly life-like sound, perfect for streaming live concerts. The powerful audio extends to the upper level of the home. Spire installed B&W 700 series bookshelf speakers in the executive office and a Triad custom speaker bar in the master bedroom. These speakers are ideal for smaller rooms, while elevating the TV experience. The large living room windows offer beautiful lake views and ample lighting. Lutron Palladiom shades were installed to easily control the natural light in the living room, master bedroom and bathroom. They are custom designed and fully automated to let in the morning sun or achieve partial shading or complete privacy. Whether set on a schedule or controlled from an iPad, the shades operate quietly and seamlessly. The technology was designed to be enjoyed just as much indoors as outdoors. With the whole home audio system, high-quality sound can flow throughout the indoor rooms as well as the outdoor patio. While the location may be remote, Spire ensured the WiFi and network connection is strong both throughout the yard and inside the home. A Lutron HomeWorks QS system integrates the control of all the interior and exterior lighting including motion sensing for the exterior pathway. Since this is not a permanent residence, a control and security system was very important. A personalized Savant system was integrated for full home control of lighting, climate, entertainment and security from anywhere with a smart device . This includes the ability to control the multiple landscape light zones with timed scenes. The Doorbird cameras and chimes with the integration of camera feeds into the Savant Control provides remote communication with visitors at any of the exterior doors. Remote access also allows rebooting of all essential systems from any location.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

The shower floor has white penny round tile with a square drain. The hinged shower door provides easy access.
Example of a small trendy master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, gray floor and single-sink alcove shower design in Newark with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

The solution: Add a circular patio for entertaining large groups and a small raised deck for intimate dining. Add a covered outdoor kitchen on the left side of the house integrated into the structure so that it appears to have always been there. The decking is Batu hardwood for longevity and the patio uses Mutual Materials Glacier Slate charcoal pavers w/ concrete accents. ADA access provided on the left.

Branksome Road Set within a Bournemouth conservation zone; Branksome Woods provided the challenge of designing additional, modern space for a growing family whilst respecting sensitive contextual conditions. Footprint Architects responded by continuing the existing roofline across the property, providing an extra two bedrooms whilst also allowing the proposal to blend seamlessly with the properties existing form, whilst breathing new life into the look of the dated building. On the ground floor, the kitchen and dinning area were re-organised and extended out from the property in a brick form that exhibits views of the garden, with an alternative contrasting timber rear entrance to provide improved access to the house from the drive and garage. The design changes have transformed the quality and functionality of Branksome Woods, providing modern additional space, with a minimal impact on the surrounding context. The project was completed in November 2017.

Pull out wine racks provide easy access to kitchen goods.
Kitchen pantry - small traditional kitchen pantry idea with white cabinets and gray backsplash

An existing outdated back porch structure was removed and replaced with a larger outdoor living area designed to truly fit this family’s current lifestyle. It encompasses the entire back of the house with a low sloping vaulted ceiling and is accessible from all spaces. Special emphasis was given to the kitchen area where grandchildren participate in cooking the catch of the day from family fishing trips! Dining and sitting spaces are also provided with a fireplace that can be viewed through French doors from the Living Room. The master suite is updated with a modernized bathroom that features a walk-in tub and a large accessible shower.

Vanessa
Example of a small asian master white tile and glass tile marble floor alcove shower design in Providence with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and gray walls

Inspiration for a small transitional wooden l-shaped cable railing staircase remodel with wooden risers

The large outdoor deck allows the homeowner to enjoy the incredible views while still being protected from the occasional breezes/winds. The full-height sliding glass doors provides quick and easy access from the kitchen and great room.