The house you see is the result of an extensive remodeling/renovation. It was originally built in the early 1900’s our client grew up in this house and was returning to it as his father was moving on to an assisted living facility. Ben Quie, of Ben Quie and Sons, asked me to help these clients: revive and re-invision this house for their own particular needs and lifestyle. It turned out to be a fairly whole-scale transformation on the main level, moving a stairway that was inconveniently located and ill conceived, enlarging the kitchen, provide for a mudroom/laundry room and added a family sitting area off of the living room. The upstairs remained more intact but we added a bath of the couples room and reworked a number of closets. The lower level was also finished out with a hobby room and an area for television viewing. This was a fun project and made special by both the superb craftsmanship of Ben and his crew and the enthusiastic involvement of our clients. Design by Timothy Fuller with Joe Metzler Construction by Ben Quie and Sons Photography by Troy Theis This project was designed while Tim was at SALA Architects

This project was completed for clients who wanted a comfortable, accessible 1ST floor bathroom for their grown daughter to use during visits to their home as well as a nicely-appointed space for any guest. Their daughter has some accessibility challenges so the bathroom was also designed with that in mind. The original space worked fairly well in some ways, but we were able to tweak a few features to make the space even easier to maneuver through. We started by making the entry to the shower flush so that there is no curb to step over. In addition, although there was an existing oversized seat in the shower, it was way too deep and not comfortable to sit on and just wasted space. We made the shower a little smaller and then provided a fold down teak seat that is slip resistant, warm and comfortable to sit on and can flip down only when needed. Thus we were able to create some additional storage by way of open shelving to the left of the shower area. The open shelving matches the wood vanity and allows a spot for the homeowners to display heirlooms as well as practical storage for things like towels and other bath necessities. We carefully measured all the existing heights and locations of countertops, toilet seat, and grab bars to make sure that we did not undo the things that were already working well. We added some additional hidden grab bars or “grabcessories” at the toilet paper holder and shower shelf for an extra layer of assurance. Large format, slip-resistant floor tile was added eliminating as many grout lines as possible making the surface less prone to tripping. We used a wood look tile as an accent on the walls, and open storage in the vanity allowing for easy access for clean towels. Bronze fixtures and frameless glass shower doors add an elegant yet homey feel that was important for the homeowner. A pivot mirror allows adjustability for different users. If you are interested in designing a bathroom featuring “Living In Place” or accessibility features, give us a call to find out more. Susan Klimala, CKBD, is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) and particularly enjoys helping her clients with unique needs in the context of beautifully designed spaces. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel

As you might guess from the "Wild Dunes Path" name of the project, this particular site sits only about a quarter of a mile away from the shores of Lake Michigan. With that in mind, we chose both hardscaping and plant material that would incorporate and enhance that "beachy" feel, keeping everything natural looking and free flowing. The plant material, consisting mainly of sedum, ornamental grasses, shasta daisies, coreopsis, and lirope, is fairly low maintenance, yet will provide interest all year round.

A close-up photo of a fragrant inflorescence of Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip' Butterfly Bush.
Photo of an eclectic full sun landscaping in Grand Rapids for summer.

Cement tile floor eat-in kitchen photo in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, stainless steel appliances and an island

My clients had a small master bath but a fairly large master bedroom. there was wasted space right outside of the bathroom. I suggested bumping out the bathroom by 4 ft. That provided a lot more room inside to put a full size vanity with lots of storage space.. I was also able to add a linen closet inside the bedroom.

Karen was an existing client of ours who was tired of the crowded and cluttered laundry/mudroom that did not work well for her young family. The washer and dryer were right in the line of traffic when you stepped in her back entry from the garage and there was a lack of a bench for changing shoes/boots. Planning began… then along came a twist! A new puppy that will grow to become a fair sized dog would become part of the family. Could the design accommodate dog grooming and a daytime “kennel” for when the family is away? Having two young boys, Karen wanted to have custom features that would make housekeeping easier so custom drawer drying racks and ironing board were included in the design. All slab-style cabinet and drawer fronts are sturdy and easy to clean and the family’s coats and necessities are hidden from view while close at hand. The selected quartz countertops, slate flooring and honed marble wall tiles will provide a long life for this hard working space. The enameled cast iron sink which fits puppy to full-sized dog (given a boost) was outfitted with a faucet conducive to dog washing, as well as, general clean up. And the piece de resistance is the glass, Dutch pocket door which makes the family dog feel safe yet secure with a view into the rest of the house. Karen and her family enjoy the organized, tidy space and how it works for them.

Cattleya pilcheri Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
This is an example of a landscaping in Other.

The Control/Shift House is perched on the high side of the site which takes advantage of the view to the southeast. A gradual descending path navigates the change in terrain from the street to the entry of the house. A series of low retaining walls/planter beds gather and release the earth upon the descent resulting in a fairly flat level for the house to sit on the top one third of the site. The entry axis is aligned with the celebrated stair volume and then re-centers on the actual entry axis once you approach the forecourt of the house. The initial desire was for an “H” scheme house with common entertaining spaces bridging the gap between the more private spaces. After an investigation considering the site, program, and view, a key move was made: unfold the east wing of the “H” scheme to open all rooms to the southeast view resulting in a “T” scheme. The new derivation allows for both a swim pool which is on axis with the entry and main gathering space and a lap pool which occurs on the cross axis extending along the lengthy edge of the master suite, providing direct access for morning exercise and a view of the water throughout the day. The Control/Shift House was derived from a clever way of following the “rules.” Strict HOA guidelines required very specific exterior massing restrictions which limits the lengths of unbroken elevations and promotes varying sizes of masses. The solution most often used in this neighborhood is one of addition - an aggregation of masses and program randomly attached to the inner core of the house which often results in a parasitic plan. The approach taken with the Control/Shift House was to push and pull program/massing to delineate and define the layout of the house. Massing is intentional and reiterated by the careful selection of materiality that tracks through the house. Voids and relief in the plan are a natural result of this method and allow for light and air to circulate throughout every space of the house, even into the most inner core. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

The upstairs rooms open onto a second floor landing, envisioned as a gathering space – part office, part reading room, part hangout area, providing a communal location for family and visitors to plan the day’s activities. Custom, built-in book shelves house games, vintage first edition classics (also found at the Alameda antique fair), family mementoes and objet d’art.

After an unfortunate flood, this bathroom was ripped out taken down to the studs, giving us a completely blank slate to work with. To maximize this fairly compact guest bathroom, we added horizontal shiplap paneling to the walls to expand the space visually. The front of the tub was also wrapped in shiplap for added continuity. Hex tile flooring provides pattern and movement against the white painted shiplap walls. And the soft gray rectangular wall tile in the shower repeats the horizontal effect, all in effort of creating the look of a larger space. Photography by Amy Bartlam

This elegant bathroom involved a fair amount of detailed planning to make many of it's features work out well. The vanity is extra deep at 24" which helped with accommodating drawers under the sink. Trying to fit is the vanity ledge detail along with the faucet, sink and healthy overhang left very little wiggle room for error but it all worked out beautifully and now that it's in place, no one would realize the effort that went into preparing and planning it. The tower in between the two vanity sinks houses the outlets making them much more discreet than if they were on the mirror wall. The original bath had a closed shower. My goal was to open this up allowing for much more natural light in the shower. The half wall also provides a generous recessed soap box. The wall opposite the half wall accommodates a wall to wall granite bench. The overall calming colors are soft green-blue, white and a bit of amber. The play on textures and sheens are quite elegant. Photo by Sandra J. Curtis, ASID

Handcrafted & photographed by urbangreen - Designed by Paris K Interior Design
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Discover beauty with a purpose. Hand-woven in Bangladesh through the Blessing Basket Project® these lidded baskets feature coil weaving in which date palm is wrapped around sea grass then sewn to the layer beneath. Using this traditional method, it takes about 12 days to weave one basket, which reflects the unique style and artistry of the weaver. Artisans in the Blessing Basket Project receive a Prosperity Wage, which is at least 2.5 times the Fair Trade Wage, helping them provide for their families and invest in their own businesses. Every basket includes a tag with a photo and short biography of the artist, plus a unique code to learn more about that person. We’re proud to partner with the Blessing Basket Project to bring you these one-of-a-kind baskets.

My clients had a small master bath but a fairly large master bedroom. there was wasted space right outside of the bathroom. I suggested bumping out the bathroom by 4 ft. That provided a lot more room inside to put a full size vanity with lots of storage space.. I was also able to add a linen closet inside the bedroom.

Spacious suburban two story needed some updating. The kitchen was poorly laid out and too tightly spaced. An unnecessary partition separated the family room from the kitchen/eating area. With some creative design work and a fair amount of construction, the kitchen was widened to provide a gracious space for larger island and better working flow. The odd half wall was removed and the entire space received a stunning wood plank look porcelain tile floor. The rooms now look and feel grand and open.

My clients had a small master bath but a fairly large master bedroom. there was wasted space right outside of the bathroom. I suggested bumping out the bathroom by 4 ft. That provided a lot more room inside to put a full size vanity with lots of storage space.. I was also able to add a linen closet inside the bedroom.

A custom art glass chandelier with a mixture of beautiful bright colors. Hand blown by Viz Art Glass and installed in Massachusetts.

Discover beauty with a purpose. Hand-woven in Bangladesh through the Blessing Basket Project® these lidded baskets feature coil weaving in which date palm is wrapped around sea grass then sewn to the layer beneath. Using this traditional method, it takes about 12 days to weave one basket, which reflects the unique style and artistry of the weaver. Artisans in the Blessing Basket Project receive a Prosperity Wage, which is at least 2.5 times the Fair Trade Wage, helping them provide for their families and invest in their own businesses. Every basket includes a tag with a photo and short biography of the artist, plus a unique code to learn more about that person. We’re proud to partner with the Blessing Basket Project to bring you these one-of-a-kind baskets.