BUILDING HISTORY From Whitney to Modern Like the city in which it sits, the Whitney Modern is a distinctive blend of innovative contemporary design and historic New England charm. The Cottage and Carriage House at the Whitney Modern were designed in the Shingle Style by Richard Williams, architect of many of New Haven’s most notable buildings, including the New Haven County Courthouse and the Union League Club (now the Union League Café). The residence was built in 1902 as a single family home for Abner Hendee, a prosperous grain merchant, and was later owned by Dr. William Verdi, a prominent surgeon, who was one of the founding physicians of St. Raphael’s Hospital and its Surgeon-in Chief until 1949. The home, known as the Abner Hendee house, was described by architectural historian Elizabeth Mills Brown in New Haven: A Guide to Architecture and Urban Design, as "one of New Haven’s most romantic houses and long a landmark of the upper Avenue. It was built in open country, empty fields behind running down to the river and the Rock. Like the classic country houses of the Shingle Style it was designed as part of the land, a design of horizontals. The great shadow of the porch was as mysterious and cool as a cave in the woods, and a porte-cochere carried the long line out into the grounds, holding the house close to the earth and terminating in a low pillar that seemed another part of nature – a tumble of stones.” After 50 years as a private residence, in 1957 the house and carriage house were sold to the American Red Cross, which continued to use the property as its local headquarters for the next 60 years. The Whitney Modern team purchased the property from the Red Cross with the intention of preserving its historic features while remaking it for a new century as the iconic anchor of an intimate luxury rental community. The Cottage has been meticulously renovated into seven boutique residences. The grand main staircase, closed off for years, has been rebuilt. Original marble and tiled fireplaces have been restored and converted to gas. Coffered ceilings have been retrofitted with recessed lighting. Bathrooms have been outfitted with marble mosaic flooring. Raised paneling and pocket doors have been repurposed and hardwood floors have been reclaimed. Gracious spaces have been renewed while modern technology has been added to make each boutique residence function with the ease of a newly built building – from Nest thermostats, to in-unit washer/dryers, to central air conditioning. The house has been reborn.

When this Sequoyah Hills homeowner took a close look at the roof after purchasing the property, he knew it was time for a replacement. Curling shingles, granule loss, and surface streaking from algae growth were all signs that the roof had reached the end of its service life. A Smith Roofing inspector confirmed the concerns and presented three replacement options. The homeowner chose the best: Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration Designer Series shingles in Gray Tweed, backed by a 50-year warranty. Before work began, the crew carefully protected the landscaping and started the tear-off process. Because the home was built in 1941, it featured slat decking, so a full OSB overlay was installed to provide a solid surface for the new shingles. Synthetic underlayment, ice and water barrier protection at the valleys and skylight, upgraded chimney flashing, and new pipe boots followed. The project was completed with new 6-inch gutters in Linen. The finished roof looks right at home among the neighborhood's historic properties while providing the performance and protection of modern roofing technology.

This one-acre property now features a trio of homes on three lots where previously there was only a single home on one lot. Surrounded by other single family homes in a neighborhood where vacant parcels are virtually unheard of, this project created the rare opportunity of constructing not one, but two new homes. The owners purchased the property as a retirement investment with the goal of relocating from the East Coast to live in one of the new homes and sell the other two. The original home - designed by the distinguished architectural firm of Edwards & Plunkett in the 1930's - underwent a complete remodel both inside and out. While respecting the original architecture, this 2,089 sq. ft., two bedroom, two bath home features new interior and exterior finishes, reclaimed wood ceilings, custom light fixtures, stained glass windows, and a new three-car garage. The two new homes on the lot reflect the style of the original home, only grander. Neighborhood design standards required Spanish Colonial details – classic red tile roofs and stucco exteriors. Both new three-bedroom homes with additional study were designed with aging in place in mind and equipped with elevator systems, fireplaces, balconies, and other custom amenities including open beam ceilings, hand-painted tiles, and dark hardwood floors. Photographer: Santa Barbara Real Estate Photography

--BEFORE-- Blogger, teacher and renovator Kelly-Anne Rush is no stranger to DIY remodels. So when she found out that her cousin had recently purchased a property that was in need of some work, she found a way to help. One of the first things that the home needed redone was the bathroom floor, so Kelly-Anne worked with Allure to find the best solution for her relative’s flooring needs! Before selecting which direction to go for her cousin’s flooring, Kelly-Anne thought about her previous experience with Allure. “​When I renovated my bathroom last year, I wanted a product for the floors that looked like wood but was water resistant and durable. After doing a lot of research, I chose Allure,” she said. “In addition to the durability, the other great part about this type of flooring is that it’s so easy to install!” The property that Kelly-Anne was working on was originally built in the 1900’s, and was in need of some modernization. Kelly-Anne and her cousin had also decided on a coastal theme for the bathroom that incorporated oceanic colors. After browsing Allure’s online catalogue, they found the perfect floor for their bathroom: ​Allure Durban Oak Luxury Plank Flooring​. Kelly-Anne selected the flooring because it matched the color palette of her coastal theme, while also adding a more modern feel to the bathroom. Once they had chosen their floor, the final step was installation. “My cousin’s girlfriend installed the vinyl planking in their bathroom all by herself in a day without any previous renovation experience,” Kelly-Anne said of the installation process. “When I first walked into the space after they were finished renovating, I was so impressed! They did such a great job and certainly had such a feeling of accomplishment from tackling this renovation all by themselves!”

The apartment occupies the third floor of a prominent corner property originally constructed in 1860. The building was formerly two neighbouring town houses, reconfigured in 1939 as a residential school for girls. In 1968, the State of Kuwait purchased the property which became their London Embassy until 2000 at which time the two houses were converted into 13 flats. Amos Goldreich Architecture was appointed as lead architects to create a contemporary 3 bedroom home within this Grade II Listed Building. AGA has sought to rationalise the formerly over-complex configuration, clarifying spatial sequences and creating a coherent visual palette. The apartment is finished to a high standard, with bespoke joinery and ingenious storage solutions.

The apartment occupies the third floor of a prominent corner property originally constructed in 1860. The building was formerly two neighbouring town houses, reconfigured in 1939 as a residential school for girls. In 1968, the State of Kuwait purchased the property which became their London Embassy until 2000 at which time the two houses were converted into 13 flats. Amos Goldreich Architecture was appointed as lead architects to create a contemporary 3 bedroom home within this Grade II Listed Building. AGA has sought to rationalise the formerly over-complex configuration, clarifying spatial sequences and creating a coherent visual palette. The apartment is finished to a high standard, with bespoke joinery and ingenious storage solutions.

Balcony - contemporary metal railing balcony idea in San Francisco with a fire pit and no cover

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Photo: Kiely Ramos
Nursery - transitional gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor nursery idea in Toronto with multicolored walls

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

Nestled at the end of a long flag lot driveway in Amagansett, NY, a young couple purchased the property with intentions to construct a second home for their growing family. A home that would not only be comfortable for the immediate family but also serve and grow on busy summer weekends to accommodate extended family, friends, children and guests. The tight lot along with the sizable program culminated in the building envelope being pushed to every limit, restriction and regulation one could imagine. The resulting architecture possesses a traditional Hamptons cottage exterior juxtaposed with modern elements that help break up the single mass. Centered on the entry façade is a large double story window that shrouds the floating switchback staircase on the interior. A bluestone patio wraps three sides of the home, which, in the rear, leads to a small in ground pool with a frameless glass railing. In the interior, custom white washed white oak floors run throughout the home as well as on the floating central staircase. For a more modern style of living, the open living, kitchen and dining area serve as one large entertaining space. In an area surrounded by sprawling Mcmansions, this tightly knit home functions more similar to that of a large NYC apartment by serving the perfect balance between maximized form with the right amount of function given the strict parameters. Large glass sliders open the living and dining rooms to the backyard patio and pool creating harmony between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Shaker style cabinets in the kitchen pair with a more contemporary staircase softened by the warmer wood tones of the vertical slats that surround it.

Joe Coulson
Example of a classic living room design in Atlanta

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Example of a classic living room design in Other with green walls and a tv stand

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone slabs, this alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And all of this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem we saw was that around the patio area, there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating gaining the most continuous amount of flat space that the client was wanting. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining gaps were then filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and lit up with Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

Cummings Architects transformed this beautiful oceanfront property on Eastern Point. A bland home with flat facade from the eighties was torn down to the studs to build this elegant shingle-style home with swooping gables and intricate window details. The main living spaces and bedrooms all have sprawling ocean views. Custom trim work and paneling adorns every room of the house, so that every little detail adds up to to create a timeless and elegant home. Photos by Eric Roth Winner of 2017 Gold Prism Award and 2017 Gold Master Design Award. Featured in (and on cover) Northshore Home Magazine and in a new JELD-WEN promotional video.Eric Roth

Dressy kitchen uses design elements from formal rooms.
Kitchen - mediterranean medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash and black appliances

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone slabs, this alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And all of this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem we saw was that around the patio area, there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating gaining the most continuous amount of flat space that the client was wanting. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining gaps were then filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and lit up with Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in New York

Intentional. Elevated. Artisanal. With three children under the age of 5, our clients were starting to feel the confines of their Pacific Heights home when the expansive 1902 Italianate across the street went on the market. After learning the home had been recently remodeled, they jumped at the chance to purchase a move-in ready property. We worked with them to infuse the already refined, elegant living areas with subtle edginess and handcrafted details, and also helped them reimagine unused space to delight their little ones. Elevated furnishings on the main floor complement the home’s existing high ceilings, modern brass bannisters and extensive walnut cabinetry. In the living room, sumptuous emerald upholstery on a velvet side chair balances the deep wood tones of the existing baby grand. Minimally and intentionally accessorized, the room feels formal but still retains a sharp edge—on the walls moody portraiture gets irreverent with a bold paint stroke, and on the the etagere, jagged crystals and metallic sculpture feel rugged and unapologetic. Throughout the main floor handcrafted, textured notes are everywhere—a nubby jute rug underlies inviting sofas in the family room and a half-moon mirror in the living room mixes geometric lines with flax-colored fringe. On the home’s lower level, we repurposed an unused wine cellar into a well-stocked craft room, with a custom chalkboard, art-display area and thoughtful storage. In the adjoining space, we installed a custom climbing wall and filled the balance of the room with low sofas, plush area rugs, poufs and storage baskets, creating the perfect space for active play or a quiet reading session. The bold colors and playful attitudes apparent in these spaces are echoed upstairs in each of the children’s imaginative bedrooms. Architect + Developer: McMahon Architects + Studio, Photographer: Suzanna Scott Photography