A private home recreation building built into a hillside and overlooking the new tennis court. The building features a central timber framed outdoor gathering space with a stone fireplace and kitchenette, a locker room and bath space tucked behind the fireplace, and two adjoining wings with a “sports bar” on one side with large screen televisions, game area and bar, and a large exercise room on the other side. Thomas J. O'Neil

The fireplace and the television sit inside one run of oak shelving, lit from within each bay. In a basement, light coming from the millwork does more for the room than more ceiling cans would.

Sarah Timmer
Seated home bar - large rustic galley vinyl floor and brown floor seated home bar idea in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash and stone slab backsplash

Large farmhouse formal and open concept light wood floor living room photo in Nashville with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for a large contemporary dark wood floor great room remodel in Nashville with white walls and no fireplace

Mid-sized trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Nashville with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Sarah Timmer
Example of a large mountain style underground vinyl floor and brown floor basement design in Milwaukee with beige walls, a hanging fireplace and a tile fireplace

Example of a large classic dark wood floor enclosed dining room design in Nashville with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Mid-sized trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo photo in Nashville with white walls and no fireplace

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped medium tone wood floor seated home bar remodel in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, glass tile backsplash and multicolored backsplash

This small but very detailed space has all the wonderful accommodations needed for an urban rooftop. Flat screen TV, grill, heat lamp, fire table, and storage. We took the pattern from the chair and recreated it in the fire table. This custom table ties it all together nicely. All while siting in a lush garden that surrounds the seating area. Making it cozy and colorful.

A fresh take on traditional style, this sprawling suburban home draws its occupants together in beautifully, comfortably designed spaces that gather family members for companionship, conversation, and conviviality. At the same time, it adroitly accommodates a crowd, and facilitates large-scale entertaining with ease. This balance of private intimacy and public welcome is the result of Soucie Horner’s deft remodeling of the original floor plan and creation of an all-new wing comprising functional spaces including a mudroom, powder room, laundry room, and home office, along with an exciting, three-room teen suite above. A quietly orchestrated symphony of grayed blues unites this home, from Soucie Horner Collections custom furniture and rugs, to objects, accessories, and decorative exclamationpoints that punctuate the carefully synthesized interiors. A discerning demonstration of family-friendly living at its finest.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless formal and enclosed concrete floor living room remodel in Nashville with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and no tv

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. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Sarah Timmer
Example of a large mountain style galley vinyl floor and brown floor seated home bar design in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash and stone slab backsplash

Large 1950s master blue tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile, gray floor and double-sink japanese bathtub photo in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

The basement is designed for the men of the house, utilizing a cooler colour palette and offer a masculine experience. It is completed with a bar, recreation room, and a large seating area.

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a small minimalist home design design