As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

This private studio, built in collaboration with producer, engineer, and pianist Ian Miller, is a fully custom creative space designed around his workflow and artistic process. The project blended NILES’ technical execution with Ian’s hands-on finishing work, resulting in a studio where every corner has intention and every system supports a seamless, plug-and-play workflow. The structure began as a barn-style two-car garage with a second floor. After exploring several layouts and engineering options, we landed on a design that leveraged the high ceilings and existing footprint to create a dynamic and spacious acoustic environment. Generous daylight from surrounding windows connects the interior to the outdoors, while layered textures, warm tones, and custom finishes create a grounded yet inspiring atmosphere. The Control Room is fully isolated from the rest of the building with sound-reducing wall systems, a full soft-ceiling bass trap, tuned corner traps, treatment throughout, and full-lite doors for controlled transmission and visibility. Though modest in size, it delivers accurate monitoring and integrates smoothly with the larger live environment. Roasted Bean Studio was built to support any direction Ian pursues—from producing to mixing to live performance. The space provides the sonic palette and creative flexibility needed for a wide range of projects, offering a visually inspiring and acoustically reliable environment that empowers his work every day.

Located in Palo Alto's flood zone, this Eichler home underwent a phased renovation thoughtfully redesigned to accommodate a growing family of five, with an emphasis on school proximity and nearby grandparents. The bedroom wing was completely reconfigured, including a new front addition as a guest suite for grandparents, expanding the house to five bedrooms and three baths. Taller 9-foot ceilings were introduced in some areas, enhancing the overall openness—a lofty goal for an Eichler. The tranquil courtyard, a favorite spot for the family, was redesigned to allow parents to watch the kids while cooking. The backyard became a relaxing lounging area connected to the living room. Once dark living spaces were modernized by removing a low-hanging beam in the kitchen, adding skylights for natural light, and eliminating the fireplace to create a more functional entertainment space. Finally, new landscaping reflecting the client's heritage and some of the home's architectural elements, creates a harmonious indoor-outdoor flow. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA and Angela Alexander Interior Architecture: Klopf Architecture Bathroom Materials and Light Fixture Selection: Lucile Glessner Landscape Architect: Thuilot and Associates Photography: ©2024 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Palo Alto, CA

A retired couple desired a valiant master suite in their “forever home”. After living in their mid-century house for many years, they approached our design team with a concept to add a 3rd story suite with sweeping views of Puget sound. Our team stood atop the home’s rooftop with the clients admiring the view that this structural lift would create in enjoyment and value. The only concern was how they and their dear-old dog, would get from their ground floor garage entrance in the daylight basement to this new suite in the sky? Our CAPS design team specified universal design elements throughout the home, to allow the couple and their 120lb. Pit Bull Terrier to age in place. A new residential elevator added to the westside of the home. Placing the elevator shaft on the exterior of the home minimized the need for interior structural changes. A shed roof for the addition followed the slope of the site, creating tall walls on the east side of the master suite to allow ample daylight into rooms without sacrificing useable wall space in the closet or bathroom. This kept the western walls low to reduce the amount of direct sunlight from the late afternoon sun, while maximizing the view of the Puget Sound and distant Olympic mountain range. The master suite is the crowning glory of the redesigned home. The bedroom puts the bed up close to the wide picture window. While soothing violet-colored walls and a plush upholstered headboard have created a bedroom that encourages lounging, including a plush dog bed. A private balcony provides yet another excuse for never leaving the bedroom suite, and clerestory windows between the bedroom and adjacent master bathroom help flood the entire space with natural light. The master bathroom includes an easy-access shower, his-and-her vanities with motion-sensor toe kick lights, and pops of beachy blue in the tile work and on the ceiling for a spa-like feel. Some other universal design features in this master suite include wider doorways, accessible balcony, wall mounted vanities, tile and vinyl floor surfaces to reduce transition and pocket doors for easy use. A large walk-through closet links the bedroom and bathroom, with clerestory windows at the high ceilings The third floor is finished off with a vestibule area with an indoor sauna, and an adjacent entertainment deck with an outdoor kitchen & bar.

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

The Home While looking for space where their active family could expand, these homeowners turned to Black Forest, with trees that remind them of their Indiana years. A stunning Pikes Peak view underscores how fortunate they are to live in Colorado. This home features classic nods to the owner’s French heritage while embracing a thoroughly of-the-moment Colorado lifestyle. Priorities for these homeowners included blending outdoor and indoor spaces wherever possible with generously proportioned windows and doors, porches, patios and balconies. A gracious lime-washed brick entry punctuates a simplified white stucco and black-frame-windowed exterior with traditional rooflines. Dramatic open spaces on the main floor comfortably accommodate the everyday activities of this busy family of four, while providing for welcomed visits from family and friends. A functional, open kitchen is designed for serious cooking, a butler’s pantry for staples, and serveware storage and dining spaces that effortlessly host after-school snacking to multi-course meals. A main-level, Peak-view office comfortably supports working at home, complete with a beer cave and tasting nook for hosting fellow aficionados after work is done. Guests will find comfort and privacy in a ma in-level guestroom suite or sleepover fun in the built-in bunks of the expansive over-garage bonus room. This home is a true collaboration that blends the homeowner’s long-held vision of their ideal home brought to life by the builder’s vision and design/build process that achieves something truly…Warm and welcoming in the Forest. The Builder Stauffer & Sons Construction is a true Design-Build team creating some of the finest living spaces in the Pikes Peak region for over twenty years. We’ve developed an easy point-of-entry to the Design-Build process that begins with our very popular Conceptual Design and Budgeting Agreement. This affordable, low-commitment step provides answers to the early-stage questions of “what and how much?” With this critical information in place, a robust collaboration between client and builder ensues, resulting in a thoughtfully designed home that strikes a balance between size and scope and budget. The Interior Design Family, friends and soon-to-be friends are welcomed into this updated version of a French country farmhouse through a bricked archway and a solid arch-top entry door. Once inside, a sweeping gallery of windows adorned with flower-filled window boxes sets a nice foreground to the ponderosa pine forest. A great room with a two-story, lime-washed, brick fireplace sits juxtaposed to a cozy farm-styled kitchen with large island, plenty of storage and a Pikes Peak view. This family home features a simple, clean design with warm, wooden beams and solid, white-oak flooring. This home is designed to be lived in. Wherever you go, downstairs, upstairs or out on the porch, this home wraps around you and is a delightful place to enjoy.

Located in Palo Alto's flood zone, this Eichler home underwent a phased renovation thoughtfully redesigned to accommodate a growing family of five, with an emphasis on school proximity and nearby grandparents. The bedroom wing was completely reconfigured, including a new front addition as a guest suite for grandparents, expanding the house to five bedrooms and three baths. Taller 9-foot ceilings were introduced in some areas, enhancing the overall openness—a lofty goal for an Eichler. The tranquil courtyard, a favorite spot for the family, was redesigned to allow parents to watch the kids while cooking. The backyard became a relaxing lounging area connected to the living room. Once dark living spaces were modernized by removing a low-hanging beam in the kitchen, adding skylights for natural light, and eliminating the fireplace to create a more functional entertainment space. Finally, new landscaping reflecting the client's heritage and some of the home's architectural elements, creates a harmonious indoor-outdoor flow. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA and Angela Alexander Interior Architecture: Klopf Architecture Bathroom Materials and Light Fixture Selection: Lucile Glessner Landscape Architect: Thuilot and Associates Photography: ©2024 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Palo Alto, CA

Our clients wanted to incorporate an East Coast vibe into their home. The kitchen had a great layout, but a wilted palette of earth tones looked outdated and uninspired. With a busy lifestyle and two kids in school, the couple needed a highly functional space that didn't skimp on style. Their research of design-build firms led them to the JRP website, and they called for a consultation the same day. After years of living with dark cabinets and a mix of heavy colors, the couple craved lightness. They wanted an airy kitchen with smooth, light-reflecting surfaces and a full-slab backsplash. A plan was drawn up for a complete rebuild that would change everything in the kitchen except the layout and the original tile-and-wood floors. Now bright and uncluttered, this transitional kitchen is truly a space where the family can gather for years to come. Every part of the room draws you in, creating an atmosphere that embraces lingering conversations. The holistic design balances East Coast cool with California chic. Layers of contrasting textures achieve a high level of polish that looks and feels exceptional. The full-slab backsplash in Calacatta quartz stands out as a work of art, its glossy surface softly reflecting natural light. Matching quartz countertops add lustrous movement, where painted and natural wood textures quietly anchor the room. New, two-tone cabinetry is fresh and on-trend. A stunning linear chandelier in bronze evokes classical warmth. Where a built-in desk once collected clutter, stacked shaker cabinets now incorporate storage and visual interest. Integrated appliances, beautifully concealed behind DeWils cabinetry, hint at minimalist sophistication. Cabinets (Manufacturer, Door Style, Material, Color/Stain or Finish) - KITCHEN PERIMETER & PANTRY: DeWils, Sheffield, Maple, Limestone - KITCHEN ISLAND: DeWils, Sheffield, Walnut, Nutmeg Countertops (Material Type - Manufacturer, Collection, Color) - Quartz – Vadara, Paris Collection, Calacatta Blanco Light Fixture (Type - Manufacturer, Collection, Color) - Chandelier - Visual Comfort & Co, Darlana Large Linear Lantern Plumbing Fixture (Type - Manufacturer, Color) - Faucet – Grohe, Antique Bronze Sink (Type – Manufacturer, Material) - Undermount - Kohler, Cast Iron Hardware (Type – Manufacturer, Color) - Cabinet Pulls - Top Knobs, Oil Rubbed Bronze - Cabinet Knobs - Top Knobs, Oil Rubbed Bronze Color of wall: - Dunn Edwards Bone China Photographer: J.R. Maddox

Inspiration for a small craftsman medium tone wood floor and exposed beam freestanding desk exterior home remodel in Seattle with white walls

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Located in Palo Alto's flood zone, this Eichler home underwent a phased renovation thoughtfully redesigned to accommodate a growing family of five, with an emphasis on school proximity and nearby grandparents. The bedroom wing was completely reconfigured, including a new front addition as a guest suite for grandparents, expanding the house to five bedrooms and three baths. Taller 9-foot ceilings were introduced in some areas, enhancing the overall openness—a lofty goal for an Eichler. The tranquil courtyard, a favorite spot for the family, was redesigned to allow parents to watch the kids while cooking. The backyard became a relaxing lounging area connected to the living room. Once dark living spaces were modernized by removing a low-hanging beam in the kitchen, adding skylights for natural light, and eliminating the fireplace to create a more functional entertainment space. Finally, new landscaping reflecting the client's heritage and some of the home's architectural elements, creates a harmonious indoor-outdoor flow. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA and Angela Alexander Interior Architecture: Klopf Architecture Bathroom Materials and Light Fixture Selection: Lucile Glessner Landscape Architect: Thuilot and Associates Photography: ©2024 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Palo Alto, CA

A retired couple desired a valiant master suite in their “forever home”. After living in their mid-century house for many years, they approached our design team with a concept to add a 3rd story suite with sweeping views of Puget sound. Our team stood atop the home’s rooftop with the clients admiring the view that this structural lift would create in enjoyment and value. The only concern was how they and their dear-old dog, would get from their ground floor garage entrance in the daylight basement to this new suite in the sky? Our CAPS design team specified universal design elements throughout the home, to allow the couple and their 120lb. Pit Bull Terrier to age in place. A new residential elevator added to the westside of the home. Placing the elevator shaft on the exterior of the home minimized the need for interior structural changes. A shed roof for the addition followed the slope of the site, creating tall walls on the east side of the master suite to allow ample daylight into rooms without sacrificing useable wall space in the closet or bathroom. This kept the western walls low to reduce the amount of direct sunlight from the late afternoon sun, while maximizing the view of the Puget Sound and distant Olympic mountain range. The master suite is the crowning glory of the redesigned home. The bedroom puts the bed up close to the wide picture window. While soothing violet-colored walls and a plush upholstered headboard have created a bedroom that encourages lounging, including a plush dog bed. A private balcony provides yet another excuse for never leaving the bedroom suite, and clerestory windows between the bedroom and adjacent master bathroom help flood the entire space with natural light. The master bathroom includes an easy-access shower, his-and-her vanities with motion-sensor toe kick lights, and pops of beachy blue in the tile work and on the ceiling for a spa-like feel. Some other universal design features in this master suite include wider doorways, accessible balcony, wall mounted vanities, tile and vinyl floor surfaces to reduce transition and pocket doors for easy use. A large walk-through closet links the bedroom and bathroom, with clerestory windows at the high ceilings The third floor is finished off with a vestibule area with an indoor sauna, and an adjacent entertainment deck with an outdoor kitchen & bar.

The goal of the client was to have a basement getaway like no other. In addition to their authentic Irish Pub (imported from Ireland) & classic billiard/poker area, they wanted a place that they to gather and watch multiple football games and the occasional movie in luxury while still keeping the pub atmosphere. After meeting with the client, we designed a media retreat that met the homeowners expectations for a getaway that was easy to use and enhanced their decor. We installed an 84" Ultra-HD 4K flat panel, flanked by 2 65" High Definition displays, each can display a different game and switch displays on the fly. The system is controlled by a Crestron Control system as well as the multiple zones of audio through-out the basement and the outside pool area. The Crestron is controlled by the client easily using an iPad with icon driven interface custom programmed by Georgia Home Theater. This install was a success in meeting the clients wishes to have a relaxing area that was inviting and simple to use. Jason Robinson @ 2014

The original homeowner’s plan was to do an extensive renovation to the existing structure. Scott Simpson and Tom Kenny, owners of Scott Simpson Builders, collaborated with the homeowners and the architect, John Holbert, and decided to do new construction to utilize as many green technologies and building practices as possible. As the project progressed, more and more elements were employed to make this home a unique, environmentally sensitive structure. GREENER BUILDING Green technologies used in construction include: --8,000 kw of photovoltaic cells. --Installation of a net meter system by which excess energy can be sold back to the electric company. --Solar panels to heat home’s floors through a radiant system and to heat the home’s water. --Low VOC water-based urethane used to seal concrete basement floor and low VOC finishes throughout. --Roof was made from Galvalume-an aluminum that reflects solar energy off the roof and reduces the need for air conditioning. --The installation of an 8,000 gallon tank under the driveway to harvest rain water and re use it to water drought resistant trees and grasses. This is the FIRST rain water harvest system to be installed in the Village of Wilmette. --Green roof located over garage. --Benches used are Gabians, traditionally used for erosion control. The bricks used in the benches were recycled from the original brick home on the site. --A rain garden was installed in the backyard as part of the storm water management system. Innovative and creative solutions include: --Creating mantles from trees that had to be removed from the property prior to construction. --Stone for the fireplaces was made from Chilton Stone from Sussex, Wisconsin. --1,500 s.f. of Villeroy & Boch tile through out house sourced and reused from a local convent that was converted into condominiums. --Exterior siding from recycled pickle barrels. --Recycled barn wood used throughout for closet doors and cabinetry. --Grade school gymnasium floor recycled and used for children’s basement playroom. --Decorative beams, hardwood flooring originated from timbers from the Thomas Edison factory in New London, Wisconsin. --Shelving in the living room was built by Amish cabinetmakers, Lambright Woodworking, using reclaimed walnut.

Photo: Kayla Pearson © 2016 Houzz
1950s bathroom photo in Chicago

The mission: turn an unused back patio into a space where mom and dad and kids can all play and enjoy being together. Dad is an avid video gamer, mom and dad love to play board games with friends and family, and the kids love to draw and play. After the patio received a new enclosure and ceiling with recessed LED lights, my solution was to divide this long space into two zones, one for adults and one for kids, but unified with a sky blue and soothing green color palette and coordinating rugs. To the right we have a comfortable sofa with poufs gathered around a specialty cocktail table that turns into a gaming table featuring a recessed well which corrals boards, game pieces, and dice (and a handy grooved lip for propping up game cards), and also has a hidden pop-up monitor that connects to game consoles or streams films/television. I designed a shelving system to wrap around the back of a brick fireplace that includes narrow upper shelving to store board games, and plenty of other spots for fun things like working robotic models of R2D2 and BB8! Over in the kids’ zone, a handy storage system with blue doors, a modular play table in a dark blue grey, and a sweet little tee pee lined with fur throws for playing, hiding, or napping gives this half of the room an organized way for kids to express themselves. Magnetic art holders on the wall display an ever-changing gallery of finger paintings and school crafts. This back patio is now a fun room sunroom where the whole family can play!