Several years ago, Jill and Brian remodeled their kitchen with TKS Design Group and recently decided it was time to look at a primary bath remodel. Jill and Brian wanted a completely fresh start. We tweaked the layout slightly by reducing the size of the enormous tub deck and expanding the vanities and storage into the old tub deck zone as well as pushing a bit into the awkward carpeted dressing area. By doing so, we were able to substantially expand the existing footprint of the shower. We also relocated the French doors so that the bath would take advantage of the light brought in by the skylight in that area. A large arched window was replaced with a similar but cleaner lined version, and we removed the large bulkhead and columns to open the space. A simple freestanding tub now punctuates the area under the window and makes for a pleasing focal point. Subtle but significant changes. We chose a neutral gray tile for the floor to ground the space, and then white oak cabinetry and gold finishes bring warmth to the pallet. The large shower features a mix of white and gray tile where an electronic valve system offers a bit of modern technology and customization to bring some luxury to the everyday. The bathroom remodel also features plenty of storage that keeps the everyday necessities tucked away. The result feels modern, airy and restful!

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

THE SETUP Sam’s client had lived in her downtown townhome home for less than a year when she decided to remodel the spacious second level. This open area consisted of three sections: a TV and fireplace zone, a sparsely furnished dining area, and a dominant central kitchen. The kitchen featured a long back wall with three segmented sections and a massive island housing the cooktop. She found the kitchen’s functionality lacking and its presence overwhelming – it dominated the entire floor, regardless of where you stood. Design objectives: - Reconfigure key kitchen elements (sink, cooktop, oven) while minimizing the kitchen’s visual impact - Optimize the kitchen’s back wall, eliminating existing dead space - Create a purposeful, well-defined dining area - Establish a distinct, comfortable living area - Reuse existing appliances and flooring - Maintain an overall modern design aesthetic THE REMODEL Design challenges to be solved: - Redesign the island to reduce its overwhelming presence - Create a comfortable, dedicated living room within the available space - Establish a distinct, inviting dining area within spatial constraints - Enhance kitchen functionality and style without dominating the entire floor THE RENEWED SPACE Design solutions: - Sam created raised end caps for the island. This separated the kitchen from adjacent living and dining areas while focusing the kitchen’s functionality. The new sink location offers ample workspace, allowing the cook to interact with guests seated at the island. The redesigned island also provides additional storage. - For the living area, Sam opted for a functional-yet-minimalist approach. Large-format tile creates a natural stone look for the fireplace and TV wall. The recessed TV and extended fireplace shelf maintain a sleek profile. - Artistic wallpaper adds depth and texture, while the intentional lack of extensive shelving keeps the space open and distinct. - Sam transformed the dining area’s blank wall into a feature, adding a unique dry bar with counter space, open shelves, cabinet storage and a beverage fridge. - - - Wallpaper behind and above the bar contributes to the area’s personality. A mirror adds depth while pendant lights add style and visual interest. Relocating the cooktop to the back wall facilitates hidden ventilation, reducing visual clutter. Sam balanced transitional and modern elements for a contemporary yet comfortable feel. The digital control panel on the convection cooktop maintains a sleek look, while the wall oven is now at an easy-to-use height. ----- Mirrored base cabinet fronts and a paneled fridge prevent cabinetry monotony. The redesign has delighted Sam’s client, achieving her main goal of creating a more inviting and visually appealing space. Each section now has its own visual personality and functionality while harmonizing within a monochromatic palette. The entire floor offers wow-factor pop upon first glance, with each area maintaining its distinct character while contributing to a cohesive, modern aesthetic.

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

"Really good product I bought a set of Vintner series redwood wine rack kits for my little wine room. After looking around the web at several options, I decided to try Wine Cellar Innovations first. However, after trying to sort out exactly what combination of kits I should get I contacted the company to take advantage of their free design service. After a quick exchange of emails with Fabian, and a couple of days, I got some sample layouts. After looking at a few more iterations I finally placed my order. The kits arrived in several boxes, in good shape and with everything I needed. The kits assembled flawlessly and the redwood was straight and without knots. After sorting through the pieces and the directions the assembly went fairly quickly. I used a pneumatic brad nailer which I highly recommend - without it you might need two people. I did it all without help. The kits I purchased stacked 3' racks on top of 4' racks for a total height of 7', and also got 2 corner units. I also got the "display" option which displays the bottle label for one bottle in each column - it slightly reduces the number of bottles but I think it will make it easier for me to keep track of what I have stored in each column. The racks are sturdy and solid. I really love the finished product. It looks custom made it fits so tightly into the room - only about 2" of space on one end of the rack. I am really a novice at this, so I don't have any other products to compare this to, but based on my experience I would recommend this company to anyone. Hope this review helps." Scott P.

Block the sun and maintain your view! Our large selection of interior solar screens is the ideal solution to your indoor natural lighting needs. Allow the proper amount of sunlight in while creating the perfect environment in your home. Utilize the interior solar screens to reduce the sun’s glare while saving money by blocking the heat from entering the room. Choose from a variety of fabrics that can blend with their surroundings or feature them as a design aspect in the room. Our interior solar screens are best for windows, glass doors, and sunrooms. Maintain your view while blocking harmful UV rays.

Block the sun and maintain your view! Our large selection of interior solar screens is the ideal solution to your indoor natural lighting needs. Allow the proper amount of sunlight in while creating the perfect environment in your home. Utilize the interior solar screens to reduce the sun’s glare while saving money by blocking the heat from entering the room. Choose from a variety of fabrics that can blend with their surroundings or feature them as a design aspect in the room. Our interior solar screens are best for windows, glass doors, and sunrooms. Maintain your view while blocking harmful UV rays.

You won’t be disappointed to have a staycation at this beautiful Wellesley property. The homeowner came to us looking to completely overhaul their blank-slate property into a pool paradise. Our team creatively worked to design the pool area and the outcome was a truly special place to swim and relax. The pool is the centerpiece of this backyard, it is a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It’s surrounded by a bluestone coping and a large patio made of Cambridge Pavers. The steps and retaining wall at the end of the pool are beautifully veneered with Berkshire natural stone. The stonework really tops off the hardscape, providing an appealing contrast to the paver patio material. There are two features that really set this pool apart – the pool fountain jets and the automatic cover. The homeowner wanted “fountains like the Bellagio.” We worked with Environmental Pools to make that dream a reality. It was a tough decision to opt either for an infinity edge or an automatic cover for the pool, the homeowner eventually decided that it would be a better investment to have the automatic pool cover. With the push of a button, the cover goes from totally hidden to completely covering the pool for safety and keeping any leaves or dirt getting into the water. Clients often comment on how happy they are with their automatic pool covers. Automatic covers drastically reduce the time necessary to clean and maintain the pool, leaving them more time to simply enjoy and unwind outside. Next to the pool is a wood-burning fire pit, a perfect place to sit and hang out and maybe even have a S’more in between cannonballs into the deep end. A row of lounge chairs ensures that everyone’s got a place to relax and soak in the sun. As the homeowners have young kids it was essential to save a large amount of space for a beautifully manicured lawn. Whether you’re looking to throw a frisbee, play some cornhole, or kick a soccer ball there is more than enough room for activities.

You won’t be disappointed to have a staycation at this beautiful Wellesley property. The homeowner came to us looking to completely overhaul their blank-slate property into a pool paradise. Our team creatively worked to design the pool area and the outcome was a truly special place to swim and relax. The pool is the centerpiece of this backyard, it is a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It’s surrounded by a bluestone coping and a large patio made of Cambridge Pavers. The steps and retaining wall at the end of the pool are beautifully veneered with Berkshire natural stone. The stonework really tops off the hardscape, providing an appealing contrast to the paver patio material. There are two features that really set this pool apart – the pool fountain jets and the automatic cover. The homeowner wanted “fountains like the Bellagio.” We worked with Environmental Pools to make that dream a reality. It was a tough decision to opt either for an infinity edge or an automatic cover for the pool, the homeowner eventually decided that it would be a better investment to have the automatic pool cover. With the push of a button, the cover goes from totally hidden to completely covering the pool for safety and keeping any leaves or dirt getting into the water. Clients often comment on how happy they are with their automatic pool covers. Automatic covers drastically reduce the time necessary to clean and maintain the pool, leaving them more time to simply enjoy and unwind outside. Next to the pool is a wood-burning fire pit, a perfect place to sit and hang out and maybe even have a S’more in between cannonballs into the deep end. A row of lounge chairs ensures that everyone’s got a place to relax and soak in the sun. As the homeowners have young kids it was essential to save a large amount of space for a beautifully manicured lawn. Whether you’re looking to throw a frisbee, play some cornhole, or kick a soccer ball there is more than enough room for activities.

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

You won’t be disappointed to have a staycation at this beautiful Wellesley property. The homeowner came to us looking to completely overhaul their blank-slate property into a pool paradise. Our team creatively worked to design the pool area and the outcome was a truly special place to swim and relax. The pool is the centerpiece of this backyard, it is a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It’s surrounded by a bluestone coping and a large patio made of Cambridge Pavers. The steps and retaining wall at the end of the pool are beautifully veneered with Berkshire natural stone. The stonework really tops off the hardscape, providing an appealing contrast to the paver patio material. There are two features that really set this pool apart – the pool fountain jets and the automatic cover. The homeowner wanted “fountains like the Bellagio.” We worked with Environmental Pools to make that dream a reality. It was a tough decision to opt either for an infinity edge or an automatic cover for the pool, the homeowner eventually decided that it would be a better investment to have the automatic pool cover. With the push of a button, the cover goes from totally hidden to completely covering the pool for safety and keeping any leaves or dirt getting into the water. Clients often comment on how happy they are with their automatic pool covers. Automatic covers drastically reduce the time necessary to clean and maintain the pool, leaving them more time to simply enjoy and unwind outside. Next to the pool is a wood-burning fire pit, a perfect place to sit and hang out and maybe even have a S’more in between cannonballs into the deep end. A row of lounge chairs ensures that everyone’s got a place to relax and soak in the sun. As the homeowners have young kids it was essential to save a large amount of space for a beautifully manicured lawn. Whether you’re looking to throw a frisbee, play some cornhole, or kick a soccer ball there is more than enough room for activities.

You won’t be disappointed to have a staycation at this beautiful Wellesley property. The homeowner came to us looking to completely overhaul their blank-slate property into a pool paradise. Our team creatively worked to design the pool area and the outcome was a truly special place to swim and relax. The pool is the centerpiece of this backyard, it is a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It’s surrounded by a bluestone coping and a large patio made of Cambridge Pavers. The steps and retaining wall at the end of the pool are beautifully veneered with Berkshire natural stone. The stonework really tops off the hardscape, providing an appealing contrast to the paver patio material. There are two features that really set this pool apart – the pool fountain jets and the automatic cover. The homeowner wanted “fountains like the Bellagio.” We worked with Environmental Pools to make that dream a reality. It was a tough decision to opt either for an infinity edge or an automatic cover for the pool, the homeowner eventually decided that it would be a better investment to have the automatic pool cover. With the push of a button, the cover goes from totally hidden to completely covering the pool for safety and keeping any leaves or dirt getting into the water. Clients often comment on how happy they are with their automatic pool covers. Automatic covers drastically reduce the time necessary to clean and maintain the pool, leaving them more time to simply enjoy and unwind outside. Next to the pool is a wood-burning fire pit, a perfect place to sit and hang out and maybe even have a S’more in between cannonballs into the deep end. A row of lounge chairs ensures that everyone’s got a place to relax and soak in the sun. As the homeowners have young kids it was essential to save a large amount of space for a beautifully manicured lawn. Whether you’re looking to throw a frisbee, play some cornhole, or kick a soccer ball there is more than enough room for activities.

You won’t be disappointed to have a staycation at this beautiful Wellesley property. The homeowner came to us looking to completely overhaul their blank-slate property into a pool paradise. Our team creatively worked to design the pool area and the outcome was a truly special place to swim and relax. The pool is the centerpiece of this backyard, it is a sleek design that seamlessly integrates into the landscape. It’s surrounded by a bluestone coping and a large patio made of Cambridge Pavers. The steps and retaining wall at the end of the pool are beautifully veneered with Berkshire natural stone. The stonework really tops off the hardscape, providing an appealing contrast to the paver patio material. There are two features that really set this pool apart – the pool fountain jets and the automatic cover. The homeowner wanted “fountains like the Bellagio.” We worked with Environmental Pools to make that dream a reality. It was a tough decision to opt either for an infinity edge or an automatic cover for the pool, the homeowner eventually decided that it would be a better investment to have the automatic pool cover. With the push of a button, the cover goes from totally hidden to completely covering the pool for safety and keeping any leaves or dirt getting into the water. Clients often comment on how happy they are with their automatic pool covers. Automatic covers drastically reduce the time necessary to clean and maintain the pool, leaving them more time to simply enjoy and unwind outside. Next to the pool is a wood-burning fire pit, a perfect place to sit and hang out and maybe even have a S’more in between cannonballs into the deep end. A row of lounge chairs ensures that everyone’s got a place to relax and soak in the sun. As the homeowners have young kids it was essential to save a large amount of space for a beautifully manicured lawn. Whether you’re looking to throw a frisbee, play some cornhole, or kick a soccer ball there is more than enough room for activities.

One of the most impressive parts of the kitchen is that Adam installed it himself – even though he admits that initially the idea was daunting. “When we found that IKEA cabinets might be a fit for our project, we took a trip to our closest IKEA to look at their cabinets. We found the choices both amazing and overwhelming,” he says.“We also felt that we could not renovate our kitchen by just using the IKEA design tool.We were looking to get some help on optimizing the space. A Google search brought IKD up as the option that best fit what our needs were – so we started working with IKD.” Calling the design process with IKD “a breeze” Adam decided to take the next several months to research how to install the kitchen. “We visited IKEA again to better understand how the cabinets were put together. I’m glad that I really focused on the IKEA kitchen installation guide at the beginning of the installation to help get my rails installed properly and to really speed up putting the cabinets onto the wall,” he adds. He also points out that he got lucky as the BODBYN cabinet fronts were on sale when he was ready to purchase – making the cabinetry a cost effective choice as well. He concludes: “We were really attracted to that fact that we could reduce our kitchen’s cost by installing it ourselves. Doing this required watching a number of YouTube videos and reading numerous articles on how to do it as well as having smaller scale home improvement projects to have the skillset necessary to do the work.”

Images by Nic LeHoux Designed as a home and studio for a photographer and his young family, Lightbox is located on a peninsula that extends south from British Columbia across the border to Point Roberts. The densely forested site lies beside a 180-acre park that overlooks the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound. Having experienced the world from under a black focusing cloth and large format camera lens, the photographer has a special fondness for simplicity and an appreciation of unique, genuine and well-crafted details. The home was made decidedly modest, in size and means, with a building skin utilizing simple materials in a straightforward yet innovative configuration. The result is a structure crafted from affordable and common materials such as exposed wood two-bys that form the structural frame and directly support a prefabricated aluminum window system of standard glazing units uniformly sized to reduce the complexity and overall cost. Accessed from the west on a sloped boardwalk that bisects its two contrasting forms, the house sits lightly on the land above the forest floor. A south facing two-story glassy cage for living captures the sun and view as it celebrates the interplay of light and shadow in the forest. To the north, stairs are contained in a thin wooden box stained black with a traditional Finnish pine tar coating. Narrow apertures in the otherwise solid dark wooden wall sharply focus the vibrant cropped views of the old growth fir trees at the edge of the deep forest. Lightbox is an uncomplicated yet powerful gesture that enables one to view the subtlety and beauty of the site while providing comfort and pleasure in the constantly changing light of the forest.

Terran Landscapes http://www.terranlandscapes.com Project Entry: Fishers Woodland Garden 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Theme Garden $15,000-$30,000 Award Level: Bronze Photo Description: We were contracted by the client to design a calming space for their staff to relax, take a walk, and enjoy a leisurely lunch as well as to provide their grandchildren a place to run and pick flowers. The space was originally dominated by large trees and had been overgrown with ivy, sumac and aggressive vines, providing an unwelcome, dark space with little color or visual appeal. The client requested a colorful blend of shrubs and perennials that would provide interest throughout the seasons, as well as provide privacy by screening the street traffic along Carisbrooke Road. Our goal was to create the privacy screen along the road by layering plants from the ground to the tree canopy. The theme was to let nature inspire the landscape, allowing a space that was originally woodland to become an enhanced version of itself, creating a beautiful habitat for birds and butterflies to excite the senses and satisfy all who enjoy the beauty of nature. We began by clearing the brush and removing all aggressive vines and ivy that jeopardized the health of the trees. We kept and transplanted all non- invasive or native plant material in the area to various locations throughout the property. Several yards of compost were then tilled into the soil and the existing trees fertilized to provide a rich growing environment. A few challenges occurred during the design process. It was decided that a new generator was to be installed in the woodland and due to a future addition to the house, we were forced to eliminate planned additional impervious pathway surfaces. We provided screening to hide the generator and buffer the noise, and created a meandering path and sitting area out of natural woodchips instead of the proposed bluestone to solve the impervious space issue. The woodchips add a sense of informality and invite the viewer to walk slowly through the space. The reduced noise from the additional screening of the generator allows for quiet reflection as chipmunks scurry and hummingbirds dart about between the flowers. Our plant palette consists of shady understory plants that thrive and flower vigorously from spring through fall. A tall, lush, evergreen backdrop of Ilex opaca and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ provides the screening and blends into a middle layer of ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood, hydrangeas and winterberry hollies. Beautiful perennials and groundcovers bloom along the woodland path, providing a low visual layer of color and texture. Movement throughout the garden is provided by the graceful Calamagrostis brachytricha and Hakenchloa that soften the nearby hardscaping. The woodland floor is full of shade-loving Solomon’s seal, hosta, astilbe, ferns, bleeding heart, Tiarella and Aconitum. The street side of this woodland required plants with a preference for a little more sun and drought tolerance. A palette of oakleaf hydrangea, Agastache, Liatris and Rudbeckia softens the fence line and provides the desired color. As designed and installed, the woodland garden successfully provides the client’s family and office staff a quiet space where they can take a peaceful moment and enjoy nature. Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

After 11 years on the Gull Lake chain in Nisswa, this couple decided to sell their cabin. Their current home has the lake view, pine trees and “up north” feel right here in Plymouth. The goal of this remodel was to incorporate some of the Nisswa cabin features into an “urban cabin”. The first step was, large windows were installed to take in the view of the lake. Some features borrowed from the cabin are the interior wood tongue & groove siding, ledge stone fireplace and scraped hickory flooring. Designer, Carol Kornak, reconfigured the appliance locations and reoriented the kitchen by added an island with eating space. And, a subtle but rewarding change occurred in the back hall. Often a bottleneck, the hallway to the garage was a catch-all for coats, boots, mail, etc. With a little design magic (by removing a wall, reducing pantry depth) and adding a boot bench and hooks for coats, the narrow hallway feels more spacious. To keep them organized there is a mail sorting and charging station hidden behind closed doors. Admittedly, the couple isn’t roughing it with their Wolf/Sub-Zero appliance package including refrigerator, wine cooler, cooktop, steam oven and warming drawer. The new cabinetry from Crystal Cabinet Works in rustic hickory and painted finish pairs beautifully with the two Cambria countertops and completes the transformation into the “Urban Cabin”. The only thing missing is the 2 ½ hour drive and the dock & boat. Luckily, Lake Minnetonka is only a short drive away.

Drop-in bathtub - mid-sized traditional master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile drop-in bathtub idea in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, a two-piece toilet and blue walls

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.