This living room is an addition to the home with yellow walls, unique horizontal window, and open staircase features. Our living room has a vaulted ceiling to the second floor.

Second floor dream bedroom remodeling projects usually include a ½ or ¾ bath. Maybe even a tub and shower. Squeezing the most out of limited second-floor space is a big design and construction challenge. This second-floor remodeling design included a full bath with full shower simply by adding a new wall to enclose the bathroom space. The before and after photos tell the story. The new bath features a custom vanity with Silestone countertop and rubbed oil fixtures, adding an element of class. Plumbing was efficiently routed from the basement to the second floor, an energy efficient window was installed to warm up cold Minnesota nights, and a sliding “pocket door” was added for privacy. In the bedroom area, built-in bookcases and in-ceiling lighting adds warmth and creates an open feeling. Large energy-efficient windows let in lots of sunshine during the day. The new wrought iron stairway railing is the first thing seen when entering the new space. This design element is the most talked about part in this project. It adds just the right dimension and flare to the entire bedroom-bathroom project. And it ties the second floor décor to that of the first.

Christopher Galluzzo
Eat-in kitchen - transitional galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls, an island and gray backsplash

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

Hall Bathroom Remodel with Second-Floor Laundry (Barn Door)
Transitional single-sink bathroom photo in Philadelphia with furniture-like cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Kitchen - contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Ottawa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Spiral staircase features red oak treads and a continuous handrail from the basement to the second floor. Photo by Mike Kaskel.
Example of a huge beach style wooden spiral wood railing staircase design in Chicago with painted risers

lay RoomAt top of stairs is a common play space with built-in storage.
Alcove bathtub - craftsman kids' multicolored tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove bathtub idea in Portland with shaker cabinets, turquoise cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Elegant multicolored floor laundry room photo in Minneapolis with white cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray countertops

Duppenthaler Design
Example of a mid-sized minimalist u-shaped bamboo floor enclosed kitchen design in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Example of a trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Ottawa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

deck remodel
Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard ground level deck skirting remodel with no cover

Second floor landing for relaxing. Photo Credit: N. Leonard
Hallway - large cottage wooden u-shaped wood railing, medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway idea in New York with painted risers and beige walls

Example of a small transitional backyard second story metal railing deck design in Philadelphia with a roof extension

Inspiration for a large farmhouse white two-story wood exterior home remodel in San Francisco

Renovation of entire first floor ranch then add second floor total sqft 2800 after renovations
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless green two-story vinyl and shingle gable roof remodel in New York with a shingle roof and a brown roof

Photo by Travis Peterson.
Example of a small trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops