The Escape embraces one of the best aspects of life in New England – the amazing range of natural settings within a relatively short distance from home that allows us an entirely different living experience. Here we get to rejuvenate and recreate with friends and family at our home away from home. From the mountains and lakes of New Hampshire, to the Island of Nantucket and the coast of Maine, Carter & Company has had the great fortune to help design, build and decorate some amazing vacation homes. These are special places with unique points of view that creatively reflect the natural environment, all with an emphasis on ease, comfort and relaxation.

Example of a minimalist l-shaped concrete floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and a peninsula

This home was a complete gut, so it got a major face-lift in each room. In the powder and hall baths, we decided to try to make a huge impact in these smaller spaces, and so guests get a sense of "wow" when they need to wash up! Powder Bath: The freestanding sink basin is from Stone Forest, Harbor Basin with Carrara Marble and the console base is Palmer Industries Jamestown in satin brass with a glass shelf. The faucet is from Newport Brass and is their wall mount Jacobean in satin brass. With the small space, we installed the Toto Eco Supreme One-Piece round bowl, which was a huge floor space saver. Accessories are from the Newport Brass Aylesbury collection. Hall Bath: The vanity and floating shelves are from WW Woods Shiloh Cabinetry, Poplar wood with their Cadet stain which is a gorgeous blue-hued gray. Plumbing products - the faucet and shower fixtures - are from the Brizo Rook collection in chrome, with accessories to match. The commode is a Toto Drake II 2-piece. Toto was also used for the sink, which sits in a Caesarstone Pure White quartz countertop.

VHT
Inspiration for a contemporary deck remodel in Chicago with a pergola

Transitional laundry room photo in Chicago

Kitchen remodel featuring plaster custom range alcove with white oak island.
Inspiration for a cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, black appliances, an island and gray countertops

Bedroom - mid-sized farmhouse master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Portland Maine with gray walls

A charming 1920s colonial had a dated dark kitchen that was not in keeping with the historic charm of the home. The owners, who adored British design, wanted a kitchen that was spacious and storage friendly, with the feel of a classic English kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client, while architect Greg Lewis redesigned the home to accommodate a larger kitchen, new primary bath, mudroom, and butlers pantry. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

Living room - large rustic formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Other with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Michael Moran
Example of a trendy white floor hallway design in DC Metro with white walls

Inspiration for an eclectic laundry room remodel in Atlanta

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal side yard stone outdoor patio shower remodel in Santa Barbara with no cover

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. Eric Roth Photo

HUNTER DOUGLAS ALUSTRA® VIGNETTE® Designer fabrics that fold perfectly! The dramatic look of Hunter Douglas Alustra® Vignette® Modern Roman Shades make a room. Exclusive fabrics, rich textures and a finished look with no exposed cords make these shades a defining fashion statement. Design Inspiration EXCLUSIVE FABRICS Our handpicked premium fabrics turn ordinary rooms into ones of beauty and distinction. When framed with our fabric-covered hardware, these fabrics create window fashions that can complement your décor and create welcoming, comfortable spaces. Traditional™ fold SOFT YET MODERN A 4-inch contoured fold for that traditional, yet modern, look at the window. Tailored™ fold CRISP AND SOPHISTICATED A 6-inch flat fold that is nicely pressed for a defined finish. Tiered™ STACKED SOFTNESS This option allows shades to stack up, down or anywhere in between. Absorb Sound REDUCE OUTSIDE NOISE Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows. Simple. The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert. UV Protection SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR VALUABLES Protect your furniture, flooring and artwork from fading with at least 75% protection from harmful UV rays. Top-Down/Bottom-Up PRIVACY WITH A VIEW A more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light. Platinum™ Technology CONTROL FROM YOUR PHONE OR TABLET Controlling your window treatments with a mobile device means you can set your blinds to movie mode, work mode, or 8 a.m. mode with the touch of a button, without leaving your seat. It’s effortless, fun and smart—with perfectly smooth operation. Accents by the Yard™ FABRICS FOR YOUR ROOM DECOR Fabrics are available by the yard, so you can create decorative accents for any room with matching fabric. Lifetime Guarantee FOR LIFE Hunter Douglas products are designed and custom-assembled in the U.S. with the highest level of quality. But just in case, every window treatment from Hunter Douglas is covered by our lifetime limited guarantee. Read the Hunter Douglas Warranty to learn more. Hunter Douglas Alustra® Vignette® Modern Roman Shades with EasyRise™ Cord Loop Hunter Douglas Alustra® Vignette® Modern Roman Shades with EasyRise™ Cord Loop Fabric: Cassatt Color: Oak Park Available from Accent Window Fashions LLC Hunter Douglas Showcase Priority Dealer Hunter Douglas Certified Installer Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Dealer #Hunter_Douglas #Alustra #Vignette #Modern_Roman_Shades #EasyRise #Cord_Loop #Roman_Shades #Window_Treatments #HunterDouglas #Accent_Window_Fashions Copyright 2001-2014 Hunter Douglas, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bathroom - large contemporary bathroom idea in Denver

Photography: Dana Hoff Architecture and Interiors: Anderson Studio of Architecture & Design; Scott Anderson, Principal Architect/ Mark Moehring, Project Architect/ Adam Wilson, Associate Architect and Project Manager/ Ryan Smith, Associate Architect/ Michelle Suddeth, Director of Interiors/Emily Cox, Director of Interior Architecture/Anna Bett Moore, Designer & Procurement Expeditor/Gina Iacovelli, Design Assistant Chair: Lee Industries, COM fabric Lamp: Jana Bek Design Fabric/Leather: Romo, Perennials, Lee Jofa, Edelman Built-in Cushion/Panels: Jean's Custom Workroom Desk: Hickory White Rug: Designer Carpets

Living room with arched windows and an open concept and a built in fireplace and tv wall
Inspiration for a transitional light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The atrium features two 20-foot living walls. Photo by: Mark Surloff
Patio vertical garden - contemporary courtyard patio vertical garden idea in Miami with no cover

Lori Hamilton Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary master light wood floor bedroom remodel in Miami with blue walls