The clients purchased the home about 15 years ago and never knew what to do with the porch addition off the back of the home. In addition to being a general eye sore and cutting off a large portion of their small back yard, it was always a little damp, smelly, and not very well arranged. This also impeded access to the back yard by forcing passage through a secondary space. The size of the porch restricted light into the home which they did not like. The at-grade cedar deck was a maintenance nightmare and a terrible misuse of space.

I had a blast working on this personal project. My partner, Alex, is working from home and I needed a space where I could be creative but also put in the hard work. We had 100sf, a budget of "as-cheap-as-possible," and tons of rental restrictions--but good design always starts with a little problem solving, right? I infused the space with lots of neutral colors and tons of texture to keep it warm. I threw in my favorite vintage pieces, a big oversized paper lantern, and a bookshelf bar for some soul. & just like that, it's our favorite spot in town.

The distinctive triangular shaped design of the Bayridge Residence was driven by the difficult steep sloped site, restrictive municipal bylaws and environmental setbacks. The design concept was to create a dramatic house built into the slope that presented as a single story on the street, while opening up to the view on the slope side.

We wanted to add a few windows to the second floor, but the existing spaces were tight and restricted where windows and shutters could be placed. Photo by Daniel Contelmo Jr.

I had a blast working on this personal project. My partner, Alex, is working from home and I needed a space where I could be creative but also put in the hard work. We had 100sf, a budget of "as-cheap-as-possible," and tons of rental restrictions--but good design always starts with a little problem solving, right? I infused the space with lots of neutral colors and tons of texture to keep it warm. I threw in my favorite vintage pieces, a big oversized paper lantern, and a bookshelf bar for some soul. & just like that, it's our favorite spot in town.

The clients purchased the home about 15 years ago and never knew what to do with the porch addition off the back of the home. In addition to being a general eye sore and cutting off a large portion of their small back yard, it was always a little damp, smelly, and not very well arranged. This also impeded access to the back yard by forcing passage through a secondary space. The size of the porch restricted light into the home which they did not like. The at-grade cedar deck was a maintenance nightmare and a terrible misuse of space.

For this project, our client was an avid cook so we redesigned the kitchen with that in mind. Originally, the kitchen was very small with a restrictive wall separating it from the living and just a tiny kitchenette. We removed the wall separating the rooms to create an open-floor plan and also placed in the two islands. This allows our client to watch over her family while she spends time in the kitchen and also foster greater family intimacy in the space. The pendant lighting, the blue glass tile, stools, and other details were specifically selected and coordinated throughout the kitchen for our client due to her love of her favorite LeCreuset color.

The distinctive triangular shaped design of the Bayridge Residence was driven by the difficult steep sloped site, restrictive municipal bylaws and environmental setbacks. The design concept was to create a dramatic house built into the slope that presented as a single story on the street, while opening up to the view on the slope side.

Panoramic view of Dining area and kitchen after renovation using Cabinetsmith Cambridge White courtesy of Jermyn Lumber in Bobcaygeon. The Cabinetsmith solution for this space was shaped by eliminating the barriers restricting the small kitchen, nook and living space providing square footage to create an elegant kitchen, large sit-in island and stylish entertaining area achieving the open concept look the clients desired. To brighten the spacious atmosphere the design utilizes a transitional recessed panel finished in a contemporary painted white. Embellishments including decorative corbels, island panels and crown moulding stacked to the ceiling add a touch of traditional character to the space balancing the relationship between classic elegance and modern simplicity.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city along the beautiful St. Croix waterway, the site of this river residence is unparalleled. One challenge the design team faced were the restrictions put in place by the DNR's Wild and Scenic Rivers program, which monitored the height, materials, and setbacks of buildings along the river in order to maintain natural landscapes usable for all. Using these guidelines and regulations, Shelter sought to clad the building with natural-looking materials whenever possible. The finished home preserved the original stone basement and deck structure and on the upper floors neutral, reserved colors were chosen for the cladding.

The small, boring and dysfunctional patio space this client inherited when they purchased their home is now replaced by outdoor room experiences that better meet the entertainment needs and expectations of our client. The built-in masonry sofa and fire pit is always the hit of every party! The old mismatched dated planting areas have been removed to make way for current colorful succulents, natural grasses, and blooming perennials. The water hogging mowed lawn areas that were always being eaten by rabbits is now replaced with artificial grass that looks so real that the neighbors were reminding our client they could only water once a week due to drought restrictions!

Feng Shui dictated the orientation and functional layout of this 2 bed, 3 full bath apartment to harmonize with spiritual forces. The 1,600sf plan creates generous, open, and clutter-free spaces, as small, dark areas restrict the flow of positive energy. Photographer: © Francis Dzikowski

After raising their family and living with the existing kitchen for decades, this couple came to us wanting to completely redo and update their existing kitchen. They had made few changes over the years and the space was in need of renovation as the existing appliances and finishes were tired and dated. They were working with a very specific and conservative budget and asked us to work closely with them to keep the design in line with both their budget and their scheduling restrictions. The renovation included included redoing the mudroom and the entrance from the garage and opening the space up to the existing deck and great view of the NYC skyline beyond. Within the kitchen itself, we changed the configuration of the island and relocated some appliances. We then worked with the clients to select all of the new finishes. The end result is a timeless, comfortable spot for relaxing and entertaining.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city along the beautiful St. Croix waterway, the site of this river residence is unparalleled. One challenge the design team faced were the restrictions put in place by the DNR's Wild and Scenic Rivers program, which monitored the height, materials, and setbacks of buildings along the river in order to maintain natural landscapes usable for all. Using these guidelines and regulations, Shelter sought to clad the building with natural-looking materials whenever possible. The finished home preserved the original stone basement and deck structure and on the upper floors neutral, reserved colors were chosen for the cladding.

Designing and building outdoor living spaces in Austin, TX, we have become experts in meeting local water quality regulations. At issue are the natural aquifers that supply drinking water to city residents. In order to maintain water quality, the city restricts impervious ground cover. Homeowners are limited to a specific percentage of impervious cover on their lots. Any space beyond that percentage must be permeable.

I had a blast working on this personal project. My partner, Alex, is working from home and I needed a space where I could be creative but also put in the hard work. We had 100sf, a budget of "as-cheap-as-possible," and tons of rental restrictions--but good design always starts with a little problem solving, right? I infused the space with lots of neutral colors and tons of texture to keep it warm. I threw in my favorite vintage pieces, a big oversized paper lantern, and a bookshelf bar for some soul. & just like that, it's our favorite spot in town.

I had a blast working on this personal project. My partner, Alex, is working from home and I needed a space where I could be creative but also put in the hard work. We had 100sf, a budget of "as-cheap-as-possible," and tons of rental restrictions--but good design always starts with a little problem solving, right? I infused the space with lots of neutral colors and tons of texture to keep it warm. I threw in my favorite vintage pieces, a big oversized paper lantern, and a bookshelf bar for some soul. & just like that, it's our favorite spot in town.

BISTRO FARE In the Kitchen, narrow nesting tables that simply offer a place to grab a quick bite provided necessary room for opposing runs of cabinetry- modern era painted built-in cabinets on one side and an Old-World furniture-like natural walnut hutch on the other. Lightly veined white marble countertop folds up wall to become end backsplash. Existing double window, which could not be changed on the outside due to homeowner association restrictions, was made to appear as a triple with an additional blind bay.