The Garvin-Weeks Farmstead in beautiful North Reading, built c1790, has enjoyed a first floor makeover complete with a new kitchen, family room and master suite. Particular attention was given to preserve the historic details of the house while modernizing and opening up the space for today’s lifestyle. The open concept farmhouse style kitchen is striking with its antique beams and rafters, handmade and hand planed cabinets, distressed floors, custom handmade soapstone farmer’s sink, marble counter tops, kitchen island comprised of reclaimed wood with a milk paint finish, all setting the stage for the elaborate custom painted tile work. Skylights above bathe the space in natural light. Walking through the warm family room gives one the sense of history and days gone by, culminating in a quintessential looking, but fabulously updated new England master bedroom and bath. A spectacular addition that feels and looks like it has always been there! Photos by Eric Roth

These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull

Photo: © wlinteriors.us / Julian Buitrago
Mid-sized elegant u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, marble countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls, an island and beige countertops

A full arch double dark wood front door with decorative wrought iron laid over the door's glass, sidelights, and transom. Product Number: WI 2047c
Inspiration for a large mediterranean limestone floor front door remodel in Los Angeles with a dark wood front door and beige walls

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

custom hand carved cabinetry by Erik Davin Atlanta rustic cabinetry.com
Inspiration for a large rustic kitchen remodel in Atlanta

This unique project has heavy Asian influences due to the owner’s strong connection to Indonesia, along with a Mountain West flare creating a unique and rustic contemporary composition. This mountain contemporary residence is tucked into a mature ponderosa forest in the beautiful high desert of Flagstaff, Arizona. The site was instrumental on the development of our form and structure in early design. The 60 to 100 foot towering ponderosas on the site heavily impacted the location and form of the structure. The Asian influence combined with the vertical forms of the existing ponderosa forest led to the Flagstaff House trending towards a horizontal theme.

This dining room was built around an artisan table that was a prized possesion of the clients. It was made entirely without nails by a Seattle artist. To compliment the table, Alexandra Rae created a room in the vein of master Mid Century furniture makers. The brass chandelier, carved floating buffet and tufted velvet saber leg chairs subtly nod to Mad Men chic. Details like the sculptural vases, hand carved candle sticks and poured concrete lamps ground the space with the same post modern artisanal personality of the dining table

A rectangular leisure pools sits in the middle of a Mediterranean-style hacienda courtyard. The pool is paved in a deep teal-blue pool plaster and lined with custom hand-painted tiles, giving the look of an exotic oasis. Hand-painted tiles surrounding a hand-carved Italian marble basin fountain at the head of pool provides a stunning focal point against the backdrop of the mountains. Lushly planted blue-glazed ceramic pots flank the carved wood columns that support the Spanish tiled portal. Deep plush lounge chairs allow the space to be fully enjoyed by the residents any time of the day. Photo Credit: Kirk Gittings

New Hand Carved Stone Fireplaces by Ancient Surfaces. Phone: (212) 461-0245 Web: www.AncientSurfaces.com email: sales@ancientsurfaces.com ‘Ancient Surfaces’ fireplaces are unique works of art, hand carved to suit the client's home style. This fireplace showcases traditional an installed Continental design. All our new hand carved fireplaces are custom tailored one at a time; the design, dimensions and type of stone are designed to fit individual taste and budget. We invite you to browse the many examples of hand carved limestone and marble fireplaces we are portraying.

Reclaimed, rustic French & Mediterranean limestone and marble sinks by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish. They are the artistic centerpiece for your bathroom, laundry room, utility room, patio, garden and kitchen giving your space a warm and cozy feeling. Additionally, they are very durable. Our collection of sink designs is so vast that they cover any style whether Mediterranean, minimalism, modern, rustic, industrial, farmhouse or old world.

This is a Tuscan Mediterranean style villa with a hand carved reclaimed rustic limestone entryway, French stone Dalle de Bourgogne flooring, Barre Montpelier wall cladding, wrought iron and balcony railing and gate by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.

This warm French country kitchen features a custom curved hood-fan, furniture detailing on lower cabinets, panel fridge and freezer with top display area and long granite countertop island with hand-carved corbels.

Newly Carved French & Mediterranean limestone fireplace mantels by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.

Newly Carved French & Mediterranean limestone fireplace mantels by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.

Newly Carved French & Mediterranean limestone fireplace mantels by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.

Newly Carved French & Mediterranean limestone fireplace mantels by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.

Newly Carved French & Mediterranean limestone fireplace mantels by Architectural Stone Decor. www.archstonedecor.ca | sales@archstonedecor.ca | (437) 800-8300 All these unique pieces of art are either newly hand carved or assembled from reclaimed limestone. They are tailored and custom made to suit each client's space and home in terms of design, size, color tone and finish.