In 2021, Reynard Architectural Designs accepted its first design project. Our team partnered with Tobars Dobbs to transform a tiny, abandoned ranch in West Atlanta into an expansive contemporary modern home. The first floor, existing brickwork, and main structure where kept in tact. The original ranch was a closed floor plan with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with an extended hallway. All the interior finishes, appliances and walls were removed to convert the home into an open floor plan that maximizes space on the first floor. The finished home is a modern contemporary design that doubled the number of bedrooms, created four accessible outdoor decks, and created a fresh look that balances simplicity with plenty of character. The home on Shirley Street takes advantage of minimalist/modern design elements, clean white countertops and cupboards that are complimented nicely by classic stainless steel finishes. The original ranch home was once confined and segmented. Now, an open stairway that is bathed in natural light leads to the main living space above. Low profile jack and jill vanity mirrors, a soaker tub with a view, and a spacious shower all highlight the serene master bathroom. The master bedroom makes great use of light with a small, private transom above the bed and easy outdoor access to a private patio deck behind the main sleeping quarters. A private getaway shaded by the surrounding live oaks is just what's needed after a long day at work. The home on Shirley Street features four of these private patio decks that provide additional entertainment and relaxation space.

The client wanted a backyard that all the family could enjoy. The Rear project included: a new patio using EP Henry Devonstone in Pennsylvania Bluestone color with matching border; Segmental retaining wall for fireplace, hot tub area and outdoor kitchen / bar using Outdoor Living by Belgard Antique wall in silex blend; thermal flagstone countertop for bar; lighting; water feature - Aquascape Inc. pondless waterfall; outdoor fireplace with Ledgestone Breckenridge veneer; and landscaping. The front project included plantings and a new walkway using Pennsylvania variegated natural cleft flagstone with clay brick to match house. Stay tuned for professional After photos and video.

This "Palatial Villa" is an architectural statement, amidst a sprawling country setting. An elegant, modern revival of the Spanish Tudor style, the high-contrast white stucco and black details pop against the natural backdrop. Round and segmental arches lend an air of European antiquity, and fenestrations are placed providently, to capture picturesque views for the occupants. Massive glass sliding doors and modern high-performance, low-e windows, bathe the interior with natural light and at the same time increase efficiency, with the highest-rated air-leakage and water-penetration resistance. Inside, the lofty ceilings, rustic beam detailing, and wide-open floor-plan inspire a vast feel. Patterned repetition of dark wood and iron elements unify the interior design, creating a dynamic contrast with the white, plaster faux-finish walls. A high-efficiency furnace, heat pump, heated floors, and Control 4 automated environmental controls ensure occupant comfort and safety. The kitchen, wine cellar, and adjoining great room flow naturally into an outdoor entertainment area. A private gym and his-and-hers offices round out a long list of luxury amenities. With thoughtful design and the highest quality craftsmanship in every detail, Palatial Villa stands out as a gleaming jewel, set amongst charming countryside environs.

Ron Levinson, Basic Landscape
This is an example of a traditional partial sun backyard stone landscaping in Chicago with a fire pit for summer.

FROM THE DESK OF YVONNE ROBERTS 'Connecting our Built & Unbuilt Worlds.' As an innovator of lifestyle design, to include more than 20 years’ experience in the luxury hotel segment, Guru of Luxury is focused on creating a unique, sustainable ambiance, further ensuring a memorable guest experience. The setting should be immersive, transformative and deeply engaging. The goal is to create a vibe that captivates guests – whom we refer to as Global Citizens – by feeling the environment beyond the visual surroundings.

The 20-year-old kitchen originally in this home was dark and segmented and was in dire need of a makeover to bring in the light. Overlooking the harbor, the space needed to reflect the view it held, and its small area was a challenge. However, Classic Kitchens & Interiors set to work taking down ceilings, removing columns and relocating rooms to create a series of fresh, bright and open spaces that includes a much larger kitchen with three islands, and a pass-through pantry. With water views all around, the homeowners selected Pescara inset with hidden dust rail in Nordic White for their perimeter cabinets, and Hale Blue for the center island for a beachy blue and white coastal theme. The cabinets feature decorative end panels with lock mitered corners, and the cabinetry crown is simple and understated to easily blend with the room base molding. The large center island countertop has embedded supports to allow a large overhang for oversized stools. The wet bar is designed with Chatham Recessed cabinetry in a high-gloss Hale Blue finish with the continuing marble countertop and brushed brass and glass shelving. Designed by Rebecca Brown Classic Kitchens & Interiors Hyannis, MA

This beautiful Aspinwall home had a very small and segmented first floor. The design flipped the kitchen and dining room so that the rooms were more proportional to their needs and functions. An opening was created on each side of the wall between the two rooms, and the brick chimney between that could not be removed acted as the division of space without the two rooms being closed off to one another. The house shared one main bathroom on the second floor, so a master bathroom was added to the master bedroom upstairs in what was originally a closet space. This created a fully functional suite.

In 2021, Reynard Architectural Designs accepted its first design project. Our team partnered with Tobars Dobbs to transform a tiny, abandoned ranch in West Atlanta into an expansive contemporary modern home. The first floor, existing brickwork, and main structure where kept in tact. The original ranch was a closed floor plan with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with an extended hallway. All the interior finishes, appliances and walls were removed to convert the home into an open floor plan that maximizes space on the first floor. The finished home is a modern contemporary design that doubled the number of bedrooms, created four accessible outdoor decks, and created a fresh look that balances simplicity with plenty of character. The home on Shirley Street takes advantage of minimalist/modern design elements, clean white countertops and cupboards that are complimented nicely by classic stainless steel finishes. The original ranch home was once confined and segmented. Now, an open stairway that is bathed in natural light leads to the main living space above. Low profile jack and jill vanity mirrors, a soaker tub with a view, and a spacious shower all highlight the serene master bathroom. The master bedroom makes great use of light with a small, private transom above the bed and easy outdoor access to a private patio deck behind the main sleeping quarters. A private getaway shaded by the surrounding live oaks is just what's needed after a long day at work. The home on Shirley Street features four of these private patio decks that provide additional entertainment and relaxation space.

This kitchen renovation was designed to transform a previously segmented and dated space into a refined, highly functional centerpiece of the home. The concept balances classic architectural detailing with modern performance, creating a timeless aesthetic grounded in warmth and contrast. Perimeter cabinetry in a soft painted finish establishes a bright and elegant backdrop, while the richly stained island anchors the space with depth and visual weight. Layered lighting, warm metallic accents, and subtle stone movement introduce texture and sophistication. The overall design prioritizes symmetry, clean lines, and a seamless connection to adjacent living spaces, resulting in a kitchen that supports both everyday living and entertaining.

The new Milgard Tuscany window above the sink, with its dual glaze, ensures energy efficiency while offering a picturesque view. The interior walls, painted in a clean white, further accentuate the kitchen island, painted in a soft baby blue, harmonizing with the light blue tiles, and creating a visually pleasing palette. This remodel isn't just about aesthetics; functionality is at its core. The kitchen island, seating four comfortably, is equipped with multiple outlets, perfect for the modern, multitasking San Jose household. The choice of matte brushed nickel for the cabinet knobs and pulls unifies the kitchen's design elements with a touch of understated elegance. A significant architectural change in this remodel is the removal of the wall separating the great room and kitchen. This strategic decision by May Construction has transformed the space into an open floor plan, fostering a sense of togetherness and fluidity. An exposed beam adorns the ceiling, subtly defining the kitchen and great room areas while maintaining an open, airy feel. May Construction has masterfully transformed a once segmented and dim space into an open, light-filled haven of modern luxury and efficiency. This San Jose kitchen and great room remodel is a testament to their commitment to quality, functionality, and aesthetic excellence. For those in San Jose and beyond looking to rejuvenate their homes, May Construction remains a beacon of innovation and craftsmanship in home remodeling.

THE SETUP The original primary bathroom was characterized by a disjointed and segmented layout. The shower featured a bulky glass-block enclosure that overwhelmed the space visually. There was a considerable amount of open, unused space, and despite having a his and hers vanity, the arrangement lacked personal space for each user, as they shared the conjoined space between the sinks. The toilet was inconveniently located right by the door, with a half-wall partition meant to provide privacy but instead contributing to a cramped and unbalanced feel. Overall, the bathroom’s layout and design were fragmented, failing to make the most of the available space and lacking adequate storage solutions. Design objectives: - Reconfigure the layout to enhance functionality and flow. - Create an elegant, upscale aesthetic that is light and bright. - Incorporate specialized storage solutions for female hair care needs. - Increase overall storage capacity. - Develop a spa-like shower experience. - Provide a significant wow factor to the space. THE REMODEL Design challenges to be solved: - Repositioning the toilet to a more suitable location. - Designing hair care storage solutions without cluttering the elegant space. - Balancing an upscale, elegant design with a feminine touch in the color palette. - Increasing the brightness of the room without adding windows. - Completely replacing the existing shower to create a spa-like experience. - Planning new storage solutions without adding bulkiness or clutter to the cabinetry. THE RENEWED SPACE Design solutions: Toilet Relocation: Moved the toilet by the window, creating a better overall layout that also opened up two full walls for cabinetry and storage solutions. Specialized Vanity Storage: The left side of the left vanity is the wife’s. Open shelves facing across the vanity can be used for decorative or daily needs items. Pull-out docking drawers with power outlets and metal basins handle hot hair appliances. Bright and Elegant Color Scheme: White cabinets, countertops, floors, and shower walls keep the space bright. The just-off-white wall color with a hint of pink adds a feminine touch. Thin wainscoting with white trim offers traditional-leaning elegance. Layered Lighting Strategy: Ceiling can lights, sconces, lighted mirrors, and toe-kick lighting were installed. Natural light-rated bulbs keep the space bright and natural-feeling. Spa-Like Shower: An extra-large shower was created using the same floor tile materials for continuity. Equipped with a Kohler Anthem system with a shower head, hand-held, and four body sprays. His and Hers niches for separate body care product storage. Enhanced Storage Solutions: Added a linen cabinet within the vanity area for efficient storage of towels and bathroom essentials. This elegant bathroom feels incredibly spacious now. The color palette and lights keep the room bright and cheery. Gold fixtures, the herringbone pattern on the floor, and exquisite trim work add an elegant touch. With the husband and wife having their own vanity wall sections joined at the corner, each user truly has their own space within the space. The clients are very happy with the final result.

Bathroom - bathroom idea in Boston

The customers had purchased the home after moving from up North but they were unhappy with the kitchen area. Specifically, they wanted to turn their kitchen from a segmented room into a large open space that encompassed a fireplace at one end. This area of the home already had some great features that we wanted to show off to their best advantage, including beautiful, arched, huge windows and glass patio doors that looked out down the beach as well as the 12 to 15 foot ceilings. We worked with the client at our Largo location to develop a design. They selected a KraftMaid Lindale-painted dove white cabinet including all of the bells and whistles like soft closing doors and drawers. Due to the height of the room they chose very large upper cabinets stacked with glass and decorate panels around the sides and fronts to display decorative items and beach artifacts. This choice gave the room an open, airy feeling and the light color works with the sunlight to really brighten the space. As part of this remodel, the client also updated all of their appliances so our design seamlessly incorporated them into the space, both along the walls and in their wonderful, large island. This room is now the heart of the main floor and this brilliant, eye-catching space is a place to gather with friends and family, dine and relax. It was a significant remodel project and we needed to work around other trades, such as glaziers, electricians, plumbers and flooring experts. We are experts at working in this type of environment and, though there were a few delays due to challenges in coordinating work timelines, the client and his wife were extremely pleased with the results.

Belmont Classic home and design uses Brookhaven II Insert cabinetry with a cross over to Wood-Mode 84 Insert cabinetry to achieve a beautiful vision. Door style is Madison Recessed, Nordic White. The top of the Island in the kitchen is a honed Carrera marble with the perimeter countertops is soapstone, oiled and waxed. Faucets are a decorative polished nickel from The Brass Decorative Grille Co. Ltd. Cutlery board is Boos butcher block. Appliances: dishwasher is Miele with an integrated panel and a Fisher Pykel dishwasher with an integrated panel. Rohl farm sink and prep sink, Thermador oven, range, refrigerator all with integrated panels. Back splash tile Sonoma Tile with Hardwood floor.

The deep and narrow space became segmented by functional screens made up of repurposed scaffolding, designed to display the fresh ingredients used in the kitchen. With a total of 280 miles of protective sidewalk scaffolding in front of close to 8,000 buildings in New York City, the otherwise industrial material has become synonymous with the identity and architectural experience of the city. Based on the client’s unlimited need for storage, the repurposed scaffold displays help give prominence to the duality of a brand made up of New York City and fresh ingredients.

Originally built in 1892, this quaint log cabin has undergone a transformative renovation while preserving its charming character. Located near the Little Deschutes River in Central Oregon, within the historic Vandert Homestead, the home now boasts bright, open spaces for everyday living, complete with flexible aluminum clad folding doors. Working alongside contractor Bales Inc., architect Jeff Klein from Klein Architecture led the renovation with the goal of opening the once dark interior to natural light and the surrounding landscape. Central to the design was transforming a deteriorating garage into a new functional sunroom, creating a light-filled space that reorients the cabin design toward the patio and natural environment. Restoring a Historic Cabin with Aluminum Clad Folding Doors outdoor living with aluminum clad folding door A Revamped Cabin Design for Indoor-Outdoor Living The former garage is now a transitional space between the cabin and a natural stone patio. Positioned along the south elevation, the sunroom captures daylight throughout the day while acting as a buffer between the interior and exterior environments. A revised roof assembly was developed to resolve previous drainage failures. Working with framers, the design team incorporated a sloping roof system with a waterproof membrane to direct water away from the structure. This approach not only protected the log walls but also created access to a rooftop deck from the upper level, adding functional outdoor space without expanding the building footprint. “It was also critical to transform the existing dark, segmented interior spaces by physically opening them up to the new sunroom,” says Klein. “NanaWall systems offered the ideal solution for what we were after.” historical homestead interior Improving Spatial Flow, From the Kitchen to the Sunroom The kitchen remained largely intact during the renovation, retaining many of the elements that had defined the cabin’s character for decades. Features such as the farmhouse sink, concrete countertops, butcher-block island, and built-in seating were retained, creating a perfect blend of old and new. What changed was how the kitchen connects to the surrounding rooms. The layout now flows naturally into an adjacent dining area before extending into the newly added sunroom, delivering a seamless transition from the interiors to the outdoors through aluminum clad folding doors. Historic log cabin with clad folding doors and windows A Light-Filled Sunroom Designed for Gatherings with Aluminum Clad Windows and Doors The newly added sunroom became the centerpiece of the cabin design. Designed as a bright, welcoming space, it connects the historic cabin to the natural stone patio beyond. Interior designer Sue Olson helped create the room's atmosphere by choosing finishes and furnishings that complement the cabin's rustic materials while keeping the space open and inviting. The sunroom captures sunlight throughout the day and serves as a flexible space for dining, relaxing, and entertaining. The addition was designed to sit comfortably alongside the existing log structure while introducing expansive glazing and aluminum clad folding doors that draw daylight deep into the home. NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors and windows Aluminum Clad Folding Doors Open the Sunroom to the Patio A NanaWall aluminum clad folding glass door opens the south wall of the sunroom, creating a direct connection to the natural stone patio. Spanning more than thirteen feet wide and nearly eight feet tall, the system allows the entire façade to open when the panels are folded back. Specified with pine wood frames and simulated divided lites, the door complements the cabin’s traditional materials while introducing the flexibility of modern indoor-outdoor living. When closed, the door frames the view while bringing daylight into the sunroom. When open, the space seamlessly flows into the patio. Plus, customized with double glazed panels, these aluminum clad systems offer an insulated barrier that keeps cold weather out and keeps comfortable interiors year-round. “The NanaWall system was the ideal solution for the proposed design,” says Klein. “The result is a seamless connection between the sheltered interior area and the openness of the outdoor environment.” aluminum clad folding windows A Folding Window Creates an Indoor-Outdoor Bar Complementing the folding door and indoor-outdoor cabin design, a NanaWall aluminum clad folding window was installed at bar height along the sunroom wall facing the patio. Stretching more than thirteen feet across and just over four feet in height, the opening transforms the wall into a casual indoor-outdoor serving counter. Specified with matching pine wood frames and simulated divided lites, the system folds away easily, creating an indoor-outdoor bar that encourages interaction between the sunroom and patio. When open, the counter becomes a flexible gathering point for meals, drinks, and conversation, allowing those inside and outside to share the space comfortably. “The NanaWall door and window systems played a pivotal role in achieving our design objectives,” says Klein. “The connection between the indoor and outdoor environment has become seamless.” inoor-outdoor living with clad folding windows and doors The Flexible Design Solution for Every Home Style Beyond creating large openings, the NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors were chosen for how well they integrate with the cabin’s traditional architecture while delivering modern functionality. The wood clad panels, specified with simulated divided lites, reflect the style and charm of classic window detailing, while panels that fold outward maximize usable space inside the cabin. Minimal frames maximize glass area, drawing natural light deeper into the sunroom and adjacent spaces. Paired with higher weather performance sills, the systems are built to withstand the region’s climate while allowing the sunroom to shift easily between a sheltered interior space and an open-air extension of the patio. Additionally, NanaWall aluminum clad systems feature clip-on cladding technology that allows the wood to breathe in environments where temperatures are extremely hot, humid, or cold. This, in turn, aligns with the renovation’s goal of resolving prior drainage and moisture issues. outdoor living with NanaWall aluminum clad systems Final Thoughts: Historic Cabin Design Reimagined for Modern Living Today, the Vandevert Homestead perfectly blends old-time charm with modern living. The renovation maintains the historic character of the original log structure while introducing brighter, more connected spaces that better engage with the surrounding landscape. With the transformation of the garage into a light-filled sunroom and flexible NanaWall aluminum clad folding doors, everyday living now flows naturally between the kitchen, dining area, sunroom, and patio. The result is a cabin that feels both timeless and renewed, where historic craftsmanship remains intact while the home experience is lighter, more open, and closely tied to the natural beauty of Central Oregon.

This beautiful Aspinwall home had a very small and segmented first floor. The design flipped the kitchen and dining room so that the rooms were more proportional to their needs and functions. An opening was created on each side of the wall between the two rooms, and the brick chimney between that could not be removed acted as the division of space without the two rooms being closed off to one another. The house shared one main bathroom on the second floor, so a master bathroom was added to the master bedroom upstairs in what was originally a closet space. This created a fully functional suite.

When a husband and wife team of professional botanists wanted to remodel their cramped, 1980s-era bathroom, we naturally looked to the forest for inspiration! With the expert help of Elite Construction Services Inc., we opened up this formerly segmented space (the toilet and washer/dryer were in a separate area from the shower/tub and vanity) to make it feel larger. A controlled, muted color scheme further enlarges the room by connecting all the planes, and serves as a neutral backdrop for a calming spa experience. All the materials speak to my clients’ love of nature. The custom wood vanity with tower and coordinating mirror frame are made so the grain lays in a refreshing horizontal pattern. The porcelain field tile is made to look like limestone with shadows of sediment and fossils. Other elements add to the feeling of a walk in the woods: long-format porcelain tiles of falling leaves cascade down a wall and blend into a stream of river stones that roll across the width of the space. The open, curbless shower with a hidden linear drain invites users for a cleansing respite. Sleek, modern fixtures and a wall-hung toilet enhance the clean, soothing look of this organic, tranquil bathroom. Photo: Genia Barnes

This Kitchen and Mudroom renovation in Chantilly, VA featured plenty of kitchen counter space with a unique kitchen island, beautiful white cabinetry and kitchen backsplash and modern appliances that turned this dark and segmented kitchen into a bright open space.