A cluster of new buildings including a residence, studio, garage, and gallery were sensitively sited and landscaped to have an intimate and powerful connection with their site. The structures were sited to mediate the transition between open fields and a woodland edge, as well as define a central open space around which the buildings organize. Through the careful selection and placement of materials, the landscape appears to be anything but “designed”. In addition, plants literally “lift” to the roof creating the sense of nature flowing over and around the buildings, establishing an intended tension between buildings and landscape. Architect: Winkelman Architecture, Portland, Maine Builder: NateHolyoke Builders, Holden, Maine Landscape Contractor: Atlantic Landscape Construction, Ellsworth, Maine Photo Credit: Trent Bell

Complete redesign & remodel of an existing cabin with a new second story, wrap-around covered deck and outbuilding. Design maximizes environmental sensitivity and long-term energy efficiency while highlighting the mountain site's superb views. Extensive use of reclaimed and salvaged materials maintain and update the cabin's rustic character.

Ground up build in Savannah, Ga - neighborhood gentrification area, loaded with galleries, restaurants, boutiques - and now, new homes that are sensitive to the old Savannah architecture. We worked hand in hand with the builder and homeowner from blueprint to accessory placement - all finishes and furnishings selected to withstand a coastal lifestyle and a big old dog!

Way back in the late 1970s, the owners of an 1894 Victorian in Somerville hired Charlie Allen Renovations to renovate and restore their home, a landmark property that had been divided into apartments and lost some of its period charm. This was a memorable project and it was a shock when the homeowners called in December 2014 to let us know that their home had been badly damaged by a fire. They asked if we could once again restore it to its original prominence. This time nearly every original element of the home needed to be restored or rebuilt. We began the process by carefully removing all original moulding and paneling, which was then catalogued, thoroughly cleaned, and stored away. Belfor, a property restoration firm, was hired to remove soot and smoky odors, which required opening the walls and then rebuilding them. Numerous decorative elements throughout the home, including an intricate stained glass window in the dining room, had been too badly damaged to be restored; these were carefully remade by both our talented team and by an exceptional group of project partners, to match their original design. All of the windows in the house had to be replaced, and all of its floors needed to be refinished. Tile hearth surrounding the dining room fireplace and the living room fireplace mantel and surround were removed, cleaned, and replaced. The homeowners also took the opportunity to have some long-desired renovations accomplished, including remodeling the outdated kitchen, which now features an expansive island, pantry closet, new cork flooring, backsplash, and greenhouse window. Today, the house is fully both meticulously restored and remodeled, and the owners are happily back home. At its conclusion, the project was awarded with the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission’s 2017 Directors Award and a 2018 Contractor of the Year Gold Award. Along with Belfor, additional project partners include Jackson Schillaci Woodworking, master finisher Wayne Towle, and Jim Anderson Stained Glass. Photo by Shelly Harrison Photography

This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in San Diego.

Today’s kitchen is a place that offers not only food for your stomach, but also “food for your eyes”. The owners of this residence, are sensitive to both of these functions. After the client’s approval to “borrow” a little space (24”D) from their garage was obtained, they received a new Mud Room combined with a “Green lab” for their bonsai-hobby, new entrance to the back yard and a bigger updated kitchen. The small appliances here work like decorative details. The big ones (i.e. 48” refrigerator) are concealed with panels. The contrast cabinet finishes, tile floor, wood ceiling with flashed LED lights converted this kitchen to an enjoyable entertainment space. Guests can rotate here around a custom designed granite island-bar.

Old Town Wood Floors is a premium wood flooring company operating in Winston Salem and the surrounding areas. We bring skill and artistry to the world of home design with expert workmanship in refinishing and installing wood floors. We specialize in customized designs, dark stains, and the use of reclaimed wood, as well as in sensitive historical restoration.

Calligaris is a company that keeps up with the times, perceiving the present with that sensitivity that allows for the most interesting and fruitful ideas to be transformed into furniture and decorative accessories ready to enter people's homes and find their place, creating unique spaces that speak volumes about their occupants. Specifications: Bed Frame Height: 12.5"

At-home chic is easy with Plaza's comfortable level of polish. This friendly off white kitchen with black island cabinets shows a sensitive use of details like crown molding, legs and corbels, allowing the design to wrap the space so well. Plaza door from Decora in Chantille Espresso and Jet finishes

Both the design and construction teams put their heart into making sure we worked with the client to achieve this gorgeous vision. The client was sensitive to both aesthetic and functionality goals, so we set out to improve their old, dated cramped kitchen, with an open concept that facilitates cooking workflow, and dazzles the eye with its mid century modern design. One of their biggest items was their need for increased storage space. We certainly achieved that with ample cabinet space and doubling their pantry space. The 13 foot waterfall island is the centerpiece, which is heavily utilized for cooking, eating, playing board games and hanging out. The pantry behind the walnut doors used to be the fridge space, and there's an extra pantry now to the left of the current fridge. We moved the sink from the counter to the island, which really helped workflow (we created triangle between cooktop, sink and fridge/pantry 2). To make the cabinets flow linearly at the top we moved and replaced the window. The beige paint is called alpaca from Sherwin Williams and the blue is charcoal blue from sw. Everything was carefully selected, from the horizontal grain on the walnut cabinets, to the subtly veined white quartz from Arizona tile, to the black glass paneled luxury hood from Futuro Futuro. The pendants and chandelier are from West Elm. The flooring is from karastan; a gorgeous engineered, white oak in herringbone pattern. The recessed lights are decorative from Lumens. The pulls are antique brass from plank hardware (in London). We sourced the door handles and cooktop (Empava) from Houzz. The faucet is Rohl and the sink is Bianco.

Bob Kulon
Bedroom - southwestern bedroom idea in Las Vegas

This shaded portal showcases the enduring beauty of Santa Fe Style Architecture, where traditional wood detailing and adobe forms create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. Surrounded by native plantings and framed by expansive views, the design reflects Gayla Bechtol Architect’s commitment to Sustainable Architecture New Mexico and sensitive Site and Landscape Design Santa Fe. The project honors the region’s historic building traditions while offering a timeless space for reflection, gathering, and harmony with nature.

Elegant home design photo in Miami

Featured in Galerie Magazine, this formerly Mediterranean-style house in Sausalito was completely transformed into a bold, contemporary home with sweeping views of the bay. The strong and sensitive design collaboration between Nicole Hollis and John Lum was perfectly executed to frame the owner’s extensive art and furniture collection. Appointed throughout with custom architectural metal and woodwork touches, this home features a centerpiece cantilevered steel and oak stair and double steel and glass bridges. John Lum Architecture NICOLEHOLLIS Arterra Landscape Architects Douglas Friedman Photography

This pond has a 44 mil liner to ensure a leak free swimming structure. The liner material is sensitive to sunlight and will eventually breakdown over the years if it is exposed. As a result, our team spent 3 days meticulously covering the entire pond liner with stone. Each small boulder is hand placed to ensure a perfect fit and not tear the liner in the building process. The amount of patients and effort by our crew is incredible and the result is always beautiful! The waterfall which adds to the natural feel of the pond was created with large stone shelves and a bog for natural filtration. All of our water features use natural filtration processes and no chemicals. We create a simulated bog which the water is pumped into and cleaned naturally though various levels of sand, stone and wetland plants.

Example of a trendy kitchen design in Boston

Located in the agricultural outskirts of Grand Junction, this project was designed as a forever home for our client to enjoy the views and live in the heart of her daughter’s ranch. This is the second home on the property, and being sensitive to the existing structures was key to the success of the project. Our client values privacy and maintaining the wide open nature of living within the farm lands that built the Grand Valley. We were able to be mindful of the existing home, as well as the distant neighbors, to create a mountain modern farmhouse, rooted in Grand Junction’s agricultural landscape. Design Concept One of the most prominent items on our client’s wish list was an abundance of natural light and a connection to the outdoor spaces. Without any natural features to provide shade to the home, we designed awning features, deep eaves and spacious porches to shield the large expanses of glass from the intense western Colorado sun. We designed well shaded clerestory windows to allow natural light to reach deep into the interior spaces and installed energy efficient, Low-E Weathershield windows to provide year round interior comfort. Our client also valued an open floor plan and durability of materials to make the home as maintenance free as possible. We installed tile flooring throughout for ease of cleaning, installed standing seam metal on the roof for longevity, and fiber cement board siding for durability. It is a harsh landscape in the Western Colorado sun, and we wanted our client’s home to withstand the tests of the desert. Aging in Place Because this was designed as a forever home, we used a number of unique design techniques to ensure the home was safe and suitable for aging in place. The most important technique we utilized was designing a “dropped” floor system allowing our floor to be level with the exterior patios. As in all of our homes, we utilized an energy efficient Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) stem wall foundation. This system also allowed us to easily drop our floor joists into it, eliminating any steps, big or small, going into the house. The seamless transitions not only provide safe maneuvering throughout the home, but also a contemporary flair on the farmhouse aesthetic. The positioning of the house relative to the existing home, large expanses of wood plank stamped concrete patios and 3+ foot wide doors throughout are only a few of the other approaches we took to make sure our client was safe and comfortable as they age in this home.

A New Home in the Craftsman Style in Burlingame, California Our design of this large house in Burlingame was inspired by nearby Craftsman style homes. We also designed the swimming pool, pool house and bridges in the back yard. Carefully designed wood brackets and details complement the strong symmetrical form of the exterior. Traditional wood and leaded glass windows, stone masonry and slate tile roofs with copper gutters also contribute to this authentic and timeless design. This rich palette of materials and detailing are continued inside the house with coffered wood ceilings, painted wainscot paneling and trim, custom fireplace surrounds, decorative ironwork railings, and a curved entry stair. We represented our client in sensitive negotiations with neighbors of multiple Planning Commission hearings. The kitchen was featured in the 2006 Burlingame Classic Kitchen Tour. We also designed two bridges over the creek in the backyard.