This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna

The site and sound of the pond-less fountain helps cool off this extremely hot property. The owners had been battling gophers, deer, drainage issues, drought, and hard, rocky soil for years. They decided to eliminate their entire front lawn & add a pond-less water fountain as a focal point. I strove to provide year-round interest by adding evergreen trees and shrubs to their mostly deciduous & perennial existing plants & a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year. We terraced the yard to address the drainage issues and separated the levels with a dry-stacked fieldstone wall. Low-water, erosion control plants at the top of the hill & plants that tolerate more water at the bottom will help with the longevity of their landscape. A cool palette of purple, blue, and pink helps sooth and unify the design. The spiral of gravel & Dymondia ground-cover (will fill in the area in a couple of months) draws the eye towards the fountain & provides a large area to rest the eyes that won’t need to be watered. It was a challenge to choose plants that the deer & gophers would be less likely to destroy, that can grow under a large Oak tree, and that attract beneficial insects to help the garden last!

This Mediterranean style home is fit on a compact lot in the heart of town for a professional couple with young children and au pair. The below grade bedrooms, family room and office are essential to providing for the family needs, with the extensive window light wells with lush landscaping and detailed masonry finishes bringing in sufficient light and pleasant views so that the rooms a comfortably used on an everyday basis. The open kitchen, living and dining rooms allow for a casual and informal lifestyle, while careful control of the openings, finishes and lighting create let each space per separately experienced. Italian mahogany windows, hand split limestone walls and antique clay roof tiles give an authentic Tuscan flavor to the exterior. Photos by Phil Bond Photography Stone: Select Stone Tile: All Natural Stone

Mid-sized mountain style dark wood floor entry hall photo in Portland with white walls and a dark wood front door

For a couple of young web developers buying their first home in Redwood Shores, we were hired to do a complete interior remodel of a cookie cutter house originally built in 1996. The original finishes looked more like the 80s than the 90s, consisting of raised-panel oak cabinets, 12 x 12 yellow-beige floor tiles, tile counters and brown-beige wall to wall carpeting. The kitchen and bathrooms were utterly basic and the doors, fireplace and TV niche were also very dated. We selected all new finishes in tones of gray and silver per our clients’ tastes and created new layouts for the kitchen and bathrooms. We also designed a custom accent wall for their TV (very important for gamers) and track-mounted sliding 3-Form resin doors to separate their living room from their office. To animate the two story living space we customized a Mizu pendant light by Terzani and in the kitchen we selected an accent wall of seamless Caesarstone, Fuscia lights designed by Achille Castiglioni (one of our favorite modernist pendants) and designed a two-level island and a drop-down ceiling accent “cloud: to coordinate with the color of the accent wall. The master bath features a minimalist bathtub and floating vanity, an internally lit Electric Mirror and Porcelanosa tile.

This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna

Located in the charming High Pines neighborhood, this project was born out of necessity and vision. The homeowners—a couple with three young daughters—had outgrown their dated home but found that the cost and compromises of buying a new property in Miami simply didn’t make sense. Instead, they chose to invest in a full-scale renovation, tailored to enhance their lifestyle, maximize space, and modernize every corner of their home. The transformation included opening up the kitchen to create more connected living spaces, enclosing a discreet laundry room, remodeling all bedrooms and bathrooms, creating a resort-style outdoor retreat with a new pool, patio, and outdoor kitchen, and building an 800-square-foot master suite addition. The result is a cohesive, family-friendly design that balances style, comfort, and function. Main Living Areas At the heart of the home, the kitchen showcases custom Shaker-style cabinetry, sleek quartz countertops, and a spacious central island designed for entertaining. Pendant lights above the island add warmth and character, while linear diffusers subtly enhance airflow. Custom refrigerator panels create a cohesive, high-end aesthetic, all set atop durable wood-look porcelain tile flooring that extends throughout the living spaces. Flowing effortlessly into the living room, the open-concept design promotes comfort and sophistication. Recessed and linear LED lighting highlight a striking tropical wood feature wall, while a wood slat divider adds architectural interest and provides subtle separation without sacrificing openness. Hidden within this feature wall is a discreet door leading to a new, efficiently designed laundry room. Master Suite Addition A major highlight of the renovation is the luxurious 800-square-foot master suite addition, a serene retreat offering privacy and indulgence. The master bedroom features linear LED lights, elegant pendant lighting, and a space-saving pocket door that enhances flow. The adjoining master bathroom evokes a spa-like atmosphere, with a massive shower and built-in steam room as the centerpiece. A bold black-and-white geometric tile pattern brings striking visual contrast, complemented by globe-style light fixtures, a sleek vanity, dark wood cabinetry, and soft-toned hexagon tile flooring. A custom walk-in closet with tailored cabinetry completes the suite with a blend of organization and luxury. Outdoor Living The outdoor space was completely reimagined to function as an extension of the home—ideal for both relaxation and entertaining. The redesigned pool features a modern aesthetic with a party bench and sun shelf. The patio ceiling is finished in Thermo Wood Ayous for a warm, natural feel, while the gourmet outdoor kitchen boasts porcelain countertops, dark blue cabinetry with stainless steel hardware, and a high-end stainless steel grill. Additional Spaces Throughout the home, the existing bedrooms and bathrooms were fully renovated to meet the needs of the growing family. Custom mahogany and painted Shaker-style vanities, porcelain tile, glass shower enclosures, new doors, flooring, and upgraded closet systems bring functionality and design into every corner. Curb Appeal The renovation begins at the front door with a striking modern tropical wood entry, porcelain tile pathway, and a stucco clapboard façade. Rich Thermo Wood Ayous soffits add depth and warmth to the exterior, creating a welcoming and cohesive aesthetic that hints at the thoughtful transformation within.

Having previously designed a condominium interior for this couple (the Bay Street Condo), we were retained to create a rural retreat for them near Haliburton. The new cottage is perched at the top of a steep slope, overlooking the tranquil lake and a private beach that is scattered with old tree stumps imbedded in the sand. The cottage is broken up into three distinct volumes, each stepped back from the next to maximize views – an entry wing with two guest bedrooms that leads to a generous screened in porch; the main volume containing living, dining and kitchen with floor-to-ceiling windows that open up the interior to the views out to the lake; and the master bedroom wing that is separated from the rest of the cottage by an interior walkway glazed on both sides. The exterior of the cottage is clad in dark wood siding that blends into the heavily treed site. The ceiling inside of Douglas fir planks continues outside under the generous roof overhangs and wraps the walls of the screened porch. Low maintenance flooring of large-scale porcelain tile evokes the look of polished concrete. A wood burning fireplace clad in rubble stone is the focal point at the end of the main living space, visually anchoring the cottage to the site. Landscaping is minimal, preserving the site as much as possible. Subtle interventions have been introduced such as limestone steps leading from the cottage down to the lake and a seating area close to the water.

Sometimes city living does not allocate space for a separate home office but here it is; enough room for filing, storage, desk, printer and even a place to practice your trombone! Photo: Ward Roberts

This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna

This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna

Joe and Denise purchased a large Tudor style home that never truly fit their needs. While interviewing contractors to replace the roof and stucco on their home, it prompted them to consider a complete remodel. With two young daughters and pets in the home, our clients were convinced they needed an open concept to entertain and enjoy family and friends together. The couple also desired a blend of traditional and contemporary styles with sophisticated finishes for the project. JRP embarked on a new floor plan design for both stories of the home. The top floor would include a complete rearrangement of the master suite allowing for separate vanities, spacious master shower, soaking tub, and bigger walk-in closet. On the main floor, walls separating the kitchen and formal dining room would come down. Steel beams and new SQFT was added to open the spaces up to one another. Central to the open-concept layout is a breathtaking great room with an expansive 6-panel bi-folding door creating a seamless view to the gorgeous hills. It became an entirely new space with structural changes, additional living space, and all-new finishes, inside and out to embody our clients’ dream home. PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Transitional • Colors: Gray & White • Countertops: Quartzite • Cabinets: DeWils Frameless Shaker, White & Slate Gray *fully integrated dishwasher & fridge blend seamlessly with cabinetry as if they aren’t even there • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Chrome • Lighting Fixtures: unique and bold lighting fixtures throughout every room in the house (pendant lighting, chandeliers, sconces, etc) • Flooring: White Oak (Titanium wash) • Tile/Backsplash: Calacatta Borghini Marble - Circle Mosaic Tiles • Photographer: Andrew (Open House VC)

The kitchen is the true heart of any home, but for this retired couple, it’s also their primary creative workshop—he is an avid cook who loves whipping up big family meals, while she is a master at crafting homemade sourdough bread. Originally, a wall separated the kitchen from the front entrance, creating a choppy layout that boxed in natural light and disconnected the host from guests. By removing that structural barrier, we opened up the main floor to create a grand, airy, and welcoming flow from the front door straight into the kitchen. To achieve a timeless "Quiet Luxury" aesthetic, we paired crisp white cabinetry with organic white oak accents, balancing high-end materials with clean, understated lines. Design & Material Highlights: ✦ Cabinetry: WoodHarbor Custom Cabinetry in Snow White for the perimeter, paired with a custom White Oak central island and matching range hood for organic warmth. ✦ Countertops: Hanstone Montauk polished quartz, seamlessly extending from the primary workspace into the walk-in pantry. ✦ Backsplash: Pearl White petal mosaic tile by Elon Tile & Stone, adding delicate texture and subtle luminescence under the lights. ✦ Lighting: Brim pendants by Hudson Valley Lighting above the island as the statement finishing touch. ✦ Flooring & Detail: Light natural oak flooring and a white beadboard ceiling detail that elevates the scale of the room. Project Team & Credits: Interior & Kitchen Design: Erin at Benson Stone Co. General Contractor: TAS Enterprise

This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna

Some projects arrive with pages of references, mood boards, and carefully curated inspiration folders. This wasn't one of them. The clients — a young, dynamic couple with a growing family — handed over their trust and asked for the best work possible. It's the kind of brief that raises the stakes and frees the thinking at the same time. The design is organised around the views to the west — ocean, city, and the long light of the evening sky — with the upper floor pulled into an L-shape that bridges across two lower volumes below. That move creates something most homes don't have: a generous covered entry and breezeway at ground level, a moment of arrival that feels architectural rather than incidental. Above it, the upper floor cantilevers out and frames the western outlook from the principal living spaces. Wellness was woven into the brief from the start. A hot yoga studio opens directly onto a large patio with a pool and hot tub, creating a private outdoor sanctuary that functions as a genuine extension of that space. At the rear of the property, a separate crossfit gym gives the clients a serious training facility without compromising the living areas of the home. The result is a home that reflects what's possible when a client extends full trust and a designer meets it. Of all the projects in this portfolio, this is one that stands out — not just for what it contains, but for how completely it came together.

This project is a new 5,900 sf. primary residence for a couple with three children. The site is slightly elevated above the residential street and enjoys winter views of the Potomac River. The family’s requirements included five bedrooms, five full baths, a powder room, family room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, walk-in pantry, mudroom, lower level recreation room, exercise room, media room and numerous storage spaces. Also included was the request for an outdoor terrace and adequate outdoor storage, including provision for the storage of bikes and kayaks. The family needed a home that would have two entrances, the primary entrance, and a mudroom entry that would provide generous storage spaces for the family’s active lifestyle. Due to the small lot size, the challenge was to accommodate the family’s requirements, while remaining sympathetic to the scale of neighboring homes. The residence employs a “T” shaped plan to aid in minimizing the massing visible from the street, while organizing interior spaces around a private outdoor terrace space accessible from the living and dining spaces. A generous front porch and a gambrel roof diminish the home’s scale, providing a welcoming view along the street front. A path along the right side of the residence leads to the family entrance and a small outbuilding that provides ready access to the bikes and kayaks while shielding the rear terrace from view of neighboring homes. The two entrances join a central stair hall that leads to the eat-in kitchen overlooking the great room. Window seats and a custom built banquette provide gathering spaces, while the French doors connect the great room to the terrace where the arbor transitions to the garden. A first floor guest suite, separate from the family areas of the home, affords privacy for both guests and hosts alike. The second floor Master Suite enjoys views of the Potomac River through a second floor arched balcony visible from the front. The exterior is composed of a board and batten first floor with a cedar shingled second floor and gambrel roof. These two contrasting materials and the inclusion of a partially recessed front porch contribute to the perceived diminution of the home’s scale relative to its smaller neighbors. The overall intention was to create a close fit between the residence and the neighboring context, both built and natural. Builder: E.H. Johnstone Builders Anice Hoachlander Photography

This young couple was ready to make some changes to their master bedroom. They already laid a great foundation for me: beautiful wall color, carpet and trim. We just needed to update their furnishings and make this space feel more like them. They requested a bedroom that was more classic than trendy and a space that feels relaxing and spa-like. I started with the big pieces. I know they liked the light, upholstered bed look, which is awesome because I get so many clients who shy away from this option for fear of it getting dirty. Next up were the case pieces: dresser, night stands, high boy. I know a lot of designers who favor designing a bedroom with non-matching sets, but in this case, I thought opting for matching nightstands and dressers was the most classic choice and will stand the test of time best. They also a requested an area for the wive to do her make up and hair separate from the bathroom with ample light. I found a vanity, replaced the matching stool with an accent chair in a grey ikat print and used a pair of existing lamps. Extra seating is provided at the end of the bed on a tufted grey bench. The inverted pleat drapes are custom made with black out lining. Accessories and wall art were added to infuse personality and warm up the space.

After purchasing their ideal ranch style home built in the ‘70s, our clients had requested some major updates and needs throughout the house. The couple loved to cook and desired a large kitchen with professional appliances and a space that connects with the family room for ultimate entertaining. The husband wanted a retreat of his own with office space and a separate bathroom. Both clients disliked the ‘70s aesthetic of their outdated master suite and agreed that too would need a complete update. The JRP Team focused on the strategic removal of several walls between the entrance, living room, and kitchen to establish a new balance by creating an open floor plan that embraces the natural flow of the home. The luxurious kitchen turned out to be the highlight of the home with beautifully curated materials and double islands. The expanded master bedroom creates space for a relocated and enlarged master bath with walk-in closet. Adding new four panel doors to the backyard of the master suite anchors the room, filling the space with natural light. A large addition was necessary to accommodate the "Man Cave" which provides an exclusive retreat complete with wet bar– perfect for entertaining or relaxing. The remodel took a dated, choppy and disconnected floor plan to a bespoke haven sparkling with natural light and gorgeous finishes. PROJECT DETAILS: **These should be simplified and basic project details** • Style: Traditional • Photographer: J.R. Maddox

This 1970’s kitchen had been well used for decades and was due for an update when this retired couple started hosting a new generation with the birth of their grandchildren. Dark slab wood cabinets were replaced with off-white shaker style cabinets. Pretty details like the range hood cover, bookcase cabinets, and appliance garage helps add beautiful yet function details to their new space. By removing the wall separating the dining room and kitchen and adding built-in buffet cabinets we were able to open up the spaces without loosing any storage. Their favorite part is the stools at the peninsula where their grandchildren can sit after school, play games, and enjoy a weekend breakfast with them. Interior Design by Bennett Design Co. Heartwood Residential Photo by Mischa Montagna