Rosemary Fletcher
Example of a classic backyard stone patio design in Boston with no cover

FIRST PLACE 2018 ASID DESIGN OVATION AWARD / MASTER BATH OVER $50,000. In addition to a much-needed update, the clients desired a spa-like environment for their Master Bath. Sea Pearl Quartzite slabs were used on an entire wall and around the vanity and served as this ethereal palette inspiration. Luxuries include a soaking tub, decorative lighting, heated floor, towel warmers and bidet. Michael Hunter

Living room - contemporary living room idea in Dallas

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a large coastal medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with open cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photographer: Jared Kuzia/This Old House
Kitchen - kitchen idea in Boston

Stainless steel appliances in basement wet bar. Subway tile backsplash. Large floor tiles. Stone countertops. Photography by Spacecrafting.
Large elegant u-shaped seated home bar photo in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash and subway tile backsplash

The Living, Dining, and Family Rooms open into each other and are trimmed by bright white trim for a fresh and dramatic appearance. John Wilbanks Photography

This laundry sink has a custom wood work surface where the sink can become a flush folding zone, by the simple lift of the center board. The hole serves as both a way to lift the board and as a drain in case the water mistakenly gets turned on. The wall mounted spout on the faucet also swivels out of the way when the area serves as a work space.

The genesis of design for this desert retreat was the informal dining area in which the clients, along with family and friends, would gather. Located in north Scottsdale’s prestigious Silverleaf, this ranch hacienda offers 6,500 square feet of gracious hospitality for family and friends. Focused around the informal dining area, the home’s living spaces, both indoor and outdoor, offer warmth of materials and proximity for expansion of the casual dining space that the owners envisioned for hosting gatherings to include their two grown children, parents, and many friends. The kitchen, adjacent to the informal dining, serves as the functioning heart of the home and is open to the great room, informal dining room, and office, and is mere steps away from the outdoor patio lounge and poolside guest casita. Additionally, the main house master suite enjoys spectacular vistas of the adjacent McDowell mountains and distant Phoenix city lights. The clients, who desired ample guest quarters for their visiting adult children, decided on a detached guest casita featuring two bedroom suites, a living area, and a small kitchen. The guest casita’s spectacular bedroom mountain views are surpassed only by the living area views of distant mountains seen beyond the spectacular pool and outdoor living spaces. Project Details | Desert Retreat, Silverleaf – Scottsdale, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB; Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn Featured in Phoenix Home and Garden, May 2015, “Sporting Style: Golf Enthusiast Christie Austin Earns Top Scores on the Home Front” See more of this project here: http://drewettworks.com/desert-retreat-at-silverleaf/

Small farmhouse kitchen photo in Baltimore with black walls

Brian vanden Brink
Inspiration for a timeless brick floor mudroom remodel in Portland Maine

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Family room - huge mediterranean enclosed family room idea in Orange County with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

Ulrich Desginer: Don DiNovi, CKD Photography by Peter Rymwid This lovely new kitchen incorporates defined work areas to accommodate the multi-tasking activities of a busy family. Four work stations fit and function easily and beautifully in a tidy 300 SF space: (1) cooking, including separate gas and electric cooking surfaces; (2) prep/cleaning, on the island; and (3) food storage, in the cherry wood armoire concealing both refrigerator and pantry. (4) is the area between the food storage and double ovens (around the corner from the formal serving hutch) and is devoted to baking.

Kitchen - mid-sized traditional u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in Houston with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beaded inset cabinets

This dream kitchen was designed for a couple who thoroughly enjoy sharing meals with friends and family. This large island serves as both a preparation area as well as a buffet style serving counter. Photo by Emily John Photography.

John Bessler for Traditional Home
Example of a mid-sized country dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Mudroom - transitional brown floor mudroom idea with white walls