Luxury and cutting edge technology in one remarkable penthouse. Room to room environmental control, smart security system, switchable glass, TV lifts and curtains are all controlled by your iPhone. The ultimate in grand modern living. With a nod to Bentley and Rolls Royce, sumptuous alcantara is complemented by walnut root and polished steel, and all deliver a unique living experience at every turn. In my serious dedication to superior luxury, all the doors are made of onyx, and finished to exacting standards. There is no settling for great when perfection is possible.

Four years ago, we began the design process of the main house to align with the owner's retirement and move back to the Seattle area from Chicago in 2015. Although the Boathouse and Carriage house are more Pacific Northwest shingle in character, this time around the owners wanted a modern interpretation for the main house. Now in 2016 - 10 years later - they are settled in and their little "compound" has become the family gathering place for their three grown sons, their wives, and the owner's grandchildren. The main house is a contemporary interpretation of Northwest Regionalism in which dramatic waterfront conditions are complemented with aesthetic consideration of massing, materials and the embracing of natural light. The interior spaces are highlighted in marble, steel, walnut, Sapele and limestone finishes.

Settled between the trees of the Pacific Northwest, the sun rests on the Tradesman 48 Shop complete with cedar and Douglas fir. The 36’x 48’ shop with lined soffits and ceilings boasts Douglas fir 2”x6” tongue and groove siding, two standard western red cedar cupolas and Clearspan steel roof trusses. Western red cedar board and batten siding on the gable ends are perfect for the outdoors, adding to the rustic and quaint setting of Washington. A sidewall height of 12’6” encloses 1,728 square feet of unobstructed space for storage of tractors, RV’s, trucks and other needs. In this particular model, access for vehicles is made easy by three, customer supplied roll-up garage doors on the front end, while Barn Pros also offers garage door packages built for ease. Personal entrance to the shop can be made through traditional handmade arch top breezeway doors with windows.

Take in the panoramic views while catching up on the day’s news, enjoying an afternoon snack or settling into quiet repose. A comfortable and easy-to-maintain outdoor living area with Sunbrella® fabric is the perfect antidote to our busy lives.

Trendy tile and rectangular infinity pool photo in Phoenix

Joe Cotitta Epic Photography joecotitta@cox.net:
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless master white tile marble floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Photo: Lucy Call © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Salt Lake City

Large elegant medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room photo in DC Metro with white walls and a stone fireplace

The historic restoration of this First Period Ipswich, Massachusetts home (c. 1686) was an eighteen-month project that combined exterior and interior architectural work to preserve and revitalize this beautiful home. Structurally, work included restoring the summer beam, straightening the timber frame, and adding a lean-to section. The living space was expanded with the addition of a spacious gourmet kitchen featuring countertops made of reclaimed barn wood. As is always the case with our historic renovations, we took special care to maintain the beauty and integrity of the historic elements while bringing in the comfort and convenience of modern amenities. We were even able to uncover and restore much of the original fabric of the house (the chimney, fireplaces, paneling, trim, doors, hinges, etc.), which had been hidden for years under a renovation dating back to 1746. Winner, 2012 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation You can read more about this restoration in the Boston Globe article by Regina Cole, “A First Period home gets a second life.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2013/10/26/couple-rebuild-their-century-home-ipswich/r2yXE5yiKWYcamoFGmKVyL/story.html Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Proportion and contrast are the hallmarks of this sweet dining set with American Country roots. Handcrafted in our American workshops, both pedestal table and spindle-and-hoop chairs settle easily into the small space. A mix of finishes adds contrast, while the striped rug provides a little of everything: continuity, color, and relaxed, easy-care farmhouse style. Products – Adam Dining Table, Gilbert Side Chair, LaGrange Rug

Photo by Sean Litchfield
Example of a bedroom transitional gender-neutral dark wood floor nursery design in Boston with gray walls

Season 2 with some very happy plants settling in.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard landscaping in Chicago.

This patio may look like wood, but it is in fact a concrete paver! The paver is a Techo-Bloc product called Borealis. Its natural wood grain surface mimics the beauty of wood, yet gives us the durability of concrete pavers. The pavers were laid directly over the existing concrete patio, which was still in good shape with minimal cracking and settling. The lovely couple that lives here wanted a new cedar pergola. But what they ended up with was that and an entirely new and cool back patio space that will last for years and years!

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Jim Westphalen Photography
Photo of a farmhouse partial sun concrete paver garden path in Burlington.

Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Photo Credits: Pixil Studios
Small mountain style l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Denver with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, wood countertops, wood backsplash, black appliances and no island

To achieve the open, modern take on Midcentury that our clients desired, we took down upper cabinets over the peninsula, which opened the spaces up to each other. In doing so we creating a storage area for wine and a long countertop for entertaining or setting up a buffet during parties. What had been wasted space to the right of the walkway is now the pantry, with deep storage cabinets. Distinctive Kitchens was brought in to help choose finishes--tile backsplash and floors, sink, faucet, lighting, countertops and cabinet hardware. The adjacent dining room was also part of the design, because the rooms have such a strong relationship to each other. We consulted on furniture and lighting in that room, making sure the two light fixtures (one over the sink, the other over the dining table) didn't compete for attention. We feel the end result is fresh, clean, and texturally beautiful. Kitchen and dining room staging by Allison Scheff of Distinctive Kitchens. Photos by Wynne H Earle

After years of enjoying their backyard, the clients of this property enlisted our firm to improve the original landscape we had completed over ten years ago. Our goal was to update the patio and further develop their backyard by creating a garden with a variety of color and texture. Over time the existing patio had settled, plantings grew, and an existing Oak thrived. During the initial home and landscape construction our clients were particularly concerned about the health of the mature Oak located just off the home. Special care was given when the patio was first built. Precautions were again taken in working around the Oak as the existing patio was removed and replaced. Surrounding trees and shrubs had grown and enclosed the backyard limiting access. This required almost all work and transport of material to be done by hand. The old concrete paver patio was replaced with bluestone. Existing mortared limestone around the edges of the patio levels were cleaned and tuck-pointed. A new stoop was constructed with mortared limestone risers and bluestone treads. A built-in grill and fireplace further updated the backyard space. The fireplace was designed to follow the organic curve of the patio. Mortared limestone and bluestone material were repeated on all elements, tying them together. Along with the updated patio, many additions were made in transforming the modest backyard into a lush garden. Masses of annuals, ornamental grasses, and perennials along with mixed shrubs created sweeps of color and texture in front of a new arborvitae hedge and other existing trees and shrubs. After careful planning and execution the completed landscape gave our clients the updated landscape they desired. The completion of the project was a rewarding and fulfilling experience as we transformed a good past project into a fantastic new project.