alyssa kirsten
Small urban u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash and white cabinets

Example of a cottage wood gable roof design in Boston

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Eric Roth Photography, Liz Caan Interiors
Farmhouse screened-in porch idea in Boston

Denash Photography, designed by Jenny Rausch
Small beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen photo in St Louis with white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, colored appliances, an island, an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, quartz countertops and mosaic tile backsplash

A charming 1920s colonial had a dated dark kitchen that was not in keeping with the historic charm of the home. The owners, who adored British design, wanted a kitchen that was spacious and storage friendly, with the feel of a classic English kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client, while architect Greg Lewis redesigned the home to accommodate a larger kitchen, new primary bath, mudroom, and butlers pantry. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

Werner Segarra
Inspiration for a large mediterranean beige tile ceramic tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Phoenix with white walls

Sunroom - transitional sunroom idea in San Francisco with a standard fireplace and a standard ceiling

A timeless traditional family home. The perfect blend of functionality and elegance. Jodi Fleming Design scope: Architectural Drawings, Interior Design, Custom Furnishings. Photography by Billy Collopy

Transitional entryway photo in New York

Inspiration for a large contemporary porcelain tile kitchen pantry remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and wood countertops

Lisa Romerein
Example of a country dining room design in San Francisco with gray walls

Anthony Pippo Photography
Transitional family room photo in New York with gray walls

Catherine Nguyen Photography
Ornate white tile dark wood floor bathroom photo in Raleigh with white cabinets, an undermount tub, multicolored walls, an undermount sink and recessed-panel cabinets

Inspiration for a mediterranean patio remodel in Miami with a pergola

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional light wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Dallas with white walls and no fireplace

Photo: Hado Photo © 2017 Houzz
Eclectic living room photo in DC Metro

Andy Warren
Hallway - craftsman medium tone wood floor hallway idea in Other with gray walls

This VIP Design Day project transformed two key spaces in a DC-area home — a dining room and powder room — into rooms that feel both curated and livable. The dining room balances warm walnut tones, mixed seating, and bold artwork against moody gray walls and classic wainscoting, creating a space that's elegant without being precious. The powder room makes a strong first impression with floor-to-ceiling botanical wallpaper, a navy reeded vanity, Calacatta marble countertop, and antique brass fixtures layered with vintage equestrian art. Margaret Carroll Interiors specializes in architecture-informed interior design for homes in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Every project integrates spatial thinking with intentional material selection — the result is interiors that look professionally designed and feel deeply personal. This project is an example of our VIP Design Day service, a focused one-day design experience for homeowners ready to elevate specific rooms quickly and decisively. Services: Residential Interior Design · VIP Design Day · Space Planning · Furniture Selection · Art Curation Location: Washington DC Metro Area · Maryland · Virginia · DMV