History, revived. An early 19th century Dutch farmstead, nestled in the hillside of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offered a storied canvas on which to layer replicated additions and contemporary components. Endowed with an extensive art collection, the house and barn serve as a platform for aesthetic appreciation in all forms.

The layout of this colonial-style house lacked the open, coastal feel the homeowners wanted for their summer retreat. Siemasko + Verbridge worked with the homeowners to understand their goals and priorities: gourmet kitchen; open first floor with casual, connected lounging and entertaining spaces; an out-of-the-way area for laundry and a powder room; a home office; and overall, give the home a lighter and more “airy” feel. SV’s design team reprogrammed the first floor to successfully achieve these goals. SV relocated the kitchen to what had been an underutilized family room and moved the dining room to the location of the existing kitchen. This shift allowed for better alignment with the existing living spaces and improved flow through the rooms. The existing powder room and laundry closet, which opened directly into the dining room, were moved and are now tucked in a lower traffic area that connects the garage entrance to the kitchen. A new entry closet and home office were incorporated into the front of the house to define a well-proportioned entry space with a view of the new kitchen. By making use of the existing cathedral ceilings, adding windows in key locations, removing very few walls, and introducing a lighter color palette with contemporary materials, this summer cottage now exudes the light and airiness this home was meant to have. © Dan Cutrona Photography

Deep soil preparation is the foundation for the newly-installed landscape in this 2016 Parade of Homes residence. Improving soil structure not only ties in to the new county codes for these homeowners. It creates a better soil structure better for roots of lawn and plants, allows better movement of water through the soil better, and helps break down clay. This is the perfect example of pieces a high-quality landscaping company does that aren’t visible but play a crucial role in the success of the end product. The over-seeded lawn will flourish due to high soil structure. Large flowerbeds have been carefully mulched for beauty and water retention. Fresh plantings are carefully spaced to allow mature growth in coming seasons. Use of accent rockery and boulders throughout the landscape give texture and dimension. A high-quality drip irrigation system around the shrubs saves money and water. Rain sensors shut down irrigation during wet spells--environmentally friendly and sustainable. Large flowerbed near the front porch is built around an eye-catching, 4-columned bubbler water feature.

"I want people to say 'Wow!' when they walk in to my house" This was our directive for this bachelor's newly purchased home. This Sitting room in the Entry creates quite the custom unique WOW factor! When the Owner came home at the end of our photo shoot day and saw all the art, flowers, pillows, and other finishing touches we had saved for the grand reveal, he sat in this space saying over and over "This is my favorite room! I'm going to sit here all day!" "This is my favorite room! I'm going to sit here all day every day!!" Thrilling words to a Design Team! This is why we do what we do!! We accomplished the mission by drafting plans for a significant remodel which included removing walls and columns, opening up the spaces between rooms to create better flow, then adding custom furnishings, drapes, lighting, and original art for a customized unique Wow factor! His Christmas party proved we had succeeded as each person 'wowed!' the spaces! Even more meaningful to us, as Designers, was watching everyone converse in the sitting area, dining room, living room, and around the grand island (12'-6" grand to be exact!) and genuinely enjoy all the fabulous, yet comfortable spaces. Success all around!

This historic 1840’s Gothic Revival home perched on the harbor, presented an array of challenges: they included a narrow-restricted lot cozy to the neighboring properties, a sensitive coastal location, and a structure desperately in need of major renovations. The renovation concept respected the historic notion of individual rooms and connecting hallways, yet wanted to take better advantage of water views. The solution was an expansion of windows on the water siding of the house, and a small addition that incorporates an open kitchen/family room concept, the street face of the home was historically preserved. The interior of the home has been completely refreshed, bringing in a combined reflection of art and family history with modern fanciful choices. Adds testament to the successful renovation, the master bathroom has been described as “full of rainbows” in the morning.

Example of a transitional white tile white floor alcove bathtub design in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

www.veronicamartindesignstudio.com Photo credit: Scott Norsworthy
Mid-sized minimalist l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This light-filled living space illustrates the successful "Great Room" transformation by Better Builders. The room features a vaulted ceiling with recessed LED lighting and high-set windows that maximize natural light. Architectural interest is added through classic picture frame wall molding and a crisp white chair rail, which contrasts beautifully with the natural wood flooring. A large sliding glass door leads to the outdoor deck, while the minimalist media console and wall-mounted TV maintain a streamlined look, ensuring the space feels open and connected to the adjacent dining and kitchen areas.

This light-filled living space illustrates the successful "Great Room" transformation by Better Builders. The room features a vaulted ceiling with recessed LED lighting and high-set windows that maximize natural light. Architectural interest is added through classic picture frame wall molding and a crisp white chair rail, which contrasts beautifully with the natural wood flooring. A large sliding glass door leads to the outdoor deck, while the minimalist media console and wall-mounted TV maintain a streamlined look, ensuring the space feels open and connected to the adjacent dining and kitchen areas.

This light-filled living space illustrates the successful "Great Room" transformation by Better Builders. The room features a vaulted ceiling with recessed LED lighting and high-set windows that maximize natural light. Architectural interest is added through classic picture frame wall molding and a crisp white chair rail, which contrasts beautifully with the natural wood flooring. A large sliding glass door leads to the outdoor deck, while the minimalist media console and wall-mounted TV maintain a streamlined look, ensuring the space feels open and connected to the adjacent dining and kitchen areas.

This light-filled living space illustrates the successful "Great Room" transformation by Better Builders. The room features a vaulted ceiling with recessed LED lighting and high-set windows that maximize natural light. Architectural interest is added through classic picture frame wall molding and a crisp white chair rail, which contrasts beautifully with the natural wood flooring. A large sliding glass door leads to the outdoor deck, while the minimalist media console and wall-mounted TV maintain a streamlined look, ensuring the space feels open and connected to the adjacent dining and kitchen areas.

"Style & Function for Gracious Living" is Andy's hallmark. As a top, experienced Designer, Andy makes a commitment to know each and every client on an intimate level because the better he understands his clients needs & goals, the more successful the project turns out. To learn more about Andy or schedule an appointment call Allied Kitchen & Bath at 954-564-1611 or visit www.alliedkitchenandbath.com and www.andyfischman.com

The layout of this colonial-style house lacked the open, coastal feel the homeowners wanted for their summer retreat. Siemasko + Verbridge worked with the homeowners to understand their goals and priorities: gourmet kitchen; open first floor with casual, connected lounging and entertaining spaces; an out-of-the-way area for laundry and a powder room; a home office; and overall, give the home a lighter and more “airy” feel. SV’s design team reprogrammed the first floor to successfully achieve these goals. SV relocated the kitchen to what had been an underutilized family room and moved the dining room to the location of the existing kitchen. This shift allowed for better alignment with the existing living spaces and improved flow through the rooms. The existing powder room and laundry closet, which opened directly into the dining room, were moved and are now tucked in a lower traffic area that connects the garage entrance to the kitchen. A new entry closet and home office were incorporated into the front of the house to define a well-proportioned entry space with a view of the new kitchen. By making use of the existing cathedral ceilings, adding windows in key locations, removing very few walls, and introducing a lighter color palette with contemporary materials, this summer cottage now exudes the light and airiness this home was meant to have. © Dan Cutrona Photography

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by Philip Liang Photography.

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary black two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Milwaukee

Scott Buley, High Tech Turf & Trees, LandscapeMakeover.biz, Rain Garden Nursery. This area in the back yard, was literally flooded by water the first season. We intentionally re-worked it in the Winter, during coldest, driest weather, to purposely stay atop frozen ground, to avoid destroying soil structure. Otherwise in wet weather, we'd have both rutted and compacted it, worsening conditions. We trenched, tiled, and installed Rain Gardens to drain it. Planted improved variety Turf-Type Tall Fescue in following June. It can't be successfully seeded earlier, or beyond the end of August. A great choice though, as it is more drought tolerant, and handles compaction better than most other varieties.

This whole house renovation was a successful collaboration of design and construction between Greenleaf craftsmen, Analogue Design, and Mill Valley Kitchens with interior design and decorating by the client. We upgraded almost every room in this home including an expanded kitchen, built-in cabinetry, a basement renovation, three bathroom renovations, four bedrooms, an office, a laundry and mudroom, and a sewing/craft room. The walls on the first floor were opened up and reconfigured to allow for better flow, and the second floor was completely restructured to create enough space for four bedrooms. The basement was remodeled and also includes a powder room and sewing/craft room. A former breezeway was completely rebuilt with a new mudroom and laundry area. New Marvin French doors were installed to capture natural light and connect the space to an outdoor stone patio.

This whole house renovation was a successful collaboration of design and construction between Greenleaf craftsmen, Analogue Design, and Mill Valley Kitchens with interior design and decorating by the client. We upgraded almost every room in this home including an expanded kitchen, built-in cabinetry, a basement renovation, three bathroom renovations, four bedrooms, an office, a laundry and mudroom, and a sewing/craft room. The walls on the first floor were opened up and reconfigured to allow for better flow, and the second floor was completely restructured to create enough space for four bedrooms. The basement was remodeled and also includes a powder room and sewing/craft room. A former breezeway was completely rebuilt with a new mudroom and laundry area. New Marvin French doors were installed to capture natural light and connect the space to an outdoor stone patio.

Older condos have so many restrictions. This project is a great example how within the compounds of a space you can make a kitchen feel larger, open it up to the surrounding areas to create better sight lines and create more storage. Staying true to the clients love for older materials like slate flooring and beautiful antiques from their past. Combining existing older elements with fresh new keeps the charm of a space, yet a fresh updated look. Classic herringbone patterns in marble backsplashes is a great way to tie in the slate and a soft white quartz counter tops for better function. A success of a design!