Close to Lincoln Center Plaza, two existing apartments were combined into a single custom tailored 4-bedroom residence. Characteristic with other buildings from the same post-war era, the existing apartments suffered greatly from a low, monotonous ceiling slab. To break up the ceiling, floating planes containing low-profile LED recessed lighting were incorporated throughout. Grey-washed birch veneer millwork is seen as you enter into the new foyer space. A blackened steel inlaid panel serves as a datum that continues throughout the apartment, wrapping the entry unit and extending around the corner to then transform into a floating bookshelf. The unit not only divides the entry area from the Living room, but also serves its utilitarian purpose on the foyer side as coat and storage closets, and then an entertaining function on the opposing side with a TV niche and custom liquor bar. Whitewashed rift and quartered white oak floors were used to brighten the space. In the kitchen, marble counters extend up the wall and onto the ceiling marking the separation of the kitchen/dining area from the living room/entry area. The kid’s room contains a custom curved desk area built beneath the bay windows to take advantage of the views. In the master bedroom, the blackened steel inlay reappears inset into the wardrobe wall unit.

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

The backyard, fragmented and lacking privacy, suffered from overgrown vegetation and a mismatched pool deck. ​Helix Green Designs' vision centered on enhancing functionality while creating a secluded oasis. In the backyard, privacy became paramount. A double hedge of podocarpus and boxwood now surrounds the expanded pool deck, while transplanted deciduous hydrangeas were replaced with an evergreen podocarpus hedge along the fence line. Two strategically placed flowering crape myrtle trees flank a new custom gate, offering additional privacy from the golf course. A stepping stone walkway seamlessly connects the detached guest house, a popular grilling spot for the homeowners. Preserving the existing specimen oak trees was a priority. These established giants provided valuable shade and protection from the hot western sun, contributing significantly to the backyard's character and enjoyment.

Close to Lincoln Center Plaza, two existing apartments were combined into a single custom tailored 4-bedroom residence. Characteristic with other buildings from the same post-war era, the existing apartments suffered greatly from a low, monotonous ceiling slab. To break up the ceiling, floating planes containing low-profile LED recessed lighting were incorporated throughout. Grey-washed birch veneer millwork is seen as you enter into the new foyer space. A blackened steel inlaid panel serves as a datum that continues throughout the apartment, wrapping the entry unit and extending around the corner to then transform into a floating bookshelf. The unit not only divides the entry area from the Living room, but also serves its utilitarian purpose on the foyer side as coat and storage closets, and then an entertaining function on the opposing side with a TV niche and custom liquor bar. Whitewashed rift and quartered white oak floors were used to brighten the space. In the kitchen, marble counters extend up the wall and onto the ceiling marking the separation of the kitchen/dining area from the living room/entry area. The kid’s room contains a custom curved desk area built beneath the bay windows to take advantage of the views. In the master bedroom, the blackened steel inlay reappears inset into the wardrobe wall unit.

For this color, we have both floating floor and glue down tiles. Photo shown is glue down tile. - Installation Type: Floating / Glue Down - Edge type: square edge (seamless floor) - Finish: Three coats German water based polyurethane - Made with formaldehyde free adhesives - 25 year warranty (residential installation) - Underlayment not required - Hypo-allergenic - Healthy alternative to carpet - Excellent thermal and acoustic insulation - Stain resistant - Naturally resistant to insects, mould, mildew due to anti-microbial properties. - Low slip surface - Excellent surface for seniors, children or people suffering from arthritis or joint pain *** Price for floating floor: $3.33/sqft Price may change without notice. Please check our website for the guaranteed price. Order FREE SAMPLES on our website: www.icorkfloor.com

For this color, we have both floating floor and glue down tiles. - Installation Type: Floating / Glue Down - Edge type: square edge (seamless floor) - Finish: Three coats German water based polyurethane - Made with formaldehyde free adhesives - 25 year warranty (residential installation) - Underlayment not required - Hypo-allergenic - Healthy alternative to carpet - Excellent thermal and acoustic insulation - Stain resistant - Naturally resistant to insects, mould, mildew due to anti-microbial properties. - Low slip surface - Excellent surface for seniors, children or people suffering from arthritis or joint pain *** Price for glue down tile: $2.39/sqft Price may change without notice. Please check our website for the guaranteed price. Order FREE SAMPLES on our website: www.icorkfloor.com

- Installation Type: Floating - Licensed Uniclic Flooring system - Square Edge Plank (seamless floor) - Finish: Three coats water based polyurethane - Wear Layer: 3mm genuine cork - Middle Layer: 7mm E1 Class High Density Fiberboard (HDF) - Integrated Underlayment: 1mm agglomerated cork. - Plank Width: 12” (315mm) - Plank Length: 36" (915mm) - Plank Thickness: 7/16" (11mm) - Carton coverage: 21.03 sqft - Pieces per carton: 7 - 25 year warranty (residential installation) - Underlayment not required - Hypo-allergenic - Healthy alternative to carpet - Excellent thermal and acoustic insulation - Stain resistant - Naturally resistant to insects, mould, mildew due to anti-microbial properties - Low slip surface - Excellent surface for seniors, children or people suffering from arthritis or joint pain Price may change without notice. Please check our website for the guaranteed price. Order FREE SAMPLES on our website: www.icorkfloor.com

"These HeatTrak large mats and step mats have saved me this winter. Suffering from herniated discs in my neck, shoveling is extremely painful. Not having to worry about getting in and out of our house through this snowy, icy winter has been amazing. My dogs like them as well. I can only say that it was a very wise investment, and I am glad that I have them. And now I recommend them to my clients for their homes (I now have 4 clients homes using the mats)." - Linda

This family of 5 was quickly out-growing their 1,220sf ranch home on a beautiful corner lot. Rather than adding a 2nd floor, the decision was made to extend the existing ranch plan into the back yard, adding a new 2-car garage below the new space - for a new total of 2,520sf. With a previous addition of a 1-car garage and a small kitchen removed, a large addition was added for Master Bedroom Suite, a 4th bedroom, hall bath, and a completely remodeled living, dining and new Kitchen, open to large new Family Room. The new lower level includes the new Garage and Mudroom. The existing fireplace and chimney remain - with beautifully exposed brick. The homeowners love contemporary design, and finished the home with a gorgeous mix of color, pattern and materials. The project was completed in 2011. Unfortunately, 2 years later, they suffered a massive house fire. The house was then rebuilt again, using the same plans and finishes as the original build, adding only a secondary laundry closet on the main level.

The original Master bath suffered a tiny shower and a tub that was never used. It was very dark and cavernous and needed some softness to oppose angled walls. The tub was removed to make a larger, more accessible shower. The desired style was modern but not severe. We installed Cambria Britannica quartz slab with large veining and soft flowing movement on all the shower walls. A dark floor grounds the space. A combination of light walls, and sleek floating cabinets, creates an overall softness in this Modern Masterpiece.

This home was suffering from way too much wood. Log and wainscot walls, wood floors and ceiling, wood cabinets. Kitchen cabinets were refinished in a cream color and given a soft glazed look around crevices. Part of the backsplash was finished in a copper/bronze hammered look. Countertops refinished over the existing laminate using colorants and epoxy. White appliances were replaced with stainless and sink was updated to a copper farm sink.

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Kitchen — Project Description (Bolton, CT) (Full Renovation • Reconfiguration • Architectural Corrections) The original kitchen suffered from spatial imbalance and limited functionality: the right side was visually and physically heavy with cabinetry and appliances, the 135-degree angled walls lacked symmetry due to a missing window on the driveway side, and the small island could only seat two. Circulation was obstructed by a desk positioned in the main traffic flow, and the low French door felt disproportionate in scale compared to the large windows and adjacent two-story Great Room. Major Structural & Functional Improvements Repositioned window on the front elevation to the right, creating a long-desired view to the driveway while freeing space for a centered cooktop and statement hood — visually aligning with the Great Room’s redesigned fireplace focal wall. Installed a new custom sliding door, significantly taller and wider than the original French door. This upgrade enhances natural light, visually opens the kitchen to the deck, and provides unobstructed traffic flow thanks to its sliding operation. New Kitchen Layout & Enhanced Functionality Designed an entirely new layout centered around a 10' double-slab island, providing expansive workspace and a natural gathering zone. Added conversational seating for the whole family, allowing comfortable interaction on all sides of the island. Introduced purpose-designed storage solutions, including pullouts, rollouts, spice towers, tray organizers, and deep drawers to maximize usability. Reallocated the desk area to a dedicated window spot overlooking the backyard, removing it from traffic paths and improving both functionality and comfort. Cabinetry & Architectural Detailing Custom two-tone cabinetry in soft white and a serene blue-green tone reflects the visual language of the adjacent Great Room, creating whole-home cohesion. Installed lit upper glass cabinets along the entire perimeter, balancing vertical proportions and creating an elegant display band throughout the kitchen. A custom range hood was designed and painted to match the base cabinetry, becoming a focal point framed by symmetrical windows. Surfaces, Lighting & Finishes The island features a double-thickness quartz slab with a soft ogee radius for a timeless, furniture-like feel. A full-height, handcrafted aqua subway tile backsplash introduces depth, texture, and a gentle reflective quality. New layered lighting concept, including recessed lights, pendants, task lighting, and integrated cabinet lighting, ensures a warm and functional workspace at any time of day.

In Minnesota, there are probably 5 days out of the year that are idyllic for sitting outside on your uncovered deck, in the direct sun, where you won’t suffer from heat exhaustion or blood loss from mosquitos in short order. “So, you’ve got this beautifully manicured backyard to enjoy and no way to really enjoy it at your convenience,” recalls project manager Ben Murphy. “That’s what really drove this project.” In any remodel the biggest question is always why? Why are we doing this project? What pain are we trying to make go away or a problem to solve? In this case, the homeowners wanted to dramatically extend their outdoor living enjoyment and do so without the cost of a 4-season porch addition. “Our solution was a relatively new product called Sunspace, that takes those 5 good days on the deck and turns them into 9 months or so of comfortable living,” explains Murphy, “And for probably 25% less in cost and a traditional four season porch.”

This lovely 2-story townhome suffered the effects of more than 120 years of “remuddling” and “modernization” through significant modification of the structural framing. With a large section of a load-bearing wall removed and shear walls, the full 3-story building was structurally compromised. The program included the installation of a steel beam and structural reframing, beginning at the ground floor and through to the 3rd-floor living space. The new structural design allowed for a significantly improved living space. The kitchen was relocated and expanded, as were the living room and dining room. Several upgrades were made to the home, including incorporating all-electrical appliances. 1900 Victorian now boasts several eco-friendly and energy-efficient features.

The homeowners loved the lot this home sat on, but it lacked a garage and the exterior suffered from years of deferred maintenance before they purchased. With new siding, windows, roof, and an attached two-car garage addition with bonus room above, they have more living and storage space, and a clearly dedicated path to the front door — the addition also added a foyer. Corrugated metal accents add interest. The new screened porch is convenient to the pool and house. Photo by Liz Smutko

This 1910 family home in historical Dupont, was in distriss the original porch was suffering the effects of time and weather, the greatest challange was to earse time.

This family of 5 was quickly out-growing their 1,220sf ranch home on a beautiful corner lot. Rather than adding a 2nd floor, the decision was made to extend the existing ranch plan into the back yard, adding a new 2-car garage below the new space - for a new total of 2,520sf. With a previous addition of a 1-car garage and a small kitchen removed, a large addition was added for Master Bedroom Suite, a 4th bedroom, hall bath, and a completely remodeled living, dining and new Kitchen, open to large new Family Room. The new lower level includes the new Garage and Mudroom. The existing fireplace and chimney remain - with beautifully exposed brick. The homeowners love contemporary design, and finished the home with a gorgeous mix of color, pattern and materials. The project was completed in 2011. Unfortunately, 2 years later, they suffered a massive house fire. The house was then rebuilt again, using the same plans and finishes as the original build, adding only a secondary laundry closet on the main level.

This family of 5 was quickly out-growing their 1,220sf ranch home on a beautiful corner lot. Rather than adding a 2nd floor, the decision was made to extend the existing ranch plan into the back yard, adding a new 2-car garage below the new space - for a new total of 2,520sf. With a previous addition of a 1-car garage and a small kitchen removed, a large addition was added for Master Bedroom Suite, a 4th bedroom, hall bath, and a completely remodeled living, dining and new Kitchen, open to large new Family Room. The new lower level includes the new Garage and Mudroom. The existing fireplace and chimney remain - with beautifully exposed brick. The homeowners love contemporary design, and finished the home with a gorgeous mix of color, pattern and materials. The project was completed in 2011. Unfortunately, 2 years later, they suffered a massive house fire. The house was then rebuilt again, using the same plans and finishes as the original build, adding only a secondary laundry closet on the main level.