Driven by a passion for the salt life and a love of the natural beauty of the area, they will leave the Northeast on a trek for the Florida Gulf Coast. The winters there are simply too cold to tolerate for any length of time. And why would they suffer those freezing temperatures when the average temperature on Longboat Key in January is 71 degrees? However, this is no migration and the subject is not a bird. My clients cannot be referred to as “Snowbirds” either. This is a homecoming. More so, it is a new beginning; a resurrection! “From the crown of the palm tree, there grew a flame. The flame revealed a nest. As the flames of change kissed the nest, a new being was born. This fantastic creature was born in the image of its predecessor, but it was given a new life. Indeed, it was resurrected. Behold the Phoenix!” Many years ago, they were pulled from the area in the pursuit of better employment. All the while, they maintained a strong connection with the Gulf Coast. This is where they would spend the best years of their lives. Now is their time of rebirth. The property they chose is on boating water on the Bay side of Longboat Key. The property is among the few undeveloped lots scattered around the island. Over the years it had been planted with a variety of tropical species including many of the common house varieties such as Ficus, rubber trees, and Areca Palms. Loving the locale, these species quickly outgrew their space. In the shadows, native Sabal Palms stretched their trunks in an effort to survive. A Phoenix Reclinata Palm sat unassumingly beneath the shadow of a large Ficus. We liberated them by removing all of the invasive varieties. We then relocated all ten of the resident Sabal Palms (our State Tree) on site. The home, designed by celebrated local architect Mark Sultana of DSDG, Inc., is a contemporary flat. The layout is a single living level above parking and grade level outdoor spaces. The architecture is crisp and inspiring and it is sensitive to the smaller scale of the eclectic neighborhood in which it will be constructed. From the elevated balcony, the residents will enjoy watching the many local manatees as they hug the sea wall looking for warmth on chilly mornings. From grade level decks, they will get up close and personal with the abundant schools of mullet in the canal. A northern exposure to the open side of the plan will allow for the amazing breezes offered by passing cool fronts.

Photography by: F8 Images by Craig Kozun-Young
Inspiration for a large u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Toronto with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

We recently completed a spectacularly beautiful sunroom for Richard and Cynthia. We worked previously with Cynthia on her business and because of our relationship, she felt comfortable asking us to build their Corvallis sunroom. The inspiration for this project came from the desire to have the ambiance of an outdoor hot tub, but without Corvallis’ cold wet weather. The sunroom adds a warm, bright 325 square feet just outside their kitchen and living room. This is the perfect addition if you are suffering from Corvallis’ cloud cover. The vibrant hues of the stained and finished Douglas fir glulam beams complement the beauty of the outdoors. These beams support the glass roof. In addition, the sunroom includes two operable skylights, a nine foot wide bifold door, a full glass roof system and full glass walls. Westview Sunrooms (the manufacturer) has a number of other beautiful ideas on their site: http://www.westviewproducts.com/pictures.html We would love the opportunity to build for you.

JLC was charged with transforming a 35 year old home which had suffered a remodel or two into a cohesive and modern home. Sustainable design principles were placed at the forefront of the design process alongside functionality and aesthetics. The end result is a roughly 3,000 sf home that is both comfortable and beautiful. The exterior palette is defined by Resysta siding and decking, acrylic stucco, a standing seam metal roof and black aluminum windows and doors. At the interiors white oak and walnut cabinetry throughout bring natural warmth to the clean, white interior. The home achieved LEED Platinum in 2017 and was featured on the San Diego Green Building Council’s 2017 Green Homes Tour. Project website: neuhaus-encinitas.blogspot.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

When I met my clients, their room suffered from two things, furniture that was too small for the room AND a lack of layers and textures to warm it up. My clients were a dream to work with, and really trusted me to add to the room. Through the design process, they saw how by adding more things to the room, it actually made it feel bigger, not smaller. We also utilized all the space in the room by filling in dead space that was previously wasted. They live by the water and had a vision for comfortable and welcoming family room with coastal touches.

Over the years, this Gladwyne home suffered numerous piecemeal renovations and modifications, and was in dire need of a cohesive vision. Seeing past this, the new owners purchased the property because of the home’s unique siting on the land. Abutting the eastern property line, they noticed the potential of a proper renovation which would unify the home and create expansive views across the 2 acre site to the west. Our office was commissioned to create a cohesive design which emphasized these ideas. This completed master bedroom and bathroom suite, marks the end of the first renovation phase. The master suite was expanded and focused around a new 16’ window overlooking the property. The bed is flanked at both sides with a sitting area and custom casework. The perpendicular floor boards define the space and pull the eye into the closet/bath. A composition of reflections distort boundaries, pulling outside inward and provide an evolving seasonal experience. For the lower floor renovation, the client requested the removal of all dividing walls to make the space as visually open as possible. To do this, the entire 2nd floor was temporarily propped up while the 1st floor structure was removed and a strategically designed new structural steel frame system was installed. The remaining central bearing wall also stabilizes the custom stair treads while the guardrails suspend the opposite end from the ceiling. The floor to ceiling glazing opens the views of the sprawling grounds and provides a casual sitting area. A sliding bright red wall divides the office / family room area and the rough sawn wood cabinetry maintain a handmade warm character to the contemporary design.

The Master Bath needed some updates as it suffered from an out of date, extra large tub, a very small shower and only one sink. Keeping with the Mood, a new larger vanity was added in a beautiful dark green with two sinks and ample drawer space, finished with gold framed mirrors and two glamorous gold leaf sconces. Taking in a small linen closet allowed for more room at the shower which is enclosed by a dramatic black framed door. Also, the old tub was replaced with a new alluring freestanding tub surrounded by beautiful marble tiles in a large format that sits under a deco glam chandelier. All warmed by the use of gold fixtures and hardware.

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

https://bit.ly/2IJ9uiH The next benefit of using cork flooring is that this type of flooring offers a higher level of comfort. The structure of cork is such that it is made up of hundreds of millions of tiny cells packed closely together. These cells are air pockets can absorb shockwaves or pressure, so walking on this flooring not only relieves stress on your joints but also helps to reduce the weariness that is brought on when you walk a lot over a hard surface. If you suffer from knee pain or any joint pain, you will find that walking over a cork floor is so much easier than walking over, say a ceramic tile floor.

This 100 year old home was in disrepair and suffering from a layout that left it dark and uninviting. By removing walls between the living, dining, and kitchen areas, and reconfiguring some awkwardly placed kitchen cabinetry from a previous renovation, Lincoln Lighthill Architect created a 50 foot long great room, flooding the space with light and views to the front and rear yards. A new built-in credenza replaces a full height wall and matches the existing kitchen casework, which gets a cost-effective update with a coat of white paint.

Inspiration for a timeless bathroom remodel in Houston

Our clients wanted to expand their outdoor dining area and create a full kitchen experience at their cabin. These HPL (High Pressure Laminate) cabinets are one of the market’s most versatile materials used by interior designers. It is also very strong, durable and easy to maintain. It can withstand impacts, chemicals, moisture, cold, heat and sunlight without suffering damage. The texture enhances the colors and adds dimensions to any project. It is a great way to add a sleek, sophisticated and modern look.

The historic Edward H.C. Taylor home was build in 1890, it suffered substantial fire damage and required extensive restoration of the interior and exterior. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to work on this gem.

For this kitchen remodeling project, the homeowner’s mobile home suffered from water damage and the kitchen needed to be completely redone. We got busy tearing out all the old cabinets and flooring. The new cabinets were done in a birch Maui door in a polar white color. Next, we installed a new quartz countertop done in Blanco Maple and a Raku Ocean backsplash. To finish the new kitchen, we installed a new laminate plank floor. See how this kitchen went from a nightmare into a dream kitchen.

A stone-coated steel Mediterranean tile was the choice of this homeowner in the renovation of this historic house. That choice paid off when that neighborhood suffered two damaging hailstorms seven years apart.

Hunter Douglas offers an excellent option to blackout a room. Their Blackout System borders the roller shade, blocking any light that may come through on the sides and bottom. This system is ideal if you suffer from migraines or are a light sleeper.

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

The common space in The Maslow House at Flanders Mill. Many Montanans suffer some degree of seasonal affective disorder during the long winter months. To help, generous windows and crisp white walls pipe daylight into every corner of the home's communal living areas.