The rooms in this charming 1920’s Burns Park home were completely compartmentalized (typical for homes built in this period). The homeowners wanted a more open space with sightlines into the dining and living spaces, and a kitchen that could accommodate more than one cook! We removed a wall and replaced it with a beautiful Butternut beam and countertop seating, a more casual eating area to supplement their dining room. Bringing this home into 2018 while paying respect to its historic neighborhood was an important part of this project. The personality, cabinetry and contemporary finishes in this kitchen better mirror this cheerful and vibrant family.

Our clients in Stonehouse, Toano Virginia asked us to make their dream of a finished basement come true. They had some great ideas about what they wanted and also some sound performance goals for this area of their home. They were interested in a having a stone wall in the sitting area and sound proofing installed as part of the design as they felt that the neighbors across the way in the rear of the home were much too noisy with loud dogs and amplified music. We installed Homasote soundproofing boards across the rear wall to abate the sound. Windows across the rear wall were supplemented with double panes to provide dead air space between the exterior window and the interior of the home. The french doors received storm doors on the exterior. A new bathroom was added as well as a kitchenette, sitting area and guest bedroom to the finished basement area. Bob Harper

Aesthetic Value: Six flights of stacked curved stairways wind up this 80’ tall stair tower. The handrail adds elegance to the overall design as it flows continuously through all floors and pitch change transitions without any interruptions. Stair Safety: The sturdy rail system provides safe guard which is especially crucial at these great heights. Quality: Pre-built stairway and balustrade prior to delivery to jobsite. Solid hardwood staircase and supplemental structural iron work for securing the freestanding stair all done in house. Curved stringer and handrail transitions at all pitch changes. Technical Challenge: Assisting with engineering freestanding floor systems and integrated stairways. Rigging and hoisting stairways up multiple floors. Designing floor areas and transitions to accommodate flights becoming narrower as they went higher. Logistics of working in Manhattan.

New solid oak cabinet of deep drawers with oak top, plus upper cabinet for glassware to match existing units. The drawers have high capacity tracks so they can be loaded with serving pieces, dishes and other heavy objects. The client had lived in this house for 30 years with the original builder-grade cabinets, poor lighting, inadequate storage and dated appearance. We built several new cabinets to supplement the old; added oak skins on the unfinished exposed cabinets; installed crown molding and glass tile backsplash. The old can lights and useless center ceiling light were removed and new LED track lighting installed behind the new crown molding; new under cabinet lights; new glass cabinets with LED lights.

Aesthetic Value: Six flights of stacked curved stairways wind up this 80’ tall stair tower. The handrail adds elegance to the overall design as it flows continuously through all floors and pitch change transitions without any interruptions. Stair Safety: The sturdy rail system provides safe guard which is especially crucial at these great heights. Quality: Pre-built stairway and balustrade prior to delivery to jobsite. Solid hardwood staircase and supplemental structural iron work for securing the freestanding stair all done in house. Curved stringer and handrail transitions at all pitch changes. Technical Challenge: Assisting with engineering freestanding floor systems and integrated stairways. Rigging and hoisting stairways up multiple floors. Designing floor areas and transitions to accommodate flights becoming narrower as they went higher. Logistics of working in Manhattan.

The traditional French country kitchen is wonderful in incorporating such rustic, wonderful elements while still retaining a clean and organized feeling. The cabinet and shelf storage really help with the organization, adding layers to the room and really maximizing the space. The pendant lighting adds to the farmhouse appeal and is supplemented by the flush-mount ceiling lighting to brighten up the kitchen. The whites go really well with the stainless appliances to give the clean and edited feeling that this kitchen has and they contrast well with the tradition wooden farmhouse elements of the island top and the window trim.

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 John Sutton Photography.

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photography: Laura Rockett Photography Design Challenge: MOTIV Interiors created this colorful yet relaxing retreat - a space for guests to unwind and recharge after a long day of exploring Nashville! Luxury, comfort, and functionality merge in this AirBNB project we completed in just 2 short weeks. Navigating a tight budget, we supplemented the homeowner’s existing personal items and local artwork with great finds from facebook marketplace, vintage + antique shops, and the local salvage yard. The result: a collected look that’s true to Nashville and vacation ready!

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photography: Laura Rockett Photography Design Challenge: MOTIV Interiors created this colorful yet relaxing retreat - a space for guests to unwind and recharge after a long day of exploring Nashville! Luxury, comfort, and functionality merge in this AirBNB project we completed in just 2 short weeks. Navigating a tight budget, we supplemented the homeowner’s existing personal items and local artwork with great finds from facebook marketplace, vintage + antique shops, and the local salvage yard. The result: a collected look that’s true to Nashville and vacation ready!

The rooms in this charming 1920’s Burns Park home were completely compartmentalized (typical for homes built in this period). The homeowners wanted a more open space with sightlines into the dining and living spaces, and a kitchen that could accommodate more than one cook! We removed a wall and replaced it with a beautiful Butternut beam and countertop seating, a more casual eating area to supplement their dining room. Bringing this home into 2018 while paying respect to its historic neighborhood was an important part of this project. The personality, cabinetry and contemporary finishes in this kitchen better mirror this cheerful and vibrant family.

Aesthetic Value: Six flights of stacked curved stairways wind up this 80’ tall stair tower. The handrail adds elegance to the overall design as it flows continuously through all floors and pitch change transitions without any interruptions. Stair Safety: The sturdy rail system provides safe guard which is especially crucial at these great heights. Quality: Pre-built stairway and balustrade prior to delivery to jobsite. Solid hardwood staircase and supplemental structural iron work for securing the freestanding stair all done in house. Curved stringer and handrail transitions at all pitch changes. Technical Challenge: Assisting with engineering freestanding floor systems and integrated stairways. Rigging and hoisting stairways up multiple floors. Designing floor areas and transitions to accommodate flights becoming narrower as they went higher. Logistics of working in Manhattan.

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photography: Laura Rockett Photography Design Challenge: MOTIV Interiors created this colorful yet relaxing retreat - a space for guests to unwind and recharge after a long day of exploring Nashville! Luxury, comfort, and functionality merge in this AirBNB project we completed in just 2 short weeks. Navigating a tight budget, we supplemented the homeowner’s existing personal items and local artwork with great finds from facebook marketplace, vintage + antique shops, and the local salvage yard. The result: a collected look that’s true to Nashville and vacation ready!

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 John Sutton Photography.

Dining area in a Wellington County estate home staging project featuring four Dreiser dining chairs rented from Rent WOW!!!. The black upholstered chairs complement the home’s dramatic black window frames and were incorporated with the existing dining table and décor. A simple example of partial furniture rental, where just a few carefully selected pieces can help bring an existing room together without replacing furniture that already works well in the space.

Aesthetic Value: Six flights of stacked curved stairways wind up this 80’ tall stair tower. The handrail adds elegance to the overall design as it flows continuously through all floors and pitch change transitions without any interruptions. Stair Safety: The sturdy rail system provides safe guard which is especially crucial at these great heights. Quality: Pre-built stairway and balustrade prior to delivery to jobsite. Solid hardwood staircase and supplemental structural iron work for securing the freestanding stair all done in house. Curved stringer and handrail transitions at all pitch changes. Technical Challenge: Assisting with engineering freestanding floor systems and integrated stairways. Rigging and hoisting stairways up multiple floors. Designing floor areas and transitions to accommodate flights becoming narrower as they went higher. Logistics of working in Manhattan.

To brighten this living room we added a soothing blue paint to the walls, a crisp white ceiling and trim. For even more light, we added a sun tunnel to bounce more natural light around the space. and supplemented that with ceiling lights on dimmers. We kept the style casual and cozy while still being appropriate with performance fabrics for lounging with beloved pets.

Aesthetic Value: Six flights of stacked curved stairways wind up this 80’ tall stair tower. The handrail adds elegance to the overall design as it flows continuously through all floors and pitch change transitions without any interruptions. Stair Safety: The sturdy rail system provides safe guard which is especially crucial at these great heights. Quality: Pre-built stairway and balustrade prior to delivery to jobsite. Solid hardwood staircase and supplemental structural iron work for securing the freestanding stair all done in house. Curved stringer and handrail transitions at all pitch changes. Technical Challenge: Assisting with engineering freestanding floor systems and integrated stairways. Rigging and hoisting stairways up multiple floors. Designing floor areas and transitions to accommodate flights becoming narrower as they went higher. Logistics of working in Manhattan.

Anisacanthus wrightii shrub
Photo of a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

This traditional kitchen is a very visually clean space, with a great amount of natural lighting. The island severs as way to entertain or serve guest and family. The white cabinets and stainless steel appliances work well together to create an updated feeling, while they contrast well with the dark flooring to create visual appeal. The structure of the island allows for additional counter-space and seating storage by utilizing legs, and the under-mount kitchen sink allows for the counter-top to appear smooth and sleek. The glass pendant lighting adds layers to the kitchen while lighting the area and are supplemented by flush-mount ceiling lights.