Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Boston

kurt jordan photography
Pool - contemporary pool idea in Santa Barbara

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

Example of a tuscan exterior home design in Orlando

At I'm The Man Services, we had the pleasure of transforming an ordinary backyard corner into a feline paradise designed for play, relaxation, and adventure. This thoughtfully crafted cat oasis features a multi-level enclosure with climbing ramps, perches, scratching posts, and plenty of vertical space for endless exploration. Durable yet stylish rope-wrapped steps add a playful touch, giving curious kitties the freedom to climb and roam. The outdoor area is landscaped with lush artificial turf, providing a soft, low-maintenance surface that’s easy on paws and easy to clean. Natural light filters through the clear corrugated roofing, ensuring a warm, sunny environment while keeping cats protected from the elements. The enclosed garden bed offers a slice of nature with carefully chosen plants and rocks, giving cats a safe taste of the outdoors. Every detail, from the secure wire mesh to the sturdy construction, ensures both safety and fun—so owners can relax while their furry friends live their best lives. This cat oasis is more than a play space; it’s a testament to how thoughtful design can bring joy and enrichment to both pets and their owners. At I'm The Man Services, we believe every project should make tails wag—and this one definitely does!

Photo by Alan Fraebel
This is an example of a transitional porch design in Orlando.

Location: Orewa, New Zealand. Kensington Park is New Zealand’s leading example of a master-planned residential neighbourhood. A range of accommodation options across apartments and terrace houses, all with freehold titles, has proved to be a winning combination. Almost all the residences feature outdoor living spaces with timber decking that adds to the relaxed beach feel. Elements Sand+ Decking was chosen due to it’s high quality supplied finish, easy installation and superior weathering performance. The fact that the product is low toxicity and locally sourced from sustainable plantation forests was an added selling point for the development and it’s customers. A number of local and international awards have been achieved, proving the quality of the development.

At I'm The Man Services, we had the pleasure of transforming an ordinary backyard corner into a feline paradise designed for play, relaxation, and adventure. This thoughtfully crafted cat oasis features a multi-level enclosure with climbing ramps, perches, scratching posts, and plenty of vertical space for endless exploration. Durable yet stylish rope-wrapped steps add a playful touch, giving curious kitties the freedom to climb and roam. The outdoor area is landscaped with lush artificial turf, providing a soft, low-maintenance surface that’s easy on paws and easy to clean. Natural light filters through the clear corrugated roofing, ensuring a warm, sunny environment while keeping cats protected from the elements. The enclosed garden bed offers a slice of nature with carefully chosen plants and rocks, giving cats a safe taste of the outdoors. Every detail, from the secure wire mesh to the sturdy construction, ensures both safety and fun—so owners can relax while their furry friends live their best lives. This cat oasis is more than a play space; it’s a testament to how thoughtful design can bring joy and enrichment to both pets and their owners. At I'm The Man Services, we believe every project should make tails wag—and this one definitely does!

Walking into this reimagined primary bath feels like stepping into a boutique spa. The entire space is wrapped in a soft, barely-there blush-white wall color that reads almost like warm light itself, creating an instantly calming atmosphere that the design then builds upon thoughtfully. Twin sage blue-gray vanities run along both sides of the room, each finished in a shaker-style painted cabinetry with polished chrome bar pulls and topped with a gorgeous Calacatta-style quartz — the same material flowing seamlessly across countertops and up as a low backsplash. Above each vanity hang individual black rounded-rectangle mirrors with matching chrome picture-light sconces, creating a clean, modern hotel-bath aesthetic that feels crisp without being cold. The walk-in shower is the undeniable heart of the room — a generous double-entry wet room featuring dual rainfall showerheads, dual handheld wand fixtures, and a natural light source through a privacy glass window that floods the space with soft, diffused daylight. Large format white wall tile set in a simple grid pattern keeps the shower feeling expansive and serene, while large-format Calacatta marble-look porcelain tile on the floor carries the quartz veining language from the vanities underfoot throughout the entire bathroom. A polished chrome heated towel rack mounted on the bathroom wall adds a luxurious, spa-grade detail — warm towels waiting after every shower. A teak wood bath mat on the floor completes the spa atmosphere perfectly. The Laundry Room Just steps away, the laundry room received an equally remarkable transformation — one that proves this hardworking space can be just as design-forward as any other room in the house. Deep hunter green painted cabinetry with brushed brass bar pulls commands the room from floor to ceiling, creating a rich, dramatic palette that feels collected and intentional rather than builder-grade. Upper shaker-style cabinets maximize storage above the machines, while a tall pantry-style column cabinet on the end wall provides floor-to-ceiling concealed storage for supplies. A painted shiplap accent panel between the upper cabinets and the counter is fitted with a row of brass coat hooks — a dual-purpose detail that adds texture and hang space for bags and reusable totes. The counter surface in white quartz sits above the side-by-side front-load washer and dryer, creating a functional folding station. A white square tile backsplash behind the machines adds a clean, easy-care surface that holds its own against the bold green cabinetry. A built-in wood bench with open storage below creates a secondary mudroom function, while a warm-toned live-edge wood floating shelf adds organic contrast. A custom built walnut open bookcase tucked at the room's end provides stylish overflow storage that gives the space personality beyond its utility.

Transitional pool photo in Los Angeles

This Poolside Kitchen & Entertaining Area includes an outdoor kitchen, unilock paver flooring in the kitchen and dining area, walk to fence gate and conservatory stoop, natural stone step from the sunroom, stone veneer from the conservatory egress window to the the back of the home from kitchen to the sunroom and wrapping around the sunroom, stone veneer on the kitchen cabinets facing outward and stucco on the back side around the egress window, 36″ grill in stainless steel, single side burner, wine caddy, two double access and one single stainless steel doors under the cabinets, and low voltage lighting to down light the counter tops from the pergola structure. This project also includes supply and installation of a pergola over the kitchen island constructed of oiled douglas fir.

We demolished the Living Room, tearing out the original parquet floors throughout the apartment, which were at least 60 years old and had been sanded and refinished, God knows how many times? They were extremely thin. We then built a very narrow soffit , which is just the size of the Crown Molding which gave it a very slim profile to hold the low profile LED lights . Previously there were no lights accept two Halogen Torcheres, which threw off a lot of heat, especially in the summer months and illuminated the ceiling.. The ceiling light in the foyer was kept high up, so it wouldn't affect a tall person. The large bulb was just put there until a Dining Fixture could be found? This is a great shot of the new wood floors, which made the Living Room, brighter, lighter, definitely more spacious and up to date and timeless. It also gives a very clear view of the new right wall, that previously had some strange draws, down near the closet ,which originally were part of the right closet door. We cleaned up the whole wall, so client could put some sort of media unit, that previously would have looked ridiculous with the draws and ugly very obvious door, hiding the Utility Closet. We left the Utility Closet in place, and put her commercial looking metal file cabinet, where client kept important documents and we put in electrical outlets and built her a shelf for her printer and other stationary supplies. We then put on flush solid core doors without molding, invisible hinges and hidden door hardware, so it just blended into the wall and no longer stuck out like a sore thumb!

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Ellijay, Ga. area .Ellijay, Georgia, known as the “Apple Capital” of Georgia, is located between the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers where they join to make the Coosawattee River and is the county seat of Gilmer County, Georgia. The origin of the city’s name is not certain but thought to be the English derivative of an Indian word(s) meaning “many waters”, “place of green things” or “new ground”. Some histories say it may have been named for an Indian chief. Inhabited for countless years by the Cherokee people indigenous to the North Georgia, the area was first mentioned as a village and trade center before the onslaught of white settlers inhabited the region. During the 1830’s both white settlers and Indians occupied Ellijay. During the original land lottery in 1832, Martin Scalf acquired the 160 acre lot where the town now stands. In 1833, Clemonds Quinland bought 10 acres from Scalf, retained one acre for himself and donated the rest of the purchase to the County. A plan for twenty town lots, streets and a public square was created and the streets were oriented to allow maximum sunlight exposure to the buildings. Proceeds from lot sales were used to build a jail and courthouse and pay other city expenses. During this same year, Gilmer County was appropriated $800.00 from the State to build a school, and a three-acre lot was donated for the city cemetery. On December 29, l834, Ellijay was incorporated and designated as the County seat of Gilmer County. By 1837, the town had twenty dwellings, three stores and one attorney. Most of these early buildings were of log construction. Many roads led to Ellijay by 1849. The population had grown to 150 by 1850 and the town at five stores. Some wood-frame buildings were being constructed at this time and in 1854, a new courthouse was built in the center of the square, replacing the earlier building. The County’s first newspaper was the Ellijay Courier, started in 1875, and during this time period, Ellijay was a stop on the stagecoach line. The railroad bridge over the Cartecay River was completed in 1884 and the town now had rail service. With the arrival of the railroad and subsequent tracks to White Path, Ellijay began to grow much faster. Many hotels were constructed and land was donated for a depot east of town. More industries, such as a cheese factory and the Shippen Brothers Lumber Mill, located in Ellijay. By 1898, the city had expanded its limits in every direction and now included the depot. By 1900, all the buildings on the town square were brick. This included the recently completed Hyatt Hotel. Most of the other buildings in town were still of log construction, but new wood-frame buildings were being built. The Shippen Brothers Lumber Company production was expanding and exporting their lumber to Europe. Within the next few decades, this company grew to be one of the largest employers in Ellijay, often with five to six million feet of lumber in the yard at one time. The population of Ellijay grew to 659 by 1910, and began to acquire many new modern conveniences such as electric lights and power, a telephone company and many new businesses. Then in 1912, a fire ravaged the city, destroying 23 buildings. As a result, many new buildings were constructed under new and stricter fire and safety guidelines. The population, however, decreased slightly at this time to 632 in 1920. During the 1920’s the town’s population began to grow again and, by this time, apples were being shipped out of the county and new storage facilities were built. Chickens were also shipped to markets outside of Ellijay and Gilmer County. From the mid 1930’s to 1950, Ellijay received much assistance from the Federal WPA Programs. The old courthouse was removed from the center of town square and the Hyatt Hotel was remodeled to be the new courthouse. A park was created on the site of the old courthouse and the streets around the square were paved. A new street was built at this time entering town from the northeast. Other new roads, bridges, sidewalks and gutters were constructed to improve the city. A school and gymnasium were also built and other structures improved. This growth began to impact the city’s infrastructure and in the l950’s and l960’s, a period of upgrading water systems, roads, and power supplies began. New low-rent housing appeared in l960 and a new hospital was built in l957. Georgia Highway 5 was widened in l962, new buildings around the square replaced old ones and some were remodeled. In 1974, the hospital was enlarged. Currently, Ellijay attracts tourists who love the small-town feel and friendly atmosphere. Hotels and restaurants, unique shops, antiques and art galleries lend their charms to those who visit. A new courthouse constructed to resemble the old one, new streetscaping, family-oriented downtown events and the beautification of the square have stepped up the social and economic activity and have made Ellijay a popular destination.

Patio - transitional patio idea in Orlando

This is an example of a tropical landscaping in Orange County.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams. Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves. Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications. Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction. Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.” Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

2 tap outdoor rated kegerator supplied by client.
Photo of a modern landscaping in Charlotte.

Photo of a large traditional full sun side yard stone landscaping in Boston.

SLCC FLOORS™ supplies and distributes products that not only look beautiful, but also have a low impact on our environment. We are a U.S.-based supplier commited to providing flooring products that meet or exceed sustainability standards with beauty and durability. #hardwood #flooring #qualityfloors