In this recently completed project in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, a previously underutilized and awkwardly laid-out backyard was reimagined as a sleek, modern outdoor retreat. The garden was thoughtfully divided into three distinct zones: a dining and cooking area anchored by a modern outdoor kitchen, a quiet, contemplative nook designed for one or two people to unwind, and a generous lounge space featuring a custom curved Ipe bench beneath a minimalist pergola. To complete the transformation, integrated lighting, irrigation, and a fully equipped kitchen were installed. A clean-lined fence was added to screen out negative views, helping to create a private, oasis-like atmosphere in the heart of the city. The result is a sophisticated, highly functional garden that extends the home’s living space and supports year-round enjoyment.

THE SETUP Multiple ovens, multiple workspaces, multiple sinks – when you think about it, non-jewish kitchens have been adapting the criteria of kosher kitchens for years. Gladys’ clients in West Rogers Park are Orthodox Jewish. The house they bought already had a kosher kitchen – it just wasn’t done that well. It needed some more things to be duplicated for the dairy side and the meat side. Plus, it was dark and the configuration wasn’t very conducive for a family of eight. It was time for a remodel. Design Objectives Improve kosher kitchen Add more storage in the island Better lighting More open, lighter feel Change the wood floor in the kitchen to tile THE REMODEL Design Challenges - We had originally planned on removing a wing wall by the breakfast area. During demolition, we learned it contained a support beam. - The kitchen is a substantial size, but having two sinks, dishwashers, and ovens presented a challenge – how do we fit it all in and make it flow with the storage still accessible near the work areas? Where do you stop the materials for the new space? - -- The right tile, paint, lighting, etc. would be needed to make the remodeled area cohesive with the rest of the main floor. - An existing column limited cabinet options and thus, storage capacity. Could we conceal it without disrupting the cabinetry flow? Design Solutions - We had to keep the wing wall, but decided to continue the tile on the sides of the cabinets and maintain the height of the tile to line up with the rest of the backsplash. This actually presented a very nice and cohesive look, especially since the opposite side has a wing wall to the left of the refrigerator. - We used “L-shaped” corner sinks instead of the rectangular ones set on an angle. This gave us more of the legs of the triangles versus the hypotenuse, which allowed for the two dishwashers, and the pullout utensil canisters and spice pullouts while still keeping the 3-drawer cabinets on either side of the range (by the sinks). The old island had the recess for stools which the family never used. By extending the width of the island 6” and utilizing this leg space, we were able to fit 18”-deep cabinets on this side – adding lots of accessible storage. The family can now work simultaneously on the dairy side (the side with the fridge) and the meat side (opposite) without getting in each other’s way. We separated the cooking by using the range oven for the meat and a built-in microwave in the base cabinet. The wall oven with built-in microwave on top is for dairy. - Corner sinks opened up the middle area for a wider range – we went from a 30” to a 36”. Removing all the wall cabinets (on the range wall) made a big difference. That opened up the entire space while adding some visual impact. (Not pictured: We also made the cabinets directly opposite the range wall tall and removed the countertop, resulting in more room for rollouts and even more storage!) The kitchen now has more storage than it did before. - We ended up painting the ceiling of the kitchen into the hallway that leads to the foyer. The living and dining rooms were separated by a soffit, so that became a natural boundary. We kept the tile in the kitchen by stopping it short of the hallway and lining it up with the pantry wall. This creates a border between the breakfast area and family room. The rest of the existing wood floors were refinished to refresh and make the hue darker. We also painted a dark accent wall and carried it into the breakfast area to make the rooms look deeper. - The in-the-way column housed plumbing and couldn’t be moved. We still built cabinets in that spot – we just had to build a chase inside it to conceal the pipes. There was still plenty of room for new storage. We also took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. The continuous tall cabinets added a functional elegance to the space. THE RENEWED SPACE The client’s long-awaited dream of a better kosher kitchen has finally been achieved, beautifully combining enhanced storage solutions with adherence to the family’s orthodox dietary laws. The kitchen’s standout feature, an expanded island, now offers a spacious and efficient workspace. This allows several family members to cook together comfortably, without the inconvenience of bumping into each other, ensuring a harmonious and productive cooking environment.

The Ubuntu Center provides pediatric HIV testing and treatment, counseling, education, and community empowerment. The design is focused on de-stigmatization and normalization of HIV testing and treatment. It provides access to a state-of-the-art facility in a beleaguered post-apartheid community. The design is a model for sustainable development that begins with environment and extends to the preservation of life. Funded globally and operated locally, Ubuntu reflects a world defined by unprecedented global connection and the resurgence of local, community based organization. Ubuntu center brings state of the art services to vulnerable children by providing centrally located, free and accessible social services in a single facility. It comprises a multi-purpose hall for education, concerts and shelter when needed; an empowerment wing with career guidance and computer centre, and a fully equipped Pediatric HIV /TB testing and counseling clinic with 47,691 people reached through community HIV prevention outreach. Ubuntu’s organic rooftop garden, together with Ubuntu’s neighborhood gardens feed 2,245 students daily. It provides a timely and practical template for sustainability on a societal as well as an environmental level. Ubuntu has been adopted by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), and has become a model of success for the Clinton Global initiative, the Kresge foundation, and countless individual supporters.

A couple took ownership of their new residence on a top floor of a quiet street in central Lisbon. Our studio’s brief was to transform the duplex into a hideaway to detach from daily life and spend quality time with visiting relatives. The design manifests family-focused features: upon entry, there is plentiful storage for shoes and coats; in the main living room, a custom island crafted in solid surface extends the compact kitchen into the social area, seamlessly bridging cooking and convivial gatherings. A buffet supports more elaborate meals. Sculptural pendants and niches that accentuate horizontal continuity favor interaction between the dining and flexible lounge areas. Reimagined with durable materials, the bathrooms embrace efficiency and elegance. Cabinetry is integrated around the planes of countertops and insets carried across the room. Dark wood and textured accents punctuate the white surfaces, grounding the spaces in tactile warmth. The bedrooms, designed for adaptability, offer separable sleeping arrangements, peaceful workspaces, and versatile wardrobe solutions. The light-toned furniture and organic elements are tailored to the interior, softening the contrasting architectural palette and rectilinear forms. Soothing accent lighting is interwoven throughout, offering an adaptable, serene atmosphere.

This expansive outdoor deck and garden is the ultimate in luxury entertaining, lounging, dining and includes amenities for shade, a vegetable garden, outdoor seating, outdoor dining, grilling and a glass enclosure with heaters to get the most enjoyment and extended use year round. Rooftopia incorporated multiple customized Renson pergolas into the central dining and lounge areas. Each of three Renson pergola systems and their unique features are controlled with the touch of a button. The motorized overhead louvers can be enjoyed open or fully closed to provide shade and a waterproof cover. Each pergola has integrated dimmable LED lighting in the roof blades or louvers. The seating and lounge area was designed with gorgeous modern furnishings and a luxurious fire table. The lounge area can be fully enclosed by sliding glass panels around its walls, to capture the heat from the fire table and integrated Renson heaters. A privacy and shade screen can also be retractable at the west to offer another layer of protection from the intensity of the setting sun. The lounges also feature an integrated sound system and mobile TV cabinet so the space can be used year round to stay warm and cozy while watching a movie or a football game. The outdoor kitchen and dining area features appliances by Hestan and highly customized concrete countertops with matching shelves mounted on the wall. The aluminum cabinets are custom made by Urban Bonfire and feature accessories for storing kitchen items like dishes, appliances, beverages, an ice maker and receptacles for recycling and refuse. The Renson pergola over the dining area also integrates a set of sliding loggia panels to offer a modern backdrop, add privacy and block the sun. Rooftopia partnered with the talented Derek Lerner for original artwork that was transformed into a large-scale mural, and with the help of Chicago Sign Systems, the artwork was enlarged, printed and installed as one full wall of the penthouse. This artwork is truly a special part of the design. Rooftopia customized the design of the planter boxes in partnership with ORE Designs to streamline the look and finish of the metal planter containers. Many of the planter boxes also have toe kick lighting to improve the evening ambiance. Several large planters are home to birch trees, ornamental grasses, annual flowers and the design incorporates containers for seasonal vegetables and an herb garden. Our teams partnered with Architects, Structural engineers, electricians, plumbers and sound engineers to upgrade the roof to support the pergola systems, integrate lighting and appliances, an automatic watering system and outdoor sound systems. This large residential roof deck required a multi year development, permitting and installation timeline, proving that the best things are worth the wait.

A Four-Story Foyer Staircase with Character-Grade White Oak and Painted Design adds to the Southern Charm of the home. The extended Recessed Paneled Box Newels with Bell Top anchors this staircase from top to bottom.

Peter Morehand
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in New York

This small addition and kitchen remodel reimagines a classic St. Paul home for a growing family—prioritizing natural light, smart function, and modern warmth. A modest side-yard addition creates space for a mudroom and ¾ bath, carefully positioned to preserve the dining room’s original piano windows. New windows throughout balance light, privacy, and flow. Inside, custom bleached butternut cabinets and a curved enameled tambour island bring warmth and sculptural contrast. Heated porcelain tile floors extend to a new deck, blending indoors and out. The exterior pairs vertical cedar with dark cement board for a subtle, modern update. Small in size, big in intention—this project honors the past while supporting the way this family lives now

The 722 Ash Street residence consists of a 1500 sf primary house with a contiguous 500 sf accessory dwelling. The project is set in the rich culture of North Lawrence, its rear property line abuts the Lawrence levee trail which runs for nine miles along the north bank of the Kansas River. North Lawrence is known for its quality soil, large trees, curbless streets and random size parcels before it breaks into larger farms further from the urban center. It is built on the typical orthogonal grid of American development, but it represents the older growth of the city prior to urban planners and zoning regulations. The rumble of freight trains and farm trucks in the shadows of the towering grain elevators are only blocks away. It is home to many who enjoy being only a bridge crossing away from Lawrence’s vibrant downtown but are far enough away to maintain their independence from many of the restrictions on living near the historic district. They can work in their large gardens and toiling in their garages and shops in a manner more rural than urban. The house on 722 Ash St. is imbued with the character of North Lawrence and the Levee Trail area. The design was inspired by the Midwestern farmstead vernacular of the region. These timeless vernacular qualities house all the accommodations necessary for modern, sustainable living. A unique feature of this house is the Accessory Dwelling Unit permitted in the zoning district. It is a small separate residence on the same lot that can be used for income property or for extended family members. It also supports the city of Lawrence’s goals of increased density close to downtown rather than continued sprawl into the countryside. The buildings use technology and common-sense design to reduce the building’s footprint and assure the owners low energy use and costs. A 4.9 Kw solar collection system is located on the only south facing gable and the super insulated envelopes (r-62 roof and r-35 walls) of all three forms easily exceeds the standards. Studio 804 continues their long standing pattern of maintaining the highest level of sustainable design while remaining contextually sensitive to the surrounding community. This house, like every Studio 804 project since 2008, is USGBC LEED Platinum Certified.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

The Lorraine Modern Residence is a fully integrated front and backyard project designed and built by The Northstone Group, the #1 landscape architecture, design-build, and custom pool construction firm in Montreal. This contemporary modern home required a landscape approach that matched its architectural clarity while delivering long-term performance, precision detailing, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Every element of the project was designed and executed in-house by The Northstone Group’s team of landscape architects, builders, and pool specialists. The backyard is anchored by a custom concrete pool, designed and built by Northstone’s in-house pool construction team. The pool features a beach entry for ease of use and resort-level comfort, as well as a refined waterfall edge that creates a clean visual transition between the water and surrounding landscape. These elements were engineered for durability, safety, and long-term performance, not just aesthetics. The hardscape throughout the project includes architectural pavers selected to complement the home’s modern lines and neutral palette. These materials extend from the backyard into a custom paver driveway, creating a cohesive arrival experience and reinforcing the architectural language of the residence from the street. Custom-built architectural planters were integrated into both the front and backyard to frame views, define circulation, and soften the hardscape while maintaining a contemporary, minimal aesthetic. Planting was intentionally restrained and structured, chosen to complement the modern architecture and perform reliably in Quebec’s climate. An outdoor kitchen completes the backyard living space, positioned to support entertaining while preserving clean sightlines across the pool and landscape. The overall layout was designed to maximize usability, flow, and visual balance, ensuring the space functions as a true extension of the home. With over 25 years of experience and a team of 180+ in-house professionals, The Northstone Group delivers landscape architecture, design-build services, and custom concrete pool construction under one roof. This integrated approach allows for precise coordination, consistent quality, and full accountability from concept through completion. Projects like the Lorraine Modern Residence reflect why luxury homeowners across Montreal trust The Northstone Group as the leading authority in contemporary landscape architecture and high-end outdoor construction.

Butler Developments worked as a general contractor on this two story custom home in Pinetop, AZ. Coordinating project managers for design and multiple specialists we built the home from start to finish to the owner's specifications. The exterior design consists of a combination of masonry on the lower level and shingle siding on the second level. The modern rustic look matches the natural materials and colors used in the support beams, the brick driveway, natural wood doors and shutters, and abundant trees on the lot. This entryway is solid and well lit with yellow bulbs to reduce insect active. We switched to brighter lighting on the porch for ease of entry and security at the door. The natural garage door adds a touch of brighter color and allows for easy parking or storage. If the homeowner chooses exterior parking, the extended entry allows them to avoid the elements between the interior and their vehicle.

Elevated Living in Highland Park ​Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting. ​ Home Details ​ The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic. ​ Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living. Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains. Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation Practical Connections The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space. Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.​ Outdoor Living Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes: ​ A kitchenette for outdoor meals A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain ​ Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.

Elevated Living in Highland Park ​Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting. ​ Home Details ​ The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic. ​ Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living. Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains. Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation Practical Connections The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space. Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.​ Outdoor Living Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes: ​ A kitchenette for outdoor meals A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain ​ Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.

This mountain vacation residence places the living and sleeping space for a family of three on the main level with guest bedrooms, recreation rooms, and garage below. The sloped site allows approach and entry on the main level, achieving the appearance of a one-story house. The scheme is an L-shaped, open-plan building containing primary living space covered with a shed roof. This configuration forms a “courtyard” facing southeast, which contains the main entry. Intersected with the shed roof component the mudroom, bedroom, and master closet and bath are contained in “cabins” of stone with arced roofs. The roof support at the northwest corner has been eliminated to allow a sliding glass system which, when open, voids the corner of the family room. This allows the living space to extend onto an elevated concrete terrace overlooking the view. The result is a living environment that distinguishes public from private uses with form and space, provides outdoor areas of contrasting characteristics in a place of sharp seasonal contrast, and creates an image that blends with the landscape.

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

FLY is a family of dining tables, end tables and cabinets. Light in its image, solid and architectural in its form, the dining table has a metal base with two legs to support tops in wood – also extendable – or marble. The collection of tables features the same single leg that splits into three feet at the base. The rectangular tables can have a base placed off center with respect to the top. The end tables are idea for use with the many sofas in the collection. FLY also includes a set of low TV cabinets, accessorized with cowhide baskets and enhanced by tops in marble or wood.

This deck once a dream has emerged as additional outdoor living space and now represents a significant increase to property value. Outdoor living space has become todays must-have. This design features Zuri Premium Decking by Royal, the latest maintenance free PVC with the look of Ipe hardwood. A gas fire feature accented with EP Henry Stone over a base of Belgard African Tile, is integrated into the deck area. Adjacent, is a gourmet kitchen accented in stone and granite, flanked by an ample seating area for entertainment. Highlighting the design is a stunning covered structure with a tiger wood ceiling, supported by a pair of detailed columns on 36” stone bases joined by custom powder coated aluminum rails. The covered area decked in Belgard Tile, features an outdoor entertainment centers that includes a Flat Screen TV with a Sound Systems mounted on an Ipe and Mahogany Paneled Wall. A built-in Heater and Ceiling Fan transform this space for comfort and an expanded season of enjoyment. An LED Lighting Design extends enjoyment into the evening hours. A project of this scope requires a Deck Professional specializing in all the elements that make up an Outdoor Design. Designing and Building an Outdoor Living Area like this one requires expert techniques and a vast awareness of materials. DeckRemodelers takes ownership of every project that they handle incorporating all these elements into a turnkey delivery for the client concept-to-completion.

This Shoreview basement remodel transforms an underutilized lower level into a multifunctional space designed for both recreation and everyday living. Clean lines, classic millwork, and a warm neutral palette create a cohesive foundation that feels bright, comfortable, and inviting. At the center of the design is a custom indoor putting green, tailored for a golf-loving family and seamlessly integrated into the overall layout. Adjacent to the recreation space, a dedicated home gym features mirrored walls and an open layout that supports daily fitness routines. Architectural details such as wainscoting, recessed niches, and custom trim add depth and character throughout, while layered lighting ensures the space feels well-lit and welcoming. Every element was carefully considered to balance function and style. The result is a lower level that extends the livability of the home—offering space to play, exercise, and unwind, all within a thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished environment.