Search results for "Sustaining long lasting" in Home Design Ideas

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

Kashmere offers elevated style and fashion-driven products that will inspire you to create beautiful living spaces in any room of the house—with the classic elegance you would expect from the leading name in luxury carpet. Our craftsmen focus on the fine details to perfectly capture one-of-a-kind patterns and colorations, for a slightly modern twist on the Karastan legacy of classic, flawless beauty. EasyClean provides long-lasting stain and soil protection that makes your floors easy to clean and keeps them looking newer, longer—so you can live beautifully in any room of the house. Order free samples today!

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography
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Designers gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements.Photography by Eric Hausman
Designers gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements. This home’s noteworthy steel shipping container construction material, offers a streamlined aesthetic and industrial vibe, with sustainable attributes and strength. Recycled shipping containers are fireproof, impervious to water and stronger than traditional building materials. Inside, muscular concrete walls, burnished cedar beams and custom oak cabinetry give the living spaces definition, decorative might, and storage and seating options.
For more than 40 years, Fredman Design Group has been in the business of Interior Design. Throughout the years, we’ve built long-lasting relationships with our clients through our client-centric approach. When creating designs, our decisions depend on the personality of our clients—their dreams and their aspirations. We manifest their lifestyle by incorporating elements of design with those of our clients to create a unique environment, down to the details of the upholstery and accessories. We love it when a home feels finished and lived in, with various layers and textures.
While each of our clients and their stories has varied over the years, they’ve come to trust us with their projects—whether it’s a single room to the larger complete renovation, addition, or new construction.
They value the collaborative team that is behind each project, embracing the diversity that each designer is able to bring to their project through their love of art, travel, fashion, nature, history, architecture or film—ultimately falling in love with the nurturing environments we create for them.
We are grateful for the opportunity to tell each of clients’ stories through design. What story can we help you tell?
Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation - 312-587-9184

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

Built with solid Cherry wood harvested from the Appalachian Mountains, and protected in clear cherry finish to show off the cathedral grain of the hand-selected wood, the Retreat Cherry collection is a true testimony to high quality craftsmanship. Based in traditional American design, but updated for the less fussy style of today's living, clean lines embellish the sturdy, casual style. Each piece is carefully constructed with a commitment to sustainability, and use of environmentally friendly glues and finishes. Innovative modern conveniences appear in the built-in power port of the nightstand, drop-front media drawers, and felt lined jewelery trays in top drawers. Whisper close slides and custom tumbled pewter finished hardware make for noise-less and long-lasting drawer access. Cedar lined bottom drawers protect clothing and textiles from insects and odors. The natural, environmentally aware essence of Retreat Cherry makes for a warm, comfortability that will permeate your home. Just as the name suggests, escape into this wholesome collection for a relaxing interlude from reality.

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

View from the dining table toward the open kitchen and living room. The upstairs space has 360 degree views and ample natural daylight. The structural ties seen on the exposed beams and other areas of the home were custom welded by Paul Carson of Venture Fabrication.
The Crimson Bluffs Home is a sustainable smaller home with 360 degree views of the Missouri River various mountain ranges. Energy-efficiency strategies include long-lasting building materials, passive cooling, ample natural day lighting, high insulation values, advanced framing, and a combined heating approach of passive solar heat gain and radiant hydronic floor heating, a strategy we call “Sun Smart Radiant Heating.”
Greenovision Home Design

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

This home sits at a dramatic juncture between a state highway and the Columbia River, adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Steps away from its namesake, Steamboat Landing Park, the home has dramatic 180 degree views of the river, Mount Hood, and Oregon beyond. Creating a connection and celebrating this stunning natural setting while keeping highway noise at bay was one of this project's primary goals. Equally as important was the goal to design a high-performance building. These goals were met by implementing an energy-efficient heat pump system, radiant floor heating, 10" thick super-insulated concrete walls, closed-cell spray foam insulation in the attic, and triple-pane windows throughout. The sustainable attributes were balanced with durable and long-lasting materials, including standing seam metal roofing, stucco, and cedar siding to create a home that will stand for generations. Honoring the homeowner's request to design an age-in-place, one-level home, the plan is a simple sequence of bars with the two largest capped by gable roofs. The tallest of the bars closest to the highway is a garage, which houses the couple's much-loved Airstream. A smaller flat-roofed bar acts as a connector between the gabled forms and serves as the home's entry with the kitchen functions beyond. The largest of the bars, and the one closest to the river, includes an open concept great room flanked by two-bedroom suites on either side. A water-front deck spans the entire living and dining area, with a twenty-foot wide multi-slide panel door offering a seamless connection to an outdoor covered entertainment area. Inside, smooth concrete floors, walnut casework, and multiple skylights combine to create a truly inviting space.
Photographer: Matt Swain Photography

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

Not everyone would see the hidden beauty in the Yonkers property destined for the wrecking ball in 2000. But one family took the serious fixer-upper under their wing. Crumbling walls, overgrown maples (indeed, saplings were busting through the brick walls), and deer living in the basement was the state of affairs when Westover Landscape Design initially arrived on the scene. A year of intensive, meticulous, thoughtful renovation by the homeowner followed while the house was brought up to speed. When the last construction machine finally rumbled out, that’s when Robert Welsch and his crew began their odyssey.
The goal was to honor the newly restored relic and deliver it into the future with fitting surroundings. “We wanted to bring that treasure back to life,” Robert Welsch explains. Working closely with the homeowner as well as the city of Yonkers to guide the restoration, their first feat was to install a proper drainage system with catchments capable of keeping storm water from the massive roof flowing away. Before anything was visible on the surface, extensive work was accomplished underground. Meanwhile, a plan was drafted to honor the era of the house. Westover chose bluestone as the primary path material for its easy maintenance and simplicity when laying the swank configuration of pathways around the house and outward to an entertaining pavilion. By cleverly hemming the bluestone with period brick that echoes the building material for the house for continuity, the result is a smart and sophisticated finish to a promenade that constantly draws the family and their pets outdoors. Brick was also used to rebuild the walled gardens for the much-needed privacy in a close-knit Yonkers community. And a graceful wrought iron gate enhances the arrival experience. But walls and gates were not the only element to screen and reveal views—plant selection was critical.
Few landscapers would go the extra mile to find period perfect plants for a 19th Century restoration, but Robert Welsch saw the importance of authenticity in creating the mood. He repeated large trees—such as an exquisite London plane tree in the front yard—to balance the expression in the back. Recognizing the need for immediate stature, he selected a weeping willow to gain instant volume, giving the landscape a sense of deep roots. A weeping Camperdown elm adds sophisticated drama to the walled stroll gardens. Hydrangeas were incorporated for their billowy stature, easy maintenance, and long blooming season. Similarly, all the plants in residence play their part in the display that goes beyond the usual spring fling to extend throughout the growing season—offering visual interest even when they are not performing. From spring bulbs to autumn perennials, there is never a dull moment. Meanwhile, every step along the way was a collaboration working hand-in-hand with the homeowner and the city to make certain that the historic landmark status of the property was upheld and honored.
The result goes beyond a landscape that is just old faithful. It adds life to the picture, creating a jewel-like setting for the newly proud house. In a word, it is sublime. By planting wisely and using sustainable elements, the restored house and its surroundings are ready for the next generation and beyond. This Yonkers gem remains meticulously groomed under the watchful eye and skill of Westover Landscape Design’s team of gardeners—It’s a keeper.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood.
INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site.
EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot.
THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place.
HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde.
YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements.
RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage.
OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet.
ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer
Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor
Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering
Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design
Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings
Eric Roth Photography - Photography

A beautiful and bright Black Locust porch, paired with wiring for a tropical feel. Customer wanted a sustainable, long lasting deck.
Products: Black Locust 1 x 6 decking, Robi™ Oil

A beautiful and bright Black Locust porch, paired with wiring for a tropical feel. Customer wanted a sustainable, long lasting deck.
Products: Black Locust 1 x 6 decking, Robi™ Oil

A beautiful and bright Black Locust porch, paired with wiring for a tropical feel. Customer wanted a sustainable, long lasting deck.
Products: Black Locust 1 x 6 decking, Robi™ Oil

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered.
Before: Larkhall Crescent Home:
Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative.
Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind.
After: Warm & Cozy Family Room:
Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen.
Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible.
Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston.
We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice.
Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking…
Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living:
This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends.
On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise…
A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.
Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard.
To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated.
Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting.
Praise from Our Clients:
It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say?
“Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations.
Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!”
In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW
This unit, located in a 4-flat owned by TKS Owners Jeff and Susan Klimala, was remodeled as their personal pied-à-terre, and doubles as an Airbnb property when they are not using it. Jeff and Susan were drawn to the location of the building, a vibrant Chicago neighborhood, 4 blocks from Wrigley Field, as well as to the vintage charm of the 1890’s building. The entire 2 bed, 2 bath unit was renovated and furnished, including the kitchen, with a specific Parisian vibe in mind.
Although the location and vintage charm were all there, the building was not in ideal shape -- the mechanicals -- from HVAC, to electrical, plumbing, to needed structural updates, peeling plaster, out of level floors, the list was long. Susan and Jeff drew on their expertise to update the issues behind the walls while also preserving much of the original charm that attracted them to the building in the first place -- heart pine floors, vintage mouldings, pocket doors and transoms.
Because this unit was going to be primarily used as an Airbnb, the Klimalas wanted to make it beautiful, maintain the character of the building, while also specifying materials that would last and wouldn’t break the budget. Susan enjoyed the hunt of specifying these items and still coming up with a cohesive creative space that feels a bit French in flavor.
Parisian style décor is all about casual elegance and an eclectic mix of old and new. Susan had fun sourcing some more personal pieces of artwork for the space, creating a dramatic black, white and moody green color scheme for the kitchen and highlighting the living room with pieces to showcase the vintage fireplace and pocket doors.
Photographer: @MargaretRajic
Photo stylist: @Brandidevers
Do you have a new home that has great bones but just doesn’t feel comfortable and you can’t quite figure out why? Contact us here to see how we can help!
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