The customers wanted a retirement home that would accommodate guests. Several design options were presented that took advantage of the site features and views, while accommodating guests and preserving the owner’s privacy. This home was nestled into a hilly site bisected by a large drainage swale. A bridge crossing the drainage swale unified the two halves of the home and provided a dramatic entry. All of the owners’ main living spaces were on one level, and two guest suites were provided in different parts of the home away from the owners’ living area. The design of the home captures the wonderful views from most living areas. The landscaping, shape, form, and materials—stone, stucco, heavy timbering, and a metal roof—offer protection from the desert sun but remain sympathetic to the surrounding environment. Work completed while at SBA.

View from the street. Grade slopes dramatically away from the street. The rear of the site is heavily wooded. Entirely new facade below the existing roof creates an aesthetic sympathetic to the design roots of the house

Custom designed pool house that needed to act as a folly and also be sympathetic to the historic estate and the historic district where it is located. New Lap pool and refurbishment of existing pool.

The two story renovation of this beach property required new stairs. Decorative steel stringers, guardrails, and handrails are sympathetic to the design of the fences and other steel structural details. The used brick walls match the brick pilasters at the garage doors.

Set in the heavily treed neighbourhood of Minneola, this project was developed in a way to be sympathetic to its mature trees and woodland views. The negative-edge pool is predominantly viewed from inside the home, while the outdoor kitchen, fireplace and dinning are clearly for entertaining. The surrounding forest provides a rich backdrop and seclusion.

This project for a builder husband and interior-designer wife involved adding onto and restoring the luster of a c. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage in Barrington that they had occupied for years while raising their two sons. They were ready to ditch their small tacked-on kitchen that was mostly isolated from the rest of the house, views/daylight, as well as the yard, and replace it with something more generous, brighter, and more open that would improve flow inside and out. They were also eager for a better mudroom, new first-floor 3/4 bath, new basement stair, and a new second-floor master suite above. The design challenge was to conceive of an addition and renovations that would be in balanced conversation with the original house without dwarfing or competing with it. The new cross-gable addition echoes the original house form, at a somewhat smaller scale and with a simplified more contemporary exterior treatment that is sympathetic to the old house but clearly differentiated from it. Renovations included the removal of replacement vinyl windows by others and the installation of new Pella black clad windows in the original house, a new dormer in one of the son’s bedrooms, and in the addition. At the first-floor interior intersection between the existing house and the addition, two new large openings enhance flow and access to daylight/view and are outfitted with pairs of salvaged oversized clear-finished wooden barn-slider doors that lend character and visual warmth. A new exterior deck off the kitchen addition leads to a new enlarged backyard patio that is also accessible from the new full basement directly below the addition. (Interior fit-out and interior finishes/fixtures by the Owners)

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

Situated along the perimeter of the property, this unique home creates a continuous street wall, both preserving plenty of open yard space and maintaining privacy from the prominent street corner. A one-story mudroom connects the garage to the house at the rear of the lot which required a local zoning variance. The resulting L-shaped plan and the central location of a glass-enclosed stair allow natural light to enter the home from multiple sides of nearly every room. The Arts & Crafts inspired detailing creates a familiar yet unique facade that is sympathetic to the character and scale of the neighborhood. A chevron pattern is a key design element on the window bays and doors and continues inside throughout the interior of the home. 2022 NAHB Platinum Best in American Living Award View more of this home through #BBAModernCraftsman on Instagram.

This project for a builder husband and interior-designer wife involved adding onto and restoring the luster of a c. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage in Barrington that they had occupied for years while raising their two sons. They were ready to ditch their small tacked-on kitchen that was mostly isolated from the rest of the house, views/daylight, as well as the yard, and replace it with something more generous, brighter, and more open that would improve flow inside and out. They were also eager for a better mudroom, new first-floor 3/4 bath, new basement stair, and a new second-floor master suite above. The design challenge was to conceive of an addition and renovations that would be in balanced conversation with the original house without dwarfing or competing with it. The new cross-gable addition echoes the original house form, at a somewhat smaller scale and with a simplified more contemporary exterior treatment that is sympathetic to the old house but clearly differentiated from it. Renovations included the removal of replacement vinyl windows by others and the installation of new Pella black clad windows in the original house, a new dormer in one of the son’s bedrooms, and in the addition. At the first-floor interior intersection between the existing house and the addition, two new large openings enhance flow and access to daylight/view and are outfitted with pairs of salvaged oversized clear-finished wooden barn-slider doors that lend character and visual warmth. A new exterior deck off the kitchen addition leads to a new enlarged backyard patio that is also accessible from the new full basement directly below the addition. (Interior fit-out and interior finishes/fixtures by the Owners)

This beautiful residence was in need of repairs and a 2 bedroom extension to accommodate the family of five who love the home and wished to restore and extend sympathetically in keeping with the feel and character charm of the property. They worked with Smith & Sons to create a stunning home which would meet their needs for years to come.

Originally a ranch, this house was lifted after Hurricane Hugo and added onto un-sympathetically at the rear. It had a strange layout with multiple levels, small bedrooms, and closed off spaces. Our task was to transform the home for modern living. Create indoor / outdoor connections to a new pool, kitchen and the everyday spaces used most. The transformation from a 'pink palace' to a modern showpiece gave the owners living space to entertain and enjoy their home with friends & extended family. Photos by Newport653

Along with the spatial requirements, major importance was placed upon creating an addition which would blend in suitably with the historic home, using sympathetic and harmonious materials. The addition aligns the main workspace of the kitchen with the existing door leading from the original house and terminates with a Palladian window, while a vaulted barrel roof and ceiling celebrate the kitchen as the home’s new gathering space for friends and family. The curving bead board ceiling is up lit from fixtures mounted behind a traditional cornice, while traditional cabinetry in natural and painted finishes are topped by natural stone and wood counters. Traditional fixtures and reclaimed heart-pine plank flooring add both character and warmth to the rooms. Joseph Mullan Photography

The owners of this historic house on a promontory surrounded by water asked Morpurgo Architects to maximize ocean views while expanding their home for their growing family. Conforming to The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission’s requirements, our modifications to the existing structure are sympathetic to the original Stuccoed Mission-style and contextually in keeping with neighboring historic homes. This challenging site presented numerous constraints, including adherence to oceanfront setbacks and environmental and zoning regulations. We overcame imposing restrictions to develop a dynamic plan that fulfilled the clients’ programmatic and aesthetic needs. The kitchen was identified by our clients as the focal point of family activity. We maximized this lifestyle concept by developing the kitchen into a spacious living area with commanding views of the water. Renovations to the third floor allowed Morpurgo Architects to create an outdoor space offering a panorama of the historic surrounding communities.

Set in the heavily treed neighbourhood of Minneola, this project was developed in a way to be sympathetic to its mature trees and woodland views. The negative-edge pool is predominantly viewed from inside the home, while the outdoor kitchen, fireplace and dinning are clearly for entertaining. The surrounding forest provides a rich backdrop and seclusion.

This beautiful residence was in need of repairs and a 2 bedroom extension to accommodate the family of five who love the home and wished to restore and extend sympathetically in keeping with the feel and character charm of the property. They worked with Smith & Sons to create a stunning home which would meet their needs for years to come.

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

Painted in ‘sorrel’ this superb example of a large bespoke bookcase complements this spacious lounge perfectly. This is a stunning fitted bookcase that not only looks great but fits the client’s initial vision by incorporating a small study area that can be neatly hidden away when not in use. Storage for books, pictures, trinkets and keepsakes has been carefully considered and designed sympathetically to the interior decor.

Subsequent additions are covered with living green walls to deemphasize stylistic conflicts imposed on a 1940’s Tudor and become backdrop surrounding a kitchen addition. On the interior, further added architectural inconsistencies are edited away, and the language of the Tudor’s original reclaimed integrity is referenced for the addition. Sympathetic to the home, windows and doors remain untrimmed and stark plaster walls contrast the original black metal windows. Sharp black elements contrast fields of white. With a ceiling pitch matching the existing and chiseled dormers, a stark ceiling hovers over the kitchen space referencing the existing homes plaster walls. Grid members in windows and on saw scored paneled walls and cabinetry mirror the machine age windows as do exposed steel beams. The exaggerated white field is pierced by an equally exaggerated 13 foot black steel tower that references the existing homes steel door and window members. Glass shelves in the tower further the window parallel. Even though it held enough dinner and glassware for eight, its thin members and transparent shelves defy its massive nature, allow light to flow through it and afford the kitchen open views and the feeling of continuous space. The full glass at the end of the kitchen reveres a grouping of 50 year old Hemlocks. At the opposite end, a window close to the peak looks up to a green roof.

HAWTHORNE HAMPTONS The Hawthorne House is a fusion between the Classic Queenslander and Hampton style home. The Harmony between the 2-style work well together and we had to be sympathetic to the existing pre-1946 character home. The street scape had to be fused together between old and new so the house read as one and would stand the test of time. The clients brief was to make the house more functional for the family with more space and usable areas that connected all spaces to the outdoors. The lower rooms still had to capture natural light and breeze but have a connection to the outdoor courtyard area. The current house lacked views of the Brisbane city so the key for the design was to enhance the city views from the upstairs living areas with large doors and windows that framed the city. The client particular wanted WOW features in the house. Upon arriving at the entrance, a large void/Entrance carries your attention up through the house with the stunning coffered ceilings and wainscoting drawings your eyes to the upper floors. The 1st floor was all about connecting the living areas together while enjoying the amazing Brisbane city views. The heart of the house is the Kitchen that connects the indoors and outdoors together. Outdoors is where the family can enjoy their summer days around the pool area.Hawthorne House is a truly stunning house with Hampton details that make this house a truly enjoyable house to live in.