Adding a cowhide rug under this glass dining table was the perfect final touch to ground the space. I am a huge fan of rugs under the dining table, and was thrilled with how this turned out. My client is quite eclectic, and she was thrilled with the outcome.

LEED Certification Level: Platinum. Builder: R & S Engineering & Construction. The Cavanaugh Residence is a contemporary split level with a split personality. Totally designed from the ground up to minimize impact and maximize energy and water efficiency, its beautiful facade belies its hard-working, high-producing systems, earning it a LEED Platinum score of 116.5, and a HERS rating of minus 22. The 2774 square foot home produces over 100 per cent of its power with a 10.8 kw pv system, and captures 100 per cent of its freshwater needs from the curved metal roofs through an engineered collection and purification system, stored in an integrated concrete cistern. Constructed of locally made SIP panels on an infill waterfront lot, the home is oriented to maximize the production of the pv panels. Six inch SIP panels work together with a highly reflective, highly emmisive cool standing seam roof, icynene insulation in ceiling and floors, and carefully placed high efficiency windows and doors to create a tightly sealed environment. The 17-seer Trane heat pump variable speed compressors and TAM 7 air handlers, along with a whole house dehumidifier and fresh air intake provide a comfortable, clean indoor environment while using little energy. In the shoulder seasons, natural ventilation cools the home with fresh breezes drawn from lower windows in each room flowing through the curved ceilings to clerestory windows at the top of the house. Natural daylighting, with windows placed in corners and high clerestories, bounce the abundant natural light so that the owners use the interior LED lighting primarily at night. Windows were sited to frame views of the neighboring park and water, and capture the light, but represent a very low percentage of glazing to wall to conserve energy. Primarily native, xeriscaped turfless landscaping sips reclaimed water from its drip and bubbler irrigiation system, and requires little trimming or chemicals. Established trees, protected during construction, shade the home, FSC certified decks, and yard, providing a cool place to enjoy the outdoors at any time of the day, even in Florida's summer heat. Rainwater is diverted from the bay through the engineered collection and filtration system to an integrated concrete cistern hidden beneath the decks. Abundant Florida rainwater supplies 100 per cent of the home's needs, including drinking, bathing, and cleaning. Naturally soft, the highly filtered and UV purified water requires no chemical treatment or water softener. Coupled with minimal hardscape and permeable drive and walkways, almost all ground water remains on the lot, and out of storm sewers and bay runoffs. Designed as a forever home for this active retired couple, an open floor plan provides diagonal interior views along with great circulation space. Wide hallways and doors, curbless showers, an elevator, and extra blocking in the walls for grab rails insures the couple of being able to use their home even if physical disabilities arise. The home's footprint is minimized by building over the conditioned crawlspace and over-sized garage, and the finished floor height, at least two feet above flood code requirements, significantly reduces insurance costs while maximizing storage space for camping and water sports equipment. Materials, fixtures and appliances were carefully selected for energy and water efficiency, local production where possible, recycled content/recyclability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. The owners were very involved in vetting and materials selections, and assisted in just-in-time purchasing to minimize waste. Scrap materials were sorted daily for re-use elsewhere in the project (blocking, concrete forms, drywall scraps as acoustical insulation in interior walls, etc.), resulting in a tiny waste pile at the end of a dumpster-free project. Concrete waste was hauled to a local recycler to become road base, and extra useable materials were returned to the vendor or donated to Habitat Restore. Cost-effective choices, and careful planning, saved significant dollars in construction cost as well as landfill space. One of the biggest challenges was finding qualified subcontractors who would work within the guidelines. With the help of our LEED consultant and meetings and explanations, most subcontractors not only bought into the ideas readily, but offered up new ideas. Highly skilled and professional, the team of subs, LEED consultant, and contractor proved that LEED construction is excellent construction. The team, the owners, and I also found that LEED construction makes great economic sense. Most materials (other than increased insulation and photovoltaic panels) cost no more, and sometimes less, than those employed in construction of a lesser standard. The owners have been living in the home for a year now, and are thrilled with the results. No power bill. No water bill. Extremely low insurance bill. Minimal ground maintenance. No fabric softener. Reduced use of soap, detergents, and shampoos and cleaning supplies. Less time cleaning with spot-free rainwater. Careful planning and materials selection brought the project in under budget, and the home operates at an extremely low cost, both to the homeowners, and the environment. Who wouldn't be thrilled?

From the street, it’s an impeccably designed English manor. Once inside, the best of that same storied architecture seamlessly meshes with modernism. This blend of styles was exactly the vibe three-decades-running Houston homebuilder Chris Sims, founder and CEO of Sims Luxury Builders, wanted to convey with the $5.2 million show-home in Houston’s coveted Tanglewood neighborhood. “Our goal was to uniquely combine classic and Old World with clean and modern in both the architectural design as well as the interior finishes,” Chris says. Their aesthetic inspiration is clearly evident in the 8,000-square-foot showcase home’s luxurious gourmet kitchen. It is an exercise in grey and white—and texture. To achieve their vision, the Sims turned to Cantoni. “We had a wonderful experience working with Cantoni several years ago on a client’s home, and were pleased to repeat that success on this project,” Chris says. Cantoni designer Amy McFall, who was tasked with designing the kitchen, promptly took to the home’s beauty. Situated on a half-acre corner lot with majestic oak trees, it boasts simplistic and elegant interiors that allow the detailed architecture to shine. The kitchen opens directly to the family room, which holds a brick wall, beamed ceilings, and a light-and-bright stone fireplace. The generous space overlooks the outdoor pool. With such a large area to work with, “we needed to give the kitchen its own, intimate feel,” Amy says. To that end, Amy integrated dark grey, high-gloss lacquer cabinetry from our Atelier Collection. by Aster Cucine with dark grey oak cabinetry, mixing finishes throughout to add depth and texture. Edginess came by way of custom, heavily veined Calacatta Viola marble on both the countertops and backsplash. The Sims team, meanwhile, insured the layout lent itself to minimalism. “With the inclusion of the scullery and butler’s pantry in the design, we were able to minimize the storage needed in the kitchen itself,” Chris says. “This allowed for the clean, minimalist cabinetry, giving us the creative freedom to go darker with the cabinet color and really make a bold statement in the home.” It was exactly the look they wanted—textural and interesting. “The juxtaposition of ultra-modern kitchen cabinetry and steel windows set against the textures of the wood floors, interior brick, and trim detailing throughout the downstairs provided a fresh take on blending classic and modern,” Chris says. “We’re thrilled with the result—it is showstopping.” They were equally thrilled with the design process. “Amy was incredibly responsive, helpful and knowledgeable,” Chris says. “It was a pleasure working with her and the entire Cantoni team.” Check out the kitchen featured in Modern Luxury Interiors Texas’ annual “Ode to Texas Real Estate” here.

Finally, we calibrated the system for perfect video and audio, programmed the universal remote control system, and walked the client through operation of his new home theater, step-by-step. He was thrilled with the system – and we were thrilled with the way it came out.

Mountain Modern Kitchen Design – New Construction Kitchen in Arcadia While relocating to OKC from the mountains of Colorado, our homeowners found a house under construction in Arcadia that they loved, but they were not thrilled with the kitchen or bathrooms that the builder was creating, nor the quality of the cabinetry that was planned. In searching for a better kitchen layout, they came across us. Brenda and Megan redesigned every room in the home that required cabinetry, beginning with the kitchen. The architect had created a smaller space where the site line allowed you to see directly through the kitchen to the garage door. Not pretty. Since the home was still being framed when they brought us in, we redesigned the kitchen layout to extend the range wall to hide this unsightly garage door. This added the extra benefit of allowing us to create a larger pantry behind that wall as well. As our clients love Mountain Modern design, we selected a slab door set on frameless cabinets to provide maximum functionality with a modern feel. We highlighted the Mountain Modern design theme by using our grain-matched walnut for all cabinets. They are also huge fans of daily coffee, so we created a coffee and beverage bar to prepare drinks to their liking – again utilizing our grain matched walnut frameless cabinetry. The counters we selected echo the Mountain Modern design, even for Oklahoma City, by providing strong veining with color throughout. Note the floating shelves left of the microwave – we continued the veining on the countertop material placed within the floating shelves to mimic the gran match cabinetry! From a functional design perspective, we installed several pull-out accessory drawers, many base drawers, and a mixer lift station to help with the heavy lifting. In the island we placed a Galley Workstation sink with the Galley Tap to provide a space for meal prep and serve. The design was completed with careful installation of puck lighting, strip lighting, and sconces flanking the venthood, set atop more of this beautiful countertop material used as the backsplash. The result? Our clients were, and are, thrilled in their new kitchen. As you can see, this kitchen was selected for the cover of the National Kitchen and Bath Magazine, issued and shown at the National Kitchen and Bath Show – KBIS – in Las Vegas! We are honored to have been selected for this tremendous achievement!

Procrastination… not on this project! There was not a moment to spare with these two homeowners. When we came onto the scene it was quite evident there would be a stiff deadline–no exceptions. This was not because the clients were ruthless or mean in any way. Quite the opposite in fact. Our team wanted very much to deliver the couples’ remodeled bathrooms and kitchen BEFORE they delivered their first child! The timing would be close as we all knew. The baby’s due date was quickly approaching. The transformation of the rooms was thrilling for all of us as we watched mauve, sea foam greens and coral paint tones, as well as dilapidated peeling wallpaper mistaken for an abstract scene of a city scape, transform into a serene, tranquil home into which any family would be thrilled to welcome their first born. The progression of the remodeled rooms and the pregnancy were a joy to see. As our company name suggests the project and baby’s arrival were all “On time”.

This fabulous kitchen remodel in Towson held a very special place in my heart. This is my dear friend's kitchen. We knocked down a wall and expanded her kitchen and created a large and very functional island to accommodate her family and create a gathering space for hosting. I was thrilled when we chose this lovely sage green color. My friend is thrilled with her new space!

Outdoor Lighting Designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut AOLP -Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals.Outdoor Lighting Designer and two time Landscape AOLP Lighting award recipient Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties Connecticut shows us here how living beyond the walls of your home outdoors at night can be NIGHT TIME FABULOUS. GO TO WWW.OUTDOORLIGHTINGCT.COM TO FIND OUT MORE. "LET ME show you JUST HOW GOOD YOUR HOUSE LOOKS AT NIGHT" Steve P. offered the following endorsement about Gotowala's Outdoor Lighting talents. Michael is clearly one of the best landscape lighting designers in the country. In my role as a photographer of outdoor lighting, I've visited and photographed many of Michael's projects - not only were the lighting designs creative and effective, they were also installed perfectly with a great attention to detail. My photos of Michael's projects have been published in numerous trade journals and design magazines. Editors are thrilled with these outstanding examples of landscape lighting. Michael has embraced both the art and science of lighting design and applies it to create compelling nighttime environments for his very lucky clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for any kind of outdoor lighting product. You willed be thrilled with the results.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge in collaboration with Tito's Home Improvement, this traditional style inspired kitchen remodel features Merillat Classic cabinets in the Glen Arbor door style in two finishes. The kitchen perimeter features a Cotton with Tuscan Accent finish while the kitchen island features a Graphite with Tuscan Glaze finish. Kitchen countertops are granite in the color Moon White. A vanity and countertop was updated as well. “The clients had a vision to update their space in a warm, more modern way”, said Angie. “However, maintaining the traditional identity of the space was pivotal to comfortable feel moving room to room in the home. Function storage was a must. Adding a lazy susan cabinet, deep roll out shelves and a pull out trash cabinet helped solve some of the most pressing issues. I was thrilled that they allowed me to create a space that reflects their own warm-heartedness. Said the client, “Angie was welcoming, professional and a great listener. Her patience and expertise was very helpful as we created our vision. We loved the quality and selection that was available within our budget and are thrilled with the end result. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

One of our favorite clients requested our services once again, this time to update their outdated full bath. The main goal, aside from keeping the existing tub and surround in place, was to replace the tired vanity, small medicine cabinet, countertop, sink, flooring, light fixture, shower valve and trims with products that are more on trend. The desire was to create a wow factor and display their personal style. Designing a bath with transitional finishes and a clean aesthetic was top of mind when we selected a white painted inset-style vanity, contrasting marble-look quartz countertop in suede finish and classic 3” x 6” white subway wall tiles. Tying together different patterns and incorporating 8” x 8” black and white deco floor tiles provides an interesting and refreshing industrial look that is an expression of our client’s individuality and style. Adding to this industrial style feature was the double light fixture with clear seeded glass mounted over the new framed recessed medicine cabinet with matching painted finish. Also, a priority in the remodeling process was to provide proper ventilation to not only keep air moving, but to ensure moisture is cleared from the room while showering. This newly remodeled updated bathroom is light and airy, and clients are thrilled with the result. “Hi Cathy, I just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our bathrooms and stairs!! Ed, Bradley, and Charlie did their usual fantastic job, not to mention your guidance and expertise. We could not be more thrilled! Each and every time I look at the wall color in the upstairs bath, I comment to myself that Liz really is a ‘wiz’. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” - Susan and Hal M. (Hanover)

From the street, it’s an impeccably designed English manor. Once inside, the best of that same storied architecture seamlessly meshes with modernism. This blend of styles was exactly the vibe three-decades-running Houston homebuilder Chris Sims, founder and CEO of Sims Luxury Builders, wanted to convey with the $5.2 million show-home in Houston’s coveted Tanglewood neighborhood. “Our goal was to uniquely combine classic and Old World with clean and modern in both the architectural design as well as the interior finishes,” Chris says. Their aesthetic inspiration is clearly evident in the 8,000-square-foot showcase home’s luxurious gourmet kitchen. It is an exercise in grey and white—and texture. To achieve their vision, the Sims turned to Cantoni. “We had a wonderful experience working with Cantoni several years ago on a client’s home, and were pleased to repeat that success on this project,” Chris says. Cantoni designer Amy McFall, who was tasked with designing the kitchen, promptly took to the home’s beauty. Situated on a half-acre corner lot with majestic oak trees, it boasts simplistic and elegant interiors that allow the detailed architecture to shine. The kitchen opens directly to the family room, which holds a brick wall, beamed ceilings, and a light-and-bright stone fireplace. The generous space overlooks the outdoor pool. With such a large area to work with, “we needed to give the kitchen its own, intimate feel,” Amy says. To that end, Amy integrated dark grey, high-gloss lacquer cabinetry from our Atelier Collection. by Aster Cucine with dark grey oak cabinetry, mixing finishes throughout to add depth and texture. Edginess came by way of custom, heavily veined Calacatta Viola marble on both the countertops and backsplash. The Sims team, meanwhile, insured the layout lent itself to minimalism. “With the inclusion of the scullery and butler’s pantry in the design, we were able to minimize the storage needed in the kitchen itself,” Chris says. “This allowed for the clean, minimalist cabinetry, giving us the creative freedom to go darker with the cabinet color and really make a bold statement in the home.” It was exactly the look they wanted—textural and interesting. “The juxtaposition of ultra-modern kitchen cabinetry and steel windows set against the textures of the wood floors, interior brick, and trim detailing throughout the downstairs provided a fresh take on blending classic and modern,” Chris says. “We’re thrilled with the result—it is showstopping.” They were equally thrilled with the design process. “Amy was incredibly responsive, helpful and knowledgeable,” Chris says. “It was a pleasure working with her and the entire Cantoni team.” Check out the kitchen featured in Modern Luxury Interiors Texas’ annual “Ode to Texas Real Estate” here.

Procrastination… not on this project! There was not a moment to spare with these two homeowners. When we came onto the scene it was quite evident there would be a stiff deadline–no exceptions. This was not because the clients were ruthless or mean in any way. Quite the opposite in fact. Our team wanted very much to deliver the couples’ remodeled bathrooms and kitchen BEFORE they delivered their first child! The timing would be close as we all knew. The baby’s due date was quickly approaching. The transformation of the rooms was thrilling for all of us as we watched mauve, sea foam greens and coral paint tones, as well as dilapidated peeling wallpaper mistaken for an abstract scene of a city scape, transform into a serene, tranquil home into which any family would be thrilled to welcome their first born. The progression of the remodeled rooms and the pregnancy were a joy to see. As our company name suggests the project and baby’s arrival were all “On time”.

A lovely couple recently purchased a condo and were excited to update and remodel the kitchen to reflect their personal style. From the start, they were thrilled to begin selecting finishes that truly felt like them. They chose beautiful slate gray stained cabinets, which created a rich and sophisticated foundation for the space. To highlight the new cabinetry, the homeowners selected a stunning full-height quartz backsplash that adds both elegance and seamless continuity. Functionality was just as important as style. They opted for lazy Susans to maximize corner storage, and the addition of a convenient trash pull-out was a welcome upgrade that makes everyday use effortless. The transformation is incredible. They could hardly believe the outcome — and are both absolutely thrilled with their new kitchen and the entire remodeling experience.

This home in Bonita Bay, Florida is located in a development designed with a tropical, entertaining-friendly courtyard floor plan, barrel tile roofs, and arched windows. The only thing missing was a modern, elegant and functional kitchen where two chefs could work simultaneously and have better flow among the surrounding spaces. Having worked with Progressive Design before on three prior renovations, all in less than one year, Progressive was the obvious choice for their fourth major remodel—this masterful kitchen renovation. Challenge Ultimately, Progressive Design Build was tasked with transforming a closed-off kitchen into an open concept floor plan. The design and production team began working on a solution to the structural beam support—confirming its adequacy for supporting the loft above after cutting a few holes in the drywall. Secondly, the size of the current marble tile flooring was no longer available. We needed a solution that would seamlessly blend the new flooring with the old. Thirdly, the existing lighting plan was inefficient and would need to be updated to accommodate the new island location and kitchen layout. Solution Since the existing marble flooring tile size was no longer available, we designed a beautiful stone border between the new kitchen and the existing living space to create a small break in the two-floor patterns, minimizing the noticeable difference in the tile sizes. Once installed, we re-polished and sealed the entire floor creating a beautiful sheen and natural flow throughout the space. The new location of the kitchen island, as well as additional perimeter lighting, necessitated the need to move electrical outlets and light switches to a more convenient and intuitive location. This was implemented strategically using a well-thought-out lighting plan. The clients were thrilled when we suggested removing a sink from their existing wet bar (which was rarely used) and moved the wet bar drain to the new laundry room, located on the backside of the wet bar. Special features include custom-designed Dura Supreme cabinets painted in a white finish, for the kitchen, wet bar, and laundry room; Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and an impressive gas range with downdraft at the cooktop. Results Not only was this Bonita Bay couple thrilled to receive all of their remodel wish list items, but Progressive Design Build was able to complete their project ahead of schedule and on budget.

Designed by Angie Barwin of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Woodbridge in collaboration with Tito's Home Improvement, this traditional style inspired kitchen remodel features Merillat Classic cabinets in the Glen Arbor door style in two finishes. The kitchen perimeter features a Cotton with Tuscan Accent finish while the kitchen island features a Graphite with Tuscan Glaze finish. Kitchen countertops are granite in the color Moon White. A vanity and countertop was updated as well. “The clients had a vision to update their space in a warm, more modern way”, said Angie. “However, maintaining the traditional identity of the space was pivotal to comfortable feel moving room to room in the home. Function storage was a must. Adding a lazy susan cabinet, deep roll out shelves and a pull out trash cabinet helped solve some of the most pressing issues. I was thrilled that they allowed me to create a space that reflects their own warm-heartedness. Said the client, “Angie was welcoming, professional and a great listener. Her patience and expertise was very helpful as we created our vision. We loved the quality and selection that was available within our budget and are thrilled with the end result. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC.

This fabulous kitchen remodel in Towson held a very special place in my heart. This is my dear friend's kitchen. We knocked down a wall and expanded her kitchen and created a large and very functional island to accommodate her family and create a gathering space for hosting. I was thrilled when we chose this lovely sage green color. My friend is thrilled with her new space!

This kitchen had not been renovated since the salt box colonial house was built in the 1960’s. The new owner felt it was time for a complete refresh with some traditional details and adding in the owner’s contemporary tastes. At initial observation, we determined the house had good bones; including high ceilings and abundant natural light from a double-hung window and three skylights overhead recently installed by our client. Mixing the homeowners desires required the skillful eyes of Cathy and Ed from Renovisions. The original kitchen had dark stained, worn cabinets, in-adequate lighting and a non-functional coat closet off the kitchen space. In order to achieve a true transitional look, Renovisions incorporated classic details with subtle, simple and cleaner line touches. For example, the backsplash mix of honed and polished 2” x 3” stone-look subway tile is outlined in brushed stainless steel strips creating an edgy feel, especially at the niche above the range. Removing the existing wall that shared the coat closet opened up the kitchen to allow adding an island for seating and entertaining guests. We chose natural maple, shaker style flat panel cabinetry with longer stainless steel pulls instead of knobs, keeping in line with the clients desire for a sleeker design. This kitchen had to be gutted to accommodate the new layout featuring an island with pull-out trash and recycling and deeper drawers for utensils. Spatial constraints were top of mind and incorporating a convection microwave above the slide-in range made the most sense. Our client was thrilled with the ability to bake, broil and microwave from GE’s advantium oven – how convenient! A custom pull-out cabinet was built for his extensive array of spices and oils. The sink base cabinet provides plenty of area for the large rectangular stainless steel sink, single-lever multi-sprayer faucet and matching filtered water dispenser faucet. The natural, yet sleek green soapstone countertop with distinct white veining created a dynamic visual and principal focal point for the now open space. While oak wood flooring existed in the entire first floor, as an added element of color and interest we installed multi-color slate-look porcelain tiles in the kitchen area. We also installed a fully programmable floor heating system for those chilly New England days. Overall, out client was thrilled with his Mission Transition.

Inspiration for a country kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

A lovely couple recently purchased a condo and were excited to update and remodel the kitchen to reflect their personal style. From the start, they were thrilled to begin selecting finishes that truly felt like them. They chose beautiful slate gray stained cabinets, which created a rich and sophisticated foundation for the space. To highlight the new cabinetry, the homeowners selected a stunning full-height quartz backsplash that adds both elegance and seamless continuity. Functionality was just as important as style. They opted for lazy Susans to maximize corner storage, and the addition of a convenient trash pull-out was a welcome upgrade that makes everyday use effortless. The transformation is incredible. They could hardly believe the outcome — and are both absolutely thrilled with their new kitchen and the entire remodeling experience.