Photo by Ellen Sousa/THB Farm

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Elegant kitchen photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and colored appliances

Photography by Dan Piassick
Freestanding bathtub - large eclectic stone slab marble floor freestanding bathtub idea in Dallas with a vessel sink, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet, white walls and flat-panel cabinets

Photo by Ellen Sousa

Photo copyright Ellen Sousa/THB Farm
Inspiration for a rustic landscaping in Boston.

Lincoln Barbour
Trendy patio photo in DC Metro

Lincoln Barbour
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in DC Metro.

Robert Radifera
Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in DC Metro.

Robert Radifera
Contemporary exterior home idea in DC Metro

Coral Honeysuckle flowers at Turkey Hill Brook Farm, Spencer MA. Photo copyright Ellen Sousa/THB Farm

Kitchen - transitional l-shaped concrete floor, gray floor and vaulted ceiling kitchen idea in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

Eric Roth
Mid-sized transitional enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in Boston with a music area, blue walls and no fireplace

Project: Palazzo Margherita Bernalda Restoration Elements used: Encaustic Tiles, Antique Limestone, antique stone fountain, antique stone fireplace. Discover the cuisine, wines and history of the Basilicata region at the luxurious Palazzo Margherita. Set in the village of Bernalda, the well-preserved villa is close to the region’s white-sand beaches and the famed Sassi caves. The property was recently renovated by the Coppola family with decorator Jacques Grange, imbuing its luxurious traditional interiors with modern style. Start each day of your stay with an included breakfast, then head out to read in the courtyard garden, lounge under an umbrella on the terrace by the pool or sip a mimosa at the al-fresco bar. Have dinner at one of the outdoor tables, then finish the evening in the media room. The property also has its own restaurant and bar, which are open to the public but separate from the house. Traditional architecture, lush gardens and a few modern furnishings give the villa the feel of a grand old estate brought back to life. In the media room, a vaulted ceiling with ornate moldings speaks to the home’s past, while striped wallpaper in neutral tones is a subtly contemporary touch. The eat-in kitchen has a dramatically arched Kronos stone ceiling and a long, welcoming table with bistro-style chairs. The nine suite-style bedrooms are each decorated with their own scheme and each have en-suite bathrooms, creating private retreats within the palazzo. There are three bedrooms with queen beds on the garden level; all three have garden access and one has a sitting area. Upstairs, there are six bedrooms with king beds, all of which have access to either a Juliet balcony, private balcony or furnished terrace. From Palazzo Margherita’s location in Bernalda, it’s a 20-minute drive to several white-sand beaches on the Ionian Sea. Photos courtesy of Luxury Retreats, Barbados.

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.

Coral Honeysuckle at Garden in the Woods, the botanic garden of New England Wild Flower Society Photo copyright Ellen Sousa/THBFarm

Example of a trendy open concept light wood floor living room design with brown walls and a tv stand