Steve Gotter The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

Landscape by Stonepocket located in Minnetonka, Minnesota Creating a elegant landscape to blend with a home with such character and charm was a challenge in controlled resistant. Did not want the landscape to overwhelm the home, nor did I want a typical landscape for this style that usually involves a box hedge. Utilizing light in the front to create a perennial garden give the home a sense of place. Keep the planting mostly to whites and greens in the back unifies the space. photos by Stonepocket, Inc

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic bedroom remodel in Dallas

This Transformation from a typical track house to a Mid-Century Modern home was the challenge given to us by our client. We had the opportunity to invite our client into our design process and together work to lay out their home to accommodate not only their growing family needs but also the new work-at-home environment. Creating a private office upstairs and keeping the ground level for entertainment and living.

This Transformation from a typical track house to a Mid-Century Modern home was the challenge given to us by our client. We had the opportunity to invite our client into our design process and together work to lay out their home to accommodate not only their growing family needs but also the new work-at-home environment. Creating a private office upstairs and keeping the ground level for entertainment and living.

This project was for a young professional who had no tolerance for clutter but boy does she love to read. From the first site visit, I had my heart set on the books she had. She loves colors and is not scared of them. Client from heaven… She rents a typical railroad house in Brooklyn and it came with its own challenges as far as laying out the space. I created three zones for her and right in the middle sits her throne to read her gazillion books. Photography by Daniel Wang. The design classic WOMB chair in a beautiful Chartreuse Felt with chrome legs is the main feature in the room againt backdrop of this amazing bookshelf styled by color.

This Transformation from a typical track house to a Mid-Century Modern home was the challenge given to us by our client. We had the opportunity to invite our client into our design process and together work to lay out their home to accommodate not only their growing family needs but also the new work-at-home environment. Creating a private office upstairs and keeping the ground level for entertainment and living.

A young colonial in the heart of Rye New York had everything going for it, except a dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The clients tapped Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn to help them layout a new kitchen in their challenging, dog leg shaped room. A small breakfast peninsula and working island helped pull together the oddly shaped kitchen into a streamlined, light filled space with all the storage amenities typical of a Studio Dearborn kitchen. The bar area, with undercounter refrigeration for wine and beverages, also features a locking cabinet for liquor and open wine storage. Desk area has file drawer and Docking Drawer charging drawer. Countertops: White Macauba, Rye Marble and Stone, Rye NY. Hardware: Studio Pulls from Hickory Hardware. Sinks: Kraus. Lighting: Currey & Co. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Backsplash tile: Casablanca Tile and Stone, Harrison NY. Photography: Adam Kane Macchia

Landscape by Stonepocket located in Minnetonka, Minnesota Creating a elegant landscape to blend with a home with such character and charm was a challenge in controlled resistant. Did not want the landscape to overwhelm the home, nor did I want a typical landscape for this style that usually involves a box hedge. Utilizing light in the front to create a perennial garden give the home a sense of place. Keep the planting mostly to whites and greens in the back unifies the space. photos by Stonepocket, Inc

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

A young colonial in the heart of Rye New York had everything going for it, except a dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The clients tapped Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn to help them layout a new kitchen in their challenging, dog leg shaped room. A small breakfast peninsula and working island helped pull together the oddly shaped kitchen into a streamlined, light filled space with all the storage amenities typical of a Studio Dearborn kitchen. The bar area, with undercounter refrigeration for wine and beverages, also features a locking cabinet for liquor and open wine storage. Desk area has file drawer and Docking Drawer charging drawer. Countertops: White Macauba, Rye Marble and Stone, Rye NY. Hardware: Studio Pulls from Hickory Hardware. Sinks: Kraus. Lighting: Currey & Co. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Backsplash tile: Casablanca Tile and Stone, Harrison NY. Photography: Adam Kane Macchia

Photo: Caela McKeever © 2016 Houzz

Dresner Design possesses the expertise to design cutting edge, cost-effective kitchens, baths and closets for developer’s multi-unit projects. They were recently part of the design team for The Ronsley, River North's best new luxury condominium development. This former industrial timber loft building was transformed into an incredible 41-unit building, and Dresner Design was hired to design both the kitchens and baths using Italian cabinetry from Stosa Cucine. Challenges: All the units were the same but with varying configurations. The goal was to make all the units feel and look the same but each of the layouts was different- making 30 layouts in all. Concept: The kitchens and baths were designed to be sleek and modern, blending in with the loft style. The kitchen islands fabricated with wood compliments the wood ceilings and beams typical of loft living. White kitchens are always timeless and the Ronsley used the most beautiful and high-end cabinetry made of 100% lacquer. Photography by Jim Tschetter

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

A young colonial in the heart of Rye New York had everything going for it, except a dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The clients tapped Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn to help them layout a new kitchen in their challenging, dog leg shaped room. A small breakfast peninsula and working island helped pull together the oddly shaped kitchen into a streamlined, light filled space with all the storage amenities typical of a Studio Dearborn kitchen. The bar area, with undercounter refrigeration for wine and beverages, also features a locking cabinet for liquor and open wine storage. Desk area has file drawer and Docking Drawer charging drawer. Countertops: White Macauba, Rye Marble and Stone, Rye NY. Hardware: Studio Pulls from Hickory Hardware. Sinks: Kraus. Lighting: Currey & Co. Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Backsplash tile: Casablanca Tile and Stone, Harrison NY. Photography: Adam Kane Macchia

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

The homeowners wanted to better use their outdoor space to feel like an extension of their home with several separate lounge and entertaining spaces. While they desired to keep the lawn for their kids, they also wanted to ensure there were enough private areas for adults. While these factors are typical for an Alderwood project, the challenges of this landscape made the final design incredibly unique. Rather quickly, our design team learned that a large septic system ran right underneath most of the backyard. Coordinating with city workers, the building architect, and the clients, our landscape architect crafted a unique design that worked around the drain constraints and accomplished each desire on the clients' list.

Living Room in Hodges Street | Room Type: Whole Home Interior Design | Project Name: Hodges Street | Key Feature: A builder-grade tract home transformed with personality through a playful mid-century modern design influence. Challenge: The home originally lacked character and felt like a typical builder-grade tract house. The goal was to elevate the space and create a more distinctive interior. Solution: The design introduced bold styling and mid-century modern touches throughout the home, adding personality and visual interest while creating a more elevated and cohesive interior. Timeline: Completed in 2018.