UPDATED KITCHEN
Example of a mid-sized transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in Other with quartzite countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, no sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and white countertops

Mid-Century Remodel on Tabor Hill This sensitively sited house was designed by Robert Coolidge, a renowned architect and grandson of President Calvin Coolidge. The house features a symmetrical gable roof and beautiful floor to ceiling glass facing due south, smartly oriented for passive solar heating. Situated on a steep lot, the house is primarily a single story that steps down to a family room. This lower level opens to a New England exterior. Our goals for this project were to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating more modern spaces. Our design team worked to envision what Coolidge himself might have designed if he'd had access to modern materials and fixtures. With the aim of creating a signature space that ties together the living, dining, and kitchen areas, we designed a variation on the 1950's "floating kitchen." In this inviting assembly, the kitchen is located away from exterior walls, which allows views from the floor-to-ceiling glass to remain uninterrupted by cabinetry. We updated rooms throughout the house; installing modern features that pay homage to the fine, sleek lines of the original design. Finally, we opened the family room to a terrace featuring a fire pit. Since a hallmark of our design is the diminishment of the hard line between interior and exterior, we were especially pleased for the opportunity to update this classic work.

Just a couple of months after installation. We designed and installed this dramatic living wall / vertical garden to add a welcoming focal point, and a great way to add living beauty to the large front house wall. The wall includes a variety of succulents, grass-like and cascading plants some with flowers, (some with flowers, Oxalis and Lamium) designed to provide long cascading "waves" with appealing textures and colors. The dated walkway was updated with large geometric concrete pavers with polished black pebbles in between, and a new concrete driveway. Water-wise grasses flowering plants and succulents replace the lawn. This updated modern renovation for this mid-century modern home includes a new garage and front entrance door and modern garden light fixtures. Some photos taken 2 months after installation and recently as well. We designed and installed this dramatic living wall / vertical garden to add a welcoming focal point, and a great way to add plant beauty to the large front wall. A variety of succulents, grass-like and cascading plants were designed and planted to provide long cascading "waves" resulting in appealing textures and colors. The dated walkway was updated with large geometric concrete pavers with polished black pebbles in between, and a new concrete driveway. Water-wise grasses flowering plants and succulents replace the lawn. This updated modern renovation for this mid-century modern home includes a new garage and front entrance door and modern garden light fixtures.

Embracing the natural elements of this circa 1960’s Condo development in Stowe Vermont was a priority for our clients. We worked closely with a great design team and our clients to create this simple, but beautiful minimalist retreat. Our clients, both authors, wanted a place to withdraw from the endless distractions and fast pace rhythms of the city. Custom made cabinets, bookshelves and built ins helped off set the sandblasted CMU block walls and ground concrete floors. A beautiful handcrafted stairwell was a center piece connecting the three floors. A handcrafted integrated concrete sink in the master is was another testament to the mixed mediums used to create this space. We embraced exposed conduit and commercial grade light fixtures throughout which helped add to the overall minimalist feel of the space. There is a beautiful rawness to this project which everyone came to admire.

Dining room with lots of windows and transoms. Natural light is abundant in this serene setting. A modern light fixture centers the vaulted ceiling and dining table for eight. Custom drapes frame the newly painted window casing.

Transitional kids' room photo in San Francisco

3rd floor renovation included adding 3 dramatic, French window dormers. Note copper flashing details under the dormer windows and three exhaust ventilators along roof ridges. Amber Jones Photography

deck and patio company 2013
Deck - traditional deck idea in New York

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A complete whole house renovation/addition of an existing 1890’s era antique residence renewing all systems, infrastructure, and finishes. Create new primary residence for with modern updates for year around living for the client while being a custodian of historic house that has been a contributor to the legacy of the area for generations. A poorly considered addition that linked to the original 1890’s antique with warren of stairs and corridors was torn down. The replacement addition enhanced the existing living spaces while adding new family room, sun room, prime bedroom suite, outdoor shower, side entry and stair. All the new and existing features are knit together by extending and modifying the existing exterior wrap around porch and house trim details.

Dining room - craftsman dining room idea in Denver

This warm, modern kitchen boasts three different paint colors, open shelves, contemporary lighting and a soapstone-topped island.
Example of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen design in Austin with soapstone countertops and an island

Study room - transitional built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room idea in Denver with blue walls

JE Evans Photography
Mid-sized minimalist master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom photo in Columbus with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops and gray walls

Patio - contemporary patio idea in San Francisco with no cover

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy!

split level update with new windows, doors, siding, roofing and stonework
Inspiration for a contemporary gray two-story vinyl exterior home remodel in Boston

Designed, updated split entry and dark stained hardwood floor.
Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Boston with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Split level home kitchen update with white shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, marble back splash and dark hardwood floors
Example of a trendy l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island