What became the playroom was a formerly under-utilized space over the garage that wasn’t connected to the rest of the second level. We redesigned the hallway from the bedrooms as well as the main bath to allow large double doors into the area and a much larger bathroom for the children. Shutting off a stairway from the mudroom below allowed extra space for a custom locker style bench and a re-designed laundry area as well as more space in the playroom. The playroom was designed to ‘grow’ with the children. We used bright colours that work for all ages. Both sides of the room have large bay windows, so we installed deep window seats for lounging with a book, playing a game, or even accommodating extra guests for a sleep over. Photo by Graham Twomey

This project showcases a comprehensive residential renovation that maximizes the utility and aesthetic of a large backyard. The centerpiece is a custom-built timber pavilion featuring a vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling, dual-mounted outdoor televisions for game-day viewing, and a high-efficiency ceiling fan. The ground-level transformation is equally dramatic, replacing unkempt terrain with a lush, year-round green artificial turf lawn. The space is defined by professionally curated garden beds and a large flagstone-patterned patio, all bordered by natural stone edging to create a clean, modern aesthetic that complements the home's architecture.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

What became the playroom was a formerly under-utilized space over the garage that wasn’t connected to the rest of the second level. We redesigned the hallway from the bedrooms as well as the main bath to allow large double doors into the area and a much larger bathroom for the children. Shutting off a stairway from the mudroom below allowed extra space for a custom locker style bench and a re-designed laundry area as well as more space in the playroom. The playroom was designed to ‘grow’ with the children. We used bright colours that work for all ages. Both sides of the room have large bay windows, so we installed deep window seats for lounging with a book, playing a game, or even accommodating extra guests for a sleep over. Photo by Graham Twomey

As part of this whole-home remodel, the unfinished basement was transformed into an expansive multi-use destination for recreation, relaxation, and entertaining. Rustic thin brick accent walls add rich texture and warmth, anchoring a comfortable central lounge with a leather sofa and armchair. The finished lower level seamlessly opens to a custom bar with illuminated shelving, a dedicated game area, home gym, golf simulator, and a hidden powder room. Thoughtful custom storage—including concealed utility access and a motion-sensor-lit storage room—ensures the space operates as beautifully as it looks.

This room posed an interesting challenge, as it is the main entry point from the street and consists of five different doorways; to two different bedrooms, the laundry room, the bathroom, and the front porch. Considering these factors, we chose to utilize this space as an open home office. It's central location in the overall floor plan seemed like a logical place to put someone though the course of the workday. To make it feel more casual, inviting, and dynamic we added lots of seating and different points of interest, such as a music and game library, in addition to a reading library. The green velvet couch and additional seating in front of the fireplace felt like a great place to spend the evenings without the distraction of a television.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

This cute carriage house/guest house design was made for a client building near the Acadia National Park region of coastal Maine. The main level is about 820 sq. ft. with our Full Exposure Wall System with knee braces throughout. To the left are two bedrooms under a flat conventional ceiling. The center hallway with a full bath, and the right side with the great room and dine-in kitchen are under a cathedral Beamed Roof System with trusses and collar ties. There is a raised office/loft adjacent to the kitchen up a short set of stairs. The walkout lower level is designed for a game room, utilities/storage, and laundry with an additional full bath. Framing system specifications here: https://www.postandbeam.com/package/framing-systems

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

The Cavanaugh II includes four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom, and has both formal living and dining rooms, plus a large family room with optional fireplace overlooking the rear yard. Upstairs, the huge primary bedroom with double tray ceiling connects to the primary bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around primary closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. The oversized loft can be used as a second family room, game room, playroom, or any number of ways, including the fifth bedroom option.

Our clients wanted to increase the size of their kitchen, which was small, in comparison to the overall size of the home. They wanted a more open livable space for the family to be able to hang out downstairs. They wanted to remove the walls downstairs in the front formal living and den making them a new large den/entering room. They also wanted to remove the powder and laundry room from the center of the kitchen, giving them more functional space in the kitchen that was completely opened up to their den. The addition was planned to be one story with a bedroom/game room (flex space), laundry room, bathroom (to serve as the on-suite to the bedroom and pool bath), and storage closet. They also wanted a larger sliding door leading out to the pool. We demoed the entire kitchen, including the laundry room and powder bath that were in the center! The wall between the den and formal living was removed, completely opening up that space to the entry of the house. A small space was separated out from the main den area, creating a flex space for them to become a home office, sitting area, or reading nook. A beautiful fireplace was added, surrounded with slate ledger, flanked with built-in bookcases creating a focal point to the den. Behind this main open living area, is the addition. When the addition is not being utilized as a guest room, it serves as a game room for their two young boys. There is a large closet in there great for toys or additional storage. A full bath was added, which is connected to the bedroom, but also opens to the hallway so that it can be used for the pool bath. The new laundry room is a dream come true! Not only does it have room for cabinets, but it also has space for a much-needed extra refrigerator. There is also a closet inside the laundry room for additional storage. This first-floor addition has greatly enhanced the functionality of this family’s daily lives. Previously, there was essentially only one small space for them to hang out downstairs, making it impossible for more than one conversation to be had. Now, the kids can be playing air hockey, video games, or roughhousing in the game room, while the adults can be enjoying TV in the den or cooking in the kitchen, without interruption! While living through a remodel might not be easy, the outcome definitely outweighs the struggles throughout the process.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Home is where the heart is for this family and not surprisingly, a much needed mudroom entrance for their teenage boys and a soothing master suite to escape from everyday life are at the heart of this home renovation. With some small interior modifications and a 6′ x 20′ addition, MainStreet Design Build was able to create the perfect space this family had been hoping for. In the original layout, the side entry of the home converged directly on the laundry room, which opened up into the family room. This unappealing room configuration created a difficult traffic pattern across carpeted flooring to the rest of the home. Additionally, the garage entry came in from a separate entrance near the powder room and basement, which also lead directly into the family room. With the new addition, all traffic was directed through the new mudroom, providing both locker and closet storage for outerwear before entering the family room. In the newly remodeled family room space, MainStreet Design Build removed the old side entry door wall and made a game area with French sliding doors that opens directly into the backyard patio. On the second floor, the addition made it possible to expand and re-design the master bath and bedroom. The new bedroom now has an entry foyer and large living space, complete with crown molding and a very large private bath. The new luxurious master bath invites room for two at the elongated custom inset furniture vanity, a freestanding tub surrounded by built-in’s and a separate toilet/steam shower room. Kate Benjamin Photography

San Marino based clients were interested in developing a property that had been in their family for generations. This was an exciting proposition as it was one of the last surviving bayside double lots on the scenic Coronado peninsula in San Diego. They desired a holiday home that would be a gathering place for their large, close- knit family. San Marino based clients were interested in developing a property that had been in their family for generations. This was an exciting proposition as it was one of the last surviving bayside double lots on the scenic Coronado peninsula in San Diego. They desired a holiday home that would be a gathering place for their large, close-knit family. Facing the Back Bay, overlooking downtown and the Bay Bridge, this property presented us with a unique opportunity to design a vacation home with a dual personality. One side faces a bustling harbor with a constant parade of yachts, cargo vessels and military ships while the other opens onto a deep, quiet contemplative garden. The home’s shingle-style influence carries on the historical Coronado tradition of clapboard and Craftsman bungalows built in the shadow of the great Hotel Del Coronado which was erected at the turn of the last century. In order to create an informal feel to the residence, we devised a concept that eliminated the need for a “front door”. Instead, one walks through the garden and enters the “Great Hall” through either one of two French doors flanking a walk-in stone fireplace. Both two-story bedroom wings bookend this central wood beam vaulted room which serves as the “heart of the home”, and opens to both views. Three sets of stairs are discretely tucked away inside the bedroom wings. In lieu of a formal dining room, the family convenes and dines around a beautiful table and banquette set into a circular window bay off the kitchen which overlooks the lights of the city beyond the harbor. Working with noted interior designer Betty Ann Marshall, we designed a unique kitchen that was inspired by the colors and textures of a fossil the couple found on a honeymoon trip to the quarries of Montana. We set that ancient fossil into a matte glass backsplash behind the professional cook’s stove. A warm library with walnut paneling and a bayed window seat affords a refuge for the family to read or play board games. The couple’s fine craft and folk art collection is on prominent display throughout the house and helps to set an intimate and whimsical tone. Another architectural feature devoted to family is the play room lit by a dramatic cupola which beacons the older grandchildren and their friends. Below the play room is a four car garage that allows the patriarch space to refurbish an antique fire truck, a mahogany launch boat and several vintage cars. Their jet skis and kayaks are housed in another garage designed for that purpose. Lattice covered skylights that allow dappled sunlight to bathe the loggia affords a comfortable refuge to watch the kids swim and gaze out upon the rushing water, the Coronado Bay Bridge and the romantic downtown San Diego skyline. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Betty Ann Marshall Construction: Bill Lyons Photographer: Laura Hull Styling: Zale Design Studio

This prestigious Governors Island waterfront has 360' of shoreline on Lake Winnipesaukee with a large sandy beach and docking for three boats. Tasteful custom finishes are found throughout this lovely estate. The grand foyer welcomes guests in to enjoy the comfort and outstanding views this home has to offer. Custom stone fireplaces compliment the formal and open areas. The living spaces are designed to utilize the unrivaled views and sunsets. The stone patio with outdoor kitchen for entertaining. Generous master suites can be found on each of the upper levels, along with three additional bedrooms with private baths. Entertaining areas include a 12-person theater, billiards room, game room and lower level family room with a summer kitchen. The lower level also includes the fitness center, steam room, sauna and massage room. Systems throughout the home are of the highest technical quality. Property also has 9 garage bays and carriage house. 2hrs to Boston & 4miles to Laconia airport. Listed by Ashley Davis of Four Seasons Sotheby`s Int`l Realty/Meredith NH

Basement home theater, family room, and entertaining space. Featuring a Monitor Audio Gold Series and James Loudspeaker 7.2 surround system. Contro4 automated shades, sconce, pendant, can, and LED lighting provide the ability to utilize ambient light from the walkout basement in the bar/lounge area to create a "one room" connected feel when entertaining, or close the blinds for complete theater blackout for home movie viewing. Theater specifications, development, installation and setup/calibration by Integrated Smart Technologies (iST), www.istmi.com Photography by Meg Marie Photography