We recently participated in a Designer Showhouse for a historic home in Bayport, NY. We were asked to do the dining room, kitchen and laundry room. Due to the homes proximity to the ocean we chose ocean blues as our theme color. Although the room itself is a good size we did not want to overwhelm it with furniture and instead chose accent pieces that draw the viewers attention to the beautifully restored chair rail on the walls. The bamboo rug blends nicely with the restored floors, thus offering it protection in the table area but not detracting from the floors natural beauty. We chose to work with the existing chandelier in keeping with the style of the home. We changed the glass to shades on the chandelier to give the room softer feel. We thank Barbara Leogrande of Douglas Elliman for offering us the opportunity to work on this beautifully restored historic home.

We designed and installed a new portico and stairway to make the entry the focal point of this home. The new landscaping frames it, drawing the viewer's eye to the entrance.

A surprise kitchen remodel for a very deserving Ellen Show viewer!
Example of a country porcelain tile kitchen design in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

At this residence, we created a small flagstone patio and backyard fire area nestled in the corner of their property. A pondless water feature starts behind the fire pit. Its first set of falls cascade down toward the fire and the viewers, then the stream winds its way around the boulders that contain the fire area. The final cascade faces the house and outdoor kitchen, making the feature visible and audible from all outdoor living areas. Plantings provide seasonal color and screening from the golf course without blocking the broader view.

The spaced pavers bring the viewer into the bed and lawn, while coordinating with the house. A classic English garden planting uses regionally appropriate plants to provide an easy-care garden.

A local homeowner partnered with VPC Builders to create the mountain retreat of his dreams. The custom-built, two-level residence stands at 3200 square feet and features three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a bonus room, and a two-car garage. Upon arrival, viewers are immediately captivated by a modern double front door, unique cedar trim, and bold dark colors. The exterior showcases Cypress siding and black roofing. A thin-cut, natural stone veneer placed around the covered front porch incorporates the rustic mountain setting. Inside the home, the natural lighting provides a bright and crisp space that compliments the recessed lighting and hickory engineered flooring. The living room boasts a reclaimed accent mantle, true steel beams, and a vaulted ceiling. The area provides an ideal space for entertaining on cooler evenings with a full steel gas fireplace. The kitchen and dining area are visible from the living room and were custom-designed to reflect the homeowner’s passion for cooking. The kitchen harbors a double-thick island top, stunning quartz countertops, a six-burner oven, steel hood, and a full custom quartz backsplash...perfect for an aspiring chef. The master bedroom, complete with a deck access and full bath, provides the homeowner with a private getaway. The master bathroom has a double vanity sink with a quartz countertop and a full glass steam shower. Each of the two guest rooms are fit for a queen-sized bed. They each include a full bath displaying stunning tile designs and built-in showers. Another noteworthy attribute of the home is a covered back porch deck that features a fireplace, television mount, and a built-in bar window that connects to the kitchen. Modern Rustic Lodge truly offers a stunning escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Every detail was tailored to complement the homeowner’s lifestyle and avocations. VPC is confident that this home will provide mountain adventures and lasting memories for years to come.

The entrance faced a stairwell/hall that need something that had detail but wasn't busy. Up on entering, the viewer will see these three south shore photographs which definitely says, "You are entering a New England Home"!

Unassuming from the street, this hideaway family home was a joy! Featuring 5 ensuite bedrooms, floor to ceiling windows, atrium, lap pool, and guest/pool house to boot. This home sold before it even hit the market by first viewers at full asking price.

This Classic Quarry large Horzon Falls wall fountain will instantly become the crowning jewel of any room you put it in, whether it's in your home or office. When you look at this fountain your eye will be naturally drawn to the movement of the water over the textured Absolute Black Granite to the awaiting polished cream white river rocks below. Amazing positive and negative water patterns created by the deeply textured face captivate viewers...the calming effect of this sight and sound cannot be overstated. Granite's toughness is legendary. It is a dense and incredibly durable material that has an unmistakable decorative, luxurious quality and beauty. Our Classic wall fountain design is traditional and enduring, creating a natural focal point without taking up valuable floor space. Beautiful accent lighting adds to the peaceful ambiance, satisfying all your senses. Bluworld HOMelements™ Classic Quarry Line also features your choice of premium metals, like brushed stainless steel, rustic copper with our signature hand-applied patina, or your choice of our standard colors like Black Onyx or Copper Vein trim kits. Remotely controlled dimmable, long lasting warm white LED lighting highlights the beauty of the stone color and texture. A removable rock tray allows easy access to the pump and adjustable flow rate valve. Cream White River Rocks are included. Natural stone varies in color due to the different hues of the natural particles that make-up the product. All stones are natural and vary in color, intensity, and veining. Photos are provided as an indication only. It is the variation in natural stone that makes each fountain quite unique. Since this product is natural stone, color and texture variances are not defects within the material, but are inherent to it and part of the natural beauty of quarried materials. Our natural stone slabs are imported from quarries worldwide. The Classic Quarry Line contains stunning slices of the natural world. Due to the broad range of colors and textures (Granite excluded) you may wish to select your own stone. This culling service is offered for an additional fee and includes photos of 4 different slabs from your selected stone species. Stone selections must be made within 48 hours of photo receipt. Our Culling Service is not offered for Absolute Black Granite.

This photo has a better view of the Elfa shelving system. The twin slot verticals allow shelves to be quickly removed and repositioned as needs change. Bigger laundry basket? no problem! Keen eyed viewers may noticed the plinths of these units are 100mm high rather than the more common 150mm, which allows a little more storage space inside the cabinets.

This custom made home theater makes a grand appearance in a Deerfield Beach residence. The cabinetry offers room for storage and equipment, while the wide screen captures the attention of the viewer. While enjoying a movie, refreshments can be presented on the custom mahogany bar off to the side. Marcial Barni

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

The gentle curve of this staircase sets the tone, preparing the viewer for artistry. Red oak treads follow the gentle arc of the staircase, their radius nosing softening what could have been a hard geometric statement into something more inviting. Vertical black metal balusters rise in clean rhythm alongside, grounding the warmth of the oak with a contemporary edge. What ties it all together is the continuous handrail, a custom profile that flows uninterrupted through the stairwell, transitioning seamlessly into the newel without missing a beat. The result is a staircase that feels sculpted rather than assembled. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

The gentle curve of this staircase sets the tone, preparing the viewer for artistry. Red oak treads follow the gentle arc of the staircase, their radius nosing softening what could have been a hard geometric statement into something more inviting. Vertical black metal balusters rise in clean rhythm alongside, grounding the warmth of the oak with a contemporary edge. What ties it all together is the continuous handrail, a custom profile that flows uninterrupted through the stairwell, transitioning seamlessly into the newel without missing a beat. The result is a staircase that feels sculpted rather than assembled. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Serving as a winter retreat for a family of world travelers, a thoughtfully composed program of calm, comforting spaces imbuing casual elegance is presented effortlessly in the landscape. Oriented around a central grand oak and its adjacent loblolly pine, the home wraps around them, celebrating the engagement of nature while maintaining privacy from neighboring homes. Working within height restrictions intended to keep massing as low to the ground as possible, we moved the ground plane up and the expression down to present an appearance of a home that lives low. Calculated plays on scale and proportion intentionally have different effects from different vantage points, ensuring the viewer perceives the architecture as humanly scaled from each important introduction to the home. Ascending a landscape stair that winds around the central oak and extends into the entry vitrine sitting at base flood, the entry foyer operates at two scales as limestone stairs matching the exterior ascend between walls passing portals that reveal limited views of activity within. 2022 Design + Service Awards Jury Citation for Residential New Construction, AIA Charleston

Loft Master Bedroom with elegant curved walk-in closet and custom-designed viewing platform. For the viewing platform the hickory flooring was carried up and used for the stair treads and platform floor, a metal and cable stairway and rail system was fabricated to mimic the floating stairway coming from the lower level, and sliding doors underneath create ample storage for this open concept bedroom. Because open designs often provide a storage challenge- for additional storage, we converted two RTA pantries into another closet which also serves to dilineate the sleeping area from the rest of the room. An upholstered 4-drawer platform bed and 2 drawer stacks converted to night stands add even more storage. The bulk head running on the long wall was covered with hickory flooring making it functionally multi-usage and a viewing porthole was created allowing a viewer to glimpse the riverfront outside from the 2nd floor. Finally, the detail of a hand-crafted curving shelf large enough to place plants or sculptures upon was added to the top of the stairway facing the curved walk-in closet. All design and installation for Up-fit by Solar Wind Designs and Cat Manolis. www.solarwinddesigns.com Photos by Cat Manolis.

This is a hand painted mural on a 2000 SF retaining wall that wraps around an indoor play space for a large family. The mural includes images of the family, their friends and extended family. The quaint town scene is a sweet, inviting backdrop for their pool and foosball table, or for a game of indoor soccer on the artificial turf flooring. I incorporated trompe l'oeil elements with realistic scale and also long vistas, so the viewer feels like they can walk right in to the scene.

Inspiration for a transitional family room remodel in St Louis

The gentle curve of this staircase sets the tone, preparing the viewer for artistry. Red oak treads follow the gentle arc of the staircase, their radius nosing softening what could have been a hard geometric statement into something more inviting. Vertical black metal balusters rise in clean rhythm alongside, grounding the warmth of the oak with a contemporary edge. What ties it all together is the continuous handrail, a custom profile that flows uninterrupted through the stairwell, transitioning seamlessly into the newel without missing a beat. The result is a staircase that feels sculpted rather than assembled. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company