Across from Hudson River Park, the Classic 7 pre-war apartment had not renovated in over 50 years. The new owners, a young family with two kids, desired to open up the existing closed in spaces while keeping some of the original, classic pre-war details. Dark, dimly-lit corridors and clustered rooms that were a detriment to the brilliant natural light and expansive views the existing apartment inherently possessed, were demolished to create a new open plan for a more functional style of living. Custom charcoal stained white oak herringbone floors were laid throughout the space. The dark blue lacquered kitchen cabinets provide a sharp contrast to the otherwise neutral colored space. A wall unit in the same blue lacquer floats on the wall in the Den.

The refrigerator, from Big Chill, is a brand-new fridge designed to give the look of an original mid-century refrigerator. The Wedgewood oven, however, is a fully functional restored stove from the 1940's. Photos by Aleksandr Akinshev

Judy Bernier
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic detached studio / workshop shed remodel in Portland Maine

Fully funcitonal Farm-All alarm clocks serve as art and function. Matthews double fan. Photos~ Nat Rea
Dining room - cottage dining room idea

A gut-renovated kitchen within a classic NYC pre-war apartment, where the original plaster arched doorways and herringbone oak floors are preserved as primary design features. Custom flat-panel cabinetry in a warm light gray runs floor to ceiling, with a mix of brass bar pulls and knob hardware lending a quiet eclecticism. The dramatic Arabescato marble backsplash — with its deep gray and blue veining across a cream ground — anchors the cooking wall and carries through to the island countertop. The island base is finished with a custom reeded panel detail and softened corners, a contemporary counterpoint to the building's classical bones. A built-in banquette with a round bistro table occupies the window bay, turning the kitchen into a room that functions as much for living as for cooking.

A lovely mill-work update throughout the first floor of this new home in Elgin, IL. This lovely and functional statement piece was a little bonus add-on. We discovered this awkward dead space and decided to make something fun. The wood came from old rafters out of a pre-civil war building in Geneva, IL.

A gut-renovated kitchen within a classic NYC pre-war apartment, where the original plaster arched doorways and herringbone oak floors are preserved as primary design features. Custom flat-panel cabinetry in a warm light gray runs floor to ceiling, with a mix of brass bar pulls and knob hardware lending a quiet eclecticism. The dramatic Arabescato marble backsplash — with its deep gray and blue veining across a cream ground — anchors the cooking wall and carries through to the island countertop. The island base is finished with a custom reeded panel detail and softened corners, a contemporary counterpoint to the building's classical bones. A built-in banquette with a round bistro table occupies the window bay, turning the kitchen into a room that functions as much for living as for cooking.

A gut-renovated kitchen within a classic NYC pre-war apartment, where the original plaster arched doorways and herringbone oak floors are preserved as primary design features. Custom flat-panel cabinetry in a warm light gray runs floor to ceiling, with a mix of brass bar pulls and knob hardware lending a quiet eclecticism. The dramatic Arabescato marble backsplash — with its deep gray and blue veining across a cream ground — anchors the cooking wall and carries through to the island countertop. The island base is finished with a custom reeded panel detail and softened corners, a contemporary counterpoint to the building's classical bones. A built-in banquette with a round bistro table occupies the window bay, turning the kitchen into a room that functions as much for living as for cooking.

A gut-renovated kitchen within a classic NYC pre-war apartment, where the original plaster arched doorways and herringbone oak floors are preserved as primary design features. Custom flat-panel cabinetry in a warm light gray runs floor to ceiling, with a mix of brass bar pulls and knob hardware lending a quiet eclecticism. The dramatic Arabescato marble backsplash — with its deep gray and blue veining across a cream ground — anchors the cooking wall and carries through to the island countertop. The island base is finished with a custom reeded panel detail and softened corners, a contemporary counterpoint to the building's classical bones. A built-in banquette with a round bistro table occupies the window bay, turning the kitchen into a room that functions as much for living as for cooking.

Across from Hudson River Park, the Classic 7 pre-war apartment had not renovated in over 50 years. The new owners, a young family with two kids, desired to open up the existing closed in spaces while keeping some of the original, classic pre-war details. Dark, dimly-lit corridors and clustered rooms that were a detriment to the brilliant natural light and expansive views the existing apartment inherently possessed, were demolished to create a new open plan for a more functional style of living. Custom charcoal stained white oak herringbone floors were laid throughout the space. The dark blue lacquered kitchen cabinets provide a sharp contrast to the otherwise neutral colored space. A wall unit in the same blue lacquer floats on the wall in the Den.

The homeowners had owned this 2,800sf apartment for many years but had never undertaken renovations as they lived in Washington D.C. The goal was to functionally update and renovate the spacious Classic 8 landmark apartment while preserving its pre-war character. With south and east exposures at 10 windows facing Central Park and downtown from a high floor, the apartment was light-filled and afforded significant views from the living room, dining room and library as well as two of the bedrooms. The goal was to create an urban oasis in the aerie-like apartment with light and views in a way that seamlessly integrated traditional methods, modern materials, lighting and technology.

Loft 25 is a converted pre-war condominium located in Chelsea. With its pre-war charm and refined, state-of-the-art aesthetic, Loft 25 offers a unique living experience for its residents. The combination of high ceilings, expansive interior space, and well-maintained outdoor gardens adds to the appeal of this property. On the ground floor, where the atmosphere is warm, relaxing, and personal, 2MO's design contributions have certainly enhanced the living space. The focal point of the living room is a gorgeous and functional fireplace, which not only adds warmth but also serves as a visually striking element. The inclusion of display shelves and customized cabinets around the fireplace adds both functionality and an opportunity to showcase decorative items or personal belongings. In the bathroom, upgrades were made to enhance its modernity and functionality. The use of subway tiles provides a classic and timeless look, while the modern folding-glass doors for storage space offer a sleek and space-saving solution. This upgrade not only improves the aesthetics of the bathroom but also provides practicality by maximizing storage options. Overall, the design choices made by 2MO in Loft 25 contribute to creating an inviting and stylish living environment. The attention to detail, functionality, and the combination of classic and modern elements help elevate the overall appeal of the condominium.

As kitchens grew larger throughout the 20th century to accommodate new inventions such as automatic washing machines, and smaller rooms like sculleries and larders were incorporated into the kitchen itself, a greater emphasis on utility and function ensued. In the post-war world the urge for a bright new future also made the most of new materials like plastic laminates which changed the face of kitchens in Europe for years to come. We wanted to reverse this trend and introduce a warmer and more liveable kitchen designed around our lifestyles. Bastide was born from this demand for beauty with utility; combining form and function with a continental twist. Capturing the simplicity and charm of a country kitchen, Bastide is timeless, robust and built for a lifetime at the heart of your home, by applying heritage ideas to modern culture.

A West Village Bachelor pad bedroom, featuring a hand-painted geometric design that highlights the pre-war features of the space, like the picture moldings. Additionally, because the client wanted both a work space and a place to put his TV (the pre-war wall could not hold a wall mounted tv!), we designed a custom desk/console piece out of reclaimed wood and metal hairpin legs that served both purposes, and fit the space perfectly. Photos by Matthew Williams

A lovely mill-work update throughout the first floor of this new home in Elgin, IL. Our carpenters converted these tired and boring walls into stunning statements throughout the first floor. We have added a stylish panel molding throughout. The barnwood case was a little bonus add-on. There was an awkward dead space that we converted into this functional piece. The wood came from a building dated pre-civil war in Geneva, IL.

As kitchens grew larger throughout the 20th century to accommodate new inventions such as automatic washing machines, and smaller rooms like sculleries and larders were incorporated into the kitchen itself, a greater emphasis on utility and function ensued. In the post-war world the urge for a bright new future also made the most of new materials like plastic laminates which changed the face of kitchens in Europe for years to come. We wanted to reverse this trend and introduce a warmer and more liveable kitchen designed around our lifestyles. Bastide was born from this demand for beauty with utility; combining form and function with a continental twist. Capturing the simplicity and charm of a country kitchen, Bastide is timeless, robust and built for a lifetime at the heart of your home, by applying heritage ideas to modern culture.

DESIGNED BY TOC design CONSTRUCTION BY TOC design & Construction inc. PHOTOS BY : Tania Scardellato I was fortunate to have a young family approach me in desperate need to renovate there only 3 piece bathroom. This space was In dire need of a remodel, with old brown wall to wall tiles and a dated bulky yellow brown single sink vanity. Storage was a must, lighting a necessity, and proper accessibility to the shower bath area. We had a tight budget to respect, but a full gut of this bathroom was required. And a good thing too, once we started doing the demolition we noticed that mildew and rotting floors and walls had accumulated throughout the years. Doing it right the first time is no joke when dealing with water and electrical issues. We discarded all reminisce of old and built from scratch, new walls, new plumbing, new electrical ,new insulation and a new window, a new fan that actually exhausted outside ( I say this laughing as you would be amazed at how many fans are installed but don’t exhaust outside, and you the client would never know unless you go inside the attic space. Once all the hard stuff was done, the rest is just a matter of smart design. If you have a small bathroom here are some tips to guide you. 10 tips for making a small bathroom feel larger Is your tiny bathroom cramping your functionality and style, leaving you longing for the enormous bathrooms gracing the pages of design magazines? Even if your bathroom is a fraction of the size, all it takes is some design savvy to make the most of the space you have. Consider these 10 smart tips that will help your bathroom look, feel and function like those larger contenders. 1-Get creative with corners Space is at a premium in small bathrooms, so it's important to maximize every inch. Corners, for example, provide extra space for shelving, storage units and even hooks. Get creative and install unique design solutions that are not only functional, but also eye-catching. If you love the airiness of floating cabinets, add baskets or decorative boxes under for extra storage. If you are installing floating cabinets insure that they are installed securely to studs or plywood at wall. 2- Let solid colors shine Busy patterns have a shrinking effect and make small bathrooms seem even smaller. Conversely, light natural hues make a space feel more open. If you're itching to get creative with design, experiment with textures but keep overpowering patterns to a minimum. Tone on tone is the best to achieve this. 3 - Maximize your bathtub A bathtub takes up a significant portion of the room, but modern, compact options with curved basins, can make the tub feel larger when in use, all while conserving space. 4 - Select a smaller faucet A faucet is jewelry for the bathroom. And just as accessories can overpower an outfit, a big bulky faucet isn't flattering in a small bath. Single-handle designs conserve counter space, while a wall-mount installation frees it up all together and can create quite the wow-factor, if the budget can accommodate the required changes to plumbing behind the wall. 5 - Make vanity storage simple If you're in a storage war with your small bathroom, you're not alone in the battle. Toiletries and personal supplies without a place to call home only add clutter and chaos. Store smart with a space-saving vanity, the dual sink vanity shown here, looks quite simple, but in reality it has 4 sets of full extension drawers, and the vanity tower adds extra storage without overpowering the use of space. 6 - Show off the shower Shower curtains may be pretty, but they interrupt the visual flow of a bathing space and make it feel significantly smaller. In bathrooms with small footprints, opt for a clear glass sliding shower door that doesn't require the clearance of one with a hinged design. Or as shown in this design and for fraction less expensive a half hinged panel installed on a fixed tempered glass panel. If you're embarking on a big remodel, create the illusion of more space by using same tile in the shower that's used throughout; instead of seeing them as two separate zones, the eye will read them as one. 7 - Discover the treasure of hidden storage Work with a contractor, and you just might find some serious storage potential hidden behind your walls. Whether it's utilizing space between the studs for shallow shelving or a creating a small linen closet by annexing space from an adjacent room, even small additions can make a big difference. 8 - Focal Point Tile is a beautiful, durable addition to any bathroom. For dainty spaces, consider installing tile at a diagonal to accentuate the focal point or as in this bathroom I used an oversized textured pattern to bring depth to the space at the window wall. 9 - Choose the right lights Strategically install light to reflect and brighten a small bathroom to make it appear larger. Recessed lighting is an affordable solution for tiny rooms, offering ample light while taking up little space. Wall sconces alongside a mirror also reflect off the walls and make a room feel bright and airy. I always recommend going with LED lighting at 2800 to 3000K. 10 – Accessorize This is your time to shine in your decorating skills, have fun with your towels, you can change the color scheme daily just by adding pops of color in your accessories, make sure to get items that serve a dual purpose, like baskets, boxes they can always be used as hampers, storing of towels and even a nice display for your guest.

Across from Hudson River Park, the Classic 7 pre-war apartment had not renovated in over 50 years. The new owners, a young family with two kids, desired to open up the existing closed in spaces while keeping some of the original, classic pre-war details. Dark, dimly-lit corridors and clustered rooms that were a detriment to the brilliant natural light and expansive views the existing apartment inherently possessed, were demolished to create a new open plan for a more functional style of living. Custom charcoal stained white oak herringbone floors were laid throughout the space. The dark blue lacquered kitchen cabinets provide a sharp contrast to the otherwise neutral colored space. A wall unit in the same blue lacquer floats on the wall in the Den.

This compact beach cottage has breathtaking views of the Puget Sound. The cottage was completely gutted including the main support beams to allow for a more functional floor plan. From there the colors, materials and finishes were hand selected to enhance the setting and create a low-maintance high comfort second home for these clients.