This beautiful master bathroom may not be the largest in its size but provides a feeling of spaciousness and luxury. It was approached with the idea of “Less is more” or as DaVinci said “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Fully enclosed and built in Steam shower with optional aromatherapy offers a spa like experience. Marble like porcelain tiles give this space elegant and timeless look with easy maintenance. Polished chrome faucets bring in a little sparkle and well planned out storage helps to maintain the uncluttered look. It is classic with a touch of modern.

When famed designer Ralph Lauren created his 4 vintage Airstreams for charity a few years back, I wonder if he knew what kind of impact his designs would have on the future of Airstream Motifs. Many times since the unveiling of his now well known trailers, I had been approached by potential customers asking if I could build a trailer for them with the "Adirondack" style that Lauren used in his "Adirondack" trailer. To this request, my answer was always the same "As wonderful as his trailer was, the use of barn wood and rusty metals were not the type of elements that I prefer to work with." When I think of Adirondack style, I picture the Great Camps of upstate New York of the 1920's and 30's and the fine hand crafted detail that you would find in them. With a more refined look in mind, this is what I came up with for my client who came to me after viewing the Ralph Lauren Trailers.

In this whole-house renovation we transformed a dark ‘50s ranch house into a bright, open, contemporary home with a breathtaking 180-degree view. The owner sought a peaceful, sanctuary-like environment where she could relax and work from home, as well as an easy place to entertain guests. Following these fundamental criteria, we approached the project with a simple design and select palette of natural materials. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/vista-adobe/

Even though the home is traditional i went with a transitional approach in this bathroom. It fits in very well and still flows with the feel of the home. I designed a custom vanity using a gray stain over maple. The sink and toilet also give a more contemporary feel.

Well-traveled. Relaxed. Timeless. Our well-traveled clients were soon-to-be empty nesters when they approached us for help reimagining their Presidio Heights home. The expansive Spanish-Revival residence originally constructed in 1908 had been substantially renovated 8 year prior, but needed some adaptations to better suit the needs of a family with three college-bound teens. We evolved the space to be a bright, relaxed reflection of the family’s time together, revising the function and layout of the ground-floor rooms and filling them with casual, comfortable furnishings and artifacts collected abroad. One of the key changes we made to the space plan was to eliminate the formal dining room and transform an area off the kitchen into a casual gathering spot for our clients and their children. The expandable table and coffee/wine bar means the room can handle large dinner parties and small study sessions with similar ease. The family room was relocated from a lower level to be more central part of the main floor, encouraging more quality family time, and freeing up space for a spacious home gym. In the living room, lounge-worthy upholstery grounds the space, encouraging a relaxed and effortless West Coast vibe. Exposed wood beams recall the original Spanish-influence, but feel updated and fresh in a light wood stain. Throughout the entry and main floor, found artifacts punctate the softer textures — ceramics from New Mexico, religious sculpture from Asia and a quirky wall-mounted phone that belonged to our client’s grandmother.

Saari & Forrai
Large farmhouse white two-story vinyl gable roof photo in Minneapolis with a shingle roof

A custom designed pool table is flanked by open back sofas, allowing guests to easy access to conversation on all sides of this open plan lower level. Heidi Zeiger

Example of a large transitional galley dark wood floor kitchen pantry design in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

What began as a renovation project morphed into a new house, driven by the natural beauty of the site. The new structures are perfectly aligned with the coastline, and take full advantage of the views of ocean, islands, and shoals. The location is within walking distance of town and its amenities, yet miles away in the privacy it affords. The house is nestled on a nicely wooded lot, giving the residence screening from the street, with an open meadow leading to the ocean on the rear of the lot. The design concept was driven by the serenity of the site, enhanced by textures of trees, plantings, sand and shoreline. The newly constructed house sits quietly in a location advantageously positioned to take full advantage of natural light and solar orientations. The visual calm is enhanced by the natural material: stone, wood, and metal throughout the home. The main structures are comprised of traditional New England forms, with modern connectors serving to unify the structures. Each building is equally suited for single floor living, if that future needs is ever necessary. Unique too is an underground connection between main house and an outbuilding. With their flowing connections, no room is isolated or ignored; instead each reflects a different level of privacy and social interaction. Just as there are layers to the exterior in beach, field, forest and oceans, the inside has a layered approach. Textures in wood, stone, and neutral colors combine with the warmth of linens, wools, and metals. Personality and character of the interiors and its furnishings are tailored to the client’s lifestyle. Rooms are arranged and organized in an intersection of public and private spaces. The quiet palette within reflects the nature outside, enhanced with artwork and accessories.

At 35+ years, this Ft Worth lake-home is wearing it’s age very well. To freshen up the surrounding landscaping and supporting elements, our clients dreamed of an avant garde look for both the front and backyard outdoor living space that tied together. One Specialty designed a re-imagined driveway, address monument, welcoming area and Xeriscape landscaping for the front. We constructed a multi-level deck made with Trex, complete with an outdoor kitchen and outdoor bar in the backyard, resulting in multiple vignettes for entertaining which are fully wheelchair accessible. To see before photos and more information on this project: http://www.onespecialty.com/lake-retreat/

Joshua Caldwell
Mid-sized transitional open concept dark wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Salt Lake City with beige walls, a media wall and no fireplace

When Chesney's were approached to design and manufacture a limestone cantilevered staircase for the entrance hall of a new English country house, the brief was to create a focal point that was both graceful and impressive. We suggested a smooth soffit tread design which would lend itself well to a plain material such as limestone and would create a beautiful continuous curve to the underside of the staircase that could be appreciated from the Entrance Hall below.

This bathroom was created for a young family. The bi-fold screen can fold completely flat against the end of the bath without snagging on the fixed shower head. This approach allows full access to the bath when kneeling next to the bath attending to small children with easy access to the bath/shower valve and the hand shower. The recessed shelves provide plenty of room for toys and bottles. Also works very well when mum just wants a nice soak!

Designed as a quiet sanctuary for personal practice, this private meditation and yoga studio offers a calming environment for movement, mindfulness, and reflection. Warm white oak finishes, shoji-inspired sliding doors, mirrored walls, and soft ambient lighting create a serene atmosphere that encourages focus while maintaining a strong connection to natural materials. The minimalist design reduces visual distractions while supporting flexibility for yoga, meditation, stretching, and private wellness sessions. Carefully balanced lighting, integrated storage, and biophilic elements enhance both functionality and emotional well-being, creating a restorative environment for everyday practice. This conceptual rendering showcases Chanova Design's holistic approach to wellness design, where thoughtful spatial planning, timeless craftsmanship, and biophilic principles come together to create spaces that promote balance, mindfulness, and healthy living.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Mudroom at the back of the house has a hook for every coat. Cubbies and spaces for shoes and gloves. Photography by Spacecrafting
Mudroom - large transitional porcelain tile mudroom idea in Minneapolis with beige walls and a white front door

CALIFORNIA A new approach in expressing an equilibrium of line, color and material. The highest quality materials are selected in creating the modern kitchen feel; well-designed and versatile. The cabinet doors can be combined with various types of handles, depending on the desired appearance. Complete with all elements and available in every configuration, including a breakfast bar solution. The California collection comes in many colors and wood types.

In the same woodland garden in spring you can see a carpet of tiarella, violas, golden seal, columbine, sedums with virginia creeper on the wall and goat's beard in the corner between the steps and the wall. This image was captured in late May.

This beautiful master bathroom may not be the largest in its size but provides a feeling of spaciousness and luxury. It was approached with the idea of “Less is more” or as DaVinci said “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Fully enclosed and built in Steam shower with optional aromatherapy offers a spa like experience. Marble like porcelain tiles give this space elegant and timeless look with easy maintenance. Polished chrome faucets bring in a little sparkle and well planned out storage helps to maintain the uncluttered look. It is classic with a touch of modern.