Living Room to Entry Hall - Residence along the Hudson - John B. Murray Architect - Interior Design by Sam Blount - Martha Baker Landscape Design - Photography by Durston Saylor

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop
Cottage screened-in porch photo in Louisville with decking and a roof extension

Example of a large transitional open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room design in Miami with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Dana Middleton Photography
Large minimalist master beige tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile freestanding bathtub photo with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray walls, a two-piece toilet and an undermount sink

Project for Guildcraft Cabinetry Mary Powell Photography
Inspiration for a timeless master carpeted bedroom remodel in Atlanta with gray walls

Reverse Shed Eichler This project is part tear-down, part remodel. The original L-shaped plan allowed the living/ dining/ kitchen wing to be completely re-built while retaining the shell of the bedroom wing virtually intact. The rebuilt entertainment wing was enlarged 50% and covered with a low-slope reverse-shed roof sloping from eleven to thirteen feet. The shed roof floats on a continuous glass clerestory with eight foot transom. Cantilevered steel frames support wood roof beams with eaves of up to ten feet. An interior glass clerestory separates the kitchen and livingroom for sound control. A wall-to-wall skylight illuminates the north wall of the kitchen/family room. New additions at the back of the house add several “sliding” wall planes, where interior walls continue past full-height windows to the exterior, complimenting the typical Eichler indoor-outdoor ceiling and floor planes. The existing bedroom wing has been re-configured on the interior, changing three small bedrooms into two larger ones, and adding a guest suite in part of the original garage. A previous den addition provided the perfect spot for a large master ensuite bath and walk-in closet. Natural materials predominate, with fir ceilings, limestone veneer fireplace walls, anigre veneer cabinets, fir sliding windows and interior doors, bamboo floors, and concrete patios and walks. Landscape design by Bernard Trainor: www.bernardtrainor.com (see “Concrete Jungle” in April 2014 edition of Dwell magazine). Microsoft Media Center installation of the Year, 2008: www.cybermanor.com/ultimate_install.html (automated shades, radiant heating system, and lights, as well as security & sound).

Matthew Niemann Photography www.matthewniemann.com
Inspiration for a transitional master white floor freestanding bathtub remodel with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink and white countertops

Photo: David Hertz
Inspiration for a modern patio remodel in Los Angeles

Designer: Cameron Snyder & Judy Whalen; Photography: Dan Cutrona
Dressing room - huge traditional gender-neutral carpeted dressing room idea in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and beige walls

Published May 2014
Living room - cottage living room idea in Boston

Kids' bedroom - bedroom and large traditional girl carpeted kids' bedroom idea in Minneapolis with purple walls

Cabinetry by Carson's Cabinetry & Design, Photo by Aaron W. Bailey, Home by Dibros Design and Construction
Large cottage single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, beige walls, an island and white cabinets

Inspiration for a transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor study room remodel in Dallas with gray walls

Example of a transitional formal and enclosed carpeted and brown floor living room design in DC Metro with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Photo by Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Example of a transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor home office design in New York with blue walls

Jenn Baker
Example of a mid-sized urban freestanding desk concrete floor study room design in Dallas with black walls

The shades of blues, reds, and burnt orange from the front parlor move seamlessly into the back parlor of this house.
Mid-sized ornate medium tone wood floor family room library photo in New York with green walls and a stone fireplace

Our goal on this project was to make the main floor of this lovely early 20th century home in a popular Vancouver neighborhood work for a growing family of four. We opened up the space, both literally and aesthetically, with windows and skylights, an efficient layout, some carefully selected furniture pieces and a soft colour palette that lends a light and playful feel to the space. Our clients can hardly believe that their once small, dark, uncomfortable main floor has become a bright, functional and beautiful space where they can now comfortably host friends and hang out as a family. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating Inc. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.