Mike Schwartz
Example of a trendy backyard deck design in Chicago with no cover

Photo: YE-H PHOTOGRAPHY Design: Gavin Smith http://www.dwell.com/finishing-touch/article/amazing-transformation-musty-attic-luminous-loft

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.

In this 1905 Tudor home, the intent of this design was to take advantage of the classic architecture of the home and incorporate modern conveniences. Located in the Joseph Berry Subdivision in Detroit, this stellar home presented several design challenges. The most difficult challenge to overcome was the 11” slope from one end of the kitchen to the other, caused by 110 years of settling. All new floor joists were installed and the floor by the side door was then recessed down one step. This created a cozy nook when you first enter the kitchen. A tiered ceiling with strategically planned cabinetry heights and crown molding concealed the slope of the walls at the ceiling level. The second challenge in this historic home was the awkward foot print of the kitchen. It’s likely that this kitchen had a butler’s pantry originally. However it was remodeled sometime in the 70’s and all original character was erased. Clever pantry storage was added to an awkward corner creating a space that mimicked the essence of a butler’s pantry, while providing storage desired in kitchens today. Keeping the large footprint of the kitchen presented obstacles with the working triangle; the distance from the sink to the cooktop is several feet. The solution was installation of a pot filler over the cooktop that added convenience and elegance (not sure about this word). Not everything in this project was a challenge; the discovery of a brick chimney hiding behind plaster was a welcome surprise and brought character back honoring the historic charm of this beautiful home. Kitchen Designer: Rebekah Tull of Whiski Kitchen Design Studio Remodeling Contractor: Renaissance Restorations, Inc. Counter Top Fabricator: Lakeside Solid Surfaces - Cambria Cabinetry: Legacy Crafted Cabinets Photographer: Shermin Photography Lighting: Rejuvenation Tile: TileBar.com

I love this room! Notice the drawer storage below the bench. The top drawers of the sideboard are equipped with electronics for charging various devices. We deleted the center room light fixture, moved the table off center, then added wall sconces and this array of ceiling-mount lights - switched separately and dimmable. Now the table can be placed this way or that, and good lighting is always available.

Country u-shaped brown floor, medium tone wood floor and shiplap ceiling open concept kitchen photo in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, shaker cabinets and white countertops

Here's the same photo before the wood was stained and finished. Wonderful construction and craftsmanship!
Dressing room - large craftsman gender-neutral medium tone wood floor and brown floor dressing room idea in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Inspiration for a farmhouse kitchen remodel in Sacramento

Open concept kitchen - contemporary galley light wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Kortney Gloska
Mid-sized elegant u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Providence with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances, no island and flat-panel cabinets

Photography by Patrick Ray With a footprint of just 450 square feet, this micro residence embodies minimalism and elegance through efficiency. Particular attention was paid to creating spaces that support multiple functions as well as innovative storage solutions. A mezzanine-level sleeping space looks down over the multi-use kitchen/living/dining space as well out to multiple view corridors on the site. To create a expansive feel, the lower living space utilizes a bifold door to maximize indoor-outdoor connectivity, opening to the patio, endless lap pool, and Boulder open space beyond. The home sits on a ¾ acre lot within the city limits and has over 100 trees, shrubs and grasses, providing privacy and meditation space. This compact home contains a fully-equipped kitchen, ¾ bath, office, sleeping loft and a subgrade storage area as well as detached carport.

Trendy kitchen photo in Philadelphia

A cabin in Western Wisconsin is transformed from within to become a serene and modern retreat. In a past life, this cabin was a fishing cottage which was part of a resort built in the 1920’s on a small lake not far from the Twin Cities. The cabin has had multiple additions over the years so improving flow to the outdoor space, creating a family friendly kitchen, and relocating a bigger master bedroom on the lake side were priorities. The solution was to bring the kitchen from the back of the cabin up to the front, reduce the size of an overly large bedroom in the back in order to create a more generous front entry way/mudroom adjacent to the kitchen, and add a fireplace in the center of the main floor. Photographer: Wing Ta Interior Design: Jennaea Gearhart Design

Example of a transitional bathroom design in New York

Small elegant galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, solid surface countertops, a double-bowl sink, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept dark wood floor and brown floor family room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls and no fireplace

Dave Adams Photographer
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized traditional l-shaped ceramic tile and multicolored floor enclosed kitchen idea in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white backsplash, black appliances, solid surface countertops, porcelain backsplash and an island

Sarah Dorio
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island