Perfect family home for year round living.
Mid-sized trendy gray two-story vinyl gable roof photo in New York

We were hired to turn this standard townhome into an eclectic farmhouse dream. Our clients are worldly traveled, and they wanted the home to be the backdrop for the unique pieces they have collected over the years. We changed every room of this house in some way and the end result is a showcase for eclectic farmhouse style.

Remodeling a 20 year old lobby to create a more welcoming and comfortable space with a residential feel providing additional private and bench seating with a custom upholstered back, and freshening up the color palette,

Ann Kenkel Interiors Coastal Estate in St. Michael's Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. House was designed after the original 1770's house on the property. Home was designed to be a formal house but was now being used as a weekend retreat. Ann Kenkel had to decorate the house in a manner which was coastal enough so owner's felt like they were on vacation yet formal enough for the style of the house. AK found the house filled with wallpaper from the 1980's. Wallpaper from every room was removed and all trim had to be painted a neutral color. The formal dining room only had one entry. AK opened up a second entry into the dining room which provided a view of the Chesapeake Bay. Keywords: coastal estate, bay estate, luxury estate on Chesapeake Bay, St. Michael's home, best designer in St. Michael's, best coastal designer, best Chesapeake bay designer, window treatments, window treatments for over transom windows, chenille sofas, silk pillows, TV over fireplace, blue and yellow bedroom, coral and beige bedroom, british plantation style, blue toile bedroom, blue and green bedroom, coral dining room, red dining room, hand planed table, neutral living room, neutral sunroom, blue and green kitchen, blue family room, cherry paneled library, Ralph Lauren leather chairs, yellow chinoiserie wallpaper, shell mirror, tole lamps, gated drive, pea gravel drive, circular drive, piano, zebra fabric, trim on pillows, trim on draperies, panels and valances, georgian house, sunburst mirror, glass coffee table, star lamps, red and yellow toile draperies, ivory painted chairs, white painted chairs, nautical accessories, coastal coral bedroom, coastal blue bedroom, coastal yellow bedroom, blue and green toile bedroom, stables, paddock, outdoor stainless kitchen, dock, tan draperies, neutral chenille sofas, blue sofas, blue chairs with white frame, needlepoint rug, shell plates, bamboo silverware, white bedroom furniture, dark wood bedroom furniture, plaid chairs, wilton carpet, bright sunroom, chairs and ottomans, regency valance, scarf swags, swags, red leopard pillows, toile bedding, game table, game table chairs on coaster, shells, hydrangeas, shell lamp, sailboat art, sailboat paintings, cane headboard, 4 poster bed.

The clients had just bought the home and loved the inside but not the outside. They did not want the formal setting with Greek busts. Since remodeling the old pool would have restricted the new, they had it removed so they could start from scratch. Their favorite setting was much more organic with a cabana, fireplace, and an outdoor kitchen. The house needed an addition with an entertainment media room, cigar room and pool bath. Privacy was achieved by adding a cabana on the north side with a full stone wall. The spa needed to be close to the master bedroom and have visibility of the flat screen television in the cabana. The spa is flush with the upper patio so not to block the view of the pool. A natural boulder stream connects the pool and spa. To soften the house planting is between the cabana and house. Decks and coping are Travertine. Pebblesheen color is Ocean Blue. Access to the cabana was located between the spa and the pool on the floating pad. Remote controlled fire features accent both ends of the boulders. Retaining walls were built behind the waterfall to bring the grade up so plantings looked more natural and waterfalls appeared to come out of the hillside. The cabana features were to create three zones. It does not matter the season or time of day, this space provides the family's perfect outside setting to enjoy each other. Project designed by Mike Farley. Check out Mike's Reference Site at FarleyPoolDesigns.com for more info and videos.

When this young family of two approached us, they knew exactly what they wanted: to live in a high end home situated in a great neighbourhood. This Murrayville, Langley residence was 25 years old when we arrived, but when we left it looked brand new. The spectacular views didn't match the previous interior, so we added a touch of magic. A few renovations in this space included: Addition of a 16 foot kitchen island Installation of high end appliances Adorned the space with stunning pendants Added a unique 18 foot tall fireplace Custom classic Versa millwork Addition of single wall shower with glass doors Nuheat™ heated floors

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

We built the original, multi-sided Deltec home for this client in 2009. After a few years, they asked us to add on a traditionally-constructed expansion of two stories, plus 3 third-story tower. Over time, we've constructed a pottery/art studio, a kiln house, storage building, and most recently, a 1,200 sq. ft. Deltec shop to house tools for the owner’s hobby—welding. The secluded compound is far, far off the beaten path, at the end of a one-lane mountain road. Their retirement lifestyle and decorating tastes are traditional casual.

Basement remodel- phase one- This space was partially finished when my clients purchased the home. Like some- it is a space they have been wanting to finish for a few years. The additional finished room adds a kid's area ready for years of fun. Space planning was a little challenging with bulkhead and framing out. Economical shelving added much needed accents and charging station. Game room with high end multi game table and chairs promises years of family game time. Grass cloth wallpaper accents the game room perfectly. The soft Sherwin Willams eucalyptus color on the walls sets the mood for the space. Phase 2 kitchenette/bar to come.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1889/1898), Oak Park, IL An architectural laboratory for Wright's experiments with space. Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Photographer: Don Kalec

Newlyweds had just moved into their new home and immediately wanted to update their kitchen which is located in the center of the household, lacking any natural light source of its own. To make matters worse, the cabinets in place were dark red with black countertops. Not the picture of brightness they were looking for. To increase the amount of light reflected throughout the kitchen, we incorporated some of the following updates: 1. Replaced the solo ceiling light with 4 recessed cans 2. Updated the florescent undercabinet lights with new LED strips 3. Installed custom white cabinets topped with Silestone’s new Artic Ocean white countertops 4. Updated the dark glass pendants over the bar with larger, clear glass pendants that spoke more to the history of the home 5. Painted the walls a soft gray to compliment the palette The original kitchen layout was updated to eliminate the existing soffits and open the visual feel of the space. A large white farm sink now centers the natural wood bar area, inviting guests to sit and gather for ballgames and celebrations. Glass tile and USB ports at charging sites complete the space for the family to grow over the years. Photo by Stockwell Media

Two years in the making this landscape creates a private space filled with formal gardens and ornaments. From the multilevel front entry beds, to the gardens surrounding the lawn, to the stunning rear design, the entire space is incredible. The rear terrace features a pool, outdoor kitchen, 3 levels separated by stone walls and stairs, a distant terrace at the top of a bluff that offers an unobstructed lake view and pergola that highlights a stone statue. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Master Halco’s PostMaster® fence post saves time on a replacement fence installation. The PostMaster steel fence posts has outlasted the original wood board and rails and is ready for the next 20 or so years, substantially reducing the lifetime cost of this fence.

At 30 years of age honey oak trim and cabinetry easily goes from dated to unsightly. Such was the case with these homeowners who had wanted to chuck the traditional look of oak for more years than they care to think about. “It wasn’t just about the honey oak,” explains Murphy Bros. design/build consultant Courtney Cartee, “Although that was a big part of it. The overall end goal was a lighter, brighter ambiance, better workflow and a complete rethink on dinning space.” Most kitchens of that 90’s era featured inadequate lighting and small islands or peninsulas. In this particular case, the homeowners even wanted to eliminate the traditional family breakfast table.

Photo: Michaela Dodd © 2017 Houzz
Dining room - shabby-chic style dining room idea

Being new to the hot and humid Houston climate, we felt having our own swimming pool was the perfect way to make our time outdoors more enjoyable. The benefits of the fiberglass pool over gunite meant that we were able to provide a more complete outdoor environment, in less time and with less maintenance. The Allure pool provides a beautiful free from shape with plenty of sun deck space for lounging and keeping cool while the kids can play and jump in the deep end. The addition of the spa allows for year round enjoyment.

A Classic curated designed Great Room was paramount to incorporate natural elements to contrast the minimalist interior. To the end, the overall palette is subdued: white, gold, and taupe incorporating organic wood grained furnishings. We took our client's wishes for a modern, sophisticated environment in which to gather with family and friends for casual conversations for years to come.

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.

Basement remodel- phase one- This space was partially finished when my clients purchased the home. Like some- it is a space they have been wanting to finish for a few years. The additional finished room adds a kid's area ready for years of fun. Space planning was a little challenging with bulkhead and framing out. Economical shelving added much needed accents and charging station. Game room with high end multi game table and chairs promises years of family game time. Grass cloth wallpaper accents the game room perfectly. The soft Sherwin Willams eucalyptus color on the walls sets the mood for the space. Phase 2 kitchenette/bar to come.