This old 1920's home is thought to be an original George Washington Smith home, has now been updated and extended by Architect Bob Easton of Santa Barbara. Arched walls over stairs, plaster fireplaces, and very simple, comfortable design make for a very livable home for this family with multiple pets. Leather sofas for an easy feel, over antique hand knotted rugs and old world furniture show off this old Spanish home in the Ojai Valley. The Designers used periwinkle colored windows and doors to play off the black iron windows, and real Malibu tile with white marble tile surrounds around a blue granite kitchen island. The living room ceiling is completely original, and is the inspiration for the new exposed beam master suite ceilings. All the lighting is custom wrought iron fixtures, made especially for this home. A powder room features deep blue tiles and Malibu tile wainscot, the paintings are all of simple early California scenes which all make for an earthy, simple old time style, Project Location: Ojai, California. Project designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

The restoration of this 200 year old home was inspired by a Greek revival style, characteristic of early American architecture. A local housewright and historian worked together with Daniel Contelmo during the restoration in order to preserve the home's antiquity. Most of the foundation remains the original fieldstone, and the exposed hand-hewn beams were carefully removed, restored, and replaced. Traditional Pine Plains windows and a wrap-around porch display the pastoral 10 acre site, complete with lake and Catskill mountain views. Although the interior of the house was completely renovated, a New-Old house technique was used by distressing 20 inch-wide floorboards, installing two Rumford fireplaces, and using milk paint on cabinetry. Prior to renovating the home a magnificent timberframe barn was erected in the location where an original 1800s barn had burned down 100 years previously.

Sheltered from strong southerly winds, the glass breezeway opens to embrace the working fields to the south. The paver patio is bound by a stone wall and arbor and was carefully sited around and under a 50 year old ornamental cherry. This farmstead is located in the Northwest corner of Washington State. Photos by Ian Gleadle

The kitchen in the remodel of this 100 year old craftsman. Open concept, with seating for 2 at the large butcher block counter, and glass doored display cabinet facing the living room. Custom open shelving made from countertop material. Marble backsplash and commercial faucet. The overhead vent-hood provides a virtual separation between the kitchen and the rest of the living space.

Large cottage black two-story wood exterior home idea in San Francisco

White and gold geometric wall paper pops against the marble-look porcelain tile, black quartz counters and brass accents. The black framed shower enclosure creates a modern look. Winner of the 2019 NARI of Greater Charlotte Contractor of the Year Award for Best Interior Under $100k. © Lassiter Photography 2019

Tom Holdsworth Photography Our clients wanted to create a room that would bring them closer to the outdoors; a room filled with natural lighting; and a venue to spotlight a modern fireplace. Early in the design process, our clients wanted to replace their existing, outdated, and rundown screen porch, but instead decided to build an all-season sun room. The space was intended as a quiet place to read, relax, and enjoy the view. The sunroom addition extends from the existing house and is nestled into its heavily wooded surroundings. The roof of the new structure reaches toward the sky, enabling additional light and views. The floor-to-ceiling magnum double-hung windows with transoms, occupy the rear and side-walls. The original brick, on the fourth wall remains exposed; and provides a perfect complement to the French doors that open to the dining room and create an optimum configuration for cross-ventilation. To continue the design philosophy for this addition place seamlessly merged natural finishes from the interior to the exterior. The Brazilian black slate, on the sunroom floor, extends to the outdoor terrace; and the stained tongue and groove, installed on the ceiling, continues through to the exterior soffit. The room's main attraction is the suspended metal fireplace; an authentic wood-burning heat source. Its shape is a modern orb with a commanding presence. Positioned at the center of the room, toward the rear, the orb adds to the majestic interior-exterior experience. This is the client's third project with place architecture: design. Each endeavor has been a wonderful collaboration to successfully bring this 1960s ranch-house into twenty-first century living.

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Selections & Furnishings | Charles Cudd De Novo, Architecture | Troy Thies Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling

Rufty Homes was recognized by the National Association of Home Builders with its “Room of the Year” award, as well as a platinum award for “Interior Design: Kitchen”, in the 2012 Best in American Living Awards (BALA). For the past 6 years, Rufty Homes has been named top custom home builder by Triangle Business Journal.

While cleaning out the attic of this recently purchased Arlington farmhouse, an amazing view was discovered: the Washington Monument was visible on the horizon. The architect and owner agreed that this was a serendipitous opportunity. A badly needed renovation and addition of this residence was organized around a grand gesture reinforcing this view shed. A glassy “look out room” caps a new tower element added to the left side of the house and reveals distant views east over the Rosslyn business district and beyond to the National Mall. A two-story addition, containing a new kitchen and master suite, was placed in the rear yard, where a crumbling former porch and oddly shaped closet addition was removed. The new work defers to the original structure, stepping back to maintain a reading of the historic house. The dwelling was completely restored and repaired, maintaining existing room proportions as much as possible, while opening up views and adding larger windows. A small mudroom appendage engages the landscape and helps to create an outdoor room at the rear of the property. It also provides a secondary entrance to the house from the detached garage. Internally, there is a seamless transition between old and new. Photos: Hoachlander Davis Photography

Stair case with black painted handrail and newell post and also stair risers painted black.
Elegant wooden staircase photo in Other with painted risers

This project was a long labor of love. The clients adored this eclectic farm home from the moment they first opened the front door. They knew immediately as well that they would be making many careful changes to honor the integrity of its old architecture. The original part of the home is a log cabin built in the 1700’s. Several additions had been added over time. The dark, inefficient kitchen that was in place would not serve their lifestyle of entertaining and love of cooking well at all. Their wish list included large pro style appliances, lots of visible storage for collections of plates, silverware, and cookware, and a magazine-worthy end result in terms of aesthetics. After over two years into the design process with a wonderful plan in hand, construction began. Contractors experienced in historic preservation were an important part of the project. Local artisans were chosen for their expertise in metal work for one-of-a-kind pieces designed for this kitchen – pot rack, base for the antique butcher block, freestanding shelves, and wall shelves. Floor tile was hand chipped for an aged effect. Old barn wood planks and beams were used to create the ceiling. Local furniture makers were selected for their abilities to hand plane and hand finish custom antique reproduction pieces that became the island and armoire pantry. An additional cabinetry company manufactured the transitional style perimeter cabinetry. Three different edge details grace the thick marble tops which had to be scribed carefully to the stone wall. Cable lighting and lamps made from old concrete pillars were incorporated. The restored stone wall serves as a magnificent backdrop for the eye- catching hood and 60” range. Extra dishwasher and refrigerator drawers, an extra-large fireclay apron sink along with many accessories enhance the functionality of this two cook kitchen. The fabulous style and fun-loving personalities of the clients shine through in this wonderful kitchen. If you don’t believe us, “swing” through sometime and see for yourself! Matt Villano Photography

The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Andrew McKinney LED strip lighting is applied to the sides of cabinet behind the faceframe. This lights the entire cabinet and makes the cabinet glow.

Home bar - traditional brown floor home bar idea in Boston with glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, granite countertops and white countertops

Design by GreyHunt Interiors Photography by Christen Kosnic
Transitional master black tile, black and white tile and white tile gray floor drop-in bathtub photo in DC Metro with white walls

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Photo of a kitchen renovation feature cabinets finished in Black Licorice and Pure White lacquer. The cabinets are oversized and conceal the appliances with finished wood panels. Unique features include a wall of natural leuders veneer stone with a custom floating ventilation system as a main focal point. Complementing the cabinets are countertops of Satin Cambrian black granite and Honed Calcatta Colorado Marble. Custom hewn wood beams and hand scraped flooring warm the rooms feel against the cool gray walls. Designed and constructed by USI in Southlake Tx.