Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

Thirty years ago, the homeowners' previous deck was strong and well-built, but time takes its toll and it needed to be replaced. We replaced it with a brand spanking new composite and cedar haven, perfect for a peaceful retirement.

Initial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool. Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space. Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.

Paul Despenas: After using the screened in porch for a few years the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. Great Idea, but after a few years too much work, too windy some days too hot other days. The only real good season was spring and fall. Midwest Construction converted this screened in space into an all season space to use 365 days per year. Midwest Construction to remove existing screen panels and haul away. Supply and installed Oasis All Season Model 2600 walls systems with high performance Cardinal Glass system engineered specifically for Joyce Manufacturing. Clean up and haul away all construction debris. All permits pulled and previous footings meet engineering codes for city specifications.

Emily and Steve have remodeled several pieces of their home and because they love Kaufman’s process so much, they keep coming back. In past years, we’ve remodeled most of their main floor including an updated living space and staircase, and a completely remodeled powder room and kitchen with a nice big island that’s perfect for entertaining. Their most recent project was this year when we remodeled their deck. The major pain points Steve and Emily dealt with before the remodel was lack of functionality due to poor design and because the previous owners had built the deck themselves, there were quite a few safety concerns. Throughout the design process, we decided to remove the existing deck completely and start fresh with a screened in porch, Emily’s Porch, and a deck off the porch with stairs going down to the beautiful backyard – one of the factors that motivated them to make this house their home to begin with.

Initial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool. Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space. Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.

Initial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool. Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space. Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.

As the first year progresses, the plants begin to fill in. Each season, a new group of plants takes center stage as the previous season's stars fade into the background. The 'bones' of the yard keep the design intact.

As the first new home constructed on Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis in over 50 years, this contemporary custom home stands as the “Gateway” to the historic parkway that encircles the lake. The clean lines and Bauhaus feel bring an architectural style that previously didn’t exist in this truly eclectic neighborhood. Interior spaces and finishes were inspired by local art museums, combining high-end materials into simple forms. This 2011 Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase home features mahogany cabinetry, cumaru wood and slate floors, and concrete counter tops. -Vujovich Design Build

Patrick Reynolds
Example of a trendy black two-story wood gable roof design in Auckland

Initial programming revolved around the disconnect between parking, kitchen, upper entertaining spaces, and the pool. Accessibility was solved through the installation of the new multi-tiered, limestone balustrade lined, staircase in place of a previously disregarded space. Additional hardscape features included a sunken fire pit, tiered fountain and multiple entertaining spaces to accommodate all needs. Plantings focused on providing structure to the space and bringing down the scale of the house. The highlights of larger Hydrangea and Arborvitae, added screening and privacy at the perimeter while utilization of evergreens bring interest to a space that allows nearly year round use. Lastly, heavy annual planting areas within the pool deck area give year-round interest to help draw people through the space.

Dania Bagia Photography In 2014, when new owners purchased one of the grand, 19th-century "summer cottages" that grace historic North Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Old Saratoga Restorations was already intimately acquainted with it. Year after year, the previous owner had hired OSR to work on one carefully planned restoration project after another. What had not been dealt with in the previous restoration projects was the Eliza Doolittle of a garage tucked behind the stately home. Under its dingy aluminum siding and electric bay door was a proper Victorian carriage house. The new family saw both the charm and potential of the building and asked OSR to turn the building into a single family home. The project was granted an Adaptive Reuse Award in 2015 by the Saratoga Springs Historic Preservation Foundation for the project. Upon accepting the award, the owner said, “the house is similar to a geode, historic on the outside, but shiny and new on the inside.”

Le jardinet
Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Phoenix.

Dania Bagia Photography In 2014, when new owners purchased one of the grand, 19th-century "summer cottages" that grace historic North Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Old Saratoga Restorations was already intimately acquainted with it. Year after year, the previous owner had hired OSR to work on one carefully planned restoration project after another. What had not been dealt with in the previous restoration projects was the Eliza Doolittle of a garage tucked behind the stately home. Under its dingy aluminum siding and electric bay door was a proper Victorian carriage house. The new family saw both the charm and potential of the building and asked OSR to turn the building into a single family home. The project was granted an Adaptive Reuse Award in 2015 by the Saratoga Springs Historic Preservation Foundation for the project. Upon accepting the award, the owner said, “the house is similar to a geode, historic on the outside, but shiny and new on the inside.”

An existing screened porch was enclosed as an indoor/outdoor space to allow year round use, limit road noise and increase access to daylight on a heavily wooded lot. Custom wainscot and trim details frame the view of the newly landscaped hillside. Created with 70 tons of stone salvaged from barn foundations the proximity, this 'edge of the garden' view also brings light into the center of a previously dark interior.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.

This Denver Area Centennial home desperately needed new siding. The previous siding was composite wood that was swelling and peeling. We installed James Hardie ColorPlus siding and trim. We also painted the soffits and fascia with Sherwin Williams Duration exterior paint to match. The homeowner selected Aged Pewter for the siding, and Arctic White for the trim, soffits, and fascia. The ColorPlus factory finish comes with a 15-year finish warranty, so this house is sure to look good for years to come!

This Denver Area Centennial home desperately needed new siding. The previous siding was composite wood that was swelling and peeling. We installed James Hardie ColorPlus siding and trim. We also painted the soffits and fascia with Sherwin Williams Duration exterior paint to match. The homeowner selected Aged Pewter for the siding, and Arctic White for the trim, soffits, and fascia. The ColorPlus factory finish comes with a 15-year finish warranty, so this house is sure to look good for years to come!