Alabaster painted cabinets by Bellmont Cabinet Company are paired with Cambria quartz countertops in Windemere. Custom mirror and wall cabinet with built-in charging station.

This award-winning and intimate cottage was rebuilt on the site of a deteriorating outbuilding. Doubling as a custom jewelry studio and guest retreat, the cottage’s timeless design was inspired by old National Parks rough-stone shelters that the owners had fallen in love with. A single living space boasts custom built-ins for jewelry work, a Murphy bed for overnight guests, and a stone fireplace for warmth and relaxation. A cozy loft nestles behind rustic timber trusses above. Expansive sliding glass doors open to an outdoor living terrace overlooking a serene wooded meadow. Photos by: Emily Minton Redfield

Bryan Rowland

A cramped and dated kitchen was completely removed. New custom cabinets, built-in wine storage and shelves came from the same shop. Quartz waterfall counters were installed with all-new flooring, LED light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and appliances. A new sliding pocket door provides access from the dining room to the powder room as well as to the backyard. A new tankless toilet as well as new finishes on floor, walls and ceiling make a small powder room feel larger than it is in real life. Photography: Chris Gaede Photography http://www.chrisgaede.com

For those that are above-average in height, standard bathroom fixtures can be difficult to truly enjoy. For this homeowner a soaking tub with a water depth that would be near his shoulders was top priority. The solution was a square Japanese-style soaking tub with a built-in seat. The stepped details add function and also cascading interest to the space, with steps to enter the tub and a shower bench seat. This large master bathroom is also outfitted with loads of cabinetry for both him and her. However, the best feature of this room is the traditional detailing brought in by the tile pattern. The neutral, travertine-look tile is elevated to new heights by varying the sizing and installation and adding in delicate metallic accents.

For those that are above-average in height, standard bathroom fixtures can be difficult to truly enjoy. For this homeowner a soaking tub with a water depth that would be near his shoulders was top priority. The solution was a square Japanese-style soaking tub with a built-in seat. The stepped details add function and also cascading interest to the space, with steps to enter the tub and a shower bench seat. This large master bathroom is also outfitted with loads of cabinetry for both him and her. However, the best feature of this room is the traditional detailing brought in by the tile pattern. The neutral, travertine-look tile is elevated to new heights by varying the sizing and installation and adding in delicate metallic accents.

This small bathroom features a completely custom built tub. This tub was made out of Schluter board & tiled with a pebble mosaic. The niche and tub edges are trimmed with Schluter profile.

Large full bathroom with custom shower and jetted tub.

Bright and airy ensuite attic bathroom with bespoke joinery. Porcelain wall tiles and encaustic tiles on the floor.

Master bathroom in antique coastal farmhouse. Custom double vanity with taupe finish and quartz counters. Oil rubbed bronze and brushed brass fixtures. Shower with glass doors and shower bench. Stone herringbone tile floor. Natural woven roman shades on the window.

Second gorgeous bathroom of this set: The guest bathroom. Double-sink vanity, light and inviting beige color, and blue-white accents.

This gem of a house was built in the 1950s, when its neighborhood undoubtedly felt remote. The university footprint has expanded in the 70 years since, however, and today this home sits on prime real estate—easy biking and reasonable walking distance to campus. When it went up for sale in 2017, it was largely unaltered. Our clients purchased it to renovate and resell, and while we all knew we'd need to add square footage to make it profitable, we also wanted to respect the neighborhood and the house’s own history. Swedes have a word that means “just the right amount”: lagom. It is a guiding philosophy for us at SYH, and especially applied in this renovation. Part of the soul of this house was about living in just the right amount of space. Super sizing wasn’t a thing in 1950s America. So, the solution emerged: keep the original rectangle, but add an L off the back. With no owner to design with and for, SYH created a layout to appeal to the masses. All public spaces are the back of the home--the new addition that extends into the property’s expansive backyard. A den and four smallish bedrooms are atypically located in the front of the house, in the original 1500 square feet. Lagom is behind that choice: conserve space in the rooms where you spend most of your time with your eyes shut. Put money and square footage toward the spaces in which you mostly have your eyes open. In the studio, we started calling this project the Mullet Ranch—business up front, party in the back. The front has a sleek but quiet effect, mimicking its original low-profile architecture street-side. It’s very Hoosier of us to keep appearances modest, we think. But get around to the back, and surprise! lofted ceilings and walls of windows. Gorgeous.

PEBBLE AND RECTANGULAR GLASS TILES from two different makers wrap a band around the bathroom.

Master bath: restrained material palette to create a tranquil spa-like ambience. Photo by Scott Hargis

A walk in shower was incorporated into this master bathroom and has a his and hers entrance with each vanity being out side their perspective doors. Shampoo shelves were incorporated above short shelves that house bar soap and razors.

Amy Bartlam