Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in your own backyard. This is what our Darien Reno Project homeowners decided as we launched into a full house renovation beginning in 2017. The project lasted about one year and took the home from 2700 to 4000 square feet.

This beautiful, light-filled home radiates timeless elegance with a neutral palette and subtle blue accents. Thoughtful interior layouts optimize flow and visibility, prioritizing guest comfort for entertaining. The bathroom exudes timeless sophistication with its soft neutral palette, an elegant vanity offering ample storage, complemented by a stunning mirror, and adorned with elegant brass-toned fixtures. --- Project by Wiles Design Group. Their Cedar Rapids-based design studio serves the entire Midwest, including Iowa City, Dubuque, Davenport, and Waterloo, as well as North Missouri and St. Louis. For more about Wiles Design Group, see here: https://wilesdesigngroup.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://wilesdesigngroup.com/swisher-iowa-new-construction-home-design

Photography by: Amy Birrer This lovely beach cabin was completely remodeled to add more space and make it a bit more functional. Many vintage pieces were reused in keeping with the vintage of the space. We carved out new space in this beach cabin kitchen, bathroom and laundry area that was nonexistent in the previous layout. The original drainboard sink and gas range were incorporated into the new design as well as the reused door on the small reach-in pantry. The white tile countertop is trimmed in nautical rope detail and the backsplash incorporates subtle elements from the sea framed in beach glass colors. The client even chose light fixtures reminiscent of bulkhead lamps. The bathroom doubles as a laundry area and is painted in blue and white with the same cream painted cabinets and countertop tile as the kitchen. We used a slightly different backsplash and glass pattern here and classic plumbing fixtures.

This large gated estate includes one of the original Ross cottages that served as a summer home for people escaping San Francisco's fog. We took the main residence built in 1941 and updated it to the current standards of 2020 while keeping the cottage as a guest house. A massive remodel in 1995 created a classic white kitchen. To add color and whimsy, we installed window treatments fabricated from a Josef Frank citrus print combined with modern furnishings. Throughout the interiors, foliate and floral patterned fabrics and wall coverings blur the inside and outside worlds.

The children's bathroom took on a new design dimension with the introduction of a primary colour to the vanity and storage units to add a sense of fun that was desired in this space.

Nina Siber

A sunny yellow bathroom is fun and energetic - perfect for the children's floor. A salvaged bathtub from the original home serves as a nod to the property's past.

The antiqued orange lacquered cabinet against the marine blue walls create a dynamic and lively look in this small bathroom. The white tile, trim, and ceiling give it a spacious feel.

Heather Fenske Photography