Suzanna Scott

These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull

A comfortable Family Room designed with family in mind, comfortable, durable with a variety of texture and finishes. Photography by Phil Garlington, UK

Reclaimed hand hewn beams make the ceiling and walls of this room look fabulous. The flooring is patina face "dirty top" reclaimed heart pine.

This is a stunning Forest Hills home that was traditional by design. The client requested it be updated. The program was to brighten the space by using neutral colors, textiles, and furnishings that are on trend and timeless. Photo Credit: Nicholas Mcginn

TV Installation Above The Fireplace.

Exterior Colours + Interior Design, Krista Jahnke Photography + Design

Cabinet Tronix displays how custom beautiful matching furniture can be placed on each side of the fire place all while secretly hiding the flat screen TV in one of them with a motorized TV lift. This solution is great option versus placing the TV above the fire place which many home owners, interior designers, architects, custom home builders and audio video integrator specialists have struggled with. Placing the TV above the fireplace has been in many cases the only option. Here we show how you can have 2 furniture pieces made to order that match and one has space for storage and the other on the right hides the TV and electronic components. The TV lift system on this piece was controlled by a Universal Remote so the home owner only presses one button and the TV lifts up and all components including the flat screen turn on. Vise versa when pressing the off button. Shabby-Chic in design, this interior is a stunner and one of our favorite projects to be part of. Miami Florida Greenwich, Connecticut New York City Beverly Hills, California Atlanta Georgia Palm Beach Houston Los Angeles Palo Alto San Francisco Chicago Illinios London UK Boston Hartford New Canaan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Washington D.C. Butler Maryland Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Bellevue, Washington Portland, Oregon Honolulu, Hawaii Wilmington, Delaware University City Fort Lauerdale Rancho Santa Fe Lancaster

This Expansive Room is divided naturally into a Hearth area and Music Space. Directly off the Kitchen / Dining Room it is the area everyone gathers. Zoon Media Zoon Media

The Renovation of this home held a host of issues to resolve. The original fireplace was awkward and the ceiling was very complex. The original fireplace concept was designed to use a 3-sided fireplace to divide two rooms which became the focal point of the Great Room. For this particular floor plan since the Great Room was open to the rest of the main floor a sectional was the perfect choice to ground the space. It did just that! Although it is an open concept the floor plan creates a comfortable cozy space. Photography by Carlson Productions, LLC

At every turn in their house, the homeowners wanted unique finishes and features to catch your eye. Every room has its own sense of scale and proportion with a material palette that accentuates it and at the same time allows it to blend with the rest as one composition. This can be seen in the 25’ tall living room with its Coronado stone clad fireplace, in the round dining room with its domed painted ceiling that looks onto the feature oak tree, and in the kitchen/keeping room with its blend of art stone walls, natural wood stained cabinets and beams. To top it off, is a man cave with a unique bar area and an illuminating countertop of “Caesarstone Concetto Brown Agate” back-lit with LED lighting. From an energy savings standpoint, LED lighting is used throughout, and a solar panel system is installed on much of the south facing roof that supplements the home’s energy consumption. All in all this home exceeds the owners’ desires and expectations for their dream home.

DreamDesign®25, Springmoor House, is a modern rustic farmhouse and courtyard-style home. A semi-detached guest suite (which can also be used as a studio, office, pool house or other function) with separate entrance is the front of the house adjacent to a gated entry. In the courtyard, a pool and spa create a private retreat. The main house is approximately 2500 SF and includes four bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. The design centerpiece is the two-story great room with asymmetrical stone fireplace and wrap-around staircase and balcony. A modern open-concept kitchen with large island and Thermador appliances is open to both great and dining rooms. The first-floor master suite is serene and modern with vaulted ceilings, floating vanity and open shower.

Only a few minutes from the project to the Right (Another Minnetonka Finished Basement) this space was just as cluttered, dark, and underutilized. Done in tandem with Landmark Remodeling, this space had a specific aesthetic: to be warm, with stained cabinetry, a gas fireplace, and a wet bar. They also have a musically inclined son who needed a place for his drums and piano. We had ample space to accommodate everything they wanted. We decided to move the existing laundry to another location, which allowed for a true bar space and two-fold, a dedicated laundry room with folding counter and utility closets. The existing bathroom was one of the scariest we've seen, but we knew we could save it. Overall the space was a huge transformation! Photographer- Height Advantages

Maryline Krynicki

Photo by Everett Fenton Gidley