The main family room for the farmhouse. Historically accurate colonial designed paneling and reclaimed wood beams are prominent in the space, along with wide oak planks floors and custom made historical windows with period glass add authenticity to the design.

Cozy vibes in this sun-drenched living room/ With plenty of windows and stylish furniture, this space is perfect for relaxing and soaking up natural light.

This additional family room is adjacent to the spacious kitchen and provides seating for the family at the breakfast nook, island or in the three swivel chairs. The room overlooks the front of the house with large, rustic ceiling beams that bring such character to the space. A built-in window seat provides added seating.

Great room with exposed oak beams

Expansive Great Room with exposed wood beams and amazing lighting. Large sliding doors with transoms.

We Feng Shui'ed and designed this cozy Family Room right off the kitchen in this 1930s Colonial in Winchester, MA. We added this custom Navy built-in to house the client's antique clock collection. Coral accents repeat throughout the home bringing harmony and activating wealth. The black and blue in the room draw Helpful People and Travel to the residents. The colorful Schumacher fabric ties the color scheme together. We kept the original beams and highlighted them with beadboard and star chandeliers.

In the early days of the global pandemic of 2021, my client decided to leave a more densely populated city environment in favor of a more suburban atmosphere with fewer people, where things are less crowded. They found a Tudor-style home built in the 1980s and set about updating it to make it their own. When my client contacted me, one of her top priorities in the home was a complete kitchen renovation for which she already had some very clear ideas. She came to the project with colors and overall feel so it was a delight to collaborate with her to bring her vision to life. The original kitchen was wedged between a large two-story entry hall at the front, and a spacious beamed family room at the rear. Dated dark red oak and heavy 1980s cabinetry weighed down the room, and my client desperately wanted light and lightness. Working with Lewis Construction, we took down the walls that closed the kitchen off from the family room and the resulting space allowed for a generous island. We worked together to refine a cabinet color and a wood stain for the custom cabinetry by Schmitz Woodworks, and a tone of countertop material that would be a perfect compliment to our cabinetry choices. And I found lighting that speaks to the Tudor style of the house while bringing a sense of airiness—the seeded glass island pendants are perfect partners to the round wrought-iron fixture with candles in the adjoining dining room. Wood, brass, and abaca kitchen stools at the island bring a sense of history and California cool. In the adjoining bland family room, my client removed an ugly river stone fireplace and replaced it with a linear gas insert. I designed built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace to give the entire wall more presence. My client fell in love with a piece of dark soapstone and I used it to design a chunky, uniquely beveled surround to ground the fire box. The entry also got a makeover. We worked with a painter to disguise the ugly 80s red oak on the stairs, and I furnished the area with contemporary pieces that speak to a Tudor sensibility: a “quilted” chest with nail heads; an occasional chair with a quatrefoil back; a wall mirror that looks as if the Wicked Queen in Snow White used it; a rug that has the appearance of a faded heirloom; and a swarm of silver goblets creating a wall art installation that echoes the nail heads on the chest. Photo: Rick Pharaoh

The Net Zero Barn is one half of a larger project (see “Farm House Renovation”). When the new owners acquired the property, their hope had been to renovate the existing barn as part of the living space; the evaluation of the structural integrity of the barn timbers revealed that it was not structurally stable, so the barn was dismantled, the timber salvaged, documented, and repaired, and redeployed in the “Farm House Renovation”. The owners still wanted a barn, so CTA sourced an antique barn frame of a similar size and style in western Ontario, and worked with a timber specialist to import, restore, and erect the frame on the property. The new/old barn now houses a sleeping loft with bathroom over a tv area and overlooking a large pool table and bar, sitting, and dining area, all illuminated by a large monitor and triple paned windows. A lean-to garage structure is modelled on the design of the barn that was removed. Solar panels on the roof, super insulated panels and the triple glazed windows all contribute to the Barn being a Net Zero energy project. The project was featured in Boston Magazine’s December 2017 Issue and was the 2020 Recipient of an Award Citation by the Boston Society of Architects. Interior Photos by Jane Messenger, Exterior Photos by Nat Rea.

Nice 2-story living room filled with natural light

The sunrise view over Lake Skegemog steals the show in this classic 3963 sq. ft. craftsman home. This Up North Retreat was built with great attention to detail and superior craftsmanship. The expansive entry with floor to ceiling windows and beautiful vaulted 28 ft ceiling frame a spectacular lake view. This well-appointed home features hickory floors, custom built-in mudroom bench, pantry, and master closet, along with lake views from each bedroom suite and living area provides for a perfect get-away with space to accommodate guests. The elegant custom kitchen design by Nowak Cabinets features quartz counter tops, premium appliances, and an impressive island fit for entertaining. Hand crafted loft barn door, artfully designed ridge beam, vaulted tongue and groove ceilings, barn beam mantle and custom metal worked railing blend seamlessly with the clients carefully chosen furnishings and lighting fixtures to create a graceful lakeside charm.

Expansive Great Room with exposed wood beams and amazing lighting. Large sliding doors with transoms. Concrete mantle and floating shelves.

Nearing the finish line is an exciting time for all those involved! Putting the finishing touches on this new home in Highland Heights ? . . . #payneandpayne #homebuilder #homedecor #homedesign #custombuild #luxuryhome #transitionalrustic #ceilingbeams #ohiohomebuilders #ohiocustomhomes #dreamhome #nahb #buildersofinsta #clevelandbuilders #highlandheights #AtHomeCLE . .?@paulceroky