This eclectic mountain home nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains showcases an unexpected but harmonious blend of design influences. The European-inspired architecture, featuring native stone, heavy timbers and a cedar shake roof, complement the rustic setting. Inside, details like tongue and groove cypress ceilings, plaster walls and reclaimed heart pine floors create a warm and inviting backdrop punctuated with modern rustic fixtures and vibrant splashes of color. Meechan Architectural Photography

Luxurious Chicago home remodel has a sunroom addition with skylights, fireplace and is open to indoor pool. Designed and constructed by Benvenuti and Stein.. Need help with your home transformation? Call Benvenuti and Stein design build for full service solutions. 847.866.6868. Norman Sizemore-photographer

A lovely, clean finish, complemented by some great features. Kauri wall using sarking from an old villa in Parnell.

Scott Amundson

gazebo

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

With limited travel options available during the pandemic, everyone is spending lots more time at home. Many are even looking for ways to incorporate interior design elements from their favorite destinations into their spaces: this lets you feel like you’re traveling, even when you’re not. This project was my own personal quarantine design dream: to create an interior scheme for my sunroom that captures the color, joy and exuberance of those brilliant indoor/outdoor spaces you find in Mexico. My sunroom is filled with sunshine, and sunshine makes my kids think of two beach vacations we took to Cancun. Since we couldn't take them there, or anywhere, I decided to bring a little bit of Mexico home. As a backdrop, I embraced our floor to ceiling windows, great white wood paneled walls, and terra cotta floor tile, and added a soothing blue green paint to the beadboard ceiling, which to me is the color of a pool (Sherwin Williams Waterfall). Over the terra cotta tile, I layered a bright pink rug and pulled out the turquoise and yellow accents for the furniture. The furniture is at least 60 years old and will not fit out of the doors, so I had it resprayed in place and had new cushions made in indoor outdoor fabric (and trimmed it in hot pink tape). On the sofa and chair, I collected brightly colored pillows, including one that is authentic Peruvian craftwork. A teal telescope tempts young stargazers. The piece de resistance of this whole seating grouping is the coffee table. It was originally a stained wood coffee table that inhabited my in-laws’ living room in pristine condition for many years. Then it came to my house, where my son proceeded to bang his trains against it and generally abused and dented it. I had it sanded down and painted Sherwin Williams Green Bay. Over this teal colored base, my mother, who’s an artist, painted the most beautiful design of birds and flowers for me based on the Otomi tradition of Mexican embroidery. Otomi embroidery motifs typically incorporate animals and plants native to the Tenango area in central Mexico.

Another new addition to the existing house was this sunroom. There were several door options to choose from, but the one that made the final cut was from Pella Windows and Doors. It's a now-you-see-it-now-you-don't effect that elicits all kinds of reactions from the guests. And another item, which you cannot see from this picture, is the Phantom Screens that are located above each set of doors. Another surprise element that takes one's breath away. Photo: Voelker Photo LLC

Custom iron lanterns cast a glow over the outdoor furnishings. Photography by Joshua Klein

The dining table, fireplace and lounging furniture are perfect for relaxing, reading, and watching the kids play in the yard.

This light and airy lake house features an open plan and refined, clean lines that are reflected throughout in details like reclaimed wide plank heart pine floors, shiplap walls, V-groove ceilings and concealed cabinetry. The home's exterior combines Doggett Mountain stone with board and batten siding, accented by a copper roof. Photography by Rebecca Lehde, Inspiro 8 Studios.

We were hired to build this house after the homeowner was having some trouble finding the right contractor. With a great team and a great relationship with the homeowner we built this gem in the Washington, DC area. Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Soleimani Photography

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