Spacious front porch to watch all the kids play on the cul de sac! Michael Lipman Photography

A design for a busy, active family longing for order and a central place for the family to gather. Optimizing a small space with organization and classic elements has them ready to entertain and welcome family and friends. Custom designed by Hartley and Hill Design All materials and furnishings in this space are available through Hartley and Hill Design. www.hartleyandhilldesign.com 888-639-0639 Neil Landino Photography

View of the living room looking into the kitchen showing the parquet floor with rugs. The two rooms can be separated by the closing of the pocket doors. This large Grade II listed apartment block in Marylebone was built in 1928 and forms part of the Howard de Walden Estate. Nash Baker Architects were commissioned to undertake a complete refurbishment of one of the fourth floor apartments that involved re-configuring the use of space whilst retaining all the original joinery and plaster work. Photo: Marc Wilson

Dark blue Farrow and Ball wall paint highlights the traditional ceiling features and fireplace. Parquet flooring and dark walnut furniture with hand picked fabric upholstery add to the elegance of this Victorian residence. A large glass chandelier creates a beautiful centre piece for the room.

Alastair Ferrier

Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

Project name / Photographer: Northwest Peach Farm - NY (Winner), Michael Moran 1930's Private Residence - Washington - DC, Alan Karchmer / Sandra Benedum Private Residence - Bridgehampton - NY, Manolo Llera, Courtesy of Selldorf Architects Carhart Residence - NY, Pieter Estersohn Laborde Residence - New Orleans - LA, Chad Mellon and Julie Wage Private Residence - TN, Chad Mellon and Julie Wage Burn Barn Residence - VA, Interior pictures: Paul Goossens

Werner Straube

Giovanni Photography, Naples, Florida

The beautiful hand-hammered custom pewter hood, framed in painted woodwork and in-set cabinetry and the spacious, fourteen foot ceilings are the focal points of this kitchen. Co-designer: Janie Petkus of Janie Petkus Interiors, Hinsdale IL.

Jamie Sentz

Anice Hoachlander photographer

This early 20th century Poppleton Park home was originally 2548 sq ft. with a small kitchen, nook, powder room and dining room on the first floor. The second floor included a single full bath and 3 bedrooms. The client expressed a need for about 1500 additional square feet added to the basement, first floor and second floor. In order to create a fluid addition that seamlessly attached to this home, we tore down the original one car garage, nook and powder room. The addition was added off the northern portion of the home, which allowed for a side entry garage. Plus, a small addition on the Eastern portion of the home enlarged the kitchen, nook and added an exterior covered porch. Special features of the interior first floor include a beautiful new custom kitchen with island seating, stone countertops, commercial appliances, large nook/gathering with French doors to the covered porch, mud and powder room off of the new four car garage. Most of the 2nd floor was allocated to the master suite. This beautiful new area has views of the park and includes a luxurious master bath with free standing tub and walk-in shower, along with a 2nd floor custom laundry room! Attention to detail on the exterior was essential to keeping the charm and character of the home. The brick façade from the front view was mimicked along the garage elevation. A small copper cap above the garage doors and 6” half-round copper gutters finish the look. Kate Benjamin Photography

This Wicker Park property consists of two buildings, an Italianate mansion (1879) and a Second Empire coach house (1893). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property has been carefully restored as a single family residence. Exterior work includes new roofs, windows, doors, and porches to complement the historic masonry walls and metal cornices. Inside, historic spaces such as the entry hall and living room were restored while back-of-the house spaces were treated in a more contemporary manner. A new white-painted steel stair connects all four levels of the building, while a new flight of stainless steel extends the historic front stair up to attic level, which now includes sky lit bedrooms and play spaces. The Coach House features parking for three cars on the ground level and a live-work space above, connected by a new spiral stair enclosed in a glass-and-brick addition. Sustainable design strategies include high R-value spray foam insulation, geothermal HVAC systems, and provisions for future solar panels. Photos (c) Eric Hausman

James Balston