Opening Outside-Before and After

Last week we took a look at interior photos of one of our recently completed design projects.  This week, we'll look at the completed exterior to see how the calming, neutral tones of the interior flow so beautifully to the outdoor space!

First, let's look at some "before" shots as a reminder!

Not bad looking, but not a great transition from the interior to the outside.  Here are the "after" shots!

The pool was resurface, a new sun shelf and waterline tile were added.  The new decking is an engineered paver from Holloway Pavers.  You may recall the color was custom-created for this job!  The waterline tile is a subtle mosaic in cream and taupe tones.

Notice the simple fountain that was added to the retaining wall on the right side.

Here is an exterior shot of the new covered patio and the family room.  

Notice the bumped-out kitchen window.  This contains the beverage center in the kitchen.

The garden area is smaller now due to the addition of the family room.  So lush, mature foliage was brought in to create a quick visual block.  Notice that the brick knee-wall has been re-clad to match the pool decking.

Additional knee-walls were created at the other end of the garden space to visually contain the area, and this walkway was created for access to the side patio and alley.

This is one of the single French doors that flank the family room fireplace.  These steps lead to a new side patio area.  

This is the side patio, created with a border of the engineered pavers, and more Pennsylvania field stone in the central area.   A compact fountain will go against the masonry wall at the center of the patio.

Arbor attachments have been designed to cover these two step-down landings.

This was a complex renovation, requiring the skills and creativity of a design team, a contractor, a decorator, and wonderful and patient clients.  In many ways, renovating and adding space to an existing home-particularly an older, historic home-is more complicated than new construction.  But the results can be amazingly rewarding.

We hope you've enjoyed following this project with us.  Share it with a friend!

All Wrapped Up!

In previous posts, we were following the progress of a large project through the entire process of design, demolition and construction.  It's finally time to look at the finished product.

But first, let's go back and take a look at some of the "before" images.  The previous kitchen was functional, with an adjoining small breakfast nook.

Though it was definitely a "working kitchen", it certainly didn't have the charm and elegance that the stately early 20th century home deserved.  The goal was to open up the space, also enlarging the breakfast area and add an additional family room space.  This new space would communicate with the pool area via a beautiful new covered patio.

This week, we'll take a look at the interior spaces, and we'll follow up with the outdoor space later!

Here is the new kitchen, breakfast area and family room.

A large, marble-topped island replaces the peninsula.  This gives the kitchen a better flow.

This is the view from the kitchen, into the opened up breakfast area and family room!

The "working" side of the island.

The new back door.  Notice how the window-light above the door now has separations, while the door itself and side-lights are only use horizontal muntins.  This gives the door a more up-to-date feeling. Also notice the beamed treatment in this section of the ceiling.  This gives the entry and bar area of the kitchen it's own identity.

A beautiful choice for the bar stools.  Notice the solid panel above the warming drawer in the background?  The microwave drawer wasn't installed yet.

This built-in China cabinet went through a couple of finish choices, but the final soft taupe seems perfect in the space.

A new, vent-less gas fireplace was installed in the family room addition.  This fireplace is flanked by single doors with transoms above, which lead out to a "secret" patio.  The ceiling in the family room area was also separated by a simple beam treatment.  The entire room is bright and cheerful, surrounded by windows!

This wall of doors and windows steps out onto the new covered patio, and looks out to the refurbished pool.

This arch opens from the breakfast area to the kitchen.  The transom above gives the arch a "human" scale, while still keeping the space as open as possible.

By extending the back wall of the kitchen out in this area, a new space was created for a bar/ beverage area, surrounded by a window-box above.

A new area was opened behind the kitchen cook wall, to create a walk-in pantry.  The door is surrounded by shelves for decorative dinner ware and cookbooks.

The breakfast area enjoys light from three sides, including this large window looking into the side garden.

An interior truly transformed into a comfortable and serene space.  I hope you're looking forward to the outdoor spaces now!

A Haven for Entertaining

The holidays are in full swing now, and work on the project we've been  following for the past few months is still going strong as the final details are being wrapped up.  While that's happening, let's take a break and look at a project we followed a few months ago, which is now complete and being used on a daily basis!

This was an outdoor courtyard project, that had become overgrown, unruly, and mostly unusable.  For a memory refresher, let's look at the before shots again.

The new design specified centralizing the rustic fountain as a focal point, using old-world pavers to create a wall-to-wall courtyard, and replacing the tiki-umbrella structure with a roomy pergola.  These changes  gave the homeowners plenty of space for outdoor furniture and entertaining.  Let's take a look at the completed project.

And, for the piece-de-resistance, here is what the space looks like lit up for nighttime entertaining!

The clients love to begin each day with a cup of coffee, and end each day with a cocktail or glass of wine in their new space.  And that is just what we like to hear!