ASID Design Excellence First Place Residential – Kitchen and Bathroom: Michael Merrill Design Studio was approached three years ago by the homeowner to redesign her kitchen. Although she was dissatisfied with some aspects of her home, she still loved it dearly. As we discovered her passion for design, we began to rework her entire home--room by room, top to bottom.

Jeff Karskens Designer

Ola 20 Kitchen from Snaidero

Photography: Amy Braswell

Martin Gardner, spacialimages.com

Architecture by Mark Brand Architecture Photos by Chris Stark

Modern white master bath with high gloss cabinetry and deep free-standing tub.

Photolux Studios (Christian Lalonde)

Photo Credit: Travis Dubreuil http://travelingtravis.com/

This contemporary bath utilizes the galley way construction of this master bath through the use of light, and finishes. A large glass shower equipped with rain shower head and storage niches, reflects light impeccably making the space feel expansive. Counter to ceiling height mirror atop a floating vanity, utilize the lateral height of the space. A seated vanity with topped with a mirror at the end of the galley creates drama and focal point upon entry.

The fabric was laminated behind glass. Photography by Annie Schlechter

TCA has had a lot of experience connecting smaller apartments together into a seamless whole, this this adventurous client requested something we'd never seen before. IN a newly constructed multi-residential development, in the East Village of NYC, TCA had the opportunity to meet a unique client's desire to combine two penthouse condos...with a helical slide. In this transformation, two identical 1-bedroom units, one atop the other, were combined into a duplex 2-bedroom home with the option to descend in the usual way on a new Italian-made "Rintal" stair, or more speedily, in a seated position, careening through the hew double-height atrium. The half-tube stainless steel slide starts on the top floor neat the office, and lands below near both the living and dining areas. The sculptural slide is housed in a newly created 18' tall double-height space, which includes custom designed glass railings. The image of the stainless steel curves in front of the oversized window to the city beyond, say nothing of the irrepressible glee of grown adults on the slide, is surprisingly poetic; with careful detail, the playground element is an unexpectedly elegant addition to the space. Upon completion, the owner enjoys not only the newly combined total of 2,400 square feet, but also a new game room, office, putting green on the terrace, and of course, the slide. TCA managed to creatively and successfully turn this now 2 story East Village duplex penthouse into a perfect place for both work and play.

construction - goldberg general contracting, inc. interiors - sherry koppel design photography - Steve hall / hedrich blessing landscape - Schmechtig Landscapes, Wade Harvey, project director

Designed by Modus Architects

In the renovation and addition to this home in Falls Church VA, exterior hard-scapes and garden spaces surround the house while the spaces within the home are made larger and are opened up to the forestall views surrounding the home. When walking on the pathway one crosses the many thresholds along the exterior that help to separate and create new intimate garden spaces. Steel, concrete, and wood come together in this intricate walkway system comprised of slatted screen fences, a guiding pergola overhead, and a hard-scaped pathway. The changes in grade, volume, and materiality allow for a dynamic walkway that runs both to the new entry and continues to the rear patio where it then terminates at the patio access of the home. The master bedroom is extruded out over the lower level into the rear of the house and opened up with tall windows all along two sides. A more formal entry space is added at the front with full height glass bringing in lots of light to make for an elegant entry space. Partitions are removed from the interior to create one large space which integrates the new kitchen, living room , and dining room. Full height glass along the rear of the house opens up the views to the rear and brightens up the entire space. A new garage volume is added and bridged together with the existing home creating a new powder room, mudroom, and storage.

courtesy of aimzter