We were honored to design and oversee the transformation of this garage apartment into the Mother-in-Law suite dreams are made of. This new space was fully equipped with efficiency, yet lacked the character and style of our client. She wanted something soft, elegant, and comfortable for visiting guests. Our goal was to maximize the space she had with custom millwork and refresh the interior finishes to a more modern and personalized look. 

We started with a new color scheme of soft yet saturated floral tones, such as pink, purple, and violet in the wall paint and backsplash tile. We complemented these with warm textures such as walnut and bronze in the flooring, hardware, and millwork. This contrast brought this space from feeling ultra- fem to a more mature, sophisticated balance and helped to tie in some of the existing furniture and items we planned to reuse. 

The renovation included new hardwood floors in the living spaces and vinyl tile in the utility dormers. We upgraded the lighting throughout to have a consistent temperature and more contemporary looking LED fixtures. In the kitchen, we painted the existing cabinetry from a dark dated wood to a fresh lighter neutral, and replaced the countertop, faucets, and sink to match. We selected a hand-painted ceramic subway tile for the backsplash to give some softness to this charming kitchenette. We designed custom millwork and worked closely with the carpenter to fabricate and install a shoe shelf at the entry, hooks to store handbags and scarves in a small closet, and a wardrobe for additional clothing storage needs.

Our favorite part of this project was the gallery wall we designed to showcase all of her beautiful framed family photos from over the years. With a new chandelier over the stair and wall-mounted gallery lights, it creates the perfect entry statement and plenty for relatives to reminisce about as they come for a visit.

This homeowner approached us to convert their existing garage and loft space above into two guest rooms that could serve as two separate self-sufficient rooms, each with their own personality, that could also be combined to accommodate a family or larger group. We immediately went to work identifying the concepts for these unique spaces and defining architecturally how we could keep them separated, yet also be adjoined when required. We refer to this unit as Hideaway Hangout and you can learn more about its sister unit Secret Garden Cottage here. 

With the first floor literally being a garage, we decided to work with the industrial yet often used a secondary living space nature of the room. We all had a friend growing up whose garage was the neighborhood hangout and we decided to embrace that youthful, fun vibe while planning this space yet aimed to make it as comfortable and finished as a room in the main residence. 

Unique challenges inherent to a garage included a lack of insulation and inadequate natural light and an existing concrete curb around the perimeter of the garage floor. We eliminated the large overhead door and replaced it with french doors to eliminate air gaps and get this space HVAC ready. Paired with the new window over the kitchen sink, the new doors really maximized the outdoor views and natural light. 

We utilized vivid colors inspired by classic board games and ground them with a classic black and white stripe, a sort of deconstructed automobile racing motif to reinforce that garage feeling. We were able to create a huge visual impact with simple and inexpensive finishes like paint and solid tile mosaics laid out in a more intentional and less ordinary way. 

With space at a minimum, we had to put the furniture to work to serve multiple functions such as a coffee table with an integral foosball game and a dining table that opens up to a card or bumper pool table. We were able to maximize the sleeping quarters by eliminating night stands by the queen sized bed and instead used a headboard with a built-in shelf perfect for charging phones or a glass of water. Two twin bunks allowed for more floor space while maximizing every inch of the vertical volume of the space. Complete with a new bathroom, kitchenette and small outdoor patio, this space allows guests to playfully unwind while enjoying all of the comforts of a finished living space. 

This homeowner approached us to convert their existing garage and loft space above into two guest rooms that could serve as two separate self-sufficient rooms, each with their own personality, that could also be combined to accommodate a family or larger group. We immediately went to work identifying the concepts for these unique spaces and defining architecturally how we could keep them separated, yet also be adjoined when required. We refer to this unit as the Secret Garden Cottage and you can learn more about its brother unit Hideaway Hangout here. 

WIth the first floor being more playful and geared towards fun and games, we decided that the second story unit needed to be more sophisticated and soft. We envisioned this as the parents quarters with the kids downstairs or a totally separate romantic getaway for couples. We added a new exterior stair with a small deck and a small sitting area overlooking the pool for a private entrance. A custom trellis provides visual separation from the first floor entry below. A new exterior door was added which tied into the existing interior stair up to the unit. 

This attic-like unit proved to be a challenge to space plan with it’s sloped ceilings and minimal footprint. When we considered certain functions such as showering and washing dishes that require a certain ceiling height for clearance, our options for locating the new plumbing became pretty limited and we had to get creative programming all other elements around these restrictions. We decided to embrace the intimate nature of the space treating it like a studio apartment and only enclosed the new bathroom. A translucent glass barn door was selected to allow natural light from the bathroom window filter into the main space and eliminate the floor space required for a traditional door to open.  

The palette while still vibrant leans more toward a softer, more floral feel with deep pinks and purples punctuated with teals and black throughout. A beautiful wallcovering designed by Ashley Woodson Bailey created the dramatic backdrop for the bed we were dreaming of and also helped to visually differentiate the sleeping area from the rest of the space. Simple shaped tiles such as subway and penny rounds in modern colors were used in the bathroom and kitchen to tie in the moody hues from the wallcovering. The result is a perfect hideaway for two complete with a new bathroom, kitchenette and private outdoor deck. 

This home once belonged to Truman Capote's grandmother. He spent summers with her in this house as a young boy. When this historic home was purchased by our client, it was a work in progress, at best. While some areas like the kitchen had been renovated, so much time had lapsed that even the newer upgrades were starting to look dated. With the overall square footage approaching 4,000, much of the budget had to be allocated to functionality and repairs. Our goal was to create the biggest visual impact possible and make this house built for hosting come to life, with the remaining funds. 

We selected a warm neutral palette to use throughout. This gave us a fresh slate that integrated the existing kitchen finishes and gave all of the open connected living spaces a more intimate and human scale. It provided the perfect foundation for us to customize each room later in future phases. Deep warm greys with cream and brown-black trim gave a traditional historic look a more modern and masculine feel. 

With minimal upgrades in the kitchen, we were able to utilize the existing cabinetry and countertops and give this space a whole new energy. We added a new commercial style faucet and pot rack with integrated lighting above the sink. Small details like adding hardware and custom glass doors to an existing bar made all the difference in updating the cabinetry. We took advantage of the existing bar top and furnished a small nook off the kitchen to maximize seating and hosting capacity. 

The living spaces while large and open to each other were furnished uniquely with the desired use driving these design decisions. Our favorite was the parlour located right off of the entry. It had a charming original fireplace that we gave a small facelift. Freshened up with a new coat of paint, the trim and mantle had a sleek modern contrast to the original firebrick that we chose not to tile over. The furnishings and their arrangement were perfect to play games, read or leave a puzzle out for anyone to work on. French doors to the wrap around porch made this the perfect quaint little spot to receive guests and host intimate pre-dinner cocktails.

The laundry room was generous with square footage, yet not fully utilized. It also served as a pass-through space to the 3rd-floor stairs. We had some finishing touches added to the roughed-in staircase and created a pony wall for handrail support and division of space. A fresh coat of paint and the addition of a laundry sink and stainless steel work table made this space feel more intentional and loaded with style and function.

A man's home is his castle and we were thrilled to make this client’s castle his own. This home was relatively new and had nice finishes, but was lacking the personal touches he desired. He wanted a sophisticated sleek design with warm wood accents. Dark stained wood screams masculine modern so we decided to incorporate custom wood details, wherever we could. 

Living in a pretty cookie cutter community, he wanted to push the HOA boundaries and create some serious curb appeal with a new entry. Two custom wood doors with a matching transom greet you from the street. Only when at the door can you see the tongue and groove ceiling of the porch. We carried the wood planked ceiling feature to the back porch, where we had custom LED can lights installed, with a large modern fan. 

In the guest bathroom, peaceful tranquility was the goal. A new grey-washed tile floor brings together the deep warm grey walls and dark woods. A new vanity with white quartzite counter grounds the room and provides much needed storage. A custom linen door and shower curtain rod were designed to complement the other wood features throughout the home. New plumbing and lighting fixtures in crisp whites and chrome provide a needed sparkle in the super saturated warmth of this room. We love the clean neutral palette of this man cave makeover and know it will be a stunner for years to come. 

Customizing this historic school house loft to showcase the homeowners own personal style was a fun and welcomed challenge. The building had already been beautifully restored and adaptively reused as condominiums. The client loved the airy open feel and architectural features, but wanted something more upscale and not as neutral. After spending time in the mediterranean, she fell in love with the bright saturated colors, refined design and overall lifestyle. Passionate about good wine, charcuterie and entertaining, we knew the kitchen would be at the helm of the design direction.

We went with a primary color scheme to create some visual excitement and warm up the classic Santorini blue cement tiles for the backsplash. Rich and earthy red, orange and clay tones provided a bold backdrop for the darker furnishings and cabinets. We updated all lighting to brighter, more efficient fixtures, most of which also highlight artwork or serve as sculptural interest in the rooms. Bold purple graphic wallcovering transforms the study into a super hip reading or record listening nook. Each room has its own character and flow unique to its purpose. All of the finishes, although very different, still create a cohesive look and feel.

The North Florida Land Trust is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting and preserving the natural heritage of North Florida. And while their scope of interest is primarily land, it only makes sense that they would adaptively reuse a historic building when they began to outgrow their previous office space. Brewster Hospital was the selected building and it was ripe with Jacksonville History and potential and was already on The National Register of Historic Places. The building was constructed in 1885 as a residence and is said to have one of the most remarkable Victorian gingerbread porches in Jacksonville. The Brewster nurses took over in 1901, just after the great fire and started the first and only hospital and nurse training facility for African-Americans, in Jacksonville. It was restored and relocated downtown by the City of Jacksonville in the mid-2000s, where it sat patiently waiting to house a new team of passionate changemakers pushing for positive change.

We were thrilled with all of the original details and reproduction lighting and hardware this building came with. It was a perfect canvas to do something really special for the folks at NFLT. The biggest challenge was furnishing a once historic home with modern office furnishings, while making it all feel cohesive and intentional. We decided that working with a traditional palette of wood tones, warm greys, soft blues and cream, we could use the finish selections to bridge the gap. The furnishings have simple silhouettes lending themselves to a more transitional environment, with subtle historic elements such as tufting and wing-back chairs. A custom cedar conference table and wood stump side table bring the outdoors in and give a subtle nod to the natural environments the NFLT so passionately protect. Because of their unwavering commitment to employee-well being, we designed each private office with an adjustable height desk for sit/stand alternation. Highly ergonomic offices paired with large windows of natural sunlight and downtown views, and the North Florida Land Trust is truly thrilled with their new workplace experience. 

The time, skill and patience that goes into restoring a historic home is incredible and requires plenty of work unseen, well before the colors and decoration can even be considered. There are often strange configurations that may have made sense decades ago, but do not serve the homeowner currently, nor does it offer modern luxuries of a newer built home. But the charm, character and detail of an old home, can not be created out of thin air, which is why many still choose old over new. We were challenged with addressing both the functional and aesthetic obstacles of the second floor of this home, and it is one we enthusiastically accepted. Our goal was to get these urban pioneers relaxing in all of the modern comfort and style a historic home can offer, while maintaining the original charm and emphasizing it’s historic bones. 

In the master bathroom, we insisted on nothing less than pure luxury. These homeowners had been living the renovation-life for too long and it was about to finally pay off for them. We kept the original wood flooring throughout, which meant not relocating the plumbing. This kept the shower small, but efficient, and allowed us to splurge on the fixtures and finishes. With double rain and handheld shower heads and a glass enclosure, we were able to check all of their boxes, within the minimal footprint and create some serious visual impact. The clawfoot tub was original to the home and came to life with a refinish and updated fixtures. A new vanity with dark wood and hand carved scrolls gave the perfect contrast against the deep emerald walls. With large windows full of sunlight pouring in, we knew this space could handle the super saturated hues and rich tones. 

The guest bathroom got a newer, more modern vanity with a small footprint to open up the entry to the tub and shower. The built-in storage was handy, but needed to be freshened up and finished with doors, to house the riff raff of bathroom clutter. We added a new open linen tower, to display the crisp white towels and take advantage of the nook behind the door, once allocated for a vanity. Finished with a coat of retro mint paint, this bathroom was now bright and clean with plenty of storage and space. 

When this world traveling professional decided to take root in Jacksonville, she picked Historic Springfield to be a part of the edgy, urban and exciting revival, she had read about in Southern Living. After settling in, she realized that despite collecting many unique and interesting pieces of furniture and artwork, she had never been in one place long enough to really make her house her home. She loved the wildly optimistic colors of South America and the fact that even old buildings were given layers of paint and love. The texture of history and the stories of home were literally seen on every surface of their buildings. Our goal was to provide a colorful and energetic interior, that would incorporate the sophisticated worldly taste of our client, while emphasizing the historic character of the home. 

As an avid entertainer, we knew that the formal, enclosed dining room had to go. The kitchen already had a breakfast nook with a dining table, so we opted to make the dining room a loungy bar area with comfortable seating and plenty of space for karaoke and cocktails. We eliminated the wall between the kitchen and lounge and had a custom concrete countertop installed to break up the rooms and provide ample space for food and drinks. A cork laminate was then used on the ceiling and walls to provide some acoustical quality and visual interest. Every surface was refreshed including refinished wood floors, all new paint color schemes for walls and cabinets, we even had a custom epoxy table top fabricated for a table brought home from Australia.

One of the most unique features in this home is the custom cedar barn door to the powder bathroom. We had a leather strap handmade for the pull and even engineered a way to intuitively lock it from the inside. We then pulled that same cedar into the kitchen ceiling to group three bar pendants like a chandelier. Custom rugs were designed to pull together all of the bright fun colors and we found the perfect airy linen drapes paired with woven wood shades, for a subtle tropical feel. The end result was a fantastic canvas for displaying the unique travel wares and hosting parties. Each space has its own vibe and yet the open plan feels cohesive with a truly theatrical vibe.