A 1930s estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, spanning 7,691 square feet on 3.82 acres, recently underwent a renovation and addition that introduced a scullery kitchen, a family room, and a guest wing while upgrading the primary suite. The original 1930 structure already featured 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a home office, and a study room. The challenge […]
A garage conversion transforms underused square footage into one of the most versatile spaces in a home. For creatives seeking a dedicated studio, makers who need workshop space, or homeowners wanting a cozy retreat, the standard two-car garage offers 400 to 600 square feet of blank canvas. The concept of designing spaces within spaces creating
Renovating a spare room into a dedicated craft space transforms how you approach creative projects. A well-planned craft room eliminates the need to set up and pack away supplies each session, reducing friction between inspiration and execution. The principles that guide living room design and renovation apply here too – zoning, traffic flow, and surface
Taking a traditional home down to the studs and rebuilding it as a contemporary residence requires careful planning, structural analysis, and phased execution. The process involves more than cosmetic updates — it means rethinking the floor plan, upgrading all building systems, and often changing the structural configuration of the house. Homeowners considering this level of
Adding a second story to an existing single-story house is one of the most effective ways to gain living space without expanding the building footprint. The Sao Verissimo House by Brazilian architect Ren Ito Arq shows how a vertical addition can transform a modest one-story home into a spacious two-story family residence while preserving the
Many apartment renovations start with the same complaint: the spaces feel cramped, dark, and disconnected from one another. Traditional floor plans use solid walls to separate living areas, kitchens, and dining rooms, but this approach blocks natural light and isolates family members. An apartment renovation project by Brazilian architect Ren Ito Arq demonstrates how removing
Across many regions, derelict buildings sit on valuable land, awaiting either demolition or renewal. Architects and builders are increasingly choosing the latter path — taking two or more ruined structures and unifying them into a single, cohesive residence. One project in Brazil demonstrates this approach: two pre-existing ruined buildings were combined into a detached single-family
Converting a historic urban house into boutique guest accommodation presents challenges that differ sharply from ground-up new construction. The architect must respect the building’s original character while reengineering its systems, layout, and performance for hospitality use. A recent Portuguese project involving a 20th-century detached house in Porto illustrates how these competing demands can be resolved
Spanish revival homes built between 1920 and 1940 possess distinct architectural features carried over from their Mediterranean predecessors. Coved ceilings, arched openings, hand-plastered walls, and original fireplace surrounds give these homes a character that modern construction rarely matches. Renovating one requires decisions about what to preserve, what to replace, and what to reconfigure entirely. Homeowners
A 2,500-square-foot apartment in New York City underwent a complete transformation from a dark, dated space into a comfortable mid-century modern home with five bedrooms, a den, living room, dining room, and kitchen. The renovation by Studio ST Architects shows how period-inspired design can work within existing floor plans without requiring structural overhauls. By relocating
