Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Contemporary living room
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, black appliances, with island, white benchtop, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

This is an example of an expansive transitional partial sun formal garden in Sydney.

Photo courtesy of Joe Purvis Photos
Photo of a large country three-storey brick white house exterior in Charlotte with a shingle roof.

This bungalow features a two-tier roof line to give more dimension to the front face of the home. Columns were added to the new covered front porch, and the stone below the bay window was replaced with new flagstone. A pergola was added at the breezeway area, and a new window was added to the front gable on the garage, with dark green shutters, which was finished in cedar shake siding. Photo courtesy of Kate Benjamin Photography

Photo of a large two-storey stucco white exterior in Chicago.

Inspiration for a large contemporary one-storey brick black exterior in Other with a clipped gable roof.

Photography by Jimi Smith / "Jimi Smith Photography"
This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard rectangular pool in Dallas with a hot tub and concrete slab.

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts front door in Atlanta with a single front door, a dark wood front door and medium hardwood floors.

This large side yard in the Lakeshore Historic District was redeveloped into a natural woodland clearing. Stormwater from the roof has been directed through a steel runnel into a native rain garden where it replenishes the cistern for a bubbling stone fountain. Weathered concrete slabs act as a thread from a firepit seating area, across the rain garden to the rear yard. This additional garden has a lawn parking pad, extensive kitchen gardens and a custom-built garden shower for visits to the beach. Darris Lee Harris Photography

The Tea House is a very special place. Draped by the existing mature willow it feels like it has always been here. The Natusume basin to the right is for purification prior to the tea ceremony. The vertical rock was placed to the left to help frame the traditional entrance to the Tea House. 

Leave the concrete jungle behind as you step into the serene colors of nature brought together in this couples shower spa. Luxurious Gold fixtures play against deep green picket fence tile and cool marble veining to calm, inspire and refresh your senses at the end of the day.

This aesthetically pleasing master bathroom is the perfect place for our clients to start and end each day. Fully customized shower fixtures and a deep soaking tub will provide the perfect solutions to destress and unwind. Our client's love for plants translates beautifully into this space with a sage green double vanity that brings life and serenity into their master bath retreat. Opting to utilize softer patterned tile throughout the space, makes it more visually expansive while gold accessories, natural wood elements, and strategically placed rugs throughout the room, make it warm and inviting. Committing to a color scheme in a space can be overwhelming at times when considering the number of options that are available. This master bath is a perfect example of how to incorporate color into a room tastefully, while still having a cohesive design. Items used in this space include: Waypoint Living Spaces Cabinetry in Sage Green Calacatta Italia Manufactured Quartz Vanity Tops Elegant Stone Onice Bianco Tile Natural Marble Herringbone Tile Delta Cassidy Collection Fixtures Want to see more samples of our work or before and after photographs of this project? Visit the Stoneunlimited Kitchen and Bath website: www.stoneunlimited.net Stoneunlimited Kitchen and Bath is a full scope, full service, turnkey business. We do it all so that you don’t have to. You get to do the fun part of approving the design, picking your materials and making selections with our guidance and we take care of everything else. We provide you with 3D and 4D conceptual designs so that you can see your project come to life. Materials such as tile, fixtures, sinks, shower enclosures, flooring, cabinetry and countertops are ordered through us, inspected by us and installed by us. We are also a fabricator, so we fabricate all the countertops. We assign and manage the schedule and the workers that will be in your home taking care of the installation. We provide painting, electrical, plumbing as well as cabinetry services for your project from start to finish. So, when I say we do it, we truly do it all!

Sleek black and white palette with unexpected blue hexagon floor. Bedrosians Cloe wall tile provides a stunning backdrop of interesting variations in hue and tone, complimented by Cal Faucets Tamalpais plumbing fixtures and Hubbardton Forge Vela light fixtures.

Marion Brenner Photography
Photo of a large modern front yard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Red Ranch Studio photography
Large modern master wet room bathroom in New York with a two-piece toilet, grey walls, ceramic floors, distressed cabinets, an alcove tub, white tile, subway tile, a vessel sink, solid surface benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.

This gourmet kitchen includes wood burning pizza oven, grill, side burner, egg smoker, sink, refrigerator, trash chute, serving station and more! Photography: Daniel Driensky

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and exposed beam.