At Simply Sustainable we strive to create spaces that are not only beautiful, and reflective of our clients’ tastes, but which also contribute positively to the health of the building’s occupants and the planet.
Sorority House Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
In order to create a nicer dining room and more functional weekend kitchenette space for the girls living in the house (more than 50 of them), we removed the existing worn cabinetry and added a long bank of Executive Cabinetry to provide plenty of workspace, topped with Cambria Quartz for durability. A bar sink, induction cooktop, and other new appliances were added to give the girls greater flexibility with what kinds of food they can prepare for themselves. There is plenty of storage for all their favorite snacks. An existing buffet was painted to match the cabinets, and a new salad bar station brought in.
To increase flexibility in seating, we added a window bartop, and designed 8 new tables, with Cambria tops to match the counter and tiltable bases to make them easier for the girls to move around. When pushed together, they make one big dining table. All new lighting was installed, with a beautiful chandelier and sconces, and new 6’ LED fans, to increase airflow, as the house has no AC and tends to get hot. Shading systems were added to the floor-to-ceiling windows on both the east and west ends of the room. The final touch was new Sherwin Williams VOC-free paint throughout.
York Street House Lambertville, NJ
Our client wished to renovate their early 70’s infill house, which had been rented for the past decade and thoroughly abused, with the end goal of putting it on the market. Unfortunately, there was a buried oil tank on the property, and due to complications with it’s removal, our renovation budget was extremely tight, which means we got creative! The entire house (3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths) was repainted inside and out with Sherwin Williams VOC-free lines Harmony and Emerald. Since this odd little house is surrounded by beautiful old Victorians and Brownstones, we wanted to play with it’s inherent characteristics and went with a modern farmhouse vibe. Certain aspects of the design were left “open-ended” to allow flexibility for new owners who might wish to make it open concept, or add a first floor master suite, both of which would be very easy to accomplish.
New white pine floors from Tesoro Woods were installed throughout. The kitchen has all new cabinetry, which was salvaged from another Simply Sustainable project, along with the sink. The island was created from a vintage console. The butcherblock counters lend a warmth to the space, while reclaimed wood and pipe shelving add some character. New lighting was installed in all the rooms, and a new high efficiency gas furnace system to keep things temperate. The deck and backyard were transformed after the oil tank was removed using Sherwin Williams and Vermont Natural Coatings products. All staging was designed by Simply Sustainable using furniture and décor the owner already possessed.
Augustine Residence Pennington, NJ
This Project involved major renovations to a 1900sf soft contemporary house built in the early 1970’s. A major feature of the house is an existing enclosed garden which features a 40 year old full-moon maple tree that cantilevers into the garden space. To achieve the Japanese-style house that the Owners wanted, the design team eliminated the existing front door and created a new entrance, reached by entering through custom-designed mahogany gate into the garden, following a stone path to the glass front doors. Floor to ceiling windows surround the garden on three sides, allowing a garden view from virtual every room on the floor.
Inside, the upper level of the house was gutted, demolishing a rabbit-warren of small rooms and an enclosed kitchen to create an open floor plan, featuring kitchen, dining room, sunken living room, library, powder room and home office. Also on the upper floor is a master suite, with large bath and dressing room. In lieu of the outdated (and inconvenient) spiral staircase that provided the only circulation between the upper and lower levels of the house, a new wooden staircase was installed in space appropriated from the previously over-sized laundry room. New sustainable hardwood floors were added to the lower level and energy efficient lighting and water saving plumbing fixtures were incorporated throughout the house.
The entire renovation was conducted in a highly sustainable manner and all products used in the house were selected with an eye to making the renovation as “green” as possible. Of particular note were the no-VOC stains and paints which were used exclusively throughout the space, including on the custom designed cabinetry .
Project Moodboards
