Blog

A West Village Remodel: Functional and Stylish

A Manhattan couple opted to settle down in the West Village where they had rented for years. Settling on a charming pre-war, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom co-op, they took on a major redesign.

Architectural Digest has featured their project, completed by interior designer Alexander Reid, who created just over 1,000 square feet of clean, contemporary spaces for the couple. “We wanted something that felt elevated but not overly designed. Alex’s style is a nice mix of elegant, warm, and modern, which fit our desire for a more masculine aesthetic.”

Reid's design aesthetic in this urban apartment feels familiar to design John Harrison of DIGS has created for clients in the past. Our team of designers can create fabulous spaces for you, no matter the size of the project.

The Perfect Chef’s Kitchen by Way of Thoughtful Design

Photo by Nate Sheets
The elegant and carefully planned design of this Kansas City kitchen shows in every detail.

As featured on House Beautiful, Laura McCroskey's own kitchen remodel came years after living in her home. Her design "blended her elegant style with savvy incorporation of tools, appliances, and designated spaces to make cooking and hosting a breeze."

We love this kitchen for its thoughtful layout and consideration for every detail. We put the same effort into our own interior design projects and see these ideas come to life through our construction team.

Plan your next kitchen design project with DIGS, and watch it come to fruition, making your home functional and elegant.

Fall Flowers to Add Color to Your Autumn Garden

Hydrangeas are in full bloom now, but consider your Autumn garden and all the colors you could have alongside the turning tree foliage.

Veranda has compiled a beautiful gallery of flowers HERE that bloom well into Fall. They have included where to plant, when to plant, and hardiness zones for your reference. Many of these are able to be planted in late Summer/early Fall.

Plan your ideal garden and get out there! Or, give us a call and let us take care of all your landscaping needs (513 533 3447).

Toad Lily Toad Lily

English Country Charm in Cincinnati’s Mt. Lookout

A dream come true for sale in Cincinnati: a charming stone and clapboard English country home, oozing with architectural details, located on one of Mt. Lookout’s most prized streets. Stroll to the historic Observatory, Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, and East Hyde Park Squares, with Kilgour Elementary, Clark Montessori, and Ault Park all within walking distance.

This spacious, bright, and pristine 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home features innumerable and spectacular improvements – many done by the Design and Construction teams here at DIGS.

This house lives large and suits today’s lifestyles with its open floor plan, big and bright kitchen, and family room walk-out to the rear deck. Superb 1st floor wine cellar and tasting room. Magical master suite with spa-inspired bath and private deck with high-on-the-hill views. Fantastic 3rd floor dressing room/closet with full bath. Phenomenal finished lower level. Built-in 2-car garage. Verdant private yard with glorious mature landscaping and trees and hot tub.

Offered by the DIGSGroup @ Comey & Shepherd Realtors for $965,000.

TO LEARN MORE DETAILS OF THE PROPERTY OR TO SCHEDULE A VIEWING, PLEASE CONTACT JAIME MASTERS (513 509 9324).

Kitchen Trends of 2020

When it comes to remodeling our home, the kitchen seems to be the first thing on our minds, and rightfully so. Magic happens in the kitchen, providing nourishment, learning, and a space for gathering.

We gather inspiration from many places for kitchen layout and design, and Elle Decor has put together a beautiful collection HERE of 2020's top kitchen trends to fuel your renovation fire.

When you're ready, bring your ideas to our dedicated Design and Construction teams and let us give you the sophisticated kitchen of your dreams.

DIGS designed and constructed this expansive kitchen and butler's pantry for a client in Hyde Park.

Bring Italian Seaside Flair to Your Summer Style

Add Italian seaside style to your home this summer. SUSAN MARIANI
House Beautiful shares ways to incorporate some Italian seaside flair into your summer home style HERE. Since we can't visit the Mediterranean this year, bringing some of the design into our home and backyard can help quell the travel bug within each of us.

From incorporating bold, natural colors to mixing patterns and textures to investing in artisan goods and heritage brands, House Beautiful brings together some expert tips and gorgeous images to inspire design.

DIGS designers can help bring this inspiration to life while you casually sun by the pool, cool drink in hand, imagining future summers abroad. A patio at La Posta Vecchia. STEFANO SCATÀ

A Prestigious Estate in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park Riviera

UPDATE: Sale Pending
A truly rare opportunity to own one of the most prestigious river view estates. This magnificent 5 bedroom/7 bath villa (plus a carriage house apartment) enjoys breathtaking Ohio River and Kentucky hillside views from every room. The stately home sits on 1.742 acres of dazzlingly landscaped terraced lawns and gardens. Boasting an auto courtyard and 3-car garage, no detail or amenity has been left unattended to thanks to a 2-year renovation/restoration.

Offered by the DIGSGroup @ Comey & Shepherd Realtors for $3,875,000.

To learn more details of the property or to schedule a viewing, please contact Jaime Masters (513 509 9324). 

Design Inspiration in Martha’s Vineyard

Architectural Digest recently featured this beautiful 18th-century home in Martha's Vineyard that has been updated to reflect the 21st-century. Complete with a carefully thought out and well-executed addition, this home now honors its roots and makes the space livable for a modern family of five and its guests.

We find inspiration in this renovation, from its elegant appointments to its thoughtful curation, this is the excellent design we strive for in each of our projects.

In the sunroom, wicker armchairs surround an oak dining table by Démiurge New York. Object Atelier hurricanes and candlesticks; antique Windsor chair. In the sunroom, wicker armchairs surround an oak dining table by Démiurge New York. Object Atelier hurricanes and candlesticks; antique Windsor chair. Photo credit: Pernille Loof.

DESIGN

A Sense of Order & Beauty

If you are looking for a quick home project that can be done with a glass of wine in your hand, try reworking your bookcases or shelves.  While it can be difficult to get that “just right balance,” there’s no need to complicate things...

here are Christine Kommer’s suggestions.

Step 1

Start with a blank canvas

Take everything off your shelves. You need a blank canvas!

 

Step 2

Order

Sort and organize your items into categories. For example: books, pictures, art, other.

 

Step 3

Identify a theme

Identify a theme. Maybe a theme comes to you when you’re sorting. For my family room built-ins, I decided to focus on my love of the outdoors and nature. In fact, my husband calls it my “Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.” Your theme could be really anything at all: gardening, horses, travel, dogs – something that is about you and your family.

 

Step 4

Identify a vibe

This is different than your theme, although they kind of go hand in hand. How do you want your bookcases to read? Fancy? Relaxed? Rustic? Refined? Sophisticated?  I went for a decidedly causal feeling with my family room bookcases.

 

Step 5

Category by category

Start to put your items on the shelves category by category, while keeping a balance. For example, if you have a bunch of books in the top left corner of your shelves, try to put some in the bottom right corner too.  For shelves where you are putting objects only, I always l like to work in odds, and prefer threes, whether that’s a grouping of three of one type of item, or three different types of items grouped together.  And don’t overdo it.  Built ins and shelves are architectural elements in and of themselves, so less is always more.

 

Step 6

Remove

Take 1/3 of the items that you just put on your shelves off.  Keep it clean and simple.

 

Step 7

Edit and rotate for holidays and seasons

Keeping up with your shelves is important. Try hard not to stuff items in there when you don’t know where else to put them, and don’t let the items you do have on your shelves collect dust – read your books, play your games, look at your pictures.

And if you need help call us and we can schedule a Zoom chat

with Christine Kommer's.

CONSTRUCTION

The High Life

Pitch perfection.  Reimagine the roof space and create magic in the eaves of your home.  A roof space works beautifully to create a sense of intimacy – the perfect child’s room or guest room.  When building an extension a pitched roof adds grandeur and height to elevate the spirits.

Let the roof shape sing with tongue and groove panelling.

Emphasize the shape with a contrasting color.

A high vaulted roof gives such a magnificent

height to this elegant living room.