Yusra Design+Build

10/21/2026

Taking a look around the finished Sewall Residence kitchen. This space used to feel cramped and closed off, so we re-engineered the whole layout into an open modern French kitchen built for daily life.

​The walnut butcher block island sits right at the center, framed by a shiplap tray ceiling and patterned floor tile. From the deep blue backsplash to the dedicated coffee bar and the custom glass window that floods the room with natural light, every corner feels intentional.

​Which feature in this transformation stands out most to you? Let us know in the comments.

10/16/2026

10/14/2026

In Part 3 of our Hardy Residence series, we are diving into the schematics and material selections. Designing an open floor plan for a single-story home comes with constant trade-offs. To make the layout flow naturally, we moved the dining area closer to the public spaces and gave up a powder room to build a full walk-in pantry.

Downstairs, we squeezed in a full guest bathroom alongside the family room, playroom, and home gym. With the floor plan finalized at four bedrooms, three full baths, and dedicated living zones, we are moving on to material sourcing and shopping.

10/02/2026

Laying new tile in a historic structure is rarely as simple as spreading mortar and setting stone. At the Sewall Residence, creating a flawless base for the new kitchen floor meant solving serious structural sloping before a single tile could be placed.

Each side of the room was off by up to an inch and a half near the doorway entry points. Rather than creating awkward, raised thresholds or uneven finishes, we engineered the floor from the center outwards, blending the slope gradually so the transition into adjoining rooms felt completely natural.

It is the hidden structural prep behind the scenes that guarantees a high-end finish. How do you handle unlevel floors in historic renovations? Let us know in the comments!

09/29/2026

When mechanical needs threaten the design of a room, smart planning makes all the difference. At the Sewall Residence, the primary bedroom presented two major ceiling challenges: an outdated drop-down ceiling and the need to route HVAC ductwork to the back of the house.

We started by tearing out the drop ceiling to reclaim maximum vertical height and create a smooth finish for new lighting fixtures. Then, to run the ductwork without leaving an awkward standalone bulkhead, we strategically aligned the soffit with our future built-in wardrobe layout. When the custom cabinetry is installed, the soffit will look like an intentional extension of the furniture rather than a mechanical necessity.

By thinking ahead, every technical challenge becomes a design solution.

09/25/2026

Finding space for mechanicals in a condo renovation without sacrificing living area or storage is always a puzzle. At the Sewall Residence, we turned a technical HVAC challenge into an upgrade for the secondary bedroom.

To house the air handler in a central location, we repurposed the original bedroom closet, framing a seamless wall over it and creating access directly from the main hallway for easy maintenance. To replace the lost storage, we built a brand new, larger closet with double doors and integrated sensor lighting.

By carefully re-engineering the layout, the room gained better storage and hidden mechanicals without sacrificing space for a full bed setup.

09/24/2026

Who said it was easy? This week, we even had some time for a good breakdown.

09/17/2026

When we started work on the Sewall Residence, the laundry unit was sitting right at the back entrance with the dryer vent literally poked through a hole in the window.
We relocated the entire setup to a centralized closet between the kitchen and the bedrooms, where laundry actually belongs.

That allowed us to tap into existing plumbing, relocate the electrical panel for proper amperage, and run a solid 4-inch duct through the ceiling to vent outside correctly. Plus, the old back entry spot is now a clean utility pantry right off the kitchen.

09/03/2026

Opening up a historic kitchen doesn’t always mean tearing down every wall for a basic open floor plan. At the Sewall Residence, we transformed a cramped and oddly shaped space into a thoughtful modern French kitchen engineered around natural light and daily function.

By carrying the tray ceiling design from the foyer into the kitchen, we added shiplap detailing on the higher portion to bring subtle warmth and tie into the overall aesthetic. To solve the lack of natural light without losing the formal separation between the dining room and kitchen, we built an opening for a fixed four-pane glass partition. This allows natural light from the front of the house to flood straight into the workspace while preserving distinct, functional zones.

From the high-end appliance suite and center island to the dedicated coffee station, every layout decision brings order to the initial construction chaos. Which feature here would you want in your own kitchen? Let us know in the comments.

09/02/2026

Hi YDB Fam!

Last week, you got a look at the house overview, and now we’re getting into the schematic design phase. I’ll say, I tried my best to keep things budget-friendly, but you know... 😅

We’re excited to show you this phase next week! And we’d love to hear what you think of the series so far.