Michael Chiarella Architect/ Magda Chiarella Interiors

02/22/2025

10/26/2024

A finished project and a “before” photo. We were working on a charming Dutch colonial - rebuilding and expanding a sunroom and the finished attic, plus overall facelift. Summit, NJ.

09/12/2024

..."siebold house commission ~ the netherlands"..2004...shinkichi tajiri...american wood artist..sculptor..painter..photographer..cinematographer..resided in the netherlands from 1956 on....baarlo..netherlands...1923-2009...primarily wood...

05/27/2024

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6umOx1xUH1/?igsh=cHQzOGhvM2k0dGJs

04/16/2024

When the lines on paper begin to take shape in the real world.

05/27/2022

When clients ask us for taller ceilings in existing spaces, they think we can open up the floor framing in between levels and “carve” a coffer that way. This is rarely possible. When we mention that we can create an interesting ceiling, “feeling” taller than a flat ceiling by introducing a very thin perimeter drop, we are usually met with skepticism. How can subtracting from the room heigh at perimeter add more dimension? Here are two visual examples. Architecture by Michael Chiarella. Cabinetry Design by Heidi Piron Design and Cabinetry

12/20/2021

It is such a pleasure to be creative “in the field. ” Today, Magda painted a mural for the clients’ young daughter, who said she wanted “ sunset” when asked what color room she wanted. “Let’s make sunset happen” is the best part of our job. We live for creative solutions.

06/29/2021

Many renovations to homes in our area follow wishes of our clients to create a more open floor plan, while preserving the spirit of a traditional home. We love using lighting, ceiling design and woodwork to define spaces that open to each other, yet remain autonomous. Summit, NJ.

06/12/2021

We finished designing this project right before the pandemic and it was built during challenging times, but the quality never suffered. Another functional and beautiful kitchen gracing a traditional colonial in Summit, NJ.

02/19/2021

When we design kitchens, of course we care about appliances, storage space, walls for hanging cabinets but we find natural light to be one of the most impactful design elements. We love sculpting spaces in a way that makes them feel airy, inviting and joyful. We enjoy working with older homes, but when we have a chance to design a brand new space, the end result is our signature love of natural light and spaces that effortlessly flow into one another.

02/12/2021

Kitchens have become hubs of family life. Meanwhile, rooms designated as kitchens a hundred years ago often lack the space to install what we now expect in our modern kitchens, like islands and spacious modern appliances. Often, we have to find outside-the-box solutions. Here, we opened a wall between a kitchen and a stair hall to be able to fit a well appointed kitchen, and an island with seating space.

09/04/2020

Nothing more satisfying than a hand rendering with watercolor wash.