Architecture and interior design go hand in hand. Our highest priority is the quality of the space and The Retreat presented unique design opportunities. Bathed in natural light, the shower, which includes a re-circulating waterfall, occupies the center of the room, wrapped in cedar. The “tree”, which represents the earth, envelops water, the source of life. The remaining functions line the perimeter of the room. All the materials in the room are sustainable in accordance with current practices. The furniture is sustainable. The fabrics are sustainable. Even the art is sustainable! There is no excess, just the necessary components to create an inviting and comfortable environment to promote relaxation and well-being. Simple, clean, and contemporary, the Retreat is a place to unwind, take a nap, read, meditate – whichever your favorite way to relieve stress – indoors. Photography by Gordon Beall

Minimalist home design photo in Jacksonville

Large cottage black two-story wood exterior home idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a large industrial straight staircase remodel in Austin

Living room + sitting room. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely
Living room - contemporary concrete floor living room idea in San Francisco with a wood stove

For this home we were hired as the Architect only. Siena Custom Builders, Inc. was the Builder. +/- 5,200 sq. ft. home (Approx. 42' x 110' Footprint) Cedar Siding - Cabot Solid Stain - Pewter Grey

Michelle Lee Wilson Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard patio remodel in San Francisco with a fire pit

the bamboo is a clumping variety called Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata , Asian lemon bamboo. This variety is a clumper and you do not need to contain it, however, do allow an 8'by 10' area for its ultimate growth. Bamboo does require constant maintenance and you will need to do some research for the specific variety you choose. Once planted, it will become a beautiful focal point and add a stunning tropical accent. Photo Credit: Sherwood Cox

Foley Fiore Architecture
Example of a classic kitchen design in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, a farmhouse sink, wood countertops, beige cabinets and brown countertops

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

DRM Design Group provided Landscape Architecture services for a Local Austin, Texas residence. We worked closely with Redbud Custom Homes and Tim Brown Architecture to create a custom low maintenance- low water use contemporary landscape design. This Eco friendly design has a simple and crisp look with great contrasting colors that really accentuate the existing trees. www.redbudaustin.com www.timbrownarch.com

This was a new construction project where a reactive stain was used on the concrete surface. A water-based urethane sealer was used to give the floor depth of color and a satin finish. The stain produces a variegated and marbled look on the concrete surface. Stained concrete floors by Dancer Concrete Design of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Home built by Bob Buecher Homes of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Commercial Concrete Staining job at a Photography Studio in St. Louis, Missouri. This type of concrete staining is done with a water-based stain which makes it easier to control the consistency of color as opposed to an acid stain. It is also echo friendly! Give Us a Call Today for a FREE Estimate & Design Consultation! Decorative Concrete Resurfacing 715 Debula Dr Ballwin, MO 63021 636-256-6733 http://www.DecorativeConcreteResurfacing.com

Custom mahogany double doors and hand cut stone for exterior masonry combined with stained cedar shingles
Double front door - traditional double front door idea in New York with a dark wood front door

-- photo credit Ben Hill Photography
Trendy concrete floor and gray floor living room photo in Houston

View from Clerestory Hall towards Entry. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely.
Trendy concrete floor hallway photo in San Francisco

Nestled into sloping topography, the design of this home allows privacy from the street while providing unique vistas throughout the house and to the surrounding hill country and downtown skyline. Layering rooms with each other as well as circulation galleries, insures seclusion while allowing stunning downtown views. The owners' goals of creating a home with a contemporary flow and finish while providing a warm setting for daily life was accomplished through mixing warm natural finishes such as stained wood with gray tones in concrete and local limestone. The home's program also hinged around using both passive and active green features. Sustainable elements include geothermal heating/cooling, rainwater harvesting, spray foam insulation, high efficiency glazing, recessing lower spaces into the hillside on the west side, and roof/overhang design to provide passive solar coverage of walls and windows. The resulting design is a sustainably balanced, visually pleasing home which reflects the lifestyle and needs of the clients. Photography by Andrew Pogue

Dry bar and laundry room off kitchen. Genesis Architecture.
Laundry room - contemporary concrete floor and orange floor laundry room idea in Milwaukee