Steve Keating
Example of an urban exterior home design in Seattle

Carson Leh
Trendy three-story glass exterior home photo in Los Angeles

Steve Keating
Urban open concept living room photo in Seattle with white walls

The addition is a two story space evoking the typology of an orangery - a glass enclosed structure used as a conservatory, common in England where the owners have lived. Evan Thomas Photography

A unique design element is an operable 17ft glass hangar door at the rear of the addition that can be opened to create a continuous interior-exterior space. Evan Thomas Photography

The Fall City Renovation began with a farmhouse on a hillside overlooking the Snoqualmie River valley, about 30 miles east of Seattle. On the main floor, the walls between the kitchen and dining room were removed, and a 25-ft. long addition to the kitchen provided a continuous glass ribbon around the limestone kitchen counter. The resulting interior has a feeling similar to a fire look-out tower in the national forest. Adding to the open feeling, a custom island table was created using reclaimed elm planks and a blackened steel base, with inlaid limestone around the sink area. Sensuous custom blown-glass light fixtures were hung over the existing dining table. The completed kitchen-dining space is serene, light-filled and dominated by the sweeping view of the Snoqualmie Valley. The second part of the renovation focused on the master bathroom. Similar to the design approach in the kitchen, a new addition created a continuous glass wall, with wonderful views of the valley. The blackened steel-frame vanity mirrors were custom-designed, and they hang suspended in front of the window wall. LED lighting has been integrated into the steel frames. The tub is perched in front of floor-to-ceiling glass, next to a curvilinear custom bench in Sapele wood and steel. Limestone counters and floors provide material continuity in the space. Sustainable design practice included extensive use of natural light to reduce electrical demand, low VOC paints, LED lighting, reclaimed elm planks at the kitchen island, sustainably harvested hardwoods, and natural stone counters. New exterior walls using 2x8 construction achieved 40% greater insulation value than standard wall construction. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

A brightly colored overhead canopy is made up of retractable shades, allowing some protection from the harsh rays. The rusted metal framing and wooden seating make for a great contrast to the vibrant, contemporary product.

The steep site on which this residence is located dictated the use of a retaining wall to create a level grade. This retaining wall, or “the line”, became the driving element behind the parti of the home and serves to organize the program for the clients. The rituals of daily life fall into place along the line which is expressed as sandblasted exposed concrete and modular block. Three aspects of a house were seperated in this project: Thinking, Living, & Doing. ‘Thinking’ is done in the library, the main house is for ‘living’, and ‘doing’ is in the shop. While each space is separated by walls and windows they are nonetheless connected by “the line”. Sustainability is married in equal parts to the concept of The Line House. The residence is located along an east/west axis to maximize the benefits of daylighting and solar heat gain. Operable windows maximize natural cross ventilation and reduce the need for air conditioning. Photo Credit: Michael Robinson

Stair detail Photography by Ross Van Pelt
Minimalist home design photo in Cincinnati

With a quiet site and good views to a stream-fed park to the east, this 1800 SF split-level had great potential. Here, as in many homes, the kitchen is the hub of family life. So it was crucial that the space worked well for both large gatherings and daily family routines. On the 1st floor, the key was to work within the existing house as much as possible, re-configuring the interior walls while simultaneously increasing the floor to ceiling height. Additional windows, patio doors and a small kitchen addition brightened the interior and expanded the house by providing a new, light-filled, double-height foyer. More space was gained by relocating the master bedroom to a new 2nd floor suite. Taking down the walls that compartmentalized the first floor allowed the kitchen, dining and living rooms to be defined by tall cabinets. Outfitted as kitchen pantry storage on one side and built-in living room bookshelves on the other, these cabinets extend only partially to the new 9-foot high ceiling and allow the 1st floor to be viewed more as a single room. Switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen allowed for better functionality, views and access to the rear patio through wide sliding glass doors. Access to the 2nd floor master suite is via a wood and steel-framed stair outfitted with stainless steel aircraft cable fittings. The high-ceiling master bedoom leads to an adjacent study and private deck overlooking the placid rear yard. The light-filled bath acts as a buffer to the street beyond and has been outfitted with a frameless glass shower, heated slate tile floor and sauna.

With a quiet site and good views to a stream-fed park to the east, this 1800 SF split-level had great potential. Here, as in many homes, the kitchen is the hub of family life. So it was crucial that the space worked well for both large gatherings and daily family routines. On the 1st floor, the key was to work within the existing house as much as possible, re-configuring the interior walls while simultaneously increasing the floor to ceiling height. Additional windows, patio doors and a small kitchen addition brightened the interior and expanded the house by providing a new, light-filled, double-height foyer. More space was gained by relocating the master bedroom to a new 2nd floor suite. Taking down the walls that compartmentalized the first floor allowed the kitchen, dining and living rooms to be defined by tall cabinets. Outfitted as kitchen pantry storage on one side and built-in living room bookshelves on the other, these cabinets extend only partially to the new 9-foot high ceiling and allow the 1st floor to be viewed more as a single room. Switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen allowed for better functionality, views and access to the rear patio through wide sliding glass doors. Access to the 2nd floor master suite is via a wood and steel-framed stair outfitted with stainless steel aircraft cable fittings. The high-ceiling master bedoom leads to an adjacent study and private deck overlooking the placid rear yard. The light-filled bath acts as a buffer to the street beyond and has been outfitted with a frameless glass shower, heated slate tile floor and sauna.

With a quiet site and good views to a stream-fed park to the east, this 1800 SF split-level had great potential. Here, as in many homes, the kitchen is the hub of family life. So it was crucial that the space worked well for both large gatherings and daily family routines. On the 1st floor, the key was to work within the existing house as much as possible, re-configuring the interior walls while simultaneously increasing the floor to ceiling height. Additional windows, patio doors and a small kitchen addition brightened the interior and expanded the house by providing a new, light-filled, double-height foyer. More space was gained by relocating the master bedroom to a new 2nd floor suite. Taking down the walls that compartmentalized the first floor allowed the kitchen, dining and living rooms to be defined by tall cabinets. Outfitted as kitchen pantry storage on one side and built-in living room bookshelves on the other, these cabinets extend only partially to the new 9-foot high ceiling and allow the 1st floor to be viewed more as a single room. Switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen allowed for better functionality, views and access to the rear patio through wide sliding glass doors. Access to the 2nd floor master suite is via a wood and steel-framed stair outfitted with stainless steel aircraft cable fittings. The high-ceiling master bedoom leads to an adjacent study and private deck overlooking the placid rear yard. The light-filled bath acts as a buffer to the street beyond and has been outfitted with a frameless glass shower, heated slate tile floor and sauna.

With a quiet site and good views to a stream-fed park to the east, this 1800 SF split-level had great potential. Here, as in many homes, the kitchen is the hub of family life. So it was crucial that the space worked well for both large gatherings and daily family routines. On the 1st floor, the key was to work within the existing house as much as possible, re-configuring the interior walls while simultaneously increasing the floor to ceiling height. Additional windows, patio doors and a small kitchen addition brightened the interior and expanded the house by providing a new, light-filled, double-height foyer. More space was gained by relocating the master bedroom to a new 2nd floor suite. Taking down the walls that compartmentalized the first floor allowed the kitchen, dining and living rooms to be defined by tall cabinets. Outfitted as kitchen pantry storage on one side and built-in living room bookshelves on the other, these cabinets extend only partially to the new 9-foot high ceiling and allow the 1st floor to be viewed more as a single room. Switching the locations of the dining room and kitchen allowed for better functionality, views and access to the rear patio through wide sliding glass doors. Access to the 2nd floor master suite is via a wood and steel-framed stair outfitted with stainless steel aircraft cable fittings. The high-ceiling master bedoom leads to an adjacent study and private deck overlooking the placid rear yard. The light-filled bath acts as a buffer to the street beyond and has been outfitted with a frameless glass shower, heated slate tile floor and sauna.

The new addition matched so perfectly it appears to be original construction. Aircraft cable is used for guardrail so as not to obstruct the view.
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard concrete patio remodel in Sacramento with a roof extension

This Freehand Arabesque is rich and subtle, a tasteful addition to your home, aircraft suite, or church!
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Dallas

SUSTAINABLE, COOL, AND A SMOOTH FLIGHT FOR YOU This was the first Executive VIP CAT I & II Airport Hangar ever sold at the Boulder Municipal Airport. We completed the first phase of this pilot project in 2019. We completed a remodel for a national shoe brand's headquarters in 2022. The original build made it perfect for private aircraft/jet owners who want to be based right in the heart of the developing area of Boulder City. The first of three planned executive hangars is nestled in the premium south-west location of Boulder Airport with stunning waterfront & mountain views of Hayden Lake, the iconic Flatirons, Boulder Foothills, and white capped Front Range. Before being remodeled primarily for office space, the 4,650 SF executive hangar could accommodate as many as 5 aircraft and included a 30’x15’ 2nd floor mezzanine office flooded with natural light, operable skylight providing ventilation, large picture window and phenomenal Skydeck with panoramic views of the lake and flatirons. The new owners added more mezzanine square footage and windows to section off the area for an executive office space and multi-purpose/multi-media room. This is one of the only high-performance renewable energy executive airport hangars in the country, exempt from energy code requirements due to low energy usage of less than 1 watt/SF. It was designed with a 6 hour fire-rating, fire sprinkling system, and built with high performance hybrid engineering and technologies to offset the energy load pathways so when all renewables are added it can operate completely standalone and self-sustainable. The building envelope insulation & sound attenuation systems includes 10” Insulated Concrete Form walls using recycled materials & radiant in-floor heat. In the recent remodel we added geothermal loops to utilize the in-floor tubing for renewable cooling in the hot summer months. The 58’x18’ Schweiss hydraulic hangar door features insulated panels (like what NASA uses inside their rockets) and 6 windows. There’s an additional 10’x10’ overhead door & 2 personnel doors. The 4,095 SF new structural concrete slab apron was constructed to CDOT spec with 65’ trench drain at apron entrance. The main floor features an ADA bathroom with shower, utility floor sink, 2 interior hot & cold hose bibs. Electrical service is a commercial 480-volt, 3-phase with 400 amps with outlets throughout. Ready with 2 EV (Electric vehicle) charging outlets on the west exterior. As mentioned, after the hangar was purchased by a sustainable national shoe brand, we remodeled it for the new owner's work and warehousing requirements. We added 3 Viessman Solar thermal collectors, HRV-Geothermal Pre-Heating and Cooling System & Battery Power Back-Up System, portable work station “pods”, a large bar, kitchen area, eating spaces, lounge, multimedia room, shoe display areas, more natural lighting and other custom finishes. Once a solar PV system is added to the south-facing rooftop, the hangar will achieve better than a net zero designation, it could in fact help power some of the other facilities at the airport as well as several EVs through outdoor charging stations. Contact Constructive Alternatives if you’re interested in a similar self-sustainable executive hangar, built to suit.

SUSTAINABLE, COOL, AND A SMOOTH FLIGHT FOR YOU This was the first Executive VIP CAT I & II Airport Hangar ever sold at the Boulder Municipal Airport. We completed the first phase of this pilot project in 2019. We completed a remodel for a national shoe brand's headquarters in 2022. The original build made it perfect for private aircraft/jet owners who want to be based right in the heart of the developing area of Boulder City. The first of three planned executive hangars is nestled in the premium south-west location of Boulder Airport with stunning waterfront & mountain views of Hayden Lake, the iconic Flatirons, Boulder Foothills, and white capped Front Range. Before being remodeled primarily for office space, the 4,650 SF executive hangar could accommodate as many as 5 aircraft and included a 30’x15’ 2nd floor mezzanine office flooded with natural light, operable skylight providing ventilation, large picture window and phenomenal Skydeck with panoramic views of the lake and flatirons. The new owners added more mezzanine square footage and windows to section off the area for an executive office space and multi-purpose/multi-media room. This is one of the only high-performance renewable energy executive airport hangars in the country, exempt from energy code requirements due to low energy usage of less than 1 watt/SF. It was designed with a 6 hour fire-rating, fire sprinkling system, and built with high performance hybrid engineering and technologies to offset the energy load pathways so when all renewables are added it can operate completely standalone and self-sustainable. The building envelope insulation & sound attenuation systems includes 10” Insulated Concrete Form walls using recycled materials & radiant in-floor heat. In the recent remodel we added geothermal loops to utilize the in-floor tubing for renewable cooling in the hot summer months. The 58’x18’ Schweiss hydraulic hangar door features insulated panels (like what NASA uses inside their rockets) and 6 windows. There’s an additional 10’x10’ overhead door & 2 personnel doors. The 4,095 SF new structural concrete slab apron was constructed to CDOT spec with 65’ trench drain at apron entrance. The main floor features an ADA bathroom with shower, utility floor sink, 2 interior hot & cold hose bibs. Electrical service is a commercial 480-volt, 3-phase with 400 amps with outlets throughout. Ready with 2 EV (Electric vehicle) charging outlets on the west exterior. As mentioned, after the hangar was purchased by a sustainable national shoe brand, we remodeled it for the new owner's work and warehousing requirements. We added 3 Viessman Solar thermal collectors, HRV-Geothermal Pre-Heating and Cooling System & Battery Power Back-Up System, portable work station “pods”, a large bar, kitchen area, eating spaces, lounge, multimedia room, shoe display areas, more natural lighting and other custom finishes. Once a solar PV system is added to the south-facing rooftop, the hangar will achieve better than a net zero designation, it could in fact help power some of the other facilities at the airport as well as several EVs through outdoor charging stations. Contact Constructive Alternatives if you’re interested in a similar self-sustainable executive hangar, built to suit.

SUSTAINABLE, COOL, AND A SMOOTH FLIGHT FOR YOU This was the first Executive VIP CAT I & II Airport Hangar ever sold at the Boulder Municipal Airport. We completed the first phase of this pilot project in 2019. We completed a remodel for a national shoe brand's headquarters in 2022. The original build made it perfect for private aircraft/jet owners who want to be based right in the heart of the developing area of Boulder City. The first of three planned executive hangars is nestled in the premium south-west location of Boulder Airport with stunning waterfront & mountain views of Hayden Lake, the iconic Flatirons, Boulder Foothills, and white capped Front Range. Before being remodeled primarily for office space, the 4,650 SF executive hangar could accommodate as many as 5 aircraft and included a 30’x15’ 2nd floor mezzanine office flooded with natural light, operable skylight providing ventilation, large picture window and phenomenal Skydeck with panoramic views of the lake and flatirons. The new owners added more mezzanine square footage and windows to section off the area for an executive office space and multi-purpose/multi-media room. This is one of the only high-performance renewable energy executive airport hangars in the country, exempt from energy code requirements due to low energy usage of less than 1 watt/SF. It was designed with a 6 hour fire-rating, fire sprinkling system, and built with high performance hybrid engineering and technologies to offset the energy load pathways so when all renewables are added it can operate completely standalone and self-sustainable. The building envelope insulation & sound attenuation systems includes 10” Insulated Concrete Form walls using recycled materials & radiant in-floor heat. In the recent remodel we added geothermal loops to utilize the in-floor tubing for renewable cooling in the hot summer months. The 58’x18’ Schweiss hydraulic hangar door features insulated panels (like what NASA uses inside their rockets) and 6 windows. There’s an additional 10’x10’ overhead door & 2 personnel doors. The 4,095 SF new structural concrete slab apron was constructed to CDOT spec with 65’ trench drain at apron entrance. The main floor features an ADA bathroom with shower, utility floor sink, 2 interior hot & cold hose bibs. Electrical service is a commercial 480-volt, 3-phase with 400 amps with outlets throughout. Ready with 2 EV (Electric vehicle) charging outlets on the west exterior. As mentioned, after the hangar was purchased by a sustainable national shoe brand, we remodeled it for the new owner's work and warehousing requirements. We added 3 Viessman Solar thermal collectors, HRV-Geothermal Pre-Heating and Cooling System & Battery Power Back-Up System, portable work station “pods”, a large bar, kitchen area, eating spaces, lounge, multimedia room, shoe display areas, more natural lighting and other custom finishes. Once a solar PV system is added to the south-facing rooftop, the hangar will achieve better than a net zero designation, it could in fact help power some of the other facilities at the airport as well as several EVs through outdoor charging stations. Contact Constructive Alternatives if you’re interested in a similar self-sustainable executive hangar, built to suit.

Custom outdoor kitchen, Copyright SJ Renovations
Elegant patio photo in Vancouver