Street facing front Façade Photo by: John D Hayes of OpenHomes Photography
Small ornate two-story exterior home photo in San Francisco

An abundance of living space is only part of the appeal of this traditional French county home. Strong architectural elements and a lavish interior design, including cathedral-arched beamed ceilings, hand-scraped and French bleed-edged walnut floors, faux finished ceilings, and custom tile inlays add to the home's charm. This home features heated floors in the basement, a mirrored flat screen television in the kitchen/family room, an expansive master closet, and a large laundry/crafts room with Romeo & Juliet balcony to the front yard. The gourmet kitchen features a custom range hood in limestone, inspired by Romanesque architecture, a custom panel French armoire refrigerator, and a 12 foot antiqued granite island. Every child needs his or her personal space, offered via a large secret kids room and a hidden passageway between the kids' bedrooms. A 1,000 square foot concrete sport court under the garage creates a fun environment for staying active year-round. The fun continues in the sunken media area featuring a game room, 110-inch screen, and 14-foot granite bar. Story - Midwest Home Magazine Photos - Todd Buchanan Interior Designer - Anita Sullivan

The challenge of this modern version of a 1920s shingle-style home was to recreate the classic look while avoiding the pitfalls of the original materials. The composite slate roof, cement fiberboard shake siding and color-clad windows contribute to the overall aesthetics. The mahogany entries are surrounded by stone, and the innovative soffit materials offer an earth-friendly alternative to wood. You’ll see great attention to detail throughout the home, including in the attic level board and batten walls, scenic overlook, mahogany railed staircase, paneled walls, bordered Brazilian Cherry floor and hideaway bookcase passage. The library features overhead bookshelves, expansive windows, a tile-faced fireplace, and exposed beam ceiling, all accessed via arch-top glass doors leading to the great room. The kitchen offers custom cabinetry, built-in appliances concealed behind furniture panels, and glass faced sideboards and buffet. All details embody the spirit of the craftspeople who established the standards by which homes are judged.

Foyer
Example of a mid-sized classic medium tone wood floor entryway design in Chicago with beige walls and a dark wood front door

The bungalow after renovation. You can see two of the upper gables that were added but still fit the size and feel of the home. Soft green siding color with gray sash allows the blue of the door to pop. Photography by Josh Vick

South east end of studio space with doors to work spaces open. Cathy Schwabe Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely.
Home office - contemporary concrete floor and gray floor home office idea in San Francisco

The Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C boasts some of the most beautiful and well maintained bungalows of the late 19th century. Residential streets are distinguished by the most significant craftsman icon, the front porch. Porter Street Bungalow was different. The stucco walls on the right and left side elevations were the first indication of an original bungalow form. Yet the swooping roof, so characteristic of the period, was terminated at the front by a first floor enclosure that had almost no penetrations and presented an unwelcoming face. Original timber beams buried within the enclosed mass provided the only fenestration where they nudged through. The house, known affectionately as ‘the bunker’, was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young couple purchased the house over 10 years ago as a first home. As their family grew and professional lives matured the inadequacies of the small rooms and out of date systems had to be addressed. The program called to significantly enlarge the house with a major new rear addition. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house: a reconfigured larger living room, new shared kitchen and breakfast room and large family room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms and master suite on the second floor. Front photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography. All other photos by Prakash Patel.

Gallery Hall with glass pocket doors to mudroom area
Hallway - traditional medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway idea in Other with beige walls

Elegant gray two-story wood gable roof photo in Seattle with a mixed material roof

Linda Oyama Bryan, photograper Stone and Stucco French Provincial with arch top white oak front door and limestone front entry. Asphalt and brick paver driveway and bluestone front walkway.

Features: Custom Wood Hood with Pull Out Spice Racks, Mantel, Motif, and Corbels; Varied Height Cabinetry; Art for Everyday Turned Posts # F-1; Art for Everyday Corbels # CBL-TCY1, Beadboard; Wood Mullion and Clear Beveled Glass Doors; Bar Area; Double Panel Doors; Coffered Ceiling; Enhancement Window; Art for Everyday Mantels # MTL-A1 and # MTL-A0; Desk Area Cabinets- Main Kitchen: Honey Brook Custom in Maple Wood with Seapearl Paint and Glaze; Voyager Full Overlay Door Style with C-2 Lip Cabinets- Island & Bar Area: Honey Brook Custom in Cherry Wood with Colonial Finish; Voyager Full Overlay Door Style with C-2 Lip Countertops- Main Kitchen: Golden Beach Granite with Double Pencil Edge Countertops- Island and Bar Area: Golden Beach Granite with Waterfall Edge Kitchen Designer: Tammy Clark Photograph: Kelly Keul Duer

Front Entry: 41 West Coastal Retreat Series reveals creative, fresh ideas, for a new look to define the casual beach lifestyle of Naples. More than a dozen custom variations and sizes are available to be built on your lot. From this spacious 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom model, to larger 4 and 5 bedroom versions ranging from 3,500 - 10,000 square feet, including guest house options.

After removing an outdated circle drive and overgrown plantings, our team reconfigured the drive and installed a full-range color bluestone walk to clearly emphasize the main door over the side entry.

In the design stages many details were incorporated in this classic kitchen to give it dimension since the surround cabinets, counters and backsplash were white. Polished nickel plumbing, hardware and custom grilles on feature cabinets along with the island pendants add shine, while finer details such as inset doors, furniture kicks on non-working areas and lofty crown details add a layering effect in the millwork. Surround counters as well as 3" x 6" backsplash tile are Calacutta Gold stone, while island counter surface is walnut. Conveniences include a 60" Wolf range, a 36" Subzero refrigerator and freezer and two farmhouse sinks by Kallista. The kitchen also boasts two dishwashers (one in the island and one to the right of the sink cabinet under the window) and a coffee bar area with a built-in Miele. Photo by Pete Maric.

Photography by Morgan Howarth
Elegant brick exterior home photo in DC Metro

Hillside Farmhouse sits on a steep East-sloping hill. We set it across the slope, which allowed us to separate the site into a public, arrival side to the North and a private, garden side to the South. The house becomes the long wall, one room wide, that organizes the site into its two parts. The garage wing, running perpendicularly to the main house, forms a courtyard at the front door. Cars driving in are welcomed by the wide front portico and interlocking stair tower. On the opposite side, under a parade of dormers, the Dining Room saddle-bags into the garden, providing views to the South and East. Its generous overhang keeps out the hot summer sun, but brings in the winter sun. The house is a hybrid of ‘farm house’ and ‘country house’. It simultaneously relates to the active contiguous farm and the classical imagery prevalent in New England architecture. Photography by Robert Benson and Brian Tetrault

Lake Front Country Estate Entry Porch, designed by Tom Markalunas, built by Resort Custom Homes. Photography by Rachael Boling
Single front door - huge traditional single front door idea in Other with a medium wood front door

Family room adjacent to kitchen. Paint color on fireplace mantel is Benjamin Moore #1568 Quarry Rock. The trim is Benjamin Moore OC-21. The bookcases are prefinished by the cabinet manufacturer, white with a pewter glaze. Designed by Julie Williams Design, Photo by Eric Rorer Photgraphy, Justin Construction

The shape of the angled porch-roof, sets the tone for a truly modern entryway. This protective covering makes a dramatic statement, as it hovers over the front door. The blue-stone terrace conveys even more interest, as it gradually moves upward, morphing into steps, until it reaches the porch. Porch Detail The multicolored tan stone, used for the risers and retaining walls, is proportionally carried around the base of the house. Horizontal sustainable-fiber cement board replaces the original vertical wood siding, and widens the appearance of the facade. The color scheme — blue-grey siding, cherry-wood door and roof underside, and varied shades of tan and blue stone — is complimented by the crisp-contrasting black accents of the thin-round metal columns, railing, window sashes, and the roof fascia board and gutters. This project is a stunning example of an exterior, that is both asymmetrical and symmetrical. Prior to the renovation, the house had a bland 1970s exterior. Now, it is interesting, unique, and inviting. Photography Credit: Tom Holdsworth Photography Contractor: Owings Brothers Contracting