Front elevation with cedar gables and exposed timbers
Mid-sized arts and crafts beige one-story concrete fiberboard exterior home photo in Seattle

A rustic kids' room designed for ages 4 to 10, featuring cozy double deck beds, soft gray carpet flooring, and a warm, playful ambiance. This functional and eco-friendly space is part of the sustainable organic modern mountain home

Traditional two-story exterior home idea in Minneapolis

Photography by Lucas Henning.
Inspiration for a coastal garage remodel in Seattle

Transitional patio photo in Dallas with a fire pit and no cover

Inspiration for a small country red two-story wood gable roof remodel in Minneapolis

Tony F Miller, AIA LEED AP
Inspiration for a craftsman porch remodel in Charlotte

This large kitchen was desperately needing a refresh. It was far to traditional for the homeowners taste. Additionally, there was no direct path to the dining room as you needed to enter through a butlers pantry. I opened up two doorways into the kitchen from the dining room, which allowed natural light to flow in. The former butlers pantry was then sealed up and became part of the formerly to small pantry. The homeowners now have a 13' long walk through pantry, accessible from both the new bar area and the kitchen.

A spacious colonial in the heart of the waterfront community of Greenhaven still had its original 1950s kitchen. A renovation without an addition added space by reconfiguring, and the wall between kitchen and family room was removed to create open flow. A beautiful banquette was built where the family can enjoy breakfast overlooking the pool. Kitchen Design: Studio Dearborn. Interior decorating by Lorraine Levinson. All appliances: Thermador. Countertops: Pental Quartz Lattice. Hardware: Top Knobs Chareau Series Emerald Pulls and knobs. Stools and pendant lights: West Elm. Photography: Jeff McNamara.

Benny Chan
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary brown two-story metal exterior home remodel in Los Angeles

Mid-sized transitional 3/4 white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and multicolored floor alcove shower photo in Santa Barbara with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and marble countertops

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Sarah Natsumi Moore
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage two-story wood gable roof remodel in Austin

Zen-like kitchen has white kitchen walls & backsplash with contrasting light shades of beige and brown & modern flat panel touch latch cabinetry. Custom cabinetry made in the Benvenuti and Stein Evanston cabinet shop. Norman Sizemore-Photographer

The pocketing steel lift and slide door opens up the Great Room to the Entry Courtyard for an expanded entertainment space.
Mid-sized country gray one-story wood gable roof photo in San Francisco with a metal roof

JOHN COLE
Elegant medium tone wood floor great room photo in DC Metro with gray walls

Sun Room, 1X6 beadboard ceiling, brick tile flooring, shiplap
Farmhouse sunroom photo in Chicago with a standard ceiling

The new family room addition was designed adjacent to the public park that backs up to the house. Photo by Erik Kvalsvik
Example of a large transitional enclosed dark wood floor family room design in DC Metro with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a concealed tv

Screen porch with vaulted ceiling and gas fireplace to extend the use of space during those colder months.
Mountain style sunroom photo in Minneapolis with a standard ceiling