Is it built to last? ? Do you want to live in a home that will stand the test of time? I have just returned from the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest, where I stayed in a house we completed 12 years ago. My visit was to plan for two more new homes on this rural site and to consider the overall master plan, where we will create several other new buildings. Some are secluded in the forest, and some that interface with the rural centre. While in the house, I retraced every thought from the initial design process. I was pleased to find that everything still made sense. It felt like every decision we made over 12 years ago was still the right one. Moreover, the house does not feel dated or from another time. It still fits. It is a house that is built to last. We created internal spaces which engage with the natural world: thanks to carefully conceived openings, there is copious natural light from above, and the pine forest is ever-present. We chose raw materials that would last and age gracefully over time. Thinking about the new homes, it is very tempting to add a design flourish, but from experience, these forest homes must be simple and rugged to withstand the 'icebox' winters and scorching peak summers. Simple, solid forms and raw materials require minimal maintenance and do not distract from the beautiful natural surroundings. So it's not back to the drawing board for me: we will simply be reworking the clear ideas we had all those years ago. Are there features in your home that stand the test of time? Are there features you would like to add to give long-lasting benefits?

The Shadowood House is part of a farm that has been in the client's family for generations. At the beginning of the process, the clients were living in a house (where this one now sits) that had been through addition after addition, making the spaces feel cramped and non-cohesive. They wanted a space for family gatherings, that was a modern take on a simple farmhouse. The clients wanted a house that feels comfortable for their children and grandchildren, but also enables them to age-in-place. In short, they wanted a house that would offer generations to come a place to feel at home. Josh Partee AIAP, ASMP, LEED AP / Architectural Photographer

We were approached with a request to design the furnishings for an existing ‘finished’ apartment. The intention was to move in relatively fast, and the property already had an existing marble floor, kitchen and bathrooms which had to be kept. The property also boasted a fantastic 270 degree view, seen from most of the apartment. The clients had a very important role in the completion of the project. They were very involved during the design process and through various decoration choices. The final design was kept as a rigid guideline when faced with picking out all the different elements. Once clear of all previous furniture, the space felt cold and bare; so we immediately felt the need for warmth, and raw, natural elements and textures to complement the cold marble floor while visually tying in the design of the whole apartment together. Since the existing kitchen had a touch of dark walnut stain, we felt this material was one we should add to the palette of materials to contest the stark materials. A raw cement finish was another material we felt would add an interesting contrast and could be used in a variety of ways, from cabinets to walls and ceilings, to tie up the design of various areas of the apartment. To warm up the living/dining area, keeping the existing marble floor but visually creating zones within the large living/dining area without hindering the flow, a dark timber custom-made soffit, continuous with a floor-to-ceiling drinks cabinet zones the dining area, giving it a degree of much-needed warmth. The various windows with a stupendous 270 degree view needed to be visually tied together. This was done by introducing a continuous sheer [drape] which also doubled up as a sound-absorbing material along 2 of the 4 walls of the space. A very large sofa was required to fill up the space correctly, also required for the size of the young family. Services were integrated within the units and soffits, while a customized design in the corner between the kitchen and the living room took into consideration the viewpoints from the main areas to create a pantry without hindering the flow or views. A strategically placed floor-to-ceiling mirror doubles up the space and extends the view to the inner parts of the apartment. The daughter’s bedroom was a small challenge in itself, and a fun task, where we wanted to achieve the perception of a cozy niche with its own enclosed reading nook [for reading fairy tales], behind see-through curtains and a custom-ordered wall print sporting the girl’s favorite colors. The sons’ bedroom had double the requirements in terms of space needed: more wardrobe, more homework desk space, a tv/play station area… “We combined a raised platform area between the boys’ beds to become an area with cushions where the kids can lay down and play, and face a hidden screen behind the homework desk’s sliding back panel for their play station”. The color of the homework desk was chosen in relation to the boys’ ages. A more masculine material palette was chosen for this room, in contrast to the light pastel palette of the girl’s bedroom. Again, this colour can easily be changed over time for a more mature look. PROJECT DATA: St. Paul’s Bay, Malta DESIGN TEAM: Perit Rebecca Zammit, Perit Daniel Scerri, Elyse Tonna OTHER CREDITS: Photography: Tonio Lombardi Styling : TKS

The main propose to design this building was, examinant and create new construction method in cold climate of Hamadan. So we tried to use new dry walls to construct this building. Each of different forms is related to the one function. In other word, the plan has three different spaces with their own special function. Each space has different scale, form and height from others, but the composition of three forms make a united building. The deconstructed form is inspired from deconstruction process of live genetics. It means, we use the main subject of laboratory as a concept to create this building. Funnel form encour-ages people to enter to the building. Moreover, we used warm colors for entrance in contrast with white building. We used Knuaf material and anti-acid ceramic for interior spaces

Description: Furniture Design/build including kitchens & Vanities, we do artisan new age building with an eye towards a low earth impact processes with no particle board used, ever. Photo Credit: Fred J Baron Areas Served: Toronto, Bancroft, Hastings County, Peterbourgh, Halliburton, Barry’s Bay, Belleville, Apsley, Prince Edward County, Havelock, Marmora, Madoc Services Provided: Three dimensional drawings provided before construction, leaves no element of your co-designed piece to chance. Clever interplay of form/function ensures that each piece created will perform flawlessly with your lifestyle. All our work is handcrafted with minimal wastage.

Description: Furniture Design/build including kitchens & Vanities, we do artisan new age building with an eye towards a low earth impact processes with no particle board used, ever. Photo Credit: Fred J Baron Areas Served: Toronto, Bancroft, Hastings County, Peterbourgh, Halliburton, Barry’s Bay, Belleville, Apsley, Prince Edward County Services Provided: Three dimensional drawings provided before construction, leaves no element of your co-designed piece to chance. Clever interplay of form/function ensures that each piece created will perform flawlessly with your lifestyle. All our work is handcrafted with minimal wastage.

Our client’s goal was to create a small, high-performance, healthy home for herself and her teenage son while providing a place for her father to age in place. An attached private accessory dwelling provides a space for him as well as flexibility in the future. The new home was designed to minimize its footprint on site, made smaller than the original 1930’s house. Embracing adaptability and efficiency, the residence includes two dwellings: a one-bedroom 795 square-foot accessory dwelling at the lower grade and a two-story 1330 square-foot primary dwelling located above. Involved in all aspects of project execution, our client oversaw the process by living in a used trailer parked in the backyard throughout the project’s construction. Family-Share focused on maximizing the footprint’s performance, access to natural light and the health of the occupants. Sustainable features include high-performance glazing, solar preheat for domestic and hot water in-floor heating and reclaimed fir car decking rainscreen siding.

The Integrity Wood-Ultrex Sliding Patio Door from Marvin Windows and Doors offers contemporary lines, a rich wood interior and large daylight openings. Integrity doors are made with Ultrex®, a pultruded fiberglass Marvin patented that outperforms and outlasts vinyl, roll-form aluminum and other fiberglass composites. Ultrex and the Integrity proprietary pultrusion process delivers high-demand doors that endure all elements without showing age or wear. With a strong Ultrex Fiberglass exterior paired with a rich wood interior, Integrity Wood-Ultrex doors have both strength and beauty. Constructed with Ultrex from the inside out, Integrity All Ultrex doors offer outstanding strength and durability.

This White Tumbled Marble tiled floor at a house in Hampton had been installed throughout the kitchen and dining area ten years back and was now in desperate need of a deep clean and seal to remove dirt that had accumulated in the pores of the stone. Once the dirt gets into the pores it makes it difficult to keep clean which is exactly the problem the property owner had experienced. The ‘tumbled’ effect on the Marble is achieved by tumbling the tiles in drums to soften and age the edges and surface of the stone. However, it was difficult to appreciate this interesting style as the presence of dirt and staining was quite overwhelming and the owner was now keen to restore it back to its original condition. I started the restoration by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This high alkaline cleaning product was spread across the floor and left to dwell for a short period, before I then worked it deep into the pores of the stone using a heavy duty rotary scrubbing machine. Next, some of the stubborn, more deeply ingrained stains were scrubbed by hand, along with the grout lines, which were also particularly dirty. The resulting slurry of water and cleaning solution was then pressure rinsed away and soaked up with a wet vacuum. The floor was then inspected and areas that needed more attention were retreated using the same process followed by a final rinse with water. The wet vacuum was then used again to extract as much moisture from the floor as possible before leaving the now clean floor to dry off fully overnight ready to accept a fresh coat of sealer the next day. I returned to the property the following day and took a few moisture readings to ensure the Marble had dried off completely overnight. This is critical because even a small amount of excess moisture can damage the performance of the sealer. Once I was satisfied that the tiles were dry I proceeded to apply two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow, a sealer which impregnates the pores of the stone, therefore protecting it from within. It also enhances the natural colours in the stone at the same time, hence the name ‘Colour Grow’! The new sealer will now make it easy for the customer to maintain the floor and avoid the build up of dirt over time in the same way that it had before. It will also protect the stone against spillages. Overall I think it’s fair to describe the result as a complete transformation. The tiles are bright and clean – and now they will stay that way! Certainly, the customer was pleased with her newly restored White Tumbled Marble tiled floor. Jonathan Oldham South Middlesex Tile Doctor

Cat Neitzey of Reico Kitchen and Bath in Fredericksburg, VA, in collaboration with Abby Construction, designed a transitional kitchen design featuring Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen cabinets are in the Masterpiece Gallina door style in Maple in a Dove White finish for the perimeter and a Midnight Blue finish for the island. The design also features both finishes on tall cabinets designed for pantry, display and coffee bar use. The kitchen also includes Cambria Portrush for the countertops, full height and standard backsplashes. “Cat knew her products and knew good design. She was a great problem solver,” said the client. According to Cat, Abby Construction undertook the transformation of a 1951 home from traditional to modern, open, and accessible, enabling its owners to age gracefully. They reconfigured doors, walls and the façade, integrating the garage into the living space. "The clients' construction background and design expertise positioned them as the ideal team to tackle a project of this magnitude. Throughout the process, we maintained frequent communication, meeting regularly both on-site and in the showroom. Our primary challenge arose from the evolving plan, necessitated by the structural alterations to the existing house, which impacted the future design," said Cat. “Our primary focus was to keep the design accessible. We needed to dramatically increase the amount of storage from the original kitchen. Adding roll trays, drawers, a base microwave and a mixer pop up ensured that everything remained easily within reach.” Photos courtesy of Tim Snyder Photography.

Furniture Design/build including kitchens & Vanities, we do artisan new age building with an eye towards a low earth impact processes with no particle board used, ever. Three dimensional drawings provided before construction, leaves no element of your co-designed piece to chance. Clever interplay of form/function ensures that each piece created will perform flawlessly with your lifestyle. All our work is handcrafted with minimal wastage. Photo Credit: Fred J Baron

The main propose to design this building was, examinant and create new construction method in cold climate of Hamadan. So we tried to use new dry walls to construct this building. Each of different forms is related to the one function. In other word, the plan has three different spaces with their own special function. Each space has different scale, form and height from others, but the composition of three forms make a united building. The deconstructed form is inspired from deconstruction process of live genetics. It means, we use the main subject of laboratory as a concept to create this building. Funnel form encour-ages people to enter to the building. Moreover, we used warm colors for entrance in contrast with white building. We used Knuaf material and anti-acid ceramic for interior spaces

The 5,000 square foot private residence is located in the community of Horseshoe Bay, above the shores of Lake LBJ, and responds to the Texas Hill Country vernacular prescribed by the community: shallow metal roofs, regional materials, sensitive scale massing and water-wise landscaping. The house opens to the scenic north and north-west views and fractures and shifts in order to keep significant oak, mesquite, elm, cedar and persimmon trees, in the process creating lush private patios and limestone terraces. The Owners desired an accessible residence built for flexibility as they age. This led to a single level home, and the challenge to nestle the step-less house into the sloping landscape. Full height glazing opens the house to the very beautiful arid landscape, while porches and overhangs protect interior spaces from the harsh Texas sun. Expansive walls of industrial insulated glazing panels allow soft modulated light to penetrate the interior while providing visual privacy. An integral lap pool with adjacent low fenestration reflects dappled light deep into the house. Chaste stained concrete floors and blackened steel focal elements contrast with islands of mesquite flooring, cherry casework and fir ceilings. Selective areas of exposed limestone walls, some incorporating salvaged timber lintels, and cor-ten steel components further the contrast within the uncomplicated framework. The Owner’s object and art collection is incorporated into the residence’s sequence of connecting galleries creating a choreography of passage that alternates between the lucid expression of simple ranch house architecture and the rich accumulation of their heritage. The general contractor for the project is local custom homebuilder Dauphine Homes. Structural Engineering is provided by Structures Inc. of Austin, Texas, and Landscape Architecture is provided by Prado Design LLC in conjunction with Jill Nokes, also of Austin. Cecil Baker + Partners Photography

Description: Furniture Design/build including kitchens & Vanities, we do artisan new age building with an eye towards a low earth impact processes with no particle board used, ever. Photo Credit: Fred J Baron

The owner/builders of this timber framed home chose cabinetry made of hand selected rift sawn white oak, with inset raise panel doors and a painstaking finish process to complement their home’s gently aged, classical design.

Furniture Design/build including kitchens & Vanities, we do artisan new age building with an eye towards a low earth impact processes with no particle board used, ever. Three dimensional drawings provided before construction, leaves no element of your co-designed piece to chance. Clever interplay of form/function ensures that each piece created will perform flawlessly with your lifestyle. All our work is handcrafted with minimal wastage. Photo Credit: Fred J Baron

After purchasing their home this San Clemente couple began looking to have their dated kitchen refaced. Having explored other remodeling companies they hired APlus to build their dream kitchen. APlus offers competitive pricing which made the upgrade to new custom cabinets an easy choice. This thirteen year old kitchen was updated to Maple cabinets in a Swiss Coffee finish. They chose the Shaker doors and some of the upper cabinet doors are accented with seeded glass panels. APlus interior designers’ space planned the kitchen to incorporate a kitchen nook for the family of five. Although it was difficult to live without a kitchen, especially with three kids under the age of seven, the process was well worth having the kitchen of their dreams.

We are so excited about this stylish Houston patio addition! It's one of our most recent outdoor living space design projects - and one of our new favorites! We particularly love the rustic corner fireplace, the beautiful, vaulted pine ceiling and the Restoration Hardware furniture and accessories. "Even though this space has an outdoor kitchen - often the highlight of our projects - the focus here is beautiful, comfortable outdoor living," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "And I have to say, I think this is one of the most gorgeous spaces we've created for doing that - in style." "This project was special from the start, as we were creating this space for a friend of Wayne’s who had been a long time mentor to his boys growing up," adds Lisha Maxey, owner of LGH Designs in Houston (she coordinated furniture and finishes for the project). "This client was the principal of their high school and knew all of them very well and Wayne, too. This made it very personal, indeed, and we wanted everything to be perfect!" The 23- by 16-foot addition, located at the back of the house in Cypress, looks out onto a manmade lake in the homeowners' subdivision. The focal point? A 9-foot-8-inch-high-by-7-foot-wide corner fireplace in Earth Grey rustic ledgestone from Colorstone in Houston. The fireplace features a custom wooden mantel, stone bench seating and a 52-inch Sunbrite outdoor TV. Another highlight is the flooring - silver travertine tile laid out in a Versailles pattern. "We chose silver travertine in a 'Tumbled' color palette with variations of cream and brown," says Lisha. "So we had those two colors, plus grey, to pull from." The 7-foot-long, stucco outdoor kitchen island's countertops are also noteworthy - Absolute Black granite in a leathered finish offering a modern look and a dark grey hue that works perfectly with the color palette. The kitchen island also houses an RCS 30-inch grill and fridge. The seating area includes a sectional couch, coffee table, two swivel chairs and two ottomans - all from Restoration Hardware. "We used Restoration Hardware's Biscayne sectional, swivel chairs and ottomans in gray, with textured linen weave in Sand and cushions and peacock accent pillows in gray," says Lisha. The coffee table is made of solid teak with a concrete top - as is the matching side table. "We added a console table, also in teak, behind the sofa. And for accents, we added three Amalfi lanterns from Restoration Hardware in weathered zinc." A Sunbrella® Heathered area rug (in Gray) was added to anchor the space and visually tie it together. "The space as a whole leans towards a transitional style, in that it has many traditional cozy comforts and colors, but the furniture gives it a more contemporary look," says Lisha. "The idea from the beginning was to marry these two styles, as our clients wanted a look that would not age and be in vogue for years to come." On the exterior, you can see how we worked to make the addition blend with the existing home - matching the shingles and stucco and continuing the landscaping. 3D graphic renderings and a virtual video tour allowed the clients to know exactly what the space would look like beforehand. "It takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process," says Outdoor Homescapes' graphic designer, Kristy Buell Franks. "Floor plans and elevation drawings are good for giving an idea of the overall scope of the project, but it's the 3D renderings that really show what the space is going to look like." The 3D graphics and video tours also help immensely when choosing finishing materials and furniture, she says: "The clients' choices can be put into the design to allow the clients to see how the materials will work with the existing materials on the house and how the furniture will look in the space." What do you like about this space? Post a comment and let us know!

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Inspiration for an exterior home remodel in New York