Richard Leo Johnson Wall Color: Sherwin Williams - Sea Salt 6204 Trim Color: Sherwin Williams - Extra White 7006 Scones: Circa Lighting, Boston Head Light Mirror: West Elm, Parsons Wood Mirror Flooring: Garden State Tile, White Penny w/ Sea Glass 50 Laticrete Grout Bath Mat: Coyuchi - Ano Nuevo - Midnight/Mid Dusty Aqua

Unlimited Style Photography
Deck - small contemporary one-story and backyard mixed siding white deck idea in Los Angeles with a fire pit and a pergola

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Izumi Tanaka
Example of a 1950s master light wood floor bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls

Chi Fang Photography (Photography)
Patio - contemporary brick patio idea with no cover

Example of a large country master ceramic tile and gray floor freestanding bathtub design in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, black countertops and gray walls

©toddhaiman2014
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary deck remodel in New York

Build for the smallest space yet organized and useful. Maple Melamine with Espresso Counters and oil rubbed bronze accents
Small trendy single-wall laundry room photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate countertops and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Example of a trendy 3/4 blue tile alcove shower design in New York with an integrated sink and white walls

Ines Leong of Archphoto
Inspiration for a small industrial u-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, a peninsula and paneled appliances

Laundry room - transitional gray floor laundry room idea in Philadelphia with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige countertops

Columns and stone frame this traditional adaptation of a craftsman front door in the modern farmhouse aesthetic. The long porch overhang separates vertical and horizontal siding materials.

Bedroom - small contemporary guest carpeted bedroom idea in Vancouver with blue walls and no fireplace

Buried eight feet into the solid rock, the master bedroom is the coolest room in the house, maintaining stable temperatures all day and all year long. The retaining wall itself is make with a PISE technique - crushed rock shot against the bank using the tools and techniques of the swimming pool trade. Architect : Juliet Hsu Photo : Mark Luthringer

This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

This is an example of a mid-sized craftsman full sun backyard mulch outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Atlanta for summer.

Casey Dunn
Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in Austin

Large trendy dedicated laundry room photo with a side-by-side washer/dryer, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and gray countertops

Photo: Le Michelle Nguyen © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic living room design in San Francisco