Transitional exterior home idea in Denver

Renovation of this remarkable 1936 Monte Copper Tudor demonstrates how we sensitively transform historic homes to beautifully perform in contemporary life. The challenge was to connect first floor spaces, including the kitchen; dining room; and a lower family room added in a previous addition. The family room received thoughtful and appropriate detailing along with a graceful and functional two-sided bar element linking it with the kitchen. The kitchen was expanded and reimagined with a seamless addition. Diagonal views and openings allow all the rooms to function as a connected whole.

Bernard Andre
Example of a small trendy multicolored tile and mirror tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor powder room design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a vessel sink and solid surface countertops

Elegant home design photo in Boston

There's a grandeur to this space. Yet it exudes a cool casualness. Dynamic and utterly appropriate. Sargent Photo
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Miami

The foyer’s original wainscoting and front stair were restored, while a new, period- appropriate checkered floor was installed to create a handsome and historically sympathetic statement entrance. Photography by Sam Frost.

In our busy lives, creating a peaceful and rejuvenating home environment is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Built less than five years ago, this Stinson Beach Modern home is your own private oasis. Surrounded by a butterfly preserve and unparalleled ocean views, the home will lead you to a sense of connection with nature. As you enter an open living room space that encompasses a kitchen, dining area, and living room, the inspiring contemporary interior invokes a sense of relaxation, that stimulates the senses. The open floor plan and modern finishes create a soothing, tranquil, and uplifting atmosphere. The house is approximately 2900 square feet, has three (to possibly five) bedrooms, four bathrooms, an outdoor shower and spa, a full office, and a media room. Its two levels blend into the hillside, creating privacy and quiet spaces within an open floor plan and feature spectacular views from every room. The expansive home, decks and patios presents the most beautiful sunsets as well as the most private and panoramic setting in all of Stinson Beach. One of the home's noteworthy design features is a peaked roof that uses Kalwall's translucent day-lighting system, the most highly insulating, diffuse light-transmitting, structural panel technology. This protected area on the hill provides a dramatic roar from the ocean waves but without any of the threats of oceanfront living. Built on one of the last remaining one-acre coastline lots on the west side of the hill at Stinson Beach, the design of the residence is site friendly, using materials and finishes that meld into the hillside. The landscaping features low-maintenance succulents and butterfly friendly plantings appropriate for the adjacent Monarch Butterfly Preserve. Recalibrate your dreams in this natural environment, and make the choice to live in complete privacy on this one acre retreat. This home includes Miele appliances, Thermadore refrigerator and freezer, an entire home water filtration system, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry by SieMatic, Ceasarstone kitchen counter tops, hardwood and Italian ceramic radiant tile floors using Warmboard technology, Electric blinds, Dornbracht faucets, Kalwall skylights throughout livingroom and garage, Jeldwen windows and sliding doors. Located 5-8 minute walk to the ocean, downtown Stinson and the community center. It is less than a five minute walk away from the trail heads such as Steep Ravine and Willow Camp.

This kitchen was remodelled to prepare for the sale of the house. Our clients wanted something that was unique and appropriate for their home while still having mass appeal and functionality. We chose the two tone natural wood and ivory white color scheme to complement the natural wood floors that were found underneath decades old linoleum.

2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER Project Scope The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases. While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones. The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors. Challenges Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex. Solutions The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight. Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights. The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room. The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry. One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing. Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.

Designed and built in conjunction with Freemont #2, this home pays homage to surrounding architecture, including that of St. James Lutheran Church. The home is comprised of stately, well-proportioned rooms; significant architectural detailing; appropriate spaces for today's active family; and sophisticated wiring to service any HD video, audio, lighting, HVAC and / or security needs. The focal point of the first floor is the sweeping curved staircase, ascending through all three floors of the home and topped with skylights. Surrounding this staircase on the main floor are the formal living and dining rooms, as well as the beautifully-detailed Butler's Pantry. A gourmet kitchen and great room, designed to receive considerable eastern light, is at the rear of the house, connected to the lower level family room by a rear staircase. Four bedrooms (two en-suite) make up the second floor, with a fifth bedroom on the third floor and a sixth bedroom in the lower level. A third floor recreation room is at the top of the staircase, adjacent to the 400SF roof deck. A connected, heated garage is accessible from the rear staircase of the home, as well as the rear yard and garage roof deck. This home went under contract after being on the MLS for one day. Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing

Inspiration for a large timeless wooden u-shaped staircase remodel in Other with painted risers

Inspiration for a small transitional drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard outdoor playset in Toronto for summer.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW What’s the next best thing to a tropical vacation in the middle of a Chicago winter? Well, how about a tropical themed bath that works year round? The goal of this bath was just that, to bring some fun, whimsy and tropical vibes! We started out by making some updates to the built in bookcase leading into the bath. It got an easy update by removing all the stained trim and creating a simple arched opening with a few floating shelves for a much cleaner and up-to-date look. We love the simplicity of this arch in the space. Now, into the bathroom design. Our client fell in love with this beautiful handmade tile featuring tropical birds and flowers and featuring bright, vibrant colors. We played off the tile to come up with the pallet for the rest of the space. The cabinetry and trim is a custom teal-blue paint that perfectly picks up on the blue in the tile. The gold hardware, lighting and mirror also coordinate with the colors in the tile. Because the house is a 1930’s tudor, we played homage to that by using a simple black and white hex pattern on the floor and retro style hardware that keep the whole space feeling vintage appropriate. We chose a wall mount unpolished brass hardware faucet which almost gives the feel of a tropical fountain. It just works. The arched mirror continues the arch theme from the bookcase. For the shower, we chose a coordinating antique white tile with the same tropical tile featured in a shampoo niche where we carefully worked to get a little bird almost standing on the niche itself. We carried the gold fixtures into the shower, and instead of a shower door, the shower features a simple hinged glass panel that is easy to clean and allows for easy access to the shower controls. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more design inspiration go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Original outcropping stones were rearranged in the plant beds and some existing plants, like these 'Quick Fire' hydrangeas, were removed and transplanted in more appropriate groupings. Westhauser Photography

Xeric landscape designed and built by Southern Landscape. This Austin homeowner reduced their turf area by over 17,000 square feet, reducing water consumption and maintenance. The remaining turf areas were required for the septic leach field. Limestone retaining walls with leuders caps control erosion. The plant palette contains lantana, plumbago, various grasses, and yuccas, all chosen for their specific water usage appropriate to the area. Landscape lighting was also added to highlight the beauty of this large xeriscape.

Vine joint fieldstone columns with accustom pvc fluted columns
This is an example of a large traditional stone front porch design in New York with a roof extension.

Xeric landscape designed and built by Southern Landscape. This Austin homeowner reduced their turf area by over 17,000 square feet, reducing water consumption and maintenance. The remaining turf areas were required for the septic leach field. Limestone retaining walls with leuders caps control erosion. The plant palette contains lantana, plumbago, various grasses, and yuccas, all chosen for their specific water usage appropriate to the area. Landscape lighting was also added to highlight the beauty of this large xeriscape.

Mid-sized southwest side yard patio photo in San Diego

Open to the family room beyond, this kitchen uses a warm toned granite to bring in the connamon colors used throughout the home. A golden onyx mosaic tile adds a bit of glam to the backsplash. Photo by Chris Snitko