Photo: Tom Jenkins TomJenkinsksFilms.com
Large country detached two-car garage photo in Atlanta

Photography by Christopher Sturnam
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional black floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with medium tone wood cabinets, no island, white countertops, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, multicolored backsplash and black appliances

We were lucky to be contacted by a client who designed their own dream home directly abutting a stunning nature preserve. When the homeowners were considering making some adjustments to their property, maintaining the connection between the home and its natural surroundings was of the utmost importance. The couple wanted to create a space where they could drink in the beauty of the preserve. But what spurred the project was the need to make functional improvements. There was erosion on a hill sloping away from the house that needed to be addressed. Poor drainage saw rainwater was threatening the driveway and deck access on the side of the house. As careful thinkers, they came into this project brimming with creative ideas for how to transform the space into something functional and worthy of its surroundings. They called us to help tie the project together and execute it. Initial ideas were for a 3 or 4 season porch that would provide unmatched views of the surroundings, but with the functional aspects of the project, the dream porch was out of budget and still did not address the eroding hillside. Not to worry the team at Lotus was able to take inspiration from the couples’ ideas, and together, we developed a stunning space truly worthy of the nature preserve around it. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS In landscaping, the importance of water management cannot be overstated. Our first job in the landscape design process was to improve the drainage for the site. Improved drainage protects not just the landscaping, but the home itself. In fact, estimates indicate that water problems are responsible for 85% of home repair expenses in the US annually. To ensure the drainage problems were fixed permanently, Lotus constructed a retaining wall to protect the foundation of the house. Once we fixed the broken drainage, we moved on to the slope at the side of the house. The hillside was badly eroding, making it another area of concern for the homeowners. Almost immediately, our team of experts saw the eroding hillside not as a problem, but as an opportunity. We fixed some grading issues and then planted the slope with native plants. These served a number of different functions: Native plants tied the home and its landscape to the nature preserve. The Ann Arbor area features a diverse and beautiful array of plant life and this was something the Lotus team and the homeowners were excited to celebrate. The plants’ root structure protects the integrity of the hillside. Plant roots act as anchors, gripping the earth and making the soil much more resistant to erosion. Native plants are especially good for this because they evolved alongside the native soil. Plants on the hillside provided privacy from the neighbors. Look, we love our neighbors. But sometimes, in those quiet moments life affords us all too infrequently, it is nice to have a bit of peace and quiet. While a fence could do the job just as well, a fence isn’t suited to every environment. When your backyard is a nature preserve, you want to feel as connected to the land as possible. Tall native plants add to the feeling of connectedness in a way a fence simply can’t. BEAUTIFUL RESULTS The couple had a deck and a walkout patio, but these spaces felt disconnected. Many of the solutions they put forward were attempts to address this separation. Working with our designers, we created a beautiful, tiered walkway that connected the deck and the walkout using modern bluestone from Rock Bottom Stone Supply, right here in Michigan. We added lighting features that would increase the feeling of connectivity between these spaces. We set out to create a space that would hover between the patio and the deck. This space would make our homeowners feel connected to the nature preserve around them while allowing them to feel creative and comfortable. To start, we made benches, stairs, and a built-in table. From there we finished with a cedar pergola that would give them shade in the summer months. We ended up making the pergola curved so it would relax into the space and provide a bit of the wow factor. We connected the deck and the walkout and paid homage to the slope and the preserve by installing still more native plants. All in all, the space completely rejuvenated the couple’s yard. It proved an elegant solution to a number of practical problems and served as a connection between the house and the stunning property onto which the house was built. At Lotus, we have proven our ability to provide similar solutions for many properties like this, but this one stands out. If for no other reason than to remind us, again and again, that nature and natural beauty are truly worth celebrating. Designer: Traven Pelletier Location: Brighton, Mi Materials: Limestone outcrop, bluestone patio, cedar pergola, all natural stone Vendors: Rock Bottom Stone supply in Burton, Michigan, Hobart stone in New York is bluestone supplier

Maximizing the functionality of this space, and coordinating the new kitchen with the beautiful remodel completed previously by the client were the two most important aspects of this project. The existing spaces are elegantly decorated with an open plan, dark hardwood floors, and natural stone accents. The new, lighter, more open kitchen flows beautifully into the client’s existing dining room space. Satin nickel hardware blends with the stainless steel appliances and matches the satin nickel details throughout the home. The fully integrated refrigerator next to the narrow pull-out pantry cabinet, take up less visual weight than a traditional stainless steel appliance and the two combine to provide fantastic storage. The glass cabinet doors and decorative lighting beautifully highlight the client’s glassware and dishes. Finished with white subway tile, Dreamy Marfil quartz countertops, and a warm natural wood blind; the space warm, inviting, elegant, and extremely functional. copyright 2013 marilyn peryer photography

Getaway in style, in an immersive experience of beauty that will leave you rested and inspired. We've designed this historic cottage in our signature style located in historic Weatherford, Texas. It is available to you on Airbnb, or our website click on the link in the header titled: Properties.

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Everyday dishes are displayed on three understated shelves, also crafted from Reclaimed Chestnut. Photo Credit: Crown Point Cabinetry
Kitchen - rustic kitchen idea in Burlington with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Powder room - mid-sized traditional dark wood floor and brown floor powder room idea in Denver with a two-piece toilet, orange walls and a pedestal sink

Transitional patio photo in Austin

Transitional living room photo in Charleston

Inspiration for a transitional gray floor and double-sink bathroom remodel in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Inspiration for a farmhouse deck remodel in Austin

Beth Singer
Transitional dark wood floor kitchen photo in Detroit with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Seated home bar - eclectic seated home bar idea in Tampa with white cabinets and wood countertops

Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz Inc. Sharing a pass through with the kitchen. the tv room is flooded with light. Its modest size makes it the coziest area of the house, and because of that it is the couple's favorite wintertime spot. "It's so comfortable to just lay around in," Jennifer says. "You sit down and all of a sudden you're falling asleep." The Milo Baughman settee is currently Jennifer's favorite piece. A recent birthday gift from Raymond, Jennifer found the tufted leather sofa on Etsy and drove 10 hours across Pennsylvania to pick it up. Always up for a design adventure, "It was well worth it," she says. "It's amazing." Martini SIde Table, in brass: West Elm Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in Los Angeles

Jon Encarnacion
Inspiration for a tropical entryway remodel in Orange County

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in San Francisco

A 20-year old builder kitchen that desperately needed an update. That is why the Louds called us. A few years previously, we had completed a finished basement project for them that you can view here: https://www.allrd.com/project/loud-basement/ To connect the kitchen a little more with the dining room, we opened the doorway as wide and high as we could. One special feature of the kitchen is the beverage pantry. It was something the homeowner had seen online and wanted to make practical. Because pull outdoors would have been in the way, we went with slide-in, fold-out doors like what you would see in an entertainment center. The other unique feature of the kitchen is the center island. The blue was chosen to match the color theme of the connecting living room. The solid wood countertop is a striking centerpiece that steals the show. The cooktop was moved to the island, but because the homeowner did not want a bulky range hood hanging from the ceiling, we had to get creative with a downdraft range vent and a fan mounted on the outside of the house to pull the air out. Another interesting aspect to the cooktop is that we had originally recommended an induction cooktop instead of regular electric cooktop. The reason being that an induction cooktop cools instantly the moment the pot is removed whereas an electric cooktop stays hot but with no visual cue to warn you. The homeowner initially decided to go with the less expensive electric cooktop. But, before we had even finished construction, one of the family members slid their hand over the cooktop while walking by just after a pan had been removed and got burned. Immediately the homeowner requested we install the induction cooktop instead. Soft Maple Cabinets painted Simply White, Taj Mihal Granite countertops, farmhouse sink, 3” x 6” Antiqua Ceramic tile backsplash in Feelings Grigio, 30” Dacor HoodDowndraft vent, Luxury Vinyl tile floor, and LED i-Lighting undercabinet lighting.