Entrance Transition Spaces The outdoor space between the street and the front door is the start of the entrance to your home. This sequence of spaces differentiates between public and private areas. The street is the start of an intimacy gradient that extends to your front door and into your home. This transition from the street to the inside of your home should be a tranquil experience, slowing you down after experiencing automobile traffic on the interstate highway and the challenges of the day. Creating an entrance transition from the street to the front door and inside your house can create a space with a feeling of calm. Having your front door open directly to the street, you overlook the opportunity to create a graceful arrival to your home. The experience of entering your home and passing through an outdoor room between the street and the front door influences the way you feel once inside. If the transition is too abrupt, there is no feeling of arrival and once inside the quality of an intimate privacy doesn’t exist. The important thing is that an actual physical outdoor space exists between the street and the front door. The essential quality of creating this place is defining the space and to create a sense of enclosure, with a change in surroundings and view, while emphasizing a variation in the light, sound, path direction and surface texture. Below are some considerations you may want to think about in the design phase of the project: • Define a space or path extending from the street to the front door. Think about the transition as an actual space or outdoor room rather than just going from point “A” to “B”. Create a sense of enclosure with a gate or garden wall. • As this space is shaped, think about changes in level and direction in the walking surface at points of significance. • Activate all the senses as you pass through this outdoor entrance room. Create calming sounds with chimes or water. Introduce smells with fragrant flowers and bushes. Provide a Zen view at a change in direction or stopping point on the path. Vary the amount of light with a trellis. Change the texture and size of the paths surface material. • Change the scale of the path. Create a space at the street and just outside the front door for greeting or saying goodbye to guests. Create a space in the middle of the path as a point of reflection while looking towards a Zen view. If done well, the outdoor entrance room you created between the front door and the street will feel comfortable arriving and leaving. This will be a remarkable addition to your home. Photo credit: Bill Sanders

Yachting Club high end upholstered three-seater sofa shown in white leather. Grand Tour is a luxury upholstery collection with a sporting design inspired by first class travel and the world of luxury automobiles. A stylish range of Italian leathers and fabrics are available to choose from (samples available upon request). Made in Italy.

Kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped kitchen idea in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and an island

This stunning primary bedroom remodel delivers a refined, masculine aesthetic that feels equal parts luxury hotel and personal sanctuary. The transformation centers around a rich, moody palette anchored by a custom periwinkle-blue wall color that shifts beautifully from cool gray to soft lavender depending on the light — creating an atmosphere that is both energizing and deeply restful. The room's focal point is a king-sized upholstered platform bed featuring a wide, channel-tufted headboard in warm taupe velvet, dressed with layered indigo linen bedding, oversized quilted shams in dusty mauve, and a classic windowpane throw blanket. Flanking the bed are sleek black oval nightstands — each topped with a marble-column lamp, silver starburst sculptures, and carefully curated personal accessories that nod to the homeowner's passions for horology and classic automobiles. A full wall of fluted black wood dressers provides generous storage while doubling as a dramatic display surface beneath a large-scale framed photograph of a luxury watch movement — a conversation piece that elevates the space into gallery territory. The sitting area features a channel-tufted slate leather armchair paired with a minimalist pedestal side table, positioned beside a grand bay window with an arched transom and custom woven valance. Personal touches throughout — a vintage car model, A Man & His Car coffee table book, watch displays, and framed automotive photography — give this retreat a deeply personal character without sacrificing sophistication. A cognac leather oval bench at the foot of the bed introduces warmth and a subtle vintage nod that ties the entire palette together beautifully. The second bedroom refreshes a guest suite with a softer, transitional sensibility: warm greige walls, a linen platform bed, crisp white bedding with charcoal velvet accent pillows, and a triptych of terracotta-framed abstract art above the headboard.

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint.

This Arts-and-Crafts style home plan has so much to offer the modern family with five bedrooms on a sprawling single level. The spacious, open kitchen includes a walk-in pantry, storage closet and central island. A large utility room with an outside access door is conveniently placed down the hall from the secondary bedrooms. A well-appointed master suite enjoys rear views, porch access, a master bath with dual vanities and a huge walk-in closet with sitting bench. The screened porch offers the best in year-round outdoor living with a fireplace. A three-car garage with extra storage adds space for a third automobile, workshop, or golf cart.

A detached, traditional garage and office that houses the homeowners’ original Ford Model T automobile on the first floor and workspace on the second floor.

Inspiration for a timeless hallway remodel in Detroit

The Birchwood house plan 1239 built by American Builders, Inc. This Arts & Crafts styled sprawling ranch house plan has so much to offer in a home design for today's homeowner. A three car garage floor plan with extra storage adds space for a third automobile, workshop, or golf cart. Inside, each bedroom of this home design features elegant ceiling treatments, a walk-in closet and an adjacent full bathroom. The large, gourmet kitchen of this house plan includes a walk-in pantry and a large central island. The spacious dining room offers large windows and a buffet nook for furniture. Custom-style details abound in this luxurious homeplan with built-ins in the great room and breakfast areas. The master bathroom is a spa-like retreat with dual vanities, a large walk-in shower, built-ins and a vaulted ceiling. The screened porch offers the best in year-round outdoor living with a fireplace.

Long, lean and sleek. If the Palisades Sofa Table were an automobile it would be a sports car. As it is, we think it is the ideal accompaniment for your living space providing great function with minimal fuss. The open shelf offers a frame for displaying beloved tomes or objects, while three drawers can be used to tuck away coasters or perhaps even keys to a sweet little coupe. Dimensions: 84” x 11.5” x 34” H

The homeowner was going to source the changing table for her son. She ran into several problems. 1. they were far costlier than her budget could handle. 2. we did not have the wall space in the bathroom for any of the models she liked, and the only way one would work was if it was mounted on the wall and could fold up when not in use. We did not have wall space for any of the commercially available products. SOLUTION The solution was to custom design and build a changing table for her. We built a frame similar to a hollowcore door to mimimize weight, added two folding legs and devised a way to hide them when the table was stored on the wall. Finally, we had the top covered with a dense foam and a durable vinyl Naugahyde by an upholsterer who is experienced in automobile upholstery. He said this was the most durable solution given the daily usage of the table. We mounted the table on the wall over the toilet and when not in use, it neatly folds up for easy storage. Any other wall was too close to the shower area. We were able to make the width of the table deep enough for Billy’s future growth and as long as the wall would allow PHOTO CREDIT: John Ray

This recently completed high performance home sets the automobile aside to elevate the human experience. With triple pane glazing, energy recovery ventilation, and a high performance envelope it is designed to LEED Gold and Passive House standards.

This stunning primary bedroom remodel delivers a refined, masculine aesthetic that feels equal parts luxury hotel and personal sanctuary. The transformation centers around a rich, moody palette anchored by a custom periwinkle-blue wall color that shifts beautifully from cool gray to soft lavender depending on the light — creating an atmosphere that is both energizing and deeply restful. The room's focal point is a king-sized upholstered platform bed featuring a wide, channel-tufted headboard in warm taupe velvet, dressed with layered indigo linen bedding, oversized quilted shams in dusty mauve, and a classic windowpane throw blanket. Flanking the bed are sleek black oval nightstands — each topped with a marble-column lamp, silver starburst sculptures, and carefully curated personal accessories that nod to the homeowner's passions for horology and classic automobiles. A full wall of fluted black wood dressers provides generous storage while doubling as a dramatic display surface beneath a large-scale framed photograph of a luxury watch movement — a conversation piece that elevates the space into gallery territory. The sitting area features a channel-tufted slate leather armchair paired with a minimalist pedestal side table, positioned beside a grand bay window with an arched transom and custom woven valance. Personal touches throughout — a vintage car model, A Man & His Car coffee table book, watch displays, and framed automotive photography — give this retreat a deeply personal character without sacrificing sophistication. A cognac leather oval bench at the foot of the bed introduces warmth and a subtle vintage nod that ties the entire palette together beautifully. The second bedroom refreshes a guest suite with a softer, transitional sensibility: warm greige walls, a linen platform bed, crisp white bedding with charcoal velvet accent pillows, and a triptych of terracotta-framed abstract art above the headboard.

Toast cool design with this sturdy and stunning white wine decanter featuring an open ice chamber that keeps wine cold without diluting it. Handmade in Colombia from recycled glass, each decanter has a slight green hue from the tint originally added to lessen the sun's glare. These are free form pieces, not made from molds, but wonderful organic shapes that are thick and hefty. Best of all, the glass is recycled from old windows, automobile glass, and all sorts of bottles. Each design is one-of-a-kind, and yes, as always, you can count on unique variations in each piece. For after all... this is no ordinary piece of glass! Due to the hand-crafted process, the texture of each item will differ. Air bubbles and small "imperfections" add individual charm to each one-of-a-kind piece!

This stunning primary bedroom remodel delivers a refined, masculine aesthetic that feels equal parts luxury hotel and personal sanctuary. The transformation centers around a rich, moody palette anchored by a custom periwinkle-blue wall color that shifts beautifully from cool gray to soft lavender depending on the light — creating an atmosphere that is both energizing and deeply restful. The room's focal point is a king-sized upholstered platform bed featuring a wide, channel-tufted headboard in warm taupe velvet, dressed with layered indigo linen bedding, oversized quilted shams in dusty mauve, and a classic windowpane throw blanket. Flanking the bed are sleek black oval nightstands — each topped with a marble-column lamp, silver starburst sculptures, and carefully curated personal accessories that nod to the homeowner's passions for horology and classic automobiles. A full wall of fluted black wood dressers provides generous storage while doubling as a dramatic display surface beneath a large-scale framed photograph of a luxury watch movement — a conversation piece that elevates the space into gallery territory. The sitting area features a channel-tufted slate leather armchair paired with a minimalist pedestal side table, positioned beside a grand bay window with an arched transom and custom woven valance. Personal touches throughout — a vintage car model, A Man & His Car coffee table book, watch displays, and framed automotive photography — give this retreat a deeply personal character without sacrificing sophistication. A cognac leather oval bench at the foot of the bed introduces warmth and a subtle vintage nod that ties the entire palette together beautifully. The second bedroom refreshes a guest suite with a softer, transitional sensibility: warm greige walls, a linen platform bed, crisp white bedding with charcoal velvet accent pillows, and a triptych of terracotta-framed abstract art above the headboard.

Ample garage space provides maximum space for automobiles and storage. The granite lamp post illuminates the area in the dark.
Example of a large gray two-story vinyl exterior home design in Boston

Peter Miller has always been inspired by the Golden Era of the motoring scene, mainly Bentley and Rolls-Royce. In this painting, Peter displays a vintage Bentley sitting within a city getting into the Christmas spirit.

Tip on soft closing doors under the cabinet. Finished inside and out with high grade automobile paint. It is very durable and easy to clean.
Minimalist home design photo in DC Metro

Luxury Italian upholstered bed shown in black with a leather belt. The design of this luxury furniture collection is inspired by first class travel and the world of luxury automobiles. A stylish range of Italian leathers and fabrics are available to choose from. Made in Italy.