Part of an addition on the back of the home, this outdoor kitchen space is brand new to a pair of homeowners who love to entertain, cook, and most important to this space - grill. A new covered back porch makes space for an outdoor living area along with a highly functioning kitchen. Cabinets are from NatureKast and are Weatherproof outdoor cabinets. The appliances are mostly from Blaze including a 34" Pro Grill, 30" Griddle, and 42" vent hood. The 30" Warming Drawer under the griddle is from Dacor. The sink is a Blanco Quatrus single-bowl undermount. The other major focal point is the brick work in the outdoor kitchen and entire exterior addition. The original brick from ACME is still made today, but only in 4 of the 6 colors in that palette. We carefully demo'ed brick from the existing exterior wall to utilize on the side to blend into the existing brick, and then used new brick only on the columns and on the back face of the home. The brick screen wall behind the cooking surface was custom laid to create a special cross pattern. This allows for better air flow and lets the evening west sun come into the space.

This 6,000sf luxurious custom new construction 5-bedroom, 4-bath home combines elements of open-concept design with traditional, formal spaces, as well. Tall windows, large openings to the back yard, and clear views from room to room are abundant throughout. The 2-story entry boasts a gently curving stair, and a full view through openings to the glass-clad family room. The back stair is continuous from the basement to the finished 3rd floor / attic recreation room. The interior is finished with the finest materials and detailing, with crown molding, coffered, tray and barrel vault ceilings, chair rail, arched openings, rounded corners, built-in niches and coves, wide halls, and 12' first floor ceilings with 10' second floor ceilings. It sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in a wooded neighborhood, surrounded by old growth trees. The homeowners, who hail from Texas, believe that bigger is better, and this house was built to match their dreams. The brick - with stone and cast concrete accent elements - runs the full 3-stories of the home, on all sides. A paver driveway and covered patio are included, along with paver retaining wall carved into the hill, creating a secluded back yard play space for their young children. Project photography by Kmieick Imagery.

Ryan Dearth Photography
Inspiration for a timeless gray two-story exterior home remodel in Seattle

The original Living Room was slightly longer, with a closed in rear porch off of the back of it and a covered side porch. We kept the original mantle, but added a new marble surround, added new plaster and trim, new flooring and opened up the room to the new sitting room beyond. Additionally, we enclosed the side porch.

Bernard Andre
Inspiration for a transitional open concept dark wood floor family room remodel in San Francisco with gray walls and a tv stand

We were asked to create something really special for one of our most admired clients. This home has been a labor of love for both of us as we finally made it exactly what she wanted it to be. After many concept ideas we landed on a design that is stunning! All of the elements on her wish list are incorporated in this challenging, multi-level landscape: A front yard to match the modern traditional-style home while creating privacy from the street; a side yard that proudly connects the front and back; and a lower level with plantings in lush greens, whites, purples and pinks and plentiful lawn space for kids and dogs. Her outdoor living space includes an outdoor kitchen with bar, outdoor living room with fireplace, dining patio, a bedroom-adjacent lounging patio with modern fountain, enclosed vegetable garden, rose garden walk with European-style fountain and meditation bench, and a fire pit with sitting area on the upper level to take in the panoramic views of the sunset over the wooded ridge. Outdoor lighting brings it alive at night, and for parties you can’t beat the killer sound system!

Design ideas for a small rustic drought-tolerant and partial sun side yard stone garden path in Calgary.

The side yard path takes you to the entry to the backyard. This is a late spring photo. You can see the hostas and ligularias popping out and an original, one-of-a-kind water feature created by Sun or Shade.

Mathew and his team at Cummings Architects have a knack for being able to see the perfect vision for a property. They specialize in identifying a building’s missing elements and crafting designs that simultaneously encompass the large scale, master plan and the myriad details that make a home special. For this Winchester home, the vision included a variety of complementary projects that all came together into a single architectural composition. Starting with the exterior, the single-lane driveway was extended and a new carriage garage that was designed to blend with the overall context of the existing home. In addition to covered parking, this building also provides valuable new storage areas accessible via large, double doors that lead into a connected work area. For the interior of the house, new moldings on bay windows, window seats, and two paneled fireplaces with mantles dress up previously nondescript rooms. The family room was extended to the rear of the house and opened up with the addition of generously sized, wall-to-wall windows that served to brighten the space and blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The family room, with its intimate sitting area, cozy fireplace, and charming breakfast table (the best spot to enjoy a sunlit start to the day) has become one of the family’s favorite rooms, offering comfort and light throughout the day. In the kitchen, the layout was simplified and changes were made to allow more light into the rear of the home via a connected deck with elongated steps that lead to the yard and a blue-stone patio that’s perfect for entertaining smaller, more intimate groups. From driveway to family room and back out into the yard, each detail in this beautiful design complements all the other concepts and details so that the entire plan comes together into a unified vision for a spectacular home. Photos By: Eric Roth

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This side yard winding pathway to the back pool patio makes for a nice entryway planter. Heavily layered to the back with potted accents.....Frangi Pani, Alocasia elephant ear, arbracola, blueberry flax lilly and evergreen giants as the final ground cover. Landscape designed and installed by Construction Landscape, Jennifer Bevins 772-492-8382

Recessed soffit with LED lighting Porcelain tile with woodgrain Custom front door #buildboswell
Inspiration for a large contemporary porcelain tile great room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

Design and construction by New Beginnings Landscape Inc. in Ohio.
Example of a mid-sized classic side yard brick patio design in Other

Sideyard access from front drive to backyard. Minimal, pressure treated timber steps risers with crushed gravel treads. Permeable, low-maintenance. Photography by: Joe Hollowell

Formal Backyard Garden Showcases the Beauty of Natural Gray Concrete This Pacific Northwest project called for a total backyard transformation that required a significant reduction in lawn space, most of which was saturated and mossy. Emily of Emily Russell Landscape Architecture designed this formal backyard garden which was installed by Northwest Construction & Landscape, LLC. Previously unused space was organized through the creation of a courtyard patio which functions as an extension of the house that the homeowner can use for family gatherings, entertaining, or reflection. Budgetary concerns led her to opt for concrete rather than a mortared flagstone patio. “I always let homeowners know that we can do either for them, but to me, going with concrete is an easy choice to make because of the cost savings,” says Colby Brand, President of Northwest of Construction & Landscape, LLC. Ashlar slate stamped concrete was suggested by Colby to mimic the pattern used in Emily’s conceptual design. The final plan featured natural gray, ashlar slate stamped concrete with antique coloring for texture. Colby and his team poured the steps first. Substantial in size – the rise is 4’ with a run of 5,’ and includes a 4’ landing on top – the steps allow an easy and fluid transition from inside to outside. After the steps were completed, the curved walkway on the side of the house was poured, connecting the backyard to the front yard. Instead of a conventional, rectangular shape for the 647 sf courtyard patio area, the formality of the plan called for sections of the concrete to bump out into the garden beds against the back side of the house, tying the contrasting elements together. Granite urns and curved, concrete benches purchased by the homeowner rest atop the rounded portion of the concrete and provide a space for sitting and an inviting view from the house. Regarding the final product, Emily Russell states, “My client and I are extremely happy with the finished patio. It's such an inviting space that is well loved and used on a regular basis.”

The design incorporates a two-sided open bookcase to separate the main living space from the back hall. The two-sided bookcase offers a filtered view to and from the back hall, allowing the space to feel open while supplying some privacy for the service areas. A stand-alone entertainment center acts as a room divider, with a TV wall on one side and a gallery wall on the opposite side. In addition, the ceiling height over the main space was made to feel taller by exposing the floor joists above. Photo Credit: David Meaux Photography

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

Inspiration for a coastal deck container garden remodel in Los Angeles with no cover

Short Hills, NJ kitchen remodel opened dining room to kitchen and side entry; created more direct access to back deck. The existing vaulted ceiling with skylights was accentuated by the full height stainless hood vent and ceiling fan. Photo by In House Photography.