Patio fountain - mid-sized traditional side yard stone patio fountain idea in Santa Barbara with a pergola

Design ideas for a large traditional partial sun side yard concrete paver garden path in San Francisco.

Inspiration for a large traditional partial sun side yard concrete paver garden path in San Francisco.

The narrow window on the home created a great opportunity for us to carry that architectural feature into the landscape. 'Brachytricha' ornamental grasses in slate chip add a linear element to the side yard. Renn Kuhnen Photography

This custom floating deck was built to solve a tricky side-yard challenge—snow accumulation, uneven terrain, and obstructed access to basement window wells. We installed a sleek, weather-resistant composite deck system that floats above the grade and steps cleanly over two basement egress windows. The deck provides a dry, level walking surface in an otherwise sloped, icy zone. It’s built with proper clearance for drainage and venting, and framed with a self-supporting platform that keeps all utilities accessible. The fascia is mitered clean, matching the modern look of the home while protecting the framing below. Details Framing: Pressure-treated joists with adjustable deck blocks—no anchoring to foundation Decking: Grooved composite planks with hidden fasteners for a seamless surface Trim: Full-wrap mitered fascia around all visible sides Features: Cutout access over egress well; integrated step; zero-penetration design Conditions: Built during cold-weather season with snow on-site and minimal disruption to landscape Result The client now has year-round access along the home—no more slipping on ice or dodging around window wells. This deck brought utility and design together in a clean, functional install that looks like it was always meant to be there.

This custom floating deck was built to solve a tricky side-yard challenge—snow accumulation, uneven terrain, and obstructed access to basement window wells. We installed a sleek, weather-resistant composite deck system that floats above the grade and steps cleanly over two basement egress windows. The deck provides a dry, level walking surface in an otherwise sloped, icy zone. It’s built with proper clearance for drainage and venting, and framed with a self-supporting platform that keeps all utilities accessible. The fascia is mitered clean, matching the modern look of the home while protecting the framing below. Details Framing: Pressure-treated joists with adjustable deck blocks—no anchoring to foundation Decking: Grooved composite planks with hidden fasteners for a seamless surface Trim: Full-wrap mitered fascia around all visible sides Features: Cutout access over egress well; integrated step; zero-penetration design Conditions: Built during cold-weather season with snow on-site and minimal disruption to landscape Result The client now has year-round access along the home—no more slipping on ice or dodging around window wells. This deck brought utility and design together in a clean, functional install that looks like it was always meant to be there.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional landscaping in Chicago.

Inspiration for a mid-sized drought-tolerant and full sun side yard landscaping in Sacramento.

This is the side yard with view of the front off in the distance.
Inspiration for a large contemporary drought-tolerant and partial sun side yard concrete paver landscaping in San Francisco.

This custom floating deck was built to solve a tricky side-yard challenge—snow accumulation, uneven terrain, and obstructed access to basement window wells. We installed a sleek, weather-resistant composite deck system that floats above the grade and steps cleanly over two basement egress windows. The deck provides a dry, level walking surface in an otherwise sloped, icy zone. It’s built with proper clearance for drainage and venting, and framed with a self-supporting platform that keeps all utilities accessible. The fascia is mitered clean, matching the modern look of the home while protecting the framing below. Details Framing: Pressure-treated joists with adjustable deck blocks—no anchoring to foundation Decking: Grooved composite planks with hidden fasteners for a seamless surface Trim: Full-wrap mitered fascia around all visible sides Features: Cutout access over egress well; integrated step; zero-penetration design Conditions: Built during cold-weather season with snow on-site and minimal disruption to landscape Result The client now has year-round access along the home—no more slipping on ice or dodging around window wells. This deck brought utility and design together in a clean, functional install that looks like it was always meant to be there.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional drought-tolerant and full sun side yard mulch pond in Santa Barbara for summer.

This custom floating deck was built to solve a tricky side-yard challenge—snow accumulation, uneven terrain, and obstructed access to basement window wells. We installed a sleek, weather-resistant composite deck system that floats above the grade and steps cleanly over two basement egress windows. The deck provides a dry, level walking surface in an otherwise sloped, icy zone. It’s built with proper clearance for drainage and venting, and framed with a self-supporting platform that keeps all utilities accessible. The fascia is mitered clean, matching the modern look of the home while protecting the framing below. Details Framing: Pressure-treated joists with adjustable deck blocks—no anchoring to foundation Decking: Grooved composite planks with hidden fasteners for a seamless surface Trim: Full-wrap mitered fascia around all visible sides Features: Cutout access over egress well; integrated step; zero-penetration design Conditions: Built during cold-weather season with snow on-site and minimal disruption to landscape Result The client now has year-round access along the home—no more slipping on ice or dodging around window wells. This deck brought utility and design together in a clean, functional install that looks like it was always meant to be there.

Nicole Leone
Dining room - mid-sized traditional dining room idea in Los Angeles with blue walls

This client had a very shady spot that would not dry out or grow grass. They wanted to cleanup the side of the house and make it more attractive. We installed a bed of river rock surrounded by over sized cobblestone with natural stepping stones. It gave the space a clean look and made it a nice pathway from getting from the front yard to the back with out getting your shoes dirty.

Example of a cottage white two-story wood gable roof design in Richmond

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget. While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

  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

Lakefront living is not often luxurious and conscious of size. The “Emmett” design achieves both of these goals in style. Despite being ideal for a narrow waterfront lot, this home leaves nothing wanting, offering homeowners three full floors of modern living. Dining, kitchen, and living areas flank the outdoor patio space, while three bedrooms plus a master suite are located on the upper level. The lower level provides additional gathering space and a bunk room, as well as a “beach bath” with walkout access to the lake.