Inspiration for a large timeless backyard deck remodel in Nashville with a pergola

Troy Thies Photography
Example of a mid-sized classic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room design in Minneapolis with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Transitional eat-in kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets and white backsplash

Backyard Landscaping
Mid-sized southwest backyard stone patio photo in Phoenix

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This is an example of a large craftsman back porch design in Louisville with a roof extension.

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TThis space is a converted into a few programmatic needs for a busy family of four. The back door was incorporated in the design to create a connection to the backyard. The mudroom entry incorporates a built in home office, relocated powder room, built in cubicles for each family member as well as a closet. Designer: Shadi Khadivi Photography: Sébastien Barré

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This gem of a house was built in the 1950s, when its neighborhood undoubtedly felt remote. The university footprint has expanded in the 70 years since, however, and today this home sits on prime real estate—easy biking and reasonable walking distance to campus. When it went up for sale in 2017, it was largely unaltered. Our clients purchased it to renovate and resell, and while we all knew we'd need to add square footage to make it profitable, we also wanted to respect the neighborhood and the house’s own history. Swedes have a word that means “just the right amount”: lagom. It is a guiding philosophy for us at SYH, and especially applied in this renovation. Part of the soul of this house was about living in just the right amount of space. Super sizing wasn’t a thing in 1950s America. So, the solution emerged: keep the original rectangle, but add an L off the back. With no owner to design with and for, SYH created a layout to appeal to the masses. All public spaces are the back of the home--the new addition that extends into the property’s expansive backyard. A den and four smallish bedrooms are atypically located in the front of the house, in the original 1500 square feet. Lagom is behind that choice: conserve space in the rooms where you spend most of your time with your eyes shut. Put money and square footage toward the spaces in which you mostly have your eyes open. In the studio, we started calling this project the Mullet Ranch—business up front, party in the back. The front has a sleek but quiet effect, mimicking its original low-profile architecture street-side. It’s very Hoosier of us to keep appearances modest, we think. But get around to the back, and surprise! lofted ceilings and walls of windows. Gorgeous.

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.

Example of a large classic backyard concrete and rectangular lap pool design in Nashville

The back of the house was extended with an addition made of glass and steel. Alexander Jermyn Architecture, Robert Vente Photography.
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James Borchuk
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Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional side yard concrete paver formal garden in Minneapolis.

Inspiration for a large traditional partial sun backyard mulch landscaping in Minneapolis.

Deck - mid-sized traditional backyard deck idea in New York with no cover

Mid-sized transitional backyard deck photo in Louisville with a roof extension

This is an example of a large craftsman screened-in back porch design in Louisville with a roof extension and decking.