MEB Architects Ltd
Elegant exterior home photo in Chicago

The glass entry breezeway frames a view of the lake and sky beyond. Board and batten construction, metal and wood request a strong presence while still blending into tranquil lake neighborhood. ©Shoot2Sell Photography

Espaliered witch hazel on welded wire mesh creates a dynamic view across from the kitchen. Viroc herb planters line a breezeway with pavers set in gravel. Two serviceberry trees lit from below punctuate the end of the garden space.

Example of a large cottage beige two-story wood and shingle house exterior design in New York with a shingle roof and a brown roof

Large cottage courtyard patio photo in San Francisco with a fire pit and a roof extension

This was constructed as an addition to an existing brick residence dating from the 1960's. The client requested a traditional character. The design program included a heated breezeway connection to the existing residence, garage parking for two cars, a weaving studio/guest room above, and a greenhouse to support the site's extensive landscaping.

A beautiful, light filled breezeway whimsically decorated for the holidays. This is where rustic meets elegance.
Sunroom - eclectic sunroom idea in Philadelphia

We renovated the exterior and the 4-car garage of this colonial, New England-style estate in Haverford, PA. The 3-story main house has white, western red cedar siding and a green roof. The detached, 4-car garage also functions as a gentleman’s workshop. Originally, that building was two separate structures. The challenge was to create one building with a cohesive look that fit with the main house’s New England style. Challenge accepted! We started by building a breezeway to connect the two structures. The new building’s exterior mimics that of the main house’s siding, stone and roof, and has copper downspouts and gutters. The stone exterior has a German shmear finish to make the stone look as old as the stone on the house. The workshop portion features mahogany, carriage style doors. The workshop floors are reclaimed Belgian block brick. RUDLOFF Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016 and 2017. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017 and 2018, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: JMB Photoworks

rendering of project
Garage - mid-sized contemporary detached two-car garage idea in Raleigh

The home was altered considerably so that a new family room could be built in the location of the original garage. The massive stepping stone chimney was added using matching stone. The open breezeway and garage are new additions that seamlessly match the original 1930's home.

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison

The homeowner of this old, detached garage wanted to create a functional living space with a kitchen, bathroom and second-story bedroom, while still maintaining a functional garage space. We salvaged hickory wood for the floors and built custom fir cabinets in the kitchen with patchwork tile backsplash and energy efficient appliances. As a historical home but without historical requirements, we had fun blending era-specific elements like traditional wood windows, French doors, and wood garage doors with modern elements like solar panels on the roof and accent lighting in the stair risers. In preparation for the next phase of construction (a full kitchen remodel and addition to the main house), we connected the plumbing between the main house and carriage house to make the project more cost-effective. We also built a new gate with custom stonework to match the trellis, expanded the patio between the main house and garage, and installed a gas fire pit to seamlessly tie the structures together and provide a year-round outdoor living space.

The 2 story artist studio and garage addition on the left is gracefully joined to the existing house on the right by continuing the design of the existing breezeway across the front of the addition. The breezeway breaks up the addition's mass to give it a smaller scale in the back yard. The breezeway roof then climbs to a two story roof at the addition's staircase to create a dramatic flair. Photo by Michael Geagan Photography

Bathroom in enclosed breezeway. With a focus on their passions of beekeeping and herb gardening, this retired couple saw potential in this rural home they bought in 2013. They asked us for suggestions on how best to enclose and expand a breezeway from the home to the garage to include two stories, add a room over the garage, and nearly double the size of the kitchen. The lowered “biscuit counter” in the island is an ideal height for rolling out dough and getting help from the grandkids. Pantry access is through a screen door. Load-bearing walls were removed, the stairway was reconstructed, the previous breezeway was transformed into a small bathroom and a mud/laundry space. Above that was added another small bathroom, an herb prep room, complete with a stove, double sink and small fridge, plus another bedroom. Exterior drainage issues also needed attention, so we dug out along the back of the home, added French drains to evacuate the excess water, plus and a small, rock retaining wall.

Example of a mid-sized mountain style detached barn design in Austin

Modern Carriage House connects to Primary Residence with elevated breezeway, while the canopy continues to shelter lanai - New Modern Villa - Old Northside Historic Neighborhood, Indianapolis - Architect: HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Builder: ZMC Custom Homes

Modern Carriage House connects to Primary Residence with elevated breezeway - New Modern Villa - Old Northside Historic Neighborhood, Indianapolis - Architect: HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Builder: ZMC Custom Homes

Modern Carriage House connects to Primary Residence with elevated breezeway - New Modern Villa - Old Northside Historic Neighborhood, Indianapolis - Architect: HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Builder: ZMC Custom Homes

Elevated covered breezeway connects garage to house - View from Garage to House reveals In-Law quarters to the left and lanai to the right - New Modern Villa - Old Northside Historic Neighborhood, Indianapolis - Architect: HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Builder: ZMC Custom Homes