Strata Landscape Architecture Frank Paul Perez, Red Lily Studios
Photo of a huge modern full sun side yard gravel formal garden in San Francisco for fall.

Our introduction to the Tahoe site was in late winter, on a clear sunny day with filtered light and long shadows through snow-laden fir and pine bows. It made a strong impression, stored for future consideration but the impetus for the design came soon after the spring snow melt. A powerful sense of horizontal layering of vegetation and various stages of decomposing downed timber on the two-acre site, juxtaposed with pine and fir trees and the dense canopy of the surrounding forest. The site is located near the historic 1960 Olympic Nordic track, situated on the edge of wetlands and seasonal streams. The homeowners were previous clients and dreamt of having a retreat in the Sierras away from their home base in Berkeley, CA. Among skiers, bike riders, hikers, and boaters, they found the ideal central location for their home base near Lake Tahoe. The home is organized as a series of linked spaces, each providing a unique sensory experience and connection to different parts of the site, both vertically and horizontally. The design includes extensive use of glass to create a true indoor/outdoor connection and maximize natural light. At the center of the site are two large fir trees, which the building respectfully wraps around in an L shape to create a focal point in the landscaped courtyard. A refined, context-driven palette of natural materials including cedar, oak, fir, and steel is used to harmoniously blend in among the surroundings. The construction includes advanced details such as thermally broken steel beams supporting layered roof planes engineered to hold snow rather than shed it. Designed to resist significant load, we exposed the steel structure as a recurring element in the interior spaces. The resulting columns and support beams contribute to the familiar design aspects of each room and provide a better understanding of how the building was constructed. The second floor features cantilevered volumes that reach out into the nearby evergreen limbs, likening the experience to being in a tree house. The house incorporates features such as radiant heating, solar panels, and operable windows for passive cooling. Fire safety measures include the use of naturally fire-resistant materials, a Class A roof construction, sprinklers, and drought-tolerant landscaping beyond the defensible space.

Beautiful Ski Locker Room featuring over 500 skis from the 1950's & 1960's and lockers named after the iconic ski trails of Park City. Photo credit: Kevin Scott.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Michael Pennello
Inspiration for a huge timeless master brown floor and dark wood floor bedroom remodel with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior idea in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

The Quarry Mill's Appleton real thin stone veneer adds depths of colors and textures to this beautiful residential home. Appleton thin stone veneer is cut from natural Wisconsin granite. The raw stone was deposited years ago as glaciers moved through the state. The stone is unearthed as large boulders the size of a suv and is then broken down via our splitting and sawing processes to make the finished thin veneer. Appleton has shades of soft red, off white, greys and blues. The stone is considered a fieldledge style with its mix of linear type stone blended with mosaic irregular pieces. Appleton is a versatile stone and fits well on both large and small projects. The stone is shown with a standard half-inch grey raked mortar joint between the individual pieces. This is the most common installation method, however, other joint options and mortar colors can be used.

Huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior idea in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

A holiday centerpiece designed by Slow Flowers founder/creative director, Debra Prinzing. She writes: "I found three pots with this beautiful type of poinsettia, $6.98 each. Two of the three had broken stems, with unusable blooms, so Lowe’s sold them to me for $2 each. In all, that netted me 7 huge flowers for $11, which seems like a great price." Debra continues: "I placed a dome-shaped vintage metal flower frog in the base and added a second “level” of structure with chicken wire, domed at the top of the 9-inch container." INGREDIENTS: Foliage and branches: Dark purple Agonis flexuosa, California grown, valued for its sultry color and feathery texture; A silvery-green fir known in the landscape trade as Korean fir (Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’), from Leo’s Trees, a Southwest Washington vendor who sells at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market; Rex begonia foliage, clipped from my houseplant. I love how the raspberry-wine foliage plays off of the Agonis foliage and the scale of each leaf holds its own against the poinsettia blooms.

[Detail] A holiday centerpiece designed by Slow Flowers founder/creative director, Debra Prinzing. She writes: "I found three pots with this beautiful type of poinsettia, $6.98 each. Two of the three had broken stems, with unusable blooms, so Lowe’s sold them to me for $2 each. In all, that netted me 7 huge flowers for $11, which seems like a great price." Debra continues: "I placed a dome-shaped vintage metal flower frog in the base and added a second “level” of structure with chicken wire, domed at the top of the 9-inch container." INGREDIENTS: Foliage and branches: Dark purple Agonis flexuosa, California grown, valued for its sultry color and feathery texture; A silvery-green fir known in the landscape trade as Korean fir (Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’), from Leo’s Trees, a Southwest Washington vendor who sells at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market; Rex begonia foliage, clipped from my houseplant. I love how the raspberry-wine foliage plays off of the Agonis foliage and the scale of each leaf holds its own against the poinsettia blooms.

Example of a trendy light wood floor and beige floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Los Angeles with white walls

Huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior idea in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

Example of a huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior design in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

Example of a huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior design in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

Experience the ultimate indoor-outdoor living with Milgard's Pocket Glass Walls. When fully open, the glass panels slide into the wall pocket and completely disappear from view. The aluminum frames and panels are thermally broken with a full weather-stripped structural interlock system for improved energy efficiency. Customize your glass wall with four exterior frame colors including Clear Anodized and Dark Anodized Bronze. Choose between an all aluminum frame or aluminum clad wood option with a solid wood interior.

Gorgeous master bath finished with Dal-Tile's Fabrique porcelain tile in the color Noir Linen polished. Tile size is 12"x24" installed in a brick joint pattern. The floor boasts underfloor heating on a timed thermostat.

matt meaney @ artisan landscapes and pools
Inspiration for a traditional full sun backyard formal garden in New York.

Huge transitional beige three-story stucco house exterior photo in San Francisco with a clipped gable roof and a green roof

General Contractor: Irontree Construction; Photographer: Camil Tang
Small danish limestone floor and multicolored floor vestibule photo in Montreal with white walls