Coronado, CA The Alameda Residence is situated on a relatively large, yet unusually shaped lot for the beachside community of Coronado, California. The orientation of the “L” shaped main home and linear shaped guest house and covered patio create a large, open courtyard central to the plan. The majority of the spaces in the home are designed to engage the courtyard, lending a sense of openness and light to the home. The aesthetics take inspiration from the simple, clean lines of a traditional “A-frame” barn, intermixed with sleek, minimal detailing that gives the home a contemporary flair. The interior and exterior materials and colors reflect the bright, vibrant hues and textures of the seaside locale.

Elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo with white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and white backsplash

Laundry room located in the mud room of L'Attesa Di Vita II. View our Best-Selling Plan THD-1074: https://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/lattesa-di-vita-ii-1074/

Photography by Jorge Alvarez.
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped travertine floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen idea in Tampa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, glass sheet backsplash and two islands

Blackstone Edge Studios
Living room - huge transitional open concept carpeted living room idea in Portland with a stone fireplace, a media wall, beige walls and a ribbon fireplace

Tim Krueger
Cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen photo in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Eric Rorer
Country courtyard rectangular pool photo in San Francisco

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The best of past and present architectural styles combine in this welcoming, farmhouse-inspired design. Clad in low-maintenance siding, the distinctive exterior has plenty of street appeal, with its columned porch, multiple gables, shutters and interesting roof lines. Other exterior highlights included trusses over the garage doors, horizontal lap siding and brick and stone accents. The interior is equally impressive, with an open floor plan that accommodates today’s family and modern lifestyles. An eight-foot covered porch leads into a large foyer and a powder room. Beyond, the spacious first floor includes more than 2,000 square feet, with one side dominated by public spaces that include a large open living room, centrally located kitchen with a large island that seats six and a u-shaped counter plan, formal dining area that seats eight for holidays and special occasions and a convenient laundry and mud room. The left side of the floor plan contains the serene master suite, with an oversized master bath, large walk-in closet and 16 by 18-foot master bedroom that includes a large picture window that lets in maximum light and is perfect for capturing nearby views. Relax with a cup of morning coffee or an evening cocktail on the nearby covered patio, which can be accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. Upstairs, an additional 900 square feet includes two 11 by 14-foot upper bedrooms with bath and closet and a an approximately 700 square foot guest suite over the garage that includes a relaxing sitting area, galley kitchen and bath, perfect for guests or in-laws.

Farmhouse bathroom photo in Austin

This is an organic Lime Wash done with a true lime wash product as opposed to a brick mortar or concrete that is often seen on new houses. This product can be applied as a solid coating making the surface completely white, or can be applied and "washed off" in many artistic ways, as seen here. If you hate your brick or just want something unique this is a great option! Photo credit: Jeff Murrey

Photograph by Bernard André
Inspiration for a cottage exterior home remodel in San Francisco

Urn and fountain Features for your Austin, Central Texas, Houston, Southeast Texas Landscape We offer Urn and Fountain Water Feature Design and Installation in the Austin and Central Texas area including Bastrop, Elgin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Manor, Buda, Lakeway and San Marcos. We also serve the Houston and Southeast Texas area including Rosenberg, Richmond, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, and Manvel. Urn and fountain Water Features are perfect for smaller areas or places where you're just not looking for a natural looking waterfall. A disappearing water feature can be created using almost any vessel you can imagine. These features are perfect for small courtyards, front yards, or commercial properties where liability is a concern. They are a great way to 'get your feet wet' with water features without the commitment of a pond. We have created fountainscapes using urns, ceramic vases, natural stone columns, even a concrete cowboy boot! The water fills up the vessel and then spills over, disppearing into a bed of decorative gravel. the water is then recirculated through the feature again and again. For more information on urn and fountainscapes, please visit As an added bonus for those of you looking to go in a more 'green' direction, most pondless water features can be used in conjunction with the RainXChange rainwater caturing system. In fact, you can get up to 12 LEED points by incorporating our system into your design. The RainXChange system captures rainwater and stores it underground in a hidden reservior while recirculating it through an urn or fountain feature or even a pondless waterfall. For more information on the RainXChange system, please visit Contact us to get started on your urn or fountain water feature 512-782-8315 or 281-668-4077

This combination outdoor living space is located in the Wildewood community of East Columbia, SC. The addition consists of a low-maintenance deck, covered porch, stamped concrete patio, outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Photos courtesy Archadeck of Central South Carolina.

This combination outdoor living space is located in the Wildewood community of East Columbia, SC. The addition consists of a low-maintenance deck, covered porch, stamped concrete patio, outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Photos courtesy Archadeck of Central South Carolina.

Designer: Paul McClean Project Type: New Single Family Residence Location: Los Angeles, CA Approximate Size: 15,500 sf Completion Date: 2012 Photographer: Jim Bartsch

This Southern Traditional styled home located in Central is a 2-story with 4 bedrooms and 6 ½ baths. The square footage for the conditioned spaces is 8,780 sq ft and the total under roof square footage is 13,314 sq ft. The full 2-story home stretches along a large country lot, maximizing the views to the backyard and a pond. As you enter the entry foyer, a staircase turns above your head creating a paneled arched opening that leads you to the living room. To the left of the foyer is a study with white oak wood paneled walls. Hidden by the paneling is a murphy bed that can be pulled down for guests. To the right of the foyer is a formal dining room, which connects to the kitchen through a butler’s pantry. The kitchen comes with two islands and a breakfast nook with views of the front yard. Off the side of the kitchen is a keeping room, which has corner views to the backyard and access to an outdoor living area with vaulted wood truss ceilings and drop-down screens. Past the kitchen is a hallway that leads to the garage with rooms such as a large man cave and exercise room branching off it. The main living room has uninterrupted views to the backyard with large windows framing your sight line. From here you have access to a back porch that leads to the outdoor living area with a large fireplace, dining area, and kitchen, which all opens up to an infinity pool. Back inside past the living room, is a vestibule that will lead to the laundry room on the left and the master suite on the right. Upstairs are 3 more bedrooms, which all have their own ensuite bathrooms. All three have views looking down over the site with two having access to the front porch balcony. You will also find a large common area with views to the backyard pool and conditioned storage room.

"Brandon Stengel - www.farmkidstudios.com”
Example of a small danish multicolored floor mudroom design in Minneapolis with green walls

This Southern Traditional styled home located in Central is a 2-story with 4 bedrooms and 6 ½ baths. The square footage for the conditioned spaces is 8,780 sq ft and the total under roof square footage is 13,314 sq ft. The full 2-story home stretches along a large country lot, maximizing the views to the backyard and a pond. As you enter the entry foyer, a staircase turns above your head creating a paneled arched opening that leads you to the living room. To the left of the foyer is a study with white oak wood paneled walls. Hidden by the paneling is a murphy bed that can be pulled down for guests. To the right of the foyer is a formal dining room, which connects to the kitchen through a butler’s pantry. The kitchen comes with two islands and a breakfast nook with views of the front yard. Off the side of the kitchen is a keeping room, which has corner views to the backyard and access to an outdoor living area with vaulted wood truss ceilings and drop-down screens. Past the kitchen is a hallway that leads to the garage with rooms such as a large man cave and exercise room branching off it. The main living room has uninterrupted views to the backyard with large windows framing your sight line. From here you have access to a back porch that leads to the outdoor living area with a large fireplace, dining area, and kitchen, which all opens up to an infinity pool. Back inside past the living room, is a vestibule that will lead to the laundry room on the left and the master suite on the right. Upstairs are 3 more bedrooms, which all have their own ensuite bathrooms. All three have views looking down over the site with two having access to the front porch balcony. You will also find a large common area with views to the backyard pool and conditioned storage room.