An used closet under the stairs is transformed into a beautiful and functional chilled wine cellar with a new wrought iron railing for the stairs to tie it all together. Travertine slabs replace carpet on the stairs. LED lights are installed in the wine cellar for additional ambient lighting that gives the room a soft glow in the evening. Photos by: Ryan Wilson

Transitional porch photo in Richmond

Angle Eye Photography
Elegant beige three-story stone gable roof photo in Philadelphia

Mid-sized contemporary blue three-story mixed siding flat roof idea in San Francisco

Bruce Glass Photography
Example of a tuscan patio design in Houston with a fire pit

Example of a bedroom and large beach style girl medium tone wood floor kids' bedroom design in DC Metro with green walls

Designed using Trex Transcend decking in Tree House – a warm, earthy brown tone that is complementary the exterior of any home, Trex Transcend decking in Vintage Lantern – a deep-burnished bronze with Old World elegance and Trex Transcend railing.

撮影：K.Torimura
Example of a minimalist dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Tokyo Suburbs with white walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Busy Bees Photography
Example of a mid-sized danish open concept light wood floor family room design in Copenhagen with white walls

Example of a large trendy backyard concrete paver patio design in Los Angeles with a fire pit and no cover

On the upper level, this eliminated a small office/bedroom at the back of the house and created a substantial space for a beautifully appointed master suite. Upon entering the bedroom one notices the unique angles of the ceiling that were carefully designed to blend seamlessly with the existing 1920’s home, while creating visual interest within the room. The bedroom also features a cozy gas-log fireplace with a herringbone brick interior. © Bob Narod Photography and BOWA

Mike Freas
Example of a small transitional guest bedroom design in Charlotte with no fireplace

An award winning backyard project that includes a two tone Limestone Finish patio, stepping stone pathways and basement walkout steps with cantilevered reveals.

Patio - huge transitional backyard stone patio idea in Austin with a roof extension

Build out of the Meditation Hut next to the spa deck and gravel filled steps that lead into a recessed fire pit area. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
This is an example of a small asian drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard landscaping in Los Angeles with decking.

Clear skies and a gentle breeze make for a gorgeous afternoon full of lawn games and relaxation. Rest amid an assortment of decorative pillows and floor cushions made using durable and fade-resistant Sunbrella® fabrics while an awning offers just the right amount of protection from the sun without blocking the view.

The kitchen and family room dedicated to the grandchildren in the Coastal Living 2014 Showhouse on Coronado Island.
Example of a small beach style eat-in kitchen design in San Diego with white appliances

Bedroom and mid-sized elegant girl carpeted and beige floor kids' bedroom photo with blue walls