Scarborough homeowners are increasingly choosing timber flooring that can handle the realities of coastal living — the salt air, the humidity shifts, the sun streaming through large west-facing windows for most of the year. For this Scarborough renovation, we installed Blackbutt in Lifewood's patented Stabilised Solid® system throughout the open plan living and dining areas. Blackbutt is one of Australia's most trusted native hardwoods — a warm golden timber with a tight, consistent grain that brightens a room without overpowering it. It handles Perth's coastal conditions exceptionally well and develops a beautiful character as it ages. Stabilised Solid® is Lifewood's patented flooring technology, developed specifically for Western Australia's climate. Every board uses the same premium Australian hardwood top and bottom — no composite core, no imported filler timber. A moisture barrier coating protects against humidity. Low-emission glue keeps the home safe. And every board is sandable up to four times, meaning this floor is built to last the lifetime of the home. Lifewood is Perth's only triple ATFA-accredited timber flooring manufacturer. ATFA Retailer of the Year 2025. 8,500+ Perth installations. Lifetime warranty on every floor. Species: Blackbutt — Australian native hardwood Technology: Stabilised Solid® patented construction Location: Scarborough, Western Australia Accreditation: Triple ATFA accredited — retail, installation and product innovation

Inspiration for a 1960s open concept beige floor, exposed beam, vaulted ceiling and wood ceiling living room remodel in Charlotte with green walls

Scarborough homeowners are increasingly choosing timber flooring that can handle the realities of coastal living — the salt air, the humidity shifts, the sun streaming through large west-facing windows for most of the year. For this Scarborough renovation, we installed Blackbutt in Lifewood's patented Stabilised Solid® system throughout the open plan living and dining areas. Blackbutt is one of Australia's most trusted native hardwoods — a warm golden timber with a tight, consistent grain that brightens a room without overpowering it. It handles Perth's coastal conditions exceptionally well and develops a beautiful character as it ages. Stabilised Solid® is Lifewood's patented flooring technology, developed specifically for Western Australia's climate. Every board uses the same premium Australian hardwood top and bottom — no composite core, no imported filler timber. A moisture barrier coating protects against humidity. Low-emission glue keeps the home safe. And every board is sandable up to four times, meaning this floor is built to last the lifetime of the home. Lifewood is Perth's only triple ATFA-accredited timber flooring manufacturer. ATFA Retailer of the Year 2025. 8,500+ Perth installations. Lifetime warranty on every floor. Species: Blackbutt — Australian native hardwood Technology: Stabilised Solid® patented construction Location: Scarborough, Western Australia Accreditation: Triple ATFA accredited — retail, installation and product innovation

With home efficiency in mind, the ductless heat pump is conveniently hidden under the deck while keeping the inside warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and the most efficient way to do both on the market.

Designed and built by MAADKreatif™ Studio, this home in Northern Colorado is an on-going conversation with the wild, expansive, and awe-inspiring nature just outside its door. Standing at over 6800 feet above sea level on a 40-acre property bordering more than 650,000 acres of forest land and the Rocky Mountain wilderness, Marc Gerritsen, principal architect of MAADKreatif™, had to contend with wind factor exceeding 150 miles per hour, massive snow loads, extreme danger of wild fires, water shortage, dry climate, and intense year round sun exposure in designing the sprawling headquarters. “Instead of dictating, acquiescing or adapting to Mother Nature, I engage her in a friendly banter”, Marc says with a smile. “We designed and engineered the main building to withstand extreme conditions, but nature had plenty to say in regards to the location, form, orientation, and cladding of the massive structure. “Although we have 40-acres of land to work with, much of it is too steep, exposed, or impenetrable to build on” Marc continues, “the building stands on the only location where we could carve out a large enough area without inflicting too much damage on the land. As it happens, it is also the best location we could hope for. From this location, we have a Southwest orientation that gives the building the optimum amount of sun exposure in the winter, protection from the strong easterly wind, access to water, and a vast, un-interrupted views of the bright city lights, vast plains and the majestic snow-capped mountains”. The building’s frontage features two sets of 24 feet long panoramic windows to take it all in, and its slightly sloped roofline allows high wind to glide over the building and sends melted snow into a 1800 gallon underground concrete cistern. And, to protect the building from wild fires, the entire structure is cladded in raw steel. Exposure to the sun, wind, rain, and snow has begun to corrode the raw metal and transformed its cold, polished, steely surface into a warm, rusty patina that will continue to darken overtime while the extremely low humidity in the air will stop the rusted steel from withering away. And so, the friendly banter between man and nature continues. “Our home embodies the philosophy of Resilient Design + Living,” said Adria Lake, “it is built to last and thrive in any condition, not by force or concessions, but through an on-going conversation and collaboration with nature.”

Photo of a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Jenn Gers Galvanized feeding troughs purchased from Amazon Prime. DIY Cinder block and redwood stand.
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Los Angeles

Architecture and Landscape Design: Sarah Nettleton Architects
Mountain style sunroom photo in Minneapolis

RHEINZINK ROOF PANELS PLAY KEY ROLE IN UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM Located on a steeply sloped site in the central Texas hill country, visitors to the Cascading Creek House look down on the unique water-collection system of the house when entering from the street above. Descending the steps at the property’s entry, the experience begins with the structure’s paired zinc roofs. The northern roof collects rainwater from the sudden downpours that are characteristic of the area and deposits it into a central trough concealed by a line of solar thermal assemblies. The trough culminates in a giant scupper that feeds rainwater into an open cistern before being stored in a 30,000 gallon tank buried beside the house. The scupper can be run artificially as a fountain. The storage tank also collects runoff from the hardscape on the sloped lot. The stored water ties into an extensive climate conditioning system which utilizes water source heat pumps and radiant loops to supply both the heating and cooling for the residence. Design for the project and its innovative technological features was done by Bercy Chen Studio, Austin. Principal Thomas Bercy selected RHEINZINK PrePATINA blue-grey Double Lock Standing Seam Panels to clad the 3,200 sq. ft. roof area. “We used the zinc for aesthetic purpose as well as durability,“ Bercy said. “We were looking for a natural color palette that would work with the other materials on the house. The grey of the RHEINZINK worked perfectly with the grey tones of the Lueder limestone. And I’ve always loved the patina that aged zinc presents.“ The RHEINZINK distributor on the project was MetalTech—USA, Peachtree City, GA. Photographer: Tom Bardagjy

RHEINZINK ROOF PANELS PLAY KEY ROLE IN UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM Located on a steeply sloped site in the central Texas hill country, visitors to the Cascading Creek House look down on the unique water-collection system of the house when entering from the street above. Descending the steps at the property’s entry, the experience begins with the structure’s paired zinc roofs. The northern roof collects rainwater from the sudden downpours that are characteristic of the area and deposits it into a central trough concealed by a line of solar thermal assemblies. The trough culminates in a giant scupper that feeds rainwater into an open cistern before being stored in a 30,000 gallon tank buried beside the house. The scupper can be run artificially as a fountain. The storage tank also collects runoff from the hardscape on the sloped lot. The stored water ties into an extensive climate conditioning system which utilizes water source heat pumps and radiant loops to supply both the heating and cooling for the residence. Design for the project and its innovative technological features was done by Bercy Chen Studio, Austin. Principal Thomas Bercy selected RHEINZINK PrePATINA blue-grey Double Lock Standing Seam Panels to clad the 3,200 sq. ft. roof area. “We used the zinc for aesthetic purpose as well as durability,“ Bercy said. “We were looking for a natural color palette that would work with the other materials on the house. The grey of the RHEINZINK worked perfectly with the grey tones of the Lueder limestone. And I’ve always loved the patina that aged zinc presents.“ The RHEINZINK distributor on the project was MetalTech—USA, Peachtree City, GA. Photographer: Tom Bardagjy

RHEINZINK ROOF PANELS PLAY KEY ROLE IN UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM Located on a steeply sloped site in the central Texas hill country, visitors to the Cascading Creek House look down on the unique water-collection system of the house when entering from the street above. Descending the steps at the property’s entry, the experience begins with the structure’s paired zinc roofs. The northern roof collects rainwater from the sudden downpours that are characteristic of the area and deposits it into a central trough concealed by a line of solar thermal assemblies. The trough culminates in a giant scupper that feeds rainwater into an open cistern before being stored in a 30,000 gallon tank buried beside the house. The scupper can be run artificially as a fountain. The storage tank also collects runoff from the hardscape on the sloped lot. The stored water ties into an extensive climate conditioning system which utilizes water source heat pumps and radiant loops to supply both the heating and cooling for the residence. Design for the project and its innovative technological features was done by Bercy Chen Studio, Austin. Principal Thomas Bercy selected RHEINZINK PrePATINA blue-grey Double Lock Standing Seam Panels to clad the 3,200 sq. ft. roof area. “We used the zinc for aesthetic purpose as well as durability,“ Bercy said. “We were looking for a natural color palette that would work with the other materials on the house. The grey of the RHEINZINK worked perfectly with the grey tones of the Lueder limestone. And I’ve always loved the patina that aged zinc presents.“ The RHEINZINK distributor on the project was MetalTech—USA, Peachtree City, GA. Photographer: Tom Bardagjy

Tucked away in the backwoods of Torch Lake, this home marries “rustic” with the sleek elegance of modern. The combination of wood, stone and metal textures embrace the charm of a classic farmhouse. Although this is not your average farmhouse. The home is outfitted with a high performing system that seamlessly works with the design and architecture. The tall ceilings and windows allow ample natural light into the main room. Spire Integrated Systems installed Lutron QS Wireless motorized shades paired with Hartmann & Forbes windowcovers to offer privacy and block harsh light. The custom 18′ windowcover’s woven natural fabric complements the organic esthetics of the room. The shades are artfully concealed in the millwork when not in use. Spire installed B&W in-ceiling speakers and Sonance invisible in-wall speakers to deliver ambient music that emanates throughout the space with no visual footprint. Spire also installed a Sonance Landscape Audio System so the homeowner can enjoy music outside. Each system is easily controlled using Savant. Spire personalized the settings to the homeowner’s preference making controlling the home efficient and convenient.

Trendy exterior home photo in Dallas

Function meets form in the Delta House, which incorporates innovative building solutions for our challenging rural Canadian climate. Perhaps more akin to aeronautics than architecture, biomimetic processes drove the problem-solving approach while seeking multiple functions for each component. A typical Canadian home grows up and out of the site, exposing more of the facade to the elements. Instead of building up, the focus here was to make better use of the lower level. A section of the house was dug out on the south side, making room for three main glazed boxes. The spaces and bedrooms of a typical second floor were transferred to the more protected basement, thus lowering the volume of conditioned air within the dwelling. To minimize energy losses through the glazing, ATA centralized the windows on the south side of the building, while minimizing the glazing on other facades. The centralized windows became the “three sisters” allowing the winter sun into the main floor and lower level of the house. The aerodynamic delta shape of the building was tested in a wind tunnel and was designed to minimize energy loss due to contact with the turbulent winter wind. The sisters are tilted 10 degrees towards the sun, leveraging the properties of glass as a reflector, when the sun is at a high angle of incidence in the summer. The house also contains an innovative thermal mass battery in the basement slab and a connected radiative masonry fireplace. Excess heat, gathered at the top of the tent-like roof is directed down and reheated through the chimney before being drawn into the basement slab for storage. Openings in the floor areas ensure the energy is equally distributed throughout the dwelling. Read an article in the Globe and Mail about ATA’s Delta project here.

This modern farmhouse landscape project in Cheney, Washington was designed to create a cohesive, durable outdoor environment that complements the architecture while responding to Inland Northwest climate conditions. Phase One included full site grading, irrigation installation, topsoil placement, and hydroseed to establish a healthy, resilient lawn. Planting areas were thoughtfully designed to provide structure, seasonal interest, and long-term performance while maintaining defensible space principles for improved wildfire resilience. Existing Ponderosa pines were preserved to retain the character and scale of the property, and hardscape materials were selected for durability and low maintenance. Concrete curbing defines clean transitions between lawn and planting beds, while strategically placed landscape boulders anchor the design within the site’s natural context. Low voltage landscape lighting was integrated to enhance safety, highlight architectural elements, and extend usability into the evening hours. This project was intentionally designed with future phases in mind, including a detached shop, expanded driveway improvements, additional deciduous tree plantings along the drive, and expanded planting areas. By establishing a strong foundational layout in Phase One, the property can evolve over time while maintaining design cohesion. The result is a refined farmhouse landscape that feels intentional, regionally appropriate, and built to perform through wind, snow, summer heat, and seasonal change.

RHEINZINK ROOF PANELS PLAY KEY ROLE IN UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM Located on a steeply sloped site in the central Texas hill country, visitors to the Cascading Creek House look down on the unique water-collection system of the house when entering from the street above. Descending the steps at the property’s entry, the experience begins with the structure’s paired zinc roofs. The northern roof collects rainwater from the sudden downpours that are characteristic of the area and deposits it into a central trough concealed by a line of solar thermal assemblies. The trough culminates in a giant scupper that feeds rainwater into an open cistern before being stored in a 30,000 gallon tank buried beside the house. The scupper can be run artificially as a fountain. The storage tank also collects runoff from the hardscape on the sloped lot. The stored water ties into an extensive climate conditioning system which utilizes water source heat pumps and radiant loops to supply both the heating and cooling for the residence. Design for the project and its innovative technological features was done by Bercy Chen Studio, Austin. Principal Thomas Bercy selected RHEINZINK PrePATINA blue-grey Double Lock Standing Seam Panels to clad the 3,200 sq. ft. roof area. “We used the zinc for aesthetic purpose as well as durability,“ Bercy said. “We were looking for a natural color palette that would work with the other materials on the house. The grey of the RHEINZINK worked perfectly with the grey tones of the Lueder limestone. And I’ve always loved the patina that aged zinc presents.“ The RHEINZINK distributor on the project was MetalTech—USA, Peachtree City, GA. Photographer: Tom Bardagjy

Custom Pools in Houston, TX – Designed for Luxury Living At Artesa Build & Design, we specialize in creating custom pools that turn your backyard into a private retreat. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern pool with clean lines, a resort-style lagoon with natural stone accents, or a family-friendly pool with built-in spa and water features, our team brings your vision to life. Why Choose Artesa for Your Pool Project? Design-Build Expertise: From initial 3D renderings to final construction, our in-house designers and builders manage every detail. Custom Features: Infinity edges, tanning ledges, fire bowls, waterfalls, LED lighting, and outdoor kitchens that complement your pool design. Quality Craftsmanship: We use durable materials and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure long-lasting beauty and performance. Houston Experience: Our team understands the local climate, soil, and permitting requirements to deliver pools built to thrive in Texas conditions. Pool Remodeling & Renovations Already have a pool that needs an upgrade? We provide complete pool remodeling in Houston—from resurfacing and new tile to adding spas, decking, and outdoor living spaces. With a remodeling project, you can transform your old pool into a modern centerpiece. Outdoor Living Beyond the Pool Our pool projects are often paired with patio covers, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens, creating the ultimate backyard oasis. Every detail is tailored to your lifestyle—perfect for hosting, relaxing, and enjoying Houston’s warm weather year-round.

Custom Pools in Houston, TX – Designed for Luxury Living At Artesa Build & Design, we specialize in creating custom pools that turn your backyard into a private retreat. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern pool with clean lines, a resort-style lagoon with natural stone accents, or a family-friendly pool with built-in spa and water features, our team brings your vision to life. Why Choose Artesa for Your Pool Project? Design-Build Expertise: From initial 3D renderings to final construction, our in-house designers and builders manage every detail. Custom Features: Infinity edges, tanning ledges, fire bowls, waterfalls, LED lighting, and outdoor kitchens that complement your pool design. Quality Craftsmanship: We use durable materials and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure long-lasting beauty and performance. Houston Experience: Our team understands the local climate, soil, and permitting requirements to deliver pools built to thrive in Texas conditions. Pool Remodeling & Renovations Already have a pool that needs an upgrade? We provide complete pool remodeling in Houston—from resurfacing and new tile to adding spas, decking, and outdoor living spaces. With a remodeling project, you can transform your old pool into a modern centerpiece. Outdoor Living Beyond the Pool Our pool projects are often paired with patio covers, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens, creating the ultimate backyard oasis. Every detail is tailored to your lifestyle—perfect for hosting, relaxing, and enjoying Houston’s warm weather year-round.

Custom Pools in Houston, TX – Designed for Luxury Living At Artesa Build & Design, we specialize in creating custom pools that turn your backyard into a private retreat. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern pool with clean lines, a resort-style lagoon with natural stone accents, or a family-friendly pool with built-in spa and water features, our team brings your vision to life. Why Choose Artesa for Your Pool Project? Design-Build Expertise: From initial 3D renderings to final construction, our in-house designers and builders manage every detail. Custom Features: Infinity edges, tanning ledges, fire bowls, waterfalls, LED lighting, and outdoor kitchens that complement your pool design. Quality Craftsmanship: We use durable materials and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure long-lasting beauty and performance. Houston Experience: Our team understands the local climate, soil, and permitting requirements to deliver pools built to thrive in Texas conditions. Pool Remodeling & Renovations Already have a pool that needs an upgrade? We provide complete pool remodeling in Houston—from resurfacing and new tile to adding spas, decking, and outdoor living spaces. With a remodeling project, you can transform your old pool into a modern centerpiece. Outdoor Living Beyond the Pool Our pool projects are often paired with patio covers, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens, creating the ultimate backyard oasis. Every detail is tailored to your lifestyle—perfect for hosting, relaxing, and enjoying Houston’s warm weather year-round.