Holly Hill, a retirement home, whose owner's hobbies are gardening and restoration of classic cars, is nestled into the site contours to maximize views of the lake and minimize impact on the site. Holly Hill is comprised of three wings joined by bridges: A wing facing a master garden to the east, another wing with workshop and a central activity, living, dining wing. Similar to a radiator the design increases the amount of exterior wall maximizing opportunities for natural ventilation during temperate months. Other passive solar design features will include extensive eaves, sheltering porches and high-albedo roofs, as strategies for considerably reducing solar heat gain. Daylighting with clerestories and solar tubes reduce daytime lighting requirements. Ground source geothermal heat pumps and superior to code insulation ensure minimal space conditioning costs. Corten steel siding and concrete foundation walls satisfy client requirements for low maintenance and durability. All light fixtures are LEDs. Open and screened porches are strategically located to allow pleasant outdoor use at any time of day, particular season or, if necessary, insect challenge. Dramatic cantilevers allow the porches to project into the site’s beautiful mixed hardwood tree canopy without damaging root systems. Guest arrive by vehicle with glimpses of the house and grounds through penetrations in the concrete wall enclosing the garden. One parked they are led through a garden composed of pavers, a fountain, benches, sculpture and plants. Views of the lake can be seen through and below the bridges. Primary client goals were a sustainable low-maintenance house, primarily single floor living, orientation to views, natural light to interiors, maximization of individual privacy, creation of a formal outdoor space for gardening, incorporation of a full workshop for cars, generous indoor and outdoor social space for guests and parties.

white bookshelf, custom made bookshelf, lighting on bookshelf, tons of blues, beige wallpaper, travertine floor, blue, white and beige color scheme
Example of a large trendy open concept travertine floor and beige floor living room design in Miami with beige walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Mali Azima
Large transitional white two-story brick gable roof photo in Atlanta with a metal roof

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

A modern plan combines the kitchen and dining areas into a large common room that is meant for cooking, entertaining and gathering. Double stoves with a stainless steel backsplash, the exposed joist ceiling, and open pegboard for storing cookware and utensils gives the kitchen an honest, utilitarian feel inspired by industrial kitchens. Photo by Scott Norsworthy

Luxury Simplified Construction
Example of a classic open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Charleston with beige walls

Bright Room SF
Mid-sized eclectic gray one-story stucco gable roof photo in San Francisco

Gregory Cortez
Example of a mid-sized transitional white two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home design in San Francisco with a mixed material roof

House of Jade Interiors. Modern farmhouse kids' bedroom.
Inspiration for a farmhouse gender-neutral medium tone wood floor kids' study room remodel in Salt Lake City with white walls

Patrick Ketchum
Example of a 1960s gray flat roof design in Los Angeles

This 1910 West Highlands home was so compartmentalized that you couldn't help to notice you were constantly entering a new room every 8-10 feet. There was also a 500 SF addition put on the back of the home to accommodate a living room, 3/4 bath, laundry room and back foyer - 350 SF of that was for the living room. Needless to say, the house needed to be gutted and replanned. Kitchen+Dining+Laundry-Like most of these early 1900's homes, the kitchen was not the heartbeat of the home like they are today. This kitchen was tucked away in the back and smaller than any other social rooms in the house. We knocked out the walls of the dining room to expand and created an open floor plan suitable for any type of gathering. As a nod to the history of the home, we used butcherblock for all the countertops and shelving which was accented by tones of brass, dusty blues and light-warm greys. This room had no storage before so creating ample storage and a variety of storage types was a critical ask for the client. One of my favorite details is the blue crown that draws from one end of the space to the other, accenting a ceiling that was otherwise forgotten. Primary Bath-This did not exist prior to the remodel and the client wanted a more neutral space with strong visual details. We split the walls in half with a datum line that transitions from penny gap molding to the tile in the shower. To provide some more visual drama, we did a chevron tile arrangement on the floor, gridded the shower enclosure for some deep contrast an array of brass and quartz to elevate the finishes. Powder Bath-This is always a fun place to let your vision get out of the box a bit. All the elements were familiar to the space but modernized and more playful. The floor has a wood look tile in a herringbone arrangement, a navy vanity, gold fixtures that are all servants to the star of the room - the blue and white deco wall tile behind the vanity. Full Bath-This was a quirky little bathroom that you'd always keep the door closed when guests are over. Now we have brought the blue tones into the space and accented it with bronze fixtures and a playful southwestern floor tile. Living Room & Office-This room was too big for its own good and now serves multiple purposes. We condensed the space to provide a living area for the whole family plus other guests and left enough room to explain the space with floor cushions. The office was a bonus to the project as it provided privacy to a room that otherwise had none before.

Cape Cod; Dennis, MA The central feature is the kitchen island with its dark, contrasting countertop and traditional turned legs, providing a classic farmhouse aesthetic. Paired with the island are three natural-wood bar stools with woven cane seats, which add warmth and texture to the room. The stools are perfectly positioned for casual dining or conversation. The kitchen's cabinetry is a clean, classic off white shaker style that extends to the refrigerator and a built-in wine cooler, creating a seamless and integrated look. The ceiling design varies, with one section featuring traditional beadboard paneling, a common coastal design element, adding depth and visual interest. Two polished metal pendant lights hang over the island, providing focused task lighting and a touch of modern sophistication. Natural light pours into the space from a large window above the sink, which is flanked by simple white countertops and a backsplash. A vase of fresh green flowers on the island and a wine bottle hint at the room's use for entertaining and everyday living. The warm, wood floors complete the space, tying the natural elements together and grounding the bright, off white design.

oak trim; new oak floors; Sub Zero refrigerator; Wolf range & hood; 3cm Brazilian Black granite counters with thumbnail edge detail; 3cm Verde Pavoa granite island with thumbnail edge; lower cabinets painted Seattle Mist by Benjamin Moore; upper cabinets painted Swiss Coffee by Benjamine Moore; island painted Dark Pewter by Benjamin Moore; 6" x 13" rhomboid glazed ceramic tile at backsplash by Walker Zanger; photography by Tre Dunham

Inspiration for a coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Here we have the first story bathroom, as you can see we have a wooden double sink vanity with this beautiful oval mirror. The wall mounted sinks on the white subway backsplash give it this sleek aesthetic. Instead of going for the traditional floor tile, we opted to go with brick as the floor.

Example of a large transitional master carpeted bedroom design in Austin with white walls

Large minimalist master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove shower photo in Bridgeport with shaker cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

Greg Bowman of Bowman Group
Bedroom - tropical master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Joe Fletcher
Entryway - transitional entryway idea in San Francisco with a green front door