Wissel's Saguaro Lawson's false cypress - ideal for skinny spaces Le jardinet
Photo of a landscaping in Seattle.

The cantilevered informal sitting area hangs out into the back yard. Floating aluminum steps create a path from the house to a raised ipe deck and down to the yard. The deep corrugations of the metal siding contrast with the vertical v-groove siding of the original ranch house. The floating steel and glass cube adds a dramatic interior volume and captures the view of the landscaped back yard. Photo copyright Nathan Eikelberg

Courtney Apple
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island, shaker cabinets and gray countertops

Benjamin Hill Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard lap pool remodel in Houston

Inspiration for a contemporary backyard concrete patio remodel in San Francisco with no cover and a bbq area

Trendy staircase photo in Portland

A ceiling soffit creates a sense of place for this library within the main living area. The compression shelving system can be moved as desired, making it easy to change the feel of the space.

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

A ceiling soffit creates a sense of place for this library within the main living area. The compression shelving system can be moved as desired, making it easy to change the feel of the space.

Great room - mid-sized contemporary light wood floor and beige floor great room idea in DC Metro with white walls and no fireplace

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary dark wood floor and brown floor great room remodel in Milwaukee with white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Designed & Built by Renewal Design-Build. RenewalDesignBuild.com Photography by: Jeff Herr Photography
Example of a 1950s living room design in Atlanta

A renovated master bathroom in this mid-century house, created a spa-like atmosphere in this small space. To maintain the clean lines, the mirror and slender shelves were recessed into an new 2x6 wall for additional storage. This enabled the wall hung toilet to be mounted in this 'double' exterior wall without protruding into the space. The horizontal lines of the custom teak vanity + recessed shelves work seamlessly with the monolithic vanity top. Tom Holdsworth Photography

Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped porcelain tile utility room design in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and white walls

The kitchen’s floating ceiling canopy serves as spatial accent and functional surface. The lacquered wood ceiling draws the interest from the living space, over the powder room, and through to the dining area in the back of the house. It compresses the large living room volume into the kitchen and provides a sound-dampening element that prevents the open atmosphere from becoming too loud. [photo by : emoMedia]

Complete aging-in-place bathroom remodel to make it more accessible. Includes stylish safety grab bars, LED lighting, wide shower seat, under-mount tub with wide ledge, radiant heated flooring, and curbless entry to shower.

Classic lake charm is felt from the moment you arrive. This cedar shingle coastal home has a relaxed breezy feel that is enjoyed year-round with a busy family schedule and a love for entertaining. The main level includes an open kitchen layout, shiplap paneling at the entry and staircase, and a sunroom with a beautiful wood ceiling and beam detail that connects to a screen porch with a built-in grilling area for serving up casual summer meals. Wire-brushed white oak flooring flows throughout most of the home.

Bob Greenspan Photography
Example of a mid-sized mountain style concrete floor and brown floor basement design in Kansas City

Modern Farmhouse is a contemporary take on a tradition building type, the Connecticut farmhouse. Our clients were interested in a house that fit in with the landscape while providing plenty of daylight with views to the surrounding property. The design uses simple gables arranged in a picturesque manner. It balances clean modern lines, traditional forms, and rustic textures. The new house is bright and light while also feeling personal and unique. There was interest early on to compress the construction time and to design a building that would not take a lot of energy to run. To achieve these goals, the design of the main house used modular construction and a high performance envelope. To articulate the surfaces of the spaces, the owner assembled a group of designers and artisans. Natural textures and tones were layered over the volumes to give a sense of place and time. The modular units of the house are produced by Huntington Homes in East Montpelier, Vermont. In addition to the main house, there is a pool house that sits symmetrically on the main axis of a long swimming pool. A glass enclosed living room fits between two concrete volumes that house a bathroom and storage spaces. An outdoor shower faces south, with an oculus that lets light in when the door is closed. The simple forms of the pool house sit below a green roof, which protects the glassy room from the summer sun and integrates the building into the hilly landscape.