2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER Project Scope The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases. While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones. The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors. Challenges Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex. Solutions The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight. Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights. The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room. The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry. One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing. Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.

LAB A FRAME WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL CORE. Prominent and refined model with clean lines and large volumes expressing the lightness of the glass fronts and the strength of the aluminum frame supporting them. Design for better ergonomics, concentrating the washing and cooking areas in the central island to make kitchen chores easier. The simplicity of solids, emphasized by tall units doors and island bases with groove, does not contrast with the various translucent materials that introduce countless and rigorous reflections. A real laboratory where different materials and finishes are mixed with extreme knowledge: the right columns are model Lab matt glass Nero traffico finish, the left columns are model Bluna wood bilaminate Noce miele finish, while the island is model Bluna tech Alluminio brunito finish with the new Emme groove which gives a characteristic lightness to the 12 mm thick gres worktop Nero greco finish.

LAB A FRAME WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL CORE. Prominent and refined model with clean lines and large volumes expressing the lightness of the glass fronts and the strength of the aluminum frame supporting them. Design for better ergonomics, concentrating the washing and cooking areas in the central island to make kitchen chores easier. The simplicity of solids, emphasized by tall units doors and island bases with groove, does not contrast with the various translucent materials that introduce countless and rigorous reflections. A real laboratory where different materials and finishes are mixed with extreme knowledge: the right columns are model Lab matt glass Nero traffico finish, the left columns are model Bluna wood bilaminate Noce miele finish, while the island is model Bluna tech Alluminio brunito finish with the new Emme groove which gives a characteristic lightness to the 12 mm thick gres worktop Nero greco finish.

A sculptural translation of geological character into precise architectural form. Cut to a 27"x16"x6" profile, this wall-hung basin utilizes the dense, charcoal field and irregular white veining of premium Bursa Gray marble. The design features a flush-integrated 6" backsplash, a sweeping curved front profile, and a striking terraced interior basin that steps concentrically toward the drain. The honed matte finish suppresses reflectivity to foreground the stone's tonal complexity. Engineered for wall-mounted faucet configurations, it reads with quiet authority—especially when contrasted with matte black plumbing fixtures and bare plaster or modern interior palettes. For current availability, structural specifications, and direct ordering of this terraced model, visit our LUCE SPACES official website

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

Example of a large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

PLA Design Studio is a Landscape Architecture firm specializing in high-end residential/estate planning and design, resort design and community identification and theming. We pride ourselves in our team approach and the high level of detail given to all aspects of the design process. Our top priority is to DESIGN WITH INTENTION. We create spaces that reflect the lifestyle of our clients, a place where design meets life. Most of our work is concentrated in beautiful South Florida where we provide design services for “everything but the house.” PLA DESIGN has extensive experience in Pool and Water Feature Design, Hardscape Design, Landscape Design, and Site Lighting Design. PLA Design takes great pride in fostering meaningful relationships with the teams of professionals and clients we have worked with over the years and are determined to create new long-lasting relationships with those of you we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet!

LAB A FRAME WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL CORE. Prominent and refined model with clean lines and large volumes expressing the lightness of the glass fronts and the strength of the aluminum frame supporting them. Design for better ergonomics, concentrating the washing and cooking areas in the central island to make kitchen chores easier. The simplicity of solids, emphasized by tall units doors and island bases with groove, does not contrast with the various translucent materials that introduce countless and rigorous reflections. A real laboratory where different materials and finishes are mixed with extreme knowledge: the right columns are model Lab matt glass Nero traffico finish, the left columns are model Bluna wood bilaminate Noce miele finish, while the island is model Bluna tech Alluminio brunito finish with the new Emme groove which gives a characteristic lightness to the 12 mm thick gres worktop Nero greco finish.

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

Concept sketch for one of the bluestone benches created to capture the essence of place. Elements of the Lenapi Hall building and clock which are recognizable in the community are the focus of the design. The Building History: At the southeast corner of East State Street and South Main Street in Doylestown is Lenape Hall One of the most distinctive buildings in Doylestown, the building was designed by architects Addison Hutton & Thomas Cernea and dedicated November 17th 1874. It originally provided Doylestown with a large town hall for public meetings, a concentrated store area and a much-needed indoor market. In the early 20th century, the Strand Theater showed movies here until the building of the New Strand Theater, in 1925. In effect it was a Victorian shopping mall, which had a strong influence on the town’s commercial identity. from the doylestown historical society http://www.doylestownhistorical.org/BuildingRecognition/Lenape.htm

A thoughtfully curated modern living space that blends minimalism with sculptural design elements. A creamy, curved sofa paired with bold black accent pillows anchors the room, complemented by a boucle accent bench with sleek black framing. The organic-shaped black coffee table adds contrast and artistic flair, topped with abstract decor and designer books. A textured area rug with a soft, concentric pattern adds depth and warmth underfoot. Framed dot artwork and dried florals bring in subtle character, while expansive windows and crisp white walls flood the room with natural light, enhancing its serene and sophisticated atmosphere.

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

LAB A FRAME WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL CORE. Prominent and refined model with clean lines and large volumes expressing the lightness of the glass fronts and the strength of the aluminum frame supporting them. Design for better ergonomics, concentrating the washing and cooking areas in the central island to make kitchen chores easier. The simplicity of solids, emphasized by tall units doors and island bases with groove, does not contrast with the various translucent materials that introduce countless and rigorous reflections. A real laboratory where different materials and finishes are mixed with extreme knowledge: the right columns are model Lab matt glass Nero traffico finish, the left columns are model Bluna wood bilaminate Noce miele finish, while the island is model Bluna tech Alluminio brunito finish with the new Emme groove which gives a characteristic lightness to the 12 mm thick gres worktop Nero greco finish.

PLA Design Studio is a Landscape Architecture firm specializing in high-end residential/estate planning and design, resort design and community identification and theming. We pride ourselves in our team approach and the high level of detail given to all aspects of the design process. Our top priority is to DESIGN WITH INTENTION. We create spaces that reflect the lifestyle of our clients, a place where design meets life. Most of our work is concentrated in beautiful South Florida where we provide design services for “everything but the house.” PLA DESIGN has extensive experience in Pool and Water Feature Design, Hardscape Design, Landscape Design, and Site Lighting Design. PLA Design takes great pride in fostering meaningful relationships with the teams of professionals and clients we have worked with over the years and are determined to create new long-lasting relationships with those of you we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet!

Main Line Kitchen Design’s unique business model allows our customers to work with the most experienced designers and get the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing.. . How can Main Line Kitchen Design offer both the best kitchen designs along with the most competitive kitchen cabinet pricing? Our expert kitchen designers meet customers by appointment only in our offices, instead of a large showroom open to the general public. We display the cabinet lines we sell under glass countertops so customers can see how our cabinetry is constructed. Customers can view hundreds of sample doors and and sample finishes and see 3d renderings of their future kitchen on flat screen TV’s. But we do not waste our time or our customers money on showroom extras that are not essential. Nor are we available to assist people who want to stop in and browse. We pass our savings onto our customers and concentrate on what matters most. Designing great kitchens!

BASWA Phon Acoustical Plaster Ceilings and Walls
Minimalist open concept living room photo in Los Angeles with white walls and a plaster fireplace