Search results for "Constraints" in Home Design Ideas

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges.
The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work.
Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other.
All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan.
Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape.
The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

Family room library - small transitional open concept medium tone wood floor family room library idea in Chicago with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a concealed tv

The primary goal for this project was to craft a modernist derivation of pueblo architecture. Set into a heavily laden boulder hillside, the design also reflects the nature of the stacked boulder formations. The site, located near local landmark Pinnacle Peak, offered breathtaking views which were largely upward, making proximity an issue. Maintaining southwest fenestration protection and maximizing views created the primary design constraint. The views are maximized with careful orientation, exacting overhangs, and wing wall locations. The overhangs intertwine and undulate with alternating materials stacking to reinforce the boulder strewn backdrop. The elegant material palette and siting allow for great harmony with the native desert.
The Elegant Modern at Estancia was the collaboration of many of the Valley's finest luxury home specialists. Interiors guru David Michael Miller contributed elegance and refinement in every detail. Landscape architect Russ Greey of Greey | Pickett contributed a landscape design that not only complimented the architecture, but nestled into the surrounding desert as if always a part of it. And contractor Manship Builders -- Jim Manship and project manager Mark Laidlaw -- brought precision and skill to the construction of what architect C.P. Drewett described as "a watch."
Project Details | Elegant Modern at Estancia
Architecture: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB
Builder: Manship Builders, Carefree, AZ
Interiors: David Michael Miller, Scottsdale, AZ
Landscape: Greey | Pickett, Scottsdale, AZ
Photography: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ
Publications:
"On the Edge: The Rugged Desert Landscape Forms the Ideal Backdrop for an Estancia Home Distinguished by its Modernist Lines" Luxe Interiors + Design, Nov/Dec 2015.
Awards:
2015 PCBC Grand Award: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
2015 PCBC Award of Merit: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
The Nationals 2016 Silver Award: Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
2015 Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award - Merit Award
Photography: Dino Tonn
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This kitchen had not been renovated since the salt box colonial house was built in the 1960’s. The new owner felt it was time for a complete refresh with some traditional details and adding in the owner’s contemporary tastes.
At initial observation, we determined the house had good bones; including high ceilings and abundant natural light from a double-hung window and three skylights overhead recently installed by our client. Mixing the homeowners desires required the skillful eyes of Cathy and Ed from Renovisions. The original kitchen had dark stained, worn cabinets, in-adequate lighting and a non-functional coat closet off the kitchen space. In order to achieve a true transitional look, Renovisions incorporated classic details with subtle, simple and cleaner line touches. For example, the backsplash mix of honed and polished 2” x 3” stone-look subway tile is outlined in brushed stainless steel strips creating an edgy feel, especially at the niche above the range. Removing the existing wall that shared the coat closet opened up the kitchen to allow adding an island for seating and entertaining guests.
We chose natural maple, shaker style flat panel cabinetry with longer stainless steel pulls instead of knobs, keeping in line with the clients desire for a sleeker design. This kitchen had to be gutted to accommodate the new layout featuring an island with pull-out trash and recycling and deeper drawers for utensils. Spatial constraints were top of mind and incorporating a convection microwave above the slide-in range made the most sense. Our client was thrilled with the ability to bake, broil and microwave from GE’s advantium oven – how convenient! A custom pull-out cabinet was built for his extensive array of spices and oils. The sink base cabinet provides plenty of area for the large rectangular stainless steel sink, single-lever multi-sprayer faucet and matching filtered water dispenser faucet. The natural, yet sleek green soapstone countertop with distinct white veining created a dynamic visual and principal focal point for the now open space.
While oak wood flooring existed in the entire first floor, as an added element of color and interest we installed multi-color slate-look porcelain tiles in the kitchen area. We also installed a fully programmable floor heating system for those chilly New England days. Overall, out client was thrilled with his Mission Transition.

Custom cedar shutters by Timberlane Wood Crafters surround the Windsor divided light replacement windows on this whole home remodel. Fixed Rogue Valley true divided light French doors finish out two walls of the sunroom. Crane-Board foam backed vinyl siding provides added insulation and unifies the front, sides, and rear of the home.

The Olympic View house is a two story home designed for a couple newly retired from careers in academia on the East Coast of the United States. The resultant building footprint reflects complex site constraints in a manner which ultimately accommodated the Owner’s goals for the house. The house is 2,700 sf and includes all main floor living for day to day functions for aging in place. The house is a contemporary expression of Northwest Regionalism accommodating serious weather conditions and aesthetic considerations for massing, light and presence. The house commands views of Port Orchard Narrows and the Olympic Mountain Range beyond through a membrane of glazing rather than conventional punched window openings. The glazing membrane in-turn allows the solid massing elements of the house to be expressed and meaningful. The strength of the center core of the building is emphasized by a framework of battered bases on each corner. The tops of the bases are held short of the roof plane by two feet allowing the roof to appear to float above the body of the house. The roof then acts as more of a canopy allowing light to penetrate the building at all times during the day and be a lantern for the streetscape at night.
Desisgned by BC&J Architecture.
photos: Martin Bydalek Photography

Benjamin Lasseter
Large trendy backyard rectangular infinity hot tub photo in Austin with decking
Large trendy backyard rectangular infinity hot tub photo in Austin with decking

This august negative edge pool was built between a rock and a hard place. We built the pool on a steep topographical slope. I decided to build a radius footing under the radius weir wall prior to building the pool. We installed vertical rebar precisely where we would build the radius weir wall so that we could secure the weir wall to the footing. We used all indigenous stone on the veneers. The excavation required a fair amount of rock hammering. Every bit of rock was used on site. If you note the rim, it is composed of a field stone that was chiseled on site to produce a smooth, level and even spill. From downhill, the pool is equally spectacular in that all the walls are finished with indigenous field stone. This project was designed in house. Because of the topographical slope, the landscape begged for a negative edge. The home owner wanted a naturalistic setting. The indigenous veneer stone was used on all walls and rim coping. The patio is composed of Norwegian Buff stone, which is a natural cleft green, gold, brown hard stone but soft in color. The coping was bull nosed in order to soften the long lines. This pool is harmonious with the whole mature landscape. The vista from the pool was focused on the landscape afar and the reservoir. The home owner said to me that the project was dead if we had to cut down trees. I was forced to work around run of the mill evergreens. We were facing a wetland setback to one side, a rear yard setback to another side and a customer who insisted that we not cut down trees. I personally appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals to argue the case that we needed relief because of constraints some real and imposed. I positioned and designed the pool on a steep slope because there were no trees. Once I committed the design to the steep slope, I incorporated all of the natural landscape settings into the poolscape.The pool is detached from the home. We build numerous natural steps to transition from house elevation to pool elevation. From the house the steps are less formal. As the walkway meanders through the wooded tree setting, the pathway was designed to be casual and inviting in order to create a garden space that was independent of the poolscape below but tangent. As you approach the pool, we built a structured all natural stone and Norwegian Buff grand stair with piers and lights that opens up to the poolscape. We incorporated a simple cabana and outdoor kitchen. We built wing walls on the far side to accentuate the rim of the negative edge and to provide a safety barrier between the patio and the elevation below. In the wing walls, there are fountains that are cascading opposite to the negative edge. The catch pool is 5 above grade and finished in indigenous stone. We specifically designed the catch pool walls to satisfy the barrier requirement into the catch pool.

Inspiration for a small victorian multicolored floor powder room remodel in Richmond with a two-piece toilet, multicolored walls and a wall-mount sink

Image by 'Ancient Surfaces'
Product name: Antique Stone and Marble Bathroom Elements.
Contacts: (212) 461-0245
Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com
Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com
Those antique stone elements used in creating the crème de la crème of award winning bathrooms could be used today in rendering your humble bathroom into a magical indoor dreamscape equivalent to having your own exotic travel destination just a few step away from bed.
Allow yourself a full body and mind therapy that will let you unwind and escape from life's constraints and worries for an ephemeral period that will feel like an eternity...
From our antique marble and stone sinks, specialty reclaimed shower stones, floors and counter vanities, all our stone creations are guaranteed to give your bathroom a unique composition and arcane feel.
Our stone elements are considered by many high profile designers and architects a badge of honor that helps them achieve an overall creative design vision for your house.

While the footprint of the space is compact, through methodical planning the designers were able to create room for dual sinks, a dedicated water closet, a walk-in shower and freestanding tub, providing the owners with their list of dream features all while working within the constraints of this historic home.

After photo of a back yard staircase with erosion and landscape issues, budget constraint in the past from a builder/CO concern now corrected and attractive, and serves a purpose utilizing more of the back yard.

The primary goal for this project was to craft a modernist derivation of pueblo architecture. Set into a heavily laden boulder hillside, the design also reflects the nature of the stacked boulder formations. The site, located near local landmark Pinnacle Peak, offered breathtaking views which were largely upward, making proximity an issue. Maintaining southwest fenestration protection and maximizing views created the primary design constraint. The views are maximized with careful orientation, exacting overhangs, and wing wall locations. The overhangs intertwine and undulate with alternating materials stacking to reinforce the boulder strewn backdrop. The elegant material palette and siting allow for great harmony with the native desert.
The Elegant Modern at Estancia was the collaboration of many of the Valley's finest luxury home specialists. Interiors guru David Michael Miller contributed elegance and refinement in every detail. Landscape architect Russ Greey of Greey | Pickett contributed a landscape design that not only complimented the architecture, but nestled into the surrounding desert as if always a part of it. And contractor Manship Builders -- Jim Manship and project manager Mark Laidlaw -- brought precision and skill to the construction of what architect C.P. Drewett described as "a watch."
Project Details | Elegant Modern at Estancia
Architecture: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB
Builder: Manship Builders, Carefree, AZ
Interiors: David Michael Miller, Scottsdale, AZ
Landscape: Greey | Pickett, Scottsdale, AZ
Photography: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ
Publications:
"On the Edge: The Rugged Desert Landscape Forms the Ideal Backdrop for an Estancia Home Distinguished by its Modernist Lines" Luxe Interiors + Design, Nov/Dec 2015.
Awards:
2015 PCBC Grand Award: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
2015 PCBC Award of Merit: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
The Nationals 2016 Silver Award: Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
2015 Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award - Merit Award
Photography: Dino Tonn

The primary goal for this project was to craft a modernist derivation of pueblo architecture. Set into a heavily laden boulder hillside, the design also reflects the nature of the stacked boulder formations. The site, located near local landmark Pinnacle Peak, offered breathtaking views which were largely upward, making proximity an issue. Maintaining southwest fenestration protection and maximizing views created the primary design constraint. The views are maximized with careful orientation, exacting overhangs, and wing wall locations. The overhangs intertwine and undulate with alternating materials stacking to reinforce the boulder strewn backdrop. The elegant material palette and siting allow for great harmony with the native desert.
The Elegant Modern at Estancia was the collaboration of many of the Valley's finest luxury home specialists. Interiors guru David Michael Miller contributed elegance and refinement in every detail. Landscape architect Russ Greey of Greey | Pickett contributed a landscape design that not only complimented the architecture, but nestled into the surrounding desert as if always a part of it. And contractor Manship Builders -- Jim Manship and project manager Mark Laidlaw -- brought precision and skill to the construction of what architect C.P. Drewett described as "a watch."
Project Details | Elegant Modern at Estancia
Architecture: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB
Builder: Manship Builders, Carefree, AZ
Interiors: David Michael Miller, Scottsdale, AZ
Landscape: Greey | Pickett, Scottsdale, AZ
Photography: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ
Publications:
"On the Edge: The Rugged Desert Landscape Forms the Ideal Backdrop for an Estancia Home Distinguished by its Modernist Lines" Luxe Interiors + Design, Nov/Dec 2015.
Awards:
2015 PCBC Grand Award: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
2015 PCBC Award of Merit: Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.
The Nationals 2016 Silver Award: Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
2015 Excellence in Masonry Architectural Award - Merit Award
Photography: Dino Tonn

Andersen A-Series casement and picture windows and Frenchwood Hinged patio door.
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Minneapolis
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Minneapolis

The project encompassed design and build of the front and rear areas of the property as well as the building stone of the home. The project entailed front and rear hardscape, landscape, lighting, drainage, and irrigation.
The design was very challenging due to the size of the home and the overall space constraints of the lot and topography. The project was situated with a very severe slope in the rear yard with limited space as shown in the water feature area finished photography. Additionally, the project was challenging with respect to stormwater runoff and county specifics as it relates to infiltration requirements.
Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Chad Talton, Surrounds Inc.

The custom built-in window seat provides seating during the day, and additional sleeping space at night. A custom trundle bed can be rolled out from underneath. Due to the space constraints, this built-in was a custom design that fits perfectly into the dormer and still provides ample sitting and sleeping space.
Photo by Daniel Contelmo Jr,

JDBG is wrapping up work on an expansive 2-story sunroom addition that also included modifications to the existing home’s interior and significant exterior improvements as well. The original project brief was to provide a conditioned 4-season sunroom addition where the homeowners could relax and enjoy their wooded views. As we delved deeper into our client’s overall objectives, it became clear that this would be no ordinary sunroom addition. The resulting 16’x25’ sunroom is a showstopper with 10’ high ceilings and wall to wall windows offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape.
As we recommend with most addition projects, the process started with our Preliminary Design Study to determine project goals, design concepts, project feasibility and associated budget estimates. During this process, our design team worked to ensure that both interior and exterior were fully integrated. We conducted in-depth programming to identify key goals and needs which would inform the design and performed a field survey and zoning analysis to identify any constraints that could impact the plans. The next step was to develop conceptual designs that addressed the program requirements.
Using a combination of 3-D massing, interior/exterior renderings, precedent imaging and space planning, the design concept was revised and refined. At the end of the study we had an approved schematic design and comprehensive budget estimates for the 2-story addition and were ready to move into design development, construction documentation, trade coordination, and final pricing. A complex project such as this involves architectural and interior design, structural and civil engineering, landscape design and environmental considerations. Multiple trades and subs are engaged during construction, from HVAC to electrical and plumbing, framers, carpenters and masons, roofers and painters just to name a few. JDBG was there every step of the way to ensure quality construction.
Other notable features of the renovation included expanding the home’s existing dining room, incorporating a custom ‘dish room,’ and providing fully conditioned storage and his & her workrooms on the lower level. A new front portico will visually connect the old and new structures and a brand new roof, shutters and paint will further transform the exterior. Thoughtful planning was also given to the landscape, including a back deck, stone patio and walkways, plantings and exterior lighting. Stay tuned for more photos as this sunroom addition nears completion.

Haven™ master bathroom uses compact space for maximum value; allowing for a luxury double shower using Hansgrohe fixtures. Mosaic tile access is marble with porcelain deco feature.
Marcello Rostagni Photography
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