Reimagined back yard turned into family-favorite space for enjoying nature’s beauty in comfort. A busy family dreamed of a space to enjoy fresh air while reading, eating, or entertaining friends. Removing the rotting pergola while retaining the limestone column plinths and bluestone terrace was the starting point of creating this cozy screened-in oasis. The existing stone base is topped with 3-layers – a paneled wall base, custom-sized screens, and classically-detailed flat roof. Incorporating the existing into the new presented many construction challenges but creative planning of openings, circulation, and the roof structure used these constraints as assets in the final composition. This porch has become a family-favorite for enjoying nature’s beauty in bug-free bliss.

With the preservation of the historic structure and Dublin landmark always at the forefront of our minds, we found a way to integrate our passionate dedication to the young 21st-century creators of modern Ireland -- all of whom we had previously scouted for the body of creatives known as ‘The Irish Collection’ -- and I believe we successfully achieved showcasing their creations in one of the most well-known settings in the country. It was our ability to listen closely to our clients and translate our vision to them in a way that eventually awarded the studio the opportunity to advocate for artistry in this famous Dublin landmark that will go on to inspire creatives in Ireland for a long time to come. In our determination to show fierce integrity to the original structure, the project became one of the most celebrated expressions of Irish craftsmanship and resource efficiency in 2017. Our studio integrated our clear vision for sophistication and flair within tight constraints -- paving the way for another 20 years of distinguished work.

Built on a steep lakeside terrain, the Tsuga residence by Appareil Architecture is an ambitious project that required meticulous planning and flawless execution. Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Brownsburg-Chatham, Tsuga elevates a complex site to offer a seamless immersion in nature. Balancing the site’s constraints with a high level of finish, every phase of the project was designed to reconcile technical challenges with precision. Modulor expertly managed all collaborators, ensuring a level of detail that defines a project of this scale. On the exterior, the building envelope combines durability with refinement. Carefully selected natural wood cladding interacts with a perforated screen that filters light and adds depth to the façade. The integration of openings was strategically planned to maximize views while maintaining a cohesive architectural expression. Inside, the materials and finishes reflect the same commitment to quality. Wooden paneling wraps the spaces, creating visual continuity and a warm atmosphere. The stainless steel kitchen, with its clean lines and custom design, introduces a striking contrast between modernity and natural textures. Every junction, every material transition was meticulously crafted to ensure a flawless result, with no compromises on durability or functionality. Designed for an architectural historian and a musician and opera singer, Tsuga is the result of meticulous craftsmanship. A home built to stand the test of time, with an unwavering attention to detail.

This residential retreat on the Deschutes River near Maupin, Oregon is uniquely designed around a large central deck overlooking the river. Used for relaxation and entertainment, the deck is partially covered to function as an outdoor room. A large barn door can close off the deck for additional privacy, protection from the westerly winds and security. The deck space also separates the master suite from the great room for an enhanced sense of privacy and intimacy. By keeping square footage at a minimum and construction straight forward, the simple, cost-effective design met the client's tight budget constraints without compromising features. The shed roof design increases the sense of height of the interior space on the upper level, opening up dramatic easterly views toward the river and hills beyond. The great room combines the kitchen, dining and living room into an open, flexible floor plan. Two guest rooms, a guest bathroom, utility room, mud room and garage efficiently occupy the lower level of the structure. Located in the high-desert east of the Cascade Mountains, an area prone to range fires, this home is extremely fire-resistant. Features include a fireproof metal roof, concrete pavers instead of wood on the deck and fiber cement siding along the lower level.

Space constraints and the homeowners' desire for a sleek, sturdy staircase drove the design of this highly custom solution. Instead of a traditional landing at the corner, the first two steps are winders that navigate the turn while meeting code requirements and conserving space. The open-riser design maintains visual lightness, while horizontal metal balusters, thick oak treads, white painted double stringers, and a modern oak handrail complete the clean, contemporary aesthetic. The result is a staircase that proves spatial challenges can inspire elegant solutions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

The clients are empty nesters in a bustling urban area, with a growing family, who visits often. We worked closely to achieve sophisticated spaces within the constraints of a community townhome. Their eclectic European design aesthetic was influential on the finish selections. The Kitchen is the centerpiece of the second-floor open floorplan. Optimizing the limited storage was imperative. Custom storage for the Kitchen and Pantry were taken to the ceiling, accessible with a ladder. A sophisticated and dramatic space within a bustling urban area. The kitchen is the centerpiece of the second floor of their townhome, which they wanted to make the focal point. With an open floorplan it was essential for each room to flow seamlessly from kitchen, to dining room, to living.

The clients are empty nesters in a bustling urban area, with a growing family, who visits often. We worked closely to achieve sophisticated spaces within the constraints of a community townhome. Their eclectic European design aesthetic was influential on the finish selections. The Kitchen is the centerpiece of the second-floor open floorplan. Optimizing the limited storage was imperative. Custom storage for the Kitchen and Pantry were taken to the ceiling, accessible with a ladder. Some challenges were: Working with the builder in a community townhome project, while trying to give the client a custom designed home. Also, since this is a townhome, storage space is limited. The clients wanted guests to be sitting in the kitchen visiting with them while they cooked. The kitchen and pantry need a ladder for the tall and stacked cabinets. After designing and estimating all spaces, just as cabinetry was being ordered, the entire house burned down. So, this job was measured, drawn and estimated twice.

Three structures are located on a 6,500 sqft, sloped lot. The main house is squeezed between front setbacks, a drainage easements through the middle, an access easement to the north and a 30’ topography following height limit. The street level contains an office, a bedroom, an entry and a garage. The lower level contains indoor /outdoor living spaces separated by a glass wall. Sharing this glass wall is the master bedroom. The Studio 420 is located to the west of the drainage easement and contains the parts and tools needed to repair their grown up toys (a dune buggy, motor cycles, an antique sports car, and a three wheeled vehicle). The Studio 120 became the third structure. This structure is a utility room that blocks the neighbor’s views into their backyard and is as backdrop for outdoor dining. The home’s form is a reaction to being pinched between site constraints and the need to live an outdoor life while being indoors.

This family home in the historic district needed updating and some added space to make it functional for a growing family. Due to lot constraints, a side addition was the only possible option. This home now has four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and tons of built-in storage.

There's no space too small to design what you want. Even with the space constraints, we designed this narrow space to fit the range, dishwasher, garbage rollout, cabinetry, and everything you would need in a kitchen, and still have more storage space than some kitchens in Manhattan

This North Shore residence captures commanding views of the ocean, while maintaining a sense of privacy for the homeowners. Their priorities focused on thoughtful design, evolving from a restoration of a small summer cottage into a new home, well sited on a narrow lot. SV Design worked within the constraints of conservation and a flood zone to create a masterpiece of charm and appeal. The home reflects the tastes of the owners, who remained involved through every step of the process. Natural light is well utilized, the open layout provides ease in entertaining and in day to day living, and the views are captured from assorted vantage points. Personalized accents abound throughout the property--- warm wood flooring, stone accents--- both inside and outside of the home, a kitchen with clean lines and efficient storage space, and a butler’s pantry. The design of the property is aesthetically pleasing, creative, and functional; most of all, it fulfilled the visions of the clients.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

Located in the Avenues of the heart of Salt Lake City, this craftsman style home leaves us astounded. Upon demolition of the existing home, this custom home was built to showcase what exactly Lane Myers Construction could deliver on when we are given numerous constraints. With a floor plan designed to open up what would have been considered a confined space, attention to tiny details and the custom finishes were just the cusp of what we took the time to create

A luxurious en suite bath was created within this classic 1925 Portland bungalow by reconfiguring the second story’s original small bedrooms and tiny half bath. In this welcoming new urban boho space, eclectic finishes mingle harmoniously, integrated through subtle repetition of shapes and materials. A furniture-style vanity sets the tone for this luxurious space, introducing materials, colors, shapes, and textures that repeat throughout. Individual walnut hexagons join to create distinctive vanity doors, offset beautifully by horizontal-grain drawers. Topping the cabinetry is a simple concrete countertop with integral sinks. An expansive framed mirror above enlarges and brightens the room. Within the mirror, sconces float, their globes a nod to the hexagons below. Champagne bronze fixtures reflect the warm walnut glow. Nestled into the back corner, a stunning shower features waterjet tiles in a double herringbone pattern, each precisely cut and laid to maintain design integrity at every surface transition. Teak floor tiles and a pebbled niche hint at the classic spa experience. Across from the shower, a large hexagonal window provides a treetop view from the free-standing tub below. The gentle oval of the tub and the beaded chandelier above provide a pleasing contrast to the strong lines surrounding it, as do the softly-shaded pebbles in the full-length niche. Shiplap wainscotting wraps the room, creating an illusion of height in the compact space. Subtle flooring and soft green walls create an understated backdrop for the bold mix of materials, unifying them into a serene oasis. Asking a century-old home to accommodate a modern luxury bath is a tall order. Asbestos-laden plaster and flooring had to be abated. The subfloor had to be leveled and reinforced to increase strength and prevent deflection. Water lines and multiple electrical circuits had to be brought across and up without disturbing a beautifully-paneled ceiling, something we accomplished by firring out stair walls to hide the chases. Our client had visions of a leafy view from her tub, but the new layout eliminated existing windows. Placing a new window was complicated by deep eaves and flat soffits. By pushing the header into the roofline, however, we were able to accommodate a picture window. The flat soffit was replaced by an inverse hip lined with stained tongue and groove cedar, tying it to the bathroom finishes. Bringing materials up a narrow staircase became truly challenging when it was time to install the big items. However, strategic removal of drywall around the landing got the job done. Our attention to detail is showcased in the shower tile, where precise cuts were required at surface transitions to maintain the integrity of a complex double herringbone lay. The project was delivered on time. Savvy layout choices minimized spending on structural changes. Because we were dealing with dormer space, head height was an issue. Raising the ceiling would have been complex and expensive so our design accommodated the constraints – tub on the low outside wall, shower on the full-height interior wall. The vanity spanned the spread, accommodating our petite client on the exterior side and her taller husband on the interior side. An under-eave closet was closed off to create room for both a freestanding tub and a separate shower. Rather than building replacement storage elsewhere, we simply added a new door into the closet from the primary bedroom. This was made possible by absorbing the short hallway separating the existing bed and bathroom into the primary bedroom. This new layout also created an en suite relationship between the primary bedroom and the new bath. We saved additional dollars by selecting a furniture-style vanity rather than using custom cabinetry, and the countertop with integral sinks provided a cost savings over a more traditional quartz countertop with undermount sinks. Affordable shower tiles allowed us to put more money into a dynamic tile layout. The project was delivered within budget.

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.

DESIGN BY Grid Architects. Although modest in size due to the constraints of the site, this design achieved a strong visual and physical connection to the waterfront. With two large banks of windows at the back of the house, the outdoors are welcomed indoors in every season. White walls and light wood floors make this home an airy escape. Soft furnishings and organic design elements, including plant accents and reclaimed wood, tether the modern design of the home to its waterfront locale.

The most unique of all the condo renovations really shows off some fun materials and custom interiors. The sloped roof constraints provide opportunities for inventive design solutions, including a reading loft overlooking the living room. Thanks to Scott Booth for the great photography.

This modern style house was a speculative venture creating a dynamic project which maximized the site constraints and zoning limits. The low pitched lofty roof lines focus on the site views and allow clear story windows for soft filtered light. The stained cedar trim and soffits, stone veneer and metal railings blend the modern architectural design with a northwest flair.