Chambers + Chambers Architects Amber Interiors Tessa Neustadt, Photographer
Country single-wall black floor laundry closet photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

JW Construction
Inspiration for a transitional basement remodel in Boston

Rod Pasibe
Freestanding bathtub - traditional master white tile and subway tile freestanding bathtub idea in Charleston

Modern rustic bar featuring steel beams, hand-sawn wood beams, reclaimed wood walls and cold rolled steel bar backsplash. A great basement bar for entertaining friends.

Paul Johnson
Family room - cottage family room idea in New York

Atlantic Archives, Inc./Richard Leo Johnson Paragon Custom Construction LLC
Large beach style formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in Charleston with gray walls and no tv

Photos by Darby Kate Photography
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse master gray tile, white tile and subway tile porcelain tile alcove bathtub design in Dallas with gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

NR Photography
Design ideas for a farmhouse landscaping in Portland.

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

Erhard Pfeiffer
Large trendy master medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

The carved cedar pergola provides a shady spot for outdoor dining. Robert Benson Photography
Patio - huge traditional backyard stone patio idea in New York with a gazebo

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped porcelain tile utility room photo in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

Kitchen - large contemporary l-shaped light wood floor kitchen idea in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo of a huge mediterranean backyard water fountain landscape in Austin.

Laundry Room with Stackable Washer and Dryer.
Example of a mid-sized classic l-shaped gray floor and porcelain tile dedicated laundry room design in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, beige walls and a stacked washer/dryer

The reconfiguration of the master bathroom opened up the space by pairing a platform shower with a freestanding tub. The open shower, wall-hung vanity, and wall-hung water closet create continuous flooring and an expansive feeling. The result is a welcoming space with a calming aesthetic.

Photo: Chad Mellon
Design ideas for a mediterranean shade stone landscaping in Orange County.