This custom roof deck in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood features lightweight aluminum decking, ipe planters, an ipe and metal pergola, and ipe benches with built-in storage under the seats. Few woods can match the natural beauty of ipe (pronounced ee-pey), a hardwood with a 30-year life expectancy. These pictures were taken in early spring, before the leaves have filled out on the trees. Plantings include coralbark maples, hornbeams, pink cherry trees, crape myrtles, and feather grasses. The planters include LED up-lighting and automated drip irrigation lines. Read more about our projects on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Modern, Northen Roof flat interlocking terracotta tile & Metal Roof details- More Core Construction! Just Roof it!
Example of a large trendy beige three-story stone house exterior design in New York with a hip roof and a tile roof

Photo: Tyler Van Stright, JLC Architecture Architect: JLC Architecture General Contractor: Naylor Construction Landscape Architect: Marcie Harris Landscape Architecture Casework: Artistic Freedom Designs Metalwork: Noe Design Co.

Home designed by Bella Vici, an interior design firm and retail shoppe in Oklahoma City. http://bellavici.com

Parade of Homes Gold Winner This 7,500 modern farmhouse style home was designed for a busy family with young children. The family lives over three floors including home theater, gym, playroom, and a hallway with individual desk for each child. From the farmhouse front, the house transitions to a contemporary oasis with large modern windows, a covered patio, and room for a pool.

Architect Nick Noyes Builder: Eddinger Enterprises Structural Engineer: Duncan Engineering Interior Designer: C.Miniello Interiors Materials Supplied by Hudson Street Design/Healdsburg Lumber Photos by: Bruce Damonte

Springhill Residence by Locati Architects, Interior Design by Locati Interiors, Photography by Roger Wade
Example of a country dark wood floor bedroom design in Other with gray walls

Rustic one-story exterior home idea in Denver

David Charlez Designs carefully designed this modern home with massive windows, a metal roof, and a mix of stone and wood on the exterior. It is unique and one of a kind. Photos by Space Crafting

Farmhouse white two-story exterior home idea in Charleston with a mixed material roof

A beautiful storage shed with plenty of room for the classic cars and tractors. Featuring a Colonial Red ABSeam Roof with Charcoal ABM Panel Sides and Bright White Trim.

Re-Vitalized and expanded Midcentury Georgian gets a new roof, new doors and windows, white clay brick for a fresh new look.
Example of a mid-sized transitional white two-story brick exterior home design in Dallas with a hip roof

This project encompasses the renovation of two aging metal warehouses located on an acre just North of the 610 loop. The larger warehouse, previously an auto body shop, measures 6000 square feet and will contain a residence, art studio, and garage. A light well puncturing the middle of the main residence brightens the core of the deep building. The over-sized roof opening washes light down three masonry walls that define the light well and divide the public and private realms of the residence. The interior of the light well is conceived as a serene place of reflection while providing ample natural light into the Master Bedroom. Large windows infill the previous garage door openings and are shaded by a generous steel canopy as well as a new evergreen tree court to the west. Adjacent, a 1200 sf building is reconfigured for a guest or visiting artist residence and studio with a shared outdoor patio for entertaining. Photo by Peter Molick, Art by Karin Broker

Architect Nick Noyes Builder: Eddinger Enterprises Structural Engineer: Duncan Engineering Interior Designer: C.Miniello Interiors Materials Supplied by Hudson Street Design/Healdsburg Lumber Photos by: Bruce Damonte

Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in Charlotte

Inspiration for a timeless white two-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

The entire exterior received new board and batten wood siding, with a seamed metal roof. The center gables on each side have new cedar shingle siding and brackets to accentuate its significance. Photo by: Daniel Contelmo Jr.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.