Classic bungalow with a wide front porch, tapered columns, and bold contrasting trim. The deep gray siding paired with crisp white details enhances its timeless curb appeal.

Modern Farmhouse on Acre lot.
Large country white two-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Dallas with a shingle roof

ScottHokunson
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun front yard brick driveway in Bridgeport.

Large arts and crafts backyard concrete paver patio kitchen photo in New York with a pergola

ScottHokunson
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun front yard brick driveway in Bridgeport.

Large elegant yellow three-story wood gable roof photo in DC Metro with a shingle roof

Example of a mid-sized classic backyard patio design in Raleigh with decking and a roof extension

Sleeping al Fresco On the second floor, overlooking the forest and lake, each bedroom features a screened-in sleeping porch. It doesn’t take long to get accustomed to listening to the calls of loons or the pitter-patter of rain before a mid-day nap or nighttime sleep.

This is an example of a traditional brick landscaping in Boston.

Ellen Richardson
Mid-sized arts and crafts beige two-story wood gable roof photo in Richmond

Ellen Richardson
Mid-sized arts and crafts beige two-story wood gable roof photo in Richmond

This is an example of a large traditional stone front porch design with a roof extension.

Michael Hsu
Large transitional white side yard and two-story wood exterior home idea in Austin with decking and no cover

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard patio remodel in Raleigh with decking and a roof extension

Here in Florida, we’re blessed with great weather year-round. So it’s no surprise that outdoor entertaining areas are an extremely popular way to enhance outdoor living. When our clients requested an update to their existing outdoor kitchen while they were away on vacation, we were ready to hit the ground running. While their beautiful 2-story home on a golf course had a pool and covered lanai area, the existing outdoor kitchen just didn’t function well for their needs. Mainly, they craved additional counter space and more seating. And, as avid football fans, with a son playing on a renown Division 1 college team, they also wanted a large screen TV to watch games. After all, what better way to share game day excitement than at a barbecue with family and friends? A Bigger, Better Kitchen Layout Our brilliant design team came up with a much larger, u-shaped outdoor kitchen layout for increased functionality. The extra base cabinets provided plenty of storage as well as a foundation for additional countertop space. Adjacent to the sink, we added a 24” outdoor refrigerator to keep food and beverages chilled, and the high top bar allowed for more seating around the perimeter. For cooking, our clients selected a much larger Lynx grill and side burner to replace the original grill. While the kitchen was already set up for a grilling area, it required a hood, so we built and installed a custom hood for proper ventilation. Then, we added a large screen TV above the hood for easy viewing. Finishing Touches To softly illuminate the entire space at night, we installed additional recessed light fixtures into the ceiling and under the grill hood. We also tied the Cypress wood ceiling and the crown molding together into the design with a luxurious cabinet stain. Along with these finishing touches, we added a decorative travertine stone backsplash behind the grill and homogenized the front face of the bar for a polished, matching look. Ventilation Challenges With the outdoor kitchen lanai located directly under a second-floor living area, we had expected to tuck away ventilation ductwork between the second-level floor joists and the exterior wall running parallel to the grill hood. However, upon further investigation, we discovered the second floor joist system, in fact, ran perpendicular to the grill hood. In short, we needed a new way to hide the venting without compromising the original design. Our team came up with an inspired solution: Construction of a false wall behind the outdoor kitchen allowed us to run ductwork without creating a visible chase for the vent, thus maintaining a symmetrical look on both sides of the grill and decorative hood. Exceeding Expectations In the end, we didn’t just meet our clients’ needs for a beautiful outdoor kitchen update – we exceeded them. As planned, we completed the new outdoor kitchen while they were out of town. But when our clients returned from vacation, they were so impressed with the results (and the stress-free design/build experience) that they promptly hired us for another extensive remodel – a stunning home addition!

Possibly the only major improvement that needed addressed upon moving in was the landscaping. After removing overgrown shrubs, pruning trees, and replacing the old fencing, the couple tackled the largest part: the parking lot. Outside of what had been the dentist's waiting room, the entire side yard had been covered in asphalt, with a separate entrance to the street. That has since been removed and replaced with grass, resulting in a minimalist, tranquil spot under the trees. Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2013 Houzz

Ellen Richardson
Mid-sized arts and crafts beige two-story wood gable roof photo in Richmond

Huge transitional green two-story mixed siding gable roof photo in DC Metro with a shingle roof

Meridian Estate Greenhouse “The Crescent” 19’ 9” x 50’ 2 ½” Crafted with a Meridian Superior glazing bar with 2” decorative pressure cap 8.5/12 hip roof slope with 8’6 sidewalls on raised rock foundation Heavy duty structural truss and purlin channels