This beautiful new construction craftsman-style home had the typical builder's grade front porch with wood deck board flooring and painted wood steps. Also, there was a large unpainted wood board across the bottom front, and an opening remained that was large enough to be used as a crawl space underneath the porch which quickly became home to unwanted critters. In order to beautify this space, we removed the wood deck boards and installed the proper floor joists. Atop the joists, we also added a permeable paver system. This is very important as this system not only serves as necessary support for the natural stone pavers but would also firmly hold the sand being used as grout between the pavers. In addition, we installed matching brick across the bottom front of the porch to fill in the crawl space and painted the wood board to match hand rails and columns. Next, we replaced the original wood steps by building new concrete steps faced with matching brick and topped with natural stone pavers. Finally, we added new hand rails and cemented the posts on top of the steps for added stability. WOW...not only was the outcome a gorgeous transformation but the front porch overall is now much more sturdy and safe!

Example of a backyard custom-shaped pool design in Little Rock

Finished basement bedroom created as part of the larger basement expansion, featuring a new enclosed sleeping area, recessed lighting, a wide window opening with built-in ledge, and a space-saving sliding barn door. The room adds functional living space while maintaining an open, clean connection to the rest of the remodeled lower level.

Wide view of the completed basement after the expansion, showing the open-concept layout connecting multiple living and entertainment areas with the new wet bar. Structural columns and beams were integrated into the finished design, while recessed lighting and continuous finishes help the enlarged lower level feel open and cohesive.

With a bit of digging and some new foundation work, we converted a portion of the crawl space into this home gym. the one wall of mirror helps to expand the space and watch your form when using the free weights.

Unusual roof lines often offer unique opportunities. We worked with a client who was dismayed with the layout of her son’s bedroom. We utilized what would have been dead space and created a storage and display solution. She is also considering a built in day bed that we’ve suggested for the recessed area next to the bookcase under the window. - Cheryl Fortner

Home office - mid-sized traditional freestanding desk light wood floor home office idea in DC Metro with gray walls and no fireplace

Basement - coastal basement idea in Boston

Keith and Amy loved their home in quiet Wake Forest neighborhood on a large corner lot on a cul-de-sac. Over time, Amy had developed allergic reactions to unknown allergens in their home. As her condition worsened, it became impossible for her to spend much time in the home, and they were forced to move out and find temporary housing accommodations. After months of talking with other home improvement providers and indoor air “experts” and trying other solutions to no avail including having their HVAC ducting cleaned, they turned to Paradise Found Construction and our expertise and experience in transforming indoor environments in homes into healthy and clean living spaces. Because many of the improvements we undertook to create a cleaner environment also provided energy savings, we had our work certified under the 2012 National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and were award a Bronze level certification for the home. We conducted a thorough investigation and testing regimen that included bringing in our team industry leading air quality and HVAC experts, we developed a comprehensive plan of action that would solve their “sick home syndrome”. We removed all of the carpeting and pad from the home and thoroughly cleaned all surfaces and filtered the air with advanced HEPA filtration units. There were a few areas of mold in the crawl space which we mitigated as well. We thoroughly air sealed the home, paying particular attention to the ground level and attic floor system. Since the HVAC systems and ducting had become re-contaminated, we cleaned both units and all associated duct work. To eliminate unhealthy air being drawn into the home from the crawl space, we completely sealed and conditioned the crawl. In order to provide a controlled entry point for clean fresh air into the home we installed an energy efficient stand-alone Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). We installed wood flooring in all of the living areas that did not have wood flooring, and finished all of the flooring using a NO-VOC water-based floor finish. All of the painted surfaces of the home were sealed and painted with NO-VOC latex paint. To further improve the energy performance of the home in addition to thoroughly air-sealing and sealing and conditioning the crawl space, we installed 100% LED lighting in the home. We improved the water efficiency of the home by installing low-flow EPA WaterSense rated toilets and shower heads, converted all of the bathroom and kitchen faucets to be more water efficient. Upon completion, Amy and her family was able to move back into their cozy and clean “new home”, and are once again able to enjoy and be comfortable in their home.

The BarK Puplick House, a play on words for ‘Public House,’ is the picturesque pub for the canine community. Just a short ‘pup crawl’ away is fido’s watering hole, posh nosh, and inn for relaxation. Built with timeless materials and craftsmanship, this ‘Gastropup’ fuses industrial decor with town & country charm. The industrial lighting and steel casement window captures the essence of city life, while shutters, traditional millwork, and floral & plaid textiles express the countryside’s beauty.

Postless railing all flowing up onto one single point. The extra pieces on the bottom were added to help stop the babes from crawling underneath it.
Inspiration for a small modern wooden straight metal railing staircase remodel in Toronto with wooden risers

This beautiful new construction craftsman-style home had the typical builder's grade front porch with wood deck board flooring and painted wood steps. Also, there was a large unpainted wood board across the bottom front, and an opening remained that was large enough to be used as a crawl space underneath the porch which quickly became home to unwanted critters. In order to beautify this space, we removed the wood deck boards and installed the proper floor joists. Atop the joists, we also added a permeable paver system. This is very important as this system not only serves as necessary support for the natural stone pavers but would also firmly hold the sand being used as grout between the pavers. In addition, we installed matching brick across the bottom front of the porch to fill in the crawl space and painted the wood board to match hand rails and columns. Next, we replaced the original wood steps by building new concrete steps faced with matching brick and topped with natural stone pavers. Finally, we added new hand rails and cemented the posts on top of the steps for added stability. WOW...not only was the outcome a gorgeous transformation but the front porch overall is now much more sturdy and safe!

Ciro Coelho Photography
Tropical exterior home idea in Santa Barbara

Stone: TundraBrick - Chalk Dust. TundraBrick is a classically-shaped profile with all the surface character you could want. Slightly squared edges are chiseled and worn as if they’d braved the elements for decades. TundraBrick is roughly 2.5″ high and 7.875″ long. Get a Sample of TundraBrick: https://shop.eldoradostone.com/products/tundrabrick-sample

Example of a large mountain style open concept light wood floor family room design in Salt Lake City with white walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Complete construction project from breaking ground to completion. Renovation includes raising the existing house with a 2 foot h crawl space and digging out under the house to add 4 rooms under with 10 foot ceilings as well as 2nd floor addition and all the interior casework, cabinetry, staircase and trim work to finish off the project. https://youtu.be/XRwIi0Ftzyg

Close-up of the basement wet bar sink area, featuring a black undermount sink and matte black faucet set into a dark gray veined countertop. The matching full-height veined backsplash continues the contemporary material palette used throughout the bar and gives the space a clean, cohesive finish.

The Duncan home is a custom designed log home. It is a 1,440 sq. ft. home on a crawl space, open loft and upstairs bedroom/bathroom. The home is situated in beautiful Leatherwood Mountains, a 5,000 acre equestrian development in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Photos are by Roger Wade Studio. More information about this home can be found in one of the featured stories in Country's Best Cabins 2015 Annual Buyers Guide magazine.