Our pioneer project, Casita de Tierra in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, showcases the natural building techniques of a rubble trench foundation, earthbag construction, natural plasters, earthen floors, and a composting toilet. Our earthbag wall system consists of locally available, cost-efficient, polypropylene bags that are filled with a formula of clay and aggregate unearthed from our building site. The bags are stacked like bricks in running bonds, which are strengthened by courses of barbed wire laid between each row, and tamped into place. The walls are then plastered with a mix composed of clay, sand, soil and straw, and are followed by gypsum and lime renders to create attractive walls. The casita exhibits a load-bearing wall system demonstrating that thick earthen walls, with no rebar or cement, can support a roofing structure. We, also, installed earthen floors, created an indoor dry-composting toilet system, utilized local woods for the furniture, routed all grey water to the outdoor garden, and maximized air flow by including cross-ventilating screened windows below the natural palm frond and cane roof. Casita de Tierra exemplifies an economically efficient, structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing, environmentally kind, and socially responsible home.

Bob Schatz
Example of a mountain style staircase design in Burlington

Small elegant gray one-story mixed siding gable roof photo in Charleston

MAN-1100-NAT-NAT - Mānuka - Bamboo / Polycarbonate Pendant - 44 - Natural Manuka came about from David’s observations of the native Manuka tree while tramping in the New Zealand bush. He initially developed a screen based on its delicate white flowers. Using the geometry of polyhedra the light was a natural progression of the screen. NIK-HALF-NAT-LIM - Nīkau - Bamboo Pendant - Half - Natural (Side A) - Lime (Side B) NIK-HALF-NAT-ORA - Nīkau - Bamboo Pendant - Half - Natural (Side A) - Orange (Side B) Nikau is the only indigenous palm tree in New Zealand, named apparently because unlike the coconut palm familiar to Polynesians, it has no nuts. The fronds from the palm were traditionally used for thatching and weaving. It has a large bulb at the top of its trunk and its leaves overlap in the criss-cross patterns which inspired this light.

Concrete can be made to look like any substance. Tile, stone, wood, brick, etc. With unlimited color options, Ky-Kan Coatings can transform any room in your home or business using lightweight, beautiful concrete.

Detail of rustic arbor Photo: Kathleen Shaeffer

Arts and crafts wooden straight cable railing staircase photo with wooden risers

Susan Teare
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic partial sun backyard garden path in Burlington with decking for summer.

Inspiration for a small scandinavian white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and blue floor bathroom remodel in Minneapolis with white walls

Pool and backyard landscaping are the only previous features that remained from the original home, minus a few walls on the interior and newly installed waterless grass for the ground cover. Exterior patio with Porcelain Wood Grain tiles. Designed with a standing seam metal roof, with internal drainage system for hidden gutters design. Rain chain and rain barrels for rain harvesting. Retrofitted with Hardy Frames prefabricated shear walls for up to date earthquake safety. Opening both walls to the backyard, there are now two 14' folding doors allowing the inside and outside to merge. http://www.hardyframe.com/HF/index.html Amy J Smith Photography

D. Johnson
Example of a classic home design design in Denver

Gorgeous master bath finished with Dal-Tile's Fabrique porcelain tile in the color Noir Linen polished. Tile size is 12"x24" installed in a brick joint pattern. The floor boasts underfloor heating on a timed thermostat.

Runnels in the concrete function to drain water out of the patio area but also add a subtle inlay detail. Here the runnel is filled with both beach pebbles and dry-laid bluestone. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Staircase - mid-sized contemporary wooden l-shaped staircase idea in Venice with metal risers

Designer duo Taylor + Taylor give their rustic kitchen gets bold with Fireclay's handpainted patterned floor tile. Featuring patterns from the Agrarian Collection, these custom handpainted tiles come together in a graphic grey, black, and white palette. TILE SHOWN Custom Hand Painted Tiles from Fireclay's Agrarian Collection

This stained glass window was created as part of our signature Aspen Stained Glass line. These windows look beautiful in cottage style or contemporary homes and are a great way for outdoor enthusiasts to celebrate their love of nature. The textured appearance of the glass provides the homeowners with a high level of privacy and comfort.

Originally, the exterior of the Napa ranch residence was a standard knocked down stucco finish. We covered over the entire exterior of the house with a natural plaster product that has been made in Italy for centuries, known as Rialto or Vero. This product is a combination of slaked lime mixed with 60% reconstituted crushed marble dust. Quarried from the legendary Carrara marble mines. The finish itself is a vertically combed striated texture embedded into the plaster. While it cures, a transparent group of patinas are applied to the stone-like plaster substance to create a look of an aged villa.

A closeup of our interlocking pavers work. This paver is a darker almost bluish color which accents the white stucco walls of the rest of the landscape. TRU Landscape Services

Example of a huge trendy metal floating open staircase design in Minneapolis