Floor to ceiling fireplace face made from Calacatta Statuario marble with polished finish and mitered edges. Pacific Stoneworks, Inc. Proudly serving Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties since 1994.

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

French country kitchen photo in Orange County

Patio kitchen - mid-sized traditional backyard concrete paver patio kitchen idea in Other with a roof extension

Arched valances above the window and on the island bookshelf, along with the curved custom metal hood above the stainless steel range, contrast nicely with the overall linear design of the space. The leaded glass cabinet doors not only create a spot to display the homeowner’s favorite glassware, but visually it helps prevent the white cabinets from being overbearing. By installing recessed can lights uniformly throughout the space instead of decorative pendants above the island, the kitchen appears more open and spacious.

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.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Other

This is an older house in Rice University that needed an updated master bathroom. The original shower was only 36" x 36". Spa Bath Renovation Spring 2014, Design and build. We moved the tub, shower and toilet to different locations to make the bathroom look more organized. We used pure white caeserstone counter tops, hansgrohe metris faucet, glass mosaic tile (Daltile - City Lights), stand silver 12 x 24 porcelain floor cut into 4 x 24 strips to make the chevron pattern on the floor, shower glass panel, shower niche, rain shower head, wet bath floating tub. Custom cabinets in a grey stain with mirror doors and circle overlays. The tower in center features charging station for toothbrushes, iPADs, and cell phones. Spacious Spa Bath. TV in bathroom, large chandelier in bathroom. Half circle cabinet doors with mirrors. Anther chandelier in a master bathroom. Zig zag tile design, zig zag how to do floor, how to do a zig tag tile floor, chevron tile floor, zig zag floor cut tile, chevron floor cut tile, chevron tile pattern, how to make a tile chevron floor pattern, zig zag tile floor pattern.

The stainless steel double oven and range hood compliment the white cabinetry and metal hardware. Warm tones in the stonewood granite backsplash and island countertop add interest and depth. Dark hardwood floors ground the space. The island features an integrated cutting board and trash bins creating a functional workspace. Ilir Rizaj

Image Copyright: Edmund Hollander Landscape Architect Design, P.C. Charles Mayer, Photographer
Inspiration for a cottage pool remodel in New York

This pool and spa combination has a Negative Edge spa. Negative edge and Exterior Wall coping are Bluestone with a thermal finish. Wall Veneer is Bluestone with a honed finish. Both pool and spa are finished with Gray Slate tile and a Rivera Marbledust.

Situated on a private cove of Lake Lanier this stunning project is the essence of Indoor-outdoor living and embraces all the best elements of its natural surroundings. The pool house features an open floor plan with a kitchen, bar and great room combination and panoramic doors that lead to an eye-catching infinity edge pool and negative knife edge spa. The covered pool patio offers a relaxing and intimate setting for a quiet evening or watching sunsets over the lake. The adjacent flagstone patio, grill area and unobstructed water views create the ideal combination for entertaining family and friends while adding a touch of luxury to lakeside living.

Project b Joss and Main Great your guests with a drop dead gorgeous entryway like this one using the Paisley Allover wall stencil in an eye catching indigo blue.

Phantom Screens, the leading manufacturer of retractable screens in North America, selects Bob Michels Construction of North Oaks, Minnesota as their 2016 Impact Winner. The Phantom Screens Impact Award recognizes residential design and building professionals for using innovative products to deliver cutting edge designs that set them above the rest. Impact Award winners have proven that they are committed to enhancing lifestyles and living spaces by integrating Phantom’s retractable screen products into designs that deliver added value and comfort to today’s homeowner. Bob Michels Construction’s submission is a unique space featuring a car carousel which operates both as a space to highlight the owner’s car collection and the functional purpose to turn cars around and drive out of the showroom. Phantom’s retractable screens turned the open-air ramada into a large entertaining and gathering screened porch area with one touch of a button. “Phantom’s retractable screens were used to achieve a desired mix of modern and traditional finishes,” said Andrew Michels, Vice President of Bob Michels Construction. “Phantom Screens is the only company that allowed the customization of this unique space with a long-lasting and sustainable product.” The winner was selected by a panel of Phantom Screen judges and evaluated primarily on design and creativity, market appeal and livability, and product integration. The winning project received recognition on booth signage at the NAHB International Builders Show, a one-page advertorial feature in Builder magazine, an in depth case study and more! Photography: LandMark Photography

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Minneapolis

Stone: Oyster - Cut Coarse Stone Cut Coarse Stone is reminiscent of a saw-cut Turkish Limestone. The highly textural and yet contemporary linear-style installs with a clean, dry-stack application. This stone is the perfect scale for an efficient installation, appealing to both commercial and residential exteriors and interiors. The stones include three different heights of 3″, 6″ and 9″ and various lengths from 12″ to 24″. The muted color palette is indicative of natural limestone. Get a Sample of Oyster: http://www.eldoradostone.com/products/cut-coarse-stone/oyster/

All your backyard events will be a hit around the dining table with great food, company, and a view like this! • Whole Home Renovation, 1927 Built Home West Newton, MA

Situated on a private cove of Lake Lanier this stunning project is the essence of Indoor-outdoor living and embraces all the best elements of its natural surroundings. The pool house features an open floor plan with a kitchen, bar and great room combination and panoramic doors that lead to an eye-catching infinity edge pool and negative knife edge spa. The covered pool patio offers a relaxing and intimate setting for a quiet evening or watching sunsets over the lake. The adjacent flagstone patio, grill area and unobstructed water views create the ideal combination for entertaining family and friends while adding a touch of luxury to lakeside living.

This pool and spa combination has an Infinity Edge. The spa is raised slightly with a Negative Edge that overflows into the infinity gutter system. Both inside coping and tile are Black Absolute Granite with a honed finish. Outside coping is 2’ x2’ Bluestone pavers and both pool and spa are finished with a Black Galaxy Pebblefina.