Christy Pieszchala
Pool fountain - traditional pool fountain idea in Houston

This kitchen is a mix of the original midcentury cabinets and new rift-cut white oak cabinetry. on the far left is a pantry and storage behind the oak panels doors. Photography by Greg Hoppe.

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.

One of the owner's favorite hobby is gift wrapping, so we conjured up these ribbon roll holders above the wrapping area. Photo by Scot Trueblood
Utility room - small coastal galley ceramic tile utility room idea in Miami with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, a side-by-side washer/dryer and gray walls

This kitchen is one of the highlights of the home. The island has a waterfall countertop edge and the two kitchen windows were designed to frame the vent hood and 36 inch range. The light color cabinets, flooring limestone backsplash, and white countertops balance the modern black base cabinets and tall cabinets.

Located at the Toll Brothers Model Homes the Enclave at Yorba Linda. Toll Brothers envisioned a raised overflow pool with glass walls, allowing guests to see underwater from the outside. Extensive care was taken during the difficult design and build process to ensure that excellence was achieved and Toll Brothers was completely enamored with the results. This pool features a very modern look with straight, clean lines, square columns and LED lights accenting the acrylic pool walls. The bar area touts an acrylic wall and in-pool bar stools, while the tile inside the pool matches the house, bringing continuity to the entire space. An extreme amount of coordination was required for the 2.5 inch thick pieces of acrylic to fit perfectly within the slots on the columns while still maintaining the structural integrity of the pool. We were in continual communication with the structural engineer and acrylic manufacturer, ensuring that each piece fit perfectly. The completed acrylic walls were then craned over the house due to their weight. With a vanishing edge on the front three sections and a negative edge along the back, it was absolutely imperative that the pool was perfectly level and that the water filtration system operated perfectly so that the flow was even over each wall. The water cascading over the front walls collects in a trough that ties into to the rear negative edge basin, where it recirculates back into the pool. The rear negative edge was designed so as not to distract from the breathtaking view of the valley below, while the lounging deck overhangs the pool with a freestanding cover ensuring that the view is completely unobstructed. An elegant piece of artwork frames the back of the pool, completing the look for this intriguing swimming pool.

Glass tile swimming pool, glass tile mosaic infinity edge spa, glass tile entry fountain adorn this Hollywood Hills, CA Estate Pool, spa, entry fountain and details by Paolo Benedetti, Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa, www.aquatictechnology.com, 408-776-8220.

The Belfast Residence in Ohio is a new construction, custom modern house situated on a 150 acre farm. Panda solved the challenge of extending the intimate space of the kitchen into the expansiveness of the backyard by installing fully retractable TS.60 All Aluminum Thermally Broken Folding Door Systems. Custom designed for this space, this elegant and durable folding door system spans the entire wall of the kitchen. This door system uses cutting-edge aluminum extrusions with a polyamide bar to connect the frame together while reducing heat or cold transfer. When closed, this Bi-Fold door system provides a protective barrier that lowers u-factors, limits condensation, increases energy performance, and most of all reduces thermal conductivity. The architectural firm, Drawing Dept. designed a cantilevered roof reaching out over the pool on axis with a sunken fire pit, drawing the geometry of the house further out into the landscape. As a result, the heart of the home unrestrictedly extends toward the fire pit for optimal physical and visual connection. Impressive architectural design intertwined with Panda’s custom Bi-Fold doors can create unimaginable opportunities. No wonder this home was awarded the 2013 Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Cincinnati and the 2013 Honor Award from the CDA + Cincinnati Magazine for its exterior space! Panda’s custom designed Bi-Fold Doors ensure that a homeowner can equally and cohesively enjoy their interior and exterior spaces. Views from the house and views of the house should hold equal merit. To view more of Panda’s Bi-Fold Doors, please check out our gallery http://www.panda-windows.com/products/by-type/folding-doors. Architect: Drawing Dept. Contractor: Camery Hensley Construction Photography: Ross Van Pelt

This beautiful home office & library features Rift Cut White Oak coffered ceilings, wall panelling, wainscotting and built-in wall units. Complimented by TopKnobs cabinet pulls, custom file storage drawers, a hidden safe, under cabinet lighting, 3/4" solid edge shelves & solid wood countertop.

Beautiful Silestone natural quartz fabricated, cut and installed by Bradley Stone Industries
Inspiration for a timeless l-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in Cleveland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Large transitional open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Chicago with a bar, gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

A transitional powder room with modern lines in a home designed by AVID Associates in University Park, Dallas, Texas. The back wall is clad in mosaic tile, while the adjacent walls are covering in a rich grasscloth. Dan Piassick

Live edge single slab walnut dining table for a beach house in California. Commission your dream table at www.KristopherKirkpatrick.com
Beach style dining room photo in San Diego

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This young family gave us the joint task of creating a pool house and outdoor living in a very tight and limited space, between a retaining wall and their existing home. Additionally, the pool and spa as well as the pool house and kitchen had to incorporate cutting edge technology. The style of the pool house was dictated by the main house. We were tasked with complementing it in style and material. The pool house not only must function on its own, but also as a transitional structure to the absolutely fabulous landscaping provided by an internationally acclaimed landscape designer. Mirrors on the back wall reflect the beautiful landscaping. One is never without a view of the exterior. The front façade of the pool house has accordion glass panels that open up to amazing views of the swimming pool, spa and gardens. The spa is on axis with the center of the pool house, and the pergola and gate entrance with piers share the same materials as the pool house. The spa features a waterfall and has sea foam glass tile. There is also a waterfall in the pool and both waterfalls serve to mask surrounding noises and provide an idyllic setting. Sophisticated technology operates features of the pool house via remote control demands, and includes a drop down screen for movie and television viewing from the swimming pool. The pool house includes the outdoor kitchen, open dining area, the bar, seating area, a bathroom and changing room. Hidden in the alcove is an open air outdoor shower. The patterning of the boards applied horizontally to the interior walls and painted white give the structure a nautical look, provide durability and protect it from the elements. The interior vault is clad with stained bead board.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete patio kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with no cover

This custom pool and spa features an infinity edge with a tile spillover and beautiful cascading water feature. The open air gable roof cabana houses an outdoor kitchen with stainless steel appliances, raised bar area and a large custom stacked stone fireplace and seating area making it the ideal place for relaxing or entertaining.

C.P. Drewett utilized "white box architecture" in his design, which focuses on simplistic box forms. Pocketing doors and myriad windows blur the edge between indoors and out. Project Details // Razor's Edge Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Bedbrock Developers Interior design: Holly Wright Design Landscape: Bedbrock Developers Photography: Jeff Zaruba Porcelain flooring: Facings of America Travertine walls: Cactus Stone https://www.drewettworks.com/razors-edge/

Ulrich Designer: Tom Santarsiero Photography by Peter Rymwid This is a master bath with subtle sophistication and understated elegance. The cabinets were custom designed by Tom, with straight, simple lines, and custom built by Draper DBS of walnut, with a deep, rich brown finish. The richness of the dark cabinetry juxtaposed with the elegance of the white carrara marble on the countertop, wall and floors contributes to the room's sophistication. Ample storage is found in the large vanity and an armoire style cabinet, designed to mimic a free-standing furniture piece, that is positioned behind the door. Architectural beams placed across the vaulted ceiling bring a sense of scale to the room and invite natural light in through the skylight.