Originally this side patio was simply a barren cement patch that was cold and uninviting (see the BEFORE picture). It has a basic stone and concrete patio floor, with concrete brick walls. There was some natural bamboo behind the wall, but otherwise no plants. The house sits down in to the property, and to get to the front door you have to descend a steep set of stairs. This patio area is one of the first things people see as they descend the stairs to the front door, so we wanted to make it as inviting and cozy as possible. Plus, with all the natural tree coverage, it's a perfect place during hot days to curl up with a book or glass of wine under the shade. Not wanting to spend money on a massive renovation, the goal was to create a cozy niche for both entertaining guests and personal relaxation, reminiscent of an India-meets-Bali exotic retreat. We created something that was organic and natural looking, in harmony with the relaxed environment of Laguna Beach. To keep it budget friendly - and better for the environment - we also opted for recycled and pre-owned items we found on Craiglist and eBay. I chose to first mask the barren concrete walls with an carved wood screen from India, to add depth and interest. I placed two large daybeds with heavily padded cushions in an “L” shape to entice people to curl up and sink in. Rather than opting for a regular square patio table, I found a one-of-a-kind custom oak tree slab table (a fantastic Craiglist find!) that added a beautiful organic feel. The Moroccan lamp I brought back from one of my trips to Marrakech, and it added the perfect personal touch, in addition to personal sacred objects such as an antique Kwan Yin statue (great eBay find), crystals, and shells found at the beach. Finally, various plants were added — including both a satsuma orange tree and grapefruit tree that add lovely bursts of color when in season. And makes for a great quick snack when lounging about!

This transitional style kitchen remodel in Winnetka IL features a custom range hood with a retractable spice rack. It is operated with a remote control and is concealed when not in use. Norman Sizemore-photographer

Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in Bridgeport

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard landscaping.

This family of five live miles away from the city, in a gorgeous rural setting that allows them to enjoy the beauty of the Oregon outdoors. Their charming Craftsman influenced farmhouse was remodeled to take advantage of their pastoral views, bringing the outdoors inside. Our gallery showcases this stylish space that feels colorful, yet refined, relaxing but fun. Our unexpected color palette was inspired by a custom designed crewel fabric made exclusively for the client. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

Patio - mid-sized traditional backyard stone patio idea in Chicago with a fire pit and no cover

Barbara Ries
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

Drive up to practical luxury in this Hill Country Spanish Style home. The home is a classic hacienda architecture layout. It features 5 bedrooms, 2 outdoor living areas, and plenty of land to roam. Classic materials used include: Saltillo Tile - also known as terracotta tile, Spanish tile, Mexican tile, or Quarry tile Cantera Stone - feature in Pinon, Tobacco Brown and Recinto colors Copper sinks and copper sconce lighting Travertine Flooring Cantera Stone tile Brick Pavers Photos Provided by April Mae Creative aprilmaecreative.com Tile provided by Rustico Tile and Stone - RusticoTile.com or call (512) 260-9111 / info@rusticotile.com Construction by MelRay Corporation

This custom home was built for empty nesting in mind. The first floor is all you need with wide open dining, kitchen and entertaining along with master suite just off the mudroom and laundry. Upstairs has plenty of room for guests and return home college students. Photos- Rustic White Photography

Example of a large minimalist master ceramic tile drop-in bathtub design in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls and a vessel sink

Pool - mid-sized backyard round aboveground pool idea in San Francisco with decking

The Control/Shift House is perched on the high side of the site which takes advantage of the view to the southeast. A gradual descending path navigates the change in terrain from the street to the entry of the house. A series of low retaining walls/planter beds gather and release the earth upon the descent resulting in a fairly flat level for the house to sit on the top one third of the site. The entry axis is aligned with the celebrated stair volume and then re-centers on the actual entry axis once you approach the forecourt of the house. The initial desire was for an “H” scheme house with common entertaining spaces bridging the gap between the more private spaces. After an investigation considering the site, program, and view, a key move was made: unfold the east wing of the “H” scheme to open all rooms to the southeast view resulting in a “T” scheme. The new derivation allows for both a swim pool which is on axis with the entry and main gathering space and a lap pool which occurs on the cross axis extending along the lengthy edge of the master suite, providing direct access for morning exercise and a view of the water throughout the day. The Control/Shift House was derived from a clever way of following the “rules.” Strict HOA guidelines required very specific exterior massing restrictions which limits the lengths of unbroken elevations and promotes varying sizes of masses. The solution most often used in this neighborhood is one of addition - an aggregation of masses and program randomly attached to the inner core of the house which often results in a parasitic plan. The approach taken with the Control/Shift House was to push and pull program/massing to delineate and define the layout of the house. Massing is intentional and reiterated by the careful selection of materiality that tracks through the house. Voids and relief in the plan are a natural result of this method and allow for light and air to circulate throughout every space of the house, even into the most inner core. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

At the touch of a button, the Living Room transforms into an extraordinary home theater. The screen and projector magically descend from the ceiling into place. Just add the popcorn! Photography by John Horner.

Example of a cottage bedroom design in St Louis

Art Gray
Photo of a rustic landscaping in Austin.

Trendy medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Architecture by ÁBATON www.abaton.es Interior Design Project and furnishing by BATAVIA www.batavia.es Photographs: Belen Imaz
Country pool photo in Madrid

Example of a trendy wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase design in San Francisco with wooden risers

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. - Architect: Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd. - Interior Design: Martha O’Hara Interiors - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography