This home is in a rural area. The client was wanting a home reminiscent of those built by the auto barons of Detroit decades before. The home focuses on a nature area enhanced and expanded as part of this property development. The water feature, with its surrounding woodland and wetland areas, supports wild life species and was a significant part of the focus for our design. We orientated all primary living areas to allow for sight lines to the water feature. This included developing an underground pool room where its only windows looked over the water while the room itself was depressed below grade, ensuring that it would not block the views from other areas of the home. The underground room for the pool was constructed of cast-in-place architectural grade concrete arches intended to become the decorative finish inside the room. An elevated exterior patio sits as an entertaining area above this room while the rear yard lawn conceals the remainder of its imposing size. A skylight through the grass is the only hint at what lies below. Great care was taken to locate the home on a small open space on the property overlooking the natural area and anticipated water feature. We nestled the home into the clearing between existing trees and along the edge of a natural slope which enhanced the design potential and functional options needed for the home. The style of the home not only fits the requirements of an owner with a desire for a very traditional mid-western estate house, but also its location amongst other rural estate lots. The development is in an area dotted with large homes amongst small orchards, small farms, and rolling woodlands. Materials for this home are a mixture of clay brick and limestone for the exterior walls. Both materials are readily available and sourced from the local area. We used locally sourced northern oak wood for the interior trim. The black cherry trees that were removed were utilized as hardwood flooring for the home we designed next door. Mechanical systems were carefully designed to obtain a high level of efficiency. The pool room has a separate, and rather unique, heating system. The heat recovered as part of the dehumidification and cooling process is re-directed to maintain the water temperature in the pool. This process allows what would have been wasted heat energy to be re-captured and utilized. We carefully designed this system as a negative pressure room to control both humidity and ensure that odors from the pool would not be detectable in the house. The underground character of the pool room also allowed it to be highly insulated and sealed for high energy efficiency. The disadvantage was a sacrifice on natural day lighting around the entire room. A commercial skylight, with reflective coatings, was added through the lawn-covered roof. The skylight added a lot of natural daylight and was a natural chase to recover warm humid air and supply new cooled and dehumidified air back into the enclosed space below. Landscaping was restored with primarily native plant and tree materials, which required little long term maintenance. The dedicated nature area is thriving with more wildlife than originally on site when the property was undeveloped. It is rare to be on site and to not see numerous wild turkey, white tail deer, waterfowl and small animals native to the area. This home provides a good example of how the needs of a luxury estate style home can nestle comfortably into an existing environment and ensure that the natural setting is not only maintained but protected for future generations.

The shower is universally designed and has no curb or step at its entry. The drawer pulls are also designed for easy use. A Bonisolli Photography
Mid-sized transitional white tile walk-in shower photo in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and marble countertops

Lara Swimmer Gelotte Hommas Architecture
Living room - victorian formal and enclosed living room idea in Seattle

Bathroom remodel for feminine home office/guest bath. Carrara gold basketweave with ming green stone compliments the botanical print wallpaper from Schumacher. Shower tile is Walker Zanger. Hive LA Home repurposed a vintage Louis dresser for a beautiful statement vanity with useful storage. Fixtures by Kohler Photo by Amy Bartlam

Interior Design + Architectural Photographer Barry Grossman Photography
Example of a classic marble floor living room design in Miami with a bar

This Neo-prairie style home with its wide overhangs and well shaded bands of glass combines the openness of an island getaway with a “C – shaped” floor plan that gives the owners much needed privacy on a 78’ wide hillside lot. Photos by James Bruce and Merrick Ales.

Example of a beach style l-shaped gray floor dedicated laundry room design in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Jay Greene Photography
Example of a trendy u-shaped light wood floor kitchen design in Baltimore with an undermount sink, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Concrete countertops and white painted cabinets contrast with the texture of the savalged wideplank wood floors in this kitchen.
Elegant l-shaped kitchen photo in Austin with stainless steel appliances, subway tile backsplash, an undermount sink, concrete countertops, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white backsplash

We collaborated with T.H.E. Remodel Group to define a space plan that opened up the existing hall bathroom and entered the neighboring bedroom. This space allowed us to double the size of the shower and added needed closet storage, two vanity sinks, custom cabinetry with storage and radiant heating. The client was fond of contemporary yet classic design, and we settled on classic Carrera marble for the countertops, with chrome accents. To give the bathroom a bit of contemporary punch we selected an unexpected Sombera yellow for the walls. To coordinate with the vanity, we chose for the master shower a gorgeous easy-care porcelain tile reminiscent of Carrera marble. This new generation tile is almost impossible to detect porcelain versus natural stone, but allows the homeowners to enjoy zero maintenance and easy clean up. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

Gothic inspired Master Bedroom includes layers of textural elements. Photograph by Drew Kelly
Bedroom - transitional master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with blue walls

The kitchen addition connects with the rear green space and floods the room with natural light through large horizontally banded, counter height windows. Formaldehyde-free painted cabinetry with countertops made of resin coated recycled paper are easily maintained and environmentally sound. Photographer: Bruce Damonte

Spacecrafters Photography
Entryway - craftsman entryway idea in Minneapolis

Photo: Nat Rea
Example of a trendy entryway design in Providence

Asian/Contemporary master bath with a "Zen" feel. River rocks line the shower floor and textured tile with glass accents create a tranquil feeling.

Jeffers Design Group completely remodeled and designed this 10,000-square-foot Presidio Heights grande dame. This circa 1913 residence was designed by noted San Francisco architect Houghton Sawyer; JDG respectfully preserved the soul of the home while injecting it with new life. Photography by Matthew Millman

Glass tile backsplash, slide in stove, granite counters, white cabinets, stainless range hood.
Mid-sized arts and crafts home design photo in Atlanta

Photo: Rachel Loewen © 2019 Houzz
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Kansas City

We collaborated with T.H.E. Remodel Group to define a space plan that opened up the existing hall bathroom and entered the neighboring bedroom. This space allowed us to double the size of the shower and added needed closet storage, two vanity sinks, custom cabinetry with storage and radiant heating. The client was fond of contemporary yet classic design, and we settled on classic Carrera marble for the countertops, with chrome accents. To give the bathroom a bit of contemporary punch we selected an unexpected Sombera yellow for the walls. To coordinate with the vanity, we chose for the master shower a gorgeous easy-care porcelain tile reminiscent of Carrera marble. This new generation tile is almost impossible to detect porcelain versus natural stone, but allows the homeowners to enjoy zero maintenance and easy clean up. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/