Amy A. Alper, Architect Landscape Design by Merge Studio Photos by John Merkl
Country home design photo in San Francisco

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard stone landscaping in Toronto with a fire pit.

At Archadeck of Nova Scotia we love any size project big or small. But, that being said, we have a soft spot for the projects that let us show off our talents! This Halifax house was no exception. The owners wanted a space to suit their outdoor lifestyle with materials to last far into the future. The choices were quite simple: stone veneer, Timbertech composite decking and glass railing. What better way to create that stability than with a solid foundation, concrete columns and decorative stone veneer? The posts were all wrapped with stone and match the retaining wall which was installed to help with soil retention and give the backyard more definition (it’s not too hard on the eyes either). A set of well-lit steps will guide you up the multi-level deck. The built-in planters soften the hardness of the Timbertech composite deck and provide a little visual relief. The two-tone aesthetic of the deck and railing are a stunning feature which plays up contrasting tones. From there it’s a game of musical chairs; we recommend the big round one on a September evening with a glass of wine and cozy blanket. We haven’t gotten there quite yet, but this property has an amazing view (you will see soon enough!). As to not spoil the view, we installed TImbertech composite railing with glass panels. This allows you to take in the surrounding sights while relaxing and not have those pesky balusters in the way. In any Canadian backyard, there is always the dilemma of dealing with mosquitoes and black flies! Our solution to this itchy problem is to incorporate a screen room as part of your design. This screen room in particular has space for dining and lounging around a fireplace, perfect for the colder evenings! Ahhh…there’s the view! From the top level of the deck you can really get an appreciation for Nova Scotia. Life looks pretty good from the top of a multi-level deck. Once again, we installed a composite and glass railing on the new composite deck to capture the scenery. What puts the cherry on top of this project is the balcony! One of the greatest benefits of composite decking and railing is that it can be curved to create beautiful soft edges. Imagine sipping your morning coffee and watching the sunrise over the water. If you want to know more about composite decking, railing or anything else you’ve seen that sparks your interest; give us a call! We’d love to hear from you.

Chris Hurtt
Example of a trendy living room design in Portland

Pacific Garage Doors & Gates Burbank & Glendale's Highly Preferred Garage Door & Gate Services Location: North Hollywood, CA 91606
Mid-sized trendy beige two-story stucco house exterior photo in Los Angeles with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Jack Michaud Photography

Gibeon Photography
Example of a huge minimalist brown two-story glass exterior home design

Regan Wood Photography
Kitchen - transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in New York with shaker cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Enclosed kitchen - small modern galley ceramic tile enclosed kitchen idea with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

Example of a mountain style powder room design with an undermount sink and brown countertops

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Photo: Lucy Call © 2015 Houzz
Home office - contemporary home office idea in Salt Lake City

Jeri Koegel
Mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo by Paul Bardagjy
Inspiration for a huge contemporary open concept concrete floor living room remodel in Austin with white walls, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace and no tv

Example of a mountain style u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen design in Denver with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in New York with a fire pit and no cover

Example of a mid-sized transitional single-wall medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, cement tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The cabinets in the kitchen were fabricated from reclaimed oak pallets. Design: Charlie & Co. Design | Builder: Stonefield Construction | Interior Selections & Furnishings: By Owner | Photography: Spacecrafting