SoCal Stairs
Example of a minimalist wooden floating open staircase design in Orange County

Mid-Century Remodel on Tabor Hill This sensitively sited house was designed by Robert Coolidge, a renowned architect and grandson of President Calvin Coolidge. The house features a symmetrical gable roof and beautiful floor to ceiling glass facing due south, smartly oriented for passive solar heating. Situated on a steep lot, the house is primarily a single story that steps down to a family room. This lower level opens to a New England exterior. Our goals for this project were to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating more modern spaces. Our design team worked to envision what Coolidge himself might have designed if he'd had access to modern materials and fixtures. With the aim of creating a signature space that ties together the living, dining, and kitchen areas, we designed a variation on the 1950's "floating kitchen." In this inviting assembly, the kitchen is located away from exterior walls, which allows views from the floor-to-ceiling glass to remain uninterrupted by cabinetry. We updated rooms throughout the house; installing modern features that pay homage to the fine, sleek lines of the original design. Finally, we opened the family room to a terrace featuring a fire pit. Since a hallmark of our design is the diminishment of the hard line between interior and exterior, we were especially pleased for the opportunity to update this classic work.

A rain garden on the property line is shared by both neighbors and provides a beautiful solution to a common problem Design by Amy Whitworth Installation and Stonework by Stormwater Resource Group

This Avon Home has it all. All that has to be said is see it at night. The superior construction and detail of the Home shines magnificently at night. The coining of the bricks, ledge mantles and chimney tops label this home to be in a league of very few. It was a great pleasure and honor to be called upon for the outdoor Lighting design and installation. The light photometric and color temperature is what first came to mind to me because of the absorbency of the bricks, Also the photometric spread as to diminish the hot spots that appear as torches on the bricks, Lens covers and finish pointing at night sometimes can make or break the effects of lighting. The drive by approach of this home is a head turner at night. For more info and views on this home go to www.OutdoorLightingDesign.com

Mid-Century Remodel on Tabor Hill This sensitively sited house was designed by Robert Coolidge, a renowned architect and grandson of President Calvin Coolidge. The house features a symmetrical gable roof and beautiful floor to ceiling glass facing due south, smartly oriented for passive solar heating. Situated on a steep lot, the house is primarily a single story that steps down to a family room. This lower level opens to a New England exterior. Our goals for this project were to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating more modern spaces. Our design team worked to envision what Coolidge himself might have designed if he'd had access to modern materials and fixtures. With the aim of creating a signature space that ties together the living, dining, and kitchen areas, we designed a variation on the 1950's "floating kitchen." In this inviting assembly, the kitchen is located away from exterior walls, which allows views from the floor-to-ceiling glass to remain uninterrupted by cabinetry. We updated rooms throughout the house; installing modern features that pay homage to the fine, sleek lines of the original design. Finally, we opened the family room to a terrace featuring a fire pit. Since a hallmark of our design is the diminishment of the hard line between interior and exterior, we were especially pleased for the opportunity to update this classic work.

For a family who believes fitness is not only an essential part of life but also a fun opportunity for the whole family to connect, build and achieve greatness together there is nothing better than a custom designed obstacle course right in your back yard. THEME The theme of this half mile trail through the woods is evident in the fun, creative and all-inclusive obstacles hidden in the natural flow of the land around this amazing family home. The course was created with adults and children, advanced and beginner athletes, competitive and entertaining events all accounted for. Each of the 13 obstacles was designed to be challenging no matter the size, skill or ability of the athlete lucky enough to run the course. FOCUS The focus for this family was to create an outdoor adventure that could be an athletic, social and personal outlet for their entire family while maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape and without altering the sweeping views from the home. The large scale of the challenging obstacles is camouflaged within the landscape using the rolling hills and mature trees as a natural curtain in every season. The beauty of the course does not diminish the functional and demanding nature of the obstacles which are designed to focus on multiple strength, agility, and cardio fitness abilities and intensities. STORAGE The start of the trail includes a raised training area offering a dedicated space clear from the ground to place bags, mats and other equipment used during the run. A small all-terrain storage cart was provided for use with 6 yoga mats, 3 medicine balls of various weights, rings, sprinting cones, and a large digital timer to record laps. GROWTH The course was designed to provide an athletic and fun challenge for children, teens and adults no matter their experience or athletic prowess. This course offers competitive athletes a challenge and budding athletes an opportunity to experience and ignite their passion for physical activity. Initially the concept for the course was focused on the youngest of the family however as the design grew so did the obstacles and now it is a true family experience that will meet their adapting needs for years. Each obstacle is paired with an instructional sign directing the runners in proper use of the obstacle, adaptations for skill levels and tips on form. These signs are all customized for this course and are printed on metal to ensure they last for many years. SAFETY Safety is crucial for all physical activity and an obstacle course of this scale presents unique safety concerns. Children should always be supervised when participating in an adventure on the course however additional care was paid to details on the course to ensure everyone has a great time. All of the course obstacles have been created with pressure treated lumber that will withstand the seasonal poundings. All footer pilings that support obstacles have been placed into the ground between 3 to 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 meters) and each piling has 2 to 3 bags of concrete (totaling over 90 bags used throughout the course) ensuring stability of the structure and safety of the participants. Additionally, all obstacle lumber has been given rounded corners and sanded down offering less splintering and more time for everyone to enjoy the course. This athletic and charismatic family strives to incorporate a healthy active lifestyle into their daily life and this obstacle course offers their family an opportunity to strengthen themselves and host some memorable and active events at their amazing home.

This large property consisting of woods and open fields borders the Pamet River in Truro, Massachusetts. Our commission included a guesthouse, a garage/ workshop and two additions to the existing traditional Cape Cod home. One addition provides a new entrance that contains a mud room and laundry. The other addition connects with the kitchen and adds a dining room, screened porch, and a glass and steel enclosed family room that overlooks the River. A stair to the second floor offers an intimate parents’ bedroom suite with a roof deck and distant views upriver. From these spaces, one can observe a variety of wildlife, songbirds and waterfowl. The architecture of the buildings in the open fields closest to the main road is informed by local rural vernacular forms, while closer to the river valley, the family room is an open plan Miesian box that seemingly places the occupants within nature. This diminishing of enclosure from highly sheltered to transparent is key to the spatial experience and reinforces the element of surprise as one progresses through the house.

The unique existing layout and beautiful wooden beams were something the client wanted to enhance and not diminish. By removing the eye-sore planter boxes, dated railings, and bulky tiled staircase, and replacing it with a gorgeous walnut railing and black metal cable system we allowed this space to be more open, modern, and cohesive. New Oak wood flooring was installed throughout the living room, complimenting the wooden beams charmingly. New Taupe Tile throughout the kitchen, entry way, dinning room, and down the staircase created a perfect balance.

The unique existing layout and beautiful wooden beams were something the client wanted to enhance and not diminish. By removing the eye-sore planter boxes, dated railings, and bulky tiled staircase, and replacing it with a gorgeous walnut railing and black metal cable system we allowed this space to be more open, modern, and cohesive. New Oak wood flooring was installed throughout the living room, complimenting the wooden beams charmingly. New Taupe Tile throughout the kitchen, entry way, dinning room, and down the staircase created a perfect balance.

For the backsplash, marble tiles and listellos were carefully designed to create an arched top niche that mirrors the shape of the range hood opening. Niche tiles were intentionally arranged in a different pattern to delineate it from the running bond pattern used on the rest of the backsplash. Three hand-painted and fired tiles created by the homeowner are incorporated into the niche. Niche doubles as a focal point and as a convenient place to store cooking oils and condiments. An inline blower for the range was mounted in the adjacent garage attic and vents it out the roof. The result is a very quiet fan taking care of the homeowners’ ventilation needs and meeting their desire for diminished noise. The raised panel, French blue cabinets are finished with a dark brown glazing. These are full overlay doors and drawers, constructed with high precision to maintain a 1/8” gap between every side of a door and drawer. PHOTO CREDIT: John Ray

After designing a residence for a family member, NSPJ was selected to design a home for this family member moving back home to Prairie Village, KS. With an eye for design, the client collected images capturing inspiration for his home. Through a collaborative process between the architect and homeowner, the designs created a unique fit for his lifestyle. A French-influenced exterior adds a special touch and a reminder of homes from where he once lived. To compliment the modest height of the Cape Cod homes in the neighborhood, the home’s two-story portion was pushed farther from the street than its neighbors, to diminish its scale. Our new home architects incorporated a single-story garage into the front of the house, where its scale kept with the adjacent neighbors. Artistic touches throughout the project resulted from the synergy between the homeowner and our Kansas City residential architect. Much of the exterior of the home is covered in white brick with an intimate covered patio facing the backyard, complete with an outdoor fireplace for cozy spring and fall evenings. What a delight it was to take the journey through the design and construction process with this client.

For more than seventy-five years, Thermador has been the industry leader in home and commercial cooktops, refrigeration systems, dishwashers, and other major appliances. Always a source of innovation, this legendary company has been empowering cooks at every level to cook better, faster, and cleaner for the better part of a century. In that time, they've pioneered major breakthroughs, including the first wall oven to speed-cooking ovens. And that legacy of excellence and inventiveness hasn't been diminished with time.

Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in DC Metro

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

Drainage Solutions & Curb Appeal Transformation This project focused on solving a persistent drainage issue that was impacting both the usability and appearance of the property. Standing water and poor grading were creating functional problems while diminishing the home’s overall curb appeal—an issue many homeowners face when water isn’t properly directed away from the home. Fowler Outdoor Co. approached the project with a design-build mindset, addressing the root cause of the drainage problem through proper grading, water management, and structural solutions. By integrating effective drainage systems with thoughtfully designed hardscape elements, the team was able to redirect water flow, protect the property, and create a more stable foundation for the landscape. Beyond functionality, the transformation elevated the front yard’s appearance with clean lines, intentional materials, and a cohesive layout that complements the home. The result is a space that not only performs better during heavy rain but also delivers a polished, welcoming first impression. This project is a great example of how solving underlying issues like drainage can completely transform both the look and long-term performance of an outdoor space.