The vertical cable rail allows for an unobstructed view from the deck and discourages children from rail climbing.
Large minimalist backyard deck photo in Austin with no cover

Welcome home to this luxe, modern, and inviting townhome in the heart of downtown Jersey City! We are ecstatic to see this project completed. This 4-story multifamily underwent a major renovation and was transformed into a spacious and functional family home for our clients. Careful consideration of our client’s lifestyle and plans for the future dictated every design decision. They needed a space that would function well now that they are a young professional couple and a space that would nicely accommodate a growing family in the future. Greater emphasis was placed on common family spaces and bedrooms were designed exclusively for sleep with minimal room for work or study and without TV connections to discourage those activities from taking place in these spaces. Instead, common places such as the family room and the kitchen are inviting and foster those activities. Due to sagging floors in need of extensive repair, it made more financial sense to replace them entirely. We took this historic house and by re-pitching the roof in an inverted form we were able to gain an overall 36” which we used for raising the floors. This, in turn, allowed us to bring the ground level up to code and be suitable for living space and gave us additional ceiling room on the upper floors. The ground floor was designed to be used as a rental unit and can be reincorporated into the home later when more space is needed. Both front and back facades were replaced with timeless brick and vertical wood siding and all windows and front doors were replaced. The ground floor features a one-bedroom suite, living room, and open kitchen-dining area. On the first floor, we achieved a more effective entry sequence to the living room, an open-concept design leading to the kitchen. The interior is bright and airy, and the kitchen opens up to the deck in the back and the patio, making entertaining indoors and outdoors seamless. The design works in a way to accommodate the addition of a stair leading to the ground level when the rental unit is incorporated back into the house. Up on the second floor, a suite with a bathroom was designed with grandparents or guests in mind. Also, two additional bedrooms are now being used as an exercise room and a zoom-worthy office but can later be used as kids’ rooms. Last but not least, the third floor features the master suite with his and hers walk-in closets, a master bath, and a library.

The owners of this incredible home in Lake Sammamish, Washington, had been discouraged by the work done by a previous artificial turf company at their home—a low quality product was installed poorly and therefore didn’t function as it should. Their faith in the artificial turf industry was restored when ForeverLawn Bellevue stepped in to remove and correct the issues that the previous company had created. ForeverLawn transformed a disaster into the homeowners’ dream yard. This wonderfully executed installation included over 4,000 square feet of DuPont™ ForeverLawn® Select HD and a unique backyard putting green surfaced with EZ Putt, a variation of GolfGreens™ ideal for fun, family-focused putting greens that requires little maintenance and will provide endless entertainment.

Intelligently Mixing Hardscapes A blend of small blackstar gravel, large, chunky blackstar gravel, and turf come together with a definitive border of metal edge, adding contrast and visual interest in the hardscape. The smaller blackstar gravel area acts as a wonderful overflow parking area, and the size of the gravel allows for effective mulching and spread of these new plantings. Beneath the gravel, honeycomb NDS gravel pavers add stability to the space and discourage gravel shifting and wash-out.

Intelligently Mixing Hardscapes A blend of small blackstar gravel, large, chunky blackstar gravel, and turf come together with a definitive border of metal edge, adding contrast and visual interest in the hardscape. The smaller blackstar gravel area acts as a wonderful overflow parking area, and the size of the gravel allows for effective mulching and spread of these new plantings. Beneath the gravel, honeycomb NDS gravel pavers add stability to the space and discourage gravel shifting and wash-out.

The 6’ x 14’ plunge pool/spa has a depth of 5’ which is perfect for cooling dips, treading water or aqua fitness exercises, and it’s deep enough for the little ones to work on their swimming technique. To discourage running and jumping into the pool, the metal fence was installed next to the surrounding 18” coping.

Trees and shrubs are a big part of our local environment. Some are intended to bear fruit, while others are there simply for aesthetics. Of course, some trees are planted to help conserve the environment, and some started to grow on their own. Regardless, there are many facts about trees that you may not know. Five Star Tree Services has put together a list of a few of those facts that you may find surprising! Trees Live Longer Than Anything Else Of all living things, trees can survive the longest on this earth. Some species of trees can survive for several thousands of years. For example, the baobab tree can thrive for thousands of years after it has reached maturity. Trees Have a Godly Connection There are many religions in the world, and in some, it is a common belief that certain trees are homes to the gods. Many of these older traditions and beliefs are currently less prevalent, but there has always been a strong connection between trees and deities. Cottonwood Seeds Stay Airborne for Days Most trees reproduce via seeds. While most tree seeds fall to the ground, or are carried off by animals, the cottonwood tree seed flies through the air for days before landing. Trees Promote Rainfall Mature trees take moisture from the ground and release it into the atmosphere. This then triggers precipitation. The result is more rain in the area where trees are abundant. The best way to prevent or derail desertification is by planting trees in an area. There are Tree Genders This may seem like a sound bite for likes and shares, but some trees have gendered scientific classifications. There are both male and female trees. One great example is the pine tree. The female trees produce seeds in the pine cones, while the male trees shed pollen from their cones to fertilize the female cones. The wind makes the magic happen, which results in a bevy of baby pine cone trees. The Rings Show Its Age Very few methods exist for pinning down the age of a tree. Carbon dating is a complex method of ageing a tree, but you can also count the rings on a cut tree to determine its age. We don’t suggest you cut down a tree just to count the rings, though! Certain Tree Parts Grow Seasonally Unlike people, trees grow in separated sections. The trunk will grow in the summer, while the foliage will thrive in the spring. The roots tend to spread during the fall and winter when the rest of the tree is dormant. Trees Have Their Own Self-Defense Methods If a tree is invaded by insects, it will flood its leaves with phenolics chemicals. This is a compound that discourages insects from eating their foliage. The tree also sends off signals to other trees about the attack so that they can prepare their defenses as well. How We Can Help Here at Five Star Tree Services, we’re passionate about what we do. Our team provides high-quality and affordable tree care and maintenance, including pruning and tree removal services in Toronto. If you require help with the trees on your property or have any questions for our experts, give us a call at (416) 990-3355.

After Amanda had finished decorating her living room the first time, she realized that it actually wasn't what she was looking for. Rather than get discouraged, she looked for practical ways to update it and achieve the style that she did want. We love how her updated living room turned out, from the woven wood shades to the Moravian star light fixture!

Ryan Fung Photography
Large transitional master beige tile and limestone tile porcelain tile bathroom photo in Toronto with beige walls

Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Toronto

Colorful Beach Cottage Bathroom Photo Credit: Molly Mahar http://caprinacreative.com/

Naomi Finlay
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Toronto

We decided to use a separate induction cooktop and wall oven, so that the countertop could wrap completely around the cooktop surface. The range hood is a slimline model from Faber, and turns on when it is pulled out from the wall.

Photo Doublespace Photography
Example of a mid-sized minimalist l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Ottawa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, beige backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Home studio - small scandinavian freestanding desk home studio idea in Amsterdam with white walls

Our clients for this project are a professional couple with a young family. They approached us to help with extending and improving their home in London SW2 to create an enhanced space both aesthetically and functionally for their growing family. We were appointed to provide a full architectural and interior design service, including the design of some bespoke furniture too. A core element of the brief was to design a kitchen living and dining space that opened into the garden and created clear links from inside to out. This new space would provide a large family area they could enjoy all year around. We were also asked to retain the good bits of the current period living spaces while creating a more modern day area in an extension to the rear. It was also a key requirement to refurbish the upstairs bathrooms while the extension and refurbishment works were underway. The solution was a 21m2 extension to the rear of the property that mirrored the neighbouring property in shape and size. However, we added some additional features, such as the projecting glass box window seat. The new kitchen features a large island unit to create a workspace with storage, but also room for seating that is perfect for entertaining friends, or homework when the family gets to that age. The sliding folding doors, paired with floor tiling that ran from inside to out, created a clear link from the garden to the indoor living space. Exposed brick blended with clean white walls creates a very contemporary finish throughout the extension, while the period features have been retained in the original parts of the house.

Trendy light wood floor living room photo in London with white walls

http://www.elliotjames.com/east-ledang-malaysia/ Photography by Ken Tan

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Ahmedabad