On the large wall, she flanked two large arched mirrors around a bench seat. The mirrors provide depth, making the room appear larger, by reflecting the distant view of the beach.

Rising from the pastoral landscape of central California, the HS residence echoes of a time when the majority of humankind lived with and not simply on the land. To accomplish this, the architectural team sought to negotiate the boundary between contemporary and agrarian design. Inspired in large part by the surrounding hills, the home is organized around three scattered courtyards, which anchor both the architectural form and floor plan. Rather than their customary use as the antidote for urbanization, these courtyards have been designed instead to elevate what is sacred in the simple rituals of daily living. Two courtyards form the primary and most distant wings of the home. One is designed solely for living, and the other is devoted exclusively to resting. Through this organization, the architects sought to prioritize simplicity of function as well as form. A narrow corridor connects these two wings and also doubles as the fourth wall to the third and largest courtyard in the heart of the home. Fully exposed to the sun and stars above, this central courtyard is home to one of the site’s most treasured features: an ancient oak tree. The circulation between these three sanctuaries mirrors nature’s foundational rhythm - the movement from day to night and back to day again. A place of retreat and rest, this residence ultimately taps into the timeless heritage of symbiotic and simple living with the land.

Having integrated appliances not only give a cleaner look to a kitchen but also gives a more custom feel. Because this is a smaller kitchen, it helped make the space actually feel more large, especially for the dishwasher to avoid so much stainless steel to be seen.

Clients love to entertain! And why wouldn't they, when they have a space like this? When I arrived, this huge space was nothing but bare soil. What a transformation! Project goals primarily focused on the creation of a beautiful space to enjoy with multiple outdoor rooms, space to grow food and space to play outside with guests. We created a regulation-size bocce ball court, large fountain and pond, and used an incredible and diverse selection of drought-tolerant plants including California native selections as well as plants from South Africa, Australia and beyond. Textures and colors form a buzzing, living tapestry which is framed by magnificent views of the fields and distant mountains. All garden elements are connected by winding decomposed granite pathways so the frequent guests, children and grandchildren can roam freely. Raised veggie beds provide a bountiful harvest of veggies and tomatoes. The sound of flowing water and the tranquil garden make it impossible to go inside; this is outdoor living at its finest!

With an expansive deck that overlooks rolling hills and a distant valley, it's no surprise this homeowner went with a cable railing! Nothing but a sleek frame and near-invisible cable between them and the beautiful fields surrounding their home.

This 10,920 square foot house built in 1993 in the Arts and Crafts style is surrounded by 178 acres and sited high on a hilltop at the end of a long driveway with scenic mountain views. The house is totally secluded and quiet featuring all the essentials of a quality life style. Built to the highest standards with generous spaces, light and sunny rooms, cozy in winter with a log burning fireplace and with wide cool porches for summer living. There are three floors. The large master suite on the second floor with a private balcony looks south to a layers of distant hills. The private guest wing is on the ground floor. The third floor has studio and playroom space as well as an extra bedroom and bath. There are 5 bedrooms in all with a 5 bedroom guest house.

The Aerius - Modern Craftsman in Ridgefield Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. Upon opening the 8ft tall door and entering the foyer an immediate display of light, color and energy is presented to us in the form of 13ft coffered ceilings, abundant natural lighting and an ornate glass chandelier. Beckoning across the hall an entrance to the Great Room is beset by the Master Suite, the Den, a central stairway to the Upper Level and a passageway to the 4-bay Garage and Guest Bedroom with attached bath. Advancement to the Great Room reveals massive, built-in vertical storage, a vast area for all manner of social interactions and a bountiful showcase of the forest scenery that allows the natural splendor of the outside in. The sleek corner-kitchen is composed with elevated countertops. These additional 4in create the perfect fit for our larger-than-life homeowner and make stooping and drooping a distant memory. The comfortable kitchen creates no spatial divide and easily transitions to the sun-drenched dining nook, complete with overhead coffered-beam ceiling. This trifecta of function, form and flow accommodates all shapes and sizes and allows any number of events to be hosted here. On the rare occasion more room is needed, the sliding glass doors can be opened allowing an out-pour of activity. Almost doubling the square-footage and extending the Great Room into the arboreous locale is sure to guarantee long nights out under the stars. Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya

Tall House on Colonel Willie Cove Westerly, RI Interiors by Studio InSitu and Tricia Upton Architectural Design by Tim Hess and Jeff Dearing for DSK Architects. Christian Lanciaux project manager. Builder: Gardner Woodwrights, Gene Ciccone project manager. Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpetz and Heger Landscape Architects: Tupelo Gardens photographs by Studio InSitu. On this coastal site subject to high winds and flooding, governmental review and permitting authorities overlap and combine to create some pret-ty tough weather of their own. On the relatively small footprint available for construction, this house was stacked in functional layers: Entry and kids' spaces are on the ground level. The Master Suite is tucked under the eaves (pried-open to distant views) on the third floor, and the middle level is wide-open from outside wall to outside wall for entertaining and sweeping views.

This 10,920 square foot house built in 1993 in the Arts and Crafts style is surrounded by 178 acres and sited high on a hilltop at the end of a long driveway with scenic mountain views. The house is totally secluded and quiet featuring all the essentials of a quality life style. Built to the highest standards with generous spaces, light and sunny rooms, cozy in winter with a log burning fireplace and with wide cool porches for summer living. There are three floors. The large master suite on the second floor with a private balcony looks south to a layers of distant hills. The private guest wing is on the ground floor. The third floor has studio and playroom space as well as an extra bedroom and bath. There are 5 bedrooms in all with a 5 bedroom guest house.

A flowering crabapple canopy frames a sunny gravel walk bordered by lavender, euphorbia, and neatly clipped evergreens at Rosemound Farm in Hillsboro, Oregon. The layered plant palette celebrates Pacific Northwest spring color and soft rural formality, leading the eye toward distant fields and hills.

This residence sits atop a precipice with views to the metropolitan Denver valley to the east and the iconic Flatiron peaks to the west. The two sides of this linear scheme respond independently to the site conditions. The east has a high band of glass for morning light infiltration, with a thick zone of storage below. Dividing the storage areas, a rhythm of intermittent windows provide views to the entry court and distant city. On the opposite side, full height sliding glass panels extend the length of the house embracing the best views. After entering through the solid east wall, the amazing mountain peaks are revealed. For this residence, simplicity and restraint are the innovation. Materials are limited to wood structure and ceilings, concrete floors, and oxidized steel cladding. The roof extension provides sun shading for the west facing glass and shelter for the end terrace. The house’s modest form and palate of materials place it unpretentiously within its surroundings, allowing the natural environment to carry the day. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Merit 2011 Project Year: 2009

Similar to many of my projects, the main objectives for this Royal Oaks garden design were that it not use a lot of water or take a lot of time to maintain. This farming family is busy and wanted a beautiful garden to match their beautiful home. The result was a particularly stunning complementary color scheme with multiple shades of purple and lilac, along with orange, rust and yellow. Low-growing, mounding ground covers prevent weeds from recurring and are interspersed with fountain-like grasses, architectural cordylines, leucadendrons, and boulders. The back garden frames a view of the Watsonville farmlands and distant Santa Cruz Mountains. Couldn't be prettier!

The Enatai House is nestled in a picturesque, tree-lined neighborhood of Bellevue. Situated on a large, linear corner lot with mature trees and a significant grade change from front to back, the site offered both challenges and opportunities. The design concept was to create a family home that serves as a backdrop to stunning views of Lake Washington and the distant Seattle skyline, carefully integrating the house into the landscape, preserving the existing trees and stepping the structure to follow the natural contours of the land.

The faux brick wall paper was removed, and the alcove framed with electrical moved forward. Once drywall was installed the old alcove is just a distant memory, replaced with a 65" SMART tv!

The Aerius - Modern Craftsman in Ridgefield Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. Upon opening the 8ft tall door and entering the foyer an immediate display of light, color and energy is presented to us in the form of 13ft coffered ceilings, abundant natural lighting and an ornate glass chandelier. Beckoning across the hall an entrance to the Great Room is beset by the Master Suite, the Den, a central stairway to the Upper Level and a passageway to the 4-bay Garage and Guest Bedroom with attached bath. Advancement to the Great Room reveals massive, built-in vertical storage, a vast area for all manner of social interactions and a bountiful showcase of the forest scenery that allows the natural splendor of the outside in. The sleek corner-kitchen is composed with elevated countertops. These additional 4in create the perfect fit for our larger-than-life homeowner and make stooping and drooping a distant memory. The comfortable kitchen creates no spatial divide and easily transitions to the sun-drenched dining nook, complete with overhead coffered-beam ceiling. This trifecta of function, form and flow accommodates all shapes and sizes and allows any number of events to be hosted here. On the rare occasion more room is needed, the sliding glass doors can be opened allowing an out-pour of activity. Almost doubling the square-footage and extending the Great Room into the arboreous locale is sure to guarantee long nights out under the stars. Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya

The exterior features green board and batten siding, charcoal lap siding, black metal roofing, and expansive black-framed windows that emphasize the home’s modern aesthetic while framing the surrounding forest and distant mountain ranges. Multiple volumes step with the terrain, giving the home a sculptural presence as it sits perched on the rocky bluff.

This kitchen took a tired, 90's builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful Centennial family. The existing space was in good condition, but carried a visual weight and functionality that was overall displeasing for our clients. Our clients desired a central gathering island where their family of 5 can sit and dine together or events can be hosted outside of the formal dining room. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and orange. We removed a half wall that used to be a desk area inside of the kitchen to create a sprawling island easily capable of hosting 6 guests. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in Silk around the perimeter of the kitchen: stacking cabinets to create a tall, dramatic look around the space. On the south wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features seeded glass panels in the upper and lower cabinet doors. These allow china and colorful dishes to be displayed for a pop of fun color in an otherwise quietly neutral space. The island cabinets are a dramatic contrast in Ultracraft's Truffle paint with oversized island legs for a more furniture-like feel. The island countertop is Caesarstone Quartz in Frosty Carrina, and the perimeter is MSI Quartz in Lagos Azul. The handsome, structured cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous oil rubbed bronze. The island chandelier is a gorgeous 7 light open frame bronze fixture from Hinkley Lighting. One of the most striking features in the space is the countertop-to-ceiling glass mosaic tile. This mosaic is a delicate hand-blown stained glass look. It captures a wide range of light and color tones, and looks different from every angle in the room. Our clients commented that, at night when the other lights are off, the backsplash feels like a distant city glittering beyond. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a warm and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

Ravine Reimagined is a contemporary North Shore home thoughtfully sited to engage its wooded surroundings and distant lake views. Clean-lined volumes, light-toned brick, and expansive glazing create a quiet architectural presence that feels both modern and grounded in nature. Outdoor living spaces extend the home’s livability, with a terrace designed for gathering, relaxation, and year-round enjoyment. Designed by Jaffe Architecture, the home balances restraint and warmth—pairing natural materials, careful proportions, and strong indoor-outdoor connections to create a residence that feels calm, connected, and enduring.

This home was designed for a professional couple with several children, the promise of many grandchildren, and the prospect of an active retirement in the not too distant future. With a painting studio for her and a study/office for him were special requirements on top of the usual gracious living space, and formal as well as informal dining spaces. The outdoor living areas, terraces, decks, pool, and a boathouse significantly expand the space of the house and opportunities for outdoor leisure activities. The materials are rich throughout—cedar columns and roof deck, slate counters, mesquite and stone floors, and limestone walls inside and out. A small entry court and a terraced deck relate the building to the rapidly changing grade. Large steel trellises with wisteria provide shade for the deck area and block the view of a neighboring house. This house received a Merit Award from the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Featured on the cover of Southern Living, February 2000, for the National Design Award for new construction, this house exemplifies Black + Vernooy’s concept of Texas residential architecture. Built By: Dalgleish Construction Co. Photography By: Paul Bardagjy