Pure Character The traditional home commanded a traditional pool in the small space. Balancing pool space, walkways, and planting space was a challenge. The client also wanted a focal point at the end of the downward sloping yard, so a 24” high wall along the fence allowed a level pool, raised patio and a raised water wall. Minimal sound was required due to the small space and the stair stepped lueders water wall provided the ideal solution. Flanked by raised columns of matching house brick capped with grand effects fire bowls visual interest was provided day and night. White precast accented the coping, step treads and wall caps. Silver travertine paving complemented the existing bluestone porch. The raised patio provided space for lounge chairs and left enough space for the Italian cypress screen. Planting also softens the property fence and vines were planted to soften the house wall. This pool provides the balance of fun and function in this small space.

Benjamin Hill Photography http://www.benhillphoto.com/
Home design - modern home design idea in Houston

The clients enjoy entertaining guests in their home. They enjoy sports events, but don't necessarily enjoy the hustle 'n bustle of going to the stadium, finding a place to park, and in the case of football, freezing to death. They much prefer sharing the ambiance of their comfortable home, offering snacks and drinks from the bar, and enjoying a round of pool during intermissions and halftime, or watching halftime shows on a state-of-the-art home theater. These clients were so committed to this enterprise, they dedicated their 3,000 sq’ basement, except those areas already used for utility, storage, and mechanical needs, the renovation.To make sure the clients' every wish was met, a complete entertainment area was designed and constructed with ease of movement, lighting, and safety in mind. The area would include a home theater with totally wireless controls, a pool room, and a social area replete with a commercial-grade wet bar. The home theater consists of a screen within a custom cabinet system that also houses the complete audio-visual equipment center. Speakers are nestled in custom benches with the sound cones discretely hidden behind fabric panels. The motor for the panel that hides the screen when not in use is behind a similar fabric panel.The furniture style cabinet has Shaker style doors with walnut peg inlays and leaded glass panels. There are multiple lighting "scenes" for ambiance; low-voltage lighting inside the crown molding, and recessed can lights are discretely placed so that they can provide an extra level of illumination when required.The pool room was walled with a custom wainscot paneling with clear cherry stiles and rails finished with a clear satin lacquer. The panels are of Madagascar ebony with a light satin stain and a clear lacquer finish. A custom cue rack was constructed from clear cherry and backed with the Madagascar ebony panel.Drink rails were custom fabricated from cherry and custom crown molding was fabricated to match the rest of the house. The space is lit with a combination of recessed lights and a series of hidden lights behind crown molding for dramatic effect. The bar area is topped with a custom crown detail to contain the lighting. The bar is constructed in the same manner and fashion as the theater and pool rooms with Shaker style cabinetry with square walnut peg in the door corners and decorative leaded glass door fronts with more than enough front and back bar space to serve and enjoy drinks and snacks. Entry behind the bar is through custom, bi-directional butler doors. A custom bottle display and storage area takes up the bottom half of the bar's back wall. And, for the sake of convenience, a full size automatic dishwasher is installed under the bar for cleaning glasses and stemware. The bar is also tricked out with an espresso machine, its own flat screen TV and AmX video controller. The bar is lit with puck lights in the upper cabinets that illuminate downward through glass shelves, and low-voltage lighting is used behind the bottle display. The bar itself is lit by a series of earthen tone pendant lights.All three areas complement each other and are in total harmony with the remainder of the house. Moldings were matched, carpeting styles were chosen to complement rather than compromise, and muted, natural colors and textures were chosen that complement the surroundings. There is a seamless transition between the newer areas of the home and those already in everyday use. The entire area is a nebula of electrons operating servos, quietly opening and closing hidden switches, mysteriously dimming and brightening lights, and not only creating an alluring atmosphere, but one that is programmable, available at the touch of a finger to a heat sensitive screen, for an individual, or a group. At a single touch the lights in the theater and bar areas dim as the theater screen lowers into viewing position. Not only does the AMX controller open and close shades and window treatments to facilitate better viewing, but on an entirely different level it controls the very access to the property. It opens and closes entryways, external doors and gates as well.None of this magic came easily. Electrical circuits were at a premium. Over heating plagued the AV rack, and pesky rays of light seemed to creep in where and when they were least welcome. An exhaust fan was installed in the AV cabinet to dissipate the heat. New electrical outlets were scheduled and placed while others were moved. The bar area received custom wire chases hidden within the cabinetry. Exterior roll-a-way shutters, all controlled from the AMX controller, were installed and programmed as the answer to those pesky light rays.

David Holscher
Inspiration for a coastal entryway remodel in San Francisco

Nichole Kennelly Photography
Hallway - small coastal ceramic tile hallway idea in Miami with beige walls

Nestled in an undeveloped thicket between two homes on Monmouth road, the Eastern corner of this client’s lot plunges ten feet downward into a city-designated stormwater collection ravine. Our client challenged us to design a home, referencing the Scandinavian modern style, that would account for this lot’s unique terrain and vegetation. Through iterative design, we produced four house forms angled to allow rainwater to naturally flow off of the roof and into a gravel-lined runoff area that drains into the ravine. Completely foregoing downspouts and gutters, the chosen design reflects the site’s topography, its mass changing in concert with the slope of the land. This two-story home is oriented around a central stacked staircase that descends into the basement and ascends to a second floor master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The main entrance—a triangular form subtracted from this home’s rectangular plan—opens to a kitchen and living space anchored with an oversized kitchen island. On the far side of the living space, a solid void form projects towards the backyard, referencing the entryway without mirroring it. Ground floor amenities include a bedroom, full bathroom, laundry area, office and attached garage. Among Architecture Office’s most conceptually rigorous projects, exterior windows are isolated to opportunities where natural light and a connection to the outdoors is desired. The Monmouth home is clad in black corrugated metal, its exposed foundations extending from the earth to highlight its form.

Triptych House is composed of three volumes that are united by a horizontal plane extending out to define outdoor spaces and functions. Inside, the definition between the volumes dissolves as the open kitchen, living, and dining spaces provide a flowing spatial experience for guests and family alike. This form arose from the functional goal of a home with spaces that at times offer privacy but are most often shared and familial. The volumes were also pulled apart to create pockets of greenery and outdoor space that are experienced as one circulates around the home. The home relates to its neighborhood abstractly in terms of scale, datum, and rhythm of openings, rather than through stylistic replication. The distinct nature of each volume is emphasized by its material character. The verticality of board and batten siding cladding the central two-story volume draws the eye downward, while its dark color allows the single-story light brick volume to hold the foreground when viewed from the street. The steel-edged canopy highlights the horizontal datum that ties all spaces together, allowing a series of special moments articulated in millwork and saturated color to be united under a single plane.

We really enjoyed building this unique traditional style staircase in a beautiful home in Park City, UT. The three stacked freestanding staircases wrap around a glass elevator. The stair is unique in that the owner wanted the outside stringer to follow the octagon shape of the wall while having the inside stringer circular. The stair consists of Alder stringers and curbing, Hickory treads, and a custom Alder handrail profile. The open risers allow more light to permeate the staircase and the curvature of the treads makes the stairs feel as if they flow seamlessly downward around the elevator. Forged metal balusters with a clear satin finish make up the guardrail infill, and for a little extra flair we included several Tuscan panels. Overall, the wood and iron are a classic combination and give a distinguished look.

This project is a simple family gathering space next to the lake, with a small screen pavilion at waters edge. The large volume is used for music performances and family events. A seasonal (unheated) space allows us to utilize different windows--tllt in awnings, downward operating single hung windows, all with single glazing.

Note the "all refrigerator" and "all freezer" standing side by side and the nice deep drawers beneath the ovens and pantry.
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean l-shaped travertine floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Diego with an island, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, green backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Nestled in an undeveloped thicket between two homes on Monmouth road, the Eastern corner of this client’s lot plunges ten feet downward into a city-designated stormwater collection ravine. Our client challenged us to design a home, referencing the Scandinavian modern style, that would account for this lot’s unique terrain and vegetation. Through iterative design, we produced four house forms angled to allow rainwater to naturally flow off of the roof and into a gravel-lined runoff area that drains into the ravine. Completely foregoing downspouts and gutters, the chosen design reflects the site’s topography, its mass changing in concert with the slope of the land. This two-story home is oriented around a central stacked staircase that descends into the basement and ascends to a second floor master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The main entrance—a triangular form subtracted from this home’s rectangular plan—opens to a kitchen and living space anchored with an oversized kitchen island. On the far side of the living space, a solid void form projects towards the backyard, referencing the entryway without mirroring it. Ground floor amenities include a bedroom, full bathroom, laundry area, office and attached garage. Among Architecture Office’s most conceptually rigorous projects, exterior windows are isolated to opportunities where natural light and a connection to the outdoors is desired. The Monmouth home is clad in black corrugated metal, its exposed foundations extending from the earth to highlight its form. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2020.

Nestled in an undeveloped thicket between two homes on Monmouth road, the Eastern corner of this client’s lot plunges ten feet downward into a city-designated stormwater collection ravine. Our client challenged us to design a home, referencing the Scandinavian modern style, that would account for this lot’s unique terrain and vegetation. Through iterative design, we produced four house forms angled to allow rainwater to naturally flow off of the roof and into a gravel-lined runoff area that drains into the ravine. Completely foregoing downspouts and gutters, the chosen design reflects the site’s topography, its mass changing in concert with the slope of the land. This two-story home is oriented around a central stacked staircase that descends into the basement and ascends to a second floor master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The main entrance—a triangular form subtracted from this home’s rectangular plan—opens to a kitchen and living space anchored with an oversized kitchen island. On the far side of the living space, a solid void form projects towards the backyard, referencing the entryway without mirroring it. Ground floor amenities include a bedroom, full bathroom, laundry area, office and attached garage. Among Architecture Office’s most conceptually rigorous projects, exterior windows are isolated to opportunities where natural light and a connection to the outdoors is desired. The Monmouth home is clad in black corrugated metal, its exposed foundations extending from the earth to highlight its form.

The Ridgeback - Craftsman Ranch with Daylight Basement in Happy Valley, Oregon by Cascade West Development Inc. 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

Pool - traditional pool idea in Atlanta

Cloud is a cumulus form that projects intense LED illumination from each of its individual lobes.: downward for direct lighting or upwards for indirect reflection. Available in two sizes and in uplight or downlight configurations. In collaboration with Peter Polick.

Double shower - mid-sized contemporary 3/4 gray tile and marble tile light wood floor double shower idea in San Francisco with a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

This modern family home sits atop stone ledges overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The newly constructed home is a contemporary shingle style with a twist of Vermont country. The first floor is anchored by a family style eat-in kitchen adjoining an open floor plan that takes advantage of the panoramic views of the Atlantic. The second floor is comprised of three junior suites and a master suite with a balcony. The three car garage, play room above and in-law suite in the basement complete the interior of the home. The approach up the driveway provides a glimpse of the dramatic ocean views through a passageway between the house and mature arborvitae. A series of retaining walls undulating from the ocean facing elevation creates gathering areas at different levels as the lot slopes downward toward the stone ledge. Photo Credit: Eric Roth

This modern family home sits atop stone ledges overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The newly constructed home is a contemporary shingle style with a twist of Vermont country. The first floor is anchored by a family style eat-in kitchen adjoining an open floor plan that takes advantage of the panoramic views of the Atlantic. The second floor is comprised of three junior suites and a master suite with a balcony. The three car garage, play room above and in-law suite in the basement complete the interior of the home. The approach up the driveway provides a glimpse of the dramatic ocean views through a passageway between the house and mature arborvitae. A series of retaining walls undulating from the ocean facing elevation creates gathering areas at different levels as the lot slopes downward toward the stone ledge. Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Nested along the iconic Rideau River in Manotick, this luxury modern custom home will be constructed by Les Maisons Bruyère Homes. The exterior is enhanced with maintenance-free EIFS cladding, aluminum wood-look plank siding, and stone in colours that reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each exterior finish is further highlighted with unique roof heights, providing visual interest from every angle. The 3′ overhand with downward soffit lighting adds warmth to the modern structure. From the covered front entry, there is a view of the river through the great room and its floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. During the winter months, sliding glass doors will help to keep the cold air out of the rest of the home, and a generous walk-in closet accommodates storage for the family and large gatherings. The main-level great room, dining room, and kitchen will be light-filled, open spaces with 10′ ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows towards the river. Cozy evenings will be spent around the 3-sided fireplace. Perfect for entertaining, the 10′ x 5′ kitchen island will welcome guests to share food and great conversation. The pantry allows for an additional refrigerator or stand-up freezer and plenty of storage. On warm summer days, the outdoor kitchen with bar seating is steps away on the extensive deck. The outdoor stone fireplace will extend its use into the cooler months. Protected by a retractable ShadeFX canopy, there’s always the choice of shade, sun, or protection from the rain. Cantilevered retractable ShadeFX canopies extend from each section of the back wall, providing protection from the sun inside and out. The home is just shy of 4,800 sq ft and boasts a main-floor guest suite with private entry through the mudroom. On the second level, you’ll find the spacious primary bedroom suite and 3 additional bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The laundry room is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom ensuite has a very practical separate toilet room, spacious shower, double sinks with a makeup table between, and a luxurious standalone tub. A second guest bedroom suite (or optional self-contained apartment with private entrance) is located on the walk-out basement level. Not a typical basement, the 9’ ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring abundant light into the entertainment area and family room. In addition to the guest bedroom suite, there is a gym and a home theatre tucked in behind the stairs. A 2-piece bath, mechanical room, and storage complete the interior. Outside, the large covered patio leads into the pool area. A two-piece bath/changeroom, optional sauna, and wet bar complete this spa-like outdoor space. Out front, the attached garage can accommodate four+ vehicles and a sizable workshop or storage. The basement and main level mudroom are easily accessible directly from the garage. A second detached garage is an option.