Large 1960s three-story wood brown home design photo in Orange County with a hip roof

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architect: SKD Architects | Photography: Landmark Photography | Landscaping: TOPO LLC
Inspiration for a craftsman l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, green backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large timeless rooftop deck remodel in San Diego with no cover

by Mike Kelley Photography
Minimalist blue one-story flat roof photo in Los Angeles

Priceless views dance off the mirror-like reflection of this complex geometric masterpiece. A perfectly placed fire-feature warms up the outdoor living season and elevation changes are as appealing as the mountains in the distance.

At 35+ years, this Ft Worth lake-home is wearing it’s age very well. To freshen up the surrounding landscaping and supporting elements, our clients dreamed of an avant garde look for both the front and backyard outdoor living space that tied together. One Specialty designed a re-imagined driveway, address monument, welcoming area and Xeriscape landscaping for the front. We constructed a multi-level deck made with Trex, complete with an outdoor kitchen and outdoor bar in the backyard, resulting in multiple vignettes for entertaining which are fully wheelchair accessible. To see before photos and more information on this project: http://www.onespecialty.com/lake-retreat/

This project offers an outdoor entertainment area for multiple uses. This 2-level deck with the screened gazebo and the concrete paver patio shows the broad spectrum of what we can do for your backyard. The composite decking and railing offers years of carefree living. The 12ft. screened gazebo means bug-free nights, and the cozy patio with the fire bowl is just right for enjoying smore's with the family. Planters and benches as well as steps down to the lower yard finish off this project. Lighting on the steps and railing posts offers safety and ambiance for the summer nights outdoors.

This is an example of a small modern drought-tolerant and partial sun backyard landscaping in San Diego.

Inspiration for a large modern galley concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This dynamic side post patio umbrella has a modern design and multiple features. Its weather-resistant aluminum frame rotates 360° and the canopy tilts from side to side to track with the sun. A simple crank lift opens and closes colorfast Sunbrella canopy that is available in a variety of vivid colors and contemporary neutral tones.

Basement Remodel with multiple areas for work, play and relaxation.
Home theater - large transitional underground and enclosed carpeted and gray floor home theater idea in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Stone Staircase - Multiple material experts - Arcways
Arts and crafts staircase photo in Grand Rapids

The Abraham Knowlton House (c. 1725) was nearly demolished to make room for the expansion of a nearby commercial building. Thankfully, this historic home was saved from that fate after surviving a long, drawn out battle. When we began the project, the building was in a lamentable state of disrepair due to long-term neglect. Before we could begin on the restoration and renovation of the house proper, we needed to raise the entire structure in order to repair and fortify the foundation. The design project was substantial, involving the transformation of this historic house into beautiful and yet highly functional condominiums. The final design brought this home back to its original, stately appearance while giving it a new lease on life as a home for multiple families. Winner, 2003 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation Photo Credit: Cynthia August

Remodel and addition to a classic California bungalow.
Minimalist gray one-story concrete house exterior photo in Los Angeles with a hip roof and a shingle roof

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Dan Cutrona
Beach style mudroom photo in Boston

Example of a mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Denver with white walls, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace

Russell Abraham
Inspiration for a large modern u-shaped kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash and an island

Large half porch with generous stone work and column piers. Note beadboard ceiing inside porch. Designed and built by Georgia Front Porch. © 2012 Jan Stittleburg, jsphotofx.com for Georgia Front Porch.