Tom Story | This family beach house and guest cottage sits perched above the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. A portion of the main house originally housed 1930’s era changing rooms for a Beach Club which included distinguished visitors such as Will Rogers. An apt connection for the new owners also have Oklahoma ties. The structures were limited to one story due to historic easements, therefore both buildings have fully developed basements featuring large windows and French doors to access European style exterior terraces and stairs up to grade. The main house features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Custom cabinetry throughout in built-in furniture style. A large design team helped to bring this exciting project to fruition. The house includes Passive Solar heated design, Solar Electric and Solar Hot Water systems. 4,500sf/420m House + 1300 sf Cottage - 6bdrm

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

AquaTerra Outdoors was hired to design and install the entire landscape, hardscape and pool for this modern home. Feeatures include Ipe wood deck, river rock details, LED lighting in the pool, limestone decks, water feature wall with custom Bobe water scuppers and more! Photography: Daniel Driensky

Located near the base of Scottsdale landmark Pinnacle Peak, the Desert Prairie is surrounded by distant peaks as well as boulder conservation easements. This 30,710 square foot site was unique in terrain and shape and was in close proximity to adjacent properties. These unique challenges initiated a truly unique piece of architecture. Planning of this residence was very complex as it weaved among the boulders. The owners were agnostic regarding style, yet wanted a warm palate with clean lines. The arrival point of the design journey was a desert interpretation of a prairie-styled home. The materials meet the surrounding desert with great harmony. Copper, undulating limestone, and Madre Perla quartzite all blend into a low-slung and highly protected home. Located in Estancia Golf Club, the 5,325 square foot (conditioned) residence has been featured in Luxe Interiors + Design’s September/October 2018 issue. Additionally, the home has received numerous design awards. Desert Prairie // Project Details Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Argue Custom Homes Interior Design: Lindsey Schultz Design Interior Furnishings: Ownby Design Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Photography: Werner Segarra

VanBrouck & Associates, Inc. www.vanbrouck.com photos by: www.bradzieglerphotography.com
Example of a classic exterior home design in Detroit

This was a wooded back yard in Smyrna, GA . The main focal point was the long stream cascading down the hillside. The Mortared Flagstone Walkway and steps interacted with the stream and terminated at a patio and pond. It was all very natural and blended in with the existing landscape. Mark Schisler, Legacy Landscapes, Inc.

Island style patio photo in Hawaii

Tom Story | This family beach house and guest cottage sits perched above the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. A portion of the main house originally housed 1930’s era changing rooms for a Beach Club which included distinguished visitors such as Will Rogers. An apt connection for the new owners also have Oklahoma ties. The structures were limited to one story due to historic easements, therefore both buildings have fully developed basements featuring large windows and French doors to access European style exterior terraces and stairs up to grade. The main house features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Custom cabinetry throughout in built-in furniture style. A large design team helped to bring this exciting project to fruition. The house includes Passive Solar heated design, Solar Electric and Solar Hot Water systems. 4,500sf/420m House + 1300 sf Cottage - 6bdrm

Client was interested in building this house on this property that had some very unique geographic amenities. Property is on the lake with a West exposure with a lagoon that is connected to the lake. Original property had two houses on it (which were later torn down), and the client liked the idea of having a main house and a guest house. Challenges: wetlands, easements, areas of poor soils and low topography. Client wanted the house to serve as a place for multiple generations to gather for holidays and events, and they wanted gracious accommodations for extended guest stays. They wanted something special architecturally. They loved Shingle Style, and wanted that for the main house, so we gave them a more local vernacular version of that style, and the guesthouse was designed to complements, but not mimic the main house. The two buildings were designed with two porches to act as bookends to a large lawn play area along the lagoon. The guesthouse took the secondary view of the lake across the lagoon and the main residence was situated between the two. Client wanted two primary spaces within the main house for entertainment: a large living kitchen and a single large gathering room. They also wanted a large gathering space outside, which took the form of a large screen porch.

Eric Rorer Photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray two-story concrete fiberboard house exterior remodel in San Francisco with a shed roof and a shingle roof

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard brick and custom-shaped natural pool remodel in Louisville

Jordan Jones, JDS Home Improvement Egress Specialist
Inspiration for a modern basement remodel in DC Metro

On a quiet cul-de-sac not too far from downtown San Luis Obispo lies the contemporary craftsman styled Clausen Residence. The challenges that accompanied this project were what, in the end, made it so interesting. The buildable area of the site is very small due to the fact that almost half of the property is occupied by a biological open space easement, established to protect the creek that runs behind the lot. In addition to this, the site is incredibly steep, which lent itself well to a stair stepped 3-story floor plan. Strict height restrictions set by the local jurisdiction governed the decision to bury the garage in the hill, and set the main living space on top of it, accompanied by the children’s bedrooms and game room further back on the site. The 3rd floor is occupied fully by the master suite, which looks down on the back yard below. Off of the great room is a vast deck, with built in barbecue, fire place and heaters, ideal for outdoor entertaining year round. The house, adorned in lap siding and true craftsman details is flanked by gorgeous oak trees and the creek beyond.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard formal garden in Other.

Located near the base of Scottsdale landmark Pinnacle Peak, the Desert Prairie is surrounded by distant peaks as well as boulder conservation easements. This 30,710 square foot site was unique in terrain and shape and was in close proximity to adjacent properties. These unique challenges initiated a truly unique piece of architecture. Planning of this residence was very complex as it weaved among the boulders. The owners were agnostic regarding style, yet wanted a warm palate with clean lines. The arrival point of the design journey was a desert interpretation of a prairie-styled home. The materials meet the surrounding desert with great harmony. Copper, undulating limestone, and Madre Perla quartzite all blend into a low-slung and highly protected home. Located in Estancia Golf Club, the 5,325 square foot (conditioned) residence has been featured in Luxe Interiors + Design’s September/October 2018 issue. Additionally, the home has received numerous design awards. Desert Prairie // Project Details Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Argue Custom Homes Interior Design: Lindsey Schultz Design Interior Furnishings: Ownby Design Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Photography: Werner Segarra

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

Three structures are located on a 6,500 sqft, sloped lot. The main house is squeezed between front setbacks, a drainage easements through the middle, an access easement to the north and a 30’ topography following height limit. The street level contains an office, a bedroom, an entry and a garage. The lower level contains indoor /outdoor living spaces separated by a glass wall. Sharing this glass wall is the master bedroom. The Studio 420 is located to the west of the drainage easement and contains the parts and tools needed to repair their grown up toys (a dune buggy, motor cycles, an antique sports car, and a three wheeled vehicle). The Studio 120 became the third structure. This structure is a utility room that blocks the neighbor’s views into their backyard and is as backdrop for outdoor dining. The home’s form is a reaction to being pinched between site constraints and the need to live an outdoor life while being indoors.

Aaron Padilla
Mid-sized coastal exterior home idea in Los Angeles

The site for this waterfront residence is located on the Great Neck Peninsula, facing west to views of NYC and the borough bridges. When purchased, there existed a 50-year-old house and pool structurally condemned which required immediate removal. Once the site was cleared, a year was devoted to stabilizing the seawall and hill to accommodate the newly proposed home. The lot size, shape and relationship to an easement access road, overlaid with strict zoning regulations was a key factor in the organization of the client’s program elements. The arc contour of the easement road and required setback informed the front facade shape, which was designed as a privacy screen, as adjacent homes are in close proximity. Due to strict height requirements the house from the street appears to be one story and then steps down the hill allowing for three fully occupiable floors. The local jurisdiction also granted special approval accepting the design of the garage, within the front set back, as its roof is level with the roadbed and fully landscaped. A path accesses a hidden door to the bedroom level of the house. The garage is accessed through a semicircular driveway that leads to a depressed entry courtyard, offering privacy to the main entrance. The configuration of the home is a U-shape surrounding a rear courtyard. This shape, along with suspended pods assures water views to all occupants while not compromising privacy from the adjacent homes. The house is constructed on a steel frame, clad with fiber cement, resin panels and an aluminum curtain wall system. All roofs are accessible as either decks or landscaped garden areas. The lower level accesses decks, an outdoor kitchen, and pool area which are perched on the edge of the upper retaining wall.