This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

Stephanie Barnes-Castro is a full service architectural firm specializing in sustainable design serving Santa Cruz County. Her goal is to design a home to seamlessly tie into the natural environment and be aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient.

Photo by Greg Rothers
Mid-sized zen beige one-story stucco exterior home photo in Kansas City

BeachHaus is built on a previously developed site on Siesta Key. It sits directly on the bay but has Gulf views from the upper floor and roof deck. The client loved the old Florida cracker beach houses that are harder and harder to find these days. They loved the exposed roof joists, ship lap ceilings, light colored surfaces and inviting and durable materials. Given the risk of hurricanes, building those homes in these areas is not only disingenuous it is impossible. Instead, we focused on building the new era of beach houses; fully elevated to comfy with FEMA requirements, exposed concrete beams, long eaves to shade windows, coralina stone cladding, ship lap ceilings, and white oak and terrazzo flooring. The home is Net Zero Energy with a HERS index of -25 making it one of the most energy efficient homes in the US. It is also certified NGBS Emerald. Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography

Entryway - modern entryway idea in Calgary

Perched on a stunning point overlooking the Atlantic, this storey-and-a-half home has enough room to house a large family and several guests, while still feeling cozy for a couple. The building shape is defined and accentuated by the interaction between metal and wood siding. The simple barn shape is punctured at critical points to bring in light and heat, to protect doorways, and to provide outdoor space for beekeeping. A sunshade on the south-west corner which prevents overheating is hung from stainless-steel rods to maintain the integrity of the ocean views. A fully air-sealed modern wood stove serves all heating required, further reducing the environmental impact of this home while providing a comfortable hearth to gather the family on winter nights. Photo Credit: Jarrell Whisken

Phase one of this Littleton, Colorado, backyard landscape renovation focused on reducing sod and creating a more intentional, water-wise outdoor environment. The design was carefully personalized around the homeowners’ goals while considering the health and long-term needs of the property’s existing mature trees. New landscape edging and decorative boulders add structure, dimension and natural texture throughout the yard. A balanced combination of mulch, river rock and planting beds complements the home’s architecture while reducing lawn area and helping create a lower-maintenance Colorado landscape. Two new trees and additional plantings were thoughtfully integrated with the existing landscape for a cohesive, established appearance. A stepping-stone garden path now leads through the mulched planting area, adding both function and visual interest. The irrigation system was also updated to support the redesigned planting beds and encourage efficient water use. At the front of the home, custom seasonal porch containers provide welcoming color and a polished finishing touch. Completed in July 2026, this first phase establishes a strong foundation for the property’s continued transformation. The homeowners are taking a thoughtful, phased approach to their Littleton landscape design, with a custom outdoor kitchen now underway as the next step in creating a personalized and functional outdoor living space.

This Woodland Hills front yard features a clean brick paver driveway paired with lush artificial turf for a polished, low-maintenance look. The design improves curb appeal, durability, and water efficiency, making it an ideal hardscape solution for Southern California homes seeking long-term performance with modern style.

Stephanie Barnes-Castro is a full service architectural firm specializing in sustainable design serving Santa Cruz County. Her goal is to design a home to seamlessly tie into the natural environment and be aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient.

Exterior home idea in Jacksonville

Example of a trendy home design design in Calgary

BeachHaus is built on a previously developed site on Siesta Key. It sits directly on the bay but has Gulf views from the upper floor and roof deck. The client loved the old Florida cracker beach houses that are harder and harder to find these days. They loved the exposed roof joists, ship lap ceilings, light colored surfaces and inviting and durable materials. Given the risk of hurricanes, building those homes in these areas is not only disingenuous it is impossible. Instead, we focused on building the new era of beach houses; fully elevated to comfy with FEMA requirements, exposed concrete beams, long eaves to shade windows, coralina stone cladding, ship lap ceilings, and white oak and terrazzo flooring. The home is Net Zero Energy with a HERS index of -25 making it one of the most energy efficient homes in the US. It is also certified NGBS Emerald. Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography

Amy Troute Inspired Interior Design partnered with the Woodhill Homes and Sunriver build teams in 2022 to curate two interior finish packages and the exterior palette for Forestbrook, a stunning master planned vacation rental neighborhood within Central Oregon’s Caldera Springs community. The property, nestled among towering Ponderosa pines, will eventually welcome over 70 customized vacation homes. Our High Desert Retreat is our first fully furnished Forestbrook home - a getaway for our clients and their family and a year-round vacation rental. The owners call Arizona home, and that warm desert palette inspired the aesthetic of their new retreat. Area rugs with rich earth tones ground each space and provide color and texture for bedding, artwork and upholstery. The great room windows are the signature of each Forestbrook home, and our furnishings pull the greens and rusts from the landscape, drawing you in. The kitchen’s warm woods and classic surfaces welcome the family chef, and inside those cabinets is every utensil, plate, pot, pan, and tool they’ll ever need. The primary and main guest bedrooms are outfitted with luxurious layers of bedding that are easy to clean and turn over between stays. The upstairs bonus space welcomes kids of all ages with four adult-friendly bunk beds and a queen sofa bed. Chess anyone? Forestbrook homes each offer an efficient, yet fully outfitted ADU that can be rented separately or with the rest of the home. With a king bed, desk, comfortable sofa, well equipped kitchenette, and dining space, guests will feel right at home! We look forward to furnishing many of these Forestbrook homes, each inspired by the owners and the beauty of the natural scenery out every window! Photography by Chris Murray Productions

The client went with ProVia simulated divided lite fiberglass doors with sidelites for both houses, flooding the entryways with natural light. While true divided lites are separate panes of glass divided by muntins, simulated divided lights are one piece of glass overlaid by an external grille. Simulated divided lites offer the depth and dimension of a true divided lite with greater energy efficiency. They chose matching matte black hardware for each. For the primary house, they selected a ProVia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door in a rich espresso stain.

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

Mike Dean
Entryway - small transitional concrete floor entryway idea in Other with gray walls and a glass front door

San Diego Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Professional landscape lighting is a critical component to creating your outdoor living paradise. Expert lighting design can brighten, beautify and enhance every aspect of your home, illuminating its most beautiful features to creating stunning exterior curb appeal. Too many homeowners take the do-it-yourself route and end up with a poor lighting design which won’t do their home justice. Without a knowledgeable outdoor lighting specialist, many homeowners will end up with harsh, overbearing lamps, and energy-wasting light bulbs that will wash out their home’s architectural beauty. At Western Outdoor Design & Build we have a team of expert landscape lighting professionals who have been helping Southern California homeowners, from San Diego to Orange County and Los Angeles, light up their homes with attractive energy-efficient landscape lighting for over 10 years. http://westernoutdoordesigns.com/gallery-low-voltage-outdoor-landscape-lighting-san-diego-orange-county.html

Jeanna Shephard
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional front yard stone garden path in New York.

BeachHaus is built on a previously developed site on Siesta Key. It sits directly on the bay but has Gulf views from the upper floor and roof deck. The client loved the old Florida cracker beach houses that are harder and harder to find these days. They loved the exposed roof joists, ship lap ceilings, light colored surfaces and inviting and durable materials. Given the risk of hurricanes, building those homes in these areas is not only disingenuous it is impossible. Instead, we focused on building the new era of beach houses; fully elevated to comfy with FEMA requirements, exposed concrete beams, long eaves to shade windows, coralina stone cladding, ship lap ceilings, and white oak and terrazzo flooring. The home is Net Zero Energy with a HERS index of -25 making it one of the most energy efficient homes in the US. It is also certified NGBS Emerald. Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography