While the Southern California drought is keeping homeowners water usage to a minimum, there are an abundance of plants that thrive on minimal amounts of water.. A combination of drip irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants can keep your exterior spaces green and beautiful as well as water efficient.

Mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Austin with white walls and no fireplace

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for guests visiting at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children’s bedroom’s built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

Ameriside’s turf products have gone through extensive testing and are free of heavy metals guaranteeing your new addition to be safe for all of your loved ones. Beyond the obvious benefits of saving time and money, our lawn products are free of pollens and other allergens making it a great feature for those who are unable to truly enjoy the outdoors due to allergies. So you can understand our enthusiasm when we say this is the perfect lawn for all your landscape projects. Photos Jeremy Sharrock

Our clients sought classic Craftsman styling to accentuate the one-of-kind view their from their land. At 2,200 sf, this single-family home marries traditional craftsman style with modern energy efficiency and design. A Built Green Level 5, the home features an extremely efficient Heat Return Ventilation system, amazing indoor air quality, thermal solar hot water, solar panels, hydronic radiant in-floor heat, warm wood interior detailing, timeless built-in cabinetry, and tastefully placed wood coffered ceilings. Built on a steep slope, the top floor garage and entry work with the challenges of this site to welcome you into a wonderful Pacific Northwest Craftsman home. Photo by: Poppi Photography

Street's view. Landscape by Willow glen Design
Large trendy gray one-story exterior home photo in San Francisco

The roof extends past the kitchen to create a dining terrace at the center knuckle of the site plan. Across the way is the entry to the guest suite and viewing tower, and to the side is the pool terrace. Reclaimed lumber and steel windows are featured throughout, giving the home the texture of time. Photography ©Edward Caldwell

Fixtures: Maxim Lighting's Carriage House collection found at www.maximlighting.com Construction: Jorge Ulibarri Custom Homes, www.imyourbuilder.com

Window and Door Replacement Project as part of this homes transformational renovation. We replaced the entry door with a solid maple wood door. Clear glass with SDL bars and 1 panel. Replaced the old aluminum windows with energy efficient, locally made vinyl windows. Black framed windows on the interior and exterior give this home a modern farmhouse look. Casements allow for maximum view, airflow as well as being easy to open and close.

The large Lift and Slide doors placed throughout this modern contemporary home have superior sealing when closed and are easily operated, regardless of size. The “lift” function engages the door onto its rollers for effortless function. A large panel door can then be moved with ease by even a child. With a turn of the handle the door is then lowered off the rollers, locked, and sealed into the frame creating one of the tightest air-seals in the industry. The Glo A5 double pane windows and doors were utilized for their cost-effective durability and efficiency. The A5 Series provides a thermally-broken aluminum frame with multiple air seals, low iron glass, argon filled glazing, and low-e coating. These features create an unparalleled double-pane product equipped for the variant northern temperatures of the region. With u-values as low as 0.280, these windows ensure year-round comfort.

Ameriside offers next-generation artificial turf and synthetic grass supplies. Ameriside’s supplier provides the most thoroughly researched, tested, and proven synthetic grass production methods in the country. Product quality and stringent standards and technologically advanced equipment allow us to deliver benchmark synthetic grass products and services to the homeowner Photos Jeremy Sharrock

Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Example of a mid-sized classic white one-story stucco gable roof design in San Diego

"Hourglass" Double Door with Arched Transom Catana's front entry doors are designed to reflect a home's value and an owner's character. The care and detail that goes into producing a Catana door ensures that they will be a source of pride for homeowners for years to come. Available in multiple configurations, Catana front doors combine style and performance with the highest level of security. Catana front entry doors contain a multi-point locking system that secures the door at five different points along the frame, with only a simple turn of the key. The key lock itself is virtually un-pickable and glass panels contains a layer of laminate, making them shatterproof. Together, the security features in Catana front doors will give you added piece of mind at night or when you're away from your home. The glass in Catana front doors is not only shatterproof but is also energy efficient, preventing air transfer to and from the outdoors. The durable glass also prevents outside noise from entering the house, creating a pleasant interior atmosphere. Doors can be fitted with both tempered and decorative glass to compliment any style.

Clopay Canyon Ridge Collection Limited Edition Series faux wood carriage house garage doors add rustic elegance to this newly constructed home. Molded from pieces of real wood to for a realistic grain pattern and texture, these durable low-maintenance energy efficient overhead doors won’t rot, warp, or crack and can be painted or stained. Won't rot, warp, crack or shrink. Doors shown feature Pecky Cypress cladding with Clear Cypress composite overlays.

8ft. Therma-Tru Pulse Echo 5-lite smooth fiberglass door painted Positive Red (SW6871). Door includes energy-efficient Low-E glass.
Front door - contemporary front door idea with a red front door and gray walls

Just a small shed dormer provided essential headroom for the staircase that accesses a new owners’ retreat at the top of this home. The second floor now has space for a calm and efficient home office, convenient laundry, and a new front deck along with the children’s rooms. From the third floor and exterior, we dramatically improved energy performance with minimal impact to first and second floor interiors. Changes include continuous exterior insulation, high tech wrap, high-performance windows, rooftop solar, and new Air Source Heat Pumps that condition the upper two floors.

photo by Cameron Butler
Example of a mid-sized trendy medium tone wood floor foyer design in Austin with white walls

Window and Door Replacement Project as part of this homes transformational renovation. We replaced the entry door with a solid maple wood door. Clear glass with SDL bars and 1 panel. Replaced the old aluminum windows with energy efficient, locally made vinyl windows. Black framed windows on the interior and exterior give this home a modern farmhouse look. Casements allow for maximum view, airflow as well as being easy to open and close.

Window and Door Replacement Project as part of this homes transformational renovation. We replaced the entry door with a solid maple wood door. Clear glass with SDL bars and 1 panel. Replaced the old aluminum windows with energy efficient, locally made vinyl windows. Black framed windows on the interior and exterior give this home a modern farmhouse look. Casements allow for maximum view, airflow as well as being easy to open and close.