A growing family, a rambling Georgian estate. The question: how to imbue tradition with a fresh spirit? The charge was to maintain the idea of old school charm without the interior feeling just… old. An illustration could be found in picture molding (which we added, then painted to disappear into the walls) or a modern plaster sculpture teetering upon an old barrister bookcase. Charm, with a wink. Photography by John Bessler

Justin Krug Photography
Inspiration for a huge farmhouse gray two-story wood exterior home remodel in Portland with a metal roof

Justin Krug Photography
Huge cottage u-shaped brown floor and medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and quartz countertops

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

The acrylic wine racks reflect the gothic arches of the homes windows and use fiber optic lighting to set a variety of moods. The glass ceiling opens the room for display to a sitting room above and motorized black out shades provide protection for the wine collection.

Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in Vancouver

Example of a transitional family room design in Vancouver

This client came to us looking for some help decorating the living/dining room and master of his new Chicago condo. Over the past few years, we have decorated most of the space together - great room, master bedroom, guest room, hallway, office, powder room and paint/wallpaper throughout. Our design was uniquely inspired by our client's sentimental and eclectic objects and art, such as the vintage Europe map in the living room, his grandmother's antique lamp and English pub sign in the office, and family airplane ephemera in the master. We added peacocks in the powder room and mixed prints in the master for a textured look unspecific to any era that flows with the rest of the home, but is definitely its own oasis. FUN FACT The whole color scheme of the office started with that antique lamp. Photography: Dustin Halleck

This client came to us looking for some help decorating the living/dining room and master of his new Chicago condo. Over the past few years, we have decorated most of the space together - great room, master bedroom, guest room, hallway, office, powder room and paint/wallpaper throughout. Our design was uniquely inspired by our client's sentimental and eclectic objects and art, such as the vintage Europe map in the living room, his grandmother's antique lamp and English pub sign in the office, and family airplane ephemera in the master. We added peacocks in the powder room and mixed prints in the master for a textured look unspecific to any era that flows with the rest of the home, but is definitely its own oasis. FUN FACT The whole color scheme of the office started with that antique lamp. Photography: Dustin Halleck

This client came to us looking for some help decorating the living/dining room and master of his new Chicago condo. Over the past few years, we have decorated most of the space together - great room, master bedroom, guest room, hallway, office, powder room and paint/wallpaper throughout. Our design was uniquely inspired by our client's sentimental and eclectic objects and art, such as the vintage Europe map in the living room, his grandmother's antique lamp and English pub sign in the office, and family airplane ephemera in the master. We added peacocks in the powder room and mixed prints in the master for a textured look unspecific to any era that flows with the rest of the home, but is definitely its own oasis. FUN FACT The whole color scheme of the office started with that antique lamp. Photography: Dustin Halleck

Transitional kitchen photo in Vancouver

Bedroom Ideas - Gray vinyl vertical blinds from Graber - fabric vertical blinds, sheer vertical blinds or vinyl vertical blinds. The vanes have nearly 200 colors and patterns to fit any home decor idea. Vertical blinds can be paired with horizontal blinds that match the same color and style. Linear beauty with functional charm. Window treatment ideas for bedroom sliding door. Windows Dressed Up window treatment store featuring blinds, shutters and shades in Denver services the metro area, including Parker, Castle Rock, Boulder, Evergreen, Broomfield, Lakewood, Aurora, Thornton, Centennial, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Arvada, Golden, Westminster, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Wheat Ridge. Graber photo of bedroom ideas - gray vinyl vertical blinds on sliding glass door.

Example of a small classic wallpaper powder room design in Other with white cabinets, quartz countertops, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

https://www.spacecrafting.com

Alcove shower - traditional alcove shower idea in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets and white walls

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Weighted hedging mirrors the architecture of this traditional English Tudor cottage. The garden entrance lines up with a bay window whose dimensions are replicated in the brick-banded landings on either side of the lawn ellipse. Chiseled boxwood hedges respond to the graduated steps and English Ivy banding. The purity of the lawn ellipse is juxtaposed by irregular stepping pads while an elliptical holly mirrors the timbering present in the home's façade. Handmade ironwork features custom designed flanking shields while a perennial garden gives soft contrast to the rigid hedging, offering a perfect balance between the formal and informal elements in the English cottage garden.

Justin Krug Photography
Patio - huge cottage backyard concrete patio idea in Portland with a fireplace and a roof extension

Two seating areas are in the room--a fireside banquette with 2 swivel chairs and the bar.
Home bar - mid-sized traditional home bar idea in Richmond