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.

ErIc Rorer
Patio - mid-sized contemporary one-story and backyard patio idea in San Francisco with a fire pit

Removing a Tuscan-themed pergola and porch swing made way for a tufted leather banquette. This casual seating provides the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee or gather with guests.

Inspiration for a large farmhouse detached garden shed remodel in Phoenix

This hybrid spa/pool was featured in newspapers all over the US including Kansas City, Chicago, and others. Large enough for kids and grandkids to enjoy and small enough to heat during winter and easy to maintain. Swimming pools for 3 seasons? 4 season swimming pools? Luxury, low-maintenance swimming pools/spa hybrids cool you off in summer or warm you up in fall and winter. With a down-sized swimming pool, loaded with amenities, your installation cost for the swimming pool is lower, your maintenance for the swimming pool is lower, your enjoyment is much, higher. Keeping a sleek-sized, luxury pool heated in winter is becoming more common in Kansas City. Think Vail or Steamboat? Nah, right here in Kansas City. Kansas City construction of swimming pool and spas· Kansas City Custom pool and spas· Kansas City ground pools and spas· Kansas City in ground pool · Kansas City in ground pool construction ·Kansas City in ground pool Missouri · Kansas City in ground pools · Kansas City in ground swimming pool · Kansas City in ground swimming pool construction · iKansas City in ground swimming pools · install swimming pool Kansas City · install swimming pools Kansas City · Kansas City installing a swimming pool · Kansas City installing swimming pool · Kansas City long narrow pool · Kansas City luxury pool. Kansas City custom swimming pool · Kansas City luxury swimming pool, Kansas City pool and deck · Kansas City pool and hardscape · Kansas City pool and landscape design build · Kansas City pool and landscaping · Kansas City pool designs · pool edge · Kansas City pool hardscape · Kansas City pool installation · Kansas City pool landscape design · Kansas City pool renovations · Kansas City pool with landscaping · Kansas City pools and hardscape · Kansas City pools and landscaping · Kansas City pools Kansas City metro · Kansas City pools Kansas · Kansas City poolscape · Kansas City swim pool · Kansas City swimming pool · Kansas City swimming pool build · Kansas City swimming pool construction · Kansas City swimming pool construction company · Kansas City swimming pool KC · Kansas City swimming pool installation · Kansas City swimming pool installer · Kansas City swimming pool installers · Kansas City swimming pool landscape · Kansas City swimming pool renovation · Kansas City swimming pool renovations · Kansas City swimming pool repair · Kansas City swimming pools · Kansas City swimming pools construction · Kansas City swimming pools installers · Kansas City swimming pools and spas

Lori Hamilton
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Tampa with blue walls and no fireplace

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Transitional kitchen photo in Austin

This Arts and Crafts styled sprawling ranch has so much to offer the modern homeowner. A three car garage with extra storage adds space for a third automobile, workshop, or golf cart. Inside, each bedroom features elegant ceiling treatments, a walk-in closet and an adjacent full bathroom. A large utility room with a sink is conveniently placed down the hall from the secondary bedrooms. The large, gourmet kitchen includes a walk-in pantry and a large central island. The spacious dining room offers large windows and a buffet nook for furniture. Custom-style details abound in this luxurious plan with built-ins in the great room and breakfast areas. The well-appointed master suite includes a secluded sitting room that enjoys rear views, porch access and dual walk-in closets. The master bathroom is a spa-like retreat with dual vanities, a large walk-in shower, built-ins and a vaulted ceiling. The screened porch offers the best in year round outdoor living with a fireplace. A bonus space over the garage has nearly 800 square feet of space for future expansion, a large hobby space, home theatre or exercise room.

Eric Roth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Turn your cushions into Sunbrella RAIN quick-dry cushions (like these chaise cushions shown here, in Spectrum Dove) and spend less time waiting for your seating to dry and more time enjoying the outdoors. Sunbrella RAIN is a 100% waterproof version of Sunbrella upholstery fabric. With other fabrics it can take hours before cushions are dry and more than likely they are still damp when sat on because the filling inside got soaked also. Our custom cushions made with Sunbrella RAIN fabric keep the rain on the outside where it’s meant to be. CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL "Sunbrella Rain - yes!!!! 20 min after hard rain and they are dry!!"

Ryann Ford
Design ideas for a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

With a window view and everything at her finger tips, it is easy to see why this is Chelsea's favorite room in the house. "It is a place where I am inspired, free to create and that is totally me", she describes. Although she considers this the "mess room", Chelsea has employed a system of organization to make project execution a smooth process. "My solution to clutter is storage, storage, storage - that's where those baskets come in!" By combining shelves and bins with pegboard and hooks, her creativity will never be overshadowed by the need to search for supplies. "We also ensure that everything has a home, and gets back there if it is out." Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz

Black and white carry throughout this crisp powder room: black and white marble floor tiles, black and white graphic wallpaper, and a black and white double wall sconce. Elegant white bathroom fixtures, including the pedestal sink, and a long narrow silver framed rectangular mirror bring additional brightness to this small powder room. WKD’s experience in historic preservation and antique curation restored this gentleman’s farm into a casual, comfortable, livable home for the next chapter in this couple’s lives. The project included a new family entrance and mud room, new powder room, and opening up some of the rooms for better circulation. While WKD curated the client’s existing collection of art and antiques, refurbishing where necessary, new furnishings were also added to give the home a new lease on life. Working with older homes, and historic homes, is one of Wilson Kelsey Design’s specialties. This project was featured on the cover of Design New England's September/October 2013 issue. Read the full article at: http://wilsonkelseydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Heritage-Restored1.pdf It was also featured in the Sept. issue of Old House Journal, 2016 - article is at http://wilsonkelseydesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016-09-OHJ.pdf Photo by Michael Lee

A colorful makeover for a little girl’s bathroom. The goal was to make bathtime more fun and enjoyable, so we opted for striking teal accents on the vanity and built-in. Balanced out by soft whites, grays, and woods, the space is bright and cheery yet still feels clean, spacious, and calming. Unique cabinets wrap around the room to maximize storage and save space for the tub and shower. Cabinet color is Hemlock by Benjamin Moore. Designed by Joy Street Design serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the whole of the East Bay. For more about Joy Street Design, click here: https://www.joystreetdesign.com/