Material expression and exterior finishes were carefully selected to reduce the apparent size of the house, last through many years, and add warmth and human scale to the home. The unique siding system is made up of different widths and depths of western red cedar, complementing the vision of the structure's wings which are balanced, not symmetrical. The exterior materials include a burn brick base, powder-coated steel, cedar, acid-washed concrete and Corten steel planters.

One of the hallmarks of Prairie style architecture is the integration of a home into the surrounding environment. So it is only fitting for a modern Prairie-inspired home to honor its environment through the use of sustainable materials and energy efficient systems to conserve and protect the earth on which it stands. This modern adaptation of a Prairie home in Bloomfield Hills completed in 2015 uses environmentally friendly materials and systems. Geothermal energy provides the home with a clean and sustainable source of power for the heating and cooling mechanisms, and maximizes efficiency, saving on gas and electric heating and cooling costs all year long. High R value foam insulation contributes to the energy saving and year round temperature control for superior comfort indoors. LED lighting illuminates the rooms, both in traditional light fixtures as well as in lighted shelving, display niches, and ceiling applications. Low VOC paint was used throughout the home in order to maintain the purest possible air quality for years to come. The homeowners will enjoy their beautiful home even more knowing it respects the land, because as Thoreau said, “What is the use of a house if you don’t have a decent planet to put it on?”

Family Room with reclaimed wood beams for shelving and fireplace mantel. Performance fabrics used on all the furniture allow for a very durable and kid friendly environment.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Working with this Glen Ellyn client was so much fun the first time around, we were thrilled when they called to say they were considering moving across town and might need some help with a bit of design work at the new house. The kitchen in the new house had been recently renovated, but it was not exactly what they wanted. What started out as a few tweaks led to a pretty big overhaul of the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room. Luckily, we were able to use re-purpose the old kitchen cabinetry and custom island in the remodeling of the new laundry room — win-win! As parents of two young girls, it was important for the homeowners to have a spot to store equipment, coats and all the “behind the scenes” necessities away from the main part of the house which is a large open floor plan. The existing basement mudroom and laundry room had great bones and both rooms were very large. To make the space more livable and comfortable, we laid slate tile on the floor and added a built-in desk area, coat/boot area and some additional tall storage. We also reworked the staircase, added a new stair runner, gave a facelift to the walk-in closet at the foot of the stairs, and built a coat closet. The end result is a multi-functional, large comfortable room to come home to! Just beyond the mudroom is the new laundry room where we re-used the cabinets and island from the original kitchen. The new laundry room also features a small powder room that used to be just a toilet in the middle of the room. You can see the island from the old kitchen that has been repurposed for a laundry folding table. The other countertops are maple butcherblock, and the gold accents from the other rooms are carried through into this room. We were also excited to unearth an existing window and bring some light into the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Example of a transitional bedroom design in Sacramento

Example of a mid-sized classic kitchen pantry design in San Diego with open cabinets and white cabinets

Inspiration for a large contemporary brown one-story wood exterior home remodel in San Francisco

Ryann Ford
Home design - farmhouse home design idea in Austin

Louie Heredia
Elegant detached three-car garage photo in Los Angeles

Inspiration for an industrial family room remodel in Chicago

Photography by Jared Kuzia
Inspiration for a farmhouse mosaic tile floor bathroom remodel in Boston with blue walls and a trough sink

Amy Bartlam
Arts and crafts u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Stepping Stones over bio-filtration area
Pool fountain - large transitional backyard rectangular and stone natural pool fountain idea in New York

Make it rain because we’ve got you covered! Aquastorm is an anti-flooding permeable driveway paver with through-the-roof infiltration rates. It is designed for the modern home that enjoys linear looks and green initiatives. Enjoy an eco-friendly driveway with Aquastrom and expand your pleasure to your backyard; this environmentally friendly hardscape product allows grass to grow between it, so you won’t have to compromise the beauty of concrete with Mother Nature. The integrated spacers allow easy installation by keeping the joint space between each paver consistent for super straight lines that allow water to trickle directly through. Check out our website to shop the look! Or, check out the estimation tool on our website to get an idea of how much a similar project could cost you! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/aquastorm/

James Kruger, LandMark Photography Interior Design: Martha O'Hara Interiors Architect: Sharratt Design & Company
Inspiration for a large french country open concept and formal dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Study room - contemporary built-in desk dark wood floor study room idea in New York with blue walls

Michelle Ruber
Enclosed kitchen - small modern u-shaped linoleum floor enclosed kitchen idea in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

THEME This room is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the young artist in art and music. From the hand-painted instruments decorating the music corner to the dedicated foldaway art table, every space is tailored to the creative spirit, offering a place to be inspired, a nook to relax or a corner to practice. This environment radiates energy from the ground up, showering the room in natural, vibrant color. FOCUS A majestic, floor-to-ceiling tree anchors the space, boldly transporting the beauty of nature into the house--along with the fun of swinging from a tree branch, pitching a tent or reading under the beautiful canopy. The tree shares pride of place with a unique, retroinspired room divider housing a colorful padded nook perfect for reading, watching television or just relaxing. STORAGE Multiple storage options are integrated to accommodate the family’s eclectic interests and varied needs. From hidden cabinets in the floor to movable shelves and storage bins, there is room for everything. The two wardrobes provide generous storage capacity without taking up valuable floor space, and readily open up to sweep toys out of sight. The myWall® panels accommodate various shelving options and bins that can all be repositioned as needed. Additional storage and display options are strategically provided around the room to store sheet music or display art projects on any of three magnetic panels. GROWTH While the young artist experiments with media or music, he can also adapt this space to complement his experiences. The myWall® panels promote easy transformation and expansion, offer unlimited options, and keep shelving at an optimum height as he grows. All the furniture rolls on casters so the room can sustain the action during a play date or be completely re-imagined if the family wants a makeover. SAFETY The elements in this large open space are all designed to enfold a young boy in a playful, creative and safe place. The modular components on the myWall® panels are all locked securely in place no matter what they store. The custom drop-down table includes two safety latches to prevent unintentional opening. The floor drop doors are all equipped with slow glide closing hinges so no fingers will be trapped.