Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Ellijay, Ga. area .Ellijay, Georgia, known as the “Apple Capital” of Georgia, is located between the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers where they join to make the Coosawattee River and is the county seat of Gilmer County, Georgia. The origin of the city’s name is not certain but thought to be the English derivative of an Indian word(s) meaning “many waters”, “place of green things” or “new ground”. Some histories say it may have been named for an Indian chief. Inhabited for countless years by the Cherokee people indigenous to the North Georgia, the area was first mentioned as a village and trade center before the onslaught of white settlers inhabited the region. During the 1830’s both white settlers and Indians occupied Ellijay. During the original land lottery in 1832, Martin Scalf acquired the 160 acre lot where the town now stands. In 1833, Clemonds Quinland bought 10 acres from Scalf, retained one acre for himself and donated the rest of the purchase to the County. A plan for twenty town lots, streets and a public square was created and the streets were oriented to allow maximum sunlight exposure to the buildings. Proceeds from lot sales were used to build a jail and courthouse and pay other city expenses. During this same year, Gilmer County was appropriated $800.00 from the State to build a school, and a three-acre lot was donated for the city cemetery. On December 29, l834, Ellijay was incorporated and designated as the County seat of Gilmer County. By 1837, the town had twenty dwellings, three stores and one attorney. Most of these early buildings were of log construction. Many roads led to Ellijay by 1849. The population had grown to 150 by 1850 and the town at five stores. Some wood-frame buildings were being constructed at this time and in 1854, a new courthouse was built in the center of the square, replacing the earlier building. The County’s first newspaper was the Ellijay Courier, started in 1875, and during this time period, Ellijay was a stop on the stagecoach line. The railroad bridge over the Cartecay River was completed in 1884 and the town now had rail service. With the arrival of the railroad and subsequent tracks to White Path, Ellijay began to grow much faster. Many hotels were constructed and land was donated for a depot east of town. More industries, such as a cheese factory and the Shippen Brothers Lumber Mill, located in Ellijay. By 1898, the city had expanded its limits in every direction and now included the depot. By 1900, all the buildings on the town square were brick. This included the recently completed Hyatt Hotel. Most of the other buildings in town were still of log construction, but new wood-frame buildings were being built. The Shippen Brothers Lumber Company production was expanding and exporting their lumber to Europe. Within the next few decades, this company grew to be one of the largest employers in Ellijay, often with five to six million feet of lumber in the yard at one time. The population of Ellijay grew to 659 by 1910, and began to acquire many new modern conveniences such as electric lights and power, a telephone company and many new businesses. Then in 1912, a fire ravaged the city, destroying 23 buildings. As a result, many new buildings were constructed under new and stricter fire and safety guidelines. The population, however, decreased slightly at this time to 632 in 1920. During the 1920’s the town’s population began to grow again and, by this time, apples were being shipped out of the county and new storage facilities were built. Chickens were also shipped to markets outside of Ellijay and Gilmer County. From the mid 1930’s to 1950, Ellijay received much assistance from the Federal WPA Programs. The old courthouse was removed from the center of town square and the Hyatt Hotel was remodeled to be the new courthouse. A park was created on the site of the old courthouse and the streets around the square were paved. A new street was built at this time entering town from the northeast. Other new roads, bridges, sidewalks and gutters were constructed to improve the city. A school and gymnasium were also built and other structures improved. This growth began to impact the city’s infrastructure and in the l950’s and l960’s, a period of upgrading water systems, roads, and power supplies began. New low-rent housing appeared in l960 and a new hospital was built in l957. Georgia Highway 5 was widened in l962, new buildings around the square replaced old ones and some were remodeled. In 1974, the hospital was enlarged. Currently, Ellijay attracts tourists who love the small-town feel and friendly atmosphere. Hotels and restaurants, unique shops, antiques and art galleries lend their charms to those who visit. A new courthouse constructed to resemble the old one, new streetscaping, family-oriented downtown events and the beautification of the square have stepped up the social and economic activity and have made Ellijay a popular destination.

Inspiration for a small 1950s brown two-story wood house exterior remodel in New York with a shingle roof and a black roof

This lakefront property set in a nice quiet cove on Lake Sam Rayburn. The entire project was planned and built by carter & company for large family events. The 3 1/2 level structure is designed with craftsman influences and functions well as a large fishing lodge designed for year-round entertaining. Ground level includes outdoor kitchen/dining area,separate outdoor living/gaming area with custom cypress beamed furniture built by carter & company. A 1700 Sq deck overlooks beautiful Sam Rayburn and garage doors open across front and rear elevations to create open breeze ways throughout all downstairs areas. Second floor includes living dining and master suite .an enclosed screen porch extends all the way across the lake side with an old wooden cistern structure which houses an outdoor hot tub. The screen porch has it own 5 ton central unit which is only shared with the downstairs shop area.it also has a 50,000 but ventless fireplace on one end which creates a ( winter area ) on the screen porch. The open spaces of living/dining also share aux heating via early 1900's Wood stove (pot belly) which was refurbished and was originally used in a girls dormitory somewhere in Colorado. Kitchen amenities include professional series equipment, a baking center, dumb waiter to downstairs kitchen, pressed tin ceilings. The entire structure touts custom made knotty alder moldings cabinets and doors. The interior walls are also slatted knotty alder with paint stained finishes. The third floor houses 3 guest bedrooms 1 full bath 1 jack and Jill bath, a 10 x 10 sleeping tent with chandelier, queen mattress, and lake view window. Attic does not exist, instead we incorporated open air vaulted ceilings with turnbuckle collar ties and an upper sleeping loft for kids accessed by custom ships ladder. Other areas of interest include front open air materials lift, 100 ft redneck water slide assembled during summertime and rolling boat dock for lake activities.

This project is more than meets the eye! In a gorgeous neighborhood in Del Mar, San Diego, California, This unique small custom wine cellar truly acts as a showstopper. Originally within this house, the door which now faces outward used to be around the corner in a small hallway, virtually eliminating any visibility into this contemporary walk in custom wine cellar. Upon seeing the location of this space within the house, Gene Walder and the knowledgeable team at Vintage Cellars knew that to really take advantage of the room provided, (which is actually below the stairs), they needed to get rid of the original door and add a brand new one facing the main living space. Just a small feat in a series of unique custom features within this cellar! Here at Vintage Cellars, before any design takes shape, it is vital to understand what the clients wants and needs are based on their growing collection of wine. With a good idea of bottle sizes, shapes (some pinot noir bottles, for example have a wider bottom than a typical cabernet sauvignon bottle) and unique features desired, the team of wine cellar designers and wine cellar builders at Vintage Cellars are able to create a very special and desirable wine cellar for each client. The owners of this beautiful home collaborated heavily with the Vintage Cellars team in the design process of this rustic custom wine cellar - something that we aim to do with every project. The homeowners wanted to showcase some of their favorite Magnum sized bottles in a high reveal horizontal display row, directly on top of another area highlighting the best 750 ml's in their collection. This small custom wine room fills most of the left wall with single deep, individual bottle storage. Directly below this wine racking is room for wine case / wine bin storage. Centered within this wall is a nice space for opening and decanting wines with a gorgeous dark stone countertop and room for hanging wine glasses above. The opposite wall is filled floor to ceiling with label revealing horizontal display rows. Again, this type of feature is very desirable in recent years. Homeowners want to be able to showcase the best bottles they own within their custom wine cellars in the most stunning and beautiful ways possible. Additionally, this feature is commonly replicated with metal bars for a more contemporary and modern look and feel. Within Beach Cities such as Del Mar, La Jolla, Cardiff, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Newport Beach and Orange County alike, small walk wine cellars are all the rage. Custom Wine Closet s and Under the Stairs Custom Wine Room s are quickly becoming a commonplace feature within modern luxury homes. Funny enough, because San Diego has become such a hub and mecca for craft beer breweries, luxury homes within communities such as La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Coronado, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, La Costa and Torrey Pines have taken notice and began including space for unique beer storage within their custom wine cellars as well. This right side wall horizontal display racking does just that. If you look closely, those intricately labeled bottles are craft brews kept at a chill and refreshing 55 Degrees- just waiting to be opened and enjoyed immediately. Just when you thought the custom wine cellar tour was over, another unique feature catches your eye. You see the back stone wall? Press ever so gently in the top left corner two thirds of the way up and - Voila! - a secret door appears and slowly reveals more room under the stairway for case storage and the like. The homeowner also decided to add interesting lighting to this cellar. The Custom wine room can turn any color of the rainbow - allowing you to focus on all lights or just one a time, creating that perfect mood lighting for the holidays, springtime, or summer. This entire custom wine cellar and all wine racking were done in raw black walnut. Vintage Cellars has built gorgeous custom wine cellars and wine storage rooms across the United States and World for over 25 years. We are your go-to business for anything wine cellar and wine storage related! Whether you're interested in a wine closet, wine racking, custom wine racks, a custom wine cellar door, or a cooling system for your existing space, Vintage Cellars has you covered! We carry all kinds of wine cellar cooling and refrigeration systems, incuding: Breezaire, CellarCool, WhisperKool, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and Commercial systems. We also carry many types of Wine Refrigerators, Wine Cabinets, and wine racking types, including La Cache, Marvel, N'Finity, Transtherm, Vinotheque, Vintage Series, Credenza, Walk in wine rooms, Climadiff, Riedel, Fontenay, and VintageView. Vintage Cellars also does work in many styles, including Contemporary and Modern, Rustic, Farmhouse, Traditional, Craftsman, Industrial, Mediterranean, Mid-Century, Industrial and Eclectic. Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach Contact Vintage Cellars today with any of your Wine Cellar needs! (800) 876-8789 Vintage Cellars 904 Rancheros Drive San Marcos, California 92069 (800) 876-8789

The 4237™ gas fireplace by FireplaceX® is an extra-large clean face heater-rated gas fireplace that pushes the limits of fire and delivers in all areas of performance, design and functionality. Perfect for large gathering places, from great rooms to grand entryways, the 4237 gas fireplace is a true showstopper that will make a commanding statement and become the best view in any home. The huge 1,554 square inch viewing area and fire display extend right down to the floor, creating a timeless look that resembles a real masonry fireplace. The 4237’s incredibly detailed, massive 10-piece log set and standard interior accent lighting showcase a big, bold fire that is second to none. With a 3,000 square foot heating capacity and standard twin 130 CFM fans, this gas fireplace delivers the heat; however, you have the ability to control the heat output to a comfortable setting for you with the GreenSmart™ remote control.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

Why DryHero Water & Mold for Lincoln Water Damage Restoration? If you have water damage in Lincoln Nebraska, there is no better flood restoration company for prompt professional service. Water damage restoration isn’t some add-on service at DryHero, it’s our only business! When water damages your property, you don’t get a second chance to prevent mold growth. We are experienced, knowledgeable and decisive in how to mitigate your water and mold damage…the first time. Nationally trained, certified and based right here in Lincoln, Nebraska, DryHero delivers expertly skilled service with good old-fashioned Nebraska value. When you’re standing in water, you don’t want a roofing, carpet cleaning or drain cleaning contractor dabbling in flood restoration and learning on-the-job experience on your house (and literally at your expense). Seriously, the batteries in our moisture meters have been around longer than some water damage restoration companies in Lincoln. Call DryHero, the people that even water damage restoration companies call for advice. DryHero, water and mold simply don’t stand a chance! A water damage event to your property is disruptive and stressful. Can you handle it yourself or are you concerned about hidden structure damage or mold growth? To be candid, only very small water damage incidents can be handled without professional water damage restoration professionals. DryHero Water & Mold of Lincoln will provide you with expert water damage and mold remediation information and evaluation. From your attic down to your foundation, we will provide you with a free restoration and repair estimate so you can get your household and family back to normal as quickly as possible. We’ll provide you with a free, honest assessment of your property damage and share any possible risks or potential hazards that may be associated. Oh, we'll even let you know if you don't require professional service. We will document your damage and help navigate the insurance claims process. After all, that’s what we would want in a hero.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

THE SETUP When we first encountered this basement for a family with three boys, we saw a space with untapped potential. Though previously remodeled, it lacked a cohesive design strategy. The expansive area housed various entertainment pieces (a shuffleboard table, air hockey, foosball, etc.) scattered haphazardly throughout the space. While the basement included a workout room and a rudimentary kitchen area, it lacked a dedicated game room or proper bar. Excessive storage closets along the back wall consumed valuable real estate that could be repurposed for more engaging uses. In essence, the basement was spacious but disjointed—functional for family use but falling short as an entertainment hub. It didn’t align with the sophistication of the rest of the home. Our clients envisioned a transformation: a fresh, organized space that would not only serve their family’s needs but also shine as an inviting arena for entertaining friends and hosting gatherings – especially sports-focused gatherings! Design Objectives: Reimagine the basement layout, creating distinct zones for varied activities. Expand the workout area to accommodate new equipment, including a Smith machine. Implement a multi-screen setup inspired by high-end sports bars, allowing guests to follow multiple games while socializing. Enhance existing features while developing new areas: Optimize a workout space for all equipment needs Establish a dedicated children’s space with guest room capabilities Create an integrated bar and entertainment area Retain and incorporate the existing projector setup Design Challenges: Navigate layout constraints in the new workout room due to fixed utility areas. Carve out a distinct space for kids within the open plan. Revitalize an underutilized section of the basement. Elevate the existing big screen area with purposeful design elements. Develop a full-fledged bar area while maintaining kitchen functions applicable for hangout snacking. Work around immovable structural elements (soffits, load-bearing support columns) THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: Install a stylish barn door for the utility area of the new workout space, improving aesthetics and accessibility. Repurpose the former workout room into a dedicated game room for kids, utilizing couches with pull-out beds so the area can double as overflow guest accommodations. Transform the unused area into a vibrant pub-style area for card and table games. Enhance the big screen area with elegant wainscoting and ambient theatre-style lighting. Design a multi-functional wet bar area featuring varied seating, prep areas, and a microwave. Base the bar sink area width off the soffit above it. In the big screen area, use the soffit to inform the width of a wainscoting section. For the immovable support columns, dress one up to match the wainscoting of the nearby big screen wall. Hide the other one in a new wall. Final Thoughts: The reimagined basement has exceeded our clients’ expectations, evolving into the ultimate entertainment hub. With seven strategically placed screens, it’s perfect for gatherings focused on major sporting events and casual gatherings, as well. The space strikes a balance between adult sophistication and family-friendly functionality, featuring distinct zones for various activities. The new design not only maximizes functionality for modern, multi-screen entertainment but also elevates the aesthetic appeal. It integrates flawlessly with the rest of the home’s transitional style while allowing each basement section to maintain its unique character. The result is a versatile space that caters to both intimate family time and large-scale entertaining.

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

This project is a story of how buildings and relationships evolve over time, and how the two are intertwined in the making of architecture. The client, a single man, had just purchased a classic Edwardian flat on San Francisco’s Liberty Street, known for its historic homes and famous neighbors like Tracy Chapman, when his realtor connected him with LLA. The initial brief was to integrate a modern, minimalist kitchen and bathroom with the apartment's traditional aesthetic. The existing condition was a series of cramped rooms and a long hallway that divided the apartment into many separate spaces, some without natural light. The solution was to remove most of the walls in the middle of the flat, with extensive structural work hidden from view. This created an open connection between the living, dining and kitchen areas that flooded the formerly dark core of the apartment with light. Midway through the design process, the client and his partner, and avid cook, decided it was time to move in together. The project evolved further and LLA found inventive ways to pack more features and amenities into a design that was fundamentally about simplicity. The result of this creative tension is a large open kitchen with deceptively simple forms- a long back counter with three rows of drawers below, an island with a central cooktop and double cantilevers for seating, and a slightly mysterious wood box at the back. The box conceals the refrigerator, storage, linens, and laundry, and through a secret door, a large walk-in pantry. The bathroom evolved into a mini-spa, with a walk-through shower and Japanese-style soaking tub. The space shares light with the kitchen through a floor-to-ceiling translucent glass panel. Each client has a large dog, and so a small sliver of space under the upstairs neighbor's stair was turned into the perfect doggie den, complete with period correct doorway. The newly blended family moved in together when the project was completed. A poignant footnote, Maverick, the blonder, fluffier dog in the photos, was very old and sadly passed away shortly after they moved in. It made the photoshoot feel like a special event that honored and preserved his memory in pictures. Like all families, theirs continues to evolve and change, just as their home has over its 90 year life.