Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Family room library - mid-sized 1960s open concept brown floor family room library idea in New York with green walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours, Inc. Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Lake Burton Area . Knowing the areas and resources of Lake Burton is our specialty Lake Burton is a 2,775 acre man-made lake with 62 miles of shoreline located in the northeastern corner of Georgia in Rabun County. It is the first lake in a five-lake series called the Tallulah River Watershed that follows the original course of the Tallulah River. The series of lakes starts with Lake Burton as the northernmost lake followed by Lake Seed, Lake Rabun, Lake Tallulah Falls and the eastern arm of Lake Tugalo (the western arm is formed by the Chattooga River. The lakes are owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company to generate hydroelectric energy for Georgia's largest city, Atlanta. At one time these lakes were the largest producers of electricity in the state of Georgia. Now, they only provide peak power supply. The lake was built in a deep valley located along a 10 mile section of the Tallulah River. The Lake Burton Dam was closed on December 22, 1919 and the lake started to fill. The dam is a gravity concrete dam, with a height of 128 feet and a span of 1,100 feet. The spillway is equipped with eight gates 22 feet wide by 6.6 feet high. The total capacity at an elevation of 1,866.6 feet is 108,000 acre-ft, of which 106,000 acre-ft is usable storage. The generating capacity of the dam is 6,120 kilowatts (two units).Lake Burton is the highest Georgia Power lake in Georgia. Lake Burton gets its named from the town of Burton, which was the second largest town in Rabun County with a population of approximately 200 but now lies below the lake's surface. The town (and the lake) was named after local prominent citizen Jeremiah Burton and was situated along the road from Clayton, Georgia to the Nacoochee Valley. Andrew Jackson Ritchie served as the postmaster for the area for several years. Gold was first discovered in Rabun County where Dicks Creek and the Tallulah River come together and was the reason for the town's founding in the early 1800s. The Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and Moccasin Creek State Park are located on the western side of the lake. Lake Burton is home to several species of fish, including Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Catfish, Walleye, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch. The residents of Lake Burton are a mix of permanent residents and seasonal vacationers who together make-up the Lake Burton Civic Association, a local organization who goal is to maintain the lake through volunteer clean-ups and other such events. Let a Lake Burton resident and expert show you the way The Lake Burton Civic Association is an active homeowners association for residents of the Lake Burton area and sponsors many events throughout the year such as: burton, custom, envision, georgia, lake, mountain, nc, north, photography, web, western, Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, Seed Lake,Virtual Tours.

Designed in collaboration with Cameo Kitchens, “Fusion — The Kitchen of Tomorrow” exhibits how technology and design work in perfect harmony. The backsplash is an interactive panel consisting of three HD monitors, which allow multi-functionality: enjoying a favourite scene, Skyping with family and friends, viewing cooking videos or recipes, browsing websites and social media, displaying children’s artwork, or presenting a slideshow of family photos. If sports are the preference, watching three events simultaneously is simple. The raised breakfast bar is made of semi-precious stone, which is backlit with LED panels to complement the luxe high-gloss walnut and white lacquer cabinetry. Interior illumination is activated at a touch of the automated servo drive doors and drawers. The kitchen design won a Luxury Portfolio, “Best of the Best” Award from Robb Report.

This Block-Sided 10x20 Signature Series DIY Installation out of Atlanta, GA showcases how to work from home, the right way. Promoting a bright, positive mood throughout the 9-to-5 grind, our high-efficiency windows and Full-Lite Glass French Doors bathe the Life Style Interior of this Studio Shed in natural light. Amber-hued Hickory Hardwood Flooring contrasts against white-washed walls to warm up the space. This Signature Series is positioned just steps away from leisure-time. Just within one’s line of sight whilst in his or her desk chair is an outdoor pool and an al fresco seating area. After a particularly grueling workday, one can still look forward to having a place where he or she could chat away about the day’s events with a loved one. With a Studio Shed, working from home can be productive, and with an office you can leave behind at the end of the day. Rethink how you organize not only your backyard, but also your professional life with us. Configure a Signature Series backyard office of your own with our convenient 3-D modeling tool on our website: https://www.studio-shed.com/configurator/

Tracey Ayton Photography
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Vancouver

Example of a trendy deck design in San Francisco

KAZE Interior Design Studio designed a home for a family of 5 and their dog. The space needed to be family friendly with the kitchen at its heart. A small corner was set aside for a computer work area and a play corner created right next to the kitchen so that the kids can do their homework without being alienated in a room upstairs. The kitchen has two ovens so that pizzas and a roast can be cooked at the same time. Sofa style seating is also placed close to the kitchen to provide a relaxed area where the kids can play games and do craft activities. The dining area is situated at the very end as this is only used when guests are invited to dine. The large TV and playroom and kids’ rooms upstairs are hardly used as all social events take place downstairs. In the parent’s room, a walk in closet and bathroom is made “en-suite” and the shower is pushed out to the terrace so that talking a shower in the morning is like waking up in a resort. Wood is used as a material throughout the entire house and in that sense, it reflects the Nordic touch and idea of our heritage.

This project was featured in Midwest Home magazine as the winner of ASID Life in Color. The addition of a kitchen with custom shaker-style cabinetry and a large shiplap island is perfect for entertaining and hosting events for family and friends. Quartz counters that mimic the look of marble were chosen for their durability and ease of maintenance. Open shelving with brass sconces above the sink create a focal point for the large open space. Putting a modern spin on the traditional nautical/coastal theme was a goal. We took the quintessential palette of navy and white and added pops of green, stylish patterns, and unexpected artwork to create a fresh bright space. Grasscloth on the back of the built in bookshelves and console table along with rattan and the bentwood side table add warm texture. Finishes and furnishings were selected with a practicality to fit their lifestyle and the connection to the outdoors. A large sectional along with the custom cocktail table in the living room area provide ample room for game night or a quiet evening watching movies with the kids. To learn more visit https://k2interiordesigns.com To view article in Midwest Home visit https://midwesthome.com/interior-spaces/life-in-color-2019/ Photography - Spacecrafting

Detox and enjoy the benefits of relaxing in a Finnish style POD sauna.

Richard Herman is in the hospitality business and owns several upscale hotels in Florida and in other states as well as cattle ranches in both Florida and Missouri. Their farm in Ocala is by farm their most unique. The property serves as a 4-H demonstration project for the purpose of children’s education. They have been working with the Academy Prep of St. Pete which is dedicated to inner-city youths that are selected on the basis of need and achievement. Wife Diane spends her time on the farm raising Gypsy Vanners, a diminutive draft horse named after the job they did in Eastern Europe, pulling the wagons (vans) for gypsies that wandered across the continent. On the Ocala farm, there are several mules with a unique profession. Richard had visited the Hearthstone display at a Log & Timber Home Shows at the Orlando Convention Center many years ago. He was impressed that Hearthstone had stayed in touch with him over the years by mailings, invitations to shows, and periodic phone calls. When the time came to start serious consideration of the design of barn, Hearthstone responded promptly and professionally to Richard and Diane’s requests for information and a review of their ideas for their barn, which would serve as the centerpiece for their new farm. They wanted a multipurpose facility that could accommodate an educational environment and a large hall suitable for the fundraising events for his charities. Richard wanted a barn that reflected the look and feel of barns built at the dawn of the 20th century. Besides the rustic chicken houses and vegetable gardens, they have completely renovated a 1020’s era farmhouse to be as historically correct as possible and serves as the entry to the farm. “They very careful to feel us out, get comfortable with our capabilities, and be convinced that we could perform as promised,” said Project Manager John Ricketson of Hearthstone. Design Process There were some initial drawings that gave us a start on the basic shape and size of the barn. From there, it was a process of narrowing down the uses of each area and the spans that could be achieved. The barn was going to have the traditional “board & batten” exterior siding and a metal roof. There is a cantilevered ‘hay hood” on the north gable end above the large sliding barn doors that open into the foyer and horse stalls. The wings house a combination of areas, beginning with the large restrooms to accommodate crowds for events. Other parts of the wings have garage areas for the farm vehicles, feed room, tack room, wash rack, storage, offices, and smaller restrooms. Keeping with the look and feel of the turn of the century, Hearthstone developed a process for giving the timbers a surface texture that mimicked the circular cuts of timbers that had just come out of an old sawmill. This was easier said than done. Randy Giles guided his millwright (Wolfgang) in designing a machine that would do this effectively. The barn was delivered in October of 2014 and was erected over the course of two weeks, thanks to a hardworking crew (Eric Foster) and near-perfect weather. After the Hearthstone crew completed the erection and roof dry-in, it was time for the local carpenters to step up and install some light conventional framing on the gable ends before applying the roof fascia and exterior board & batten siding. Next came the big sliding barn doors, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. Large rustic fixtures were hung from the great hall roof timbers. Exterior The board & batten siding was cypress and allowed to turn color naturally as rain hit it and the sun started working on it with UV rays. This method causes a much grayer look closer to the ground and less so where the roof overhang provides protection. The North end has some large limestone boulders and planters arranged around the pad with tall pampas grass. The planters provide casual seating before events and during outside receptions. The entire area was sodded with lush St. Augustine grass and split rail fences were added to enclose the barn area. The corrugated metal roof was a special order material that immediately rusted after being exposed to moisture. The layer of rust protects the metal from the elements. Interior The board & batten theme was carried throughout most of the interior with the timbers left natural to show off the circular saw texture. All of the tongue & groove decking was shipped in advance to allow the local painter to pre-stain it with a dark brown transparent stain that is a beautiful background to the light color Eastern White Pine timbers. “Everything was unique in this project” said Project Manager John Ricketson. “The setting on a small demonstration farm close to Ocala, the multipurpose design, the circular saw texture on the timbers.” The Hermans are very proud of their farm’s outcome. Richard sent a note to Randy Giles, owner of Hearthstone: “The Barn is fantastic, not a single problem, period. Next month, we have Jo Dee Messina coming in to help with a fundraiser for a local center for abused kids. Folks love the farm, ...... but that barn gets all of the attention. I would encourage you to use me as a reference for your sales team, feel free to extend my cell phone to any prospective purchasers.”

Making the most of indoor/outdoor entertaining and optimizing as much of its seaside-living environment as possible, this contemporary residence in Corona del Mar utilizes Western Window Systems’ Series 600 Multi-Slide Doors to create additional space for both the homeowners and their lucky guests. A key feature of the nearly 2,000-sq-foot home -- from Brandon Architects Inc. and Patterson Custom Homes -- can be found on the first floor, where Western’s signature retractable doors open to a stylish front terrace. Photos by Jeri Keogel.

This basement’s bar area rivals any sports bar! The large football mural is actually laser-cut customized wallpaper. The bar itself was created out of reclaimed pine with a honed granite counter and support bars and footrails made from reclaimed black pipes. The front of the bar has wood trim offset by steel inlays. Behind the bar there is a sink and beverage center, complete with an icemaker and wine refrigerator. That distinctive backsplash is whitewashed “Chicago” brick and it is a great focal point that offsets the TV. The adjacent eating area has weathered shiplap walls and a silver, tin ceiling. The column separating the two spaces is wood with steel inlays, the same steel that was used beneath the front of the bar. Welcome to this sports lover’s paradise in West Chester, PA! We started with the completely blank palette of an unfinished basement and created space for everyone in the family by adding a main television watching space, a play area, a bar area, a full bathroom and an exercise room. The floor is COREtek engineered hardwood, which is waterproof and durable, and great for basements and floors that might take a beating. Combining wood, steel, tin and brick, this modern farmhouse looking basement is chic and ready to host family and friends to watch sporting events! Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

KAZE Interior Design Studio designed a home for a family of 5 and their dog. The space needed to be family friendly with the kitchen at its heart. A small corner was set aside for a computer work area and a play corner created right next to the kitchen so that the kids can do their homework without being alienated in a room upstairs. The kitchen has two ovens so that pizzas and a roast can be cooked at the same time. Sofa style seating is also placed close to the kitchen to provide a relaxed area where the kids can play games and do craft activities. The dining area is situated at the very end as this is only used when guests are invited to dine. The large TV and playroom and kids’ rooms upstairs are hardly used as all social events take place downstairs. In the parent’s room, a walk in closet and bathroom is made “en-suite” and the shower is pushed out to the terrace so that talking a shower in the morning is like waking up in a resort. Wood is used as a material throughout the entire house and in that sense, it reflects the Nordic touch and idea of our heritage.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2016 Houzz

With a limited existing floor area in the kitchen, one of the main goals of the client from the initial schematic design phase was to maximize the open floor area while avoiding any addition or structural redesign. To partially accomplish this, a full-height storage cabinet is recessed into the wall eliminating any projection into the kitchen and creating circulation around the island. Stacked wall appliances optimize the kitchen’s utility while simplifying exhaust and electrical runs for a cleaner layout. Large under-mount workstation sinks provide extra prep space, doubling as a countertop or cutting board when not in use. The remodel also features new multi-sliding doors that bring in much more natural light and allow the clients to use the patio as an overflow flex space when hosting parties or events. The end result is a warm, open, and highly personalized kitchen that blends beauty with practicality.

Latch hardware in upper cabinets.
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Interior Designer Ghislaine Viñas Built by Manhattan Renovations Sponsored by HBF Textiles "The design of the booth is based on our hope that one day there will be ZERO cases of HIV AIDS. The center of the table has a display which we designed and fabricated in the GVID studio with lots of love and care. The theme is Memphis - a design movement that was started in the early 80's around same time as the first reported AIDS case in NYC. We hope that DIFFA is able to raise lots and lots of money this year for the cause. DIFFA DBD has a beautiful spacious new home this year on Pier 92."