Curb Appeal: Distinction and Harmony A coat of matte dark paint conceals the existing stucco textures. Modern style fencing with horizontal wood slats and luxurious plantings soften the appearance. Photo by Scott Hargis. building Lab is a design build firm specializing in Mid-Century-Modern architecture.

New garage attached to existing home. Photography: Treve Johnson
Elegant attached three-car garage photo in San Francisco

Inspiration for a landscaping in Los Angeles.

Additional guest parking was added by installing a paver pad to the side of the existing circular driveway. To blend the new section of pavers with the existing asphalt, radiating bands of pavers were installed between sections of asphalt. Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan

Scott Braman Photography
Inspiration for a craftsman two-story wood exterior home remodel in DC Metro

David Burroughs
Small elegant front porch photo in Baltimore with a roof extension

© Lassiter Photography | ReVisionCharlotte.com
Mid-sized 1960s white one-story mixed siding and board and batten exterior home idea in Charlotte with a shingle roof and a gray roof

A distinctive standing-seam metal roof creates an architectural connection between two shingle-roofed sections of this extensively remodeled and expanded Redmond, Washington home. Rather than simply joining the original home and new additions, this transitional element was designed to become an intentional part of the home's exterior architecture. The dark metal roofing provides a sophisticated contrast against the white siding and neighboring asphalt shingle roofs, visually breaking up the larger footprint while creating balance between the different wings of the home. The change in roofing material adds dimension, texture and architectural interest while allowing the various phases of the whole-home remodel and home addition to read as one cohesive residence. This connection is part of a substantial transformation designed around a family that loves entertaining friends and family. The project included an expanded kitchen and dining room, covered outdoor entertaining area, three-car garage addition, bonus living space, media/family room, home office, craft room, mudroom and expanded laundry room. Thoughtful exterior details such as this standing-seam metal roof connection helped integrate the new construction with the existing home while giving the completed residence the character and refinement of a thoughtfully designed custom home.

Cella Architecture - Erich Karp, AIA Laurelhurst Portland, OR This new Tudor Revival styled home, situated in Portland’s Laurelhurst area, was designed to blend with one of the city’s distinctive old neighborhoods. While there are a variety of existing house styles along the nearby streets, the Tudor Revival style with its characteristic steeply pitched roof lines, arched doorways, and heavy chimneys occurs throughout the neighborhood and was the ideal style choice for the new home. The house was conceived with a steeply pitched asymmetric gable facing the street with the longer rake sweeping down in a gentle arc to stop near the entry. The front door is sheltered by a gracefully arched canopy supported by twin wooden corbels. Additional details such as the stuccoed walls with their decorative banding that wraps the house or the flare of the stucco hood over the second floor windows or the use of unique materials such as the Old Carolina brick window sills and entry porch paving add to the character of the house. But while the form and details for the home are drawn from styles of the last century, the home is certainly of this era with noticeably cleaner lines, details, and configuration than would occur in older variants of the style.

Second-story addition with covered porch on existing split-level home.
Large traditional white split-level mixed siding exterior home idea in DC Metro with a shingle roof

What once was a sad duplex located along the quaint town of Stone Harbor, NJ is now a gorgeous single family home for renters to enjoy! This was a total renovation which consisted of lifting the existing structure higher to comply with local flood height requirements (since it's a block from the Atlantic Ocean), total gut of the home interior, new face-lift and curb appeal upgrade, new gable roof with access to a roof top deck in the rear, and loads of charm inside and out. If you saw the before and after, you'd swear it was a new house! Photo by Fine Architecture

Example of a large classic white two-story wood gable roof design in Atlanta

The Craftsman started with moving the existing historic log cabin located on the property and turning it into the detached garage. The main house spares no detail. This home focuses on craftsmanship as well as sustainability. Again we combined passive orientation with super insulation, PV Solar, high efficiency heat and the reduction of construction waste.

Our traditional saltbox Church Street shed, is a classic backyard building for the traditional enthusiast. Originally designed to fit into the historical yards of famous Dorset Vermont, this little post and beam shed is a best seller for its country charm. Many options are available to make a good fit with your existing architecture - including roofing, siding, window, and hardware options. These shed kits, deliverable throughout the US and parts of Canada, have an estimated assembly time of 2 people, 24 hours. Also available as diy garden shed plans (only $50.), or as fully assembled garden sheds.

The new full range bluestone foyer was cut into the existing asphalt to give the front walk more presence. A bluestone stepper path can be seen against the house, which acts as a shortcut for the family. Westhauser Photography

Mark Hoyle Originally, this 3700 SF two level eclectic farmhouse from the mid 1980’s underwent design changes to reflect a more colonial style. Now, after being completely renovated with additional 2800 SF living space, it’s combined total of 6500 SF boasts an Energy Star certification of 5 stars. Approaching this completed home, you will meander along a new driveway through the dense buffer of trees until you reach the clearing, and then circle a tiered fountain on axis with the front entry accentuating the symmetrical main structure. Many of the exterior changes included enclosing the front porch and rear screened porch, replacing windows, replacing all the vinyl siding with and fiber cement siding, creating a new front stoop with winding brick stairs and wrought iron railings as will as other additions to the left and rear of the home. The existing interior was completely fro the studs and included modifying uses of many of the existing rooms such as converting the original dining room into an oval shaped theater with reclining theater seats, fiber-optic starlight ceiling and an 80” television with built-in surround sound. The laundry room increased in size by taking in the porch and received all new cabinets and finishes. The screened porch across the back of the house was enclosed to create a new dining room, enlarged the kitchen, all of which allows for a commanding view of the beautifully landscaped pool. The upper master suite begins by entering a private office then leads to a newly vaulted bedroom, a new master bathroom with natural light and an enlarged closet. The major portion of the addition space was added to the left side as a part time home for the owner’s brother. This new addition boasts an open plan living, dining and kitchen, a master suite with a luxurious bathroom and walk–in closet, a guest suite, a garage and its own private gated brick courtyard entry and direct access to the well appointed pool patio. And finally the last part of the project is the sunroom and new lagoon style pool. Tucked tightly against the rear of the home. This room was created to feel like a gazebo including a metal roof and stained wood ceiling, the foundation of this room was constructed with the pool to insure the look as if it is floating on the water. The pool’s negative edge opposite side allows open views of the trees beyond. There is a natural stone waterfall on one side of the pool and a shallow area on the opposite side for lounge chairs to be placed in it along with a hot tub that spills into the pool. The coping completes the pool’s natural shape and continues to the patio utilizing the same stone but separated by Zoysia grass keeping the natural theme. The finishing touches to this backyard oasis is completed utilizing large boulders, Tempest Torches, architectural lighting and abundant variety of landscaping complete the oasis for all to enjoy.

This stand-alone condominium takes a bold step with dark, modern farmhouse exterior features. Once again, the details of this stand alone condominium are where this custom design stands out; from custom trim to beautiful ceiling treatments and careful consideration for how the spaces interact. The exterior of the home is detailed with dark horizontal siding, vinyl board and batten, black windows, black asphalt shingles and accent metal roofing. Our design intent behind these stand-alone condominiums is to bring the maintenance free lifestyle with a space that feels like your own.

Mark Hoyle Originally, this 3700 SF two level eclectic farmhouse from the mid 1980’s underwent design changes to reflect a more colonial style. Now, after being completely renovated with additional 2800 SF living space, it’s combined total of 6500 SF boasts an Energy Star certification of 5 stars. Approaching this completed home, you will meander along a new driveway through the dense buffer of trees until you reach the clearing, and then circle a tiered fountain on axis with the front entry accentuating the symmetrical main structure. Many of the exterior changes included enclosing the front porch and rear screened porch, replacing windows, replacing all the vinyl siding with and fiber cement siding, creating a new front stoop with winding brick stairs and wrought iron railings as will as other additions to the left and rear of the home. The existing interior was completely fro the studs and included modifying uses of many of the existing rooms such as converting the original dining room into an oval shaped theater with reclining theater seats, fiber-optic starlight ceiling and an 80” television with built-in surround sound. The laundry room increased in size by taking in the porch and received all new cabinets and finishes. The screened porch across the back of the house was enclosed to create a new dining room, enlarged the kitchen, all of which allows for a commanding view of the beautifully landscaped pool. The upper master suite begins by entering a private office then leads to a newly vaulted bedroom, a new master bathroom with natural light and an enlarged closet. The major portion of the addition space was added to the left side as a part time home for the owner’s brother. This new addition boasts an open plan living, dining and kitchen, a master suite with a luxurious bathroom and walk–in closet, a guest suite, a garage and its own private gated brick courtyard entry and direct access to the well appointed pool patio. And finally the last part of the project is the sunroom and new lagoon style pool. Tucked tightly against the rear of the home. This room was created to feel like a gazebo including a metal roof and stained wood ceiling, the foundation of this room was constructed with the pool to insure the look as if it is floating on the water. The pool’s negative edge opposite side allows open views of the trees beyond. There is a natural stone waterfall on one side of the pool and a shallow area on the opposite side for lounge chairs to be placed in it along with a hot tub that spills into the pool. The coping completes the pool’s natural shape and continues to the patio utilizing the same stone but separated by Zoysia grass keeping the natural theme. The finishing touches to this backyard oasis is completed utilizing large boulders, Tempest Torches, architectural lighting and abundant variety of landscaping complete the oasis for all to enjoy.

Our Garden Shed evolved from our Victorian Shed. Understated and unassuming, this little garden building makes for wonderful tea parties for the grand kids, an excellent backyard bar for fun evening barbecues, and a potting shed and storage place for all the gardening needs a true country landscape requires. This garden shed is available from our shed kits line, our diy post and beam shed plans or as fully assembled buildings (with many options available to fit your existing architecture).