A concrete patio with a modern planter box compliments this modern home. A rounded concrete coping defines the flower bed, while concrete retaining walls and steps soften the overall look. Ultra-Low surface roughness concrete is sandblasted with dark glass beads to achieve the patina finish.

Modern family loft renovation. A young couple starting a family in the city purchased this two story loft in Boston's South End. Built in the 1990's, the loft was ready for updates. ZED transformed the space, creating a fresh new look and greatly increasing its functionality to accommodate an expanding family within an urban setting. Improvement were made to the aesthetics, scale, and functionality for the growing family to enjoy. Photos by Eric Roth. Construction by Ralph S. Osmond Company. Green architecture by ZeroEnergy Design.

Bob Greenspan
Inspiration for a craftsman medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Kansas City with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, blue backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Published in Coastal Lifestyle Magazine, March 2021 www.coastallifestylemagazine.com/alys-beach-home Photography by Colleen Duffley When Marianne Temple and Robyn Prince, the principals of Home Design Group of Atlanta and Santa Rosa Beach, were brought in to work their magic on a home in Alys Beach, the design phase and much of the construction was complete. They welcomed the opportunity to get involved in the important final stage and to bring fun and whimsy along with casual elegance to the project. The owners – a young family with children and dogs – knew what they were looking for in a long-term vacation destination. They had engaged the services of Domin Bock Architects of Rosemary Beach and general contractor Hufham Farris Construction of Santa Rosa Beach to design and build a home that is child-friendly and low maintenance, but timeless and welcoming at the same time. When Temple and Prince came aboard, their mission was to make the Alys Beach home a reflection of the owners’ personality and lifestyle. “I like to think we were successful,” says Temple. “We were able to source all the bedding, draperies, and other soft goods, and to assist in selecting lighting, art, and accessories throughout the home.” The home is located on the south side of 30A and enjoys access to all of the Alys Beach amenities. In addition, it has a pool, which quite literally seems to be the center – and the heart – of the home. The square pool can be accessed directly by steps from the private courtyard patio and is anchored by a stunning water wall and oversize stepping stones along one side. The expansive great room has unobstructed views of the pool through floor-to-ceiling glass panels. The room is furnished with low, plush upholstered pieces with rich blue accents, and an oval dining table with a stunning chandelier above. The bleached pecky cypress ceilings by E.F. San Juan are punctuated with substantial white-painted beams. Set apart by a sleek oversized island with a farmhouse sink, the open kitchen provides plenty of room for gathering or dining and is topped off by three matching gold-trimmed white pendant lights. The restaurant-quality six-burner cooktop in the arched wall opposite is flanked by tall cabinets and topped by four clerestory windows that admit wonderful light to the entire space. There is one guest bedroom on the main level, with a full bath, spacious closet, and a private sitting area. E. F. San Juan of Youngstown, Florida, supplied all the woodwork details that provide finishing touches to the residence’s crisp white canvas in this quintessential courtyard home. Like many of the community’s buildings, this private residence contains minimal woodwork, maintaining the clean, elegant Alys Beach vision; still, the interior and exterior trim and brackets offer a sleek yet natural feel reflecting the beaches that are steps away from the front door. Their team worked with Weather Shield to provide stunning and functional custom impact-rated windows and Loewen to create custom doors that protect the house from the Gulf Coast elements. “We have had the privilege of creating wood parts and custom doors, railings, and gates for many of the gorgeous homes in Alys Beach,” says E. F. San Juan president Edward A. San Juan. “This home’s minimal trim makes the other wood elements stand out, like the pecky cypress ceilings. The windows and doors are often-overlooked elements that we love collaborating on with our vendors like Loewen and Weather Shield because they make such good-looking products. They open up this home to the beautiful natural light, the courtyard pool, and the stunning views of the town just outside while also protecting from high winds, rain, and U.V. rays.” The broad wooden staircase with open metal handrails leads to the sleeping quarters. The second floor houses the master suite with custom barn doors, also by E.F. San Juan, leading into the master bathroom with its luxurious bath and unique freestanding tub. A second guest room with a king-size bed and full bath also occupy the second floor. “The master bath is definitely my favorite feature of the home,” says Temple. “It is beyond all expectation – a true luxury.” The adult bedrooms are serene and sophisticated, with sleek lines and restful blue hues throughout. Cathedral ceilings, arched openings for the beds, sun-drenched sitting areas, plenty of natural light, and luxurious baths contribute to the feeling of peaceful elegance. The children’s areas are in direct and happy contrast to the adults’ retreats. The bunk room, also on the second level, is just plain fun, with two sets of custom-built marine blue bunks piled high with pillows and whimsical stuffed animals, flanking a tall set of shelves full of toys and books. Oversize baskets provide storage for more toys, and colorful throw rugs provide plenty of sitting space for floor playtime. This kid-friendly space can grow and change with the children who occupy it – it will work well for tweens, teens, and beyond. “We designed the bunk room,” says Prince, “and I think it is a huge success. It may be my favorite feature of the home.” The top floor is dedicated to the children’s den/playroom/media room and the dramatic rooftop lounge. The children’s space is furnished with beanbag chairs, a low game table, a big-screen television mounted on a custom-fabricated aqua wall, and arched French doors leading to the rooftop lounge area. “This area is, quite literally, the icing on the cake,” says Temple. “It boasts a view of the Gulf and great views down South Charles Street.” This secluded deck features a gas fireplace and comfy furnishings for enjoying beautiful evenings year-round. HOME DESIGN GROUP (229) 347-6052 homedesigngrp.com E.F. SAN JUAN (850) 722-4830 efsanjuan.com

Photography by Miranda Estes
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman gender-neutral medium tone wood floor and brown floor nursery remodel in Seattle with green walls

Example of a mid-sized transitional loft-style family room design in Chicago with gray walls and no fireplace

Example of a large minimalist open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room design in Austin with white walls, no fireplace and a tv stand

Photos Rob Karosis
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary side yard brick landscaping in Portland Maine.

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Construction by Deep Creek Builders. Photography by Andrew Hyslop.
Elegant utility room photo in Louisville with a stacked washer/dryer

From the beginning, I envisioned creating a clean, white palette for the overall look of the apartment, but I also wanted to create some beautiful, unexpected surprises through blocks of color. On the master bedroom wall behind the bed, I installed a vibrant turquoise green silk wallpaper. The color evokes the green waters of la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (Spanish for Large Marsh of Santa Marta) in Colombia, where the black and white Leo Matíz photograph “Pavo Real del Mar” hanging over the bed was taken more than 60 years ago. I saw a smaller version of the photograph for the first time in a gallery in Chelsea, NY. Photography by Diego Alejandro Design, LLC

An original turn-of-the-century Craftsman home had lost it original charm in the kitchen and bathroom, both renovated in the 1980s. The clients desired to restore the original look, while still giving the spaces an updated feel. Both rooms were gutted and new materials, fittings and appliances were installed, creating a strong reference to the history of the home, while still moving the house into the 21st century. Photos by Melissa McCafferty

photographed by Neil Landino
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in New York with beige walls

Trendy white tile black floor alcove bathtub photo in Sacramento with white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops and brown countertops

Inspiration for a transitional light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Design ideas for a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Broadleaf stonecrop / Sedum Spathulifolium
Photo of a landscaping in Austin.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 blue tile, white tile and matchstick tile alcove shower remodel in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, granite countertops and a hinged shower door

Large cottage gender-neutral carpeted and gray floor dressing room photo in Portland with open cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets