Frank Ooms
Inspiration for a modern exterior home remodel in Austin with a shed roof

The horizontal beam that sits on top of the concrete piers is set at the requisite height for the lowest structural member of the house. This height is determined by the federal and state regulatory agencies.

This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Dallas.

Determining the major elements in a landscape is the easy part...making the transitions look seamless, not so much! This mountain property had two entrances on the side of the home, with a stairway up to the deck, in the middle. There's gutter drainage that also needed to be routed away from the foundation. Throw in a tall pine and a slope, making it a collection of surfaces and elements that need to stand up to gusty winds and snow melt-off. This multi-material approach allowed for drainage, smooth walkways, crevice plantings, and transitional patio space.

This is an organic Lime Wash done with a true lime wash product as opposed to a brick mortar or concrete that is often seen on new houses. This product can be applied as a solid coating making the surface completely white, or can be applied and "washed off" in many artistic ways, as seen here. If you hate your brick or just want something unique this is a great option! Photo credit: Jeff Murrey

BROOKLYN OFFICE Inserts Options • Inserts provide stylish or colorful accents to your storage system, creating a highly personalized design feature to suit you and your home. • Choose from a wide range of options like leather, glass, acrylic, and more. • Accents of color provide a high-end look and make your storage system unique to your home. • Inserts are durable and easy to maintain. • Inserts provide an opportunity to add texture and depth to a design palette. Our Products At California Closets, we constantly pursue opportunities to provide our clients with environmentally sustainable options, and our products reflect this commitment. All of our board is compliant with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which consists of some of the most rigorous regulations for emission standards, and is available in a variety of substrates, including low-emitting formaldehyde. This certification applies to our three finishes - Classic, Lago®, and TesoroTM - which come in a wide range of beautiful colors and textures. All of our composite wood doors and drawers are made from recycled or reclaimed wood fiber and can contribute toward achieving credit in both the LEED® 2009 and LEED v4 standards. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationally recognized system for green building that is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. We offer a selection of translucent accents door/drawer inserts, back panels and countertops, designed with solid finishes or organic material that contain between 38 - 40 percent recycled content and can be reclaimed at their end-of-life stage through the supplier. They are also certified by GREENGUARD, an environmental institute that seeks to improve indoor air quality and reduce human exposure to chemicals and other pollutants. As an industry leader, California Closets continually seeks to increase our environmental commitment. Your design consultant can provide more details to determine which products best suit your sustainability needs. Revisit us as we continue to source new products with sustainable features.

Committed to strong environmental standards, Tbektu Design and Development determined from the beginning that the "Eleven on 7th" project would not only follow green development protocol -- but also that it would even become a benchmark for Low-Impact Development, from the purchase of the infill property to the 100% recycled paper used for marketing. "Gunstock," was selected to floor the first home, Halcyon Halls as Teresa preferred our oil-rubbed finish rather than polyurethane, which contributed to a non-toxic work environment for the contractors and a non-toxic home in which to live. Since family is front & center in ELEVEN on 7th, a floor that can handle everyday life was crucial and our oil finish leaves the floor looking and feeling more natural, not shiny like a polyurethane, and makes for very easy touch-up and maintenance. The wide plank pine fits perfectly with Teresa's vision for both Halcyon Hall and the entire ELEVEN on 7th development. Visit Halcyon Halls TBEKTU Design + Development All photos courtesy of: Reed Brown Photography / Nashville, TN

Committed to strong environmental standards, Tbektu Design and Development determined from the beginning that the "Eleven on 7th" project would not only follow green development protocol -- but also that it would even become a benchmark for Low-Impact Development, from the purchase of the infill property to the 100% recycled paper used for marketing. "Gunstock," was selected to floor the first home, Halcyon Halls as Teresa preferred our oil-rubbed finish rather than polyurethane, which contributed to a non-toxic work environment for the contractors and a non-toxic home in which to live. Since family is front & center in ELEVEN on 7th, a floor that can handle everyday life was crucial and our oil finish leaves the floor looking and feeling more natural, not shiny like a polyurethane, and makes for very easy touch-up and maintenance. The wide plank pine fits perfectly with Teresa's vision for both Halcyon Hall and the entire ELEVEN on 7th development. Visit Halcyon Halls TBEKTU Design + Development All photos courtesy of: Reed Brown Photography / Nashville, TN

Committed to strong environmental standards, Tbektu Design and Development determined from the beginning that the "Eleven on 7th" project would not only follow green development protocol -- but also that it would even become a benchmark for Low-Impact Development, from the purchase of the infill property to the 100% recycled paper used for marketing. "Gunstock," was selected to floor the first home, Halcyon Halls as Teresa preferred our oil-rubbed finish rather than polyurethane, which contributed to a non-toxic work environment for the contractors and a non-toxic home in which to live. Since family is front & center in ELEVEN on 7th, a floor that can handle everyday life was crucial and our oil finish leaves the floor looking and feeling more natural, not shiny like a polyurethane, and makes for very easy touch-up and maintenance. The wide plank pine fits perfectly with Teresa's vision for both Halcyon Hall and the entire ELEVEN on 7th development. Visit Halcyon Halls TBEKTU Design + Development All photos courtesy of: Reed Brown Photography / Nashville, TN

Scented star jasmine vines twine through the perforations of this custom steel screen that provides privacy to the outdoor dining area. Pocket planting on the stair treads includes a variegated Silver Dragon lilyturf and the bromeliad Queen's Tears (Billbergia nutans). Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/

The project site is a three story apartment building with a full basement, which had recently been subject to an apartment fire. Four separate residential units were contained in the structure, including one two bedroom unit and three single bedroom units. A laundry room/basement and a pair of lofts were also housed within the building. The result of the blaze and the subsequent water damage from attempts to extinguish it left the interior of the building primarily gutted. All interior finishes, fixtures, stairways, mechanical and electrical systems were destroyed beyond repair. The exterior of the building was charred in some places, and destroyed completely in others. The project location, the City of San Rafael, determined that due to the extent of the damage to the structure, the resulting project would be considered a “new building”. Our first task was to review the current building code and apply the current regulations to the existing structure (originally built in the early 1900’s) and bring it up to current code. We performed occupant load calculations, a code summary, square footage calculations and egress code analysis for each floor/use. This information was then compiled in order to determine how the project could legally be designed within the current code, all while minimizing modifications to the existing structure. Once all data had been analyzed, the new floor plans were organized and laid out in a manner which retained the heritage of the original building while remaining true to current code. The site was revised to allow for code compliant parking areas while retaining the family friendly outdoor spaces inherent in the original design. The foundation was reinforced, and the building structure as a whole was strengthened to cope with modern seismic loads. Spray foam insulation, low E glazing, skylights, ceiling fans, high efficiency HVAC, etc…were all added to make the building more efficient and environmentally friendly. The use of Class “A” materials, fire separations (both vertical and horizontal) and a commercial sprinkler system were employed in order to avoid any future fires. Reconstruction of the project was recently completed in the summer of 2014. Photos by B. James

The project site is a three story apartment building with a full basement, which had recently been subject to an apartment fire. Four separate residential units were contained in the structure, including one two bedroom unit and three single bedroom units. A laundry room/basement and a pair of lofts were also housed within the building. The result of the blaze and the subsequent water damage from attempts to extinguish it left the interior of the building primarily gutted. All interior finishes, fixtures, stairways, mechanical and electrical systems were destroyed beyond repair. The exterior of the building was charred in some places, and destroyed completely in others. The project location, the City of San Rafael, determined that due to the extent of the damage to the structure, the resulting project would be considered a “new building”. Our first task was to review the current building code and apply the current regulations to the existing structure (originally built in the early 1900’s) and bring it up to current code. We performed occupant load calculations, a code summary, square footage calculations and egress code analysis for each floor/use. This information was then compiled in order to determine how the project could legally be designed within the current code, all while minimizing modifications to the existing structure. Once all data had been analyzed, the new floor plans were organized and laid out in a manner which retained the heritage of the original building while remaining true to current code. The site was revised to allow for code compliant parking areas while retaining the family friendly outdoor spaces inherent in the original design. The foundation was reinforced, and the building structure as a whole was strengthened to cope with modern seismic loads. Spray foam insulation, low E glazing, skylights, ceiling fans, high efficiency HVAC, etc…were all added to make the building more efficient and environmentally friendly. The use of Class “A” materials, fire separations (both vertical and horizontal) and a commercial sprinkler system were employed in order to avoid any future fires. Reconstruction of the project was recently completed in the summer of 2014. Photos by B. James

If there’s one thing Nelson, British Columbia is known for, it’s snow. Every year thousands of skiers and snowboarders flock to Nelson, located in interior BC, to get a dose of the area's famous fresh powder. However, along with epic snow comes freezing temperatures. During the winter season, Nelson typically averages a low of 12 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 degrees Celsius) and a high of 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.) When combined with the humidity the area usually receives in the winter months, these already freezing temperatures can feel significantly cooler. Our customer took this into account when designing his Nelson-area home. The homeowner wanted to get the most out of the location and climate without spending a fortune on heating. With this in mind, a passive solar home was designed and constructed. This type of home is designed to harness, store and distribute solar energy in the winter to heat the home without the use of mechanical or electrical devices. However, with average lows hovering around 12 degrees Fahrenheit, a little more was needed to take the bite out of the chilly air. Ultimately we determined our Prestyl Heating Panels would be a great way to add heat to this home. They transfer sun-like-warmth directly to people and objects and are zone-controlled, which allows the user to heat only the spaces they are using. Ultimately what this means is you can increase your comfort while decreasing your heating costs: A perfect solution for an environmentally-conscious/budget-conscious homeowner in a ski town.

This "jewel box" of a room was photographed for the book In with the Old, classic decor from A to Z by author Jennifer Boles -founder of www.thepeakofchic.blogspot.com. The room is featured in the chapter on Candlelight Hanging between the two mirrored windows is the portrait is of the Reverend Christopher Swainson circa 1799. Rev. Swainson was the private tutor to the second Earl of Powis, his brother Robert Clive, and their sister Charlotte Florentia Clive, the future Duchess of Northumberland -governess to Queen Victoria- The plant Clivia was named in her honor. Surprisingly the Reverend was found in a local thrift shop just outside of Atlanta. His identity was determined after deciphering faint writing on the back of the frame. The chinoiserie chippendale styled etageres, once owned by Eleanor Stout McRae, display an assortment of blue & white porcelain. While not of any great quality they never the less give great effect to the decor. The draperies -festoon blinds or ballon shades, depending on which side of the Atlantic you reside - were fashioned in the 18th century manner. The fabric is green silk & wool moreen, it was salvaged from draperies pulled down from the former home of Virginia Carroll Crawford. The random width american black walnut flooring was salvaged from "Boxwood" in Ansley Park, built in 1914 for Mr. & Mrs. James Swann Floyd. The flooring was originally installed in 1928 for the wedding of their daughter Frances to Emory Cocke. The Floyd's were great entertainers and held many lavish parties. If those floors could talk. Sadly Boxwood was demolished in 2014. Jonathan pulled up each board himself, chiseling out every walnut peg, and butterfly joint, behind which was a steel screw. After the screws were removed the boards. also nailed down, had to be pried up with a crowbar. It was a lengthy process, and all done in the early summer with no air conditioning. It was well worth it. The trimwork is all new but leftover from another job. The whole project is an example of being resourceful, some could even say being environmentally conscious. Photo by Jonathan LaCrosse

This is an example of a mid-sized tropical full sun backyard stone landscaping in Miami for summer.

JDBG is wrapping up work on an expansive 2-story sunroom addition that also included modifications to the existing home’s interior and significant exterior improvements as well. The original project brief was to provide a conditioned 4-season sunroom addition where the homeowners could relax and enjoy their wooded views. As we delved deeper into our client’s overall objectives, it became clear that this would be no ordinary sunroom addition. The resulting 16’x25’ sunroom is a showstopper with 10’ high ceilings and wall to wall windows offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape. As we recommend with most addition projects, the process started with our Preliminary Design Study to determine project goals, design concepts, project feasibility and associated budget estimates. During this process, our design team worked to ensure that both interior and exterior were fully integrated. We conducted in-depth programming to identify key goals and needs which would inform the design and performed a field survey and zoning analysis to identify any constraints that could impact the plans. The next step was to develop conceptual designs that addressed the program requirements. Using a combination of 3-D massing, interior/exterior renderings, precedent imaging and space planning, the design concept was revised and refined. At the end of the study we had an approved schematic design and comprehensive budget estimates for the 2-story addition and were ready to move into design development, construction documentation, trade coordination, and final pricing. A complex project such as this involves architectural and interior design, structural and civil engineering, landscape design and environmental considerations. Multiple trades and subs are engaged during construction, from HVAC to electrical and plumbing, framers, carpenters and masons, roofers and painters just to name a few. JDBG was there every step of the way to ensure quality construction. Other notable features of the renovation included expanding the home’s existing dining room, incorporating a custom ‘dish room,’ and providing fully conditioned storage and his & her workrooms on the lower level. A new front portico will visually connect the old and new structures and a brand new roof, shutters and paint will further transform the exterior. Thoughtful planning was also given to the landscape, including a back deck, stone patio and walkways, plantings and exterior lighting. Stay tuned for more photos as this sunroom addition nears completion.

Tassel fern. Photo by Jay Sifford.
Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

Engineered cedar siding creates beautiful gray-blue tones at the exterior of the home, while adding a textural element to activate the simple exterior design.