Example of a farmhouse patio design in Los Angeles

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

With children raised and the work of establishing a career behind them, Dennis and Helene Liotta decided it was time to simplify life and downsize—by moving up. They sold their 5,000 sq. ft. family home (complete with the requisite pool and expansive yard), in favor of a 3,600 sq. ft. residence on the 47th floor of The Sovereign, a sleek mixed-use tower located in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. Realizing they wanted to enlist a talented decorative collaborator for all phases of the project, the couple sought the assistance of Mercedes Williams, design consultant at Cantoni Atlanta. Having helped the couple’s sons with purchases in the past, he came highly recommended. “I know the Liotta’s were thrilled to have the opportunity to personally conceptualize their new home,” recalls Mercedes. “They wanted my input to customize the space—confirming paint, tile, flooring, and finish choices—and they wanted help choosing furniture that would create an elegant yet warm and comfortable living environment.” “Dennis and Helene also had a vision for how they wanted the space to flow,” he explains. “The large, open floor plan for the main living room included the kitchen and dining areas, so we had to delineate the spaces while creating visual interest…without using a lot of furniture.” Choosing pieces with impact, and looks that simultaneously celebrated texture, scale, finish, and color, was the key to success. The dining table and large wool rug were custom-made by Cantoni and colored to coordinate with some of the couple’s key glass collectibles. “We also made the salt water aquarium a focal point in the living area because Dennis and Helene love the beach and ocean,” explains Mercedes. Along with additional new furnishings from Cantoni the couple wanted to incorporate other existing pieces from their extensive art and glass collection. Given the size of their former residence, an editing session was in order, so the Liotta’s took a novel approach to the task at hand. “We had a huge ‘Sovereign’ moving party and let friends and family take some of the things we knew we could part with,” says Helene. Dennis and Helene have been settled into their new digs since November. He continues to work as a professor at Emory University, and she enjoys searching for premium wines sold at Wine Gallery + Market, a family-owned gourmet emporium in Atlanta. With two bedrooms and a study, there remains room enough for the grandkids to sleep over—and a large dining table was selected so the couple could continue to accommodate multi-generational gatherings. “This project was a dream job for me,” reflects Mercedes, with enthusiasm. “The Liotta’s have excellent taste and wanted to create a fun and inviting environment that evokes luxury without stuffiness. They knew what they wanted, but needed a little help getting there. I’m flattered they chose me and Cantoni to help them realize the life they dreamed of living at The Sovereign.”

Creating your outdoor living space means claiming your own little slice of nature and customizing it to suit your lifestyle and enhance your daily routine. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your favorite patio chair, feeling the warm sun mixed with a cool breeze, and smelling the fragrant flowers blossoming in your garden. Imagine how much more time you would spend outside if you had your very own cabana, bungalow, pergola, sunroom or pool house to enjoy! Think of all the ways an outdoor room could enhance your Southern California lifestyle and prime your home for entertaining guests year-round. Our knowledgeable and experienced team of landscape design professionals and outdoor living specialists will sit down with you and explain the features and benefits of each structure. Whatever your dreams may be, Western Outdoor Design & Build can turn them into reality. (800) 789-7510! Www.westernoutdoordesign.com

"When I first visited the client's house, and before seeing the space, I sat down with my clients to understand their needs. They told me they were getting ready to remodel their bathroom and master closet, and they wanted to get some ideas on how to make their closet better. The told me they wanted to figure out the closet before they did anything, so they presented their ideas to me, which included building walls in the space to create a larger master closet. I couldn't visual what they were explaining, so we went to the space. As soon as I got in the space, it was clear to me that we didn't need to build walls, we just needed to have the current closets torn out and replaced with wardrobes, create some shelving space for shoes and build an island with drawers in a bench. When I proposed that solution, they both looked at me with big smiles on their faces and said, 'That is the best idea we've heard, let's do it', then they asked me if I could design the vanity as well. "I used 3/4" Melamine, Italian walnut, and Donatello thermofoil. The client provided their own countertops." - Leslie Klinck, Designer

"When I first visited the client's house, and before seeing the space, I sat down with my clients to understand their needs. They told me they were getting ready to remodel their bathroom and master closet, and they wanted to get some ideas on how to make their closet better. The told me they wanted to figure out the closet before they did anything, so they presented their ideas to me, which included building walls in the space to create a larger master closet. I couldn't visual what they were explaining, so we went to the space. As soon as I got in the space, it was clear to me that we didn't need to build walls, we just needed to have the current closets torn out and replaced with wardrobes, create some shelving space for shoes and build an island with drawers in a bench. When I proposed that solution, they both looked at me with big smiles on their faces and said, 'That is the best idea we've heard, let's do it', then they asked me if I could design the vanity as well. "I used 3/4" Melamine, Italian walnut, and Donatello thermofoil. The client provided their own countertops." - Leslie Klinck, Designer

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

With children raised and the work of establishing a career behind them, Dennis and Helene Liotta decided it was time to simplify life and downsize—by moving up. They sold their 5,000 sq. ft. family home (complete with the requisite pool and expansive yard), in favor of a 3,600 sq. ft. residence on the 47th floor of The Sovereign, a sleek mixed-use tower located in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. Realizing they wanted to enlist a talented decorative collaborator for all phases of the project, the couple sought the assistance of Mercedes Williams, design consultant at Cantoni Atlanta. Having helped the couple’s sons with purchases in the past, he came highly recommended. “I know the Liotta’s were thrilled to have the opportunity to personally conceptualize their new home,” recalls Mercedes. “They wanted my input to customize the space—confirming paint, tile, flooring, and finish choices—and they wanted help choosing furniture that would create an elegant yet warm and comfortable living environment.” “Dennis and Helene also had a vision for how they wanted the space to flow,” he explains. “The large, open floor plan for the main living room included the kitchen and dining areas, so we had to delineate the spaces while creating visual interest…without using a lot of furniture.” Choosing pieces with impact, and looks that simultaneously celebrated texture, scale, finish, and color, was the key to success. The dining table and large wool rug were custom-made by Cantoni and colored to coordinate with some of the couple’s key glass collectibles. “We also made the salt water aquarium a focal point in the living area because Dennis and Helene love the beach and ocean,” explains Mercedes. Along with additional new furnishings from Cantoni the couple wanted to incorporate other existing pieces from their extensive art and glass collection. Given the size of their former residence, an editing session was in order, so the Liotta’s took a novel approach to the task at hand. “We had a huge ‘Sovereign’ moving party and let friends and family take some of the things we knew we could part with,” says Helene. Dennis and Helene have been settled into their new digs since November. He continues to work as a professor at Emory University, and she enjoys searching for premium wines sold at Wine Gallery + Market, a family-owned gourmet emporium in Atlanta. With two bedrooms and a study, there remains room enough for the grandkids to sleep over—and a large dining table was selected so the couple could continue to accommodate multi-generational gatherings. “This project was a dream job for me,” reflects Mercedes, with enthusiasm. “The Liotta’s have excellent taste and wanted to create a fun and inviting environment that evokes luxury without stuffiness. They knew what they wanted, but needed a little help getting there. I’m flattered they chose me and Cantoni to help them realize the life they dreamed of living at The Sovereign.”

With children raised and the work of establishing a career behind them, Dennis and Helene Liotta decided it was time to simplify life and downsize—by moving up. They sold their 5,000 sq. ft. family home (complete with the requisite pool and expansive yard), in favor of a 3,600 sq. ft. residence on the 47th floor of The Sovereign, a sleek mixed-use tower located in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. Realizing they wanted to enlist a talented decorative collaborator for all phases of the project, the couple sought the assistance of Mercedes Williams, design consultant at Cantoni Atlanta. Having helped the couple’s sons with purchases in the past, he came highly recommended. “I know the Liotta’s were thrilled to have the opportunity to personally conceptualize their new home,” recalls Mercedes. “They wanted my input to customize the space—confirming paint, tile, flooring, and finish choices—and they wanted help choosing furniture that would create an elegant yet warm and comfortable living environment.” “Dennis and Helene also had a vision for how they wanted the space to flow,” he explains. “The large, open floor plan for the main living room included the kitchen and dining areas, so we had to delineate the spaces while creating visual interest…without using a lot of furniture.” Choosing pieces with impact, and looks that simultaneously celebrated texture, scale, finish, and color, was the key to success. The dining table and large wool rug were custom-made by Cantoni and colored to coordinate with some of the couple’s key glass collectibles. “We also made the salt water aquarium a focal point in the living area because Dennis and Helene love the beach and ocean,” explains Mercedes. Along with additional new furnishings from Cantoni the couple wanted to incorporate other existing pieces from their extensive art and glass collection. Given the size of their former residence, an editing session was in order, so the Liotta’s took a novel approach to the task at hand. “We had a huge ‘Sovereign’ moving party and let friends and family take some of the things we knew we could part with,” says Helene. Dennis and Helene have been settled into their new digs since November. He continues to work as a professor at Emory University, and she enjoys searching for premium wines sold at Wine Gallery + Market, a family-owned gourmet emporium in Atlanta. With two bedrooms and a study, there remains room enough for the grandkids to sleep over—and a large dining table was selected so the couple could continue to accommodate multi-generational gatherings. “This project was a dream job for me,” reflects Mercedes, with enthusiasm. “The Liotta’s have excellent taste and wanted to create a fun and inviting environment that evokes luxury without stuffiness. They knew what they wanted, but needed a little help getting there. I’m flattered they chose me and Cantoni to help them realize the life they dreamed of living at The Sovereign.”

If I were to explain the atmosphere in this home, I’d say it’s happy. Natural light, unbelievable view of Lake Murray, the mountains, the green hills, the sky – I used those natural colors as inspiration to come up with a palette for this project. As a result, we were brave enough to go with 3 cabinet colors (natural, oyster and olive), a gorgeous blue granite that’s named Azurite (a very powerful crystal), new appliance layout, raised ceiling, and a hole in the wall (butler’s window) … quite a lot, considering that client’s original goal was to just reface the existing cabinets (see before photos). This remodel turned out to be the most accurate representation of my clients, their way of life and what they wanted to highlight in a space so dear to them. You truly feel like you’re in an English countryside cottage with stellar views, quaint vibe and accessories suitable for any modern family. We love the final result and can’t get enough of that warm abundant light!

Mid-sized elegant master white tile and subway tile medium tone wood floor freestanding bathtub photo in Birmingham with beaded inset cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops and gray walls

However, the project was not without its design challenges. He explains: “The kitchen went from an enclosed layout to completely open, so I lost many upper and lower cabinets. The sink was moved and is now in the island, and the loss of cabinet space needed to be made up with smarter storage and a more functional layout.” He adds: “My goal was to create the most functional space in the floor plan. Since I was cutting out two walls and creating an open layout between the kitchen, dining room and living room, knowing exactly what the space would render like was important to me.” And he relied on IKD to make sure that happened. “I wanted to use IKD to make sure I didn’t miss a hack or tool to help with my experience,” he says. He concludes: “This house presented the best opportunity to experiment with IKEA and save money on a total remodel home.”

If I were to explain the atmosphere in this home, I’d say it’s happy. Natural light, unbelievable view of Lake Murray, the mountains, the green hills, the sky – I used those natural colors as inspiration to come up with a palette for this project. As a result, we were brave enough to go with 3 cabinet colors (natural, oyster and olive), a gorgeous blue granite that’s named Azurite (a very powerful crystal), new appliance layout, raised ceiling, and a hole in the wall (butler’s window) … quite a lot, considering that client’s original goal was to just reface the existing cabinets (see before photos). This remodel turned out to be the most accurate representation of my clients, their way of life and what they wanted to highlight in a space so dear to them. You truly feel like you’re in an English countryside cottage with stellar views, quaint vibe and accessories suitable for any modern family. We love the final result and can’t get enough of that warm abundant light!

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”

This steeply sloped property was converted into a backyard retreat through the use of natural and man-made stone. The natural gunite swimming pool includes a sundeck and waterfall and is surrounded by a generous paver patio, seat walls and a sunken bar. A Koi pond, bocce court and night-lighting provided add to the interest and enjoyment of this landscape. This beautiful redesign was also featured in the Interlock Design Magazine. Explained perfectly in ICPI, “Some spa owners might be jealous of the newly revamped backyard of Wayne, NJ family: 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space, complete with an elevated patio area, pool and hot tub lined with natural rock, a waterfall bubbling gently down from a walkway above, and a cozy fire pit tucked off to the side. The era of kiddie pools, Coleman grills and fold-up lawn chairs may be officially over.”