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

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.”

Among our Houston outdoor kitchens, this one is unique because of its concrete countertops, pergola with stucco wrapping and custom storage. "It's not one of our biggest covered outdoor kitchens in Houston," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "But it's unique, and it looks really nice, too!" The client, a young family, wanted an outdoor kitchen with a more minimalistic, modern look, explains Outdoor Homescapes senior designer Lisha Maxey. "They're both doctors and very much attuned to detail," she says. "Their primary goal was to create a space where they could lounge while the children played as well as an area to entertain family and friends while cooking and dining outside." Like a growing number of people wanting small outdoor kitchens in Houston, this client expressed interest in using concrete as a surface material: "The look is contemporary and is easily paired with any type of outdoor furniture," says Maxey, "from wicker to teak to iron." Here's a closeup of the concrete countertops. You'll notice that they're glossy and smooth like glass, thanks to special sealers and a topcoat of UV-resistant resin that prevents the countertop from yellowing. Since these particular clients lean toward the minimalistic side of contemporary design, she continues, "the standard granite countertop of many Houston outdoor kitchens would not work, since it typically has a lot of movement and can be busy." Lisha sees the use of concrete as a growing outdoor design trend for Houston outdoor kitchens: "It's easy to maintain and again, leans towards a more modern look for outdoor." All the furniture and lighting is from Restoration Hardware, says Lisha, who's offering $500 in free outdoor furniture consultation services as a special promotion. (Interested? Just contact us!) The dining and lounge chairs are from the Antibes collection in cast aluminum with a bronze finish. The table is a Belgian Trestle made of weathered concrete and teak. Simple track lighting was used on the pergola in keeping with the minimalist look of the space. The pergola is a treated pine, stained a Minwax Jacobean, which appears almost black. "This client chose a pergola over a roof extension off the house because they wanted it to still seem light and airy in their outdoor space for their young children," explains Lisha. "They wanted a certain degree of sun and shade protection, which a pergola does provide, but they wanted it to seem a bit like a park for the kids to play in." "The seating/storage bin was not a part of the original design," says Lisha. "As the project progressed, the client expressed interest in some sort of chest for the new outdoor furniture cushions to be stored in." The design for the storage bin was developed to accommodate this request: "It eventually evolved into a seating area as well. And to keep the look consistent with the new kitchen, it was agreed that the stone be carried through the design. The wood top was necessary so we could design a hinged access for storage."

Cathedral ceilings and seamless cabinetry complement this kitchen’s river view The low ceilings in this ’70s contemporary were a nagging issue for the 6-foot-8 homeowner. Plus, drab interiors failed to do justice to the home’s Connecticut River view. By raising ceilings and removing non-load-bearing partitions, architect Christopher Arelt was able to create a cathedral-within-a-cathedral structure in the kitchen, dining and living area. Decorative mahogany rafters open the space’s height, introduce a warmer palette and create a welcoming framework for light. The homeowner, a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, wanted to emulate the famed architect’s use of reddish-brown concrete floors, and the result further warmed the interior. “Concrete has a connotation of cold and industrial but can be just the opposite,” explains Arelt. Clunky European hardware was replaced by hidden pivot hinges, and outside cabinet corners were mitered so there is no evidence of a drawer or door from any angle.

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

This 1910 West Highlands home was so compartmentalized that you couldn't help to notice you were constantly entering a new room every 8-10 feet. There was also a 500 SF addition put on the back of the home to accommodate a living room, 3/4 bath, laundry room and back foyer - 350 SF of that was for the living room. Needless to say, the house needed to be gutted and replanned. Kitchen+Dining+Laundry-Like most of these early 1900's homes, the kitchen was not the heartbeat of the home like they are today. This kitchen was tucked away in the back and smaller than any other social rooms in the house. We knocked out the walls of the dining room to expand and created an open floor plan suitable for any type of gathering. As a nod to the history of the home, we used butcherblock for all the countertops and shelving which was accented by tones of brass, dusty blues and light-warm greys. This room had no storage before so creating ample storage and a variety of storage types was a critical ask for the client. One of my favorite details is the blue crown that draws from one end of the space to the other, accenting a ceiling that was otherwise forgotten. Primary Bath-This did not exist prior to the remodel and the client wanted a more neutral space with strong visual details. We split the walls in half with a datum line that transitions from penny gap molding to the tile in the shower. To provide some more visual drama, we did a chevron tile arrangement on the floor, gridded the shower enclosure for some deep contrast an array of brass and quartz to elevate the finishes. Powder Bath-This is always a fun place to let your vision get out of the box a bit. All the elements were familiar to the space but modernized and more playful. The floor has a wood look tile in a herringbone arrangement, a navy vanity, gold fixtures that are all servants to the star of the room - the blue and white deco wall tile behind the vanity. Full Bath-This was a quirky little bathroom that you'd always keep the door closed when guests are over. Now we have brought the blue tones into the space and accented it with bronze fixtures and a playful southwestern floor tile. Living Room & Office-This room was too big for its own good and now serves multiple purposes. We condensed the space to provide a living area for the whole family plus other guests and left enough room to explain the space with floor cushions. The office was a bonus to the project as it provided privacy to a room that otherwise had none before.

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

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

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

Sometimes the reason for a remodel seems to defy logic or common sense. “When I first met with this young couple who purchased the home from a larger family, I looked at their beautiful cherry kitchen cabinets and wondered why change it,” recalled Nadia Glynn, Murphy Bros. design/build consultant “It’s a good reminder that ugly oak or insufficient storage aren’t the only reasons for a remodel, “ explains Glynn, “You’ve got to look at lifestyle too, and the functionality that follows what people really care about.” “In this case, it was about the couple’s desire for a more functional kitchen that worked better for two people instead of 4 and featured the view, which is spectacular,” says Glynn. Murphy Bros. removed the existing cabinets, which were repurposed in the garage and changed the color scheme to a more earthy tone. We removed the cooktop from the island, changed out the countertops, repositioned refrigerator for improved functionality, and moved the sink to take advantage of the view. We also hid some unsightly mechanicals behind the essential coffee bar.

Photo: Benjamin Hill © 2017 Houzz
Elegant home theater photo in Houston

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

Architect: Olivieri Shouisky & Kiss of Collingwood NJ Roofer: Donald B. Smith of Hanover PA Tile Country French in 3 size and 3 color Blend. This magnificent residence for fills three separate functions; It is the home for the owners as well as providing separate accommodation for the owner’s mother. But most importantly it provides ample accommodation for charitable events which are regularly held at the home. They have a sizable dining room with the necessary food preparation area as well as a grand ball room. This is todate the single largest roof we have supplied and the building is close to 400’ long. When we first became involved with the roofer he pointed out they had never installed a tile roof before. I asked if they installed slate roofs and JD Miller the project manager immediately replied in the affirmative. I explained to JD that when I first entered the roof tile installation industry back in 1976 I was told ‘a slater can tile but a tiler cannot necessarily slate’. With some guidance from Northern the crew from Donald B Smith did a magnificent job proving the old adage was correct.

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

Sometimes, there are moments in the remodeling experience that words cannot fully explain how amazing it can be. This home in Quincy, MA 02169 is one of those moments for our team. This now stunning colonial underwent one of the biggest transformations of the year. Previously, the home held its original cedar clapboards that since 1960 have rotted, cracked, peeled, and was an eyesore for the homeowners. GorillaPlank™ Siding System featuring Everlast Composite Siding: Color chosen: - 7” Blue Spruce - 4” PVC Trim - Exterior Painting - Prepped, pressure-washed, and painted foundation to match the siding color. Leak-Proof Roof® System featuring Owens Corning Asphalt Shingles: Color chosen: - Estate Gray TruDefinition® Duration asphalt shingles - 5” Seamless White Aluminum Gutters Marvin Elevate Windows Color chosen: - Stone White Window Styles: - Double-Hung windows - 3-Lite Slider windows - Casements windows Marvin Essentials Sliding Patio Door Color chosen: Stone White Provia Signet Fiberglass Entry Door Color chosen: - Mahogany (exterior) - Mountain Berry (interior)

design: Studio TOOP, 2008 location: Driebergen, NL status: built in 2008, Tuinvreugd photo: Jolanthe Lalkens, 2010 A letter from the town of Driebergen explaining that there were subsidies available if residents wanted to build a rainwater catchment in their garden was the impulse necessary for Ben and Ine to finally redo their garden. About to start retirement they had more time to garden and enjoy being at home. Ine hd been a gardener for years and looked for the opportunity to spend more time on the hobby and Ben was already working out the technical details of the rainwater catchment and ponds. Studio TOOP helped them translate their wishes and interests into a clear design that made smart use of the small elevation change in the garden. Sequences of steps and raised beds separate each section of the garden. Three lines - a row of three ponds, a row of crab apple trees and a rose covered pergola - emphasize the gardens length. Each pond is 15 cm lower than the next, allowing the water to flows from one to another, and then to another lower lying pond at the end of the pergola. Under a lid that works as a bench integrated into two of the raised beds are the rainwater tanks.

design: Studio TOOP, 2008 location: Driebergen, NL status: built in 2008, Tuinvreugd photo: Jolanthe Lalkens, 2010 A letter from the town of Driebergen explaining that there were subsidies available if residents wanted to build a rainwater catchment in their garden was the impulse necessary for Ben and Ine to finally redo their garden. About to start retirement they had more time to garden and enjoy being at home. Ine hd been a gardener for years and looked for the opportunity to spend more time on the hobby and Ben was already working out the technical details of the rainwater catchment and ponds. Studio TOOP helped them translate their wishes and interests into a clear design that made smart use of the small elevation change in the garden. Sequences of steps and raised beds separate each section of the garden. Three lines - a row of three ponds, a row of crab apple trees and a rose covered pergola - emphasize the gardens length. Each pond is 15 cm lower than the next, allowing the water to flows from one to another, and then to another lower lying pond at the end of the pergola. Under a lid that works as a bench integrated into two of the raised beds are the rainwater tanks.