Trendy galley light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Modern ski chalet with walls of windows to enjoy the mountainous view provided of this ski-in ski-out property. Formal and casual living room areas allow for flexible entertaining. Construction - Bear Mountain Builders Interiors - Hunter & Company Photos - Gibeon Photography

Tom Marks Photography
Example of a classic kitchen design in Seattle

Example of a transitional master black tile multicolored floor bathroom design in Los Angeles with white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Large cottage black two-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Charlotte with a shingle roof

David Morello
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Houston.

We added cattle panels on top of the pergola for the vines to grow onto and provide shade below. PHOTO: Ignacio Salas-Humara
Entryway - industrial entryway idea in Austin

Farmhouse staircase photo in San Diego

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards For years, Jeff and Ellen Miller spent their vacations sailing in Northern Michigan—so they had plenty of time to check out which small harbor town they might like to retire to someday. When that time arrived several years ago, they looked at properties up and down the coast and along inland lakes. When they discovered a sweet piece on the outskirts of Boyne City that included waterfront and a buildable lot, with a garage on it, across the street, they knew they’d found home. The couple figured they could find plans for their dream lake cottage online. After all, they weren’t looking to build anything grandiose. Just a small-to-medium sized contemporary Craftsman. But after an unfruitful online search they gave up, frustrated. Every plan they found had the back of the house facing the water—they needed a blueprint for a home that fronted on the water. The Millers first met the woman, Stephanie Baldwin, Owner & President of Edgewater Design Group, who solved that issue and a number of others on the 2015 Northern Home & Cottage Petoskey Area Home Tour. Baldwin’s home that year was a smart, 2000-square cottage on Crooked Lake with simple lines and a Craftsman sensibility. That home proved to the couple that Edgewater Design Group is as proficient at small homes as the larger ones they are often known for. Edgewater Design Group did indeed come up with the perfect plan for the Millers. At 2400 square feet, the simple Craftsman with its 3 bedrooms, vaulted ceiling in the great room and upstairs deck is everything the Millers wanted—including the fact that construction stayed within their budget. An extra courtesy of working with the talented design team is a screened in porch facing the lake (“She told us, of course you have to have a screened in porch,” Ellen says. “And we love it!’) Edgewater’s other touches are more subtle. The Millers wanted to keep the garage, but the home needed to be sited on a small knoll some feet away in order to capture the views of Lake Charlevoix across the street. The solution is a covered walkway and steps that are so artful they enhance the home. Another favor Baldwin did for them was to connect them with Legacy Construction, a firm known for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Miller home, outfitted with touches including custom molding, cherry cabinetry, a stunning custom range hood, built in shelving and custom vanities. A warm hickory floor and lovely earth-toned Craftsman-style color palette pull it all together, while a fireplace mantel hewn from a tree taken on the property rounds out this gracious lake cottage.

Three tall beehives in the back of the property are a testament to the client's love of nature and their desire to help rebuild the bee population. Flowering perennials are carefully selected for the yard to provide pollen for the bees, who return the favor by providing honey for the homeowner.

Natural stone wall allows for privacy and helps with noise factor. Add some depth with a high and low tropical garden with multiple color variations.

For our extensive renovation of this mountain home in Park City, Utah, we had several goals: Ditch the stone fireplace and other trappings of a traditional mountain retreat in favor of more contemporary décor. Create a more open floor plan to accommodate gatherings of family and friends. And maximize the property’s connections with its stunning outdoor surroundings to offer a breath of fresh air for the homeowners.

For our extensive renovation of this mountain home in Park City, Utah, we had several goals: Ditch the stone fireplace and other trappings of a traditional mountain retreat in favor of more contemporary décor. Create a more open floor plan to accommodate gatherings of family and friends. And maximize the property’s connections with its stunning outdoor surroundings to offer a breath of fresh air for the homeowners.

After years of enjoying their backyard, the clients of this property enlisted our firm to improve the original landscape we had completed over ten years ago. Our goal was to update the patio and further develop their backyard by creating a garden with a variety of color and texture. Over time the existing patio had settled, plantings grew, and an existing Oak thrived. During the initial home and landscape construction our clients were particularly concerned about the health of the mature Oak located just off the home. Special care was given when the patio was first built. Precautions were again taken in working around the Oak as the existing patio was removed and replaced. Surrounding trees and shrubs had grown and enclosed the backyard limiting access. This required almost all work and transport of material to be done by hand. The old concrete paver patio was replaced with bluestone. Existing mortared limestone around the edges of the patio levels were cleaned and tuck-pointed. A new stoop was constructed with mortared limestone risers and bluestone treads. A built-in grill and fireplace further updated the backyard space. The fireplace was designed to follow the organic curve of the patio. Mortared limestone and bluestone material were repeated on all elements, tying them together. Along with the updated patio, many additions were made in transforming the modest backyard into a lush garden. Masses of annuals, ornamental grasses, and perennials along with mixed shrubs created sweeps of color and texture in front of a new arborvitae hedge and other existing trees and shrubs. After careful planning and execution the completed landscape gave our clients the updated landscape they desired. The completion of the project was a rewarding and fulfilling experience as we transformed a good past project into a fantastic new project.

For our extensive renovation of this mountain home in Park City, Utah, we had several goals: Ditch the stone fireplace and other trappings of a traditional mountain retreat in favor of more contemporary décor. Create a more open floor plan to accommodate gatherings of family and friends. And maximize the property’s connections with its stunning outdoor surroundings to offer a breath of fresh air for the homeowners. The renovated kitchen lightens the space with white cabinets and marble countertops.

For our extensive renovation of this mountain home in Park City, Utah, we had several goals: Ditch the stone fireplace and other trappings of a traditional mountain retreat in favor of more contemporary décor. Create a more open floor plan to accommodate gatherings of family and friends. And maximize the property’s connections with its stunning outdoor surroundings to offer a breath of fresh air for the homeowners. A new second-story deck (the project’s sole new-construction component) gives residents quick, easy respites from the owners’ suite and home office.

Mike Flaugh
This is an example of a mid-sized tropical partial sun backyard mulch formal garden in Miami for summer.

Design ideas for a small traditional partial sun side yard brick garden path in Philadelphia.