Search results for "Feel assured" in Home Design Ideas

This home is a bachelor’s dream, but it didn’t start that way. It began with a young man purchasing his first single-family home in Westlake Village. The house was dated from the late 1980s, dark, and closed off. In other words, it felt like a man cave — not a home. It needed a masculine makeover.
He turned to his friend, who spoke highly of their experience with us. We had remodeled and designed their home, now known as the “Oak Park Soiree.” The result of this home’s new, open floorplan assured him we could provide the same flow and functionality to his own home. He put his trust in our hands, and the construction began.
The entry of our client’s original home had no “wow factor.” As you walked in, you noticed a staircase enclosed by a wall, making the space feel bulky and uninviting. Our team elevated the entry by designing a new modern staircase with a see-through railing. We even took advantage of the area under the stairs by building a wine cellar underneath it… because wine not?
Down the hall, the kitchen and family room used to be separated by a wall. The kitchen lacked countertop and storage space, and the family room had a high ceiling open to the second floor. This floorplan didn’t function well with our client’s lifestyle. He wanted one large space that allowed him to entertain family and friends while at the same time, not having to worry about noise traveling upstairs. Our architects crafted a new floorplan to make the kitchen, breakfast nook, and family room flow together as a great room. We removed the obstructing wall and enclosed the high ceiling above the family room by building a new loft space above.
The kitchen area of the great room is now the heart of the home! Our client and his guests have plenty of space to gather around the oversized island with additional seating. The walls are surrounded by custom Crystal cabinetry, and the countertops glisten with Vadara quartz, providing ample cooking and storage space. To top it all off, we installed several new appliances, including a built-in fridge and coffee machine, a Miele 48-inch range, and a beautifully designed boxed ventilation hood with brass strapping and contrasting color.
There is now an effortless transition from the kitchen to the family room, where your eyes are drawn to the newly centered, linear fireplace surrounded by floating shelves. Its backlighting spotlights the purposefully placed symmetrical décor inside it. Next to this focal point lies a LaCantina bi-fold door leading to the backyard’s sparkling new pool and additional outdoor living space. Not only does the wide door create a seamless transition to the outside, but it also brings an abundance of natural light into the home.
Once in need of a masculine makeover, this home’s sexy black and gold finishes paired with additional space for wine and guests to have a good time make it a bachelor’s dream.
Photographer: Andrew Orozco

Becky Hulsey, Envision Virtual Tours
The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Awaits….
Have you dreamed of owning your own spectacular waterfall, a serene trout pond, or a one of a kind mountain lodge filled with high end touches, all near Lake Burton? If the answer is yes…..then “The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls” is for you!
Located just off HW 76 .3 miles to Anchorage Marina, this unique 2.8 acre property borders the National Forest, boasts a fully remodeled 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2000+ square foot rock lodge that is adjacent to its own private, spectacular 60 foot waterfall all surrounded by native landscape such as rhododendron and mountain laurel. Tumbling under the 40 foot suspension bridge, the pristine, crystal clear water continues to ramble on its way to large pond ready to be stocked with trout. Picture yourself fly fishing for a trout dinner right at your front door, or delight your friends or family while entertaining on your new porch or extensive, multi-level deck that connects your new home to your own waterfall. The kids or grandkids will be entertained for hours wading in the pool at the base of the waterfall, exploring the crooks and crannies among the stream’s boulders while looking for salamanders, or panning for “fool’s gold” in the stream. Just imagine….The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls has all this and more!
As you walk up the front steps to The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls, you will notice the craftsmanship of this uniquely one of a kind home made from local stone and granite from a period gone by. If you look closely at some of the stones, you will find raw garnets, some the size of a nail head. Upon opening the front door constructed of solid oak and a tasteful piece of leaded glass, you will be amazed at the spaciousness of the lodge room. Once upon a time, the 20 x 30 foot room with 10 foot ceilings was the entire home. The focal piece of the room is the new floor to ceiling field stone fireplace, hand honed solid maple mantel, rounded hearth, accentuated by a hand-cut keystone, and flanked by raw cedar columns. The new gas logs can be remotely controlled with programmable heat. A built-in floor to ceiling cherry wood wall unit, with granite serving surface, highlights a side wall and is topped off with a large piece of stained glass from an English pub. The mood lighting behind the stained glass and the antique library ladder really highlights this unique bookcase. Distinctive lighting fixtures and fans provide dining area lighting and circulation from the cool breezes off of Lake Burton. On the bottom, the solid oak 1.5 inch flooring is a remnant of the past on the top, the height of the ceilings is enhanced by double crown moldings throughout and a touch of the outdoors is brought indoors by the three new skylights. Surrounded by rustic cedar window boxes, additional ambient light streams through the four windows facing south, and the new French doors.
As you open the French doors to the new porch, you are immediately struck by the sights and sound produced by the rushing water as it cascades over the spectacular multilevel waterfall. You will also notice that the mountain has literally been carved away as you view the layers and striations in the granite that surround the back of the porch. The peaked cathedral ceiling sports a glass apex and the bead board on the ceiling accentuated by the raw cedar plank framing and the five cedar trees used as cornerstones all bring the outdoors within your reach. The addition of “E-Z Breeze” vinyl windows along with the cast iron gas stove will allow you and your family to enjoy the beauty and continually changing scenery at The Lodge at Gold Mine Fall during all four seasons.
Opening the Adirondack style door on the other side of the lodge room allows you to step into the Lodge’s addition built at a later date. The four foot wide hallway boasts stained glass light fixtures and an architectural feature from the new stairwell that divides the living and the bedroom spaces. Knowing that the east wall in the kitchen and study were once on the home’s exterior allowed us to investigate and reveal the true character of these walls by removing the two layers of drywall and 4 inches of plaster exposing a striking addition to both rooms…… beautiful granite rock walls. The hallway flows into the granite breakfast bar which fully complements the newly exposed granite wall. From the Viking SS refrigerator to gas Jenn Air ceramic cooktop and microwave the appliances are a chef’s delight. Lighting is a critical component in a gourmet kitchen and the light from the double window is enhanced by two spotlights over the cooking area, LED task lighting under the cabinets, mood lighting over the top cabinets, and four “Murano” hand blown glass pendant lights over the sink and bar area. Scoring points in the design category, the full wood “Thomasville” two tone glazed cabinets that are country white and palomino scream style and sophistication, and are accentuated by the cool copper glass backsplash and refined stainless steel hardware. The porcelain, two bowl farmhouse sink is large enough for your biggest pots while the stainless steel sink guards will protect it from scratches. The SS faucet is professional quality and the Insinkerator will help the chef in the house save time with instant 190 degree water. An eight foot long exposed cedar tree trunk hangs over the cooking area allowing the chef to hang his/her favorite utensils and pots or pans in full lodge style. And who wouldn’t crave a large walk in pantry with commercial grade slides that will up to 120 pounds. With all these features, the cook/cooks in the family will love spending time in this room.
Across from the kitchen is a study/office area which can be closed off from the hallway by a double barn door. Except for the remarkable exposed granite rock wall mentioned earlier, the entire room has been paneled with raw cedar boards treated with Australian Tree Oil for true lodge feel. The triple crank out window provides a superb view of the pond and blazing Japanese maple trees in the fall. Outside, the hallway leads to the utility room which has been fully upgraded with all the modern amenities. The oak cabinetry with granite tops also has an extra deep sink with commercial kitchen sprayer. The sink area is surrounded by white subway tile while slate and green glass mini tile accents bring the outdoor colors inside. The doggy door, new exterior door and crank out window provide access to the back yard and additional light. From the new “Rinnai” point of use, gas hot water heater to the new “LG” full size, stackable washer and dryer, this utility room delivers.
The master bedroom has four windows which provide outstanding light and air circulation. To take the chill off of nippy evenings, this bedroom also has its own romantic fireplace with travertine marble surround, remote controlled gas logs, and a beautiful antique oak and mirror mantle. To top it off, the en-suite bath contains high end fixtures, a spacious vanity, and floor to ceiling rain shower with independent valves allowing you to turn on the shower and not get wet. Multiple safety handrails and a fold down shower seat give bathers assurance and provide an additional measure of safety. The earthy color tiles, glass tile accents and hand blown light fixtures continue the lodge theme in this end of the house. Located across the hall, the guest bedroom is light and airy with its white window boxes and double crown molding, and also has an attached bathroom. This bathroom also has an entrance door leading to the hallway and doubles as the guest bathroom for the house. Its antique oak vanity and mirror, stained glass lights and wrought iron accents remind me of a past era while the vessel sink, modern fixtures, and floor to ceiling travertine and glass tile rain shower all bring the bathroom up to modern standards.
Located at the end of the hallway, and next to the guest bathroom, is the handcrafted stairwell leading to the sleeping loft. The distinctive maple stair treads with their grain and raw edge being displayed, were milled locally in Clayton and then installed from underneath so that no screw or nail heads are visible. The staircase was completed with wrought iron spindles, raw cedar handrail and floor to ceiling end post. Upon your entry into the sleeping loft, you will notice the amount of light that enters through the two skylights and large window facing the pond. The sound of water rushing over the pond’s spillway is a delightful addition to this large sleeping loft. Finished with engineered hardwood flooring and two built in double beds with tree trunks for legs, the room can accommodate four additional twin beds. The sleeping loft is also equipped with a kitchenette and a distinctive cedar and rock walled bathroom. The bath features an antique dresser vanity with marble vessel sink, distinctive fixtures and a floor to ceiling polished travertine marble shower with rain head. This bathroom also has an exterior door leading to a secondary upstairs staircase in the back yard. Just envision the great sleepovers the kids or grandkids will have here or how your out of town friends or family will just love this special area designed with their comfort and needs in mind.
Originally constructed in 1925 by “off Broadway” star Rose Grant, this property is rich in history. In the early years, this home was one of the first in Rabun County to generate its own electric from the waterfall. Several small cabins were also built on the property and rented out to guests who came for the waterfall, swim in the pond and connect with nature. Other notable residents were Mrs. and Doctor Fowler who was a local pediatrician. According to an aged newspaper article, Mrs. Fowler was very interested in the indigenous flora and fauna and grew a variety of native plants on the property including some that were rare or endangered. Many metal name tags still remain along the various paths on the property thus reminding you of times gone by and the true beauty of property.
Lastly, this solidly built home has just been structurally solidified, become more energy efficient, and reconfigured to further usable space all while retaining the Lodge’s original charm. After removing the flooring in the kitchen, hall and both bathrooms, the home’s structure and roof were fortified with numerous concrete footers to support both bathrooms, kitchen, and stairwell walls that extend from floor to roof. To make this home more comfortable, energy efficient, and bring it up to modern standards, the electrical system was upgraded to 220 service with the wiring, outlets, electrical panels and fixtures replaced throughout the entire home. A whole house surge protector was also installed to protect against damage that may occur with lightning strikes. Speaking of electric…..the pond’s newly poured formed concrete wall contains a pipe enabling you to install your own hydro-electric system. And whether you might decide to tie into the grid or store you energy in a battery system, you could generate your own electric 24/7. The homes plumbing was also replaced with new pipes, energy/water efficient fixtures in each bathroom (including three Toto toilets), and a new cistern was installed behind the garage with a laboratory grade water filtration system. The task of water heating was completed by a gas Rinnai point of use hot water heater in the utility room and all windows were replaced with Anderson thermal pane and 6 Velux skylights were mounted to bring the outdoors inside. The home’s HVAC system was top of the line several years ago and both sets of new gas logs are controlled with remotes. Formerly a summer home, all exterior walls were studded out with insulation added, and whole house fans were installed in the attic and upstairs bathroom. Although many of these upgrades may not be visible, they allow the home to be more energy efficient and more comfortable……allowing The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls to become your four season retreat.

This home is a bachelor’s dream, but it didn’t start that way. It began with a young man purchasing his first single-family home in Westlake Village. The house was dated from the late 1980s, dark, and closed off. In other words, it felt like a man cave — not a home. It needed a masculine makeover.
He turned to his friend, who spoke highly of their experience with us. We had remodeled and designed their home, now known as the “Oak Park Soiree.” The result of this home’s new, open floorplan assured him we could provide the same flow and functionality to his own home. He put his trust in our hands, and the construction began.
The entry of our client’s original home had no “wow factor.” As you walked in, you noticed a staircase enclosed by a wall, making the space feel bulky and uninviting. Our team elevated the entry by designing a new modern staircase with a see-through railing. We even took advantage of the area under the stairs by building a wine cellar underneath it… because wine not?
Down the hall, the kitchen and family room used to be separated by a wall. The kitchen lacked countertop and storage space, and the family room had a high ceiling open to the second floor. This floorplan didn’t function well with our client’s lifestyle. He wanted one large space that allowed him to entertain family and friends while at the same time, not having to worry about noise traveling upstairs. Our architects crafted a new floorplan to make the kitchen, breakfast nook, and family room flow together as a great room. We removed the obstructing wall and enclosed the high ceiling above the family room by building a new loft space above.
The kitchen area of the great room is now the heart of the home! Our client and his guests have plenty of space to gather around the oversized island with additional seating. The walls are surrounded by custom Crystal cabinetry, and the countertops glisten with Vadara quartz, providing ample cooking and storage space. To top it all off, we installed several new appliances, including a built-in fridge and coffee machine, a Miele 48-inch range, and a beautifully designed boxed ventilation hood with brass strapping and contrasting color.
There is now an effortless transition from the kitchen to the family room, where your eyes are drawn to the newly centered, linear fireplace surrounded by floating shelves. Its backlighting spotlights the purposefully placed symmetrical décor inside it. Next to this focal point lies a LaCantina bi-fold door leading to the backyard’s sparkling new pool and additional outdoor living space. Not only does the wide door create a seamless transition to the outside, but it also brings an abundance of natural light into the home.
Once in need of a masculine makeover, this home’s sexy black and gold finishes paired with additional space for wine and guests to have a good time make it a bachelor’s dream.
Photographer: Andrew Orozco
Find the right local pro for your project

This home is a bachelor’s dream, but it didn’t start that way. It began with a young man purchasing his first single-family home in Westlake Village. The house was dated from the late 1980s, dark, and closed off. In other words, it felt like a man cave — not a home. It needed a masculine makeover.
He turned to his friend, who spoke highly of their experience with us. We had remodeled and designed their home, now known as the “Oak Park Soiree.” The result of this home’s new, open floorplan assured him we could provide the same flow and functionality to his own home. He put his trust in our hands, and the construction began.
The entry of our client’s original home had no “wow factor.” As you walked in, you noticed a staircase enclosed by a wall, making the space feel bulky and uninviting. Our team elevated the entry by designing a new modern staircase with a see-through railing. We even took advantage of the area under the stairs by building a wine cellar underneath it… because wine not?
Down the hall, the kitchen and family room used to be separated by a wall. The kitchen lacked countertop and storage space, and the family room had a high ceiling open to the second floor. This floorplan didn’t function well with our client’s lifestyle. He wanted one large space that allowed him to entertain family and friends while at the same time, not having to worry about noise traveling upstairs. Our architects crafted a new floorplan to make the kitchen, breakfast nook, and family room flow together as a great room. We removed the obstructing wall and enclosed the high ceiling above the family room by building a new loft space above.
The kitchen area of the great room is now the heart of the home! Our client and his guests have plenty of space to gather around the oversized island with additional seating. The walls are surrounded by custom Crystal cabinetry, and the countertops glisten with Vadara quartz, providing ample cooking and storage space. To top it all off, we installed several new appliances, including a built-in fridge and coffee machine, a Miele 48-inch range, and a beautifully designed boxed ventilation hood with brass strapping and contrasting color.
There is now an effortless transition from the kitchen to the family room, where your eyes are drawn to the newly centered, linear fireplace surrounded by floating shelves. Its backlighting spotlights the purposefully placed symmetrical décor inside it. Next to this focal point lies a LaCantina bi-fold door leading to the backyard’s sparkling new pool and additional outdoor living space. Not only does the wide door create a seamless transition to the outside, but it also brings an abundance of natural light into the home.
Once in need of a masculine makeover, this home’s sexy black and gold finishes paired with additional space for wine and guests to have a good time make it a bachelor’s dream.
Photographer: Andrew Orozco

This home is a bachelor’s dream, but it didn’t start that way. It began with a young man purchasing his first single-family home in Westlake Village. The house was dated from the late 1980s, dark, and closed off. In other words, it felt like a man cave — not a home. It needed a masculine makeover.
He turned to his friend, who spoke highly of their experience with us. We had remodeled and designed their home, now known as the “Oak Park Soiree.” The result of this home’s new, open floorplan assured him we could provide the same flow and functionality to his own home. He put his trust in our hands, and the construction began.
The entry of our client’s original home had no “wow factor.” As you walked in, you noticed a staircase enclosed by a wall, making the space feel bulky and uninviting. Our team elevated the entry by designing a new modern staircase with a see-through railing. We even took advantage of the area under the stairs by building a wine cellar underneath it… because wine not?
Down the hall, the kitchen and family room used to be separated by a wall. The kitchen lacked countertop and storage space, and the family room had a high ceiling open to the second floor. This floorplan didn’t function well with our client’s lifestyle. He wanted one large space that allowed him to entertain family and friends while at the same time, not having to worry about noise traveling upstairs. Our architects crafted a new floorplan to make the kitchen, breakfast nook, and family room flow together as a great room. We removed the obstructing wall and enclosed the high ceiling above the family room by building a new loft space above.
The kitchen area of the great room is now the heart of the home! Our client and his guests have plenty of space to gather around the oversized island with additional seating. The walls are surrounded by custom Crystal cabinetry, and the countertops glisten with Vadara quartz, providing ample cooking and storage space. To top it all off, we installed several new appliances, including a built-in fridge and coffee machine, a Miele 48-inch range, and a beautifully designed boxed ventilation hood with brass strapping and contrasting color.
There is now an effortless transition from the kitchen to the family room, where your eyes are drawn to the newly centered, linear fireplace surrounded by floating shelves. Its backlighting spotlights the purposefully placed symmetrical décor inside it. Next to this focal point lies a LaCantina bi-fold door leading to the backyard’s sparkling new pool and additional outdoor living space. Not only does the wide door create a seamless transition to the outside, but it also brings an abundance of natural light into the home.
Once in need of a masculine makeover, this home’s sexy black and gold finishes paired with additional space for wine and guests to have a good time make it a bachelor’s dream.
Photographer: Andrew Orozco

This home is a bachelor’s dream, but it didn’t start that way. It began with a young man purchasing his first single-family home in Westlake Village. The house was dated from the late 1980s, dark, and closed off. In other words, it felt like a man cave — not a home. It needed a masculine makeover.
He turned to his friend, who spoke highly of their experience with us. We had remodeled and designed their home, now known as the “Oak Park Soiree.” The result of this home’s new, open floorplan assured him we could provide the same flow and functionality to his own home. He put his trust in our hands, and the construction began.
The entry of our client’s original home had no “wow factor.” As you walked in, you noticed a staircase enclosed by a wall, making the space feel bulky and uninviting. Our team elevated the entry by designing a new modern staircase with a see-through railing. We even took advantage of the area under the stairs by building a wine cellar underneath it… because wine not?
Down the hall, the kitchen and family room used to be separated by a wall. The kitchen lacked countertop and storage space, and the family room had a high ceiling open to the second floor. This floorplan didn’t function well with our client’s lifestyle. He wanted one large space that allowed him to entertain family and friends while at the same time, not having to worry about noise traveling upstairs. Our architects crafted a new floorplan to make the kitchen, breakfast nook, and family room flow together as a great room. We removed the obstructing wall and enclosed the high ceiling above the family room by building a new loft space above.
The kitchen area of the great room is now the heart of the home! Our client and his guests have plenty of space to gather around the oversized island with additional seating. The walls are surrounded by custom Crystal cabinetry, and the countertops glisten with Vadara quartz, providing ample cooking and storage space. To top it all off, we installed several new appliances, including a built-in fridge and coffee machine, a Miele 48-inch range, and a beautifully designed boxed ventilation hood with brass strapping and contrasting color.
There is now an effortless transition from the kitchen to the family room, where your eyes are drawn to the newly centered, linear fireplace surrounded by floating shelves. Its backlighting spotlights the purposefully placed symmetrical décor inside it. Next to this focal point lies a LaCantina bi-fold door leading to the backyard’s sparkling new pool and additional outdoor living space. Not only does the wide door create a seamless transition to the outside, but it also brings an abundance of natural light into the home.
Once in need of a masculine makeover, this home’s sexy black and gold finishes paired with additional space for wine and guests to have a good time make it a bachelor’s dream.
Photographer: Andrew Orozco

Becky Hulsey, Envision Virtual Tours
The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Awaits….
Have you dreamed of owning your own spectacular waterfall, a serene trout pond, or a one of a kind mountain lodge filled with high end touches, all near Lake Burton? If the answer is yes…..then “The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls” is for you!
Located just off HW 76 .3 miles to Anchorage Marina, this unique 2.8 acre property borders the National Forest, boasts a fully remodeled 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2000+ square foot rock lodge that is adjacent to its own private, spectacular 60 foot waterfall all surrounded by native landscape such as rhododendron and mountain laurel. Tumbling under the 40 foot suspension bridge, the pristine, crystal clear water continues to ramble on its way to large pond ready to be stocked with trout. Picture yourself fly fishing for a trout dinner right at your front door, or delight your friends or family while entertaining on your new porch or extensive, multi-level deck that connects your new home to your own waterfall. The kids or grandkids will be entertained for hours wading in the pool at the base of the waterfall, exploring the crooks and crannies among the stream’s boulders while looking for salamanders, or panning for “fool’s gold” in the stream. Just imagine….The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls has all this and more!
As you walk up the front steps to The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls, you will notice the craftsmanship of this uniquely one of a kind home made from local stone and granite from a period gone by. If you look closely at some of the stones, you will find raw garnets, some the size of a nail head. Upon opening the front door constructed of solid oak and a tasteful piece of leaded glass, you will be amazed at the spaciousness of the lodge room. Once upon a time, the 20 x 30 foot room with 10 foot ceilings was the entire home. The focal piece of the room is the new floor to ceiling field stone fireplace, hand honed solid maple mantel, rounded hearth, accentuated by a hand-cut keystone, and flanked by raw cedar columns. The new gas logs can be remotely controlled with programmable heat. A built-in floor to ceiling cherry wood wall unit, with granite serving surface, highlights a side wall and is topped off with a large piece of stained glass from an English pub. The mood lighting behind the stained glass and the antique library ladder really highlights this unique bookcase. Distinctive lighting fixtures and fans provide dining area lighting and circulation from the cool breezes off of Lake Burton. On the bottom, the solid oak 1.5 inch flooring is a remnant of the past on the top, the height of the ceilings is enhanced by double crown moldings throughout and a touch of the outdoors is brought indoors by the three new skylights. Surrounded by rustic cedar window boxes, additional ambient light streams through the four windows facing south, and the new French doors.
As you open the French doors to the new porch, you are immediately struck by the sights and sound produced by the rushing water as it cascades over the spectacular multilevel waterfall. You will also notice that the mountain has literally been carved away as you view the layers and striations in the granite that surround the back of the porch. The peaked cathedral ceiling sports a glass apex and the bead board on the ceiling accentuated by the raw cedar plank framing and the five cedar trees used as cornerstones all bring the outdoors within your reach. The addition of “E-Z Breeze” vinyl windows along with the cast iron gas stove will allow you and your family to enjoy the beauty and continually changing scenery at The Lodge at Gold Mine Fall during all four seasons.
Opening the Adirondack style door on the other side of the lodge room allows you to step into the Lodge’s addition built at a later date. The four foot wide hallway boasts stained glass light fixtures and an architectural feature from the new stairwell that divides the living and the bedroom spaces. Knowing that the east wall in the kitchen and study were once on the home’s exterior allowed us to investigate and reveal the true character of these walls by removing the two layers of drywall and 4 inches of plaster exposing a striking addition to both rooms…… beautiful granite rock walls. The hallway flows into the granite breakfast bar which fully complements the newly exposed granite wall. From the Viking SS refrigerator to gas Jenn Air ceramic cooktop and microwave the appliances are a chef’s delight. Lighting is a critical component in a gourmet kitchen and the light from the double window is enhanced by two spotlights over the cooking area, LED task lighting under the cabinets, mood lighting over the top cabinets, and four “Murano” hand blown glass pendant lights over the sink and bar area. Scoring points in the design category, the full wood “Thomasville” two tone glazed cabinets that are country white and palomino scream style and sophistication, and are accentuated by the cool copper glass backsplash and refined stainless steel hardware. The porcelain, two bowl farmhouse sink is large enough for your biggest pots while the stainless steel sink guards will protect it from scratches. The SS faucet is professional quality and the Insinkerator will help the chef in the house save time with instant 190 degree water. An eight foot long exposed cedar tree trunk hangs over the cooking area allowing the chef to hang his/her favorite utensils and pots or pans in full lodge style. And who wouldn’t crave a large walk in pantry with commercial grade slides that will up to 120 pounds. With all these features, the cook/cooks in the family will love spending time in this room.
Across from the kitchen is a study/office area which can be closed off from the hallway by a double barn door. Except for the remarkable exposed granite rock wall mentioned earlier, the entire room has been paneled with raw cedar boards treated with Australian Tree Oil for true lodge feel. The triple crank out window provides a superb view of the pond and blazing Japanese maple trees in the fall. Outside, the hallway leads to the utility room which has been fully upgraded with all the modern amenities. The oak cabinetry with granite tops also has an extra deep sink with commercial kitchen sprayer. The sink area is surrounded by white subway tile while slate and green glass mini tile accents bring the outdoor colors inside. The doggy door, new exterior door and crank out window provide access to the back yard and additional light. From the new “Rinnai” point of use, gas hot water heater to the new “LG” full size, stackable washer and dryer, this utility room delivers.
The master bedroom has four windows which provide outstanding light and air circulation. To take the chill off of nippy evenings, this bedroom also has its own romantic fireplace with travertine marble surround, remote controlled gas logs, and a beautiful antique oak and mirror mantle. To top it off, the en-suite bath contains high end fixtures, a spacious vanity, and floor to ceiling rain shower with independent valves allowing you to turn on the shower and not get wet. Multiple safety handrails and a fold down shower seat give bathers assurance and provide an additional measure of safety. The earthy color tiles, glass tile accents and hand blown light fixtures continue the lodge theme in this end of the house. Located across the hall, the guest bedroom is light and airy with its white window boxes and double crown molding, and also has an attached bathroom. This bathroom also has an entrance door leading to the hallway and doubles as the guest bathroom for the house. Its antique oak vanity and mirror, stained glass lights and wrought iron accents remind me of a past era while the vessel sink, modern fixtures, and floor to ceiling travertine and glass tile rain shower all bring the bathroom up to modern standards.
Located at the end of the hallway, and next to the guest bathroom, is the handcrafted stairwell leading to the sleeping loft. The distinctive maple stair treads with their grain and raw edge being displayed, were milled locally in Clayton and then installed from underneath so that no screw or nail heads are visible. The staircase was completed with wrought iron spindles, raw cedar handrail and floor to ceiling end post. Upon your entry into the sleeping loft, you will notice the amount of light that enters through the two skylights and large window facing the pond. The sound of water rushing over the pond’s spillway is a delightful addition to this large sleeping loft. Finished with engineered hardwood flooring and two built in double beds with tree trunks for legs, the room can accommodate four additional twin beds. The sleeping loft is also equipped with a kitchenette and a distinctive cedar and rock walled bathroom. The bath features an antique dresser vanity with marble vessel sink, distinctive fixtures and a floor to ceiling polished travertine marble shower with rain head. This bathroom also has an exterior door leading to a secondary upstairs staircase in the back yard. Just envision the great sleepovers the kids or grandkids will have here or how your out of town friends or family will just love this special area designed with their comfort and needs in mind.
Originally constructed in 1925 by “off Broadway” star Rose Grant, this property is rich in history. In the early years, this home was one of the first in Rabun County to generate its own electric from the waterfall. Several small cabins were also built on the property and rented out to guests who came for the waterfall, swim in the pond and connect with nature. Other notable residents were Mrs. and Doctor Fowler who was a local pediatrician. According to an aged newspaper article, Mrs. Fowler was very interested in the indigenous flora and fauna and grew a variety of native plants on the property including some that were rare or endangered. Many metal name tags still remain along the various paths on the property thus reminding you of times gone by and the true beauty of property.
Lastly, this solidly built home has just been structurally solidified, become more energy efficient, and reconfigured to further usable space all while retaining the Lodge’s original charm. After removing the flooring in the kitchen, hall and both bathrooms, the home’s structure and roof were fortified with numerous concrete footers to support both bathrooms, kitchen, and stairwell walls that extend from floor to roof. To make this home more comfortable, energy efficient, and bring it up to modern standards, the electrical system was upgraded to 220 service with the wiring, outlets, electrical panels and fixtures replaced throughout the entire home. A whole house surge protector was also installed to protect against damage that may occur with lightning strikes. Speaking of electric…..the pond’s newly poured formed concrete wall contains a pipe enabling you to install your own hydro-electric system. And whether you might decide to tie into the grid or store you energy in a battery system, you could generate your own electric 24/7. The homes plumbing was also replaced with new pipes, energy/water efficient fixtures in each bathroom (including three Toto toilets), and a new cistern was installed behind the garage with a laboratory grade water filtration system. The task of water heating was completed by a gas Rinnai point of use hot water heater in the utility room and all windows were replaced with Anderson thermal pane and 6 Velux skylights were mounted to bring the outdoors inside. The home’s HVAC system was top of the line several years ago and both sets of new gas logs are controlled with remotes. Formerly a summer home, all exterior walls were studded out with insulation added, and whole house fans were installed in the attic and upstairs bathroom. Although many of these upgrades may not be visible, they allow the home to be more energy efficient and more comfortable……allowing The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls to become your four season retreat.

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Buckeye Basements, Inc.
Central Ohio's Basement Finishing ExpertsBest Of Houzz '13-'21

Runnels in the concrete function to drain water out of the patio area but also add a subtle inlay detail. Here the runnel is filled with both beach pebbles and dry-laid bluestone.
Renn Kuhnen Photography

FINISH: PRIMED
The advantages of this approach – of this type of interior door finish – are fairly obvious. Pick a color, any color that suits your projects best. Mix and apply. Re- coat whenever you feel it is necessary to do so. Touch it up. It gives you, the proud owner of these interior doors, complete freedom of choice, and the significant savings, especially where it comes to bulk orders, can be a true source of joy.
As Kurt Vonnegut mentions in one of his novels (Bluebeard, unless I’m mistaken … check it out when you get a chance), the thrill of laying on colors is a large part of the artist’s professional satisfaction. In other words, a keen pleasure.
When back in the remote past visual arts became a field dominated by professionals rather than hobbyists, the main problem of “just laying on paint” became obvious: you can’t.
The medium of choice back then was egg tempera, a permanent, fast-drying substance consisting of colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk. Portraits and ornaments were executed in this medium, and the wood panel was the surface of choice. One of tempera’s interesting features is that it is not as easily absorbed by wood as other mediums. Some sort of primer was necessary, of course, but pretty much any substance that dried evenly could be used.
The drawbacks of tempera, or pintura al temple, as the Spanish call it, only became obvious with the advent of the Renaissance, when the leading representatives of the trade turned to oil (and interior doors suddenly became a great deal less crude, but that’s a story for another day).
Oil painting is the process of “painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder.” Commonly used types include linseed (highly preferable in art, though not necessarily in interior doors, mind you), poppy seed, walnut, and safflower.
Today, five hundred years later, it is safe to say that oil is more versatile than pintura al temple – by orders of magnitude. Specifically, the contrasts achieved through the former are much greater, the darks are far deeper, and three- dimensional, highly realistic images are much easier to achieve. Next time you visit a museum, take a closer look at pintura al temple portraits. All of them, without exception, come off as a bit “flat” as opposed to their latter-day counterparts.
Also, where glazing is concerned …
Glazing: a painting technique in which a transparent layer, with just a touch of pigment, is laid over a previously painted surface, allowing light to travel through the glaze and be reflected back off of the opaque layer below. Gentle shadows, subtle changes of color, smooth transitions – all these can be achieved through glazing, which was used by all artists up until the middle of the Nineteenth Century, when artist tubes were invented, revolutionizing the field, and other techniques began to be explored.
Tempera enthusiasts (it takes all kinds to make a world) will assure you that glazing is not just possible in pintura al temple but is actually the basis of the whole enterprise. Well, what are you going to do? They’re enthusiasts.
Anyway, la peinture à l'huile, as the French call it, re-introduced the ancient problem of most surface’s propensity to absorb dipingere, as the Italians call the stuff. Wood or canvas, it is all the same: you’re not going to get very far without a good primer.
Experiments were conducted, and soon rabbit skin glue emerged as the least expensive and most effective solution. It was easy to apply. It dried evenly. It made the application of the l’huile stuff on top of it a walk in the park.
There were drawbacks. Today, rabbit skin glue is considered to be a major cause of cracking by most modern conservators. (Remember, when you visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art – and did you see those interior doors? … some of them are quite something … - most “old masters” pictures are completely covered with a cobweb of cracks? There you go). Because the glue is hygroscopic, it continually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, causing the glue to swell and shrink as ambient humidity levels change. Over many humidity cycles, this repeated flexing causes the brittle oily layers to crack.
To combat this problem, modern primers are made of acrylic materials which are guaranteed not to cause any damage to the dipingere. No bubbling, no cracks. Your interior doors are safe.

Example of a small classic 3/4 white tile and stone tile mosaic tile floor alcove shower design in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Becky Hulsey, Envision Virtual Tours
The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Awaits….
Have you dreamed of owning your own spectacular waterfall, a serene trout pond, or a one of a kind mountain lodge filled with high end touches, all near Lake Burton? If the answer is yes…..then “The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls” is for you!
Located just off HW 76 .3 miles to Anchorage Marina, this unique 2.8 acre property borders the National Forest, boasts a fully remodeled 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2000+ square foot rock lodge that is adjacent to its own private, spectacular 60 foot waterfall all surrounded by native landscape such as rhododendron and mountain laurel. Tumbling under the 40 foot suspension bridge, the pristine, crystal clear water continues to ramble on its way to large pond ready to be stocked with trout. Picture yourself fly fishing for a trout dinner right at your front door, or delight your friends or family while entertaining on your new porch or extensive, multi-level deck that connects your new home to your own waterfall. The kids or grandkids will be entertained for hours wading in the pool at the base of the waterfall, exploring the crooks and crannies among the stream’s boulders while looking for salamanders, or panning for “fool’s gold” in the stream. Just imagine….The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls has all this and more!
As you walk up the front steps to The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls, you will notice the craftsmanship of this uniquely one of a kind home made from local stone and granite from a period gone by. If you look closely at some of the stones, you will find raw garnets, some the size of a nail head. Upon opening the front door constructed of solid oak and a tasteful piece of leaded glass, you will be amazed at the spaciousness of the lodge room. Once upon a time, the 20 x 30 foot room with 10 foot ceilings was the entire home. The focal piece of the room is the new floor to ceiling field stone fireplace, hand honed solid maple mantel, rounded hearth, accentuated by a hand-cut keystone, and flanked by raw cedar columns. The new gas logs can be remotely controlled with programmable heat. A built-in floor to ceiling cherry wood wall unit, with granite serving surface, highlights a side wall and is topped off with a large piece of stained glass from an English pub. The mood lighting behind the stained glass and the antique library ladder really highlights this unique bookcase. Distinctive lighting fixtures and fans provide dining area lighting and circulation from the cool breezes off of Lake Burton. On the bottom, the solid oak 1.5 inch flooring is a remnant of the past on the top, the height of the ceilings is enhanced by double crown moldings throughout and a touch of the outdoors is brought indoors by the three new skylights. Surrounded by rustic cedar window boxes, additional ambient light streams through the four windows facing south, and the new French doors.
As you open the French doors to the new porch, you are immediately struck by the sights and sound produced by the rushing water as it cascades over the spectacular multilevel waterfall. You will also notice that the mountain has literally been carved away as you view the layers and striations in the granite that surround the back of the porch. The peaked cathedral ceiling sports a glass apex and the bead board on the ceiling accentuated by the raw cedar plank framing and the five cedar trees used as cornerstones all bring the outdoors within your reach. The addition of “E-Z Breeze” vinyl windows along with the cast iron gas stove will allow you and your family to enjoy the beauty and continually changing scenery at The Lodge at Gold Mine Fall during all four seasons.
Opening the Adirondack style door on the other side of the lodge room allows you to step into the Lodge’s addition built at a later date. The four foot wide hallway boasts stained glass light fixtures and an architectural feature from the new stairwell that divides the living and the bedroom spaces. Knowing that the east wall in the kitchen and study were once on the home’s exterior allowed us to investigate and reveal the true character of these walls by removing the two layers of drywall and 4 inches of plaster exposing a striking addition to both rooms…… beautiful granite rock walls. The hallway flows into the granite breakfast bar which fully complements the newly exposed granite wall. From the Viking SS refrigerator to gas Jenn Air ceramic cooktop and microwave the appliances are a chef’s delight. Lighting is a critical component in a gourmet kitchen and the light from the double window is enhanced by two spotlights over the cooking area, LED task lighting under the cabinets, mood lighting over the top cabinets, and four “Murano” hand blown glass pendant lights over the sink and bar area. Scoring points in the design category, the full wood “Thomasville” two tone glazed cabinets that are country white and palomino scream style and sophistication, and are accentuated by the cool copper glass backsplash and refined stainless steel hardware. The porcelain, two bowl farmhouse sink is large enough for your biggest pots while the stainless steel sink guards will protect it from scratches. The SS faucet is professional quality and the Insinkerator will help the chef in the house save time with instant 190 degree water. An eight foot long exposed cedar tree trunk hangs over the cooking area allowing the chef to hang his/her favorite utensils and pots or pans in full lodge style. And who wouldn’t crave a large walk in pantry with commercial grade slides that will up to 120 pounds. With all these features, the cook/cooks in the family will love spending time in this room.
Across from the kitchen is a study/office area which can be closed off from the hallway by a double barn door. Except for the remarkable exposed granite rock wall mentioned earlier, the entire room has been paneled with raw cedar boards treated with Australian Tree Oil for true lodge feel. The triple crank out window provides a superb view of the pond and blazing Japanese maple trees in the fall. Outside, the hallway leads to the utility room which has been fully upgraded with all the modern amenities. The oak cabinetry with granite tops also has an extra deep sink with commercial kitchen sprayer. The sink area is surrounded by white subway tile while slate and green glass mini tile accents bring the outdoor colors inside. The doggy door, new exterior door and crank out window provide access to the back yard and additional light. From the new “Rinnai” point of use, gas hot water heater to the new “LG” full size, stackable washer and dryer, this utility room delivers.
The master bedroom has four windows which provide outstanding light and air circulation. To take the chill off of nippy evenings, this bedroom also has its own romantic fireplace with travertine marble surround, remote controlled gas logs, and a beautiful antique oak and mirror mantle. To top it off, the en-suite bath contains high end fixtures, a spacious vanity, and floor to ceiling rain shower with independent valves allowing you to turn on the shower and not get wet. Multiple safety handrails and a fold down shower seat give bathers assurance and provide an additional measure of safety. The earthy color tiles, glass tile accents and hand blown light fixtures continue the lodge theme in this end of the house. Located across the hall, the guest bedroom is light and airy with its white window boxes and double crown molding, and also has an attached bathroom. This bathroom also has an entrance door leading to the hallway and doubles as the guest bathroom for the house. Its antique oak vanity and mirror, stained glass lights and wrought iron accents remind me of a past era while the vessel sink, modern fixtures, and floor to ceiling travertine and glass tile rain shower all bring the bathroom up to modern standards.
Located at the end of the hallway, and next to the guest bathroom, is the handcrafted stairwell leading to the sleeping loft. The distinctive maple stair treads with their grain and raw edge being displayed, were milled locally in Clayton and then installed from underneath so that no screw or nail heads are visible. The staircase was completed with wrought iron spindles, raw cedar handrail and floor to ceiling end post. Upon your entry into the sleeping loft, you will notice the amount of light that enters through the two skylights and large window facing the pond. The sound of water rushing over the pond’s spillway is a delightful addition to this large sleeping loft. Finished with engineered hardwood flooring and two built in double beds with tree trunks for legs, the room can accommodate four additional twin beds. The sleeping loft is also equipped with a kitchenette and a distinctive cedar and rock walled bathroom. The bath features an antique dresser vanity with marble vessel sink, distinctive fixtures and a floor to ceiling polished travertine marble shower with rain head. This bathroom also has an exterior door leading to a secondary upstairs staircase in the back yard. Just envision the great sleepovers the kids or grandkids will have here or how your out of town friends or family will just love this special area designed with their comfort and needs in mind.
Originally constructed in 1925 by “off Broadway” star Rose Grant, this property is rich in history. In the early years, this home was one of the first in Rabun County to generate its own electric from the waterfall. Several small cabins were also built on the property and rented out to guests who came for the waterfall, swim in the pond and connect with nature. Other notable residents were Mrs. and Doctor Fowler who was a local pediatrician. According to an aged newspaper article, Mrs. Fowler was very interested in the indigenous flora and fauna and grew a variety of native plants on the property including some that were rare or endangered. Many metal name tags still remain along the various paths on the property thus reminding you of times gone by and the true beauty of property.
Lastly, this solidly built home has just been structurally solidified, become more energy efficient, and reconfigured to further usable space all while retaining the Lodge’s original charm. After removing the flooring in the kitchen, hall and both bathrooms, the home’s structure and roof were fortified with numerous concrete footers to support both bathrooms, kitchen, and stairwell walls that extend from floor to roof. To make this home more comfortable, energy efficient, and bring it up to modern standards, the electrical system was upgraded to 220 service with the wiring, outlets, electrical panels and fixtures replaced throughout the entire home. A whole house surge protector was also installed to protect against damage that may occur with lightning strikes. Speaking of electric…..the pond’s newly poured formed concrete wall contains a pipe enabling you to install your own hydro-electric system. And whether you might decide to tie into the grid or store you energy in a battery system, you could generate your own electric 24/7. The homes plumbing was also replaced with new pipes, energy/water efficient fixtures in each bathroom (including three Toto toilets), and a new cistern was installed behind the garage with a laboratory grade water filtration system. The task of water heating was completed by a gas Rinnai point of use hot water heater in the utility room and all windows were replaced with Anderson thermal pane and 6 Velux skylights were mounted to bring the outdoors inside. The home’s HVAC system was top of the line several years ago and both sets of new gas logs are controlled with remotes. Formerly a summer home, all exterior walls were studded out with insulation added, and whole house fans were installed in the attic and upstairs bathroom. Although many of these upgrades may not be visible, they allow the home to be more energy efficient and more comfortable……allowing The Lodge at Gold Mine Falls to become your four season retreat.

Great glass scallop tile detail. This tile is bordered by slabs of white marble.
Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Miami
Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Miami

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**I. Spatial Composition & Architectural Volume**
The photograph frames the space through a deep, cased opening — a device that immediately establishes a proscenium condition, compressing the viewer's aperture and heightening the sense of discovery beyond. The room reads as an ancillary galley or scullery-pantry: a compact, U-shaped plan whose counter runs return at the right to form an L, generating an efficient work triangle within a footprint of considerable modesty. Vertical ambition compensates for lateral restraint. The wall cabinetry rises in a tall, unbroken register, terminating in a stepped cornice and a subtle crown that carries the eye to a ceiling plane of generous height, while a bracketed corbel at the upper left signals the transition to the adjoining volume. The millwork is the primary architectural gesture here: inset, beaded-face frame construction with recessed panel doors, mitred stiles and rails, and a rhythmic alternation between solid and glazed fronts. Those mullioned glass doors — divided into two- and three-light configurations — perforate the cabinet mass, dissolving what could have been a monolithic wall into a permeable, vitrine-like screen. The lower casework counters this with a disciplined stack of graduated drawer banks, the deepest at the counter line and diminishing downward, a compositional hierarchy borrowed from classical apothecary and butler's-pantry precedent. Sightlines are deliberately layered: the herringbone floor draws forward, the sunflower stem anchors the center axis, and the pendant fixtures descend in perspectival sequence, reinforcing depth along the room's short axis.
**II. Materiality, Color & Texture**
The palette operates within a narrow tonal bandwidth, deriving its interest from textural rather than chromatic contrast. Cabinetry is finished in a cool, greige-inflected pale gray — a low-saturation hue with just enough green-gray undertone to read as architectural rather than decorative — hand-applied to a satin sheen that registers the shadow-lines of the beaded frames with precision. Against this, the backsplash of honed marble subway tile, laid in a running bond with tight, matched grout, introduces linear grain and soft gray veining that echoes the cabinetry's undertone. The countertop and the returning waterfall-edge marble continue the vein pattern in a broader, more sculptural expression, its polished-to-honed surface catching light in diffuse planes. Metals are curated with restraint and consistency: polished nickel bin pulls, knobs, and cup handles supply a warm-silver punctuation across the casework, while brushed and mirror-polished stainless steel — the wall oven, the microwave drawer, the professional refrigerator with its cylindrical tubular handle — introduces a cooler, more industrial register. The oak flooring, laid in a fine-scale herringbone with a pale, wire-brushed, matte finish, delivers the room's essential warmth and its only pronounced pattern, grounding the cool upper volume. Small accents of natural material — an end-grain butcher block, turned wooden pepper mills, a hammered silver kettle — reintroduce the tactile and the hand-made against so much precision-milled surface. The sunflowers, in a matte white vessel, provide the single saturated chromatic event, and their yellow is deliberately reprised in the pantry's glazed shelves of packaged goods, transforming provisions into intentional color composition.
**III. Lighting, Atmosphere & Style Profile**
The lighting strategy is unapologetically artificial and theatrical. Three oversized, spun-metal industrial pendants — polished nickel or chrome domes with heavy cast collars and flush opal-glass diffusers — hang in a linear array, their scale intentionally disproportionate to the room, which is precisely the source of their impact. They function simultaneously as luminaires and as sculptural objects, their reflective canopies mirroring the ceiling and multiplying the light. Illumination beneath the wall cabinets grazes the marble tile at a raking angle, revealing its subtle relief and the depth of its veining, while the interior-lit glazed cabinets glow as illuminated vitrines, converting storage into display. Natural light is inferred rather than shown — a suggestion of daylight from the right — leaving the space in a controlled, even, shadow-managed luminosity that reads as both crisp and enveloping. The atmosphere is one of ordered domestic industry: pristine, quietly luxurious, and legibly functional. Stylistically, the room resolves as *Transitional Classicism with a Warm Industrial inflection* — the inset, beaded millwork and stepped cornices citing Georgian and Edwardian butler's-pantry tradition; the professional-grade stainless appliances and factory-scale pendants asserting a contemporary, utilitarian counterpoint; and the herringbone oak and marble mediating between them. It is a synthesis in which historical grammar governs the composition while modern hardware and lighting supply the accent, producing a space that feels neither pastiche nor austere, but assured, timeless, and thoroughly of the present moment.

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows new 12 x 24 tile installed vertically with offset layout pattern on wall and floor. Includes shower box with linear glass accent tile back and vertical glass accent band. Tile edges are finished with Schluter Jolly satin aluminum profile edge trim.

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Full-overlay Rustic Beech cabinets in the "Charleston" door style and "Briarwood" finish.
Village Home Stores
Example of a large mountain style kitchen design in Chicago
Example of a large mountain style kitchen design in Chicago

PEACOCK FANTASY - Custom Designed Peacock Wall Mural in brilliant colors. Notice how it has just the right amount of color | Have a custom mosaic idea? We can help, with our brilliant Italian-trained mosaicists and easy-to-install tiled masterpieces. Worldwide shipping available on the complete range of quality handcrafted marble & glass mosaic products. For inquires and more info, contact us: http://mecartworks.com

Step treads refinished
Staircase - small country wooden l-shaped staircase idea in Newark with painted risers
Staircase - small country wooden l-shaped staircase idea in Newark with painted risers
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