Teenage eggplants hanging out. Eggplants thrive in containers, whether they're terra-cotta pots, or fabric Smart Pots. Photo by Steve Masley
Photo of a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

Nicole Mlakar
Inspiration for a contemporary medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Austin with white walls

Kitchen Design and Decor by: Behold Design, Barrie, ON Photography by: Francy Forte
Example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen design in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Vision: Coco was thrilled to be having a girl, but her vision for her daughter’s room was far from canopy beds and bubblegum-colored walls. “I’d grown up with a very girly, pink room and I knew I didn’t want princessy pink for my daughter,” she says. “I also didn’t want a theme, like ‘zoo’ or ‘space’—themes feel so ’90s to me! I really think children can be stimulated by all sorts of colors and patterns, whether it’s themed or not.” Most of all, she wanted a “superrelaxing, comfortable room, where we could all have fun.” Coco had ordered a crib, in a modern maple-on-white design, and the rest of the room was empty. Inspired by the couple’s beautiful inspiration boards, which were full of contemporary design and Mad Men midcentury chic, Alex channeled their love for graphic contrast and modernism into the space. As Coco says, “We live in nature, in an older house, so we want the inside to reflect our modern take. It’s sleek lines, a lot of creams, taupes, grays, and pops of color.” Photo by Manuel Rodriguez

Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

Bedroom - farmhouse dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Baltimore with yellow walls

Trendy master black tile and pebble tile alcove shower photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

Example of a trendy master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom design in Los Angeles with green walls

Trendy gray floor open concept kitchen photo in Orange County with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, an island, multicolored countertops, mosaic tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Example of a mid-sized trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and gray floor living room design in Toronto with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Dining room - contemporary medium tone wood floor and gray floor dining room idea in Toronto with gray walls

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in Los Angeles

Dining room - contemporary medium tone wood floor and gray floor dining room idea in Los Angeles

Example of a large trendy master medium tone wood floor and gray floor bedroom design in Toronto with gray walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Example of a large trendy girl medium tone wood floor and gray floor kids' room design in Toronto with gray walls

Example of a trendy master medium tone wood floor and beige floor bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls

For a family who believes fitness is not only an essential part of life but also a fun opportunity for the whole family to connect, build and achieve greatness together there is nothing better than a custom designed obstacle course right in your back yard. THEME The theme of this half mile trail through the woods is evident in the fun, creative and all-inclusive obstacles hidden in the natural flow of the land around this amazing family home. The course was created with adults and children, advanced and beginner athletes, competitive and entertaining events all accounted for. Each of the 13 obstacles was designed to be challenging no matter the size, skill or ability of the athlete lucky enough to run the course. FOCUS The focus for this family was to create an outdoor adventure that could be an athletic, social and personal outlet for their entire family while maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape and without altering the sweeping views from the home. The large scale of the challenging obstacles is camouflaged within the landscape using the rolling hills and mature trees as a natural curtain in every season. The beauty of the course does not diminish the functional and demanding nature of the obstacles which are designed to focus on multiple strength, agility, and cardio fitness abilities and intensities. STORAGE The start of the trail includes a raised training area offering a dedicated space clear from the ground to place bags, mats and other equipment used during the run. A small all-terrain storage cart was provided for use with 6 yoga mats, 3 medicine balls of various weights, rings, sprinting cones, and a large digital timer to record laps. GROWTH The course was designed to provide an athletic and fun challenge for children, teens and adults no matter their experience or athletic prowess. This course offers competitive athletes a challenge and budding athletes an opportunity to experience and ignite their passion for physical activity. Initially the concept for the course was focused on the youngest of the family however as the design grew so did the obstacles and now it is a true family experience that will meet their adapting needs for years. Each obstacle is paired with an instructional sign directing the runners in proper use of the obstacle, adaptations for skill levels and tips on form. These signs are all customized for this course and are printed on metal to ensure they last for many years. SAFETY Safety is crucial for all physical activity and an obstacle course of this scale presents unique safety concerns. Children should always be supervised when participating in an adventure on the course however additional care was paid to details on the course to ensure everyone has a great time. All of the course obstacles have been created with pressure treated lumber that will withstand the seasonal poundings. All footer pilings that support obstacles have been placed into the ground between 3 to 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 meters) and each piling has 2 to 3 bags of concrete (totaling over 90 bags used throughout the course) ensuring stability of the structure and safety of the participants. Additionally, all obstacle lumber has been given rounded corners and sanded down offering less splintering and more time for everyone to enjoy the course. This athletic and charismatic family strives to incorporate a healthy active lifestyle into their daily life and this obstacle course offers their family an opportunity to strengthen themselves and host some memorable and active events at their amazing home.

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design