Example of a transitional exterior home design in New York

Architect: Michelle Penn, AIA This barn home is modeled after an existing Nebraska barn in Lancaster County. Heating is by passive solar design, supplemented by a geothermal radiant floor system. Cooling will rely on a whole house fan and a passive air flow system. The passive system is created with the cupola, windows, transoms and passive venting for cooling, rather than a forced air system. Here you can see the underside of the gambrel roof and the ladder leading up to the cupola. The stair & guard railing was created using goat fencing. Photo Credits: Jackson Studios

A contemporary kitchen designer's dream - with or without handles, wall hanging or floor mounted, the System Collection offers an extensive selection of standard elements and finishes to fit a wide range of modern kitchen layouts and flexible kitchen design budgets. Minimalism to the max. The System Collection allows the ancient and universal function of cooking to be a fun and fulfilling experience to participate in. While the System Collection does focus on the aesthetics of design and the materials used, the driving force behind the design has and will always be enjoying the kitchen and the pleasure of cooking. The System Collection is a modern kitchen that is easy and only creates light barriers between the living areas. One of the unique features of the System Collection is its ease of maintenance, making it one of the most hygienic contemporary kitchens available. System Collection’s ergonomic design gives it an extremely high rate of flexibility. Superior usage of space, ease of reaching every corner, top-notch organization and beautiful forms that follow superb function. Whether your goal is a contemporary Italian kitchen design or a large modern suburban kitchen, the System Collection offers endless design options - textured melamine with matching edges, hundreds of laminate colors (matte or glossy) with or without aluminum edges, eco wood with aluminum edges, painted glass, and the entire range of Pedini lacquer colors (matte, textured and high gloss).

Like many California ranch homes built in the 1950s, this original master bathroom was not really a "master bath." My clients, who only three years ago purchased the home from the family of the original owner, were saddled with a small, dysfunctional space. Chief among the dysfunctions: a vanity only 30" high, and an inconveniently placed window that forced the too-low vanity mirror to reflect only the waist and partial torso--not the face--of anyone standing in front of it. They wanted not only a more spacious bathroom but a bedroom as well, so we worked in tandem with an architect and contractor to come up with a fantastic new space: a true Master Suite. In order to refine a design concept for the soon-to-be larger space, and thereby narrow down material choices, my clients and I had a brainstorming session: we spoke of an elegant Old World/ European bedroom and bathroom, a luxurious bath that would reference a Roman spa, and finally the idea of a Hammam was brought into the mix. We blended these ideas together in oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and a tiny tile mosaic in beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece. The new generously sized bathroom boasts a jetted soaking tub, a very large walk-in shower, a double-sided fireplace (facing the tub on the bath side), and a luxurious 8' long vanity with double sinks and a storage tower. The vanity wall is covered with a mosaic vine pattern in a beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece,. The custom Larson Juhl framed mirrors are flanked by gorgeous hand-wrought scones from Hubbardton Forge which echo the vine and leaf pattern in the mosaic. And the vanity itself features an LED strip in the toe-kick which allows one to see in the middle of the night without having to turn on a shockingly bright overhead fixture. At the other end of the master bath, a luxurious jetted tub nestles by a fireplace in the bay window area. Views of my clients' garden can be seen while soaking in bubbles. The over-sized walk-in shower features a paneled wainscoting effect which I designed in Crema Marfil marble. The vine mosaic continues in the shower, topped by green onyx squares. A rainshower head and a hand-held spray on a bar provides showering options. The shower floor slopes gently in one direction toward a hidden linear drain; this allows the floor to be read as a continuation of the main space, without being interrupted by a center drain. Photo by Jeff Fiorito

Russian Roof Details As far back as the 14th century massive roofs of houses in the Northern Dvina River Region of NW Russia were topped with an entire larch log, its roots hanging over the gable of the house. From the root ball Russian carpenters used an axe to carve sculptures, often in the shape of a hen or a horse. These were called "okhlupen" and had the function of protecting inhabitants of the house from illnesses, thieves, fires and evil forces. There was a saying in the north of Russia, "Kuritsa na krishe, v dome tishe." "With a hen on the roof, it's quiet at home." Check out the 8-page feature article in the August issue of Mountain Living magazine: http://www.mountainliving.com/Homes/A-Handcrafted-and-Historic-Sierra-Nevada-Cabin/ URL www.flickr.com/photos/zakopaneinthesierras/

While the Multicolored Silk Screen Printed Décor expresses an almost explosive Force, the raised and fielded motif is particularly warm,deep and intimate

A whimsical English garden was the foundation and driving force for the design inspiration. A lingering garden mural wraps all the walls floor to ceiling, while a union jack wood detail adorns the existing tray ceiling, as a nod to the client’s English roots. Custom heritage blue base cabinets and antiqued white glass front uppers create a beautifully balanced built-in buffet that stretches the east wall providing display and storage for the client's extensive inherited China collection.

Fluid lines and visual contours create a remarkably uncomplicated spirit and aerodynamism in the Avettore, a magnum opus of effortless elegance that is the ultimate expression of “less is more.” This design allows for a vividly grounded piece to be forged into a substantial tour de force.

Example of a mid-sized classic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Charleston with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv

Photo by: Elaine Fredrick Photography
Small minimalist master gray tile dark wood floor bathroom photo in Providence with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless white tile gray floor and porcelain tile bathroom remodel in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, blue cabinets and an undermount sink

Shaun Campbell @ Creative Force Photography
Enclosed kitchen - small traditional u-shaped linoleum floor enclosed kitchen idea in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white appliances and no island

We built a 1200 square foot, two story addition to this 600 square foot Victorian Cottage. We installed new on-demand hot water as well as two zone, forced air heating. Photo by Shawn Herlihy

We were excited when the homeowners of this project approached us to help them with their whole house remodel as this is a historic preservation project. The historical society has approved this remodel. As part of that distinction we had to honor the original look of the home; keeping the façade updated but intact. For example the doors and windows are new but they were made as replicas to the originals. The homeowners were relocating from the Inland Empire to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. One of their requests was additional living space. In order to achieve this we added a second story to the home while ensuring that it was in character with the original structure. The interior of the home is all new. It features all new plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Although the home is a Spanish Revival the homeowners style on the interior of the home is very traditional. The project features a home gym as it is important to the homeowners to stay healthy and fit. The kitchen / great room was designed so that the homewoners could spend time with their daughter and her children. The home features two master bedroom suites. One is upstairs and the other one is down stairs. The homeowners prefer to use the downstairs version as they are not forced to use the stairs. They have left the upstairs master suite as a guest suite. Enjoy some of the before and after images of this project: http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3549200/old-garage-office-turned-gym-in-los-angeles http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3558821/la-face-lift-for-the-patio http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3569717/la-kitchen-remodel http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3579013/los-angeles-entry-hall http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3592549/exterior-shots-of-a-whole-house-remodel-in-la http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3607481/living-dining-rooms-become-a-library-and-formal-dining-room-in-la http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3628842/bathroom-makeover-in-los-angeles-ca http://www.houzz.com/discussions/3640770/sweet-dreams-la-bedroom-remodels Exterior: Approved by the historical society as a Spanish Revival, the second story of this home was an addition. All of the windows and doors were replicated to match the original styling of the house. The roof is a combination of Gable and Hip and is made of red clay tile. The arched door and windows are typical of Spanish Revival. The home also features a Juliette Balcony and window. Library / Living Room: The library offers Pocket Doors and custom bookcases. Powder Room: This powder room has a black toilet and Herringbone travertine. Kitchen: This kitchen was designed for someone who likes to cook! It features a Pot Filler, a peninsula and an island, a prep sink in the island, and cookbook storage on the end of the peninsula. The homeowners opted for a mix of stainless and paneled appliances. Although they have a formal dining room they wanted a casual breakfast area to enjoy informal meals with their grandchildren. The kitchen also utilizes a mix of recessed lighting and pendant lights. A wine refrigerator and outlets conveniently located on the island and around the backsplash are the modern updates that were important to the homeowners. Master bath: The master bath enjoys both a soaking tub and a large shower with body sprayers and hand held. For privacy, the bidet was placed in a water closet next to the shower. There is plenty of counter space in this bathroom which even includes a makeup table. Staircase: The staircase features a decorative niche Upstairs master suite: The upstairs master suite features the Juliette balcony Outside: Wanting to take advantage of southern California living the homeowners requested an outdoor kitchen complete with retractable awning. The fountain and lounging furniture keep it light. Home gym: This gym comes completed with rubberized floor covering and dedicated bathroom. It also features its own HVAC system and wall mounted TV.

This project is one of a kind. The project forced me to think at an unusual level of creativity due to the rustic patio that was already built when the project began. The patio is built with only wooden pegs holding the structure together. This made the pool challenging to design due to the rustic design of the patio. We designed a 33' Elegance in crystal blue with a water level tanning ledge, along with copper fire/water pots. Also, the stone on the columns that hold the copper pots is the same stone that wraps the support columns for the structure. These copper pots tied into the copper rain chains on each corner of the patio. The travertine decking also gives a natural appeal to the entire project. All in all the project exceeded the expectations of the homeowner.

Design ideas for a landscaping in Salt Lake City.

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic backyard brick landscaping in Minneapolis.

The interior of the home went from Colonial to Classic Lodge without changing the footprint of the home. Columns were removed, fur downs removed that defined space, fireplace relocated, kitchen layout and direction changed, breakfast room and sitting room flip flopped, study reduced in size, entry to master bedroom changed, master suite completely re-arranged and enlarged, custom hand railing designed to open up stairwell, hardwood added to stairs, solid knotty alder 8’ doors added, knotty alder crown moldings added, reclaimed beamed ceiling grid, tongue and groove ceiling in kitchen, knotty alder cabinetry, leather finish to granite, seeded glass insets, custom door to panty to showcase an antique stained glass window from childhood church, custom doors and handles made for study entry, shredded straw added to wall texture, custom glazing done to all walls, wood floor remnants created an antique quilt pattern for the back wall of the powder bath, custom wall treatment created by designer, and a mixture of new and antique furnishing were added, all to create a warm, yet lived in feeling for this special family. A new central stone wall reversed with an over scaled fireplace and reclaimed flooring from the East became the anchor for this level of the home. Removing all the “divisions” of space and using a unified surface made unused rooms, part of the daily living for this family. The desire to entertain large group in a unified space, yet still feel like you are in a cozy environment was the driving force for removing divisions of space. Photos by Randy Colwell

Marissa Moss
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island