Robert Brewster Photography
Example of a mid-sized cottage white two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home design in Providence with a shingle roof

Jeri Koegal Photography
Great room - large contemporary dark wood floor and brown floor great room idea in Orange County with white walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a coastal yellow three-story exterior home remodel in Other

This grand Colonial in Willow Glen was built in 1925 and has been a landmark in the community ever since. The house underwent a careful remodel in 2019 which revitalized the home while maintaining historic details. See the "Before" photos to get the whole picture.

Bruce Martin
Elegant yellow two-story exterior home photo in Boston

Julia Lynn
Coastal white three-story wood exterior home idea in Charleston

The Control/Shift House is perched on the high side of the site which takes advantage of the view to the southeast. A gradual descending path navigates the change in terrain from the street to the entry of the house. A series of low retaining walls/planter beds gather and release the earth upon the descent resulting in a fairly flat level for the house to sit on the top one third of the site. The entry axis is aligned with the celebrated stair volume and then re-centers on the actual entry axis once you approach the forecourt of the house. The initial desire was for an “H” scheme house with common entertaining spaces bridging the gap between the more private spaces. After an investigation considering the site, program, and view, a key move was made: unfold the east wing of the “H” scheme to open all rooms to the southeast view resulting in a “T” scheme. The new derivation allows for both a swim pool which is on axis with the entry and main gathering space and a lap pool which occurs on the cross axis extending along the lengthy edge of the master suite, providing direct access for morning exercise and a view of the water throughout the day. The Control/Shift House was derived from a clever way of following the “rules.” Strict HOA guidelines required very specific exterior massing restrictions which limits the lengths of unbroken elevations and promotes varying sizes of masses. The solution most often used in this neighborhood is one of addition - an aggregation of masses and program randomly attached to the inner core of the house which often results in a parasitic plan. The approach taken with the Control/Shift House was to push and pull program/massing to delineate and define the layout of the house. Massing is intentional and reiterated by the careful selection of materiality that tracks through the house. Voids and relief in the plan are a natural result of this method and allow for light and air to circulate throughout every space of the house, even into the most inner core. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

Patricia Burke
Example of a beach style gray three-story wood exterior home design in New York

Huge country white two-story mixed siding and board and batten exterior home idea in Santa Barbara with a metal roof and a gray roof

Ron Kolb
Traditional brick exterior home idea in Cincinnati

Atlanta Custom Builder, Quality Homes Built with Traditional Values Location: 12850 Highway 9 Suite 600-314 Alpharetta, GA 30004
This is an example of a large traditional brick front porch design in Atlanta with a roof extension.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Greg Premru
Large beach style beige three-story stucco gable roof photo in Boston

This zen bedroom is a mix of calm beige's with espresso trim accents and a dash of orange. The custom upholstered headboard is made by Avery Boardman in a Clarence House mohair. The platform bed (with storage underneath) has an extended edge that helps lead the eye into the suspended nightstands that have a raised glass top. The shoji panels were custom made by Cherry Tree Designs. We matched the design of them on the frosted glass on the bathroom pocket door. Under the exterior window treatment are roman shades that are made of light proof and sound deadening material. My client travels and wanted to be sure he can make a nighttime feel at any time of the day. The area rug is a neutral low pile looped wool rug that is very durable, soft and just the right look. The accent stool is upholstered in an Ultrasuede material and is used for putting on shoes, etc. To add a touch of drama we found an abstract colorful print for above the bed. All in all a room that is beautiful and custom fitted to the clients dream.

Traditional red two-story brick exterior home idea in Chicago with a hip roof

Example of a large country beige two-story wood and shingle house exterior design in New York with a shingle roof and a brown roof

Inspiration for a contemporary white two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Houston

Water fountain deck - large rustic backyard water fountain deck idea in Orange County with no cover

1950s gray two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Denver