Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan
Large craftsman brown two-story mixed siding exterior home idea in Chicago with a shingle roof

Robert Reck photography xeriscaped front courtyard featuring a kokopelli sculpture and double figs posts under massive corbels in front of this new pueblo revival home

Mid-sized elegant brown two-story brick gable roof photo in Orange County

Ellis Creek Photography
Inspiration for a mediterranean medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room remodel in Charleston with white walls

Mid-sized cottage blue two-story concrete fiberboard and board and batten house exterior photo in Chicago with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a brown roof

This family of 5 was quickly out-growing their 1,220sf ranch home on a beautiful corner lot. Rather than adding a 2nd floor, the decision was made to extend the existing ranch plan into the back yard, adding a new 2-car garage below the new space - for a new total of 2,520sf. With a previous addition of a 1-car garage and a small kitchen removed, a large addition was added for Master Bedroom Suite, a 4th bedroom, hall bath, and a completely remodeled living, dining and new Kitchen, open to large new Family Room. The new lower level includes the new Garage and Mudroom. The existing fireplace and chimney remain - with beautifully exposed brick. The homeowners love contemporary design, and finished the home with a gorgeous mix of color, pattern and materials. The project was completed in 2011. Unfortunately, 2 years later, they suffered a massive house fire. The house was then rebuilt again, using the same plans and finishes as the original build, adding only a secondary laundry closet on the main level.

Mid-sized trendy master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Seattle with gray walls and no fireplace

Example of a beach style guest carpeted and gray floor bedroom design in Hawaii with beige walls

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.

Example of a trendy concrete floor and gray floor entryway design in San Francisco with a glass front door and gray walls

This early 20th century Poppleton Park home was originally 2548 sq ft. with a small kitchen, nook, powder room and dining room on the first floor. The second floor included a single full bath and 3 bedrooms. The client expressed a need for about 1500 additional square feet added to the basement, first floor and second floor. In order to create a fluid addition that seamlessly attached to this home, we tore down the original one car garage, nook and powder room. The addition was added off the northern portion of the home, which allowed for a side entry garage. Plus, a small addition on the Eastern portion of the home enlarged the kitchen, nook and added an exterior covered porch. Special features of the interior first floor include a beautiful new custom kitchen with island seating, stone countertops, commercial appliances, large nook/gathering with French doors to the covered porch, mud and powder room off of the new four car garage. Most of the 2nd floor was allocated to the master suite. This beautiful new area has views of the park and includes a luxurious master bath with free standing tub and walk-in shower, along with a 2nd floor custom laundry room! Attention to detail on the exterior was essential to keeping the charm and character of the home. The brick façade from the front view was mimicked along the garage elevation. A small copper cap above the garage doors and 6” half-round copper gutters finish the look. KateBenjamin Photography

These custom traditional doors add beauty to any space, featuring personalized glass panels, handcrafted hardware, and a Dark Bronze finish.
Example of a large classic white brick house exterior design in Charlotte

3,162 sf new home on existing 50' wide lot. Front-loading attached garage, small front porch, back yard pool. Photos by Robert McKendrick Photography.

This is a French-Country-inspired 3,500sf custom-designed house on the homeowners' existing 50' wide lot. They always had a detached garage, and wanted to maintain that with the new construction, so a new front-loading detached garage was added at the rear of the property. The brick and stone accents on the the front elevation, and as a base on all sides, provides a cohesive design element, while allowing for overhangs, nooks, and gables in siding above. Exterior photography by Robert McKendrick Photography.

This is a French-Country-inspired 3,500sf custom-designed house on the homeowners' existing 50' wide lot. They always had a detached garage, and wanted to maintain that with the new construction, so a new front-loading detached garage was added at the rear of the property. The brick and stone accents on the the front elevation, and as a base on all sides, provides a cohesive design element, while allowing for overhangs, nooks, and gables in siding above. Exterior photography by Robert McKendrick Photography.

3,162 sf new home on existing 50' wide lot. Front-loading attached garage, small front porch, back yard pool. Photos by Robert McKendrick Photography.

This is a French-Country-inspired 3,500sf custom-designed house on the homeowners' existing 50' wide lot. They always had a detached garage, and wanted to maintain that with the new construction, so a new front-loading detached garage was added at the rear of the property. The brick and stone accents on the the front elevation, and as a base on all sides, provides a cohesive design element, while allowing for overhangs, nooks, and gables in siding above. Exterior photography by Robert McKendrick Photography.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun front yard mulch driveway in Atlanta for summer.

Mid-sized urban concrete floor entryway photo in Seattle with gray walls and a light wood front door