A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

The traditional living room offers several spaces to gather. / Architect: Pennie Zinn Garber, Lineage Architects
Example of a large classic formal and open concept light wood floor living room design with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Bob Ganser AIA, Nate Dodge Photographer: Alyssa Lee www.alyssaleephotography.com
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Minneapolis

When my client had to move from her company office to work at home, she set up in the dining room. Despite her best efforts, this was not the long-term solution she was looking for. My client realized she needed a dedicated space not on the main floor of the home. On one hand, having your office space right next to the kitchen is handy. On the other hand, it made separating work and home life was not that easy. The house was a ranch. In essence, the basement would run entire length of the home. As we came down the steps, we entered a time capsule. The house was built in the 1950’s. The walls were covered with original knotty pine paneling. There was a wood burning fireplace and considering this was a basement, high ceilings. In addition, there was everything her family could not store at their own homes. As we wound though the space, I though “wow this has potential”, Eventually, after walking through the laundry room we came to a small nicely lit room. This would be the office. My client looked at me and asked what I thought. Undoubtedly, I said, this can be a great workspace, but do you really want to walk through this basement and laundry to get here? Without reservation, my client said where do we start? Once the design was in place, we started the renovation. The knotty pine paneling had to go. Specifically, to add some insulation and control the dampness and humidity. The laundry room wall was relocated to create a hallway to the office. At the far end of the room, we designated a workout zone. Weights, mats, exercise bike and television are at the ready for morning or afternoon workouts. The space can be concealed by a folding screen for party time. Doors to an old closet under the stairs were relocated to the workout area for hidden storage. Now we had nice wall for a beautiful console and mirror for storage and serving during parties. In order to add architectural details, we covered the old ugly support columns with simple recessed millwork panels. This detail created a visual division between the bar area and the seating area in front of the fireplace. The old red brick on the fireplace surround was replaced with stack stone. A mantle was made from reclaimed wood. Additional reclaimed wood floating shelves left and right of the fireplace provides decorative display while maintaining a rustic element balancing the copper end table and leather swivel rocker. We found an amazing rug which tied all of the colors together further defining the gathering space. Russet and burnt orange became the accent color unifying each space. With a bit of whimsy, a rather unusual light fixture which looks like roots from a tree growing through the ceiling is a conversation piece. The office space is quite and removed from the main part of the basement. There is a desk large enough for multiple screens, a small bookcase holding office supplies and a comfortable chair for conference calls. Because working from home requires many online meetings, we added a shiplap wall painted in Hale Navy to contrast with the orange fabric on the chair. We finished the décor with a painting from my client’s father. This is the background online visitors will see. The last and best part of the renovation is the beautiful bar. My client is an avid collector of wine. She already had the EuroCave refrigerator, so I incorporated it into the design. The cabinets are painted Temptation Grey from Benjamin Moore. The counter tops are my favorite hard working quartzite Brown Fantasy. The backsplash is a combination of rustic wood and old tin ceiling like porcelain tiles. Together with the textures of the reclaimed wood and hide poofs balanced against the smooth finish of the cabinets, we created a comfortable luxury for relaxing. There is ample storage for bottles, cans, glasses, and anything else you can think of for a great party. In addition to the wine storage, we incorporated a beverage refrigerator, an ice maker, and a sink. Floating shelves with integrated lighting illuminate the back bar. The raised height of the front bar provides the perfect wine tasting and paring spot. I especially love the pendant lights which look like wine glasses. Finally, I selected carpet for the stairs and office. It is perfect for noise reduction. Meanwhile for the overall flooring, I specifically selected a high-performance vinyl plank floor. We often use this product as it is perfect to install on a concrete floor. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and does not reduce the overall height of the space.

Kitchen - kitchen idea in Baltimore

Jonathan Reece
Example of a mid-sized transitional porcelain tile and gray floor mudroom design in Portland Maine with white walls and a medium wood front door

• A busy family wanted to rejuvenate their entire first floor. As their family was growing, their spaces were getting more cramped and finding comfortable, usable space was no easy task. The goal of their remodel was to create a warm and inviting kitchen and family room, great room-like space that worked with the rest of the home’s floor plan. The focal point of the new kitchen is a large center island around which the family can gather to prepare meals. Exotic granite countertops and furniture quality light-colored cabinets provide a warm, inviting feel. Commercial-grade stainless steel appliances make this gourmet kitchen a great place to prepare large meals. A wide plank hardwood floor continues from the kitchen to the family room and beyond, tying the spaces together. The focal point of the family room is a beautiful stone fireplace hearth surrounded by built-in bookcases. Stunning craftsmanship created this beautiful wall of cabinetry which houses the home’s entertainment system. French doors lead out to the home’s deck and also let a lot of natural light into the space. From its beautiful, functional kitchen to its elegant, comfortable family room, this renovation achieved the homeowners’ goals. Now the entire family has a great space to gather and spend quality time.

The owners of this multi-family housing project in Aptos felt strongly about creating both beautiful views and privacy for each home. We also really wanted to encourage people to spend time outside through the creation of shared community space. When I arrived, there was over 8,000 square feet of dead brown grass carpeting the complex. Now, a long, sinuous dry-creek runs the length of the property. The drycreek is surrounded by tough plants which require very minimal water and maintenance. We used enormous trees for privacy in key locations, along with a central community gathering area complete with a commercial grade built-in BBQ and bench seating. A large, strategically placed arbor provides shade for the dining area at the hottest time of the afternoon. New lighting illuminates pathways and trees and residents can enjoy the space at any time of day.

Transitional backyard gravel patio photo in Chicago with no cover

The traditional living room offers several spaces to gather. / Architect: Pennie Zinn Garber, Lineage Architects
Large elegant formal and open concept light wood floor living room photo with beige walls, no fireplace and no tv

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

A gathering place for your family and a retreat where you can relax and recharge. This property in the heart of Monterey is perfect for gathering with your favorite group of people, yet intimate enough to enjoy gardening, and roaming with your pets. Designed to be an escape from a busy lifestyle where there is little maintenance, yet plenty of flowering beauty and gentle waterfalls that emulate a walk in nature. Warm your toes by a custom-built fireplace, while gazing at the stars by night, yet shaded from the sun during the day! Gather with your family and friends by a natural firepit while cheering on your favorite football team from your outdoor TV in comfort. Don’t worry about the parking, because there is plenty of room for a crowd on the brick paver driveway that circles your home.

With the open corner panels folded back, the set dining table sits steps from the covered deck, giving family meals and gatherings a direct connection to the ocean air.

The owners of this multi-family housing project in Aptos felt strongly about creating both beautiful views and privacy for each home. We also really wanted to encourage people to spend time outside through the creation of shared community space. When I arrived, there was over 8,000 square feet of dead brown grass carpeting the complex. Now, a long, sinuous dry-creek runs the length of the property. The drycreek is surrounded by tough plants which require very minimal water and maintenance. We used enormous trees for privacy in key locations, along with a central community gathering area complete with a commercial grade built-in BBQ and bench seating. A large, strategically placed arbor provides shade for the dining area at the hottest time of the afternoon. New lighting illuminates pathways and trees and residents can enjoy the space at any time of day.

This custom landscape design provided an outdoor room for family gatherings with additional space for additional entertaining. These low maintenance perennials and shrubs border the patio for seasonal interest and color.