Shingle-style guest cottage addition with garage below and interior connector from the main dining room of an early 1900 existing house. Sited so that garage entrance and drive works within the existing landscape elevation and orientation, the guest cottage connects directly to the first floor of the main house. This results in an interesting structural dynamic where the walls of the second floor addition are square to the main house, and the lower garage walls corkscrew at a forty-five degree angle to the walls above. Inspired by their fond memories of travels to the island of Malta, the client requested warm neutral finishes and chose honed cream marble flooring with tight fitting grout lines and an intricate pattern of a Walker Zanger marble tile for the fireplace surround. "Dove White" walls with "Antique White" trim were selected in traditional simplicity to replicate the standard of the existing house and create a seamless transition to the addition. Locally handcrafted copper sconces gently illuminate the space and maintain the period-style of the home.

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The pool house is connected to the main house by an open pergola. The gently sloping roof gives a whimsical appearance to the building and the white brick reflects in the soft turquoise blue of the pool.

Sherwin-Williams® Mega Greige (SW7031) and Warm Stone (SW7032) with mellow coral accents and toile-inspired tab curtains establish a perfect palette for this gender-neutral nursery in Aurora. The concentric rectangle pattern on the crib wall adds just enough visual interest to be engaging without overstimulating. Follow our website link to see where we build this plan and to learn about our Seasons™ Collection—designed to put homeownership within reach!

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Cast in place concrete walls and custom waterjet metal with integrated lighting complement the architectural materiality, while providing physical and visual separation between this private modern home and the wooded public passage of the Burke Gilman Trail. Cantilevered steps float above a cascade of soft grasses and rushes. Looking out over Lake Washington from the hot tub, a combination of wood and concrete walls softened by plants contain the experience of outdoor relaxation at its finest. A crushed granite path gently curves along handcrafted stone walls containing a burst of lush planting to connect wood decking at the house with a fire pit area close to the water. Photography: Louie Jeon Photography

Falcon House is located on Falcon Ridge Road, which winds along a steeply inclined ridge in a stretch of foothills within Carmel Valley in Monterey County. An old lichen covered barn and split rail, cedar fences characterize this area known as Markham Ranch, and contrast sharply with the preponderance of sprawling, large estate-style homes, many more at-home in the Italian countryside than any landscape of California. Designed for a young family, Falcon House responds to the family’s desire to live a more modest lifestyle, eschewing overt displays of extravagance for an intimate and deferential relation to nature. The 3,200-square-foot residence occupies a difficult portion of the northern slope of a hillside, overlooking a verdant valley and oriented toward Castle Rock in the distance. The steep terrain necessitated a compartmentalized plan capable of negotiating the gentle hillock at the center of the site. A corridor bridge spans two pieces of the house, uniting living and sleeping spaces and allowing an existing watercourse to flow essentially through the house unobstructed. Large panels of glass open the living spaces to the landscape, beneath the deep overhang of a butterfly roof. Operable clerestories placed high on the window-wall allow prevailing breezes to cool the interior spaces. The bedroom wing of the house hugs the hillside as it turns to the west, ensuring privacy from the main living spaces. The sense of seclusion and protection of this wing is reinforced by its lower roofline and its embedment into the hill. Initial resistance by neighboring homeowners has given way to appreciation, having seen the results of careful siting and a material and color palate sympathetic to the surrounding hillsides. The dwelling embodies an attitude of respect for the landscape, and through that perspective Falcon House has become as natural a part of its environment as the hawks flying overhead. 2008 AIA Orange County Chapter Merit Award

This client worked with her landscape architect to design an enchanting space with a Soake Pool as the focal point. Her backyard gets magical filtered light, and the waterfall provides gentle sound to mask the sound of cars or neighbors.

Beautiful inground swimming pool with walk down steps. Save a trip to the beach and enjoy a nice relaxing drink by the pool. Underground pool installations are available for all of Queens, Long Island, Westchester and more all over New York. Learn more today! (718) 746 – 5005

Twin water jet fountains gently arc across the terraced reflecting pool with full edge waterfall. The cedar pergola and privacy screen fencing feature the owner's business logo as a pierced border. Stellar indeed!

copyright 2015 Virginia Rockwell
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Tropical Plants are clean, large leaves offer a bold scape, and these are deer resistant!
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This villa pool transforms under soft, warm tones of Antique Beige porcelain tiles, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings of İzmir’s Çeşme. The gentle hue and elegant finish offer a timeless aesthetic, while durable, slip-resistant porcelain materials ensure long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance. Crafted with clean edges and thoughtfully selected detailing, the pool becomes a serene retreat where elegance meets practicality—an inviting space for outdoor living that feels both luxurious and harmonious.

The left hand side, accessed from the kitchen walkout, features an upper dining area for four, a custom BBQ station and a larger dining area which comfortably accommodates from six to eight. Both dining tables are elegant, yet substantial with sturdy bases, so strong winds are never a worry.

The right hand side, accessed from the living room walkout, features an upper deck with chaise lounges and lower outdoor living room with comfortable lounge chairs gathered around a cozy natural gas fire feature. The custom cedar fence and row of columnar European Hornbeams, which will continue to fill in, provides privacy from neighbouring houses.

The custom BBQ station is clad in natural stone and features a granite countertop with Napoleon Prestige Pro grill, matching stainless steel fridge, drawer system and double sear station side burner. This setup certainly provides all the luxury essentials for the aspiring backyard chef.

The design is contemporary to match the house. To accentuate the clean lines, the deck of architectural stamped concrete features a simple stack bond pattern. The sandblasted bullnose Eramosa coping contrasts with the pool’s charcoal grey tile and custom blend blue Pebble Fina interior. Access is by twin corner steps at the shallow end, or twin swimout benches at the deep end.

Twin walkouts from the kitchen and living room feature Ipe hardwood landings and steps with glass railings and gates to comply with Toronto’s 4-sided fence requirement. The steps are un-skirted so the yews below will fill in and the stairs will appear to be floating. A section of Ipe deck across the deep end conveniently connects both sides.