The ShopBoxes grew from a homeowner’s wish to craft a small complex of living spaces on a large wooded lot. Smash designed two structures for living and working, each built by the crafty, hands-on homeowner. Balancing a need for modern quality with a human touch, the sharp geometry of the structures contrasts with warmer and handmade materials and finishes, applied directly by the homeowner/builder. The result blends two aesthetics into very dynamic spaces, staked out as individual sculptures in a private park.⁠ Design by Smash Design Build and Owner (private) Construction by Owner (private)

This waterfront pool project in Beaconsfield reimagines a transitional backyard by fusing timeless warmth with crisp modern geometry. At its heart lies a custom concrete pool whose expansive beach entry pool—also known as a generous tanning ledge—slopes gently into the water, delivering the relaxed feel of a private resort. A frameless glass pool fence with low-iron panels preserves unobstructed lake vistas while ensuring safety, allowing the pool’s shimmering surface to merge visually with the open water beyond. Anchoring the far end of the basin is a dramatic outdoor fire feature that rises directly from the waterline. By day it acts as a sculptural focal point; by night the flames ripple across the water, transforming the space into a show-stopping luxury swimming pool experience. Every contour, drainage line, and equipment specification was shaped by Northstone’s in-house landscape architect design team and executed by our 180-strong crew of specialists, reinforcing our reputation as the go-to Beaconsfield pool builder for bespoke, high-end projects. Because Northstone is an entirely in-house design build firm, we streamline all stages—city permits, excavation, steel placement, shotcrete, and finishing—under a single roof. This turnkey approach distinguishes us among Montreal pool construction companies and ensures flawless craftsmanship in every pour. It is also why clients seeking a custom pool contractor to create a resort-style backyard consistently choose Northstone. That commitment to quality has earned us the #1 ranking for landscaping on bestinMTL.com and the top spot for pool design-build on bestmontrealservices.com. Our work has been showcased in Dwell, House & Home, the Montreal Gazette, and Living Luxe Magazine, underscoring our status as Montreal’s premier high-end pool company for luxury outdoor living on lakefront properties.

An understated doorway of the Watzek House whose geometry balances the natural earthy warmth of wood with brass.
Minimalist entryway photo in Portland

We love the challenge of working with modest sized spaces to fulfil our clients’ dreams. Whether you have a rooftop, balcony, patio or a small garden we combine our knowledge of geometry and architecture with good old fashioned hard work to create your custom small garden designs.

This visually simple, modern solution is unique within its suburban context, and gives this family the custom landscape of their dreams. The homeowners’ wish list included a modern design and clearly defined spaces: a larger dining patio, firepit patio, hot tub, and a 4-season sport court (which gets flooded for ice hockey in the winter). Circulation and screening were key in Ground One’s landscape design. A sport court could overwhelm the entire backyard, so it was raised three feet above the primary backyard to physically separate different spaces, and minimize its visual impact. Rectangular bluestone in a running bond pattern was used in all the gathering spaces (dining, firepit, hot tub). Bluestone walls reinforce a simple material palette. A larger dining patio was installed near the house for greater entertaining flexibility. Plank paver paths connect to a private hot tub area and allow kids to don hockey gear and enter the sport court without messing up the house. The firepit patio is at the back of the property, nestled into the existing hillside under a large oak and below the sport court terrace. Plantings reinforce the geometry of each gathering space, provide focal points, and create layers of screening and separation from any given vantage point. Hardy species were selected for their low-maintenance requirements and various seasons of interest. Landscape lighting was incorporated to provide way finding between the patios, accent various hardscape elements, and highlight the trees.

Ribbon windows wrap two sides of this home's living room. Their sober geometry stands in contrast to the dramatic butterfly roofs.
Mid-sized contemporary split-level brick house exterior idea in Salt Lake City with a butterfly roof and a green roof

Linda Jaquez
Trendy dining room photo in New York

This bathroom in Sarasota’s distinctive Round House reflects the home’s signature curved architecture and mid-century modern character. Staged by iStage Homes, the space features playful turquoise tones, rounded mirrors, and retro-inspired accents that complement the home’s sculptural design. The styling highlights the home’s unique geometry and vintage charm while helping buyers envision comfortable, character-filled living in this iconic Sarasota residence.

This classic post-and-beam house sits on a ridge in the Riviera neighborhood of Santa Barbara, CA. With stunning views of Gibraltar Rock, Mission Canyon, and Cielito Overlook, the house’s original designers sited it perfectly and implemented an elegantly simple structural system based on a clear design vision. Unfortunately, several subsequent owners lacked that same clarity and made questionable remodeling choices based on passing style fads, effectively turning the house into something it was not and – most perplexing of all – turning their backs to the majesty of the surrounding mountains and valley. Working with the new owner, who saw through the noise of these misguided remodels, we set out to return the house to its roots and recreate its rhythmic geometry and interior flow. We added new wall-to-wall double sliding doors that open to the expansive northern views, bringing space and light to the living, dining, and kitchen areas and providing easy access to the surrounding natural environment. We also reconsidered the color palette and materials, simplified detailing and trim, and highlighted interior focal points such as the original slump block fireplace and newly remodeled kitchen. The house now entertains easily and provides a comfortable and gracious living space for its owner and guests.

A transitional space designed to connect the entry sequence to the kitchen and primary living areas. Open sight-lines, sculptural stair geometry, and restrained material shifts guide movement through the home while maintaining a sense of calm and orientation. Natural light and long views reinforce the architectural flow and prepare the transition into the kitchen beyond.

Linda Jaquez
Example of a trendy home design design in New York

This remarkable freestanding elliptical staircase creates a spectacular architectural moment. Three flights rise gracefully through the house, featuring soft light-stained oak treads and handrail that blend seamlessly with the home's hardwood flooring. Crisp white stringers and risers provide a clean foundation, allowing the natural wood warmth to shine. The defining feature is the geometric black wrought-iron balusters. It is the contrast between organic curves and precise geometry, natural wood and forged metal, that creates a staircase that's both elegant and dramatic. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Custom designed light colored sofas (ALTA Performance Fabrics) sit parallel to each other. In the middle a trio of unique, custom nesting tables with gold frames and embossed leather tops al sit upon a beautiful wool carpet with geometry that complements the accent pillow fabrics and the fireplace tile surround which was new to the space. The contemporary artwork in a textured high gloss fame hung above the fireplace mantel creates a WOW focal point in the room. Carefully curated accessories and accent lamps and ceiling hung fixtures create a design story unique to the client.

The challenge was to fit a modern home into a traditional neighborhood. The exterior blends with the neighborhood while the interior explodes in modern geometry and light!

Set on Camelback Country Club with sweeping views to the golf course and surrounding peaks—Camelback, Piestewa, and Mummy Mountain—this Paradise Valley estate was designed with one clear priority: make the view the main event. Every line of the pool and landscape plan was meticulously composed to pull your eye outward, enhance the architecture, and create an atmosphere that feels singular to this property. The backyard is anchored by a custom resort-style pool and spa composition that reads like a modern water courtyard—clean geometry, natural stone surfaces, and layered water movement. Bubblers and deck jets add sound and sparkle without interrupting sightlines, while a low-profile fire element and lawn panels soften the hardscape and keep the space feeling livable, not just a showpiece. Beyond the resort core, the property expands into an estate-scale recreation zone, including a full sport court framed in stone paving, structured planting beds, and evening lighting that keeps the grounds active after sunset. The perimeter is finished with privacy hedging and layered plantings—lush, controlled, and intentionally quiet—so the mountains and fairways remain the star. This home set a record-breaking sale, closing $1M higher than any home north of DoubleTree, and it sold in a single day. The developer, builder, and buyer all echoed the same thing: the pool and landscape sold the home, and then the record number followed. It’s the kind of project that proves what we believe: when outdoor living is designed at the highest level, it doesn’t just complement a home—it defines it.

This bold custom feature design from Artaic’s Verge Collection is a unique solution for any space.

A sleek, contemporary exterior that blends modern geometry with industrial accents. The asymmetrical roofline creates a striking architectural silhouette, while the large picture window framed in corrugated metal adds both texture and character. Smooth, minimalist siding keeps the design fresh and refined, and the metal railing and wood fencing balance the look with warmth and structure. A truly unique remodel with a crisp, urban edge.

www.LeichtCA.com Concrete, a very special material for people who want to reduce their living environment to essentials - both in terms of the architecture of their houses and interior design. With the new CONCRETE range, a kitchen front of true craftsmanship made of fine concrete in three blended colors, LEICHT is looking back to the classic Bauhaus tradition and thus providing this target group with new inspiration for interior design. Concrete surfaces have a characteristic expression that is always entirely unique. It is precisely these characteristics that make the timeless material so precious for the design of individual kitchens. By applying concrete to the kitchen front by hand using the putty technique you get a unique surface structure with varying light refraction. The kitchen front comes alive.

Setting stone on the building exterior.
Coastal stone exterior home idea in Vancouver with a metal roof