Small arts and crafts u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and multicolored countertops

Inspiration for a timeless bathroom remodel in Dallas

This weekend retreat, nestled in a grove of aspens in Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, embodies the words of Henri Poincaré: “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” It directly challenges many of our ideas about home. Rather than a place offering the illusion of protection from the outside world through solid structure, its openness, light and reflectivity make it arguably more transparent than even Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. Featuring a floorplan that is an abstract interpretation of a cumulus cloud, the home’s five rotated, elliptically shaped glass pods approach invisibility at certain times of the year. Each pod serves a distinct programmatic function, though together they facilitate an easy and fluid flow accomplished by minimalist doors placed at the interstices where the pods meet. It functions as an ethereal meeting place between earth and sky. Total Area: 2200 sq. ft., 600 sq. ft. exterior deck Major Materials: Steel structure, curved architectural glass, anodized aluminum, epoxy flooring, and wood decking. Design Team: John Beckmann, with Jacob George Renderings: Jacob George Diagrams and model: Jacob George and Jessica Marvin © Axis Mundi Design LLC

This weekend retreat, nestled in a grove of aspens in Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, embodies the words of Henri Poincaré: “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” It directly challenges many of our ideas about home. Rather than a place offering the illusion of protection from the outside world through solid structure, its openness, light and reflectivity make it arguably more transparent than even Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. Featuring a floorplan that is an abstract interpretation of a cumulus cloud, the home’s five rotated, elliptically shaped glass pods approach invisibility at certain times of the year. Each pod serves a distinct programmatic function, though together they facilitate an easy and fluid flow accomplished by minimalist doors placed at the interstices where the pods meet. It functions as an ethereal meeting place between earth and sky. Total Area: 2200 sq. ft., 600 sq. ft. exterior deck Major Materials: Steel structure, curved architectural glass, anodized aluminum, epoxy flooring, and wood decking. Design Team: John Beckmann, with Jacob George Renderings: Jacob George Diagrams and model: Jacob George and Jessica Marvin © Axis Mundi Design LLC

This weekend retreat, nestled in a grove of aspens in Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, embodies the words of Henri Poincaré: “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” It directly challenges many of our ideas about home. Rather than a place offering the illusion of protection from the outside world through solid structure, its openness, light and reflectivity make it arguably more transparent than even Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. Featuring a floorplan that is an abstract interpretation of a cumulus cloud, the home’s five rotated, elliptically shaped glass pods approach invisibility at certain times of the year. Each pod serves a distinct programmatic function, though together they facilitate an easy and fluid flow accomplished by minimalist doors placed at the interstices where the pods meet. It functions as an ethereal meeting place between earth and sky. Total Area: 2200 sq. ft., 600 sq. ft. exterior deck Major Materials: Steel structure, curved architectural glass, anodized aluminum, epoxy flooring, and wood decking. Design Team: John Beckmann, with Jacob George Renderings: Jacob George Diagrams and model: Jacob George and Jessica Marvin © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Inspiration for a small craftsman u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and multicolored countertops

Inspiration for a small craftsman open concept medium tone wood floor living room remodel in San Francisco with no fireplace and white walls

Decorative custom made wood sliding barn door made from the remainder of the wood from the project.
Small minimalist bathroom photo in Portland

This weekend retreat, nestled in a grove of aspens in Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, embodies the words of Henri Poincaré: “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” It directly challenges many of our ideas about home. Rather than a place offering the illusion of protection from the outside world through solid structure, its openness, light and reflectivity make it arguably more transparent than even Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. Featuring a floorplan that is an abstract interpretation of a cumulus cloud, the home’s five rotated, elliptically shaped glass pods approach invisibility at certain times of the year. Each pod serves a distinct programmatic function, though together they facilitate an easy and fluid flow accomplished by minimalist doors placed at the interstices where the pods meet. It functions as an ethereal meeting place between earth and sky. Total Area: 2200 sq. ft., 600 sq. ft. exterior deck Major Materials: Steel structure, curved architectural glass, anodized aluminum, epoxy flooring, and wood decking. Design Team: John Beckmann, with Jacob George Renderings: Jacob George Diagrams and model: Jacob George and Jessica Marvin © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Dark gray tones are juxtaposed with bright shades of yellow, green, and orange in this funky and fun living room. Framed white windows emphasize the view while nature-inspired patterns and organic décor blur the lines between the indoors and out. A contemporary chandelier serves as a statement piece while a white mantel and stone fireplace create a strong focal point within the room.

Small arts and crafts master blue tile and travertine tile travertine floor and beige floor walk-in shower photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

Bigger is better, right? Not anymore! Tiny homes are the latest trend for both home buyers and home builders. From small cabins to budget houses to granny flats, it’s clear that the saying “less is more” is finally starting to ring true. You might think that smaller spaces means less room for creativity, but you’d be wrong. In fact, these tiny homes and granny flats tend to be far more diverse and creatively designed than full-sized homes and McMansions that often all look the same. People are building rustic cabins, mid-century modern flats, urban industrial lofts, and even treehouses. There’s a lot of inspiration to be had with the inside of a tiny home as well. Having such a limited amount of space in which to both store your belongings and live comfortable forces you to get creative. And people have developed some great solutions. From lofted beds to rooftop patios to Murphy style kitchen tables that fold up into the wall, people everywhere are finding ways to still have it all in their small homes. Here are some of our favorite ways to make a tiny home more usable and livable. Build a lofted bed. This might be the most popular method for creating more space in everything from small houses to shared kids’ bedrooms to dorm rooms. Elevating the bed gives you plenty of space underneath for a desk, bookshelves, or a living area. You can easily buy a lofted bed, but they are usually twin beds, and they’re not as fun as some of the custom built ones out there. People are starting to build hanging beds into their homes, for example. Shorten the rope, add a ladder, and you have yourself a lofted bed. Get a futon. Another popular option, couches that convert into beds solve a lot of space issues by being multi-functional. Even if you do get yourself a lofted bed, you might want to consider a sofa-bed for your living area as well so that you can host guests. This solves the biggest problem with tiny living – not being able to have friends and family stay over! Build a Murphy table. Murphy-style furniture, or furniture that folds down from the wall and then folds back up when you’re done, has gone out of style a bit. But we don’t think it’s deserved its reputation as outdated, and with the surge in tiny homes, it’s only a matter of time before these come back in style. You can build a Murphy table to serve as your dining area with folding chairs that hang from wall pegs, or you can build a Murphy desk if you need some space to do work. This is only the start. There are plenty of inventive ideas out there for creating small, multi-purpose living spaces that are cozy instead of cramped. Get those creative juices flowing, and go small!

This prefabricated 1,800 square foot Certified Passive House is designed and built by The Artisans Group, located in the rugged central highlands of Shaw Island, in the San Juan Islands. It is the first Certified Passive House in the San Juans, and the fourth in Washington State. The home was built for $330 per square foot, while construction costs for residential projects in the San Juan market often exceed $600 per square foot. Passive House measures did not increase this projects’ cost of construction. The clients are retired teachers, and desired a low-maintenance, cost-effective, energy-efficient house in which they could age in place; a restful shelter from clutter, stress and over-stimulation. The circular floor plan centers on the prefabricated pod. Radiating from the pod, cabinetry and a minimum of walls defines functions, with a series of sliding and concealable doors providing flexible privacy to the peripheral spaces. The interior palette consists of wind fallen light maple floors, locally made FSC certified cabinets, stainless steel hardware and neutral tiles in black, gray and white. The exterior materials are painted concrete fiberboard lap siding, Ipe wood slats and galvanized metal. The home sits in stunning contrast to its natural environment with no formal landscaping. Photo Credit: Art Gray

A coffee bar with a hidden Keurig Pod organizer and shelf really makes this kitchen its own. Space planning and cabinetry: Jennifer Howard, JWH Construction: JWH Construction Management Photography: Tim Lenz.

Photos by Alan K. Barley, AIA Warm wood surfaces combined with the rock fireplace surround give this screened porch an organic treehouse feel. Screened In Porch, View, Sleeping Porch, Fireplace, Patio, wood floor, outdoor spaces, Austin, Texas Austin luxury home, Austin custom home, BarleyPfeiffer Architecture, BarleyPfeiffer, wood floors, sustainable design, sleek design, pro work, modern, low voc paint, interiors and consulting, house ideas, home planning, 5 star energy, high performance, green building, fun design, 5 star appliance, find a pro, family home, elegance, efficient, custom-made, comprehensive sustainable architects, barley & Pfeiffer architects, natural lighting, AustinTX, Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, professional services, green design, Screened-In porch, Austin luxury home, Austin custom home, BarleyPfeiffer Architecture, wood floors, sustainable design, sleek design, modern, low voc paint, interiors and consulting, house ideas, home planning, 5 star energy, high performance, green building, fun design, 5 star appliance, find a pro, family home, elegance, efficient, custom-made, comprehensive sustainable architects, natural lighting, Austin TX, Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, professional services, green design, curb appeal, LEED, AIA,

Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in New York

Inspiration for a small eclectic backyard landscaping in Portland Maine.

Refinished basements usually fall into two categories: family area or man cave. This space is a luxury man cave that is elegant and intriguing to all comers. The granite covers the bar for a gorgeous look from either side of the seating area. The granite extends along the wall from the bar to form a drink rail that runs parallel to the pool table. The entrance area has touches of the Golden Thunder Granite as well to tie in the whole room.

Mountain style entryway photo in Dallas with brown walls and a light wood front door