This 1912 traditional style house sits on the edge of Cheesman Park with four levels that needed updating to better suit the young family’s needs. A custom wine room was constructed on the lower level to accommodate an area for entertaining guests. The main level was divided into a smaller family room area with a double door opening into the formal living room. The kitchen and butler’s pantry were combined and remodeled for better function. The second level master bathroom was relocated and created out of an adjacent bedroom, incorporating an existing fireplace and Juliet balcony that looks out to the park. A new staircase was constructed on the third level as a continuation of the grand staircase in the center of the house. A gathering and play space opens off the stairs and connects to the third-floor deck. A Jill & Jill bathroom remodel was constructed between the girls’ rooms.

This multi-level deck adds a beautiful living space on the upper level of this composite deck, with black railings and a pressure-treated pine pergola. Stairs go down to the flat deck, and a staircase goes down to the yard due to the steep slope of the yard.

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

This multi level deck was originally all wood and failing. We kept the foot print and upgraded materials for longevity and low maintenance.
Example of a transitional staircase design in Baltimore

Natural Cleft Bluestone Patio with clay brick edge
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard patio remodel in Philadelphia

The pergola provides shade and privacy. Raising the deck to the ground floor level meant we needed to incorporate a feature that would provide some privacy along the side of the deck that faces the neighbors. The framed lattice panels create privacy without blocking the sunlight. The planters below the privacy screens add life and color to the screens and the pergola.

Adding a screen room under an open deck is the perfect use of space! This outdoor living space is the best of both worlds. Having an open deck leading from the main floor of a home makes it easy to enjoy throughout the day and year. This custom space includes a concrete patio under the footprint of the deck and includes Heartlands custom screen room system to prevent bugs and pests from being a bother!

Lake house Deck with Hot Tub. Trent Bell Photography, Richardson & Associates Landscape Architects
Example of a large arts and crafts backyard deck design in Portland Maine with no cover

Seating in the round creates wonderful conversation lines and a sense of intimacy with your guests.
Example of a mid-sized trendy backyard deck design in Philadelphia with a fire pit and a roof extension

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
Mid-sized elegant backyard deck photo in DC Metro with no cover

Drew Cunningham and Tom Jacques
Deck - mid-sized modern backyard deck idea in Toronto

This railing system offers safety without distracting from the view. Designed & built by Jim Odom at Archadeck Austin. Photo Credit: Kristian Alveo & TimberTown

For this job we repaired, replaced , rebuilt, and put in railing for this homeowners previously unusable deck. We were able to transform this deck to give it a uniform look and make it safe for our clients.

For this job we repaired, replaced , rebuilt, and put in railing for this homeowners previously unusable deck. We were able to transform this deck to give it a uniform look and make it safe for our clients.

Designed by: Marco Romani, RLA - Landscape Architect
Elegant backyard stone patio photo in Chicago with a fire pit

This cedar toned pressure treated deck with aluminum balusters include several different sections of decking. There is an upper deck with a gate at the top of the stairs and multiple small decks on ground level. They now have lots of outdoor space to entertain friends and family.

AV Architects + Builders Location: McLean, VA, USA Our newest custom modern home, located in the heart of McLean, Virginia measures just over 8,700 square feet. Situated on a beautiful lot on Old Chesterbrook Road, the modern home design takes advantage of the lot’s natural contours and sight-lines. Spread throughout three levels, the home contains five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, one half-bath, and a three-car garage. The main level of our modern home design features an open-floor plan designed to entertain family and friends. The entry flows into both the grand dining room and the central area, dedicated to the kitchen, breakfast and a double height great room that opens to a large outdoor deck with picturesque views of the expansive backyard. Located just off the garage is a functional mudroom that features plenty of storage space. In addition to a large home office and powder room, the entire left wing is dedicated to a private master suite with an expansive custom his/her walk-in closet, a master bath with a rainfall shower and a free-standing soaking tub with his/her vanities. The upper level of our modern home design features three generously sized en-suite bedrooms with full baths and closets with a full-size laundry room with plenty of storage space. The lower level of our modern home design also features an en-suite guest bedroom with full bath and walk-in closets amenities. It also includes an expansive recreational room with a glass enclosed wine cellar to house your prized wine collection. To finish out the lower level, we added a full exercise room paired with a full bath with direct access to the outdoor terrace and complimented the house with plenty of storage space. The materials we used for our modern home design are of the highest quality brands. We wanted to hand-select materials that would last for years to come, require little to no maintenance, and compliment the modern aesthetic of the home. The home features aluminum-clad oversized windows, Nichiha rectangular siding, and brick with a pastel finish; all brought together under a vacation style hip roof. Overall, we wanted to create a modern home design that feels like a retreat but still offers all the required amenities a family needs to keep up with the fast pace of Northern Virginia.

This home displays a beautiful, custom built multi-level deck consisting of cedar pergola and PVC trim, contains an entrance staircase on each level, and electrical work installed throughout for use of lighting, radio/TV, entertaining.