This home is in Noe Valley, a highly desirable and growing neighborhood of San Francisco. As young highly-educated families move into the area, we are remodeling and adding on to the aging homes found there. This project remodeled the entire existing two story house and added a third level, capturing the incredible views toward downtown. The design features integral color stucco, zinc roofing, an International Orange staircase, eco-teak cabinets and concrete counters. A flowing sequence of spaces were choreographed from the entry through to the family room.

This classic, but modern, cedar gate can be found in Seattle, WA. This custom built, gate has a stylish aesthetic to contrast the more craftsman style house it accompanies. While the cedar planks offer some privacy, the iron mesh infill gives a playful reminder to passersby to check out this beautiful home.

There are many different borer insects around the world that come in many different sizes and colors. But one thing they all have in common is the danger they pose to trees. These insects tunnel their way deep into trees and feed on the heartwood. Symptoms of infestation differ depending on the type of borer insect, but you can usually tell by the holes left behind in the bark. You may also notice sap or sawdust gathered around the tree or even sudden discoloration of the leaves. If left untreated, borers can kill the tree. Five Star Tree Services has put together a simple guide that will help you identify infestations so they can be treated ASAP. 4 Common Borer Species We are going to go over four of the most common wood boring insects that attack a wide variety of tree species in a range of climates. Many native borer insects will seek out already sick trees or trees under stress as opposed to strong healthy ones. But, even healthy trees are susceptible to infestation, especially from non-native borers. Locust Borer This type or borer attacks black locust trees; other types of locust trees are not in danger. They can be found in any place that black locust trees grow. Symptoms of an LB infestation are mainly localized swollen areas on the trunk or branches. These areas will look like a full knot. Other common signs are broken branches, thinness along the crown, and holes in the bark accompanied by sawdust. If you happen to see any of these signs, give our team of arborists a call as soon as possible. These borers weaken branches so that they break, which poses an additional hazard to your property and family. Emerald Ash Borer This type of borer usually feeds on ash trees but can also be found in rare cases in other types. They are commonly found in over states in the US but can be found in any location where ash trees grow. Symptoms of an EAB infestation are easy to spot. In the early stages, trees will exhibit cracks along the main branches of the canopy. As the stages progress, these cracks will turn into slits and holes that look like a “D” on the bark. The canopy of the tree will also start to think as the tree progresses towards failure. As soon as you notice any of these signs, you should contact an arborist as soon as possible. Treatment is more effective when applied early on in an infestation. Bronze Birch Borer This species usually attacks grey birch, paper birch, and yellow birch trees. Though they mostly attack stressed or sick trees, but again even healthy birch trees can become infested. River birch thankfully is not susceptible to this particular borer. They are found in any place white bark birch trees grow. Common signs of BBB infestations are winding tunnels along the out layer of the tree bark. They look bumpy or wrinkled. In some cases, you may also notice “D” shaped holes along the bark or leaves they have lost their color. Another common symptom is thinning along the crown and top of the tree. If found early enough, our professional arborists can apply an insecticide treatment and save the tree. Longhorned Beetles This species attacks a wide assortment of trees but tends to only attack those which are under a high amount of stress. They are found all over the world and are not specific to any one area. Common signs that an LB infestation is present is sawdust under the tree, round holes, and discolored leaves. It is important to contact a specialist as soon as you notice any signs of infestation. Quick action is key to slowing and defeating these harmful insects. How We Can Help Infestations can destroy the health of your trees, but with quick action, most can be saved. Five Star Tree Services offers a range of tree care services in Toronto including diagnosis and treatment of borer infestations. Give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to find out more.

Example of a large country single-wall medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This four bedroom beach house in Washington's South Sound is all about growing up near the water's edge during summer's freedom from school. The owner's childhood was spent in a small cabin on this site with her parents and siblings. Now married and with children of her own, it was time to savor those childhood memories and create new ones in a house designed for generations to come. At 3,200 square feet, including a whimsical Crow's Nest, the new summer cabin is much larger than the original cabin. The home is still about family and fun though. Above the 600 square foot water toys filled garage, there is a 500 square foot bunk room for friends and family. The bunk room is connected to the main house by an upper bridge where built-in storage frames a window seat overlooking the property. Throughout the home are playful details drawing from the waterfront locale. Paddles are integrated into the stair railing, engineered flooring with a weathered look, marine cleats as hardware, a boardwalk to the main entry, and nautical lighting are found throughout the house. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

Oasis in the Desert You can find a whole lot of fun ready for the kids in this fun contemporary play-yard in the dessert. Theme: The overall theme of the play-yard is a blend of creative and active outdoor play that blends with the contemporary styling of this beautiful home. Focus: The overall focus for the design of this amazing play-yard was to provide this family with an outdoor space that would foster an active and creative playtime for their children of various ages. The visual focus of this space is the 15-foot tree placed in the middle of the turf yard. This fantastic structure beacons the children to climb the mini stumps and enjoy the slide or swing happily from the branches all the while creating a touch of whimsical nature not typically found in the desert. Surrounding the tree the play-yard offers an array of activities for these lucky children from the chalkboard walls to create amazing pictures to the custom ball wall to practice their skills, the custom myWall system provides endless options for the kids and parents to keep the space exciting and new. Rock holds easily clip into the wall offering ever changing climbing routes, custom water toys and games can also be adapted to the wall to fit the fun of the day. Storage: The myWall system offers various storage options including shelving, closed cases or hanging baskets all of which can be moved to alternate locations on the wall as the homeowners want to customize the play-yard. Growth: The myWall system is built to grow with the users whether it is with changing taste, updating design or growing children, all the accessories can be moved or replaced while leaving the main frame in place. The materials used throughout the space were chosen for their durability and ability to withstand the harsh conditions for many years. The tree also includes 3 levels of swings offering children of varied ages the chance to swing from the branches. Safety: Safety is of critical concern with any play-yard and a space in the harsh conditions of the desert presented specific concerns which were addressed with light colored materials to reflect the sun and reduce heat buildup and stainless steel hardware was used to avoid rusting. The myWall accessories all use a locking mechanism which allows for easy adjustments but also securely locks the pieces into place once set. The flooring in the treehouse was also textured to eliminate skidding.

Example of a southwest home design design in Phoenix

Stunning multi-level deck in Livingston, NJ with WOLF PVC in Weathered Ipe and trimmed in Black Walnut. This unique design by Deck Remodelers features a hexigon shaped dining area, custom rails, curved stairs, outdoor kitchen with stacked stone and textured granite countertop and built-in planters in PVC.

This is an example of a mid-sized front yard landscaping in Philadelphia.

Wilsonart Aeon "High Line" plastic laminate counter • Swiss Coffee paint (satin) at cabinets • photography by Tre Dunham
Mid-sized transitional single-wall wet bar photo in Austin with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops and gray backsplash

Bring on the bubbles!!! Fresh, clean, and crisp. A kids bathroom renovation takes shape. We loved the challenge of this project. The bathroom was divided into two separate rooms. Our clients asked for a family bath that their two children can grow with. As moms ourselves, we really took a look at how kids function and move about. We designed a bathing area where all of that splashing could be contained and make for easy clean up. Clean lines with a touch of whimsy are found in the green vanity mirror and the blue penny tile. While the white and navy custom cabinetry can be carried through the years. Custom designed by Hartley and Hill Design. All materials and furnishings in this space are available through Hartley and Hill Design. www.hartleyandhilldesign.com 888-639-0639

Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus). Photo: Madeleine Ball, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
Photo of a large farmhouse landscaping for summer.

Gorgeous open plan living area, ideal for large gatherings or just snuggling up and reading a book. The fireplace has a countertop that doubles up as a counter surface for horderves

Veronia noveboracensis - New York ironweed USDA Hardiness Zone 5-8 Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC
Photo of a transitional full sun landscaping in New York for spring.

We worked closely with these creative homeowners who had envisioned a scandinavian style rehab of this freshwater lakeside property at the beach. In such a unique setting, our design response was to compliment the new house’s aesthetic with a minimalist, grass forward, textural landscape that will animate the coastal airflow beautifully. Inspiration was taken from the wild clethra and bayberry we found growing undisturbed lakeside, and so you’ll find these in our plant choices that seek to emulate the dunes and forest edge nearby. Phase 2 involved the planting of the steep backyard, previously dominated by lawn. In its place you’ll now find a coastal habitat garden that complements the cottage’s minimalist exterior with lush, billowy, texture, color and structural forms that are drought tolerant, ecologically beneficial and low maintenance.

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photographer: Sam Angel Photography Design Challenge: This 8 year-old boy and girl were outgrowing their existing setup and needed to update their rooms with a plan that would carry them forward into middle school and beyond. In addition to gaining storage and study areas, could these twins show off their big personalities? Absolutely, we said! MOTIV Interiors tackled the rooms of these youngsters living in Nashville's 12th South Neighborhood and created an environment where the dynamic duo can learn, create, and grow together for years to come. Design Solution: In his room, we wanted to continue the feature wall fun, but with a different approach. Since our young explorer loves outer space, being a boy scout, and building with legos, we created a dynamic geometric wall that serves as the backdrop for our young hero’s control center. We started with a neutral mushroom color for the majority of the walls in the room, while our feature wall incorporated a deep indigo and sky blue that are as classic as your favorite pair of jeans. We focused on indoor air quality and used Sherwin Williams’ Duration paint in a satin sheen, which is a scrubbable/no-VOC coating. We wanted to create a great reading corner, so we placed a comfortable denim lounge chair next to the window and made sure to feature a self-portrait created by our young client. For night time reading, we included a super-stellar floor lamp with white globes and a sleek satin nickel finish. Metal details are found throughout the space (such as the lounge chair base and nautical desk clock), and lend a utilitarian feel to the room. In order to balance the metal and keep the room from feeling too cold, we also snuck in woven baskets that work double-duty as decorative pieces and functional storage bins. The large north-facing window got the royal treatment and was dressed with a relaxed roman shade in a shiitake linen blend. We added a fabulous fabric trim from F. Schumacher and echoed the look by using the same fabric for the bolster on the bed. Royal blue bedding brings a bit of color into the space, and is complimented by the rich chocolate wood tones seen in the furniture throughout. Additional storage was a must, so we brought in a glossy blue storage unit that can accommodate legos, encyclopedias, pinewood derby cars, and more! Comfort and creativity converge in this space, and we were excited to get a big smile when we turned it over to its new commander.

Kitchen Cabinets Geneva The painstaking care taken to produce top-notch kitchen cabinetry can be found in all ETCR products. With our innovative designs, industry leading technologies, and all supported by a staff who know how to design kitchens with the upmost professionalism, you will be in excellent hands with our Geneva Kitchen Cabinet Builders. We are a local family owned custom cabinet making business and have been happily serving the Geneva and the surrounding Chicagoland area for many years. With our vast experience in craftsmanship, we continue to grow our company with the perfect combination of creativity and outstanding customer service.

We worked closely with these creative homeowners who had envisioned a scandinavian style rehab of this freshwater lakeside property at the beach. In such a unique setting, our design response was to compliment the new house’s aesthetic with a minimalist, grass forward, textural landscape that will animate the coastal airflow beautifully. Inspiration was taken from the wild clethra and bayberry we found growing undisturbed lakeside, and so you’ll find these in our plant choices that seek to emulate the dunes and forest edge nearby. Phase 2 involved the planting of the steep backyard, previously dominated by lawn. In its place you’ll now find a coastal habitat garden that complements the cottage’s minimalist exterior with lush, billowy, texture, color and structural forms that are drought tolerant, ecologically beneficial and low maintenance.

White and Wood 'Budget Kitchen Makeover'
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse u-shaped kitchen remodel