Design is often more about architecture than it is about decor. We focused heavily on embellishing and highlighting the client's fantastic architectural details in the living spaces, which were widely open and connected by a long Foyer Hallway with incredible arches and tall ceilings. We used natural materials such as light silver limestone plaster and paint, added rustic stained wood to the columns, arches and pilasters, and added textural ledgestone to focal walls. We also added new chandeliers with crystal and mercury glass for a modern nudge to a more transitional envelope. The contrast of light stained shelves and custom wood barn door completed the refurbished Foyer Hallway.

Asian influences blended with native plantings helped create this garden, which we call Prairie-fusion. Water is the main focus of the garden, which falls and flows creating both visual and audial impact. Colorful koi dot the dark waters which reflect light and landscape. Choices in construction material were made to enhance a rustic look while touches of Japanese-inspired influences were appropriately placed to introduce an exotic feel. In keeping with the traditional Japanese gardens, raked rocks and boulders simulate islands in water. While inspired by the East, the garden is rooted firmly in the Midwestern landscape, surrounded and softened by plants native to woodlands and wetlands, including ferns, sedges, wild columbine, blue flag iris, horsetail rush, water lilies and native maples. A ramp leading up to the decking combined both reclaimed railroad ties and gravel, tying in the two solid ground influences in the garden. Live moss was used heavily on boulders and wood creating the illusion of a garden which has been tucked away, living and growing for a long time. Photo by Larry Carnes

Inspiration for a large zen backyard patio fountain remodel with decking and an awning

This sprawling estate is an incredible sight see! Soaring coffered ceilings with gorgeous winding staircases set the stage for a grand entry. We took advantage of the classical elements of this home and built our design (at the request of our amazing clients) with a heavy nod to european traditional style. Decadent silk fabrics paired with amazingly rich wall treatments bring a luxurious feeling to every room. Heavily carved details are found on an eclectic mix of furnishings throughout the home. We incorporated some of the clients pieces from their years of collecting and traveling. Their favorite rolled arm sofa is given new life in the library once reupholstered in a cozy woven chenille. After completing the interior, it was time to get started on the grounds! We were so excited to design the exterior entertaining space which includes an outdoor kitchen, living and dining areas, pergola, bath and pool. One of our favorites for sure.

This 1990's home, located in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley neighbourhood, had high ceilings and a great open plan layout but the decor was straight out of the 90's complete with sponge painted walls in dark earth tones. The owners, a young professional couple, enlisted our help to take it from dated and dreary to modern and bright. We started by removing details like chair rails and crown mouldings, that did not suit the modern architectural lines of the home. We replaced the heavily worn wood floors with a new high end, light coloured, wood-look laminate that will withstand the wear and tear from their two energetic golden retrievers. Since the main living space is completely open plan it was important that we work with simple consistent finishes for a clean modern look. The all white kitchen features flat doors with minimal hardware and a solid surface marble-look countertop and backsplash. We modernized all of the lighting and updated the bathrooms and master bedroom as well. The only departure from our clean modern scheme is found in the dressing room where the client was looking for a more dressed up feminine feel but we kept a thread of grey consistent even in this more vivid colour scheme. This transformation, featuring the clients' gorgeous original artwork and new custom designed furnishings is admittedly one of our favourite projects to date!

New construction home was designed for heavily forested 1.5 acre site with slight sloping backyard. Southern orientation and time of day was conceptualized in the design so morning sun hit the master bedroom and vaulted living room. In the afternoon sunlight travels to a future planned 3 season sunroom. Heating was designed with forced hot air and vertical stack venting from a pellet stove and gas fireplace. Conceptually the front facade is more traditional and private with wrap around farmer's porch and iconic "house" roof form. While the rear becomes more open and welcome to outdoor living space in all seasons. Photography by Design Imaging Studios

This 1990's home, located in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley neighbourhood, had high ceilings and a great open plan layout but the decor was straight out of the 90's complete with sponge painted walls in dark earth tones. The owners, a young professional couple, enlisted our help to take it from dated and dreary to modern and bright. We started by removing details like chair rails and crown mouldings, that did not suit the modern architectural lines of the home. We replaced the heavily worn wood floors with a new high end, light coloured, wood-look laminate that will withstand the wear and tear from their two energetic golden retrievers. Since the main living space is completely open plan it was important that we work with simple consistent finishes for a clean modern look. The all white kitchen features flat doors with minimal hardware and a solid surface marble-look countertop and backsplash. We modernized all of the lighting and updated the bathrooms and master bedroom as well. The only departure from our clean modern scheme is found in the dressing room where the client was looking for a more dressed up feminine feel but we kept a thread of grey consistent even in this more vivid colour scheme. This transformation, featuring the clients' gorgeous original artwork and new custom designed furnishings is admittedly one of our favourite projects to date!

Master Bedroom with Red Bed Frame and custom drapery and bedding.
Bedroom - traditional master light wood floor bedroom idea in Charlotte

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped limestone floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Austin with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, solid surface countertops, beige backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

This custom designed piece uniquely solved the biggest design and function dilemmas that my client proposed on this project. We needed to add a home office space, a homework/craft space and the kitchen didn't have a pantry. The left side of this built in has the computer and a pullout keyboard tray. It can also store all of the paper and crayons for the kids. The right side is her pantry for her kitchen. The center section is the banquette that also has storage under the custom cushion and pillows. We used water and stain resistant fabrics for easy care. The client already had the chairs, so we used a ready made wooden pedestal base and had a custom piece of granite made for the table top since this space was going to be heavily used and she wanted something easy to clean. Mission accomplished and it coordinates beautifully with the cozy and charming family room that it opens up to. Photo credit for Dot Greenlee.

This project is more than meets the eye! In a gorgeous neighborhood in Del Mar, San Diego, California, This unique small custom wine cellar truly acts as a showstopper. Originally within this house, the door which now faces outward used to be around the corner in a small hallway, virtually eliminating any visibility into this contemporary walk in custom wine cellar. Upon seeing the location of this space within the house, Gene Walder and the knowledgeable team at Vintage Cellars knew that to really take advantage of the room provided, (which is actually below the stairs), they needed to get rid of the original door and add a brand new one facing the main living space. Just a small feat in a series of unique custom features within this cellar! Here at Vintage Cellars, before any design takes shape, it is vital to understand what the clients wants and needs are based on their growing collection of wine. With a good idea of bottle sizes, shapes (some pinot noir bottles, for example have a wider bottom than a typical cabernet sauvignon bottle) and unique features desired, the team of wine cellar designers and wine cellar builders at Vintage Cellars are able to create a very special and desirable wine cellar for each client. The owners of this beautiful home collaborated heavily with the Vintage Cellars team in the design process of this rustic custom wine cellar - something that we aim to do with every project. The homeowners wanted to showcase some of their favorite Magnum sized bottles in a high reveal horizontal display row, directly on top of another area highlighting the best 750 ml's in their collection. This small custom wine room fills most of the left wall with single deep, individual bottle storage. Directly below this wine racking is room for wine case / wine bin storage. Centered within this wall is a nice space for opening and decanting wines with a gorgeous dark stone countertop and room for hanging wine glasses above. The opposite wall is filled floor to ceiling with label revealing horizontal display rows. Again, this type of feature is very desirable in recent years. Homeowners want to be able to showcase the best bottles they own within their custom wine cellars in the most stunning and beautiful ways possible. Additionally, this feature is commonly replicated with metal bars for a more contemporary and modern look and feel. Within Beach Cities such as Del Mar, La Jolla, Cardiff, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Newport Beach and Orange County alike, small walk wine cellars are all the rage. Custom Wine Closet s and Under the Stairs Custom Wine Room s are quickly becoming a commonplace feature within modern luxury homes. Funny enough, because San Diego has become such a hub and mecca for craft beer breweries, luxury homes within communities such as La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Coronado, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, La Costa and Torrey Pines have taken notice and began including space for unique beer storage within their custom wine cellars as well. This right side wall horizontal display racking does just that. If you look closely, those intricately labeled bottles are craft brews kept at a chill and refreshing 55 Degrees- just waiting to be opened and enjoyed immediately. Just when you thought the custom wine cellar tour was over, another unique feature catches your eye. You see the back stone wall? Press ever so gently in the top left corner two thirds of the way up and - Voila! - a secret door appears and slowly reveals more room under the stairway for case storage and the like. The homeowner also decided to add interesting lighting to this cellar. The Custom wine room can turn any color of the rainbow - allowing you to focus on all lights or just one a time, creating that perfect mood lighting for the holidays, springtime, or summer. This entire custom wine cellar and all wine racking were done in raw black walnut. Vintage Cellars has built gorgeous custom wine cellars and wine storage rooms across the United States and World for over 25 years. We are your go-to business for anything wine cellar and wine storage related! Whether you're interested in a wine closet, wine racking, custom wine racks, a custom wine cellar door, or a cooling system for your existing space, Vintage Cellars has you covered! We carry all kinds of wine cellar cooling and refrigeration systems, incuding: Breezaire, CellarCool, WhisperKool, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and Commercial systems. We also carry many types of Wine Refrigerators, Wine Cabinets, and wine racking types, including La Cache, Marvel, N'Finity, Transtherm, Vinotheque, Vintage Series, Credenza, Walk in wine rooms, Climadiff, Riedel, Fontenay, and VintageView. Vintage Cellars also does work in many styles, including Contemporary and Modern, Rustic, Farmhouse, Traditional, Craftsman, Industrial, Mediterranean, Mid-Century, Industrial and Eclectic. Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach Contact Vintage Cellars today with any of your Wine Cellar needs! (800) 876-8789 Vintage Cellars 904 Rancheros Drive San Marcos, California 92069 (800) 876-8789

New construction home was designed for heavily forested 1.5 acre site with slight sloping backyard. Southern orientation and time of day was conceptualized in the design so morning sun hit the master bedroom and vaulted living room. In the afternoon sunlight travels to a future planned 3 season sunroom. Heating was designed with forced hot air and vertical stack venting from a pellet stove and gas fireplace. Conceptually the front facade is more traditional and private with wrap around farmer's porch and iconic "house" roof form. While the rear becomes more open and welcome to outdoor living space in all seasons. Photography by Design Imaging Studios

Thyme Silverado Hardwood Flooring Silverado Hardwood Floors features stunning Birch Timber hand crafted and factory finished to create rustic texturing. Bold grain visuals and colors add to this unique species appeal. This product offers a dramatic appeal at exceptional value. This uniquely styled, wide plank floor features a beautiful, rotary peeled, deeply hand scraped surface that dazzles the eye. The six inch width and pillowed edge of Silverado plank gives it a bold western look that is unique in the marketplace. The warm and rich stains give Silverado its distinctive color and greatly enhance the rustic, truly heavily hand scraped plank. The continuously varied grains of this hardwood surface combined with the long length of 6 feet, a length that our competitor’s can only envy(most rotary floors are 4 feet long) and UV cured aluminum oxide coatings makes Silverado Plank stand out on the floor and captures the attention of anyone walking on it. These features make Silverado Plank an exceptional value with maximum design impact. Simply Better…Discover Why. www.hallmarkfloors.com

Completely custom outdoor shower enclosure. 17 stained 2" x 12" cedar planks of various lengths are staggered vertically side-by-side following a curvilinear footprint maximizing privacy in and views out. The inspiration of the shower enclosure was the home itself; balancing heavily between metal and wood materials. The shower displays a rustic 'whiskey barrel' feel, constructed all custom black hammer coated bracket hardware specifically designed to make this design work. The suspended cable system is a railing cable system re-purposed to work specifically for this design.

Approx. 1800 square foot basement where client wanted to break away from their more formal main level. Requirements included a TV area, bar, game room, guest bedroom and bath. Having previously remolded the main level of this home; Home Expressions Interiors was contracted to design and build a space that is kid friendly and equally comfortable for adult entertaining. Mercury glass pendant fixtures coupled with rustic beams and gray stained wood planks are the highlights of the bar area. Heavily grouted brick walls add character and warmth to the back bar and media area. Gray walls with lighter hued ceilings along with simple craftsman inspired columns painted crisp white maintain a fresh and airy feel. Wood look porcelain tile helps complete a space that is durable and ready for family fun.

Using the brick wall as a backdrop creates a focal point for this amazing red mirror and reclaimed wood console. All can be found on www.designaclickaway.com.

From DesignBoom: “When viewed from above, Octothorpe House by Mork-Ulnes Architects takes the form of the versatile symbol after which it was named. Set in the wild landscape of a high plateau in the Oregon desert, the home is designed for flexible, nature-based living and is heavily influenced by the shapes, colors, and textures of its surroundings in both its design and materiality. The structure is built to be environmentally friendly and is constructed of locally manufactured cross-laminated timber (CLT), while the charred wood matches the color palette of the arid landscape.”

This is a prime example of premium quality craftsmanship in the landscape design/build business. By redesigning the front entrance to create a porch/landing with an additional parking court, we significantly improved the appearance and value of the property in Rye, New York. The new driveway was constructed of a porous asphalt material which improved the stormwater management adjacent to the wetland. The landscape planting featured a variety of long blooming, native flowering perennials which attract beneficial insect species. This contributes to the successful management of the landscape with sustainable organics. The custom kinetic sculpture adds a nice finishing touch. Instead of a typical evergreen hedge, native clethra was planted on the property border to define the space while contributing fragrance, grace and pollinators to what easily could have been a less active, sterile space. Heavily planted ground cover natives such as ajuga, creeping jenny, Irish moss, sweet woodruff and geraniums made the need for weeding practically obsolete. The use of ground covers as mulch was most effective for resource management.

Design is often more about architecture than it is about decor. We focused heavily on embellishing and highlighting the client's fantastic architectural details in the living spaces, which were widely open and connected by a long Foyer Hallway with incredible arches and tall ceilings. We used natural materials such as light silver limestone plaster and paint, added rustic stained wood to the columns, arches and pilasters, and added textural ledgestone to focal walls. We also added new chandeliers with crystal and mercury glass for a modern nudge to a more transitional envelope. The contrast of light stained shelves and custom wood barn door completed the refurbished Foyer Hallway.