Photo Credits: Aaron Leitz
Example of a large trendy master white tile and ceramic tile gray floor and porcelain tile corner shower design in Portland with a hinged shower door, flat-panel cabinets, an undermount tub, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and quartz countertops

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

©Assassi Productions 2013
Living room - 1960s formal living room idea in San Francisco with a standard fireplace

Paul Finkel, Photographer
Living room - mediterranean open concept living room idea in Austin with white walls

Foyer - traditional beige floor foyer idea in Chicago with beige walls and a glass front door

James Yochum Photography
Open concept kitchen - small single-wall concrete floor open concept kitchen idea in Grand Rapids with an island, yellow cabinets, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, solid surface countertops, red backsplash and paneled appliances

Michael Millman
Large trendy master concrete floor bedroom photo with white walls and a standard fireplace

Inspiration for an industrial open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Chicago with white walls

Example of a transitional powder room design in Minneapolis

General Contractor: Cambridge Home Company Cabinetry: The Cabinet Gallery Utah
Example of a classic laundry room design in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets and green cabinets

The color palette throughout the house is carried through into the den. Plush golden throw pillows, an oversized ottoman and a silk rug make the perfect space to curl up after a long day. Summer Thornton Design, Inc. Photo by Nick Johnson

The concrete fireplace design element raises to the ceiling of the second floor through the double volume space of the Living Room creating a strong anchor for the open plan. Reclaimed barn wood decking covers the tall ceilings and is repeated on the vaulted ceiling of the Dining room.

The appeal of this Spanish Colonial home starts at the front elevation with clean lines and elegant simplicity and continues to the interior with white-washed walls adorned in old world decor. In true hacienda form, the central focus of this home is the 2-story volume of the Kitchen-Dining-Living rooms. From the moment of arrival, we are treated with an expansive view past the catwalk to the large entertaining space with expansive full height windows at the rear. The wood ceiling beams, hardwood floors, and swooped fireplace walls are reminiscent of old world Spanish or Andalusian architecture. An ARDA for Model Home Design goes to Southwest Design Studio, Inc. Designers: Stephen Shively with partners in building From: Bee Cave, Texas

This exclusive guest home features excellent and easy to use technology throughout. The idea and purpose of this guesthouse is to host multiple charity events, sporting event parties, and family gatherings. The roughly 90-acre site has impressive views and is a one of a kind property in Colorado. The project features incredible sounding audio and 4k video distributed throughout (inside and outside). There is centralized lighting control both indoors and outdoors, an enterprise Wi-Fi network, HD surveillance, and a state of the art Crestron control system utilizing iPads and in-wall touch panels. Some of the special features of the facility is a powerful and sophisticated QSC Line Array audio system in the Great Hall, Sony and Crestron 4k Video throughout, a large outdoor audio system featuring in ground hidden subwoofers by Sonance surrounding the pool, and smart LED lighting inside the gorgeous infinity pool. J Gramling Photos

Living room - huge country open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Trickle Creek Homes
Great room - mid-sized contemporary light wood floor and beige floor great room idea in Calgary with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Example of a large trendy open concept light wood floor family room design in Toronto with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a stone fireplace

Frank Pinckers
Living room - contemporary living room idea in Singapore

A new-build, replacement dwelling in a sensitive green belt location, designed to take advantage of the countryside setting and views. By capitalising on volume increases to the existing dwelling through a series of incremental Permitted Development schemes, the home better suits its site and context. By raising a previously ground bearing floor area into a cantilever it can now encapsulate long ranging views from the master bedroom. To create a contemporary rural aesthetic the materials include a zinc roof, pre-weathered burnt timber cladding and brick. Landscaping has been designed by renowned British Garden Designer Andy Sturgeon who created three distinct gardens: a wild flower walk to the pool, a formal crescent-shaped striped lawn and south-facing gravel garden. The garden takes advantage of views across the Thames valley to Hedsor House and Cliveden, as a result of it being elevated and levelled with excavation material from the basement.