Kitchen renovation, creating a open feel, pantry, office, and a better transition to back yard! Bob Fortner photography, . Hero Tile, Masterworks custom cabinets.

Inspiration for a modern dining room remodel in Austin

Trendy freestanding desk medium tone wood floor home office photo in San Francisco with beige walls

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

It’s always a blessing when your clients become friends - and that’s exactly what blossomed out of this two-phase remodel (along with three transformed spaces!). These clients were such a joy to work with and made what, at times, was a challenging job feel seamless. This project consisted of two phases, the first being a reconfiguration and update of their master bathroom, guest bathroom, and hallway closets, and the second a kitchen remodel. In keeping with the style of the home, we decided to run with what we called “traditional with farmhouse charm” – warm wood tones, cement tile, traditional patterns, and you can’t forget the pops of color! The master bathroom airs on the masculine side with a mostly black, white, and wood color palette, while the powder room is very feminine with pastel colors. When the bathroom projects were wrapped, it didn’t take long before we moved on to the kitchen. The kitchen already had a nice flow, so we didn’t need to move any plumbing or appliances. Instead, we just gave it the facelift it deserved! We wanted to continue the farmhouse charm and landed on a gorgeous terracotta and ceramic hand-painted tile for the backsplash, concrete look-alike quartz countertops, and two-toned cabinets while keeping the existing hardwood floors. We also removed some upper cabinets that blocked the view from the kitchen into the dining and living room area, resulting in a coveted open concept floor plan. Our clients have always loved to entertain, but now with the remodel complete, they are hosting more than ever, enjoying every second they have in their home.

A bubbling rock water feature add sound and movement in the garden and attract and support a host of local wildlife.
This is an example of a small traditional rock backyard landscaping in Detroit.

Inspiration for a rustic kitchen remodel in Other

Ship-lap walls and sliding barn doors add a rustic flair to the kid-friendly recreational space.
Example of a large classic medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room design in New York with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and white walls

You can read more about the project through this Houzz Feature link: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/hillside-yard-offers-scenic-views-and-space-for-contemplation-stsetivw-vs~131483772

For this outdoor space project, the local weather posed the biggest challenge for the design professionals at Backyard Specialist. The homeowners envisioned an outdoor cooking space complete with a running-water sink, a kamado grill, and a gas grill, all set into a back bar. A front bar would house refrigeration for the built-in beer taps and pub seating for four to allow guests to enjoy the culinary displays. Situated directly outside a sliding door to the interior kitchen space, it was important for the pergola to create a waterproof barrier that made the space accessible even during the regular rain showers. With the rest of the back porch bathed in direct sun, the homeowners also wanted to create full-time shade for the outdoor kitchen space of this outdoor home addition. So, the design team opted to create an Azenco R-Shade fixed-roof pergola design for the space. The R-Shade’s insulated sandwich-panel roof design ensured the constant sun would be reflected away from the kitchen, while still providing sufficient airflow to ventilate the heat and smoke from the grills. To ensure the homeowners could transition from indoor to outdoor kitchen spaces without getting wet, the designers overlapped the frame of the pergola with the home’s eaves. With the pergola frame securely mounted to the building, its two support columns were perfectly positioned along the perimeter of the elevated porch. This ensured the R-Shade’s internal gutter system could collect both the rain falling on the pergola, and that running off the roofline, and easily deposit it in the abutting garden area.

As these homeowners designed their new dream home, they realized the planned outdoor kitchen would need to be protected from the elements. They contacted the local Azenco dealer and expert pergola designers at Backyard Specialist to craft a full-shade pergola that would seamlessly fit into their home’s planned architecture and make their new outdoor kitchen into an at-home luxury destination.

For this outdoor space project, the local weather posed the biggest challenge for the design professionals at Backyard Specialist. The homeowners envisioned an outdoor cooking space complete with a running-water sink, a kamado grill, and a gas grill, all set into a back bar. A front bar would house refrigeration for the built-in beer taps and pub seating for four to allow guests to enjoy the culinary displays. Situated directly outside a sliding door to the interior kitchen space, it was important for the pergola to create a waterproof barrier that made the space accessible even during the regular rain showers. With the rest of the back porch bathed in direct sun, the homeowners also wanted to create full-time shade for the outdoor kitchen space of this outdoor home addition. So, the design team opted to create an Azenco R-Shade fixed-roof pergola design for the space. The R-Shade’s insulated sandwich-panel roof design ensured the constant sun would be reflected away from the kitchen, while still providing sufficient airflow to ventilate the heat and smoke from the grills. To ensure the homeowners could transition from indoor to outdoor kitchen spaces without getting wet, the designers overlapped the frame of the pergola with the home’s eaves. With the pergola frame securely mounted to the building, its two support columns were perfectly positioned along the perimeter of the elevated porch. This ensured the R-Shade’s internal gutter system could collect both the rain falling on the pergola, and that running off the roofline, and easily deposit it in the abutting garden area.

As these homeowners designed their new dream home, they realized the planned outdoor kitchen would need to be protected from the elements. They contacted the local Azenco dealer and expert pergola designers at Backyard Specialist to craft a full-shade pergola that would seamlessly fit into their home’s planned architecture and make their new outdoor kitchen into an at-home luxury destination.

For this outdoor space project, the local weather posed the biggest challenge for the design professionals at Backyard Specialist. The homeowners envisioned an outdoor cooking space complete with a running-water sink, a kamado grill, and a gas grill, all set into a back bar. A front bar would house refrigeration for the built-in beer taps and pub seating for four to allow guests to enjoy the culinary displays. Situated directly outside a sliding door to the interior kitchen space, it was important for the pergola to create a waterproof barrier that made the space accessible even during the regular rain showers. With the rest of the back porch bathed in direct sun, the homeowners also wanted to create full-time shade for the outdoor kitchen space of this outdoor home addition. So, the design team opted to create an Azenco R-Shade fixed-roof pergola design for the space. The R-Shade’s insulated sandwich-panel roof design ensured the constant sun would be reflected away from the kitchen, while still providing sufficient airflow to ventilate the heat and smoke from the grills. To ensure the homeowners could transition from indoor to outdoor kitchen spaces without getting wet, the designers overlapped the frame of the pergola with the home’s eaves. With the pergola frame securely mounted to the building, its two support columns were perfectly positioned along the perimeter of the elevated porch. This ensured the R-Shade’s internal gutter system could collect both the rain falling on the pergola, and that running off the roofline, and easily deposit it in the abutting garden area.

As these homeowners designed their new dream home, they realized the planned outdoor kitchen would need to be protected from the elements. They contacted the local Azenco dealer and expert pergola designers at Backyard Specialist to craft a full-shade pergola that would seamlessly fit into their home’s planned architecture and make their new outdoor kitchen into an at-home luxury destination.

Elegant dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room photo in Boston with gray walls

Lincoln Barbour
Enclosed dining room - mid-sized transitional light wood floor and beige floor enclosed dining room idea in Portland with green walls