Amy A. Alper, Architect Landscape Design by Merge Studio Photos by John Merkl
Inspiration for a country backyard tile and rectangular lap pool house remodel in San Francisco

Large traditional blue two-story wood gable roof idea with a shingle roof

Stephen Ironside
Inspiration for a large rustic gray two-story metal house exterior remodel in Birmingham with a shed roof and a metal roof

Large mountain style brown two-story stone gable roof photo in Salt Lake City with a shingle roof

Example of a large classic green two-story wood gable roof design in Atlanta with a shingle roof

Davis Gaffga
Huge traditional gray two-story exterior home idea in New York

Childrens' room - small traditional girl dark wood floor childrens' room idea in Phoenix

Joe Fletcher Photography Jennifer Robin Interiors
Farmhouse white two-story wood exterior home photo in San Francisco

Project Details: Located in Central Phoenix on an irrigated acre lot, the design of this newly constructed home embraces the modern farm style. A plant palette of traditional Old Phoenix includes hardy, ornamental varieties which are historically accurate for the neighborhood. Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Interior Designer: Barb Foley, Bouton & Foley Interiors Photography: Ian Denker Publications: Phoenix Home & Garden, September 2017

Dan Piassick
Inspiration for a huge contemporary beige two-story stone gable roof remodel in Dallas with a metal roof

Caleb Irvin photo
Inspiration for a farmhouse white two-story gable roof remodel in Louisville

Inspiration for a coastal exterior home remodel in Boston

Transitional l-shaped pool house photo in Austin

How do you expand an L shaped Eichler with the challenge of extending a long dark entry? Klopf Architecture's solution, to design a light filled atrium in the hallway to open up the bedroom expansion with green plants, sky lights and a glass wall. Not to mention the thoughtfulness of a blind door with wood siding similar to the rest of the home. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, Jeffrey Prose, and Angela Todorova Contractor: William Lowe Construction Photography ©2013 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2013

Example of a beach style bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls

The house and landscape intertwine. The property affords a number of excellent views to the distant horizon, and like many settings in the southwest; there is a low lying horizontality to the adjacent topography. As such, we intentionally wanted to express that in the architecture. The northern portion of the house is carved into the land several feet; to express a rootedness to the earth, while the southern portion rises to meet the panoramic views. The character of the home is distinctly contemporary, which accentuates and focuses attention on the organic features of the land, which are embraced by the architecture. By adhering to, yet abstracting, the underlying principles of the southwestern vernacular, with its lean, almost Zen-like simplicity, the architecture allows the views to the natural environment to dominate. The stark contrast between the manmade architecture and natural scenery complement both.

This rustic exterior hides the refined interior of a guest house in the woods.
Example of a mid-sized mountain style beige one-story wood gable roof design

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Walkthrough Productions
Large coastal dark wood floor, white floor and white two-story vinyl house exterior idea in Los Angeles with a gray front door