Beach style kids' gray tile bathroom photo in Grand Rapids with a trough sink, concrete countertops and blue walls

Custom designed island and formaldehyde free cabinets. The family requested a “Texas Deco Industrial” style home. Part of the USGBC’s LEED Pilot program it was built with Insulated Concrete Forms and multiple solar systems. Unique and whimsical, the interior design reflects the family’s artful and fun loving personality. Completed in 2007 it was certified as the first LEED Gold home in Houston.

Our clients wanted to utilize this particular area of their home and really give it a function. It has been many things over the years: bonus room, dining area, etc. The kitchen is the natural gathering spot. They wanted to create a space that was an extension of the kitchen for entertaining and serving family and friends. Architect, Cynthia Karegeannes was hired to draw up plans for a mudroom to corral the couple’s two dogs and stash the pet’s leashes, treats, etc. A large butler pantry was imagined with a full size refrigerator, prep sink, dishwasher and custom cabinetry to have items handy for entertaining. Innovative Construction, helped finalize the details and implemented the plans for the new addition. Interior Designer, Beth Weltlich with The House Dressing worked with homeowners, to select materials and finishes to unify the areas of the existing kitchen and the new spaces. A custom banquette was created with room under the staircase so that all of the space could be utilized. Furniture and accessories are still in the works as the homeowners let the area evolve to see exactly what their needs are. A collaborative effort-for sure! The challenges included creating three separate areas (mudroom, banquette and butler pantry) with storage and versatility in one existing space. Having this additional space that was not always utilized, the homeowners feel the new addition will become an integral part of the families' living area.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.

Custom Home Magazine Design Award Winner 2010 - Custom Kitchen http://www.customhomeonline.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=224&articleID=1205663 Watermark Grand Award 2010 Fairfield Kitchen http://www.builderonline.com/design/hover-craft.aspx © Paul Bardagjy Photography

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges. The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work. Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other. All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan. Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape. The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

Flagstone stepping stones with ground cover between. For natural landscaping that brings beauty to your home or business, contact the professionals at Stout Design-Build, where we offer you a range of landscape design and building services that are . . . "Organic. Responsible. Naturally!" Stout Design-Build is a full service designing and building firm that offers a variety of residential and commercial services. We can help you with landscape design, landscape construction, building construction, and more. Our professionals have 20 years of design experience. We work with LEED certified, Green Point Rated, and standard properties. We focus on designing you a landscape that is efficient and beautiful with natural products from plants to patios, and with the implementation of water and energy conservation. We also renovate homes and offer them up for sale, providing you with stylish living at affordable prices. Everything we do is environmentally friendly, with great craftsmanship, so you will always get the best in quality whether you need landscape design and building or one of our other services. Contact the professionals at Stout Design-Build in Los Angeles, CA to get beautiful landscape design and professional quality services. Call 310-876-1018 to set up your consultation!

Photo Credit - David Bader
Example of a cottage l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, an island and black countertops

Backyard fire pit. Taken by Lara Swimmer. Landscape Design by ModernBackyard
Patio - contemporary backyard concrete paver patio idea in Seattle with a fire pit

Residential Design by Heydt Designs, Interior Design by Benjamin Dhong Interiors, Construction by Kearney & O'Banion, Photography by David Duncan Livingston

Jeff Herr
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor laundry room remodel in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and wood countertops

Modern large master bathroom. Very airy and light. Pure white Caesarstone quartz counter, hansgrohe metris faucet, glass mosaic tile (Daltile - City lights), taupe 12 x 24 porcelain floor (tierra Sol, English bay collection), bamboo cabinet, Georges Kovacs wall sconces, wall mirror Photo credit: Jonathan Solomon - http://www.solomonimages.com/

Compact master bath remodel, with hair accessories plug ins, Swiss Alps Photography
Inspiration for a small timeless master beige tile and travertine tile travertine floor and multicolored floor walk-in shower remodel in Portland with raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Shower bench - traditional travertine tile shower bench idea in Boston with a console sink

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

Photographer: Tom Crane Made of 300, 10-foot steel blades set upright 8 inches apart, the award winning Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural fence was designed for a home in Berwyn, Pennsylvania as a yard sculpture that also keeps deer out. Made of COR-TEN, a steel alloy that eliminates the need for painting and maintains a rich, dark rust color without corroding, the fence stanchions were cut with a plasma cutter from sheets of the alloy. Each blade stands 8 feet above grade, set in concrete 3 feet below, weighs 80-90 pounds and is 5/8 inch thick. The profile of the blades is an irregular trapezoid with no horizontal connections or supports. Only the gate has two horizontal bars, and each leaf weighs 1200 pounds.

Open shelving at the end of this large island helps lighten the visual weight of the piece, as well as providing easy access to cookbooks and other commonly used kitchen pieces. Learn more about the Normandy Remodeling Designer, Stephanie Bryant, who created this kitchen: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/stephaniebryant/

https://www.spacecrafting.com

Photography: ©ShadesOfGreen
This is an example of a contemporary backyard landscaping in San Francisco.