Inspiration for a large coastal gray two-story metal flat roof remodel in San Francisco

This 1600+ square foot basement was a diamond in the rough. We were tasked with keeping farmhouse elements in the design plan while implementing industrial elements. The client requested the space include a gym, ample seating and viewing area for movies, a full bar , banquette seating as well as area for their gaming tables - shuffleboard, pool table and ping pong. By shifting two support columns we were able to bury one in the powder room wall and implement two in the custom design of the bar. Custom finishes are provided throughout the space to complete this entertainers dream.

Cozy and adorable Guest Cottage. Architectural Designer: Peter MacDonald of Peter Stafford MacDonald and Company Interior Designer: Jeremy Wunderlich (of Hanson Nobles Wunderlich)

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

*The Dining room doors were custom designed by LDa and made by Blue Anchor Woodworks Inc in Marblehead, MA. The floors are constructed of a baked white oak surface-treated with an ebony analine dye. Chandelier: Restoration Hardware | Milos Chandelier Floor Lamp: Aqua Creations | Morning Glory Floor Lamp BASE TRIM Benjamin Moore White Z-235-01 Satin Impervo Alkyd low Luster Enamel DOOR TRIM Benjamin Moore White Z-235-01 Satin Impervo Alkyd low Luster Enamel WINDOW TRIM Benjamin Moore White Z-235-01 Satin Impervo Alkyd low Luster Enamel WALLS Benjamin Moore White Eggshell CEILING Benjamin Moore Ceiling White Flat Finish Credit: Sam Gray Photography

Large minimalist white three-story wood exterior home photo in Burlington with a metal roof

This project is proof that the challenges posed by limited space and accessibility can always be overcome in order to deliver stunning results. The space itself was rather small and also very close to the neighboring residence. Not only was the neighboring wall imposing, it was also of a completely different design style. The goal here was to create a layering effect with numerous features of varying heights. Not only would this add depth and dimension to the overall design, but it would cause the viewer to shift their focus from the encroaching wall to the beauty of the pool space. Instead of trying to maximize the water area by squaring off the pool, I decided to instead maximize the visual interest by gracefully rounding off the back wall of the pool. This was accomplished by implementing a raised stucco wall, and also a shorter, matching curved wall, featuring a "Sheer Descent" waterfall. Inside the taller, deep-plum stucco wall, I created three vertical windows which are all highlighted by LED uplighting. To give depth, dimension and some natural beauty, I implemented a simple bed of Horse Tail Reeds behind the short wall, and chose to place Banana Trees behind the taller wall. The main seating area is just outside the home's master suite, and is separated by a "Leuder" limestone fire pit. Aside from being a striking design feature, the floating stepper pads accomplish a number of things; they serve triple-duty as a walkway, a seating area adjacent to the fire pit, and also as a poolside rest for beverages. After discovering that the narrow courtyard acted as a sort of wind tunnel between the two houses, we opted to install tempered glass in order to better control the behavior of the flames. This solved the problem while remaining visually pleasing to the client as well. You'll notice in some of the leading photos for this project that I had originally intended to implement stepper pads on both sides of the pool closest to the house. And despite a thorough understanding of what would be necessary on an engineering and structural-design basis, we were eventually forced to turn this into a solid deck due to unrelenting city-required setbacks. However the client remained very understanding due to encountering a number of similar issues in their home-build process. In the end, they were delivered an outstanding pool design that had come to fruition only after coming up with numerous solutions to a number of challenges that only a unique space like this could provide.

This 1600+ square foot basement was a diamond in the rough. We were tasked with keeping farmhouse elements in the design plan while implementing industrial elements. The client requested the space include a gym, ample seating and viewing area for movies, a full bar , banquette seating as well as area for their gaming tables - shuffleboard, pool table and ping pong. By shifting two support columns we were able to bury one in the powder room wall and implement two in the custom design of the bar. Custom finishes are provided throughout the space to complete this entertainers dream.

Inspiration for a cottage home office remodel in St Louis

Placed upon a sunlit grassy knoll facing Colorado’s San Juan, and San Miguel mountain ranges, with Utah’s La Salle Mountains to the south, North Star Ranch overlooks an Aspen painted valley with touches of Ponderosa and Scrub Oak accents. The core of the structure was designed with large facades of glazing facing the southern views while the garage was rotated 45 degrees to work with the existing grades as well as minimize the impact of the garage pod as one approaches the home. The home was thoughtfully sited to nestle next to a several large existing Ponderosa Pines creating an intimate mountain setting. Sustainable measures were discussed and implemented early during the design and construction process such as utilizing indigenous stone harvested from site for retaining walls and portions of the home’s veneer. Reclaimed materials were considered and implemented wherever possible, ranging from historic wood directly from “The Wizard of Oz” production set to miscellaneous parts from old mining carts historic to the area. The historic wood was given a patch work effect combining horizontal planks with a reverse vertical board and batten with a mixture rusted metal accents on certain walls to introduce a visual exception from the consistency of the wood. Wood and steel structural members such as timber trusses, knee braces, purlins, beams and columns are exposed throughout the exterior and interior as a way of celebrating the structure and telling the story of how the home is constructed. As guests arrive, they are welcomed by an entry bridge constructed from a single solid stone slab 2 1/2 feet thick spanning over a calm flowing stream. The bridge is covered by an articulated gable element supported by ornate columns and connections tying directly to the stone slab. The layout of the interior is divided into separate living corridors; a master core witch houses the master suite, office, sitting room and exercise room with a separate stair connecting to all three levels. The centrally located kitchen was designed with several working and entertaining stations defined by multiple islands and a floor to ceiling wall of glass in lieu of wall lined cabinets to allow for maximum natural light in the major public areas. The core living spaces are linked via an internal trestle bridge designed on location and constructed from old mine carts as the walking surface and the reclaimed steel wheels as a structural detail. The rest of the home is detailed throughout with ornamental ironwork, granites, tiles, etc. all enhancing the modern like aesthetic with an historic mining influence. (photos by James Ray Spahn)

Placed upon a sunlit grassy knoll facing Colorado’s San Juan, and San Miguel mountain ranges, with Utah’s La Salle Mountains to the south, North Star Ranch overlooks an Aspen painted valley with touches of Ponderosa and Scrub Oak accents. The core of the structure was designed with large facades of glazing facing the southern views while the garage was rotated 45 degrees to work with the existing grades as well as minimize the impact of the garage pod as one approaches the home. The home was thoughtfully sited to nestle next to a several large existing Ponderosa Pines creating an intimate mountain setting. Sustainable measures were discussed and implemented early during the design and construction process such as utilizing indigenous stone harvested from site for retaining walls and portions of the home’s veneer. Reclaimed materials were considered and implemented wherever possible, ranging from historic wood directly from “The Wizard of Oz” production set to miscellaneous parts from old mining carts historic to the area. The historic wood was given a patch work effect combining horizontal planks with a reverse vertical board and batten with a mixture rusted metal accents on certain walls to introduce a visual exception from the consistency of the wood. Wood and steel structural members such as timber trusses, knee braces, purlins, beams and columns are exposed throughout the exterior and interior as a way of celebrating the structure and telling the story of how the home is constructed. As guests arrive, they are welcomed by an entry bridge constructed from a single solid stone slab 2 1/2 feet thick spanning over a calm flowing stream. The bridge is covered by an articulated gable element supported by ornate columns and connections tying directly to the stone slab. The layout of the interior is divided into separate living corridors; a master core witch houses the master suite, office, sitting room and exercise room with a separate stair connecting to all three levels. The centrally located kitchen was designed with several working and entertaining stations defined by multiple islands and a floor to ceiling wall of glass in lieu of wall lined cabinets to allow for maximum natural light in the major public areas. The core living spaces are linked via an internal trestle bridge designed on location and constructed from old mine carts as the walking surface and the reclaimed steel wheels as a structural detail. The rest of the home is detailed throughout with ornamental ironwork, granites, tiles, etc. all enhancing the modern like aesthetic with an historic mining influence. (photos by James Ray Spahn)

Placed upon a sunlit grassy knoll facing Colorado’s San Juan, and San Miguel mountain ranges, with Utah’s La Salle Mountains to the south, North Star Ranch overlooks an Aspen painted valley with touches of Ponderosa and Scrub Oak accents. The core of the structure was designed with large facades of glazing facing the southern views while the garage was rotated 45 degrees to work with the existing grades as well as minimize the impact of the garage pod as one approaches the home. The home was thoughtfully sited to nestle next to a several large existing Ponderosa Pines creating an intimate mountain setting. Sustainable measures were discussed and implemented early during the design and construction process such as utilizing indigenous stone harvested from site for retaining walls and portions of the home’s veneer. Reclaimed materials were considered and implemented wherever possible, ranging from historic wood directly from “The Wizard of Oz” production set to miscellaneous parts from old mining carts historic to the area. The historic wood was given a patch work effect combining horizontal planks with a reverse vertical board and batten with a mixture rusted metal accents on certain walls to introduce a visual exception from the consistency of the wood. Wood and steel structural members such as timber trusses, knee braces, purlins, beams and columns are exposed throughout the exterior and interior as a way of celebrating the structure and telling the story of how the home is constructed. As guests arrive, they are welcomed by an entry bridge constructed from a single solid stone slab 2 1/2 feet thick spanning over a calm flowing stream. The bridge is covered by an articulated gable element supported by ornate columns and connections tying directly to the stone slab. The layout of the interior is divided into separate living corridors; a master core witch houses the master suite, office, sitting room and exercise room with a separate stair connecting to all three levels. The centrally located kitchen was designed with several working and entertaining stations defined by multiple islands and a floor to ceiling wall of glass in lieu of wall lined cabinets to allow for maximum natural light in the major public areas. The core living spaces are linked via an internal trestle bridge designed on location and constructed from old mine carts as the walking surface and the reclaimed steel wheels as a structural detail. The rest of the home is detailed throughout with ornamental ironwork, granites, tiles, etc. all enhancing the modern like aesthetic with an historic mining influence. (photos by James Ray Spahn)

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.

Inspiration for a modern wooden u-shaped open and metal railing staircase remodel in Austin

Eric Roth Photography
Example of a mid-sized country open concept light wood floor living room design in Boston with white walls and no tv

Jim Tschetter
Great room - contemporary great room idea in Chicago with white walls

Kitchen pantry - mid-sized transitional kitchen pantry idea in Nashville with open cabinets

Placed upon a sunlit grassy knoll facing Colorado’s San Juan, and San Miguel mountain ranges, with Utah’s La Salle Mountains to the south, North Star Ranch overlooks an Aspen painted valley with touches of Ponderosa and Scrub Oak accents. The core of the structure was designed with large facades of glazing facing the southern views while the garage was rotated 45 degrees to work with the existing grades as well as minimize the impact of the garage pod as one approaches the home. The home was thoughtfully sited to nestle next to a several large existing Ponderosa Pines creating an intimate mountain setting. Sustainable measures were discussed and implemented early during the design and construction process such as utilizing indigenous stone harvested from site for retaining walls and portions of the home’s veneer. Reclaimed materials were considered and implemented wherever possible, ranging from historic wood directly from “The Wizard of Oz” production set to miscellaneous parts from old mining carts historic to the area. The historic wood was given a patch work effect combining horizontal planks with a reverse vertical board and batten with a mixture rusted metal accents on certain walls to introduce a visual exception from the consistency of the wood. Wood and steel structural members such as timber trusses, knee braces, purlins, beams and columns are exposed throughout the exterior and interior as a way of celebrating the structure and telling the story of how the home is constructed. As guests arrive, they are welcomed by an entry bridge constructed from a single solid stone slab 2 1/2 feet thick spanning over a calm flowing stream. The bridge is covered by an articulated gable element supported by ornate columns and connections tying directly to the stone slab. The layout of the interior is divided into separate living corridors; a master core witch houses the master suite, office, sitting room and exercise room with a separate stair connecting to all three levels. The centrally located kitchen was designed with several working and entertaining stations defined by multiple islands and a floor to ceiling wall of glass in lieu of wall lined cabinets to allow for maximum natural light in the major public areas. The core living spaces are linked via an internal trestle bridge designed on location and constructed from old mine carts as the walking surface and the reclaimed steel wheels as a structural detail. The rest of the home is detailed throughout with ornamental ironwork, granites, tiles, etc. all enhancing the modern like aesthetic with an historic mining influence. (photos by James Ray Spahn)

This project is proof that the challenges posed by limited space and accessibility can always be overcome in order to deliver stunning results. The space itself was rather small and also very close to the neighboring residence. Not only was the neighboring wall imposing, it was also of a completely different design style. The goal here was to create a layering effect with numerous features of varying heights. Not only would this add depth and dimension to the overall design, but it would cause the viewer to shift their focus from the encroaching wall to the beauty of the pool space. Instead of trying to maximize the water area by squaring off the pool, I decided to instead maximize the visual interest by gracefully rounding off the back wall of the pool. This was accomplished by implementing a raised stucco wall, and also a shorter, matching curved wall, featuring a "Sheer Descent" waterfall. Inside the taller, deep-plum stucco wall, I created three vertical windows which are all highlighted by LED uplighting. To give depth, dimension and some natural beauty, I implemented a simple bed of Horse Tail Reeds behind the short wall, and chose to place Banana Trees behind the taller wall. The main seating area is just outside the home's master suite, and is separated by a "Leuder" limestone fire pit. Aside from being a striking design feature, the floating stepper pads accomplish a number of things; they serve triple-duty as a walkway, a seating area adjacent to the fire pit, and also as a poolside rest for beverages. After discovering that the narrow courtyard acted as a sort of wind tunnel between the two houses, we opted to install tempered glass in order to better control the behavior of the flames. This solved the problem while remaining visually pleasing to the client as well. You'll notice in some of the leading photos for this project that I had originally intended to implement stepper pads on both sides of the pool closest to the house. And despite a thorough understanding of what would be necessary on an engineering and structural-design basis, we were eventually forced to turn this into a solid deck due to unrelenting city-required setbacks. However the client remained very understanding due to encountering a number of similar issues in their home-build process. In the end, they were delivered an outstanding pool design that had come to fruition only after coming up with numerous solutions to a number of challenges that only a unique space like this could provide.