Amelia B Lima
This is an example of an eclectic partial sun courtyard landscaping in San Diego.

This 7 year old carriage home was in excellent condition, yet dated with builder special finishes. I removed several pieces within the kitchen, including dated appliances, a few gingerbread valances, brass knobs, yellow paint, and a boring chandelier above the kitchen table area. I added a mixed materials backsplash, new oil rubbed bronze hardware throughout the home on all cabinetry and doors with the exception of the newly remodeled master bathroom. Large imposing faux pillars dominated the dining area, and once removed, allowed the open floor plan to flow. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter paint was used throughout the house except in the master bath where I used Sherwin Wms. Pediment. I added custom window treatments to all bedrooms and the living room, and the client opted for new furniture in the kitchen, living room and dining room, rounding out a most lovely new, and improved, transitional style. New lighting was added throughout the three bedroom home, and a covered room pergolas was added to the exterior patio area. The client, newly relocated to the Pittsburgh area from New York wanted a very specific master bathroom, and that is what was delivered: a top of the line, sleek, spa-like space that will allow seamless aging in place. Overall, the project went flawlessly and my client is very pleased with the results.

A plate rack on the end of a kitchen island creates a beautiful design element and an easy to access space to display your dishware collection. Our “Graphite” gray paint is becoming a popular color for accent areas like kitchen islands and wood hoods. This kitchen island is a beautiful example of Mountain Resort styling. Soaring mountain peaks, rugged terrain, and old pine forests appeal to a large audience of outdoor adventures. Regardless of whether your mountain experience includes skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, or lounging by the fireplace, the majestic grandeur and awe of the mountains have inspired a unique, architectural style. Rustic woods and equally rustic finishes are a notable feature of “Mountain” architecture. A massive, stone fireplace is another definitive focal point. Furnishings are imposing and luxurious, design elements are grand scale, and natural textures and surfaces (stone, wood, burnished, metals, etc.) are expertly blended. Rustic woods and distressed finishes are a perfect complement to “Mountain Resort” styling. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

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 7 year old carriage home was in excellent condition, yet dated with builder special finishes. I removed several pieces within the kitchen, including dated appliances, a few gingerbread valances, brass knobs, yellow paint, and a boring chandelier above the kitchen table area. I added a mixed materials backsplash, new oil rubbed bronze hardware throughout the home on all cabinetry and doors with the exception of the newly remodeled master bathroom. Large imposing faux pillars dominated the dining area, and once removed, allowed the open floor plan to flow. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter paint was used throughout the house except in the master bath where I used Sherwin Wms. Pediment. I added custom window treatments to all bedrooms and the living room, and the client opted for new furniture in the kitchen, living room and dining room, rounding out a most lovely new, and improved, transitional style. New lighting was added throughout the three bedroom home, and a covered room pergolas was added to the exterior patio area. The client, newly relocated to the Pittsburgh area from New York wanted a very specific master bathroom, and that is what was delivered: a top of the line, sleek, spa-like space that will allow seamless aging in place. Overall, the project went flawlessly and my client is very pleased with the results.

I was asked to design a new family home, for a lot that is third row back from the beach. As you can see the lot had numerous trees, all leaning in various directions, had to be accounted for. Besides the neighborhood restrictions the town, imposes even tighter guidelines on the mass and size of the building. The collaberation with my client has ended up with thise lovely new home, just waiting for memories to be made. Hee we can see the covered front porch with an open air second porch above. To help with the efficiency of the floor plan, due to site limitation, that fromt entry door is tucked around on the left side of the home. We wanted a the home to have a "beachy" vibe to the architecture style. I incorporated a number of "low country architectural" design elements to provide the beach cottage feel. We used NuCedar shingle siding for ease of maintance and Hardie trim, for the some reason. The home owner choose a bronze standing seam metal roof to compliment the soft grey shingle color.

This 7 year old carriage home was in excellent condition, yet dated with builder special finishes. I removed several pieces within the kitchen, including dated appliances, a few gingerbread valances, brass knobs, yellow paint, and a boring chandelier above the kitchen table area. I added a mixed materials backsplash, new oil rubbed bronze hardware throughout the home on all cabinetry and doors with the exception of the newly remodeled master bathroom. Large imposing faux pillars dominated the dining area, and once removed, allowed the open floor plan to flow. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter paint was used throughout the house except in the master bath where I used Sherwin Wms. Pediment. I added custom window treatments to all bedrooms and the living room, and the client opted for new furniture in the kitchen, living room and dining room, rounding out a most lovely new, and improved, transitional style. New lighting was added throughout the three bedroom home, and a covered room pergolas was added to the exterior patio area. The client, newly relocated to the Pittsburgh area from New York wanted a very specific master bathroom, and that is what was delivered: a top of the line, sleek, spa-like space that will allow seamless aging in place. Overall, the project went flawlessly and my client is very pleased with the results.

I was asked to design a new family home, for a lot that is third row back from the beach. As you can see the lot had numerous trees, all leaning in various directions, had to be accounted for. Besides the neighborhood restrictions the town, imposes even tighter guidelines on the mass and size of the building. The collaberation with my client has ended up with thise lovely new home, just waiting for memories to be made. Hee we can see the covered front porch with an open air second porch above. To help with the efficiency of the floor plan, due to site limitation, that fromt entry door is tucked around on the left side of the home. We wanted a the home to have a "beachy" vibe to the architecture style. I incorporated a number of "low country architectural" design elements to provide the beach cottage feel. We used NuCedar shingle siding for ease of maintance and Hardie trim, for the some reason. The home owner choose a bronze standing seam metal roof to compliment the soft grey shingle color.

This 7 year old carriage home was in excellent condition, yet dated with builder special finishes. I removed several pieces within the kitchen, including dated appliances, a few gingerbread valances, brass knobs, yellow paint, and a boring chandelier above the kitchen table area. I added a mixed materials backsplash, new oil rubbed bronze hardware throughout the home on all cabinetry and doors with the exception of the newly remodeled master bathroom. Large imposing faux pillars dominated the dining area, and once removed, allowed the open floor plan to flow. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter paint was used throughout the house except in the master bath where I used Sherwin Wms. Pediment. I added custom window treatments to all bedrooms and the living room, and the client opted for new furniture in the kitchen, living room and dining room, rounding out a most lovely new, and improved, transitional style. New lighting was added throughout the three bedroom home, and a covered room pergolas was added to the exterior patio area. The client, newly relocated to the Pittsburgh area from New York wanted a very specific master bathroom, and that is what was delivered: a top of the line, sleek, spa-like space that will allow seamless aging in place. Overall, the project went flawlessly and my client is very pleased with the results.

All rooms are oriented to the sea with sea view. The use of natural building materials such as wood and Green roofs brings the house close to nature. A natural pool reduces the impact on nature. ​ The plot has 5230,00m2 with a implanting area of 300m2, the existing edification is inserted in a rural space with view to the sea where olive, almond and orange trees predominate the landscape. Since the trees are centenaries the desire of keeping the them by the architect allowed the development of the house around the vegetation and facing the sea. The shape resulted from the bioclimatic study and the topographic survey, respecting the existing vegetation essencial to the good behavior of the built due to the solar and wind exposition imposes a compact construction on the north side, opening to the south. The villa layout was design so it respects the principles of Passive Haus such as insulation, ventilation and orientation of the building, so it enhances the passive solar gains as well. The dimension of the openings and the porches were thoroughly calculated to be exact to allow solar gain during winter and provide ideal shadow during summer. The use of green ecological extended roof give continuity to the vegetation that surrounds the house besides giving thermal balance to the interior, opening the space to natural light and allowing the gain through direct sun light. Controlled ventilation is a important strategy to passive cooling of the internal environment of the building, that helps keeping a healthy and comfortable environment for the occupants, without energetic costs. this strategy consists in the change between internal and external air. The electricity is provided by the installation of PhotoVoltaic panels and the domestic water and swimming pool will be made through thermal solar system. The construction is made with sustainable ecological materials providing a total integration of the building in the landscape.

All rooms are oriented to the sea with sea view. The use of natural building materials such as wood and Green roofs brings the house close to nature. A natural pool reduces the impact on nature. ​ The plot has 5230,00m2 with a implanting area of 300m2, the existing edification is inserted in a rural space with view to the sea where olive, almond and orange trees predominate the landscape. Since the trees are centenaries the desire of keeping the them by the architect allowed the development of the house around the vegetation and facing the sea. The shape resulted from the bioclimatic study and the topographic survey, respecting the existing vegetation essencial to the good behavior of the built due to the solar and wind exposition imposes a compact construction on the north side, opening to the south. The villa layout was design so it respects the principles of Passive Haus such as insulation, ventilation and orientation of the building, so it enhances the passive solar gains as well. The dimension of the openings and the porches were thoroughly calculated to be exact to allow solar gain during winter and provide ideal shadow during summer. The use of green ecological extended roof give continuity to the vegetation that surrounds the house besides giving thermal balance to the interior, opening the space to natural light and allowing the gain through direct sun light. Controlled ventilation is a important strategy to passive cooling of the internal environment of the building, that helps keeping a healthy and comfortable environment for the occupants, without energetic costs. this strategy consists in the change between internal and external air. The electricity is provided by the installation of PhotoVoltaic panels and the domestic water and swimming pool will be made through thermal solar system. The construction is made with sustainable ecological materials providing a total integration of the building in the landscape.

Pour créer un décor de détente, dans cette chambre, nous avons utilisé des couleurs claire et pastel. Le mur dégradé réalisé avec de la peinture nous fait penser à la mer, au ciel et inspire un environnement calme et paisible. De plus, l’ajout de coussin texturé et le choix de literie douce et blanche procurent à la propriétaire un max de confort dans cette chambre.

Made by VISTATILES Ships from a small business in Pennsylvania . Since Ottoman Arabesque Tile Tiles are produced by hand, it is normal to have color tones in the products. . Our Arabesque Ceramic-based product is glazed.Preserves its appearance for many years. No loss of color and pattern . Handmade tiles are fired (baked) at 1050 degrees. Therefore, the sun, wind, etc. weather resistant. . The product surface is resistant to water and moisture thanks to its glossy polished finish. Therefore, it does not hold water on its surface and prevents the formation of bacteria and mold. . Our tile products are preferred in your interior and exterior architectural decoration and designs and restoration projects. . We do not recommend using Ottoman Arabesk tiles directly in water. . You can easily use the products produced with special glaze crackle in wet places. . In front of the bar, Spa decoration, behind the Turkish bath basin, tile panel or above the basin, as a decor in the bathroom shower cabin, Kitchen countertop and countertop, etc. used in the fields. . Dimension:30X30 cm . 1 m2: ~ 10 file . 1 m2:~ 20 kg . Production in desired color Please note that international buyers are responsible for any duties/customs charges and import taxes associated with shipping to their respective countries. These fees are calculated and imposed by your country when the item arrives in the country.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The second-largest and most developed of Georgia's barrier islands, St. Simons is approximately twelve miles long and nearly three miles wide at its widest stretch (roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). The island is located in Glynn County on Georgia's coast and lies east of Brunswick (the seat of Glynn County), south of Little St. Simons Island and the Hampton River, and north of Jekyll Island. The resort community of Sea Island is separated from St. Simons on the east by the Black Banks River. Known for its oak tree canopies and historic landmarks, St. Simons is both a tourist destination and, according to the 2010 U.S. census, home to 12,743 residents. Early History The earliest St. Simons Island Village record of human habitation on the island dates to the Late Archaic Period, about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. Remnants of shell rings left behind by Native Americans from this era survive on many of the barrier islands, including St. Simons. Centuries later, during the period known by historians as the chiefdom era, the Guale Indians established a chiefdom centered on St. Catherines Island and used St. Simons as their hunting and fishing grounds. By 1500 the Guale had established a permanent village of about 200 people on St. Simons, which they called Guadalquini. Beginning in 1568, the Spanish attempted to create missions along the Georgia coast. Catholic missions were the primary means by which Georgia's indigenous Native American chiefdoms were assimilated into the Spanish colonial system along the northern frontier of greater Spanish Florida. In the 1600s St. Simons became home to two Spanish missions: San Buenaventura de Guadalquini, on the southern tip of the island, and Santo Domingo de Asao (or Asajo), on the northern tip. Located on the inland side of the island were the pagan refugee villages of San Simón, the island's namesake, and Ocotonico. In 1684 pirate raids left the missions and villages largely abandoned. Colonial History As Fort Frederica early as 1670, with Great Britain's establishment of the colony of Carolina and its expansion into Georgia territory, Spanish rule was threatened by the English. The Georgia coast was considered "debatable land" by England and Spain, even though Spain had fully retreated from St. Simons by 1702. Thirty-one years later General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English settlement of Savannah. In 1736 he established Fort Frederica, named after the heir to the British throne, Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, on the west side of St. Simons Island to protect Savannah and the Carolinas from the Spanish threat. Between 1736 and 1749 Fort Frederica was the hub of British military operations along the Georgia frontier. A town of the same name grew up around the fort and was of great importance to the new colony. By 1740 Frederica's population was 1,000. In 1736 the congregation of what would become Christ Church was organized within Fort Frederica as a mission of the Church of England. Charles Wesley led the first services. In 1742 Britain's decisive victory over Spain in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, ended the Spanish threat to the Georgia coast. When the British regimen disbanded in 1749, most of the townspeople relocated to the mainland. Fort Frederica went into decline and, except for a short time of prosperity during the 1760s and 1770s under the leadership of merchant James Spalding, never fully recovered. Today the historic citadel's tabby ruins are maintained by the National Park Service. Plantation Era By the start of the American Revolution (1775-83), Fort Frederica was obsolete, and St. Simons was left largely uninhabited as most of its residents joined the patriot army. Besides hosting a small Georgia naval victory on the Fort Frederica River, providing guns from its famous fort for use at Fort Morris in Sunbury, and serving as an arena for pillaging by privateers and British soldiers, the island played almost no role in the war. Following the war, many of the townspeople, their businesses destroyed, turned to agriculture. The island was transformed into fourteen cotton plantations after acres of live oak trees were cleared for farm land and used for building American warships, including the famous USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides." Although rice was the predominant crop along the neighboring Altamaha River, St. Simons was known for its production of long-staple cotton, which soon came to be known as Sea Island cotton. Between Ebos Landing the 1780s and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65), St. Simons's plantation culture flourished. The saline atmosphere and the availability of cheap slave labor proved an ideal combination for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. In 1803 a group of Ebo slaves who survived the Middle Passage and arrived on the west side of St. Simons staged a rebellion and drowned themselves. The sacred site is known today as Ebos Landing. One of the largest owners of land and slaves on St. Simons was Pierce Butler, master of Hampton Point Plantation, located on the northern end of the island. By 1793 Butler owned more than 500 slaves, who cultivated 800 acres of cotton on St. Simons and 300 acres of rice on Butler's Island in the Altamaha River delta. Butler's grandson, Pierce Mease Butler, who at the age of sixteen inherited a share of his grandfather's estate in 1826, was responsible for the largest sale of human beings in the history of the United States: in 1859, to restore his squandered fortune, he sold 429 slaves in Savannah for more than $300,000. The British actress and writer Fanny Kemble, whose tumultuous marriage to Pierce ended in divorce in 1849, published an eyewitness account of the evils of slavery on St. Simons in her book Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (1863). Another Retreat Plantation large owner of land and slaves on St. Simons was Major William Page, a friend and employee of Pierce Butler Sr. Before purchasing Retreat Plantation on the southwestern tip of the island in 1804, Page managed the Hampton plantation and Butler's Island. Upon Page's death in 1827, Thomas Butler King inherited the land together with his wife, Page's daughter, Anna Matilda Page King. King expanded his father-in-law's planting empire on St. Simons as well as on the mainland, and by 1835 Retreat Plantation alone was home to as many as 355 slaves. The center of life during the island's plantation era was Christ Church, Frederica. Organized in 1807 by a group of island planters, the Episcopal church is the second oldest in the Diocese of Georgia. Embargoes imposed by the War of 1812 (1812-15) prevented the parishioners from building a church structure, so they worshiped in the home of John Beck, which stood on the site of Oglethorpe's only St. Simons residence, Orange Hall. The first Christ Church building, finished on the present site in 1820, was ruined by occupying Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884 the Reverend Anson Dodge Jr. rebuilt the church as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The cruciform building with a trussed gothic roof and stained-glass windows remains active today as Christ Church. Civil War and Beyond The St. Simons Island Lighthouse outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 put a sudden end to St. Simons's lucrative plantation era. In January of that year, Confederate troops were stationed at the south end of the island to guard the entrance to Brunswick Harbor. Slaves from Retreat Plantation, owned by Thomas Butler King, built earthworks and batteries. Plantation residents were scattered—the men joined the Confederate army and their families moved to the mainland. Cannon fire was heard on the island in December 1861, and Confederate troops retreated in February 1862, after dynamiting the lighthouse to keep its beacon from aiding Union troops. Soon thereafter, Union troops occupied the island, which was used as a camp for freed slaves. By August 1862 more than 500 former slaves lived on St. Simons, including Susie King Taylor, who organized a school for freed slave children. But in November the ex-slaves were taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Fernandina, Florida, leaving the island abandoned. After the Civil War the island never returned to its status as an agricultural community. The plantations lay dormant because there were no slaves to work the fields. After Union general William T. Sherman's January 1865 Special Field Order No. 15 —a demand that former plantations be divided and distributed to former slaves—was overturned by U.S. president Andrew Johnson less than a year later, freedmen and women were forced to work as sharecroppers on the small farms that dotted the land previously occupied by the sprawling plantations. By St. Simons Lumber Mills 1870 real economic recovery began with the reestablishment of the timber industry. Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs of New York set up lumber mill operations at Gascoigne Bluff, formerly Hamilton Plantation. The lumber mills provided welcome employment for both blacks and whites and also provided mail and passenger boats to the mainland. Such water traffic, together with the construction of a new lighthouse in 1872, designed by architect Charles B. Cluskey, marked the beginning of St. Simons's tourism industry. The keeper of the lighthouse created a small amusement park, which drew many visitors, as did the seemingly miraculous light that traveled from the top of the lighthouse tower to the bottom. The island became a summer retreat for families from the mainland, particularly from Baxley, Brunswick, and Waycross. The island's resort industry was thriving by the 1880s. Beachfront structures, such as a new pier and grand hotel, were built on the southeastern end of the island and could be accessed by ferry. Around this time wealthy northerners began vacationing on the island. Twentieth Century The St. Simons Island Pier and Village opening in 1924 of the Brunswick–St. Simons Highway, today known as the Torras Causeway, was a milestone in the development of resorts in the area. St. Simons's beaches were now easily accessible to locals and tourists alike. More than 5,000 automobiles took the short drive from Brunswick to St. Simons via the causeway on its opening day, paving the way for convenient residential and resort development. In 1926 automotive pioneer Howard Coffin of Detroit, Michigan, bought large tracts of land on St. Simons, including the former Retreat Plantation, and constructed a golf course, yacht club, paved roads, and a residential subdivision. Although the causeway had brought large numbers of summer people to the island, St. Simons remained a small community with only a few hundred permanent residents until the 1940s. The St. Simons Island outbreak of World War II (1941-45) brought more visitors and residents to St. Simons. Troops stationed at Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah; and nearby Camp Stewart took weekend vacations on the island, and a new naval air base and radar school became home to even more officers and soldiers. The increased wartime population brought the island its first public school. With a major shipyard for the production of Liberty ships in nearby Brunswick, the waters of St. Simons became active with German U-boats. In April 1942, just off the coast, the Texas Company oil tanker S. S. Oklahoma and the S. S. Esso Baton Rouge were torpedoed by the Germans, bringing the war very close to home for island residents. Due in large part to the military's improvement of the island's infrastructure during the war, development on the island boomed in the 1950s and 1960s. More permanent homes and subdivisions were built, and the island was no longer just a summer resort but also a thriving community. In 1950 the Methodist conference and retreat center Epworth by the Sea opened on Gascoigne Bluff. In 1961 novelist Eugenia Price visited St. Simons and began work on her first works of fiction, known as the St. Simons Trilogy. Inspired by real events on the island, Price's trilogy renewed interest in the history of Georgia's coast, and the novelist herself relocated to the island in 1965 and lived there for thirty-one years. St. Simons is also home to contemporary Georgia writer Tina McElroy Ansa. Since Epworth by the Sea 1980 St. Simons's population has doubled. The island's continued status as a vacation destination and its ongoing development boom have put historic landmarks and natural areas at risk. While such landmarks as the Fort Frederica ruins and the Battle of Bloody Marsh site are preserved and maintained by the National Park Service, and while the historic lighthouse is maintained by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, historic Ebos Landing has been taken over by a sewage treatment plant. Several coastal organizations have formed in recent years to save natural areas on the island. The St. Simons Land Trust, for example, has received donations of large tracts of land and plans to protect property in the island's three traditional African American neighborhoods. Despite its rapid growth and development, St. Simons remains one of the most beautiful and important islands on the Georgia coast.

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.

Serenity Farm, where celebrations and purposeful can come alive in a the most peaceful setting, surrounded by the best Sonoma has to offer and grazing donkeys and other invited wildlife. It’s contemporary farm style exterior and interior exudes warmth, with soaring interior ceilings and exposed glulam beams, mezzanine walkways, and steel open staircase, all create an inviting atmosphere, mixed with intelligent building design aimed at sustainability, resiliency, durability and energy and resource efficiency. Adjacent to the barn, a sun-kissed bocce ball court invites friendly competition under the California sky. The adjoined guest house seamlessly marries contemporary design with farmhouse sensibilities. Clean lines, expansive windows, and a standing-seam metal roof define its character. The barn spills onto a vast covered patio with heaters and BBQ area and fire table a seating for many A dedicated section of the barn houses miniature ponies. Children and adults alike delight in their playful presence. Outdoor pastures provide ample space for the ponies to roam freely. The orchard, with its fruit-laden trees, adds to the bucolic charm. A meandering brook winds through the front of the property, providing a soothing soundtrack that echoes through its serpentine old olive tree grove. Deliberately modest, tucked into the hillside for minimal impact, the structure and hardscaping embraces its surroundings without imposing on it. But just walk to the edge of the gardens one can contemplate the Sonoma Valley all the way down to San Francisco. Both in terms of design and construction, Serenity Farm invites you to escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary. Designed by EAG Studio | Built by Character Builders

This dramatic remodel reinvigorated mid-century modern with an updated contemporary vibe after earlier updates had traditionalized the home. Completed in 2022, a significant reorganization of the space removed an existing fireplace and reallocated a living room to create a centrally located open-concept Kitchen and Dining Room. Dominating the kitchen is the spectacular emerald-toned glass cabinetry. Vivid and rich, the matte glass provides a depth and softness unmatched by painted cabinetry. Natural quartzite slabs wrap the waterfalled island and backsplashes, the unique graining provides interest without competing against the bold cabinetry. The home’s unique butterfly floorplan is reflected in the various angles incorporated into the architectural elements of the island, new walls and directing paths through offset openings. A series of interconnected beams, soffits, and columns impose spatial order and break the space into digestible visual components. The gas range is incorporated into a niche that contains a generous backbar, full-height backsplash and integrated spice storage. The island features brass inlays at slab breaks and a contrasting granite backchannel with an inconspicuous ‘scrubby-dubby cubby’ at one end for concealing cleaning supplies. The knee space is clad in the white oak planks of the floor, aligned and turned vertically as if folded. A distinctive black stained buffet with touch latch drawers is comprised of strips of cherry repurposed from paneling found in den. Matching woodwork is incorporated into the Foyer and wraps the Fireplace.

Grand Interior Elevation: Custom Masonry and Seamless Architectural Transitions This perspective highlights the verticality and structural flow of the estate. By balancing heavy natural stone with warm wood accents, the design achieves a "mountain modern" luxury aesthetic that is both imposing and inviting. Full-Height Stone Fireplace: A massive, floor-to-ceiling fireplace serves as the room’s primary focal point. The stone features a dynamic natural grain and is finished with a custom decorative iron hearth gate, echoing the scrollwork found throughout the home. Italian Porcelain Foundations: The large-format Italian porcelain plank tiles continue through this high-traffic transition zone, demonstrating the material's versatility and the precision of the layout across multiple structural planes. Integrated Woodworking: The custom timber door frames and cabinetry are hand-selected to match the vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling, creating a cohesive wood-toned "envelope" for the upper half of the room. Spatial Connectivity: The decorative wrought iron and timber railing provides a visual bridge to the lower levels, ensuring the open-concept layout maintains a sense of safety and defined boundaries without sacrificing the airy feel. Strategic Lighting: Recessed LED pot lights are precision-mounted within the cedar ceiling to provide even illumination while highlighting the textures of the stone and soapstone alcove.

Nestled in a home in Thrapston, this stunning kitchen was the result of a chance connection over golf, and it turned into something simply perfect for a lovely family. There’s a great story behind this kitchen. It might never have happened if not for a few golf lessons with a brilliant local pro, who, as it turned out, needed a kitchen. The result is a beautiful room that we’re proud to have delivered from start to finish. We used Crown Imperial’s Midsomer range for this project, painted in Sage and Blush. The Royal Calacatta Gold Quartz worktops bring a soft, luxurious feel to the space, and the Karndean herringbone floor adds warmth and texture underfoot. Bosch appliances and a standout gold Quooker tap bring both function and flair. That Quooker, especially, was a decision that took a bit of bravery, but it paid off. There are a few design details that really make this kitchen special to us. The tall units in Blush add a soft accent, with matching tiles at the opposite end of the room to tie the whole space together. A curved pilaster helps soften the corner, making the tall units feel less imposing. And the centralised hob with integrated canopy hood gives the room a far cleaner, more balanced finish, even if it did require a bit of head scratching during the design stage. We handled the entire project, from removing the old kitchen to the final finishing touches. That included plumbing, electrics, plastering, and the new flooring—every step was taken care of by our team. This kitchen is more than just a pretty space – it’s full of considered design choices and lovely touches that really suit the family who lives here. We adore how it turned out. A truly lovely room for a lovely family.