The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Middlefork was retained to update and revitalize this North Shore home to a family of six. The primary goal of this project was to update and expand the home's small, eat-in kitchen. The existing space was gutted and a 1,500-square-foot addition was built to house a gourmet kitchen, connected breakfast room, fireside seating, butler's pantry, and a small office. The family desired nice, timeless spaces that were also durable and family-friendly. As such, great consideration was given to the interior finishes. The 10' kitchen island, for instance, is a solid slab of white velvet quartzite, selected for its ability to withstand mustard, ketchup and finger-paint. There are shorter, walnut extensions off either end of the island that support the children's involvement in meal preparation and crafts. Low-maintenance Atlantic Blue Stone was selected for the perimeter counters. The scope of this phase grew to include re-trimming the front façade and entry to emphasize the Georgian detailing of the home. In addition, the balance of the first floor was gutted; existing plumbing and electrical systems were updated; all windows were replaced; two powder rooms were updated; a low-voltage distribution system for HDTV and audio was added; and, the interior of the home was re-trimmed. Two new patios were also added, providing outdoor areas for entertaining, dining and cooking. Tom Harris, Hedrich Blessing

A transitional townhouse for a family with a touch of modern design and blue accents. When I start a project, I always ask a client to describe three words that they want to describe their home. In this instance, the owner asked for a modern, clean, and functional aesthetic that would be family-friendly, while also allowing him to entertain. We worked around the owner's artwork by Ryan Fugate in order to choose a neutral but also sophisticated palette of blues, greys, and green for the entire home. Metallic accents create a more modern feel that plays off of the hardware already in the home. The result is a comfortable and bright home where everyone can relax at the end of a long day. Photography by Reagen Taylor Photography Collaboration with lead designer Travis Michael Interiors

A brick accent wall adds a touch of warmth in this industrial kitchen.
Inspiration for an industrial kitchen remodel in New York

This 100 year old, Federalist style home in the East End of Pittsburgh, was due for an update. The house sported original cabinetry and plumbing. The project included the entire house, to some degree, and some rooms, the kitchen, for instance, was a total gut job. Engineered hardwood was added to the rooms where old tar linoleum was installed, allowing for the original red oak to compliment these rooms easily. The master bathroom had previously undergone a minor remodel and I updated the entire house with new, mostly saturated, paint color by Benjamin Moore. My client had quite a nice collection of Baker furniture and upscale area rugs, and I took my cues from those pieces that were incorporated within the new design. My client has increased the value of his home substantially, and has recently upgraded the small exterior courtyard area with lovely perennials and new pavers and a fire pit; elements that are typically not found in a small city lot. The newly rennovated courtyard is a gathering spot for many outdoor parties that my client is famous for his hosting.

A transitional townhouse for a family with a touch of modern design and blue accents. When I start a project, I always ask a client to describe three words that they want to describe their home. In this instance, the owner asked for a modern, clean, and functional aesthetic that would be family-friendly, while also allowing him to entertain. We worked around the owner's artwork by Ryan Fugate in order to choose a neutral but also sophisticated palette of blues, greys, and green for the entire home. Metallic accents create a more modern feel that plays off of the hardware already in the home. The result is a comfortable and bright home where everyone can relax at the end of a long day. Photography by Reagen Taylor Photography Collaboration with lead designer Travis Michael Interiors

Jalapeno Photography © 2015 Houzz
Example of a farmhouse kitchen design in DC Metro

A Custom Exterior Entry Staircase In Seattle by Renovation Master Carpenter Westbrook Restorations. These entry stairs are a hybrid of old and new techniques to satisfy the historic look for continuity and the owners desire for low maintenance. For instance all framing is pressure treated and the treads are 1x4 iron wood decking with a space, allowing rain to go through like any other deck instead of, a full 5/4 fir bullnose tread, as would be used traditionally. Also all framing is pressure treated and the siding is hardi board. Includes iron wood treads, clear cedar risers, vertical grain clear cedar rail caps and grab rails, clear fir custom post caps, wood post wraps, and entry door to space under the stairs.

Scott Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees, Rain Garden Nursery. We planted this landscape this past winter, when it was impractical to install an irrigation system. We are returning now to finally install sprinklers. In the meantime these unique traveling sprinklers we also sell, do a great job. In many instances these systems are all an owner needs in the Pacific Northwest. With our short dry-season, and nearly year-round rain, these travelers do a fantastic job. As a matter of fact, this is all they use at the Frank Lloyd Wright Gordon House in Silverton. We replanted their turf, and installed the new Turf Patio Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned. This sprinkler does it all. Amazing for such a small investment. It does require someone available to set it up in a few minutes, a few times week, June thru mid -September.

Country home design photo in Bridgeport

Gallery This project was created with a unique and innovative design with the premise of integrating the comforts of the inside with the harmonious nautical environment outside, achieving the feeling of floating amongst the sailboats and cruises. The Casa Barco de Hormigon is a totally different design than what is presented in current architecture. Inspired by the moorings, sailing and cruising environment, this majestic space is completely built of concrete with nautical lines never seen in modern architectural construction, The interior of the project boasts concrete overhangs, decorative wall details that surprise and invite observation of each space to discover that each detail is designed to appreciate. The design uses sunlight and moonlight to form geometric figures that move throughout the interior, changing the sensations according to the time of day and night, achieving design movements at different times. This natural light plays with the curved partitions and impressive staircase to make one experience every design detail with every step. With this project, one will surely experience different environmental changes at varying moments, For instance, the jacuzzi with waterfall integrates the river elevation surrounded by 12 foot palm trees situated inside the home, overlooking the moorings and cruises, Also, an unprecedented fire table for moments in the afternoon or winters outside add to the creative design. By integrating the views of the river from each and every one of its vantage points, , this makes this design creative and innovative with maximum expression.

We love this hidden coffee bar. Pocket doors conceal the coffee maker and microwave. Previously this was a double oven space. Photos by Brian Covington

Mountain style home design photo in Atlanta

Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern concrete floor bedroom design in Portland

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2016 Houzz
Example of a 1950s living room design in San Francisco

Roma Groove Wall Hood

Inspiration for a timeless dining room remodel in New York

Awarded by the Classical institute of art and architecture , the linnean house has a restrained and simple elevation of doors and windows. Nestled in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the Linnean House is classical in both plan and elevation throughout its award-winning house plans. The main mass, comprising of the most formal and public spaces, is a spatial triptych along a symmetrical main axis. Inside the luxury home, the limestone façade, simple but well-proportioned with classical elements, extends itself into both the entry portico and main foyer with consistent proportions and materiality. This introduction allows the flanking living and dining rooms to be perceived as separate pavilions, each equipped with eight equal-proportioned French doors symmetrical of the main axis. Beyond the classical spaces are two wings which lead to the master suite and a kitchen/family space, respectively. Both of which are situated to queue from the French door axis, a focal feature in the repeatedly published home design. At the entry foyer, the stark stone luxury architecture is warmed by two symmetrical wood armoire-like freestanding sculptural objects, a persistent theme throughout the luxury house. In the kitchen, for instance, stand four similar wood armoire objects at opposite corners that act as columns and help give this space a sense of boundary and enclosure. The master bath vanity, in similar fashion, is introduced as a central free-standing form anchoring itself as a notable presence in the space. Lastly, the wine room is designed as a series of free-standing heavy wood cavity walls spanned only by a hint of glass.