Natural light and its inherent mutability are the focus of this architectural investigation. Here it is used as a material to enhance one’s experience of the space and understanding of the sun’s movement across the sky. Different areas of activity within the open space are accentuated by clusters of light wells located over the dining table and kitchen island. Each light well has a different orientation to the sky that brings in varied and undulating shafts of light during the day. A single continuous slice of natural light at the perimeter defines a “proscenium” of the ceiling plane and produces the same play of light and shadow across the vertical surfaces. Project Manager / Architect at Maryann Thompson Architects Photography: Anton Grassl

No one enjoys the idea of their pets or children being exposed to the hazardous fumes found in many traditional paints. Green painting, or eco friendly painting, has exploded in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Up until recently, green paint was hard to find and was very experience. Today, most major paint manufacturers carry many different types and colors of environmentally friendly paint. Fresh Coat of Northern Colorado can help you pick the perfect green painting and can even find you paint made from 100% organic materials. Our Fort Collins green painting professionals can help you transform your home into an eco friendly haven. They will help explain what ingredients were used in the paint base and dye, and will even help you track down where the paint was made for further investigating. If lowering the impact of your painting project on the environment and your families' health is important to you, green painting is a great idea. Give us a call today for more information or to receive a free estimate.

The Owners of this boathouse on Lake Rosseau approached us to modify the existing structure. Classic Muskoka Homes prepared a Fixed-Price proposal for the construction of a new sloped roof structure for the existing boathouse which had an existing flat roof. Work got underway with demolition & framing work on the roof structure. Upon investigation, it was determined that water ingress had caused damage to a wall and dock stringer timber along the boathouse's South wall. Port Sandfield Dockworks Incorporated performed repair work on the dock. We subsequently repaired the rotted wall framing in boathouse South wall. New shingle roofing, board & batten siding, aluminum soffit & fascia were installed to integrate a fresh look for the boathouse. This boathouse building project was completed within approximately one (1) month in 2013.

The clients came with a plan: buy a charming mid-century post and beam in one of North Vancouver's most desirable neighbourhoods and add onto it. It was a reasonable plan — until the site said otherwise. Careful investigation of the setbacks made clear that a practical addition simply wasn't possible within the regulatory envelope. Rather than deliver a compromised renovation, a better option was put on the table: build new. It was a bigger decision, but the right one. The new design honours the spirit of the original mid-century post and beam with a modern interpretation of the style — the clean lines, the honest structure, the relationship between inside and outside that defines the best homes of that era, updated for the way families live today. The case for building new only got stronger from there. A basement suite was incorporated into the design to generate rental revenue, offsetting the cost difference between renovating and rebuilding. The home is built to Net Zero ready standards — future-proofed against energy costs and built to last a lifetime rather than a generation. And the separate living space that serves as a rental suite today becomes something else entirely when the time comes: a comfortable, close, and dignified space for grandparents who need to be nearby. What started as a renovation became a home the family will never need to leave.

Vigilant Floral in Delft strikes the right refined yet playful note in this artistic Dallas townhouse designed by Alice Cottrell. Photography by: Stephen Karlisch. At first glance a traditional floral, but upon deeper investigation you realize you’re not alone. You’re being watched. A fantastic take on today’s big brother culture, Dan Funderburgh uses security cameras to reveal how we have become impervious enough to the presence of cameras that we don’t even notice them immediately when in such a contradictory scenario such as this floral wallpaper. Birds and butterflies on razor is another less than subtle comment on humans entrap themselves and nature on a daily basis. Yet the serious nature of the commentary loses out to the overall humor behind the way the elements have been combined and that is exactly why Vigilant Floral is destined to become a classic. This handscreened pattern is available in four colorways with customization offered.

The family purchased the 1950s ranch on Mullet Lake because their daughter dreamed of being married on its shores. The home would be used for the wedding venue and then as a wedding gift to the young couple. We were originally hired in August 2014 to help with a simple renovation of the home that was to be completed well in advance of the August 2015 wedding date. However, thorough investigation revealed significant issues with the original foundation, floor framing and other critical elements of the home’s structure that made that impossible. Based on this information, the family decided to tear down and build again. So now we were tasked with designing a new home that would embody their daughter’s vision of a storybook home – a vision inspired by another one of our projects that she had toured. To capture this aesthetic, traditional cottage materials such as stone and cedar shakes are accentuated by more materials such as reclaimed barn wood siding and corrugated CORTEN steel accent roofs. Inside, interior finishes include hand-hewn timber accents that frame openings and highlight features like the entrance reading nook. Natural materials shine against white walls and simply furnished rooms. While the house has nods to vintage style throughout, the open-plan kitchen and living area allows for both contemporary living and entertaining. We were able to capture their daughter’s vision and the home was completed on time for her big day. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Imagine a chair you could really nestle into; that felt like you were sinking into a basket full of pillows. Well, it already exists, and it’s called the Womb Chair. Designed by mid-century mastermind Eero Saarinen to be just that—the Womb Chair mimics the cosseting of, well, a womb. Always given to experimentation, Saarinen wanted to investigate how comfort could be defined by the shape of a chair, and not necessarily by overstuffed cushioning—as in the case of most armchairs of the time. Taking his cues from fibreglass boat building, he decided to use a material previously unheard of. In a feat of remarkable engineering, the shell of this chair is in fibreglass, moulded over with foam, and flawlessly supported by splayed steel rod legs. The enveloping sculptural expression of the Womb Chair continues to be one of the most recognized representations of Saarinen’s legacy and the organic modernism movement.

This project was a ton of fun. I have been working with these clients, now dear friends, for several years on their various properties and we work really well together. For their desert home, my goal was to create a new experience with each space while maintaining flow. This required striking a balance between organic light/airy spaces and glam dark/moody spaces. The finishes specified ranged from blackened steel, walnut, polished brass, rubbed plaster, digital wallcovering and back lit quartz to name a few. When a space draws you in closer to investigate there is a moment of discovery that elicits an emotional response. These spaces do just that. From sublime light fixtures to cozy seating vignettes, this home is a beautiful sanctuary - a place to entertain friends and family both indoors and out. It is a poised exercise in effortless, relaxed, edgy luxe design.

We typically meet clients who want to renovate with a need, want or desire in mind. In this case, our client needed to update their full bath as the tub and shower plumbing was leaking into the walls, floor and sub-floor; a complete de-construction was required. Upon investigation, we noticed no mechanical ventilation in place which caused moisture build up and mold to appear. Installing the proper ventilation was ley to ensuring a heathy bathroom environment. All fixtures were replaced along with a wood vanity with drawer for tissue and towel storage. A popular trend, classic Carrera-look quartz countertop, wall and floor tiles created an airy and bright feel. The soft green colored walls was the perfect choice, coordinating nicely with the pretty glass tile mosaic details in the shower area.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com Project Entry: Pembrooke Estate Rain Garden 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Sustainable Landscape &60,000-$120,000 Award Level: Silver Project Description: The client contracted our company to solve multiple existing drainage problems. In a heavy rain event the existing French drain system would overflow, causing water to pool in the driveway. After investigating the system we found that the capacity of the French drain was undersized for the amount of storm water from the large rain events received in recent years. As a result of our findings and at the request of the homeowner, we designed a storm water management system to capture all storm water from the structures on the property and regenerate the underground aquifers for the volume of a 5.8” rainstorm. In addition to the new drain system, the homeowners wanted a rain garden to provide a backdrop for an existing formal garden, provide a habitat for wildlife, and provide screening from an adjacent neighbor. Throughout the design process many challenges were presented, including an existing gas line, which ran directly through the area that best suited the bioswale. The existence of the gas line caused us to alter the shape and depth of the bioswale in some areas. We also inspected the existing downspouts to make sure there were no obstructions that would impede the system’s efficiency, and then conducted a test pit dig to make sure we had sufficient percolation rates for disposal of storm water. To effectively capture the storm water runoff, the existing downspouts were piped from the main house and the large detached garage to a large catch basin located at the low point in the driveway. The driveway catch basin contains two outlet pipes at different elevations within the basin allowing water from smaller rain events to enter the bioswale and rain garden area to percolate into the soil before excess water overflows into a sediment trap which filters out any debris and is then piped to an underground StormTech® pit to slowly percolate into the ground. The other outlet pipe in the driveway catch basin is used for larger storm water events, taking the water directly to the StormTech® pit. Accepting and slowing the velocity of the storm water, mitigation of erosion, and filtering out pollutants contained in the “first flush” of rainfall are the primary functions of the bioswale and rain garden. Planting these areas with mostly native plant species helps carry out these functions while attracting and providing shelter for wildlife. The ‘Niobe’ weeping willow is the centerpiece of the rain garden, connecting with the axis of the existing formal garden. To screen the neighboring property we chose Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ for its graceful evergreen habit and tolerance of wet sites. ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood and Panicum ‘Cloud Nine’ were used for screening as well as winter interest. To provide deciduous structure to the garden Taxodium distichum and Magnolia virginiana were used in conjunction with witch hazel. Mostly native wetland perennials were used due to their tolerance of wet conditions and occasional drought. The area above the StormTech® pit provides space for the client’s family to relax. The rain garden and bioswale provide screening, storm water management, a habitat for wildlife, and plants that enhance the adjacent formal garden. Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

Varied setbacks to the front of the house create layers that invite further investigation. Black is adeptly used on the low metal fence, windows, trim and hardware to highlight thoughtful details. Wall sconces are sized in proportion to their locations and add another element of repetition.

This shot really emphasizes how careful that we needed to be with the size of our furniture pieces. The chest at the end of the hall draws one toward to to investigate. This is the same chest and finish as one in the office. They have flush sides, so can be paired side-by-side in a future home, if desired. Tucson, Arizona, perhaps?

Elegant home design photo in New York

Kitchen design by Deb Bayless, CKD, CBD, Design For Keeps, Napa, CA; photos by Mike Kaskel
Large transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, wood countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and brown countertops

This project was a ton of fun. I have been working with these clients, now dear friends, for several years on their various properties and we work really well together. For their desert home, my goal was to create a new experience with each space while maintaining flow. This required striking a balance between organic light/airy spaces and glam dark/moody spaces. The finishes specified ranged from blackened steel, walnut, polished brass, rubbed plaster, digital wallcovering and back lit quartz to name a few. When a space draws you in closer to investigate there is a moment of discovery that elicits an emotional response. These spaces do just that. From sublime light fixtures to cozy seating vignettes, this home is a beautiful sanctuary - a place to entertain friends and family both indoors and out. It is a poised exercise in effortless, relaxed, edgy luxe design.

This residential tower contains approximately 95 apartments over a commercial ground floor and includes a 4,500-square-foot community facility for the neighborhood and parking. Architects placed extensive investigation and design emphasis on understanding and transforming the building resolutions to create an envelope that satisfies certain civic obligations while simultaneously proposing a design attitude centered on the project’s location as a gateway into Harlem.

This project was a ton of fun. I have been working with these clients, now dear friends, for several years on their various properties and we work really well together. For their desert home, my goal was to create a new experience with each space while maintaining flow. This required striking a balance between organic light/airy spaces and glam dark/moody spaces. The finishes specified ranged from blackened steel, walnut, polished brass, rubbed plaster, digital wallcovering and back lit quartz to name a few. When a space draws you in closer to investigate there is a moment of discovery that elicits an emotional response. These spaces do just that. From sublime light fixtures to cozy seating vignettes, this home is a beautiful sanctuary - a place to entertain friends and family both indoors and out. It is a poised exercise in effortless, relaxed, edgy luxe design.

As needs have changed, new home construction in Atlanta has trended towards more open floor plans. Weidmann helps owners of older residences to investigate and achieve these same open objectives by consolidating and reconfiguring the available space on both levels. This home was opened up with a little creative organization, which included relocating the powder room, changing traffic patterns and repurposing rooms for a renewed lifetime of living. FotoGrafik Arts