Impluvium Architecture Location: Lafayette, CA, USA This was a direct referral from a friend. I was the Architect and helped coordinate with various sub-contractors. I also co-designed the project with various consultants including Interior and Landscape Design This house has a challenging site and local jurisdiction review but house and landscape fit the site so well that it made the difficult job actually easy since everyone fell in love with the initial design.

After the Marshall Fire in Louisville at the end of 2021, Nicole, while working with Lodestone Design Group, led several single-family residential rebuild projects from initial concept through construction completion. In collaboration with Gen 3 Construction, she worked closely alongside homeowners to navigate the complex and often emotional rebuilding process. Nicole guided clients through feasibility, design development, permitting, and construction documentation, helping translate their goals into thoughtful, resilient homes. With a focus on clear communication and steady project leadership, she helped streamline coordination between consultants, contractors, and jurisdictions—ensuring each project moved forward efficiently during a time of high demand and limited resources.

20 Fabulous Pool Designs Under 600 sq feet of Water Surface Area Custom pools are a much-desired amenity in Southern Nevada, however in accordance with the 2022 water use ordinance, new residential pools may NOT exceed 600 sq ft of water surface area. The square footage includes a total of the pool, spa, and any infinity-edge troughs where applicable. And, there is also a ban on independent water features. Paragon Pools’ VP & Chief Design Executive Joseph A Vassallo, CBP provides 20 pool designs under 600sq ft as an inspiration for homeowners. Excerpt from the SNWA website: Residential pool size limits Ongoing drought and climate change conditions continue to affect water levels in Lake Mead – Southern Nevada's primary water supply. As a result, the federal government declared a shortage on the Colorado River, reducing Southern Nevada's available water supply by 8.1 billion gallons, and additional reductions are expected in the coming years. To help manage these water supply constraints, the Southern Nevada Water Authority approved a resolution in July 2022 that supports a 600-square-foot surface area limit on new residential pools. The Las Vegas Valley Water District and other local jurisdictions approved this change shortly thereafter with rule and code changes. This measure will help reduce consumptive water use associated with evaporative water loss, targeting savings from the top 25 percent of new pools constructed.

20 Fabulous Pool Designs Under 600 sq feet of Water Surface Area Custom pools are a much-desired amenity in Southern Nevada, however in accordance with the 2022 water use ordinance, new residential pools may NOT exceed 600 sq ft of water surface area. The square footage includes a total of the pool, spa, and any infinity-edge troughs where applicable. And, there is also a ban on independent water features. Paragon Pools’ VP & Chief Design Executive Joseph A Vassallo, CBP provides 20 pool designs under 600sq ft as an inspiration for homeowners. Excerpt from the SNWA website: Residential pool size limits Ongoing drought and climate change conditions continue to affect water levels in Lake Mead – Southern Nevada's primary water supply. As a result, the federal government declared a shortage on the Colorado River, reducing Southern Nevada's available water supply by 8.1 billion gallons, and additional reductions are expected in the coming years. To help manage these water supply constraints, the Southern Nevada Water Authority approved a resolution in July 2022 that supports a 600-square-foot surface area limit on new residential pools. The Las Vegas Valley Water District and other local jurisdictions approved this change shortly thereafter with rule and code changes. This measure will help reduce consumptive water use associated with evaporative water loss, targeting savings from the top 25 percent of new pools constructed.

Taragano Design & Build framing a detached accessory dwelling unit in Contra Costa County, California. An ADU is ground up construction on a lot that already has a house on it, and that is the part homeowners underestimate. New foundation, new framing, new service connections, all fitted into whatever space the setbacks leave behind an existing structure. The foundation determines the schedule more than anything else. Soil across much of this county is expansive clay, which means footing depth and reinforcement come out of a soils report rather than a standard detail. That report happens early, because what it says can change the design. Roof form was set at the framing stage rather than adjusted later. The shed slope pitches away from the main house, which keeps water off the existing structure and lets the tall wall face the yard where the glass goes. Detached units frequently need their own address and their own electrical meter, and in some cases a separate county permit after the city permit. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so we confirm them in writing during design. Licensed general contractor, CSLB #1143420. Diamond Certified.

all areas of the site are within the creek’s 25’, 50’ and 75’ riparian stream buffers. By necessity, the house, with considerable jurisdictional involvement, was constructed entirely within the 75’ stream buffer

The corten house demonstrates how jurisdictionally imposed restraints can create hardships which (no matter how intimidating) cannot, however, deny a property owner their legally established right-to-build and, subsequently, the corten house demonstrates how those hardships, through proper planning and perseverance, can be overcome. For the McLendon Av. house, the true challenge became how to build responsibly, economically and sustainably on an extremely difficult site. The streets of the neighborhood were originally surveyed as a few separate developments and were incorporated into the City of Atlanta one by one in the 1910’s. Although some developers built groups of houses, much of Lake Claire was sold as empty lots, with individuals constructing their own homes. The neighborhood of approximately 1,200 homes is, thus, an eclectic mix from Victorian to Tudor revival to more modern periods (Craftsman bungalows, 1950s salt box cottages, mid-century ranch styles, contemporary folk styles). Given the neighborhood’s unique character, the McLendon house was introduced to the site while maintaining and then restoring as much of the native ecological habitat as possible. For example, the site’s tree frogs and stream’s bullfrogs happily remain.

© Josh Partee 2013
Example of a trendy eat-in kitchen design in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash and slate backsplash

The Hicks - Desh Family Cabana and Shop project consisted of 1,440 SF conditioned area of which 1,050 SF are dedicated to a large cabana family area used for games and socializing. The cabana space opens up to the 576 SF covered colonnaded outdoor patio by way of a 20 ft wide glass folding door, making it a versatile indoor-outdoor family playground. The rest of the indoors includes a dedicated full bathroom - a shower is included, for washing up, with a future swimming pool in mind - as well as a 214 SF fully equipped exercise room surrounded by large windows for plenty of natural light while exercising. A separate structure is also part of this project, consisting of a 2,891 SF oversized, high ceiling garage in the same property - meant to house Victor's beloved cars. The project is located in the City of Bakersfield jurisdiction. Many thanks to Ramon Sanchez and Jorge Gonzalez and Anacapa Engineering for their assistance - the 20-foot wide suspended glass door was certainly a challenge! It was a real pleasure working with Victor on this project. All-in-all, this space will be a great place for family fun and entertaining friends!

As the core of Atlanta becomes more and more dense, options for new single-family homes are often limited to building unsustainably through demolition of existing homes. However, scattered around the city core are undeveloped sites considered “unbuildable", often because of jurisdictionally imposed restraints i.e. zoning setbacks, riparian stream buffers, peculiar lot configurations and difficult site features. Comparably, for this 12,401 sq. ft. site, zoning setbacks and riparian buffer restraints imposed on the lot's status as an undeveloped, legal, residential lot-of-record, rendered the property “unbuildable”. Not a single square foot of the site met jurisdictional requirements for “buildable”. Furthermore, the stream along the front of the site precluded construction access and the steep terrain was foreboding.

LINEA Design Build Remodel has been working on a series of projects for the owner of this historical home in Old Town Alexandria over the last several years that will ultimately result in the entire home being remodeled. This room required the demolition and structural rearrangement and reconstruction of an entire section of the home containing the master bath. LINEA Design Build Remodel is Class A licensed as both a building contractor and as a remodeling contractor; we have the expertise to evaluate and execute any renovation or reconstruction job, and we have a long history of working on historical properties in Old Town, Georgetown, and on Capitol Hill. At LINEA we understand the need to gracefully and respectfully integrate the old and new in any historical renovation work, and we are used to working hand in hand with the historical dwelling oversight committees of local jurisdictions.

LINEA Design Build Remodel has been working on a series of projects for the owner of this historical home in Old Town Alexandria over the last several years that will ultimately result in the entire home being remodeled. This room required the demolition and structural rearrangement and reconstruction of an entire section of the home containing the master bath. LINEA Design Build Remodel is Class A licensed as both a building contractor and as a remodeling contractor; we have the expertise to evaluate and execute any renovation or reconstruction job, and we have a long history of working on historical properties in Old Town, Georgetown, and on Capitol Hill. At LINEA we understand the need to gracefully and respectfully integrate the old and new in any historical renovation work, and we are used to working hand in hand with the historical dwelling oversight committees of local jurisdictions.

LINEA Design Build Remodel has been working on a series of projects for the owner of this historical home in Old Town Alexandria over the last several years that will ultimately result in the entire home being remodeled. This room required the demolition and structural rearrangement and reconstruction of an entire section of the home containing the master bath. LINEA Design Build Remodel is Class A licensed as both a building contractor and as a remodeling contractor; we have the expertise to evaluate and execute any renovation or reconstruction job, and we have a long history of working on historical properties in Old Town, Georgetown, and on Capitol Hill. At LINEA we understand the need to gracefully and respectfully integrate the old and new in any historical renovation work, and we are used to working hand in hand with the historical dwelling oversight committees of local jurisdictions.

Impluvium Architecture Location: Lafayette, CA, USA This was a direct referral from a friend. I was the Architect and helped coordinate with various sub-contractors. I also co-designed the project with various consultants including Interior and Landscape Design This house has a challenging site and local jurisdiction review but house and landscape fit the site so well that it made the difficult job actually easy since everyone fell in love with the initial design.

LINEA Design Build Remodel has been working on a series of projects for the owner of this historical home in Old Town Alexandria over the last several years that will ultimately result in the entire home being remodeled. This room required the demolition and structural rearrangement and reconstruction of an entire section of the home containing the master bath. LINEA Design Build Remodel is Class A licensed as both a building contractor and as a remodeling contractor; we have the expertise to evaluate and execute any renovation or reconstruction job, and we have a long history of working on historical properties in Old Town, Georgetown, and on Capitol Hill. At LINEA we understand the need to gracefully and respectfully integrate the old and new in any historical renovation work, and we are used to working hand in hand with the historical dwelling oversight committees of local jurisdictions.

This backyard garden studio with a modern design provides a comfortable and stylish retreat for a home office, art studio, cottage bunkie or for backyard entertaining. The layout features two built in work stations, and a built-in sofa bench that can be used for reading, watching televisions or an afternoon nap. A second story loft provides space for storage, a kid's play area or a separate space for lounging. With a footprint just over 100 square feet, this studio makes efficient use of space while minimizing the footprint of the backyard and may be constructed without a permit in many jurisdictions (check your local building code).

This backyard garden studio with a modern design provides a comfortable and stylish retreat for a home office, art studio, cottage bunkie or for backyard entertaining. The layout features two built in work stations, and a built-in sofa bench that can be used for reading, watching televisions or an afternoon nap. A second story loft provides space for storage, a kid's play area or a separate space for lounging. With a footprint just over 100 square feet, this studio makes efficient use of space while minimizing the footprint of the backyard and may be constructed without a permit in many jurisdictions (check your local building code).

While this design is technically a duplex, it has the feeling of two separate houses: both follow the same design language but each frontage is distinct, as opposed to the more common mirror-image duplex design. In turn, this orientation gives each home its own unique floorplan, maximising privacy, ventilation and natural daylight. Upon entering, one is drawn by the light down the long hall to the garden which lights up the ground floor. Your eye is also attracted to the shapes and lines created by the contemporary stairway. Meals with family and friends are a priority for this client and each home has all 4 bedrooms upstairs, with the ground floor dedicated to open-plan living. This unrestricted space further promotes the light and airy atmosphere. The street-corner duplex has at the back a large garage that faces the house and is fully open to the courtyard garden – this space doubles as a substantial undercover entertaining area. The other house also has guests spilling outside, with its alfresco dining verandah and plunge pool. PROJECT Two duplex houses, each having: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, garage and for one house a swimming pool Chaleyer Street, Rose Bay Woollahra Municipal Council jurisdiction Completed Photography: BLAQ Projects

While this design is technically a duplex, it has the feeling of two separate houses: both follow the same design language but each frontage is distinct, as opposed to the more common mirror-image duplex design. In turn, this orientation gives each home its own unique floorplan, maximising privacy, ventilation and natural daylight. Upon entering, one is drawn by the light down the long hall to the garden which lights up the ground floor. Your eye is also attracted to the shapes and lines created by the contemporary stairway. Meals with family and friends are a priority for this client and each home has all 4 bedrooms upstairs, with the ground floor dedicated to open-plan living. This unrestricted space further promotes the light and airy atmosphere. The street-corner duplex has at the back a large garage that faces the house and is fully open to the courtyard garden – this space doubles as a substantial undercover entertaining area. The other house also has guests spilling outside, with its alfresco dining verandah and plunge pool. PROJECT Two duplex houses, each having: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, garage and for one house a swimming pool Chaleyer Street, Rose Bay Woollahra Municipal Council jurisdiction Completed Photography: BLAQ Projects