Unit Realty Group
Trendy kids' blue tile and mosaic tile multicolored floor alcove bathtub photo in Boston with a pedestal sink

Large transitional brown floor living room photo in Nashville with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Greg Hadley Photography Instead of a straight hallway, our designer suggested a more dramatic connection between the addition and original home—one that would allow light the flood through both floors. Though the home had 9-foot ceilings on the lower level, in the stair area the ceiling was only 7-feet. To open up the space, she opted for a step up to a landing across from the original stairs. The landing is open to the lower level.

Monica Sarduy
This is an example of a large tropical partial sun backyard stone outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Miami for summer.

Greg Hadley Photography We took the two doors that led to the sunroom and used them to create double pocket doors that separate the living room from the new family room.

Monica Sarduy
Photo of a large tropical partial sun front yard stone formal garden in Miami for summer.

Ground view of deck. Outwardly visible structural elements are wrapped in pVC. Photo Credit: Johnna Harrison
Outdoor kitchen deck - large traditional backyard outdoor kitchen deck idea in DC Metro with a pergola

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Chad Mellon
Inspiration for a coastal white two-story gable roof remodel in Los Angeles

Laura Garner
Example of a huge transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Montreal with beige walls and a tv stand

Photos By Cadan Photography - Richard Cadan
Small minimalist single-wall medium tone wood floor and yellow floor open concept kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and an undermount sink

About two months after installation, planted with Rudbeckia and Scarlet Runner Bean vines.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard brick garden path in Portland Maine.

Monica Sarduy
Example of a large trendy side yard stone partial sun patio design for summer in Miami

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz
Photo of a mid-century modern landscaping in San Francisco.

Large transitional backyard deck photo in Miami with a roof extension

Laura Garner
Living room - huge transitional open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Montreal with beige walls and a tv stand

A cozy cottage nestled in the woods of Vashon Island.
Studio / workshop shed - small traditional detached studio / workshop shed idea in Seattle

Photo by Chad Mellon
Example of a transitional boy nursery design in Orange County with multicolored walls

Monica Sarduy
Design ideas for a large traditional partial sun front yard stone formal garden in Miami for summer.