Doubling the size of a house takes a unique owner and unique house in a unique market. This house in the inner ring of suburbs around St. Louis could easily take the doubling of this house size (it was a small 2 bedroom house compared to others in the area), plus other homes in the area have already had significant additions to the rear of the original house. This design started as a craftsman or shingle styled home as suggested by the asymmetrically sloping roof that ties the 2nd floor to the front entry. The design would have been best suited with a stained wood siding or shake shingle siding, but the push for the large amount of square footage caused the need to reduce the cost of the exterior, resulting in white vinyl siding being used. A darker color vinyl would help lessen the abruptness of the change from a brick 1st floor to siding on the second.

Living room - rustic living room idea in Denver

We added the stripstone at base of hill to lessen slope and used rock terracing to support plants and hold moisture in. Using shrubs and grasses is an effective way to make hillsides more attractive!

Nat Rea
Trendy living room photo in Other with beige walls

Brian Vanden Brink
Inspiration for a cottage entryway remodel in Portland Maine

Inspiration for a large timeless l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a contemporary patio remodel in Phoenix with an awning and a fireplace

The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call "tweeners"; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area. This was done by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing portion of the patio, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished, limestone-colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into it's surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool with their bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge, Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls (which were overwhelming in the space) and also opened up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive Pecan tree at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited for proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks added, and once again expertly married into the existing decks, opening the area to house a large dining table and a newly built-in BBQ area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property. Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscape as possible. But, the surrounding decks, walls and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the subtle-yet-transformative changes that came together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, as well as to improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of this massive hardscape.

Photographer: Jim Bartsch Architect: Thompson Naylor Architects Interior Design: Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design
Example of a small ornate galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Santa Barbara with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, black backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove shower remodel in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and solid surface countertops

Feast your eyes on this modern master bath renovation by Thompson Remodeling. Gorgeous hickory cabinets with a slate finish set an upscale tone. The linear lines created by the center storage cabinet are nicely offset by a quartz countertop with round sinks. The walk-in shower features rich, ceramic tile walls and ceiling set in a repeating pattern and a pebble stone floor. Storage niches were set into the wall so that soaps and shampoos are kept hidden from view.

Aubrey Huey
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in San Francisco

Our client greatly enjoyed their natural setting, and our master plan was built on preserving its character. We wanted to enhance the juxtaposition of rigid clarity of the rectilinear house with the highly organic, natural features of the site. Striking a balance between the man-made and the natural is always in our minds, as we seek subtle ways of stitching orthogonal lines into an otherwise organic setting. The Petanque court is the key element in transforming the untamed rear yard. The court is slightly cut into a slope and parallels the predominant site contours; softening grade change making the yard more useable, while lessening its impact on the topography. The moment where this really came together was when we decided to reuse the old-balcony wood to create a new boardwalk that runs the length of the court, and provides seating for players. A bend in its length brings it back into alignment with the house and ties into the path of concrete steps. It’s a perfect place to sit and watch a game. Photo credit: Vince Lupo

Open Shelving allows for the massive island and stone features to really show off in this contemporary kitchen design.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Other with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Twist Tours, Austin, Texas
Example of a small transitional 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom design in Austin with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

Photo: Jason Snyder © 2013 Houzz
Example of a trendy rooftop rooftop deck design in Other with no cover

Our client greatly enjoyed their natural setting, and our master plan was built on preserving its character. We wanted to enhance the juxtaposition of rigid clarity of the rectilinear house with the highly organic, natural features of the site. Striking a balance between the man-made and the natural is always in our minds, as we seek subtle ways of stitching orthogonal lines into an otherwise organic setting. The Petanque court is the key element in transforming the untamed rear yard. The court is slightly cut into a slope and parallels the predominant site contours; softening grade change making the yard more useable, while lessening its impact on the topography. The moment where this really came together was when we decided to reuse the old-balcony wood to create a new boardwalk that runs the length of the court, and provides seating for players. A bend in its length brings it back into alignment with the house and ties into the path of concrete steps. It’s a perfect place to sit and watch a game. Photo credit: Vince Lupo

The Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU was designed and built to remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. Fortunately, the same great building strategies and design that provide resilience also provide a home that is incredibly comfortable and healthy while also visually stunning. This home’s journey began with a desire to design and build a house that meets the rigorous standards of Passive House. Before beginning the design/ construction process, the homeowners had already spent countless hours researching ways to minimize their global climate change footprint. As with any Passive House, a large portion of this research was focused on building envelope design and construction. The wall assembly is combination of six inch Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) and 2x6 stick frame construction filled with blown in insulation. The roof assembly is a combination of twelve inch SIPs and 2x12 stick frame construction filled with batt insulation. The pairing of SIPs and traditional stick framing allowed for easy air sealing details and a continuous thermal break between the panels and the wall framing. Beyond the building envelope, a number of other high performance strategies were used in constructing this home and ADU such as: battery storage of solar energy, ground source heat pump technology, Heat Recovery Ventilation, LED lighting, and heat pump water heating technology. In addition to the time and energy spent on reaching Passivhaus Standards, thoughtful design and carefully chosen interior finishes coalesce at the Twin Peaks Passive House + ADU into stunning interiors with modern farmhouse appeal. The result is a graceful combination of innovation, durability, and aesthetics that will last for a century to come. Despite the requirements of adhering to some of the most rigorous environmental standards in construction today, the homeowners chose to certify both their main home and their ADU to Passive House Standards. From a meticulously designed building envelope that tested at 0.62 ACH50, to the extensive solar array/ battery bank combination that allows designated circuits to function, uninterrupted for at least 48 hours, the Twin Peaks Passive House has a long list of high performance features that contributed to the completion of this arduous certification process. The ADU was also designed and built with these high standards in mind. Both homes have the same wall and roof assembly ,an HRV, and a Passive House Certified window and doors package. While the main home includes a ground source heat pump that warms both the radiant floors and domestic hot water tank, the more compact ADU is heated with a mini-split ductless heat pump. The end result is a home and ADU built to last, both of which are a testament to owners’ commitment to lessen their impact on the environment.

A remodeled master bathroom that now complements our clients' lifestyle. The main goal was to make the space more functional while also giving it a refreshing and updated look. Our first action was to replace the vanity. We installed a brand new storage-centric vanity that stayed within the size of the previous one, wasting no additional space. Additional features included custom mirrors perfectly fitted to their new vanity, elegant new sconce lighting, and a new mosaic tiled shower niche. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who serve Chicago and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/