New stairs and patio with custom glass fire pit and water feature designed and built by Southern Landscape. Prior to construction, the limited pool deck did not allow for relaxation and entertainment. Southern Landscape designed the patio and custom firepit around the existing live oak tree and provided access of the rear porch of the home. The recirculating copper water feature provides visual and auditory interest for the transition from the patio to pool deck.

Jacob Lilley Architects Location: Lexington, MA, USA A new garage, kids play room above and a mudroom met the need for more space. A renovated kitchen, bedroom and other living spaces created a refreshed sense of home. The strategic location of the mudroom as an intermediary connector solved problems with this 19th-century home siting seven feet above the ground with limited access to the rear yard. The connector between the garage and existing house is a stair that unifies the various levels and develops a strong connection to the yard. Photographed by: Eric Roth

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

With an eye toward accessibility, this bathroom is designed to ease the everyday routines of a homeowner who often uses a wheelchair. Universal design strategies guided the project structurally with ADA-compatible elements incorporated throughout. One side of the vanity is set lower and left intentionally open underneath to accommodate the wheelchair when needed. Visually, the project shines just as bright with white shaker-style cabinetry balanced by warm tones found elsewhere. Oversized warm gray porcelain wall tile partners beautifully with a diminutive square tile on the shower floor, while brushed nickel hardware and quartz countertops complete a timeless, classic appeal. Photos by Spacecrafting Photography

The pool’s large tanning shelf is the perfect place to relax in the sun and offers the cooling benefit of dipping your toes in the water. With access to the spa being via the tanning shelf, users only need get their ankles wet. The glass tiles of the spa extend down the exterior wall to the bottom of the pool creating a sculptural look.

My client wanted to use her father's filing cabinet that is very sentimental to her. This 1 BR / 1 BA condo with 660 SQFT has limited areas for a large filing cabinet, so I thought since it is a sentimental piece of furniture, we would incorporate it in the living room. Now my client can enjoy viewing her father's filing cabinet and have easy access to filed documents. I added a tray with a lantern and some greenery for a nice touch in the living room. My client was impressed by my cleverness of incorporating the filing cabinet in the design.

The grooves that are cut into the lowest granite step are to allow the dock to be raised up for winter. The dock accesses the upper patio in two directions. In order to keep the tree, granite curbing was used at the forward edge due to limited space.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This large open concept kitchen and dining space was created by removing a load bearing wall between the old kitchen and a porch area. The new porch was insulated and incorporated into the overall space. The kitchen remodel was part of a whole house remodel so new quarter sawn oak flooring, a vaulted ceiling, windows and skylights were added. A large calcutta marble topped island takes center stage. It houses a 5’ galley workstation - a sink that provides a convenient spot for prepping, serving, entertaining and clean up. A 36” induction cooktop is located directly across from the island for easy access. Two appliance garages on either side of the cooktop house small appliances that are used on a daily basis. Honeycomb tile by Ann Sacks and open shelving along the cooktop wall add an interesting focal point to the room. Antique mirrored glass faces the storage unit housing dry goods and a beverage center. “I chose details for the space that had a bit of a mid-century vibe that would work well with what was originally a 1950s ranch. Along the way a previous owner added a 2nd floor making it more of a Cape Cod style home, a few eclectic details felt appropriate”, adds Klimala. The wall opposite the cooktop houses a full size fridge, freezer, double oven, coffee machine and microwave. “There is a lot of functionality going on along that wall”, adds Klimala. A small pull out countertop below the coffee machine provides a spot for hot items coming out of the ovens. The rooms creamy cabinetry is accented by quartersawn white oak at the island and wrapped ceiling beam. The golden tones are repeated in the antique brass light fixtures. “This is the second kitchen I’ve had the opportunity to design for myself. My taste has gotten a little less traditional over the years, and although I’m still a traditionalist at heart, I had some fun with this kitchen and took some chances. The kitchen is super functional, easy to keep clean and has lots of storage to tuck things away when I’m done using them. The casual dining room is fabulous and is proving to be a great spot to linger after dinner. We love it!” Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Paver wall, paver steps with sand, crushed rock and wood supports; repaired steps hillside steps and access to the backyard. Large amount of crushed rock was used to support the amount of hillside erosion with large amounts of clay. The clay is non-permeable and will let water rush down hill; crushed rock provides a permeable surface to help with water and shifting of landscape. In addition there was a limited budget for materials.

Example of a trendy patio kitchen design in Cleveland with decking and a pergola

Located in, Summit Park, Park City UT lies one of the most efficient houses in the country. The Summit Haus – designed and built by Chris Price of PCD+B, is an exploration in design and construction of advanced high performance housing. Seeing a rising demand for sustainable housing along with rising Carbon emissions leading to global warming, this house strives to show that sensible, good design can create spaces adequate for today’s housing demands while adhering to strict standards. The house was designed to meet the very rigid Passiv House rating system – 90% more efficient than a typical home in the area. The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45 degree sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The views range from short, highly wooded views to a long corridor out towards the Uinta Mountain range towards the east. The house was designed and built based off Passiv Haus standards, and the framing and ventilation became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements. Zola triple-pane, tilt-and-turn Thermo uPVC windows contribute substantially to the home’s energy efficiency, and takes advantage of the beautiful surrounding of the location, including forrest views from the deck off of the kitchen. Photographer: George Oakley

The 6’ x 6’ 4” custom vinyl over steel spa is centered on the length of the pool (the hole in the coping is where the volleyball net attaches). This pool, called a “sport pool”, is medium depth ranging from a 4’ shallow end to a 5’ 2” deep end. With the pool’s shallow depth, the spa is easily accessible on all four sides.

The proprietary design of LUXE wedgewire grates provides hydraulic function that is unsurpassed, making them an optimal choice when separating wet areas from dry. All LUXE Linear Drains are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities Section 4.5.4 specifies that ground and floor grates “shall have spaces no greater than 1/2 in (13 mm) wide in one direction.” We are pleased to provide grates that comply with these requirements so no individual is limited from accessing the area safely and confidently.

Drawers within cupboards maximize the use of available space. They allow you to access the entire depth of the cabinet, making it easier to store and retrieve items. This means you can store more items without wasting valuable space. Drawers provide excellent visibility and accessibility to the contents. You can easily see and reach items stored at the back of the drawer without having to rummage through or remove items in the front. Drawers can be customized with dividers, inserts, and organizers to suit your specific storage needs. This adaptability ensures that your pantry space can be tailored to the client's unique requirements.

The designer’s at Betz recommended excavating a section across the back of the home to create a sunken outdoor living room sheltered by an elevated and fully waterproofed Ipe hardwood deck. A window on the lower level was replaced with a new basement walkout providing access to an indoor washroom/change room.

This ADU is one of a series that were deployed across Oakland with a property owner that had surplus space on many of his sites. We developed a single solution that would work with a multitude of different sites. With minor adjustments we were able to repeat the design and rapidly add to the limited housing stock in Oakland. The design is a highly efficient layout that maximizes density while still maintaining important qualities like access to views, light and air. The project also fosters a connection to nature and promotes an integration with the community.

Infill Urban Homes often sacrifice yard space to increase the size of the house footprint and this property was no exception. A complete redesign of the rear deck included a pergola and screens for privacy and both a dining an cooking area while not limiting access to the basement walkout that was updated with a modern sauna with a new greenroof to soften the rear yard. A small seating rea and new privacy trees make up the balance of this rear yard while still leaving enough room for a small storage shed.

The enclosed pool area is accessed on both sides of the home through wrought iron gates and stepping stone paths, or from inside the home via the lower level entertainment room walkout. In addition to multiple groupings of comfortable lounges, chairs and tables, the Bullfrog hot tub from Betz is a popular feature that is enjoyed year-round.

This spacious townhome with welcoming front porch includes a 2-car garage. The kitchen and dining area share an open floorplan with the spacious great room with sliding glass door access to backyard patio. The 2nd floor boasts all of the bedrooms, a large rec room, and a convenient laundry room. The owner’s suite with large closet includes a private bathroom. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)