Although many design trends come and go, it seems that the farmhouse style remains classic. And that’s a good thing, because this is a 100+ year old farmhouse. This half bathroom was nothing special. It contained a broken, box-store vanity, low ceilings, and boring finishes. So, I came up with a plan to brighten up and bring in its farmhouse roots! My number one priority was to the raise the ceiling. The rest of our home boasts 9-9 1/2′ ceilings. So, the fact that this ceiling was so low made the bathroom feel out of place. We tore out the drop ceiling to find the original plaster ceiling. But I had a cathedral ceiling on my heart, so we tore it out too and rebuilt the ceiling to follow the pitch of our home. New deviations of the farmhouse style continue to surface while keeping the style rooted in the past. I kept many the characteristics of the farmhouse style: white walls, white trim, and shiplap. But I poured a little of my personal style into the mix by using a stain on the cabinet, ceiling trim, and beam and added an earthy green to the door. Small spaces don’t need to settle for a dull, outdated design. Even if you can’t raise the ceiling, there is always untapped potential! Wallpaper, trim details, or artsy tile are all easy ways to add your special signature to any room.

Example of a mid-sized classic detached garden shed design

This modern-styled home has a sleek look with a low roof pitch and elevated covered entry. Multiple ceiling heights and treatments, on the inside, give this plan an open and interesting feel, along with large windows for tons of natural light. The master suite has plenty of room, including a six piece master bath. All the bedrooms have walk-in closets. On the rear of the plan is an extravagant covered patio area that wraps around the corner of the dining room.

Tradition Outdoor Living, LLC. This project was built to look original-to-the-home. It has matching shingles, paint, and brick columns. The ceiling was upgraded to T&G stained pine for a more rustic look. A TV and sound system were also added for additional outdoor entertainment under the patio cover. The vaulted ceiling creates an airy feeling to this patio while the recessed lighting enhances visibility during evening entertainment.

The nearly 3100 sq. ft. (heated) Modern Mountain Stonebridge model is the second home we designed for the luxury community Walnut Cove at the Cliffs, near Asheville, NC. We love the area and are so pleased to have been selected to design homes in the upscale development.

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

This extensive renovation designed by Eric Rawlings, AIA, LEED AP and built by Arlene Dean, completely transforms the look of the original structure. The main source of inspiration for the new design came from Greene & Greene’s Gamble House, which is considered by many as the pinnacle of the original turn of the century Craftsman Style Homes. Distinctive features from that style include the use of exposed timber framing, low pitched roof forms with large overhangs, gangs of windows, and extensive built-in furniture. The upper level terrace on the front of the house doubles as a carport. It has a very complex timber structure that appears to float over the perimeter beams. This signature feature on the front of the house brings modern structural concepts and traditional materials together into an up to date Craftsman design. An LED rope light illuminates this wooden structure and is hidden on top of the perimeter beams accentuating the appearance of the roof floating over the apparent structure. Photos by Eric Rawlings, AIA, LEEP AP.

This new mountain-contemporary home was designed and built in the private club of Balsam Mountain Preserve, just outside of Asheville, NC. The homeowners wanted a contemporary styled residence that felt at home in the NC mountains. Rising above the stone base that connects the house to the earth is cedar board and batten siding, Timber corners and entrance porch add a sturdy mountain posture to the overall aesthetic. The top is finished with mono pitched roofs to create dramatic lines and reinforce the contemporary feel.

Inspiration for a mediterranean beige one-story stucco exterior home remodel with a tile roof

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

Paul Dyer
Mid-sized cottage concrete floor living room photo in San Francisco with white walls

This modern-styled home has a sleek look with a low roof pitch and elevated covered entry. Multiple ceiling heights and treatments, on the inside, give this plan an open and interesting feel, along with large windows for tons of natural light. The master suite has plenty of room, including a six piece master bath. All the bedrooms have walk-in closets. On the rear of the plan is an extravagant covered patio area that wraps around the corner of the dining room.

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

Inspiration for a transitional gray exterior home remodel

This modern-styled home has a sleek look with a low roof pitch and elevated covered entry. Multiple ceiling heights and treatments, on the inside, give this plan an open and interesting feel, along with large windows for tons of natural light. The master suite has plenty of room, including a six piece master bath. All the bedrooms have walk-in closets. On the rear of the plan is an extravagant covered patio area that wraps around the corner of the dining room.

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

Huge 1950s galley porcelain tile, white floor and vaulted ceiling eat-in kitchen photo in Tampa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, cement tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops