Example of a small transitional backyard concrete and custom-shaped lap hot tub design in Dallas

Arches of Rain - designed by Mike Farley. To create a focal point to blend with the Spanish style home but still leaving the view open to the pasture behind was a challenge. Centered on the backyard entrance from the home the golden stucco arches with rainfalls created the solution. The yard slope created multiple opportunities. Steps transition the sight line down to a flush vanishing edge spa. A Bridge of Travertine allows access over the pool to the spa. The spa tile blends with the water color. Symmetrical curves flank the spa to allow transition around the cabana and the slide. Low ground cover softens the upper terrace and adds color. A finger ledge of Travertine or benches provide many resting places around the pool. The precast trim on the arches matches the detail on the home as well as the stucco Finnish and color. The Scabos Travertine field is accented with a square of glass used fromthe spa and provides great backdrop for the Lions Heads. Each of the rain falls are individually controlled to create sound from gentle rain to a strong shower. This space creates a space of tranquility and peace that is enjoyed everyday.

Arches of Rain - designed by Mike Farley. To create a focal point to blend with the Spanish style home but still leaving the view open to the pasture behind was a challenge. Centered on the backyard entrance from the home the golden stucco arches with rainfalls created the solution. The yard slope created multiple opportunities. Steps transition the sight line down to a flush vanishing edge spa. A Bridge of Travertine allows access over the pool to the spa. The spa tile blends with the water color. Symmetrical curves flank the spa to allow transition around the cabana and the slide. Low ground cover softens the upper terrace and adds color. A finger ledge of Travertine or benches provide many resting places around the pool. The precast trim on the arches matches the detail on the home as well as the stucco Finnish and color. The Scabos Travertine field is accented with a square of glass used fromthe spa and provides great backdrop for the Lions Heads. Each of the rain falls are individually controlled to create sound from gentle rain to a strong shower. This space creates a space of tranquility and peace that is enjoyed everyday. Drone shot by L. Farley

Arches of Rain - designed by Mike Farley. To create a focal point to blend with the Spanish style home but still leaving the view open to the pasture behind was a challenge. Centered on the backyard entrance from the home the golden stucco arches with rainfalls created the solution. The yard slope created multiple opportunities. Steps transition the sight line down to a flush vanishing edge spa. A Bridge of Travertine allows access over the pool to the spa. The spa tile blends with the water color. Symmetrical curves flank the spa to allow transition around the cabana and the slide. Low ground cover softens the upper terrace and adds color. A finger ledge of Travertine or benches provide many resting places around the pool. The precast trim on the arches matches the detail on the home as well as the stucco Finnish and color. The Scabos Travertine field is accented with a square of glass used fromthe spa and provides great backdrop for the Lions Heads. Each of the rain falls are individually controlled to create sound from gentle rain to a strong shower. This space creates a space of tranquility and peace that is enjoyed everyday. Photo by Mike Farley

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic exterior home design in Dallas

Arches of Rain - designed by Mike Farley. To create a focal point to blend with the Spanish style home but still leaving the view open to the pasture behind was a challenge. Centered on the backyard entrance from the home the golden stucco arches with rainfalls created the solution. The yard slope created multiple opportunities. Steps transition the sight line down to a flush vanishing edge spa. A Bridge of Travertine allows access over the pool to the spa. The spa tile blends with the water color. Symmetrical curves flank the spa to allow transition around the cabana and the slide. Low ground cover softens the upper terrace and adds color. A finger ledge of Travertine or benches provide many resting places around the pool. The precast trim on the arches matches the detail on the home as well as the stucco Finnish and color. The Scabos Travertine field is accented with a square of glass used fromthe spa and provides great backdrop for the Lions Heads. Each of the rain falls are individually controlled to create sound from gentle rain to a strong shower. This space creates a space of tranquility and peace that is enjoyed everyday.

An update to a 1950's 1,500 square foot ranch home on a 500 foot deep lot with large trees all through the neighborhood. Scope included removal of the low pitched roof, install a new higher pitch roof with as much useable space on the new second floor. The rear family room was expanded out and up with views from two levels to the large backyard. A large rear covered porch is included with outdoor cooking. The two car garage was expanded to 2 car-2 truck- one tractor.

Arches of Rain - designed by Mike Farley. To create a focal point to blend with the Spanish style home but still leaving the view open to the pasture behind was a challenge. Centered on the backyard entrance from the home the golden stucco arches with rainfalls created the solution. The yard slope created multiple opportunities. Steps transition the sight line down to a flush vanishing edge spa. A Bridge of Travertine allows access over the pool to the spa. The spa tile blends with the water color. Symmetrical curves flank the spa to allow transition around the cabana and the slide. Low ground cover softens the upper terrace and adds color. A finger ledge of Travertine or benches provide many resting places around the pool. The precast trim on the arches matches the detail on the home as well as the stucco Finnish and color. The Scabos Travertine field is accented with a square of glass used fromthe spa and provides great backdrop for the Lions Heads. Each of the rain falls are individually controlled to create sound from gentle rain to a strong shower. This space creates a space of tranquility and peace that is enjoyed everyday.

Lower Level family room with Acoustic ceiling and built in storage Photo by:Jeffrey Edward Tryon
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary look-out carpeted basement remodel in Philadelphia with white walls

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This photo shows a view of the eastern shoreline of the Lake in autumn. Brilliant red stems of native Cornus stolonifera ‘Cardinal’ wrap the lake’s edge. Mature sycamores that were preserved and the newly planted maple collection are visible in the background.

This completely contemporary project in Southlake, TX resembles a complex puzzle. This view is looking out at the perimeter overflow fountain that as two stainless steel Bobe fire pots floating on the water. It is accented by LED lighting at night. Artifical turf provides a crisp tailored finish and no maintenance. Low voltage lights accent changes in elevation. Pool finish is PebbleFina. Project designed by Mike Farley of Claffey Pools. Photo by Mike Farley

Large trendy master gray tile and cement tile gray floor and concrete floor double shower photo in Other with medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door, black countertops and concrete countertops

Matthew Niemann Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in Austin

Example of a minimalist entryway design in Dallas

Pull-Out Hidden Hamper With Mesh Liner {Perfection Custom Closets www.APerfectCloset.com Chicago, Illinois}
Inspiration for a small modern home design remodel in Chicago

The outer vanishing edge wall acts as a welcoming entrance to the pool area. Wildman Photography
Minimalist backyard rectangular infinity pool photo in Vancouver

The panoramic doors provide instant indoor/outdoor living onto this gorgeous Brazilian hardwood deck that features an outdoor kitchen with concrete countertops, grill, sink, refrigerator and kegerator with a double tap.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com