Search results for "Master tests" in Home Design Ideas

AV Architects + Builders
Forest Villa House - Mclean, VA
1528 Forrest Villa is situated in the heart of McLean, VA in a well-established neighborhood. This unique site is perfect for this modern house design because it sits at the top of a hill and has a grand view of the landscape.
We have designed a home that feels like a retreat but offers all the amenities a family needs to keep up with the fast pace of Northern VA. The house offers over 8,200 sqft of luxury living area on three finished levels.
The main level is an open-concept floor plan designed to entertain. The central area is the great room and the kitchen separated by a two-sided fireplace, but it’s surrounded by a very generous dining room, a study with custom built-ins and an outdoor covered patio with another gas fireplace. We also have a functional mudroom with a powder room right-off the 3-car garage with plenty of storage. The open stair case anchors the front elevation of the home to the front porch and the site.
The second level offers a master suite with an expansive custom his/her walk-in closet, a master bath with a curb less shower area, a free-standing soaking tub and his/her vanities. Additionally, this level has 4 generously sized en-suite bedrooms with full baths and walk-in closets and a full size laundry room with lots of storage.
The lower level has a guest en-suite bedroom with a full bathroom and walk-in closet. It also has a rec room with a glass enclosed wine cellar to display your favorite wine collection. We have added a large exercise room, a media room fully wired, a full bath and lots of storage space.
The materials used for the home are of the highest quality. From the aluminum clad oversized windows, to the unique roofing structure, the Nichiha rectangular siding and stacked veneer stone, we have hand-picked materials that stand the test of time and complement the modern design of the home.
In total this 8200 sqft home has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 2 half-baths and a 3-car garage.
Todd Smith Photography. A one-of-a-kind modern home in the heart of McLean, Virginia.

Showcases a beautifully designed master bedroom, featuring a spacious and airy feel with a touch of elegance. The bedroom boasts a large, comfortable bed with a plush headboard, inviting you to relax and unwind. Crisp white linens and a soft blue-patterned comforter dress the bed, adding a touch of sophistication to the space.
The bedroom features two arched windows with white plantation shutters, allowing natural light to flood the room. The windows are framed by a soft blue wall, creating a serene and calming atmosphere.
The bedroom also features a large sliding glass door that leads to a private patio, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening cocktail. The patio is not visible in the image, but it is clear that it offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
The bedroom is furnished with two nightstands, each with a lamp and a drawer, providing ample storage space for personal belongings. The nightstands are made of wood and have a light finish, complementing the light wood flooring throughout the bedroom.
The overall design is sophisticated and stylish, with a focus on clean lines and a neutral color palette. The use of high-quality materials and finishes ensures that this bedroom will stand the test of time.

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...
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Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
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“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
---
“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

AV Architects + Builders
Forest Villa House - Mclean, VA
1528 Forrest Villa is situated in the heart of McLean, VA in a well-established neighborhood. This unique site is perfect for this modern house design because it sits at the top of a hill and has a grand view of the landscape.
We have designed a home that feels like a retreat but offers all the amenities a family needs to keep up with the fast pace of Northern VA. The house offers over 8,200 sqft of luxury living area on three finished levels.
The main level is an open-concept floor plan designed to entertain. The central area is the great room and the kitchen separated by a two-sided fireplace, but it’s surrounded by a very generous dining room, a study with custom built-ins and an outdoor covered patio with another gas fireplace. We also have a functional mudroom with a powder room right-off the 3-car garage with plenty of storage. The open stair case anchors the front elevation of the home to the front porch and the site.
The second level offers a master suite with an expansive custom his/her walk-in closet, a master bath with a curb less shower area, a free-standing soaking tub and his/her vanities. Additionally, this level has 4 generously sized en-suite bedrooms with full baths and walk-in closets and a full size laundry room with lots of storage.
The lower level has a guest en-suite bedroom with a full bathroom and walk-in closet. It also has a rec room with a glass enclosed wine cellar to display your favorite wine collection. We have added a large exercise room, a media room fully wired, a full bath and lots of storage space.
The materials used for the home are of the highest quality. From the aluminum clad oversized windows, to the unique roofing structure, the Nichiha rectangular siding and stacked veneer stone, we have hand-picked materials that stand the test of time and complement the modern design of the home.
In total this 8200 sqft home has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 2 half-baths and a 3-car garage.
Todd Smith Photography. A one-of-a-kind modern home in the heart of McLean, Virginia.

Sponsored
Delaware, OH
Buckeye Basements, Inc.
Central Ohio's Basement Finishing ExpertsBest Of Houzz '13-'21

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington.
Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio.
Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater.
Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass.
Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck.
Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space.
Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy.
Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design
Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design
Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio
Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
---
“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Sunburst's Polywood window shutters are absolutely perfect for your home. Our Polywood shutters are custom fitted for your windows with a variety of finishes, shapes and colors to complement any decor.Polywood shutters offers style and value to your home and with reliability; they are UL and UV tested so you can be sure your shutters will last...

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
---
“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Trish Takacs Design
Award Winning & Highly Skilled Kitchen & Bath Designer in Columbus

Louis G. Weiner Photography -
My clients recently purchased this vacation home and quickly developed a design wish-list which included a full remodel of the master bathroom. This builder's-choice master bathroom might have been stylish and in when built in 1985, but 30 years later it has not stood the test of time.
First, we opened up the room by removing the heavy soffits and the excessive corner cabinetry. We designed a more streamline, floating vanity with beautiful quartz countertops and a waterfall edge. We expanded the footprint of the shower and created a seamless beach entry by removing the shower dam. Then we choose to wrap the room and adjacent commode with white subway tile and a custom marble border.
The most dramatic renovation was replacing the outdated jacuzzi tub with an elegant free-standing soaking tub. This was a must on the wish-list for the clients - not for the wife as you might expect - but for the husband. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and after long trips on his bike, he likes to take a soak.
Inspired to use art that tells a personal story about the clients, I recommended creating a photo canvas from a treasured picture of the husband standing with his motorcycle helmet on a beautiful desert road. This final touch connects my clients to their space and makes them smile every time they see it.

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
---
“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Alys Beach Construction
---
“Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town.
Challenges:
“Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning.
The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style.
Solution:
Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt.
The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape.
---
Photography courtesy of Alys Beach
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