Cabana Cottage- Florida Cracker inspired kitchenette and bath house, separated by a dog-trot
Small farmhouse backyard outdoor shower deck photo in Tampa with decking and no cover

photo by Lars Frazer
Balcony - contemporary balcony idea in Austin with a roof extension

John Granen
Design ideas for a contemporary landscaping in Seattle.

Island style white one-story exterior home photo in Miami with a hip roof, a metal roof and a white roof

Photo by Casey Dunn
Beach style screened-in back porch photo in Austin with decking and a roof extension

Townhouse renovation in Brooklyn: We redesigned the rear end of the house as an expanded family kitchen with a back door to the deck. We also added a new connection from the entrance hall to the kitchen and fit a small powder room under the stairs. The old windows and doors were replaced with new, larger ones, and the entire kitchen was gutted and refitted with new cabinetry and a banquette dining area. The space was designed to take advantage of the bright southern exposure, with lots of white materials, grounded by the dark base cabinets. Photos by Maletz Design

Photo by June Cannon, Natureaged siding
Small rustic exterior home idea in Salt Lake City

An imposing heritage oak and fountain frame a strong central axis leading from the motor court to the front door, through a grand stair hall into the public spaces of this Italianate home designed for entertaining, out to the gardens and finally terminating at the pool and semi-circular columned cabana. Gracious terraces and formal interiors characterize this stately home.

View from lake. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Large trendy gray three-story metal house exterior photo in Seattle with a shed roof and a metal roof

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

Inspiration for a transitional backyard deck remodel in Dallas with a fire pit and a pergola

This property is an infill lot located on a dense residential street on Mercer Island. The Design incorporated a Mid Century Chic character with a North West Edgy Vibe and a distinctive architectural detail.

Elevated composite deck off the rear of a two-story home, finished in gray decking with a contrasting tan fascia and picture-frame border. Black aluminum railing with a wide top rail wraps the deck and continues down the staircase, which turns at a landing and ends on the existing concrete patio. The space beneath the deck stays usable for grill and equipment storage. Built with low-maintenance composite and metal so the finish holds up year-round.

Glenn Layton Homes, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. HGTV Smart Home 2013
Large island style wooden u-shaped cable railing staircase photo in Jacksonville with blue walls and tile risers

Example of a mid-sized classic backyard deck design in Calgary with a fire pit and a pergola

Built-in deck components are becoming more popular as people expand their indoor living to the great outdoors. The bench seating and planters were constructed using the same material as the deck, Fiberon's composite decking - the ProTect Advantage line in 'Chestnut'. Planter boxes, like these, add visual interest and can soften the angles of a deck or patio. Fill planters with colorful flowers, tall ornamental grasses for privacy, or fresh herbs or vegetables that are only steps away from the outdoor kitchen!

Please see this Award Winning project in the October 2014 issue of New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine: NYC&G http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/October-2014/NYCG-Innovation-in-Design-Winners-Kitchen-Design/ It was also featured in a Houzz Tour: Houzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29691278/list/houzz-tour-loving-the-old-and-new-in-an-1880s-brooklyn-row-house Photo Credit: Hulya Kolabas

Jeffrey Lendrum / Lendrum Photography LLC
Country porch photo with a roof extension

Rooftop deck transformed into modern, zen oasis with outdoor shower and infrared sauna
Mid-sized minimalist rooftop second story metal railing outdoor shower deck photo in Raleigh with a pergola