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Living room - craftsman living room idea in New Orleans

Patricia Bean Expressive Architectural Photography
Mid-sized eclectic kitchen/dining room combo photo in San Diego with beige walls

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Arts and crafts living room photo in New Orleans

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Photography by Jorge Alvarez.
Large eclectic four-car garage photo in Tampa

Inspiration for a transitional hallway remodel in Toronto

Example of a transitional bathroom design in Toronto

Belgian Linen drapes in Oyster color from barnandwillow.com http://missmustardseed.com/

Belgian Linen drapes in Oyster color from barnandwillow.com http://missmustardseed.com/

Living room - large mediterranean open concept and formal light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Miami with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Kitchen - scandinavian u-shaped light wood floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and multicolored backsplash

Inspiration for a craftsman living room remodel in New Orleans

tara striano
Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in New York with beige walls

Transitional living room photo in Atlanta with a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Elegant Traditional Remodel in Southlake, TX – Kitchen, Family Room & Guest Baths Fullfilling our appreciation of traditional design- Exquisite Southlake, TX home features a high-end traditional remodel that seamlessly blends timeless charm with modern functionality across the kitchen, family room, and guest bathrooms. The kitchen showcases full overlay recessed panel custom white cabinetry, quartzite countertops, hand-cut chevron patterned marble backsplash, SubZero/Wolf appliances, and a spacious center island—perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. The adjacent family room remodel offers a warm and inviting atmosphere with rich hardwood flooring, and a new custom-paneled fireplace facade creating a cozy yet refined living space. The open-concept design enhances natural flow and highlights the home's timeless architectural features. The guest bathroom renovations echo traditional elegance with natural stone countertops, classic lined vanities, polished chrome fixtures, and subtle marble look porcelain tile accents, all brought together with designer lighting and premium level finishes. Located in the heart of Southlake, this professionally designed remodel reflects classic sophistication and modern floorplan architecture.

Close up of the flowers.
Inspiration for a small eclectic full sun landscaping in Chicago.