Why is organic a better choice? Exposure to synthetic pesticides has been shown to cause cancer and a range of other harmful health effects including damage to the nervous system, lungs, and reproductive organs. The persistent chemicals used in conventional agriculture not only reach consumers and those involved in food production but also contaminate soil, air, and waterways, poisoning entire communities and depleting the long-term usability of natural resources. Organic agriculture, which eliminates these harmful chemicals, can actually mitigate a number of environmental threats by conserving water, emitting lower levels of greenhouse gases, and sequestering carbon in the soil. These benefits not only slow climate change but also make the food supply more secure by preventing soil erosion and water loss and maintaining biodiversity.

Inspiration for a timeless shed remodel in Miami

2018 HNA Awards Winner - Concrete Paver - Residential (size more than 3,000 sf) Contractor: LR Landscaping Producer: Keystone Hardscapes Designer: Tanna Johns Venetian pavers were selected for their ability to integrate with the earthen tones found in the area’s natural grasses, granite, oaks and rust-toned soil. Pavers were tumbled to achieve a weathered and rustic look, complementing the limestone used on the home. The home’s exterior includes exudes quality and includes limestone as well as both precast and oil rubbed bronze iron accents. Tumbled pavers balance German Schmear grout style used on the limestone walls and the roof tile mudded ridges and bumps. The commitment to craftsmanship necessitated a 2.5 year build process. Keystone Hardscapes samples were created and brought to the home during the final stages of constructions to ensure critical harmony between the pavers and exterior elements of the home. The paver samples were laid against the stucco, precast, limestone and cedar garage doors to confirm design alignment and flow. The natural grade of this site was mitigated through a significant backfill and retaining wall; delivering a subtle slope from street to a flat grade driveway. This provided an even surface for vehicles and, with Venetian pavers, a seamless transition from the entry gate in to the inner courtyard.

In order to mitigate the bulk, we used over-scaled windows, a hip roof form, porches and trellises, and traditional building materials to help the house fade into the landscape.

The MR Nook! Entirely custom made dining nook created with steel, rustic alder and love. The built-in bench has three hatches and one drawer for storage. The moveable bench's top is hinged to allow access to the heater controls and the entire bench can be slid out of the way for heater maintenance. The double (vertical) trestle style dining table frame provides a secondary footrest to the built-in bench's primary footrest and is designed to mitigate knee knocking while sliding around on the bench. This creation increased our client's seating capacity from 4 to 7 (comfortably) and gave them LOTS of storage space.

This meandering driveway is the focal point of the property. Mitigating cracking with a running bond pattern, achieved by checker boarding pours and maintaining a high quality of work with consistent finishes and crisp, clean, saw cut lines, produced the final result.

Retractable Screens, also known as Roll-up Screens and Vertical Rolling Screens are completely customized to meet the needs of the space. Easy to see through and completely retractable, exterior Retractable Screens create a cool, comfortable, insect-free environment without sacrificing your view. Designed to provide superior solar protection, they mitigate UV damage, optimize comfort and provide daytime privacy even in windy settings. Extra sun control can be achieved by increasing thread counts and weave density. Retractable Solar Shades provide energy-efficient sun shading, shelter against bugs and mosquitoes, climate control and rain/wind reduction while allowing outward visibility. Depending on screen fabric selection, our solar shade fabric selections are capable of blocking up to 95% of ultra-violet (UV) rays–saving up to 50% of the energy used to heat and cool homes. Motorize Retractable Screens provide control at the touch of a button. Somfy Motors allow activation by wall mounted toggle switch or several different types of remote control options. These Retractable Screens will stop at upper and lower limits and are able to stop any where along the travel path on command. Optional Manual Override features allow for operation in case of power outage for motorized units. Manual Operations are available on most models. Motorized Retractable Screens equipped with Somfy RTS motors may be upgraded for use in Smart Homes and operated via Smartphone or other Mobile Devices. Retractable Screens should be retracted when not in use. The screens are raised and housed inside the aluminum housing. All major components of the system are powder coated aluminum for durability, ease of operations, and longevity. All Retractable Screens from Shade & Shutter Systems come with a 5 year Warranty, to include the Somfy Motor. Retractable Screens offer wind and rain abatement for breezy days. Many of our clients enjoy outdoor patio settings along coastal areas and beach front properties. Those areas also endure regular breezes that can be knocked down with retractable Screens for a more enjoyable experience. Although these screens are not designed for storm protection, winds to 40 mph are easily abated. If you would like more information about Retractable Screens, our Product Specialists can be reached at 800-522-1599.

Inspiration for a 1950s staircase remodel in Kansas City

Sharing the primary entertaining space of this centrally located Minneapolis townhouse, this kitchen completed during a remodel in 2022, was designed to integrate and harmonize with a distinctive yet quiet presence. Liberated from its former enclosure, this stunning kitchen takes center stage at the heart of this contemporary town home. Anchored by dual walnut islands, the new layout is conducive to entertaining and provides both cook and guest with excellent views of the Minneapolis skyline. Minimizing traditionally identifiable elements of a kitchen, the space, in concert with the surrounding rooms, feels more like an upscale lounge and less like a residential kitchen. Natural granite is abundant, the waterfalled surfaces adding dramatic effect at the island and behind the induction range where an underlit shelf is integrated into the stone assembly. At the sink, the carefully detailed backsplash is recessed into the surrounding casework which provides additional storage facing the living area. Streamlined appliances are unobtrusive, either fully-integrated or tucked out of the way. The rear wall is composed almost entirely of white, flat paneled cabinetry, tucked under the soffit and merging into the textured fireplace mass. Heavily distressed beams help mitigate the cavernous volume and add layers visual texture and warmth. Double openings divide the space from a more intimately scaled dining area (the former home of the kitchen). The interstitial space provides room for a butler’s pantry and wet bar with hanging glass storage. A backlit etched glass panel provides ambient illumination and conceals an awkwardly located existing window.

Retractable Screens, also known as Roll-up Screens and Vertical Rolling Screens are completely customized to meet the needs of the space. Easy to see through and completely retractable, exterior Retractable Screens create a cool, comfortable, insect-free environment without sacrificing your view. Designed to provide superior solar protection, they mitigate UV damage, optimize comfort and provide daytime privacy even in windy settings. Extra sun control can be achieved by increasing thread counts and weave density. Retractable Solar Shades provide energy-efficient sun shading, shelter against bugs and mosquitoes, climate control and rain/wind reduction while allowing outward visibility. Depending on screen fabric selection, our solar shade fabric selections are capable of blocking up to 95% of ultra-violet (UV) rays–saving up to 50% of the energy used to heat and cool homes. Motorize Retractable Screens provide control at the touch of a button. Somfy Motors allow activation by wall mounted toggle switch or several different types of remote control options. These Retractable Screens will stop at upper and lower limits and are able to stop any where along the travel path on command. Optional Manual Override features allow for operation in case of power outage for motorized units. Manual Operations are available on most models. Motorized Retractable Screens equipped with Somfy RTS motors may be upgraded for use in Smart Homes and operated via Smartphone or other Mobile Devices. Retractable Screens should be retracted when not in use. The screens are raised and housed inside the aluminum housing. All major components of the system are powder coated aluminum for durability, ease of operations, and longevity. All Retractable Screens from Shade & Shutter Systems come with a 5 year Warranty, to include the Somfy Motor. Retractable Screens offer wind and rain abatement for breezy days. Many of our clients enjoy outdoor patio settings along coastal areas and beach front properties. Those areas also endure regular breezes that can be knocked down with retractable Screens for a more enjoyable experience. Although these screens are not designed for storm protection, winds to 40 mph are easily abated. If you would like more information about Retractable Screens, our Product Specialists can be reached at 800-522-1599.

Inspiration for a large farmhouse landscaping in New York.

Our design for the expansion and gut renovation of a small 1200 square foot house in a residential neighborhood triples is size, and reworks the living arrangement. The rear addition takes advantage of southern exposure with a "greenhouse" room that provides solar heat gain in winter, shading in summer, and a vast connection to the rear yard. Architecturally, we used an approach we call "willful practicality." The new soaring ceiling ties together first and second floors in a dramatic volumetric expansion of space, while providing increased ventilation and daylighting from greenhouse to operable windows and skylights at the peak. Exterior pockets of space are created from curved forces pushing in from outside to form cedar clad porch and stoop. Sustainable design is employed throughout all materials, energy systems and insulation. Masonry exterior walls and concrete floors provide thermal mass for the interior by insulating the exterior. An ERV system facilitates increased air changes and minimizes changes to the interior air temperature. Energy and water saving features and renewable, non-toxic materal selections are important aspects of the house design. Environmental community issues are addressed with a drywell in the side yard to mitigate rain runoff into the town sewer system. The long sloping south facing roof is in anticipation of future solar panels, with the standing seam metal roof providing anchoring opportunities for the panels. The exterior walls are clad in stucco, cedar, and cement-fiber panels defining different areas of the house. Closed cell spray insulation is applied to exterior walls and roof, giving the house an "air-tight" seal against air infiltration and a high R-value. The ERV system provides the ventilation needed with this tight envelope. The interior comfort level and economizing are the beneficial results of the building methods and systems employed in the house. Photographer: Peter Kubilus

Wanting the front façade of this home to better reflect the grandeur of the home’s backside, the clients came to Castle hoping to have a new front Entryway Addition built. Most of the design details were inspired by the home’s existing California room (open air room which is a transition from the interior to the exterior) which spans out the backside, facing the lake front. These bits of inspiration include the vaulted ceiling, wood planked ceiling, cedar beams, exposed trusses, metal work, brick wall, and sconce light fixtures. To mitigate some costs the clients completed the drywall, painting, stonework, and flooring. Overall, the remodel achieved the goal of unifying the front façade with the grandeur already existing throughout the rest of the home.

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

We are an elite KANSAS CITY landscaping design, waterfeture,/ fountains landscape paver installation company with over 20 years of experience. The Landscape Company Kansas City is engaged in the landscape design KANSAS CITY, planning, landscape installation Kansas City area and development of residential, commercial and industrial establishments, bounded by a belief in hardwork, expertise, and professionalism in the specialized field of landscaping. LANDSCAPE WATERFEATURS , BRICK MASONRY REPAIR We are known for our exceptional, outstanding landscape design in KANSAS CITY area and quality workmanship. We are a Certified Landscape installations kansas City. We are specializing in Landscape design, Landscape patio, Landscape stone/brick kansas city, Fountian, LANDSCAPE Water Garden, LANDSCAPE Stone Retaining walls in Kansas city Kansas City Landscape & Design offers landscape design and install landscaping, landscape retaining walls, outdoor firepits, outdoor fireplaces, built in bbq grills, bbq grills, outdoor patios, low voltage lighting, driveways, retaining walls, landscape lighting, brick pavers, concrete pavers, outside fireplaces, outdoor water features, ponds, Landscape outdoor kitchens, outdoor lighting, water features, flagstone patios, Landscape patio pavers, pools and spas in Kansas City, Shawnee, Overland Park, Bonner Springs, Leawood, Olathe, Mission Hills, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Liberty, Raymore, Raytown, Independence, Belton, Gladstone, Lansing, Wichita, North Kansas City, Kansas City Masonry / Kansas City Fountain,landscape water feature fountain Landscape Design & Installation Service Exterior Landscaping (Hardscape & Softscape) Interior Landscaping Waterfalls / Water Features / Fountains / Pond / Pool Installation New Residential Landscaping ( large or small ) Commercial Landscaping Garden Renovation / Improvement / Restoration Landscape Design & Development Landscape Irrigation Installation Landscape Maintenance Landscape / Garden Outdoor Lighting Installation Outdoor Construction, Masonry & Concrete Work Pavers / Paver Patio Drainage Solutions Outdoor Kitchens Outdoor Fireplace / Firepit Porous Pave Landscape Retaining Walls Patio Stone & Pavers Seeding & Sodding Retail Plant Center / Plantings Wetland Mitigation Woodland restoration Erosion Control Landscape Lighting

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Transitional home design photo in Boston

A multi-valent overhaul of a steep mountain property damaged by The Flood and at risk of future degradation. We made room for an outdoor living space by broadening an old fire roadbed using ancient stonework tactics (and a couple of backhoes) to shore up the slopes about and below. We performed extensive erosion mitigation all over the site while making aesthetic improvements. To give the owners access to the overlook far above their home, we built a trail to last generations and accommodate users of all abilities. Patio concrete, cobble, and fire pit by others.