Deck - contemporary deck idea in Detroit

This project involved the design and construction of a custom multi-level deck at an unnamed private school, thoughtfully built to meet all ADA accessibility requirements. The deck features multiple elevations connected by both ramps and stairs, creating a seamless and inclusive outdoor space for students, staff, and visitors. Custom-built benches were installed around the perimeter to provide ample seating and gathering areas. Special care was taken to preserve the school’s historic landscape, with the deck carefully designed and cut around existing mature trees—allowing these natural features to remain healthy while enhancing the overall outdoor environment.

This project involved the design and construction of a custom multi-level deck at an unnamed private school, thoughtfully built to meet all ADA accessibility requirements. The deck features multiple elevations connected by both ramps and stairs, creating a seamless and inclusive outdoor space for students, staff, and visitors. Custom-built benches were installed around the perimeter to provide ample seating and gathering areas. Special care was taken to preserve the school’s historic landscape, with the deck carefully designed and cut around existing mature trees—allowing these natural features to remain healthy while enhancing the overall outdoor environment.

Mid-sized minimalist backyard deck photo in Toronto with no cover

The rail lighting and gas fire together create an inviting ambiance for the lower portion of the deck.
Deck - large modern backyard ground level cable railing deck idea in New York with a fire pit and a pergola

A busy family was looking to add a bar to their lower level. While designing the bar and placement within the lower level we thought about how often the lower level patio door was used by the neighborhood kids and adults throughout the summer while our clients entertained within the social neighborhood. We extended the tile floors so that there would be a place to pile shoes & flip flops during the summer, and created enough space for people to gather within the bar space as well as on the other side. Spacecrafting Photography

A soft subtle Toasted Antique finish gives Aristokraft Cabinetry's Durham its distinguished, enduring character that adds an effortless grace to any room. Shown here against light oak floors and dark gray countertop.

The original multiple decks and elevated patio blocked the pool and fractured the space. This design creates an elegant progression from the home’s interior to poolside. The wide stairs oriented towards the pool provide pool views from the entire deck. The interior level provides for relaxed seating and dining with the magnificence of nature. The descent of a short group of stairs leads to the outdoor kitchen level. The barbeque is bordered in stone topped with a countertop of granite. The outdoor kitchen level is positioned for easy access midway from either the pool or interior level. From the kitchen level an additional group of stairs flow down to the paver patio surrounding the pool. Also incorporated is a downstairs entry and ample space for storage beneath the deck sourced through an access panel. The design connects the interior to poolside by means of a rich and functional outdoor living design.

This beautifully finished four-level home by Skyline Construction offers more than 2,700 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space in the desirable River Heights subdivision of Mills, Wyoming. With 4 bedrooms, 2.75 bathrooms, a fully finished lower level, and a spacious three-car attached garage, the home combines practical everyday living with high-quality finishes and impressive views of Casper Mountain. The open-concept main level is designed for connection and entertaining, with a bright living area flowing directly into the kitchen and dining space. The kitchen features quartz countertops, a central island, built-in appliances, and a walk-in pantry, creating a functional workspace with plenty of storage and room for gathering. Upstairs, the private primary suite provides a comfortable retreat with a generous walk-in closet and a five-piece primary bathroom. Additional upper-level bedrooms offer flexibility for family, guests, or home office needs. The finished lower level significantly expands the home's functionality with a large family room, additional bedroom space, a bathroom, and dedicated laundry area. This flexible layout works well for entertaining, recreation, guests, or multi-generational living while maintaining privacy between the home's different levels. Interior finishes include luxury vinyl plank flooring, carpet, tile, double-pane windows, and energy-conscious systems designed for year-round comfort. A tankless hot water heater, central air conditioning, forced-air natural gas heat, and a sump pump add additional convenience and efficiency. The three-car garage is fully finished with insulation, drywall, texture, primer, and paint, providing a clean and functional area for vehicles, storage, tools, or recreational equipment. Outside, the property includes complete front and backyard landscaping, an automatic underground sprinkler system, a fenced backyard, patio, and covered front porch. Beautiful mountain views add to the home's Wyoming setting and create an inviting backdrop for outdoor living. Built by Skyline Construction, this River Heights home reflects the company's commitment to quality materials, functional floor plans, energy-efficient construction, and long-term value. The combination of flexible living space, premium finishes, and a desirable Mills location makes this residence an excellent example of modern Wyoming homebuilding.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW Like many families with older children, this local Glen Ellyn couple wanted to expand the size of their kitchen while also creating a more open, airy feel for their main level. The home had plenty of space that included a formal living room, formal dining room, family room with eat-in area and kitchen with butler’s pantry. What it didn’t have, was an effortless flow between the areas used daily for cooking, eating and gathering. Additionally, the kitchen had become outdated, feeling dark and dismal, despite the abundance of natural light. Our clients wanted a bright, cheerful interior that would inspire the family to congregate in this part of the house. No easy feat with teenagers. An open floor plan design solved the issues with functionality and circulation, removing the walls that restricted flow and opening up the entry to the dining room. We also eliminated the rarely used butler’s pantry allowing us to expand the kitchen and add a large island for food prep and gathering. To create a sense of symmetry and consistency in the space, a clerestory window was added below the header and framed to match the existing adjacent entry from the living room. Inspired by the owner’s Scottish ancestry, the island cabinetry boasts a beautiful blue hue, paired with stools upholstered in a sprightly plaid. The built-in buffet area provides additional storage, topped with a beautiful wooden top stained to coordinate with the stunning tones of the flooring. The owner’s opted for stainless steel appliances, inspiring the selection of brushed silver light fixtures and polished chrome hardware. Marble-look quartz offered a durable, lightly colored surface to reflect sunlight and enhance the cheer factor. According to this happy family, this uplifting space is now everyone’s favorite place to gather. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more design inspiration go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This old farmhouse (ca. late 18th century) has undergone many renovations over the years. Spring Creek Design added its stamp in 2008, with a small mudroom addition and a complete interior renovation. The addition encompasses a 1st floor mudroom with extensive cabinetry and closetry. Upon entering the space from the driveway, cabinet and countertop space is provided to accommodate incoming grocery bags. Next in line are a series of “lockers” and cubbies - just right for coats, hats and book bags. Further inside is a wrap-around window seat with cedar shoe racks beneath. A stainless steel dog feeding station rounds out the amenities - all built atop a natural Vermont slate floor. On the lower level, the addition features a full bathroom and a “Dude Pod” - a compact work and play space for the resident code monkey. Outfitted with a stand-up desk and an electronic drum kit, one needs only emerge for Mountain Dew refills and familial visits. Within the existing space, we added an ensuite bathroom for the third floor bedroom. The second floor bathroom and first floor powder room were also gutted and remodeled. The master bedroom was extensively remodeled - given a vaulted ceiling and a wall of floor-to-roof built-ins accessed with a rolling ladder. An extensive, multi-level deck and screen house was added to provide outdoor living space, with secure, dry storage below. Design Criteria: - Update house with a high sustainability standard. - Provide bathroom for daughters’ third floor bedroom. - Update remaining bathrooms - Update cramped, low ceilinged master bedroom - Provide mudroom/entryway solutions. - Provide a window seating space with good visibility of back and side yards – to keep an eye on the kids at play. - Replace old deck with a updated deck/screen porch combination. - Update sitting room with a wood stove and mantle. Special Features: - Insulated Concrete Forms used for Dude Pod foundation. - Soy-based spray foam insulation used in the addition and master bedroom. - Paperstone countertops in mudroom. - Zero-VOC paints and finishes used throughout the project. - All decking and trim for the deck/screen porch is made from 100% recycled HDPE (milk jugs, soda, water bottles) - High efficiency combination washer/dryer.

Fully integrated Signature Estate featuring Creston controls and Crestron panelized lighting, and Crestron motorized shades and draperies, whole-house audio and video, HVAC, voice and video communication atboth both the front door and gate. Modern, warm, and clean-line design, with total custom details and finishes. The front includes a serene and impressive atrium foyer with two-story floor to ceiling glass walls and multi-level fire/water fountains on either side of the grand bronze aluminum pivot entry door. Elegant extra-large 47'' imported white porcelain tile runs seamlessly to the rear exterior pool deck, and a dark stained oak wood is found on the stairway treads and second floor. The great room has an incredible Neolith onyx wall and see-through linear gas fireplace and is appointed perfectly for views of the zero edge pool and waterway. The center spine stainless steel staircase has a smoked glass railing and wood handrail. Photo courtesy Royal Palm Properties

The Home While looking for space where their active family could expand, these homeowners turned to Black Forest, with trees that remind them of their Indiana years. A stunning Pikes Peak view underscores how fortunate they are to live in Colorado. This home features classic nods to the owner’s French heritage while embracing a thoroughly of-the-moment Colorado lifestyle. Priorities for these homeowners included blending outdoor and indoor spaces wherever possible with generously proportioned windows and doors, porches, patios and balconies. A gracious lime-washed brick entry punctuates a simplified white stucco and black-frame-windowed exterior with traditional rooflines. Dramatic open spaces on the main floor comfortably accommodate the everyday activities of this busy family of four, while providing for welcomed visits from family and friends. A functional, open kitchen is designed for serious cooking, a butler’s pantry for staples, and serveware storage and dining spaces that effortlessly host after-school snacking to multi-course meals. A main-level, Peak-view office comfortably supports working at home, complete with a beer cave and tasting nook for hosting fellow aficionados after work is done. Guests will find comfort and privacy in a ma in-level guestroom suite or sleepover fun in the built-in bunks of the expansive over-garage bonus room. This home is a true collaboration that blends the homeowner’s long-held vision of their ideal home brought to life by the builder’s vision and design/build process that achieves something truly…Warm and welcoming in the Forest. The Builder Stauffer & Sons Construction is a true Design-Build team creating some of the finest living spaces in the Pikes Peak region for over twenty years. We’ve developed an easy point-of-entry to the Design-Build process that begins with our very popular Conceptual Design and Budgeting Agreement. This affordable, low-commitment step provides answers to the early-stage questions of “what and how much?” With this critical information in place, a robust collaboration between client and builder ensues, resulting in a thoughtfully designed home that strikes a balance between size and scope and budget. The Interior Design Family, friends and soon-to-be friends are welcomed into this updated version of a French country farmhouse through a bricked archway and a solid arch-top entry door. Once inside, a sweeping gallery of windows adorned with flower-filled window boxes sets a nice foreground to the ponderosa pine forest. A great room with a two-story, lime-washed, brick fireplace sits juxtaposed to a cozy farm-styled kitchen with large island, plenty of storage and a Pikes Peak view. This family home features a simple, clean design with warm, wooden beams and solid, white-oak flooring. This home is designed to be lived in. Wherever you go, downstairs, upstairs or out on the porch, this home wraps around you and is a delightful place to enjoy.

Royal Kitchen Corp
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Royal Kitchen Corp
Eat-in kitchen - large traditional eat-in kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Voyage chandelier is a dramatic four‑level custom installation designed to transform a tall staircase into a luminous vertical gallery. Each hand‑blown glass pendant is crafted with sculptural precision, then arranged in a cascading formation that flows seamlessly through all four levels of the stairwell. The composition creates a sense of movement and elegance, enhancing the architecture while filling the space with warm, ambient light. Tailored to the exact height and proportions of the home, the Voyage chandelier features custom lengths, custom glass colors, and a refined canopy engineered to anchor the entire installation with minimalist sophistication. From every floor, the chandelier reveals a new perspective—glowing like a floating ribbon of glass that connects the levels of the home with artistry and light. This bespoke installation reflects our signature approach: museum‑level craftsmanship, architectural balance, and fully personalized design for luxury residences with multi‑story staircases and exceptional ceiling heights.

Royal Kitchen Corp
Example of a large classic u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Royal Kitchen Corp
Eat-in kitchen - large traditional u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Voyage chandelier is a dramatic four‑level custom installation designed to transform a tall staircase into a luminous vertical gallery. Each hand‑blown glass pendant is crafted with sculptural precision, then arranged in a cascading formation that flows seamlessly through all four levels of the stairwell. The composition creates a sense of movement and elegance, enhancing the architecture while filling the space with warm, ambient light. Tailored to the exact height and proportions of the home, the Voyage chandelier features custom lengths, custom glass colors, and a refined canopy engineered to anchor the entire installation with minimalist sophistication. From every floor, the chandelier reveals a new perspective—glowing like a floating ribbon of glass that connects the levels of the home with artistry and light. This bespoke installation reflects our signature approach: museum‑level craftsmanship, architectural balance, and fully personalized design for luxury residences with multi‑story staircases and exceptional ceiling heights.