This project is proof that the challenges posed by limited space and accessibility can always be overcome in order to deliver stunning results. The space itself was rather small and also very close to the neighboring residence. Not only was the neighboring wall imposing, it was also of a completely different design style. The goal here was to create a layering effect with numerous features of varying heights. Not only would this add depth and dimension to the overall design, but it would cause the viewer to shift their focus from the encroaching wall to the beauty of the pool space. Instead of trying to maximize the water area by squaring off the pool, I decided to instead maximize the visual interest by gracefully rounding off the back wall of the pool. This was accomplished by implementing a raised stucco wall, and also a shorter, matching curved wall, featuring a "Sheer Descent" waterfall. Inside the taller, deep-plum stucco wall, I created three vertical windows which are all highlighted by LED uplighting. To give depth, dimension and some natural beauty, I implemented a simple bed of Horse Tail Reeds behind the short wall, and chose to place Banana Trees behind the taller wall. The main seating area is just outside the home's master suite, and is separated by a "Leuder" limestone fire pit. Aside from being a striking design feature, the floating stepper pads accomplish a number of things; they serve triple-duty as a walkway, a seating area adjacent to the fire pit, and also as a poolside rest for beverages. After discovering that the narrow courtyard acted as a sort of wind tunnel between the two houses, we opted to install tempered glass in order to better control the behavior of the flames. This solved the problem while remaining visually pleasing to the client as well. You'll notice in some of the leading photos for this project that I had originally intended to implement stepper pads on both sides of the pool closest to the house. And despite a thorough understanding of what would be necessary on an engineering and structural-design basis, we were eventually forced to turn this into a solid deck due to unrelenting city-required setbacks. However the client remained very understanding due to encountering a number of similar issues in their home-build process. In the end, they were delivered an outstanding pool design that had come to fruition only after coming up with numerous solutions to a number of challenges that only a unique space like this could provide.

Removing three walls allowed us to open up the kitchen space to the living and dining areas. The warm mix of walnut and gray stained cherry cabinets creates interest and breaks up a relatively long narrow space. The custom built larder cabinet provides a convenient place for frequently used small appliances and a natural breakfast prep area and keeps the other countertops open and free of clutter. Combining the additional functions of a desktop organizing area and a mudroom was solved by custom constructing a niche for a magnetic blackboard and a mudroom area with cubbies and coat hooks. HAVEN design+building llc

Products making their television debut in this project were Anthology Woods Northwest Blend (a naturally weathered wood installed on a section of the ceiling, unfinished) and the extremely hard & durable Left Coast White Oak, a unique species growing only in a narrow strip of Oregon and bit in California & Washington (installed for the flooring, finished with Rubio Monocoat White natural oil). The homeowners were able to easily apply the finish themselves prior to installing the floor, and the zero VOC nature of the oil insured it was safe to move right in! The White tint to the oil gives a subtle white-washed look to the floors while maintaining a natural look and a supple feel underfoot. The couple participating in the episode loved their floor so much they decided to add more, installing it in their master bedroom, as well! The rich character of this natural Oak in a flat sawn (the old "European" way to cut Oak) wood product adds a timeless element & warmth to the feel of the space. Looking closely at the grain, you'll see cathedral patterns in many boards, along with a great mix of flat grain with rift areas as well. Finishing out the details of the room, the Bath Crashers team added natural carerra marble in the shower with tones of white & gray, and apron-front vanity sinks for extra charm.

Photography by Paul Warchol.
Mid-sized minimalist beige tile and limestone tile limestone floor and beige floor alcove shower photo in New York with a wall-mount toilet, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door, beige walls, wood countertops and brown countertops

This sidewalk uses the Grand Ashler Slate pattern and a slate gray color. The old sidewalk was done in bricks, overgrown by pacassandra, too narrow, and too close to the house. We replaced it with a winding sidewalk, that flares out and meets the driveway where guests will park.

Richard Herman is in the hospitality business and owns several upscale hotels in Florida and in other states as well as cattle ranches in both Florida and Missouri. Their farm in Ocala is by farm their most unique. The property serves as a 4-H demonstration project for the purpose of children’s education. They have been working with the Academy Prep of St. Pete which is dedicated to inner-city youths that are selected on the basis of need and achievement. Wife Diane spends her time on the farm raising Gypsy Vanners, a diminutive draft horse named after the job they did in Eastern Europe, pulling the wagons (vans) for gypsies that wandered across the continent. On the Ocala farm, there are several mules with a unique profession. Richard had visited the Hearthstone display at a Log & Timber Home Shows at the Orlando Convention Center many years ago. He was impressed that Hearthstone had stayed in touch with him over the years by mailings, invitations to shows, and periodic phone calls. When the time came to start serious consideration of the design of barn, Hearthstone responded promptly and professionally to Richard and Diane’s requests for information and a review of their ideas for their barn, which would serve as the centerpiece for their new farm. They wanted a multipurpose facility that could accommodate an educational environment and a large hall suitable for the fundraising events for his charities. Richard wanted a barn that reflected the look and feel of barns built at the dawn of the 20th century. Besides the rustic chicken houses and vegetable gardens, they have completely renovated a 1020’s era farmhouse to be as historically correct as possible and serves as the entry to the farm. “They very careful to feel us out, get comfortable with our capabilities, and be convinced that we could perform as promised,” said Project Manager John Ricketson of Hearthstone. Design Process There were some initial drawings that gave us a start on the basic shape and size of the barn. From there, it was a process of narrowing down the uses of each area and the spans that could be achieved. The barn was going to have the traditional “board & batten” exterior siding and a metal roof. There is a cantilevered ‘hay hood” on the north gable end above the large sliding barn doors that open into the foyer and horse stalls. The wings house a combination of areas, beginning with the large restrooms to accommodate crowds for events. Other parts of the wings have garage areas for the farm vehicles, feed room, tack room, wash rack, storage, offices, and smaller restrooms. Keeping with the look and feel of the turn of the century, Hearthstone developed a process for giving the timbers a surface texture that mimicked the circular cuts of timbers that had just come out of an old sawmill. This was easier said than done. Randy Giles guided his millwright (Wolfgang) in designing a machine that would do this effectively. The barn was delivered in October of 2014 and was erected over the course of two weeks, thanks to a hardworking crew (Eric Foster) and near-perfect weather. After the Hearthstone crew completed the erection and roof dry-in, it was time for the local carpenters to step up and install some light conventional framing on the gable ends before applying the roof fascia and exterior board & batten siding. Next came the big sliding barn doors, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. Large rustic fixtures were hung from the great hall roof timbers. Exterior The board & batten siding was cypress and allowed to turn color naturally as rain hit it and the sun started working on it with UV rays. This method causes a much grayer look closer to the ground and less so where the roof overhang provides protection. The North end has some large limestone boulders and planters arranged around the pad with tall pampas grass. The planters provide casual seating before events and during outside receptions. The entire area was sodded with lush St. Augustine grass and split rail fences were added to enclose the barn area. The corrugated metal roof was a special order material that immediately rusted after being exposed to moisture. The layer of rust protects the metal from the elements. Interior The board & batten theme was carried throughout most of the interior with the timbers left natural to show off the circular saw texture. All of the tongue & groove decking was shipped in advance to allow the local painter to pre-stain it with a dark brown transparent stain that is a beautiful background to the light color Eastern White Pine timbers. “Everything was unique in this project” said Project Manager John Ricketson. “The setting on a small demonstration farm close to Ocala, the multipurpose design, the circular saw texture on the timbers.” The Hermans are very proud of their farm’s outcome. Richard sent a note to Randy Giles, owner of Hearthstone: “The Barn is fantastic, not a single problem, period. Next month, we have Jo Dee Messina coming in to help with a fundraiser for a local center for abused kids. Folks love the farm, ...... but that barn gets all of the attention. I would encourage you to use me as a reference for your sales team, feel free to extend my cell phone to any prospective purchasers.”

Gravel courtyard with Carpinus betulus 'fastigata'.
Design ideas for a large contemporary full sun courtyard gravel landscaping in New York for summer.

A lovely yard that started as a long bowling alley of lawn. We wanted to create a more human scale in the lounge area without building too many visual barriers. The overall effect is splashes of woodland across a contemporary canvas.

Multiuse home gym - huge rustic multiuse home gym idea in Denver

This client came to us with a unique challenge: create a modern design that matches her fun and funky personality but to make it as "green" and chemical free as possible. We rose to the challenge, researching the best options for sustainable, green and chemical free furnishings. The upholstery pieces are made from sustainable and chemical free materials, the dining table is made of sustainable wood with a chemical free finish. The rugs are from a fair-trade company that supports education for women in India. The client had hired a Feng Shui expert to provide her with a report which we used to design the space. The wallpaper behind the living room sofa is custom designed and custom-made. It is a map made up of hundred of small photos that the homeowner provided to us. It represents the area in her home that will bring travel and connect her to the people she loves. The large, colorful art piece in the dining area is hung in the area of the home that will bring joy around family and children. The hearts and pink/red colored wallpaper in the den will evoke love and relationships. The client has a colorful, fun personality and we wanted to infuse the design with it. A white backdrop allows all of the pinks, reds, navy blues and turquoises to pop, creating a lively, modern feeling. The textures in the floor and wall coverings and in the fabrics create a lived in, collected feeling and add a touch of bohemian chic style. The new modern cable and walnut stair banister is in keeping with the original modern feel of the row house and keeps the narrow staircase from feeling tight and closed in. This was a fun, creative and unique project for us. This particular client was one of Olamar's first clients eight years ago when we first opened our doors. At that time the house was nothing but a condemned shell that the client renovated, with our assistance. At that time we designed the kitchen, which is still in excellent condition and still looks amazing! Photographer: Greg Tinius

Transitional kitchen photo in Houston

A female mining bee on American plum (Prunus americana). This photo illustrates where mining bee females collect pollen: on the lower part of the hind leg, as well as higher up on the hind leg and the side of the thorax, giving the appearance that pollen is collected in their ‘armpit’.

This three bedroom craftsman home packs a lot of style into its slim façade, designed to fit narrow lots. A tray ceiling tops the formal dining room, while the kitchen features an efficient design and is open to the great room with cathedral ceiling, fireplace, built-in shelves, and back porch access. A nearby staircase leads to a generous bonus room. The master suite is located at the rear of the home and enjoys a space enhancing cathedral ceiling, back porch access, his and her walk-in closets, and a private bath with garden tub and separate shower. The utility room is conveniently located in close proximity to the home’s three bedrooms.

Avesha Michael Photography
Example of a large transitional u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

This project included opening up the narrow doorway to the dining room and removing the partition wall to the family room. The results allow for “open concept” spaces that combine the kitchen with the surrounding rooms. The first thing you notice when you enter the kitchen is the Black Onyx and quartz counter tops. The upscale fixtures combined with the Miele appliance group take the look over the top! The view from the new peninsula with integrated seating into the family room is spacious and family friendly. The window over the sink was bumped out by a foot to allow the counter top to extend into the sill space. This added space combined with the vertical tile on the backsplash helps to extend the feeling of “more space” around the room. A crystal chandelier adds a touch of elegance over the new integrated seating!

This double-wide striped kilim creates an added layer of interest in this home office, where a Brasilia mcm dresser is used to store vintage fabrics and sewing notions. More on the rug: This hand-woven kilim is a multi-colored stripe in a light wool. Like many vintage rugs woven in a weaver's home, kilims tend to be narrow and long rather than wide and square. To make their size more amenable to a living area, weavers will actually weave TWO pieces, and then sew them together in the middles. It is certainly not a technique you find in modern rugs and is all the more evidence of the tradition, craft and culture that goes into making handmade rugs. Original artwork by Tiffany Bozic.

A lovely Brooklyn Townhouse with an underutilized garden floor (walk out basement) gets a full redesign to expand the footprint of the home. The family of four needed a playroom for toddlers that would grow with them, as well as a multifunctional guest room and office space. The modern play room features a calming tree mural background juxtaposed with vibrant wall decor and a beanbag chair.. Plenty of closed and open toy storage, a chalkboard wall, and large craft table foster creativity and provide function. Carpet tiles for easy clean up with tots and a sleeper chair allow for more guests to stay. The guest room design is sultry and decadent with golds, blacks, and luxurious velvets in the chair and turkish ikat pillows. A large chest and murphy bed, along with a deco style media cabinet plus TV, provide comfortable amenities for guests despite the long narrow space. The glam feel provides the perfect adult hang out for movie night and gaming. Tibetan fur ottomans extend seating as needed.

Jared Kuzia
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Boston

The original ensuite bathroom in this condominium required renovations to replace problematic Kitec plumbing. The layout in the space remained the same, but improvements were made to address certain design challenges with lighting, automation, and space. The aim was to create a modern bathroom design with textured wood features, and the feel of metallic black accents. A number of prominent changes were made to improve the use of space. The original entry, a left-handed door swinging into the bathroom, was replaced. It interfered with the vanity clear floor space. It also made the use of the bathroom difficult when two users were present. It was changed to a soft closing pocket door. To avoid losing space it was installed by creating a wall cavity on the outside of the bathroom. This door also included frosted glass panels to allow natural light into the space. Double sliding glass shower doors were also installed to address access issues to the shower valve. Storage improvements included the installation of dual inset medicine cabinets, and pull out drawers within the wall hung vanity. The depth of the medicine cabinets were extended outwards, and this nice detail was finished with a textured wood finish. The addition of the wall hung vanity also created the feeling of more space beneath the units and allowed for under cabinet lighting. Lighting and automation improvements included the addition of HUE LED lighting. This was done by installing two shower pot lights, a 6” main potlight, and under cabinet lighting. These are all controlled by the Philips Hue App that programs routines, scenes, and other settings. Some of the other highlights of this modern bathroom include dark grout, which contrasts nicely with the elongated white tile, a thermostatic shower system, herringbone textured porcelain floor tile, and a Schluter Kerdi waterproofing shower system. This bathroom is made most unique though with the choice of wallpaper, which can be described as modern luxury, a graphic take on agate stone patterns with metallic embellishments.