This English-inspired garden in Highland Village, TX offers stunning lakeside views using native Texas plants.
Design ideas for a rustic drought-tolerant landscaping in Dallas.

A circular flagstone patio with a natural boulder fire pit creates a glowing focal point in this multi-level backyard retreat. Soft landscape lighting highlights the curved lawn, stepping stone pathways, and layered plantings, while the covered upper and lower patios provide sheltered spaces for year-round entertaining. Warm textures, stone columns, and integrated lighting bring resort-style ambiance to a family-friendly outdoor living space.

The grand entrance taken from the new visitor parking area. The pathway, flanked by lush plantings, meanders either up to the house or around back through the Asian style gate and pergola.

A circular flagstone patio with a natural boulder fire pit creates a glowing focal point in this multi-level backyard retreat. Soft landscape lighting highlights the curved lawn, stepping stone pathways, and layered plantings, while the covered upper and lower patios provide sheltered spaces for year-round entertaining. Warm textures, stone columns, and integrated lighting bring resort-style ambiance to a family-friendly outdoor living space.

A circular flagstone patio with a natural boulder fire pit creates a glowing focal point in this multi-level backyard retreat. Soft landscape lighting highlights the curved lawn, stepping stone pathways, and layered plantings, while the covered upper and lower patios provide sheltered spaces for year-round entertaining. Warm textures, stone columns, and integrated lighting bring resort-style ambiance to a family-friendly outdoor living space.

A circular flagstone patio with a natural boulder fire pit creates a glowing focal point in this multi-level backyard retreat. Soft landscape lighting highlights the curved lawn, stepping stone pathways, and layered plantings, while the covered upper and lower patios provide sheltered spaces for year-round entertaining. Warm textures, stone columns, and integrated lighting bring resort-style ambiance to a family-friendly outdoor living space.

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

The juxtaposition of the sharp granite steps with round boulders and soft plantings was intentional.
Design ideas for a craftsman hillside landscaping in New York.

A rustic modern patio blends natural stone pavers, warm wood accents, and seamless mountain views, crafting an inviting and sustainable outdoor living space in this organic mountain home.

We replaced the brick with a Tuscan-colored stacked stone and added a wood mantel; the television was built-in to the stacked stone and framed out for a custom look. This created an updated design scheme for the room and a focal point. We also removed an entry wall on the east side of the home, and a wet bar near the back of the living area. This had an immediate impact on the brightness of the room and allowed for more natural light and a more open, airy feel, as well as increased square footage of the space. We followed up by updating the paint color to lighten the room, while also creating a natural flow into the remaining rooms of this first-floor, open floor plan. After removing the brick underneath the shelving units, we added a bench storage unit and closed cabinetry for storage. The back walls were finalized with a white shiplap wall treatment to brighten the space and wood shelving for accessories. On the left side of the fireplace, we added a single floating wood shelf to highlight and display the sword. The popcorn ceiling was scraped and replaced with a cleaner look, and the wood beams were stained to match the new mantle and floating shelves. The updated ceiling and beams created another dramatic focal point in the room, drawing the eye upward, and creating an open, spacious feel to the room. The room was finalized by removing the existing ceiling fan and replacing it with a rustic, two-toned, four-light chandelier in a distressed weathered oak finish on an iron metal frame. Photo Credit: Nina Leone Photography

photo by Jim Pyle
This is an example of a huge mediterranean full sun hillside stone retaining wall landscape in Sacramento for fall.

Our latest new residential project in Los Altos, where exposed metal and wooden beams play a dramatic warm contrast with the rest of the white interior and open floor elements of this luxury rustic home giving it a Mediterranean look. Architect: M Designs Architects - Malika Junaid Contractor: MB Construction - Ben Macias Interior Design: M Designs Architects - Malika Junaid

barn inspired bath room featuring barn wood detailing and cabinets.
Bathroom - rustic bathroom idea in Houston

A balanced and functional kitchen built for everyday beauty. The exposed stone wall offers texture and contrast against creamy cabinetry. Classic pendant lights and subtle metal accents unify the space, creating a refined, rustic gathering hub at the heart of the home.

A 1940's bungalow was renovated and transformed for a small family. This is a small space - 800 sqft (2 bed, 2 bath) full of charm and character. Custom and vintage furnishings, art, and accessories give the space character and a layered and lived-in vibe. This is a small space so there are several clever storage solutions throughout. Vinyl wood flooring layered with wool and natural fiber rugs. Wall sconces and industrial pendants add to the farmhouse aesthetic. A simple and modern space for a fairly minimalist family. Located in Costa Mesa, California. Photos: Ryan Garvin

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

Salvaged glulam beams reflect a visible beauty with a hidden strength. A play on refined and rustic was used to bring a character and history to a new modern, fresh and clean palate. Glulam beams are already a very sustainable material because it uses smaller pieces of dimensional lumber to make a larger beam but because we were able to salvage this from a local warehouse we were able to take it a step further on these staircase steps. http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=prd_glu_main isARK Studio

Dakota Natural
Family room - transitional family room idea in New York

Miller Architects, PC
Mountain style kitchen photo in Other with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets and an island