The major objective of this home was to craft something entirely unique; based on our client’s international travels, and tailored to their ideal lifestyle. Every detail, selection and method was individual to this project. The design included personal touches like a dog shower for their Great Dane, a bar downstairs to entertain, and a TV tucked away in the den instead of on display in the living room. Great design doesn’t just happen. It’s a product of work, thought and exploration. For our clients, they looked to hotels they love in New York and Croatia, Danish design, and buildings that are architecturally artistic and ideal for displaying art. Our part was to take these ideas and actually build them. Every door knob, hinge, material, color, etc. was meticulously researched and crafted. Most of the selections are custom built either by us, or by hired craftsman.

Study room - large craftsman freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room idea in DC Metro with blue walls and no fireplace

Duarte Photo
Inspiration for an industrial home design remodel in Los Angeles

This is a travertine pool deck we installed for a client in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. The color is Noche and is laid in a French pattern. We have a unique installation method that allows us to install the travertine pavers in the freeze/thaw Ohio climate. This is some of the highest quality travertine you'll find anywhere. If you would like to speak with us about designing or installing your travertine pool deck or patio, please visit our website http://www.twobrothersbrickpaving.com. If you're not located within a 100 mile radius of Cincinnati, Ohio, we would be happy to share with you our source for travertine pavers: http://www.twobrothersbrickpaving.com/where-to-buy-travertine-pavers/

Image of the new rooftop patio area. We used the same Pennsylvania flagstone paving, but in a different installation method because of the rooftop application. Again, drainage was key and the original garage drains were maintained. Large planters were filled with evergreen bamboo to screen the neighboring houses and back yards. A new iron railing at the existing parapet wall was installed to make the rooftop a safe place to gather. Installation by John Shorb Landscaping, Inc. Alex McCarty @ John Shorb Landscaping, Inc.

The major objective of this home was to craft something entirely unique; based on our client’s international travels, and tailored to their ideal lifestyle. Every detail, selection and method was individual to this project. The design included personal touches like a dog shower for their Great Dane, a bar downstairs to entertain, and a TV tucked away in the den instead of on display in the living room. Great design doesn’t just happen. It’s a product of work, thought and exploration. For our clients, they looked to hotels they love in New York and Croatia, Danish design, and buildings that are architecturally artistic and ideal for displaying art. Our part was to take these ideas and actually build them. Every door knob, hinge, material, color, etc. was meticulously researched and crafted. Most of the selections are custom built either by us, or by hired craftsman.

Our pioneer project, Casita de Tierra in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, showcases the natural building techniques of a rubble trench foundation, earthbag construction, natural plasters, earthen floors, and a composting toilet. Our earthbag wall system consists of locally available, cost-efficient, polypropylene bags that are filled with a formula of clay and aggregate unearthed from our building site. The bags are stacked like bricks in running bonds, which are strengthened by courses of barbed wire laid between each row, and tamped into place. The walls are then plastered with a mix composed of clay, sand, soil and straw, and are followed by gypsum and lime renders to create attractive walls. The casita exhibits a load-bearing wall system demonstrating that thick earthen walls, with no rebar or cement, can support a roofing structure. We, also, installed earthen floors, created an indoor dry-composting toilet system, utilized local woods for the furniture, routed all grey water to the outdoor garden, and maximized air flow by including cross-ventilating screened windows below the natural palm frond and cane roof. Casita de Tierra exemplifies an economically efficient, structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing, environmentally kind, and socially responsible home.

Mid-sized transitional backyard tile patio kitchen photo in Los Angeles with no cover

Finished Product of Trugard Waterproof Membrane Shower Tile Installation. Trugard Provided the tile shower bonded polyethylene waterproof membrane that makes this shower completely waterproof for a lifetime. Protect your shower with Trugard.

Photo by Bragar Landscaping. I designed this patio at the top of the hillside. I chose to use a permeable type of patio surface, allowing water to percolate into the soil below the patio. Please notice my curved garden wall and the way the bull nose brick follow the curve. My masonry usually has curves and I have developed a few methods to insure the curves are nearly perfect. In addition I construct wood structures such as patio covers, trellises, gates, and garden dividers.

Wood island top by DeVos Woodworking, design by Stuart Sampley Architects. Wood species: Walnut Construction method: face grain Special feature: "Waterfall" effect (wood returns to the floor Size & thickness: 48" wide by" long by 1.75" thick Edge profile: softened Finish: Waterlox satin finish Project location: Austin, TX Architect: Stuart Sampley Architects Builder: Acero Construction Photos by: Stuart Sampley Architects

This organic modern design is built in an area known for having notable issues with ground movement. After speaking with the developer and reviewing the soil report with our Structural Engineer, we made our recommendations to the client. Since the budget for a full-blown pier and beam structure with void boxes under the pool was well beyond the comfort level of our client, they elected to have us utilize a float shell construction method. For this, we over-excavated the hole and placed a 12" layer of gravel beneath the shell of the pool. Drain lines lead from the deepest point under the pool down into a culvert, placed off to the side of the pool. A sump pump removes any excess water from the culvert as it accumulates. For the shell of the pool, we utilized a double matt of steel and increased the wall thickness to a minimum of 12". This gave added strength to withstand the volatile soil. The elements of fire, water, wood and stone were very important in creating the organic modern feel of this design. The layered effect along the back wall creates a visual stimulation across the length of the yard, without overwhelming the senses. Rather than creating walls only of hard materials, we used Ipe wood to create horizontal screen walls of a more organic nature. At either end, the raised wall and the fire feature are finished in a large-scale porcelain tile, with the look of stained concrete. Custom stainless steel scuppers, made by a local fabricator, create a soothing sound of falling water. The low wall at the center of the project is faced in natural ledgestone, and carries a color palette that set the tone for the entire project. Behind this wall and in front of one of the Ipe screens are three Desert Steel Giant Agave sculptures. The unique fire feature isn't quite a fire place, nor is it a fire pit. It is a linear fire burner, surrounded by a 4" thick cantilevered Leuder limestone hearth, with a backdrop wall of blue glazed clay tile. Although the pool was initially planned as a plaster pool, as the project began to take shape, the client elected to go all the way and finish it in a beautiful blue glass mosaic. Custom fabricated stainless steel cannon jets send a delicate arch of water over this deep blue, and draw attention to the three square wok planters on the far side of the yard. For the decking on this project, we elected to work with Mother Nature rather than against her. Two and a half inch thick concrete pavers, set on a bed of compacted, decomposed granite allow for movement around the pool that is easily fixed. If an area of deck moves around, we can simply lift the affected areas, re-level with DG bed, and re-set the pavers.

mixer shelf pull out
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Sacramento with an undermount sink, green cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, porcelain backsplash and white countertops

Amoura Productions
Bedroom - mid-sized modern guest carpeted bedroom idea in Omaha with gray walls and no fireplace

This small 1922 Bungalow in Portland’s Historic Irvington neighborhood is on the National Historic Registrar and was in need of upgrades. The original 800 sf home was expanded to 1750 sf with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Retaining the historic facade the new space-efficient modern interior includes comprehensive energy upgrades and full house Heat Recovery Ventilation for continuous fresh, filtered, air. This Earth Advantage Platinum certified home also features a mini-split heat pump, Pacific Madrone Cabinets, and a Central Vacuum system. Stephen Cridland

On entering the residence, visitors are greeted with a beautiful work of art, crafted using contemporary Mexican methods. Original painting, characterizing four beloved horses once belonging to the owners, are mounted on a ceramic Mexican tile background. An elegant antique gold frame sets off the art from the painted wall behind. An heirloom bench finishes off the welcoming niche.

From the outside this one of a kind modern farmhouse home is set off by the contrasting materials of the Shou Sugi Ban Siding, exposed douglas fir accents and steel metal roof while the inside boasts a clean lined modern aesthetic equipped with a wood fired pizza oven. Through the design and planning phases of this home we developed a simple form that could be both beautiful and every efficient. This home is ready to be net zero with the future addition of renewable resource strategies (ie. solar panels).

Inspiration for a large contemporary master beige tile beige floor and double-sink freestanding bathtub remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

The major objective of this home was to craft something entirely unique; based on our client’s international travels, and tailored to their ideal lifestyle. Every detail, selection and method was individual to this project. The design included personal touches like a dog shower for their Great Dane, a bar downstairs to entertain, and a TV tucked away in the den instead of on display in the living room. Great design doesn’t just happen. It’s a product of work, thought and exploration. For our clients, they looked to hotels they love in New York and Croatia, Danish design, and buildings that are architecturally artistic and ideal for displaying art. Our part was to take these ideas and actually build them. Every door knob, hinge, material, color, etc. was meticulously researched and crafted. Most of the selections are custom built either by us, or by hired craftsman.