Space-saving Stairs have been used widely in Europe for many years and now have become quite popular in the US with the rise of the Tiny House movement. A further boost has been given to the Space-saving staircase with many of the major building codes in the US allowing them. Here's the stair we designed and built for a client who wanted a super-slim, non-intrusive way to access their loft. It's built at the code maximum pitch of 70 degrees and has a 102" overall rise. The build code defines an alternating-tread stair as "A device that has a series of steps between 50 and 70 degrees from level... in an alternating manner so that the user does not have both feet on the same level at the same time." So just think with me; That's how we normally climb stairs isn't it? When we climb a conventional stair, we use half of the step at a time. So the idea of an alternating-tread stair is to save a huge amount of floor space by placing the treads in the position where we would normally place our foot as we climb the staircase. This is a brilliant solution for accessing an upper level when space in tight. Please contact Clyde if you want any type of custom stairs. 520-895-2060 or 916-991-9700

Arts and crafts pool photo in New York

Every home needs some updates before going on the market in order to attract buyers and sell for top dollar. The most common updates are a fresh coat of paint, flooring updates, and lighting and hardware swaps. These simple changes can make all the difference in attracting a broad set of buyers. Normal wear and tear is normal but makes a home look lived-in. When most home buyers are searching for their home, they don’t want to envision someone else living in it—they want to envision themselves living in it with their things. That’s why agents have been recommending that sellers tackle basic pre-listing home improvements, including painting, flooring installation or refinishing, lighting updates, or hardware swaps for decades. These simple updates can make a world of difference and be the difference!

We're in the shop here today showing you an alternating-tread staircase that's' going to a job-site in Napa tomorrow. I'm standing on the landing which is at exactly mid-floor level. It's going into one one these 100-year-old houses with a steep roof and lots of attic space. The homeowner called me last month saying he wants to access this large attic area with something better than a ladder. He didn't have room for a conventional stair but this alternating-tread space-saving stair was a perfect fit. It's all Red Oak which matches the hardwood floors throughout the house. Once these are installed at the site we'll put a handrail on top of the stringers on the open side. I'll tell you a little about the alternating-tread staircases. It's built in a way that is nearly as easy to climb as a conventional stair. When we walk up a convectional stairway we normally use half of the stair tread at a time, placing one foot on the right half and the next foot on the left half. The idea of an alternating-tread stair is make half of each tread wide enough for your foot and then alternate the wide end of these paddle-shape treads from left to right. You still have your 10 inch minimum tread depth plus a 1 inch nosing projection. This give you 11" of support for each foot, just like a conventional stair. We normally make the risers a max of 7-3/4", but code allows us to go as high as 9 inches. This one is 7-3/4" which is very comfortable. We installed a metal bar across the middle of each open-riser to limit the open space to less than a 4 inch gap. Anyway, I just wanted to give you a quick shot of this. Tomorrow morning we get to go to the job-site and install this. I'd can't wait to see the look on the customer's face when we have this installed. I'll let him do the bragging :-) Last but not least, I'd like to give glory to God and special recognition to a Jewish carpenter named Jesus. I don't know for sure if He built stairways as a carpenter, but I am happy to say that He is my LORD and I want to live my whole life for Him. God bless you! And please contact me if you want any type of custom stairs. Clyde 520-895-2060 or 916-991-9700

Contrast in the Kitchen – Texture to Taste in a Grand Junction, CO custom home We normally associate texture with food, clothes, and even sound. In reality, it is a part of every aspect of our lives. In our Grand Junction, Appleton, Fruita, Palisade, and Redlands, Colorado homes, texture lives on everything from our walls to washcloths. It isn’t something we normally consider holistically or view with intent. While designing interiors, texture becomes our way to bring visual interest and emotion into the space. Adding textures to a space invites touch and evokes an understanding of the design intent. Materials like linen and wood can be combined to make a space feel streamlined yet cozy. Leather and velvet can be paired to create a luxurious retreat. In one of our recent projects, our clients had a distinct vision for their new kitchen and outdoor custom home living spaces. They were in need of a design that combined their kitchen, living, and outdoor spaces into a seamless oasis for their everyday routines. Their home has a unique architectural voice and they wanted to emphasize the character that was already there. Blending textures and colors throughout this project was how everything remained cohesive and spirited. The purpose of contrasting materials We used contrasting materials in the cabinetry to distinguish between the perimeter – high gloss – and the natural gathering space – maple. By contrasting the soft nature of maple in the cabinets and in the flooring with the harder textures of concrete and steel, we were able to offset the space’s tendency to feel like an alpine cabin. However, using contrasting textures does not always provide a dynamic interior. The high-gloss cabinets function as a vessel for various textures. They take on whatever happens to be reflected in them, bringing in elements from unexpected sources. The function of texture Along with rich black hardware, the unique backsplash adds an element of handcrafted care that naturally draws your eye throughout the space. The unevenness of each tile provides the space with intentional imperfections, giving it life and visual delight. Textures like these are great conversation starters or simply eye candy. To extend their living and dining spaces to the exterior, our clients also updated the numerous decks around the home, as well as the cladding. This gave us the opportunity to develop a texture and color story for their exteriors. Considering finishes in a location as distinctive as the Western Slope can either be viewed as a challenge or an opportunity. We have the desert, evergreen groves, riversides, and snowstorms to glean inspiration from while designing. For us, utilizing palettes that compliment the home’s natural surroundings is crucial. This home happens to live on a densely wooded plot of land with mature trees providing plenty of shade. This backdrop informed our color selections, while the existing architecture drove the material selections. The wood decking adds warmth, the horizontal cream siding brightens, the gray cedar leaves a part of the original architectural intent, and the green entry wall adds drama. The existing beams were left original because it is difficult to find materials that match the grandeur of the home. Recognizing good design Next time you walk into a well-designed custom home and immediately feel at ease, take some time to notice why you may be feeling that way. The subtlety of blending textures and colors can have a profound impact on how a space is perceived. You can see some of our other design projects here.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Campbell Cove Lake, Tennessee Construction was completed in 1963 and originally, the lake was owned and managed strictly for fishing. It has a normal surface area of 71 acres and depths of over 60 feet. It is now owned by Polk County and managed by the Copper Basin Utility District as an area water supply. Swimming and boating is allowed, however, the use of gasoline powered boat motors is prohibited Campbell Cove Lake Dam is of earthen construction. The core is homogeneous, earth. The foundation is soil, rock. Its height is 77 feet with a length of 402 feet. Its capacity is 2430 acre feet. Normal storage is 1394 acre feet. It drains an area of 1.84 square miles. The lake was originally stocked by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission with large mouth bass, shell crackers, bluegill and channel catfish; the lake also has a healthy population of perch and crappie. Persons fishing must have a valid TN. fishing license. There is a public boat launching area available for use year round.

The following job was a bit different from the kitchen and hallway restorations we normally get asked to do, in fact this request came from the vicar of St. Mary’s Church in Far Cotton who wanted us to restore some beautiful old Quarry tiles which lead up to the main aisle. The church dates back to 1885 and given the wear on some of the tiles I can only assume they date back to the same Victorian period; the church is a really welcoming, community-focused place, so it was a pleasure for me to be asked to complete the work. The vicar’s main concern was the large amount of melted candle wax around the font – so much so that this his normal cleaners had been unable to remove it. He also wanted to know if the floors could be sealed to make ongoing maintenance easier – and this was certainly something we would be able to provide. The following photos show the condition of the floor before we started. The next photo shows the work in progress from halfway down the aisle. We started by breaking down any old sealer and the troublesome candle wax, using a black stripping pad in combination of Tile Doctor Pro Clean to deep clean the floor. Since Pro Clean, a high alkaline cleaner, is highly versatile and can be used on all kinds of natural stone and tile. While the church has cleaners that come in regularly to keep the building tidy for the parishioners, the old tiles really benefitted from a deep clean which tackled the stubborn ingrained dirt and staining that had built up over many years. Once I was satisfied that the tiles had been cleaned to the best of my abilities, they were then left for two weeks to fully dry as it is an old church and, understandably, there were some inherent damp issues. As aforementioned, the vicar was keen to have the tiles sealed to make them easier to keep clean and protect them against ingrained dirt and staining for the future. There are only a few situations in which we wouldn’t recommend sealing tiles, such as if they are patio tiles which will already be under constant exposure to the weather. The best choice of sealer for this particular situation was Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which is an impregnating, breathable sealer that won’t trap moisture in the floor and will provide great protection against further staining. Additionally, as an impregnating sealer, Colour Grow penetrates into the pores of the tile protecting it from within and with the added benefit of enhancing the natural colours and restoring the life and character back in the old, dull tiles. I applied it using a paint pad, before polishing it off. I’m pleased to report that the restoration was a great success. The vicar was very impressed with the work, and I’m sure the church community will also be very happy with the new, vibrant tiles. Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

This fantastic laundry room is connected to the Master Bathroom and serves as an office area as well.
Inspiration for a transitional laundry room remodel in Chicago

Haley A Photography
Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in Chicago

Haley A Photography
Doorless shower - transitional gray tile porcelain tile doorless shower idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets and marble countertops

Heavily beamed ceiling and built-in cabinetry create a cozy, masculine home office
Transitional study room photo in Chicago with gray walls

Living room - craftsman living room idea in Boston

Elegant home design photo in New York

_Photograph by Kim Schmidt_ The pan racks are normally hung at cabinet height but given there was no wall space in the kitchen I utilized the area under the windows, normally a space that is never used and it keep the pans out of the way. Tall plants and highly hung art added height to an otherwise compact space.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Campbell Cove Lake, Tennessee Construction was completed in 1963 and originally, the lake was owned and managed strictly for fishing. It has a normal surface area of 71 acres and depths of over 60 feet. It is now owned by Polk County and managed by the Copper Basin Utility District as an area water supply. Swimming and boating is allowed, however, the use of gasoline powered boat motors is prohibited Campbell Cove Lake Dam is of earthen construction. The core is homogeneous, earth. The foundation is soil, rock. Its height is 77 feet with a length of 402 feet. Its capacity is 2430 acre feet. Normal storage is 1394 acre feet. It drains an area of 1.84 square miles. The lake was originally stocked by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission with large mouth bass, shell crackers, bluegill and channel catfish; the lake also has a healthy population of perch and crappie. Persons fishing must have a valid TN. fishing license. There is a public boat launching area available for use year round.

Stunning subway style stone backsplash adds texture and a true focal point, while providing a beautifully functional element of design.
Transitional light wood floor kitchen photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash and an island

Bring a piece of nature into your entertaining area with our rustic elegant Chisum Axis Barstool. Let your retreat become an adventure in its own right. Featuring genuine axis deer hide, this 360 degree swivel stool brings an authenticity to your space that cannot be duplicated. The axis deer hide backing seamlessly transitions to a hand-tufted leather seat and back cushion, to create a unique experience that pairs the wild with the refined in this high-end leather barstool. Comfort, quality and tasteful design come together to create this fine leather barstool. 100% American Made to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Overall Barstool Dimensions: 43" H x 26" W x 22" D Seat Height: 30" Top of Arm Height: 40" Overall Counter Stool Dimension: 38" H x 26" W x 22" D Seat Height: 25" Top of Arm Height: 35" Leather Description: A fully drum dyed top grain cowhide on European raw material. This leather is lightly ironed and then milled extensively for a unique distressed appearance. This is a natural full grain leather. The hides have not been altered in any way during the tanning process. Shade variation is normal and areas of hides absorb dyes differently, so natural dye lot variations will occur. Remember that a swatch is a general representation of the leather's color and texture, not an exact match. Scars, marks, and branding are not flaws but rather are proof of authenticity, what we call "hallmarks of the trail". Leathers will fade if exposed to direct sunlight. This is a pull up leather which means color diffusion and "burst" will occur when worked by hand. If any of these characteristics is a problem please consider a "painted" leather. One that has been corrected and heavily pigmented. 100% top grain cowhide leather is characterized by variations in shade, texture, color and grain. Healed marks and scars are to be expected and enhance the natural beauty of the hides. These variations should not be considered defects as they are normal and unique features of genuine 100% top grain cowhide leather. Frame Construction: Made with American Alder Wood, our frames are glued, screwed and dowelled at the joints. Two coats of high quality stain is hand rubbed on the wood finish and then sealed with industrial grade clear coat.

Trendy bedroom photo in Singapore