Designers Hugo Silva and Joana Santos. Description With a strong geometric character, DUO is a dialogue between two different shades of cork. The DUO exists in 5 versions. Each grows from its two-dimensional tile pattern making it a three-dimensional volume that ends in circular shape. Thus, we can switch between two functions: a square table and a circular bench. Together, DUOs create vibrant compositions and a set of shapes according to where they are observed. Materials Composite black cork and composite light cork. Finishes: Colorless aqueous coating with water, oil, stain and dirt repellency properties, as well as high UV resistance and aging properties. Dimension L30 x H45 x D30 cm

Story: The kitchen is the core of this home, belonging to a family who loves to cook. The house is adorned with characteristics of the early 1940’s including a flagstone foyer, original woodwork and trim as well as leaded windows. Finding the right mix of classic and current was important, especially in maintaining an open concept plan. The end result was kitchen that seamlessly joined a family room ultimately creating a space for everyday family life. Style: a modern take on a classic style. The space is home to warm tones, clean, linear elements and professional appliances. Materials: The kitchen features painted white Kemper cabinets, high end appliances including Miele and Sub Zero, Cambria quartz countertops and Daltile product backsplash. Challenges: This project had its own set of unique challenges. There were vast differences in ceiling heights, large HVAC ducts and pipes to be hidden and entrances to the garage to be observed and maintained. The large central column housing the refrigerator, bookshelves and pantries is actually constructed to hide a chase and other various pipes. It was the unique mix of aesthetics and practical install that made the kitchen such a great space.

Natural Water features demand more than a typical landscape pond. Yes we have to know our science, but for streams and creeks to appear real, we have to understand more than ecology and hydrology, we need to have worn out a closet of hiking boots to gain the artistic eye to create reality. Most people can actually sense when something looks natural, yet they cannot express why it is so. Our observations over 25 years lets us consciously see each detail that results in that natural feel.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

A&E Construction. This Pennington NJ remodel of a master bath en-suite features marble basketweave tile detailing and a generous walk-in shower area. One memorable aspect of this design is the continuous marble slab that simultaneously serves as a tub deck and continues into the shower area to serve as a bench seat. Scroll through the project photos to observe this unique project.

Excerpt via our website ~ "While originally designed as a Pond House, this beautiful Cabin has an endless array of uses. With a 10×16 floor plan, this cabin can be a potting shed for your garden, a child’s playhouse, a space to watch the sunset or just a place to sit by the pond. Here at the Jamaica Cottage Shop we feel that our Cabins are an asset to any landscape. With an array of available options, these cabins can compliment any property as a combination guest house, meditation room, nature observation area, yoga studio, and sometimes, a study." Available as diy plans ($50), cabin kits (estimated assembly time - 2 people, 20 hours), or fully assembled.

A&E Construction. This Pennington NJ remodel of a master bath en-suite features marble basketweave tile detailing and a generous walk-in shower area. One memorable aspect of this design is the continuous marble slab that simultaneously serves as a tub deck and continues into the shower area to serve as a bench seat. Scroll through the project photos to observe this unique project.

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2015 Houzz
Pool - eclectic pool idea in Dallas

Bedroom - traditional carpeted bedroom idea in Chicago with white walls

This Seattle waterfront home received a design overhaul. The revamped home earns its minimalist design with Nordic profiles and Japanese allure, nestled on the banks of the Lake Washington shoreline. The Laurelhurst neighborhood is charming as well as highly desired for the region. The home is conveniently situated just north of downtown Seattle, filled with commerce, arts and culture. However, its discreet location begs for a slower pace of life with water recreation at the ready. The quiet refuge boasts a private dock and boat house for days full of lakeside enjoyment. The remodel kept the existing building perimeter intact, observing the tight bounds of the neighborhood. To optimize the location, a minimalist design with awe-inspiring materials was selected. Keeping the exterior simple, the thin white brick base of the home contrasts the Sho Sugi Ban second-story exterior. Furthermore, the gable roof mimics the traditional Scandinavian home profile that is notorious for simplicity.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

A collection that unites the poetic and unique beauty of stones harnessed by Dekton® technology, as those dreams where we observe and vaguely feel in control but only the deepest part of our mind truly understands. The collection is named in honor of the lavish inspiration of the two worlds conveyed in marbled colors to captivate our eyes and bring to any space a feeling we understand but cannot explain.

Leucadendron 'Summer Red' common name, Cone Flower, blooming in summer. Ephorbia characias in background in bloom. This vast hillside in San Anselmo, Northern California has evolved over the years and is the personal sanctuary of Landscape Designer Eileen Kelly, owner of Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. This sustainable garden also serves as Eileen's "living laboratory" where she observes and learns from the habits and growth of her extensive selection of plants. They include hundreds of varieties of low-water plants that range from California natives to plants from other Mediterranean regions such as South Africa and Australia, and a few exotics from Hawaii and other regions. Succulents have always been one of Design and Photos © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design http://www.digyourgarden.com

This side view shows the pool area of this amazing custom home in TerraBella Village, Covington, LA. Spanish cedar louvered shutters surround the pool area under the pergula and an unusual tower can be seen in the background with a reading room located at the top. This home features a sleeping porch, two wine rooms and a beautiful antique cypress kitchen island.

Saturday, June 20, 2:00 to 3:30pm | Amagansett The Gillman Garden by Victoria Fensterer of Victoria Fensterer Landscape and Garden Design, LLC Flowers overflow in this lush, sun-filled garden for a charming and historic farmhouse. The landscape for this Amangassett retreat includes a courtyard and pool area. In the courtyard garden, a central axis provides structure to the design while old large evergreens provide height and a sense of enclosure. A rose pergola and vine-covered arbor lead to garden spaces beyond. An existing pool was recreated into a more organic shape, lined with large stones and boulders. Small evergreens complement older established ones, creating a secluded enclave. The patio was paved with warm-hued stone and edged by planting beds. Here the plantings take on a tropical feeling. A rustic pavilion provides a cozy place to sit and observe the light dancing off the water and to listen to the sound of birds and wind in the trees. On the south side of the property, the landscape architect planted a group of large broadleaf and needled evergreens to provide privacy and year-round interest. Additional windows were added to the farmhouse to take full advantage of the beautiful view. Photo by Robert Eckholm

A&E Construction. This Pennington NJ remodel of a master bath en-suite features marble basketweave tile detailing and a generous walk-in shower area. One memorable aspect of this design is the continuous marble slab that simultaneously serves as a tub deck and continues into the shower area to serve as a bench seat. Scroll through the project photos to observe this unique project.

Gallery Wall - During the Victorian era there was an obsession with the natural world. Travel became accessible and Victorian's could visit exotic locations and observe rare specimens of floral and fauna. They were creating detailed sketches and collecting actual specimens of plants, birds, insects, seashells, and fossils. The sketches would be framed and specimens would be showcased in a shadowbox or glass dome. These treasures were displayed as decorative art in the Victorian home. Our gallery wall is an update of those traditional collections. Reproduction botanical prints, decorative plates and framed photographs focus on close up views of birds, bees and butterflies.

We call these gardens "living landscapes" because the native plants they contain seed off and change locations from year to year in a dynamic, dramatic show. The gardener becomes audience, director, and dramaturge--all in one--rather than one who tightly controls the results. (What is a dramaturge, one might ask if their friends are not in the theater?) Oxford languages explains: "1. a dramatist. 2. a literary editor on the staff of a theater who consults with authors and edits texts." In living landscapes, the native plants become a sort of text which the gardener edits in order to shape the unfolding drama for the current and next season. The gardener chooses where to pull back overly assertive plants, when to nudge forward the under-confident actor waiting to shine, when to let the mystery unfold and surprise. It is not laissez-faire or "what will be will be"--rather, it is an ongoing movement rooted in observation and reflection. This is the living landscape we strive to design and build at The Natural Garden.