Beautiful traditional fence installation in Essex, Connecticut. Atlas Outdoor custom designed it's signature Chestnut Hill staggered cedar fence to complement the surrounding landscape in this exquisite home.

This unique city-home is designed with a center entry, flanked by formal living and dining rooms on either side. An expansive gourmet kitchen / great room spans the rear of the main floor, opening onto a terraced outdoor space comprised of more than 700SF. The home also boasts an open, four-story staircase flooded with natural, southern light, as well as a lower level family room, four bedrooms (including two en-suite) on the second floor, and an additional two bedrooms and study on the third floor. A spacious, 500SF roof deck is accessible from the top of the staircase, providing additional outdoor space for play and entertainment. Due to the location and shape of the site, there is a 2-car, heated garage under the house, providing direct entry from the garage into the lower level mudroom. Two additional off-street parking spots are also provided in the covered driveway leading to the garage. Designed with family living in mind, the home has also been designed for entertaining and to embrace life's creature comforts. Pre-wired with HD Video, Audio and comprehensive low-voltage services, the home is able to accommodate and distribute any low voltage services requested by the homeowner. This home was pre-sold during construction. Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing

Our Forever Redwood Round Wooden Picnic Table has double thick wood construction, and smooth well built planks that span the entire furniture piece. The detached benches are detailed and stable, and can seat up to 12 large adults comfortably. This table is perfect for campgrounds, parks, yards, pools, or even a small garden or backyard patio area. They are made from environmentally friendly restoration timber, and made piece-by-piece, by hand, in our California headquarters.

Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master beige tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in Other with beige walls

Project Developer: Michael O'Hearn http://www.houzz.com/pro/mohearn1/michael-ohearn-case-design-remodeling-inc Designer: Micaela Mendoza http://www.houzz.com/pro/micaeladeegan/micaela-mendoza-case-design-remodeling-inc Photographer: Stacy Zarin-Goldberg

Inspiration for a coastal living room remodel in Portland

WOOD COUNTERTOPS: http://www.craft-art.com SPECIES of WOOD COUNTERTOP: Distressed Black Walnut CONSTRUCTION STYLE: Plank FINISH/OIL: Waterproof, Food Safe, Stain Resistant Waterlox blend (Why Waterproof? http://www.craft-art.com/why-craft-art-wood-countertops-are-waterproof/ ) DESIGN BY: http://www.classiccabinetry.us/ OTHER FEATURES: GRAINTE: Palomino granite from Stone Source of Chattanooga, TN sourced by designer. PERIMETER CABINETS: Cherry Cabinets on perimeter by Dura Supreme Cabinetry Looking for something not shown? As a high end, custom wood countertop manufacturer we may be able to source and create what you are looking for. Contact us at info@craft-art.com. Want a FREE Craft Art Brochure? CLICK HERE: http://www.craft-art.com/free-wood-countertop-brochure/ Please reference a sample. http://store.craft-art.com

Benefits of Plantation Shutters Plantation shutters offer advantages and benefits to homeowners over other window coverings including: • A permanent addition to a house: While they don't add much to the sale price and don't guarantee a return on investment, the curb appeal helps the house sell faster. The permanency of plantation shutters allows them to be included in appraisals. • Versatility: Many have the ability to open only halfway if desired. If you want to let in all the light, plantation shutters swing away from the window to grant an unobstructed view. • Insulation: When all louvers are closed, a good insulating barrier is created, trapping unwanted temperatures and saving you money on your energy bill. • Easy maintenance: With wide louvers, a simple wipe-down is often all that's needed. Vinyl shutters can be taken off their hinges and sprayed off for a major cleaning. • Elegance: The classic, yet modern look conveys a permanency like no other window dressing can. Whether painted or natural wood, they all have a look that says; welcome home. Wood vs. Faux Wood It's not hard to argue that natural wood is more appealing than vinyl or PVC. However, "faux wood," as it's sometimes called, has some advantages: • Price -- Faux wood shutters are often lower in price than real wood. • Weight -- Because some shutters are made "hollow core" (as opposed to vinyl-wrapped medium density fiberboard, MDF), they can be significantly lighter. • Moisture Resistance -- If you live in an area with high humidity, hollow faux wood or aluminum core will resist expanding and sagging. (MDF core louvers will tend to expand and crack as the material swells with moisture.) Natural wood is the choice for those who have a very healthy budget or for whom a specific appearance is a must. Among the advantages are: • Size -- Because wood plantation shutters are made of hardwood, they can be quite a bit larger than plastic or vinyl. Vinyl shutters larger than 29 inches may be prone to sag, so they need divider rails or other supports which can destroy the traditional look of a plantation shutter. • Natural -- While vinyl or plastic shutters can be painted to match any color scheme, the natural shades and finishes of the various species of wood have something for every look. • Classic -- While many plastic shutters can be made to look like real wood, the faux wood finishes can vary significantly depending on manufacturer and model. Up close, it can be easy to tell they're plastic. The warmth of natural wood is a classic feel that's impossible to beat. Popular Plantation Shutter Brands When you go to purchase your plantation shutters, brands names may offer a good representation of high-, mid-, and low-cost range of what's available. Which one you choose depends on your budget and your tastes. Hunter-Douglas and Norman Shutters produce three lines of plantation shutters in both real wood and faux wood styles. A higher-end product, Hunter-Douglas may be worth the cost for beauty and quality of workmanship. The Window Outfitters and Sunland produce a mid-cost line of shutters. The mid-range pricing may be for those who are balancing aesthetics with a budget. National franchise and or box stores may not offer an in-house expert or designer. Look to local companies that specialize in plantation shutters looking online may offer a low-cost brand for budget-minded DIYers. Available in both faux and real wood, the affordability combines with the visual appeal to make this a very popular choice for plantation shutters. Regardless of which line you go with, be sure to ask about frames. Generally all manufactures offer frame choices and may add to the cost, but they add an unsurpassed beauty and warmth to a room with plantation shutters. Plantation shutters look like similar to wooden blinds, but there are significant differences. Blinds are often narrow, made of aluminum or vinyl, and the slats tilt based on a gear and pulley mechanism and they hang in the window with cords. By contrast, plantation shutters have wide compound louvers that fit into a frame and are controlled by way of a wooden rod running up the middle. When not needed, they can be manufactured to swing back onto the wall. Options to are available to build a more contemporary look with a larger view with a “hidden tilt” feature. Cost of Plantation Shutters Nationally, the cost of plantation shutters, depending on their size and the material, whether or not they are custom arches and colors or stains, may vary. Most manufacturers want their shutters to be professionally installed to keep the warranty intact which is a benefit to the customer in the long run. They will usually have a limited lifetime warranty. Cost of Installation Costs for having plantation shutters installed by a contractor are a bit more predictable. Contractors who have installed plantation shutters before can quickly get accurate measurements and suggest which materials would work best in different rooms. For example, while natural wood may look beautiful in your living room, it might not be so practical in a bathroom where moisture will cause the wood to warp. The size, material, and quality of the shutter will have a significant effect on the cost. Contractors usually go through a shutter supplier and can get various sizes that are not normally available at home improvement stores. Hiring a professional team of knowledgeable suppliers and installers is a good choice. Here are some sample prices of the shutters most contractors use for standard-sized windows: In general, plantation shutters should cost approximately $20 to $26 per square foot. Labor costs depend on factors such as the contractor's workload, remoteness of the location, environment, and the contractor's overhead. Labor generally runs about $100 per hour and will be added to the shutter cost. • 16x20 -- Faux wood $120. Real wood $156 • 24x50 -- Faux wood $160. Real wood $208 • 36x54 -- Faux wood $270. Real wood $351 • 36x60 -- Faux wood $300 Real wood $390 • 42x72 -- Faux wood $420. Real wood $546 • 48x82 -- Faux wood $550. Real wood $715 DIY Plantation shutters can be purchased and installed by the homeowners. How much they cost will depend on size and material. Faux wood shutter’s cost depends on size and wooden shutter’s cost will depend on size and whether or not they are painted or stained. • Natural wood is $90-$600 depending on size. Many companies offer standard stained selection but custom color matching may be available from $175 -$250. • Faux wood will be from $120-$500. • Additional tools include: Hang Strips $4-$15 and about $4 for mounting hardware. Locks or closures can cost up to $15 for each shutter. Finally, if you order them online, you can expect to pay $30-$70 shipping per shutter or per set of shutters per window depending on the supplier. Keep in mind that even if you're handy with tools, installing shutters can be time-consuming if you've never done it before there is defiantly a learning curve.

Inspiration for a timeless freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room remodel in Other with blue walls

The living room has a built-in media niche The cabinet doors are paneled in white to blend into the walls while the top is a natural live edge monkey pod top. The feature wall was highlighted by the use of modular arts in the same color as the walls but with a texture reminiscent of ripples on water. On either side of the TV hang a cluster of wooden pendants. The walls are white paneling which wraps onto the ceiling creating a seamless design. The teak glass sliding doors pocket into the walls creating an indoor-outdoor space. The great room is decorated in blues, greens and whites, with a jute rug on the floor, a solid log coffee table, slip covered white sofa, and custom blue and green throw pillows.

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.
Example of a trendy entryway design in DC Metro with a glass front door

Modern family loft in Boston’s South End. Open living area includes a custom fireplace with warm stone texture paired with functional seamless wall cabinets for clutter free storage. Photos by Eric Roth. Construction by Ralph S. Osmond Company. Green architecture by ZeroEnergy Design. http://www.zeroenergy.com

This office space is a temporary solution as the Mohrmans are planning an addition onto the back of the house. Accessed through the downstairs bedroom, the new studio will house everything needed for Chelsea's small business (blogging and home decor consultation). Until the project is finished, however, this bookcase and desk combination provide extra space for project planning and research. Gym locker bins are used to house various objects, and along with labelled magazine files help to maintain a streamlined appearance. Shelf/Desk Combination, Expedit by IKEA Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz

The primary bedroom opens onto the outdoor living area. The retractable screens on the outdoor space allow the bedroom doors to remain open when the weather is cool. Soft linen bedding, a leather bench cushion and wooden fan add beautiful layers to the space. The back wall is papered in a dark blue grass cloth and highlighted with a wooden beam in the corner. Sconce lights free up space on the bedside table and frame the bed.

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

With porches on every side, the “Georgetown” is designed for enjoying the natural surroundings. The main level of the home is characterized by wide open spaces, with connected kitchen, dining, and living areas, all leading onto the various outdoor patios. The main floor master bedroom occupies one entire wing of the home, along with an additional bedroom suite. The upper level features two bedroom suites and a bunk room, with space over the detached garage providing a private guest suite.

With porches on every side, the “Georgetown” is designed for enjoying the natural surroundings. The main level of the home is characterized by wide open spaces, with connected kitchen, dining, and living areas, all leading onto the various outdoor patios. The main floor master bedroom occupies one entire wing of the home, along with an additional bedroom suite. The upper level features two bedroom suites and a bunk room, with space over the detached garage providing a private guest suite.

The primary bedroom opens onto the outdoor living area. The retractable screens allow the bedroom doors to remain open when the weather allows. Soft linen bedding, leather bench cushion and wooden fan add beautiful layers to the space.

The primary bedroom opens onto the outdoor living area. The retractable screens on the outdoor space allow the bedroom doors to remain open when the weather is cool. Soft linen bedding, a leather bench cushion and wooden fan add beautiful layers to the space. The back wall is papered in a dark blue grass cloth and highlighted with a wooden beam in the corner. Sconce lights free up space on the bedside table and frame the bed.