Hai Zhang
Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk light wood floor and brown floor home office design in New York with white walls

This addition and extensive interior renovation optimizes front and rear river views, natural light and indoor / outdoor integration. The use of craftsman detailing – adding a front porch – makes this home naturally inviting, functional and extremely livable. The design was challenged due to the waterfront lot restrictions, lot coverage restrictions (car port instead of garage), slope stability challenges and septic restrictions (only 15% of existing footprint was allowed). The rear eating area / sunroom addition was built on pillars to achieve septic clearances. The second storey addition utilized sloped ceilings, which finished at 10 ft. in order to create spacial volume. Open to below areas allow more sunlight in and help achieve square footage requirements. The carport helped meet lot coverage restrictions, but more importantly, helped lessen the environmental impact. Driveways and walkways feature natural stone for water runoff. The home exceeded the design objectives by maintaining formal entertaining, by eliminating walls and organizing spaces, creating comfortable family areas and by introducing natural light throughout the home. 2012 Finalist in the Canadian Home Builder’s SAM Awards for a Whole House Renovation $250,000-$500,000 2012 Ontario Home Builders Association Awards Finalist for Most Outstanding Home Renovation $100,000 – $500,000 2012 Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association Awards Finalist for Renovations/Additions $350,000 – $499,999

Pool house with rock fireplace, outdoor bar and seating and outdoor kitchen.
Pool house - large traditional backyard tile and rectangular lap pool house idea in Dallas

Laurie Black Photography. Classic "Martha's Vineyard" shingle style with traditional Palladian molding profiles "in the antique" uplifting the sophistication and décor to its urban context. Design by Duncan McRoberts

www.ericrorer.com/
Mid-sized trendy open concept medium tone wood floor family room photo in San Francisco with a concrete fireplace, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a media wall

The stylish modern condominium shown above is the work of Tiffany and Ryan Otte. The couple owns a general contracting construction company, ROC Home Pros, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is the sixth project where they have teamed with CliqStudios designer Melissa Thill to create kitchens for urban dwellers. An open kitchen, always on stage, needs to blend with the living area and offer a visual feast. In the modern condo pictured, the clean profile and smooth texture of gray slab door cabinets optimize visual space.

An entry area to the home, this family laundry room became a catch-all for coats, bags and shoes. It also served as the laundry hub with a collection of portable drying racks, storage shelves and furniture that did not optimize the available space and layout. The new design made the most of the unique space and delivered an organized and attractive mud and laundry room with bench seating, hooks for hanging jackets and laundry needs, integrated wall drying racks, and lots of convenient storage.

This is an example of a traditional backyard stone landscaping in Bridgeport.

Example of a mid-sized cottage medium tone wood floor and beige floor powder room design in Other with furniture-like cabinets, white walls, quartzite countertops, an undermount sink and white countertops

The dramatic roofline and large windows create an elegant presence on the lakefront in the evening. Benjamin Benschneider Photography
Example of a trendy one-story exterior home design in Seattle

An expansive venthood was designed to balance this large transitional rustic kitchen. Copper panels play to the warm tones in the stone slab countertops while travertine clad walls lend texture to the room. A modern faucet is functional for cooking, as well as the double islands create dual work zones for optimal work flow. Timber beams accent the vaulted ceiling above. Interior Design: AVID Associates Builder: Martin Raymond Homes Photography: Michael Hunter

Design ideas for a large mediterranean full sun backyard stone formal garden in San Francisco for summer.

The design for this home in Palo Alto looked to create a union between the interior and exterior, blending the spaces in such a way as to allow residents to move seamlessly between the two environments. Expansive glazing was used throughout the home to complement this union, looking out onto a swimming pool centrally located within the courtyard. Within the living room, a large operable skylight brings in plentiful sunlight, while utilizing self tinting glass that adjusts to various lighting conditions throughout the day to ensure optimal comfort. For the exterior, a living wall was added to the garage that continues into the backyard. Extensive landscaping and a gabion wall was also created to provide privacy and contribute to the sense of the home as a tranquil oasis.

Ryan Garvin
Example of a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Diego with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, an island, gray backsplash, white appliances and gray countertops

Mid-sized transitional kitchen photo in Philadelphia with white cabinets and an island

Diana Sell
Inspiration for a timeless gray three-story exterior home remodel in Portland

The client’s brief was to create a space reminiscent of their beloved downtown Chicago industrial loft, in a rural farm setting, while incorporating their unique collection of vintage and architectural salvage. The result is a custom designed space that blends life on the farm with an industrial sensibility. The new house is located on approximately the same footprint as the original farm house on the property. Barely visible from the road due to the protection of conifer trees and a long driveway, the house sits on the edge of a field with views of the neighbouring 60 acre farm and creek that runs along the length of the property. The main level open living space is conceived as a transparent social hub for viewing the landscape. Large sliding glass doors create strong visual connections with an adjacent barn on one end and a mature black walnut tree on the other. The house is situated to optimize views, while at the same time protecting occupants from blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds. The wall to wall sliding doors on the south side of the main living space provide expansive views to the creek, and allow for breezes to flow throughout. The wrap around aluminum louvered sun shade tempers the sun. The subdued exterior material palette is defined by horizontal wood siding, standing seam metal roofing and large format polished concrete blocks. The interiors were driven by the owners’ desire to have a home that would properly feature their unique vintage collection, and yet have a modern open layout. Polished concrete floors and steel beams on the main level set the industrial tone and are paired with a stainless steel island counter top, backsplash and industrial range hood in the kitchen. An old drinking fountain is built-in to the mudroom millwork, carefully restored bi-parting doors frame the library entrance, and a vibrant antique stained glass panel is set into the foyer wall allowing diffused coloured light to spill into the hallway. Upstairs, refurbished claw foot tubs are situated to view the landscape. The double height library with mezzanine serves as a prominent feature and quiet retreat for the residents. The white oak millwork exquisitely displays the homeowners’ vast collection of books and manuscripts. The material palette is complemented by steel counter tops, stainless steel ladder hardware and matte black metal mezzanine guards. The stairs carry the same language, with white oak open risers and stainless steel woven wire mesh panels set into a matte black steel frame. The overall effect is a truly sublime blend of an industrial modern aesthetic punctuated by personal elements of the owners’ storied life. Photography: James Brittain

The 7,600 square-foot residence was designed for large, memorable gatherings of family and friends at the lake, as well as creating private spaces for smaller family gatherings. Keeping in dialogue with the surrounding site, a palette of natural materials and finishes was selected to provide a classic backdrop for all activities, bringing importance to the adjoining environment. In optimizing the views of the lake and developing a strategy to maximize natural ventilation, an ideal, open-concept living scheme was implemented. The kitchen, dining room, living room and screened porch are connected, allowing for the large family gatherings to take place inside, should the weather not cooperate. Two main level master suites remain private from the rest of the program; yet provide a complete sense of incorporation. Bringing the natural finishes to the interior of the residence, provided the opportunity for unique focal points that complement the stunning stone fireplace and timber trusses. Photographer: John Hession

Making the most of indoor/outdoor entertaining and optimizing as much of its seaside-living environment as possible, this contemporary residence in Corona del Mar utilizes Western Window Systems’ Series 600 Multi-Slide Doors to create additional space for both the homeowners and their lucky guests. A key feature of the nearly 2,000-sq-foot home -- from Brandon Architects Inc. and Patterson Custom Homes -- can be found on the first floor, where Western’s signature retractable doors open to a stylish front terrace. Photos by Jeri Keogel.