This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area that connects to a screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear facing exercise has great views of the rear yard through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below. Builder: DeVries & Onderlinde Builders Interior Designer: Vision Interiors by Visbeen Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

Breakfast Area overlooking deck and woods Ashley Avila
Transitional dining room photo in Grand Rapids

Photo by Firewater Photography
Mid-sized elegant detached two-car garage photo in Charlotte

Roger Wade Studio

Upstairs, one is greeted by a two-story bank of windows overlooking the street that allows the setting sun to fill the home with exquisite light. The first of two bedrooms appears to the south and is followed by a full bath accessed from the hallway. Photos by Kevin Wilson Photography

This unique contemporary home was carefully sited in a large meadow overlooking a magnificent brook that is a haven for wildlife. The open floor house plan connects to a granite terrace, which overlooks a 60' gunite lap pool. Ipe deck landings connect the home to the pool terrace and create a seamless visual connection to the preservation area beyond. Classic New England materials such as natural stone and grey granite are used in a contemporary pattern to tie into the materials used on the homes exterior.

Custom head board and bed in this lovely master bedroom.
Bedroom - large transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Toronto with gray walls

Stairway to haven Commonwealth Curb Appeal Chesterfield Expert Stone, Paver & Landscape Contracting Professional Location: 17801 Hull Street Road Moseley, VA 23120

This unique contemporary home was carefully sited in a large meadow overlooking a magnificent brook that is a haven for wildlife. The open floor house plan connects to a granite terrace, which overlooks a 60' gunite lap pool. Ipe deck landings connect the home to the pool terrace and create a seamless visual connection to the preservation area beyond. Classic New England materials such as natural stone and grey granite are used in a contemporary pattern to tie into the materials used on the homes exterior.

Tree house & bluestone steps over pond.
This is an example of a rustic water fountain landscape in New York.

The owners of this mid-century post-and-beam Pasadena house overlooking the Arroyo Seco asked us to add onto and adapt the house to meet their current needs. The renovation infused the home with a contemporary aesthetic while retaining the home's original character (reminiscent of Cliff May's Ranch-style houses) the project includes and extension to the master bedroom, a new outdoor living room, and updates to the pool, pool house, landscape, and hardscape. we were also asked to design and fabricate custom cabinetry for the home office and an aluminum and glass table for the dining room. PROJECT TEAM: Peter Tolkin,Angela Uriu, Dan Parks, Anthony Denzer, Leigh Jerrard,Ted Rubenstein, Christopher Girt ENGINEERS: Charles Tan + Associates (Structural) LANDSCAPE: Elysian Landscapes GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Western Installations PHOTOGRAPHER:Peter Tolkin

In a wooded area of Lafayette, a mid-century home was re-imagined for a graphic designer and kindergarten teacher couple and their three children. A major new design feature is a high ceiling great room that wraps from the front to the back yard, turning a corner at the kitchen and ending at the family room fireplace. This room was designed with a high flat roof to work in conjunction with existing roof forms to create a unified whole, and raise interior ceiling heights from eight to over ten feet. All new lighting and large floor to ceiling Fleetwood aluminum windows expand views of the trees beyond. The existing home was enlarged by 700 square feet with a small exterior addition enlarging the kitchen over an existing deck, and a larger amount by excavating out crawlspace at the garage level to create a new home office with full bath, and separate laundry utility room. The remodeled residence became 3,847 square feet in total area including the garage. Exterior curb appeal was improved with all new Fleetwood windows, stained wood siding and stucco. New steel railing and concrete steps lead up to the front entry. Front and rear yard new landscape design by Huettl Landscape Architecture dramatically alters the site. New planting was added at the front yard with landscape lighting and modern concrete pavers and the rear yard has multiple decks for family gatherings with the focal point a concrete conversation circle with central fire feature. Everything revolves around the corner kitchen, large windows to the backyard, quartz countertops and cabinetry in painted and walnut finishes. The homeowners enjoyed the process of selecting Heath Tile for the kitchen backsplash and white oval tiles at the family room fireplace. Black brick tiles by Fireclay were used on the living room hearth. The kitchen flows into the family room all with views to the beautifully landscaped yards. The primary suite has a built-in window seat with large windows overlooking the garden, walnut cabinetry in a skylit walk-in closet, and a large dramatic skylight bouncing light into the shower. The kid’s bath also has a skylight slot with light angling downward over double sinks. More colorful tile shows up in these spaces, as does a geometric patterned tile in the downstairs office bath shower. The large yard is taken full advantage of with concrete paved walkways, stairs and firepit circle. New retaining walls in the rear yard helped to add more level usable outdoor space, with wood slats to visually blend them into the overall design. The end result is a beautiful transformation of a mid-century home, that both captures the client’s personalities and elevates the house into the modern age.

This unique contemporary home was carefully sited in a large meadow overlooking a magnificent brook that is a haven for wildlife. The open floor house plan connects to a granite terrace, which overlooks a 60' gunite lap pool. Ipe deck landings connect the home to the pool terrace and create a seamless visual connection to the preservation area beyond. Classic New England materials such as natural stone and grey granite are used in a contemporary pattern to tie into the materials used on the homes exterior.

The upper stair hall features a cozy library nook rendered in hand-hewn timber and painted millwork cases marked by LED accent lighting, denticulated crown moulding, half-round pilasters, and a stained maple edge nosing. Woodruff Brown Photography

Tom Arban
Large contemporary gray two-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Toronto

This unique contemporary home was carefully sited in a large meadow overlooking a magnificent brook that is a haven for wildlife. The open floor house plan connects to a granite terrace, which overlooks a 60' gunite lap pool. Ipe deck landings connect the home to the pool terrace and create a seamless visual connection to the preservation area beyond. Classic New England materials such as natural stone and grey granite are used in a contemporary pattern to tie into the materials used on the homes exterior.

This unique contemporary home was carefully sited in a large meadow overlooking a magnificent brook that is a haven for wildlife. The open floor house plan connects to a granite terrace, which overlooks a 60' gunite lap pool. Ipe deck landings connect the home to the pool terrace and create a seamless visual connection to the preservation area beyond. Classic New England materials such as natural stone and grey granite are used in a contemporary pattern to tie into the materials used on the homes exterior.