Elegant exterior home photo in Houston

All-wood is all good. Steam-bent beech wood gently meanders to form a gorgeously understated silhouette whose comfort can’t be overstated.
Minimalist home office photo in Minneapolis

Example of an arts and crafts shed design in San Francisco

When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a cozy fireplace, tall ceilings, a beautiful staircase, warm hardwood floors, and a kitchen with all the luxury features (including a desk area). The beauty of this main level cannot be overstated!

We were lucky to be contacted by a client who designed their own dream home directly abutting a stunning nature preserve. When the homeowners were considering making some adjustments to their property, maintaining the connection between the home and its natural surroundings was of the utmost importance. The couple wanted to create a space where they could drink in the beauty of the preserve. But what spurred the project was the need to make functional improvements. There was erosion on a hill sloping away from the house that needed to be addressed. Poor drainage saw rainwater was threatening the driveway and deck access on the side of the house. As careful thinkers, they came into this project brimming with creative ideas for how to transform the space into something functional and worthy of its surroundings. They called us to help tie the project together and execute it. Initial ideas were for a 3 or 4 season porch that would provide unmatched views of the surroundings, but with the functional aspects of the project, the dream porch was out of budget and still did not address the eroding hillside. Not to worry the team at Lotus was able to take inspiration from the couples’ ideas, and together, we developed a stunning space truly worthy of the nature preserve around it. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS In landscaping, the importance of water management cannot be overstated. Our first job in the landscape design process was to improve the drainage for the site. Improved drainage protects not just the landscaping, but the home itself. In fact, estimates indicate that water problems are responsible for 85% of home repair expenses in the US annually. To ensure the drainage problems were fixed permanently, Lotus constructed a retaining wall to protect the foundation of the house. Once we fixed the broken drainage, we moved on to the slope at the side of the house. The hillside was badly eroding, making it another area of concern for the homeowners. Almost immediately, our team of experts saw the eroding hillside not as a problem, but as an opportunity. We fixed some grading issues and then planted the slope with native plants. These served a number of different functions: Native plants tied the home and its landscape to the nature preserve. The Ann Arbor area features a diverse and beautiful array of plant life and this was something the Lotus team and the homeowners were excited to celebrate. The plants’ root structure protects the integrity of the hillside. Plant roots act as anchors, gripping the earth and making the soil much more resistant to erosion. Native plants are especially good for this because they evolved alongside the native soil. Plants on the hillside provided privacy from the neighbors. Look, we love our neighbors. But sometimes, in those quiet moments life affords us all too infrequently, it is nice to have a bit of peace and quiet. While a fence could do the job just as well, a fence isn’t suited to every environment. When your backyard is a nature preserve, you want to feel as connected to the land as possible. Tall native plants add to the feeling of connectedness in a way a fence simply can’t. BEAUTIFUL RESULTS The couple had a deck and a walkout patio, but these spaces felt disconnected. Many of the solutions they put forward were attempts to address this separation. Working with our designers, we created a beautiful, tiered walkway that connected the deck and the walkout using modern bluestone from Rock Bottom Stone Supply, right here in Michigan. We added lighting features that would increase the feeling of connectivity between these spaces. We set out to create a space that would hover between the patio and the deck. This space would make our homeowners feel connected to the nature preserve around them while allowing them to feel creative and comfortable. To start, we made benches, stairs, and a built-in table. From there we finished with a cedar pergola that would give them shade in the summer months. We ended up making the pergola curved so it would relax into the space and provide a bit of the wow factor. We connected the deck and the walkout and paid homage to the slope and the preserve by installing still more native plants. All in all, the space completely rejuvenated the couple’s yard. It proved an elegant solution to a number of practical problems and served as a connection between the house and the stunning property onto which the house was built. At Lotus, we have proven our ability to provide similar solutions for many properties like this, but this one stands out. If for no other reason than to remind us, again and again, that nature and natural beauty are truly worth celebrating. Designer: Traven Pelletier Location: Brighton, Mi Materials: Limestone outcrop, bluestone patio, cedar pergola, all natural stone Vendors: Rock Bottom Stone supply in Burton, Michigan, Hobart stone in New York is bluestone supplier

Family room - large coastal enclosed carpeted and beige floor family room idea in Other with white walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Cottage chic home design photo in New York

This space transitions from kitchen to living zone with a rhythm that feels effortless and intentional. A minimalist ribbon fireplace adds emotional warmth without cluttering the design. Beside it, the floating staircase rises like sculpture—its wood treads and matte railing continuing the material language from the kitchen. The restraint of this design makes it feel expansive. Nothing is overstated, yet everything is considered. Light is diffused. Movement is easy. Sightlines are uninterrupted. This is a moment where architecture, interior design, and atmosphere meet—and it's quietly powerful. There's nothing here that doesn't serve a purpose, and nothing that doesn't serve beauty. This is minimalism that lives well.

This beautiful and functional space serves a dual purpose in this elegant dining room. Amy Braswell
Example of a classic dining room design in Chicago

The Beauty of this is that the Driveway is not overstated but complimentary. Utilizing the Unilock "Brussels" tumbled (6"x8") concrete paving stone.

Eric Rorer
Eat-in kitchen - contemporary u-shaped bamboo floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz countertops, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

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The soft color of the Rosewood pavers ties into the wood paneling without overstating it's color. by Pine Hall Brick
Example of a classic patio design in Other

This Classic Quarry large Horizon Falls wall fountain will instantly become the crowning jewel of any room you put it in, whether it's in your home or office. When you look at this fountain, your eye will be naturally drawn to the movement of the water over the Jeera Slate to the awaiting polished cream white river rocks. The calming effect of this sight and sound cannot be overstated. Jeera Slate Stone, also known as Zeera or Jeera green slate, is a hard-wearing, waterproof and rot-proof stone which is actually quartzite. In huge demand, Jeera is ideally suited for decorative applications due to its exotic color and unique texture. Characteristic to Jeera slate is its diamond like sparkle and twinkle which comes from its mineral content, including quartz, mica, and occasionally garnet and pyrite. Bluworld HOMelements™ Classic Quarry Line also features your choice of premium metals like brushed stainless steel, rustic copper with our signature hand-applied patina, or your choice of our standard colors like Black Onyx or Copper Vein trim kits. Remotely controlled dimmable, long lasting warm white LED lighting highlights the beauty of the stone color and texture. A removable rock tray allows easy access to the pump and adjustable flow rate valve. Cream White River Rocks are included. This fountain can be customized with the logo of your choice. Natural stone varies in color due to the different hues of the natural particles that make-up the product. All stones are natural and vary in color, intensity and veining. Photos are provided as an indication only. It is the variation in natural stone that makes each fountain quite unique. Since this product is natural stone, color and texture variances are not defects within the material, but are inherent to it and part of the natural beauty of quarried materials. Our natural stone slabs are imported from quarries worldwide. The Classic Quarry Line contains stunning slices of the natural world. Due to the broad range of colors and textures (Granite excluded) you may wish to select your own stone. This culling service if offered for an additional fee and includes photos of 4 different slabs from your selected stone species. Stone selections must be made within 48 hours of photo receipt. Our Culling Service is not offered for Absolute Black Granite.

Master Bedroom in neutral linens and velvet. Interior Design by Ashley Taylor www.ashleytaylorhome.com Photos by Brandelyn Lee www.brandlynlee.com
Bedroom - traditional bedroom idea in Atlanta

The scroll work, up lighting and decorative flourishes on this supremely elegant fan are beautifully restrained, creating a formal look that is ornate but never overstated. The perfect choice for a bedroom.

This Kitchen was redesigned to fully enjoy the space and the Golf Course view. Automated slier Door opens to the Owners liking, new Windows were installed to give an updated modern look. Crown Molding, a single Glass front Cabinet and Quartz Countertops are an elegant edition that is not overstated. Shaker-style custom Cabinets, Recessed and Pendent Lighting create any ambient setting. breakfast bar Island invites guest to linger.

Karuna Passive House designed by Holst Architecture and built by Hammer & Hand. This high performance home meets the world's most demanding green building certifications. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann.