Search results for "People face off" in Home Design Ideas

This house was built in 1994 and our clients have been there since day one. They wanted a complete refresh in their kitchen and living areas and a few other changes here and there; now that the kids were all off to college! They wanted to replace some things, redesign some things and just repaint others. They didn’t like the heavy textured walls, so those were sanded down, re-textured and painted throughout all of the remodeled areas.
The kitchen change was the most dramatic by painting the original cabinets a beautiful bluish-gray color; which is Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. The ends and cook side of the island are painted SW Reflection but on the front is a gorgeous Merola “Arte’ white accent tile. Two Island Pendant Lights ‘Aideen 8-light Geometric Pendant’ in a bronze gold finish hung above the island. White Carrara Quartz countertops were installed below the Viviano Marmo Dolomite Arabesque Honed Marble Mosaic tile backsplash. Our clients wanted to be able to watch TV from the kitchen as well as from the family room but since the door to the powder bath was on the wall of breakfast area (no to mention opening up into the room), it took up good wall space. Our designers rearranged the powder bath, moving the door into the laundry room and closing off the laundry room with a pocket door, so they can now hang their TV/artwork on the wall facing the kitchen, as well as another one in the family room!
We squared off the arch in the doorway between the kitchen and bar/pantry area, giving them a more updated look. The bar was also painted the same blue as the kitchen but a cool Moondrop Water Jet Cut Glass Mosaic tile was installed on the backsplash, which added a beautiful accent! All kitchen cabinet hardware is ‘Amerock’ in a champagne finish.
In the family room, we redesigned the cabinets to the right of the fireplace to match the other side. The homeowners had invested in two new TV’s that would hang on the wall and display artwork when not in use, so the TV cabinet wasn’t needed. The cabinets were painted a crisp white which made all of their decor really stand out. The fireplace in the family room was originally red brick with a hearth for seating. The brick was removed and the hearth was lowered to the floor and replaced with E-Stone White 12x24” tile and the fireplace surround is tiled with Heirloom Pewter 6x6” tile.
The formal living room used to be closed off on one side of the fireplace, which was a desk area in the kitchen. The homeowners felt that it was an eye sore and it was unnecessary, so we removed that wall, opening up both sides of the fireplace into the formal living room. Pietra Tiles Aria Crystals Beach Sand tiles were installed on the kitchen side of the fireplace and the hearth was leveled with the floor and tiled with E-Stone White 12x24” tile.
The laundry room was redesigned, adding the powder bath door but also creating more storage space. Waypoint flat front maple cabinets in painted linen were installed above the appliances, with Top Knobs “Hopewell” polished chrome pulls. Elements Carrara Quartz countertops were installed above the appliances, creating that added space. 3x6” white ceramic subway tile was used as the backsplash, creating a clean and crisp laundry room! The same tile on the hearths of both fireplaces (E-Stone White 12x24”) was installed on the floor.
The powder bath was painted and 12x36” Ash Fiber Ceramic tile was installed vertically on the wall behind the sink. All hardware was updated with the Signature Hardware “Ultra”Collection and Shades of Light “Sleekly Modern” new vanity lights were installed.
All new wood flooring was installed throughout all of the remodeled rooms making all of the rooms seamlessly flow into each other. The homeowners love their updated home!
Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging

Wall Control Pegboard features formed flanges on the sides of each panel to space the pegboard panel face off of the wall so hooks can pass through. These formed flanges make installation easy because they eliminate the need to build a frame work like old, traditional pegboard sheets require. Additionally, these formed flanges create a small space for access to the backside of the panels where things like extension cords and, in this case, LED lights can be threaded through to create a cool effect behind the face of the Wall Control Pegboard. Thanks for the great customer submission William! Your new shop looks awesome and we love the LED lights behind your Wall Control Pegboard!

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.
Find the right local pro for your project

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style.
"The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals."
Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone.
Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square.
"We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks.
Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz.
"The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests."
Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions.
"Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting."
Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete.
At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone.
"I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget."
"It is truly a paradise," says client Carvanna Cloud in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

Suzanne’s Clearwater music room earned her two awards in the 2023 Dream Room competition. It was a 3rd place winner in the overall competition, and it also won 2nd place in the People’s Choice category, which allows for public voting. The room impressed judges and voters alike with its beauty and functionality as a space for making and enjoying music.
2023 Dream Room Winner and 2023 People's Choice Award.
Suzanne’s client wanted a place to show off her baby grand piano. She also wanted to incorporate color and loves shades of blues and greens. The windows provided plenty of light but left almost no usable wall space as the room was open to a walkway, the main great room and the front door. The client wanted the space to have a WOW factor!
Since the piano is the focal point, it was positioned with the open end facing out into the room. This highlighted the design and shape of the baby grand. Two side chairs in bronzed metal with white faux bunny fur and leather were placed together to provide seating for guests listening to the pianist. A contemporary pentagon end table with a mother of pearl top was placed between the chairs.
Now for the WOW factor — a 43" triple tiered glass and metal chandelier in clear and cerulean-blue was hung over the area becoming an anchoring focal point for the space. A teal, turquoise and lime green round area rug repeating the circle design of the chandelier was chosen and placed center of the room.
An embroidered turquoise wavy pattern fabric was selected for custom window treatments to frame the large windows and soften the space. To control the early morning east exposure from the sun, neutral motorized solar shades were selected and installed into the ceiling.
Suzanne’s client loves this surprise as you enter the front door of her home.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

This house was built in 1994 and our clients have been there since day one. They wanted a complete refresh in their kitchen and living areas and a few other changes here and there; now that the kids were all off to college! They wanted to replace some things, redesign some things and just repaint others. They didn’t like the heavy textured walls, so those were sanded down, re-textured and painted throughout all of the remodeled areas.
The kitchen change was the most dramatic by painting the original cabinets a beautiful bluish-gray color; which is Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. The ends and cook side of the island are painted SW Reflection but on the front is a gorgeous Merola “Arte’ white accent tile. Two Island Pendant Lights ‘Aideen 8-light Geometric Pendant’ in a bronze gold finish hung above the island. White Carrara Quartz countertops were installed below the Viviano Marmo Dolomite Arabesque Honed Marble Mosaic tile backsplash. Our clients wanted to be able to watch TV from the kitchen as well as from the family room but since the door to the powder bath was on the wall of breakfast area (no to mention opening up into the room), it took up good wall space. Our designers rearranged the powder bath, moving the door into the laundry room and closing off the laundry room with a pocket door, so they can now hang their TV/artwork on the wall facing the kitchen, as well as another one in the family room!
We squared off the arch in the doorway between the kitchen and bar/pantry area, giving them a more updated look. The bar was also painted the same blue as the kitchen but a cool Moondrop Water Jet Cut Glass Mosaic tile was installed on the backsplash, which added a beautiful accent! All kitchen cabinet hardware is ‘Amerock’ in a champagne finish.
In the family room, we redesigned the cabinets to the right of the fireplace to match the other side. The homeowners had invested in two new TV’s that would hang on the wall and display artwork when not in use, so the TV cabinet wasn’t needed. The cabinets were painted a crisp white which made all of their decor really stand out. The fireplace in the family room was originally red brick with a hearth for seating. The brick was removed and the hearth was lowered to the floor and replaced with E-Stone White 12x24” tile and the fireplace surround is tiled with Heirloom Pewter 6x6” tile.
The formal living room used to be closed off on one side of the fireplace, which was a desk area in the kitchen. The homeowners felt that it was an eye sore and it was unnecessary, so we removed that wall, opening up both sides of the fireplace into the formal living room. Pietra Tiles Aria Crystals Beach Sand tiles were installed on the kitchen side of the fireplace and the hearth was leveled with the floor and tiled with E-Stone White 12x24” tile.
The laundry room was redesigned, adding the powder bath door but also creating more storage space. Waypoint flat front maple cabinets in painted linen were installed above the appliances, with Top Knobs “Hopewell” polished chrome pulls. Elements Carrara Quartz countertops were installed above the appliances, creating that added space. 3x6” white ceramic subway tile was used as the backsplash, creating a clean and crisp laundry room! The same tile on the hearths of both fireplaces (E-Stone White 12x24”) was installed on the floor.
The powder bath was painted and 12x36” Ash Fiber Ceramic tile was installed vertically on the wall behind the sink. All hardware was updated with the Signature Hardware “Ultra”Collection and Shades of Light “Sleekly Modern” new vanity lights were installed.
All new wood flooring was installed throughout all of the remodeled rooms making all of the rooms seamlessly flow into each other. The homeowners love their updated home!
Design/Remodel by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers | Photography by Versatile Imaging

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.

We removed the wall between the kitchen and family foom and replaced the flooring and refinshed the floors in a natural tone We gutted the kithen and totally redesigned it with new appliances, new white custom cabinets and a large wood island which we stained to match the floors which houses a gas cooktop and is large enough for the family to sit down and eat at. The cabinets and island are topped with fabulous quartzite countertops which we also applied as a backsplash and waterfalls on the cabinet and island sides. We added 3 pendants over the island to provide great light to cook and serve with and chairs for the family to sit down and eat. This kitchen is ideal because the family can cook and serve the food to the people sitting it those chairs without hardly having to walk around the kitchen at all, since the sink is directy behind the cooktop. All the cook has to do is turn around to face the sink to wash the veges etc, turn again to face the cooktop to cook the food and turn again to face the sink to clean up the dishes once they are all finished eating. And the Restoration hardware breakfast table and chairs in the forground are great when larger groups need to be seated. What a lovely kitchen indeed!

This home is a true gem in the heart of MacGregor Downs community in Cary, NC. Built in the 1980's in true Modernist design and architecture, the new owners wanted to keep the integrity of the original design. We redesigned the Half Bath, created floor plan layouts for new furniture, spec'd out furniture, accessories, flooring material, lighting, and artwork, as well as worked on brightening the wall and ceiling paint colors. One challenge we faced during the design process were the very tall ceilings, the very wide walls, and unusual angles. We chose interesting , engaging, and minimalistic artwork for the walls, which proved a successful solution. Another challenge was having a large open angled living room space; we created the perfect layout with separate functional gathering areas and eliminated unused corners.
Photo credit: Bob Fortner

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

A two-level pergola, circular firepit area and outdoor kitchen with a charcoal-gas combo grill star in this Houston patio addition designed for entertaining large crowds in style.
"The client was an attorney with a passion for cooking and entertaining," says the project's principal designer, Lisha Maxey of LGH Designs. "Her main objective with this space was to create a large area for 10 to 20 guests, including seating and the prep and cooking of meals."
Located in the backyard of the client's home in Spring, TX, this beautiful outdoor living and entertaining space includes a 28-by-12-foot patio with Fantastico silver travertine tile flooring, arranged in a Versailles pattern. The walkway is Oklahoma wister flagstone.
Providing filtered shade for the patio is a two-level pergola of treated pine stained honey gold. The larger, higher tier is about 18 by 10 feet; the smaller, lower tier is about 10 feet square.
"We covered the entire pergola with Lexan - a high-quality, clear acrylic sheet that provides protection from the sun, heat and rain," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks.
Beneath the lower tier of the pergola sits an L-shaped, 12-by-9-foot outdoor kitchen island faced with Carmel Country ledgestone. The island houses a Fire Magic® combination charcoal-gas grill and lowered power burner, a Pacific Living countertop pizza oven and a stainless steel RCS trash drawer and sink. The countertops and raised bar are Fantastico silver travertine (18-square-inch tiles) and the backsplash is real quartz.
"The most unique design item of this kitchen area is the hexagon/circular table we added to the end of the long bar," says Lisha. This enabled the client to add seating for her dining guests."
Under the higher, larger tier of the pergola is a seating area, made up of a coffee table and espresso-colored rattan sofa and club chairs with spring-green-and-white cushions.
"Lighting also plays an important role in this space, since the client often entertains in the evening," says Wayne. Enter the chandelier over the patio seating arrangement and - over the outdoor kitchen - pendant lamps and an industrial-modern ceiling fan with a light fixture in the center. "It's important to layer your lighting for ambiance, security and safety - from an all-over ambient light that fills the space to under-the-counter task lighting for food prep and cooking to path and retaining wall lighting."
Off the patio is a transition area of crushed granite and floating flagstone pavers, leading to a circular firepit area of stamped concrete.
At the center of this circle is the standalone firepit, framed at the back by a curved stone bench. The walls of the bench and column bases for the pergola, by the way, are the same ledgestone as the kitchen island. The top slab on the bench is a hearth piece of manmade stone.
"I think the finish materials blend with the home really well," says Wayne. "We met her objectives of being able to entertain with 10 to 12 to 20 people at one time and being able to cook with charcoal and gas separately in one unit. And of course, the project was on time, on budget."
"It is truly a paradise," says the client in her Houzz review of the project. "They listened to my vision and incorporated their expertise to create an outdoor living space just perfect for me and my family!"

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.

This 24’ by 22’ addition opens up the kitchen space with an additional room which the kitchen connects to. The newly constructed space serves as a living room/sunroom.
To do this, we tore down the kitchen wall and built a temporary plywood wall to keep the space closed off from the new construction. The new structure was framed and the roof was shingled. To allow for the roof line, new window openings were built and new windows were purchased to meet current egress requirements. The double door that initially went to the exterior was transformed into an 8’ tall opening. The kitchen window at the sink was taken out and now has a wood jamb opening with a granite countertop for a bar where people can sit and watch the cooks at work.
Inside the addition we created some additional cabinet space for another serving area. The cabinetry was framed to fit a beverage cooler. The floor in the addition matches the existing hand scraped wood floor in the kitchen. One particular challenge we faced in the addition was ensuring that the floor elevation for the new addition lined perfectly so that it was seamless.
On the exterior we installed a new cultured ledge stone and a real limestone sill with actual rock face to provide a natural appearance. The stone steps on each of the entryways into the addition have a similar look. The radius steps contain the rock face feature as well. Large windows were installed which match the pitch of the existing roof. The siding on the new structure is sympathetic to the siding on the home. We also installed new state of the art skylights that shut themselves when it rains.
8

