The Watonga residence was commissioned by a woman with a big heart for animal fostering. She wanted a house that felt private from the street but visually and physically connected to the backyard. The house needed to consider the typology and scale of the existing neighborhood, and it needed durable materials to accommodate little paws. Finally, it had to support an environmentally conscientious life. The house was intentionally placed on the short end of an irregularly shaped lot, allowing the living spaces to open up to a large native landscape and adjacent lot containing a significant tree grove. This siting allowed for a passive orientation where window walls face north and exposure to the south and west is minimal. The interior is light-filled, capturing expansive landscape views of an established oak grove to the North and bayou views to the East. A carefully choreographed entry vestibule and screen shield create interior privacy from the street. A two-story volume fills the center of the home with warm, southern light. A palette of tile, Texas stone, and concrete are used for budget friendly durability. The house is derived from a simple diagram with utilitarian functions placed in the stone box and living in a minimal gabled roof that supports solar panel orientation and rainwater collection. At its core, this home is designed for family, foster dogs, well-curated music, and Aggie game days.

Kat Alves-Photography
Small country multicolored tile and stone tile marble floor doorless shower photo in Sacramento with black cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Example of a mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver patio design in Richmond with a fire pit and no cover

David Duncan Livingston
Eat-in kitchen - large coastal dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Example of a large transitional l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Nashville with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, porcelain backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Playroom design: Katherine Vernot-Jonas, Katherine Vernot-Jonas Designs Photo: Angie Seckinger
Trendy kids' room photo in DC Metro

Example of a bathroom design in DC Metro

he open plan of the great room, dining and kitchen, leads to a completely covered outdoor living area for year-round entertaining in the Pacific Northwest. By combining tried and true farmhouse style with sophisticated, creamy colors and textures inspired by the home's surroundings, the result is a welcoming, cohesive and intriguing living experience.

For more photos of this project visit our website: https://wendyobrienid.com.

Exterior home photo in Santa Barbara

Double vanity and free standing large soaking tub by Signature hardware
Bathroom - large coastal master black tile and porcelain tile shiplap wall, porcelain tile, black floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Huckleberry Stone Steps with Montana Golden Sunrise Stone Wall
This is an example of a traditional backyard landscaping in Seattle.

This entrance to a garden room consists of a trellis that supports a 'Cascade Falls' weeping bald cypress. Photo by Jay Sifford.
This is an example of an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

Burlwood cabinets compliment 2" x 12" neutral toned glass tiles.
Example of a mid-sized trendy master beige tile and glass tile limestone floor and beige floor drop-in bathtub design in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Julianna Webb
Mid-sized minimalist gender-neutral carpeted kids' room photo in New York with gray walls

This baking island has everything needed to whip up batches of cookies and muffins for the hungry crowds! There's no need to ever move the mixer -easy peasy. Design and construction by Jewett Farms + Co. Photography by Justen Peters

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint. Photo: Sergiu Stoian

Brandon Barre & Gillian Jackson
Living room - mid-sized eclectic formal and enclosed light wood floor living room idea in Toronto with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Great Room which is open to banquette dining + kitchen. Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Large transitional open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Nashville with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Builder | Charlie and Co Design, Architect | Corey Gaffer Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.