Photography by Cheryle St. Onge
Bathroom - traditional master stone tile marble floor bathroom idea in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops and blue walls

The definitive idea behind this project was to create a modest country house that was traditional in outward appearance yet minimalist from within. The harmonious scale, thick wall massing and the attention to architectural detail are reminiscent of the enduring quality and beauty of European homes built long ago. It features a custom-built Spanish Colonial- inspired house that is characterized by an L-plan, low-pitched mission clay tile roofs, exposed wood rafter tails, broad expanses of thick white-washed stucco walls with recessed-in French patio doors and casement windows; and surrounded by native California oaks, boxwood hedges, French lavender, Mexican bush sage, and rosemary that are often found in Mediterranean landscapes. An emphasis was placed on visually experiencing the weight of the exposed ceiling timbers and the thick wall massing between the light, airy spaces. A simple and elegant material palette, which consists of white plastered walls, timber beams, wide plank white oak floors, and pale travertine used for wash basins and bath tile flooring, was chosen to articulate the fine balance between clean, simple lines and Old World touches.

Though graced with a towering Sycamore and other mature plantings, this impressive Craftsman garden was in need of some reimagining. Working with our clients’ wish to eliminate their existing pool, we sited and designed a new spa, pathways, and seating area with a millstone fountain that fits the bucolic feeling of the site. New plantings were designed to attract birds and butterflies. Photo by Martin Cox.

A wild, native spirit radiates out from within the structured lines and angles of the hardscape - softened by a lush and biodiverse selection of California native plants in a velvety palette of soft silvery grays, greens, and purples with the occasional pop of yellow and orange.

Our clients already had a cottage on Torch Lake that they loved to visit. It was a 1960s ranch that worked just fine for their needs. However, the lower level walkout became entirely unusable due to water issues. After purchasing the lot next door, they hired us to design a new cottage. Our first task was to situate the home in the center of the two parcels to maximize the view of the lake while also accommodating a yard area. Our second task was to take particular care to divert any future water issues. We took necessary precautions with design specifications to water proof properly, establish foundation and landscape drain tiles / stones, set the proper elevation of the home per ground water height and direct the water flow around the home from natural grade / drive. Our final task was to make appealing, comfortable, living spaces with future planning at the forefront. An example of this planning is placing a master suite on both the main level and the upper level. The ultimate goal of this home is for it to one day be at least a 3/4 of the year home and designed to be a multi-generational heirloom. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Four years ago, we began the design process of the main house to align with the owner's retirement and move back to the Seattle area from Chicago in 2015. Although the Boathouse and Carriage house are more Pacific Northwest shingle in character, this time around the owners wanted a modern interpretation for the main house. Now in 2016 - 10 years later - they are settled in and their little "compound" has become the family gathering place for their three grown sons, their wives, and the owner's grandchildren. The main house is a contemporary interpretation of Northwest Regionalism in which dramatic waterfront conditions are complemented with aesthetic consideration of massing, materials and the embracing of natural light. The interior spaces are highlighted in marble, steel, walnut, Sapele and limestone finishes.

Four years ago, we began the design process of the main house to align with the owner's retirement and move back to the Seattle area from Chicago in 2015. Although the Boathouse and Carriage house are more Pacific Northwest shingle in character, this time around the owners wanted a modern interpretation for the main house. Now in 2016 - 10 years later - they are settled in and their little "compound" has become the family gathering place for their three grown sons, their wives, and the owner's grandchildren. The main house is a contemporary interpretation of Northwest Regionalism in which dramatic waterfront conditions are complemented with aesthetic consideration of massing, materials and the embracing of natural light. The interior spaces are highlighted in marble, steel, walnut, Sapele and limestone finishes.

RVP Photography
Family room - contemporary open concept concrete floor family room idea in Cincinnati with white walls and no fireplace

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Indianapolis with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Believe it or not, this award-winning home began as a speculative project. Typically speculative projects involve a rather generic design that would appeal to many in a style that might be loved by the masses. But the project’s developer loved modern architecture and his personal residence was the first project designed by architect C.P. Drewett when Drewett Works launched in 2001. Together, the architect and developer envisioned a fictitious art collector who would one day purchase this stunning piece of desert modern architecture to showcase their magnificent collection. The primary views from the site were southwest. Therefore, protecting the interior spaces from the southwest sun while making the primary views available was the greatest challenge. The views were very calculated and carefully managed. Every room needed to not only capture the vistas of the surrounding desert, but also provide viewing spaces for the potential collection to be housed within its walls. The core of the material palette is utilitarian including exposed masonry and locally quarried cantera stone. An organic nature was added to the project through millwork selections including walnut and red gum veneers. The eventual owners saw immediately that this could indeed become a home for them as well as their magnificent collection, of which pieces are loaned out to museums around the world. Their decision to purchase the home was based on the dimensions of one particular wall in the dining room which was EXACTLY large enough for one particular painting not yet displayed due to its size. The owners and this home were, as the saying goes, a perfect match! Project Details | Desert Modern for the Magnificent Collection, Estancia, Scottsdale, AZ Architecture: C.P. Drewett, Jr., AIA, NCARB | Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Shannon Construction | Phoenix, AZ Interior Selections: Janet Bilotti, NCIDQ, ASID | Naples, FL Custom Millwork: Linear Fine Woodworking | Scottsdale, AZ Photography: Dino Tonn | Scottsdale, AZ Read More: Awards: 2014 Gold Nugget Award of Merit Feature Article: Luxe. Interiors and Design. Winter 2015, “Lofty Exposure”

Eclectic bedroom photo in Los Angeles

Two Birds Photography
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Chicago

Mid-sized country dark wood floor front door photo in Boston with yellow walls and a blue front door

Michael Moran/OTTO Photography This LEED-certified project was a substantial rebuild of a 1960s home, preserving the original foundation to the extent possible, with a small amount of new area, a reconfigured floor plan, and newly envisioned massing. The design is simple and modern, with floor to ceiling glazing along the rear, connecting the interior living spaces to the landscape. The design process was informed by building science best practices, including solar orientation, triple glazing, rainscreen exterior cladding, and a thermal envelope that far exceeds code requirements.

The owners requested that their home harmonize with the spirit of the surrounding Colorado mountain setting and enhance their outdoor recreational lifestyle - while reflecting their contemporary architectural tastes. The site was burdened with a myriad of strict design criteria enforced by the neighborhood covenants and architectural review board. Creating a distinct design challenge, the covenants included a narrow interpretation of a “mountain style” home which established predetermined roof pitches, glazing percentages and material palettes - at direct odds with the client‘s vision of a flat-roofed, glass, “contemporary” home. Our solution finds inspiration and opportunities within the site covenant’s strict definitions. It promotes and celebrates the client’s outdoor lifestyle and resolves the definition of a contemporary “mountain style” home by reducing the architecture to its most basic vernacular forms and relying upon local materials. The home utilizes a simple base, middle and top that echoes the surrounding mountains and vegetation. The massing takes its cues from the prevalent lodgepole pine trees that grow at the mountain’s high altitudes. These pine trees have a distinct growth pattern, highlighted by a single vertical trunk and a peaked, densely foliated growth zone above a sparse base. This growth pattern is referenced by placing the wood-clad body of the home at the second story above an open base composed of wood posts and glass. A simple peaked roof rests lightly atop the home - visually floating above a triangular glass transom. The home itself is neatly inserted amongst an existing grove of lodgepole pines and oriented to take advantage of panoramic views of the adjacent meadow and Continental Divide beyond. The main functions of the house are arranged into public and private areas and this division is made apparent on the home’s exterior. Two large roof forms, clad in pre-patinated zinc, are separated by a sheltering central deck - which signals the main entry to the home. At this connection, the roof deck is opened to allow a cluster of aspen trees to grow – further reinforcing nature as an integral part of arrival. Outdoor living spaces are provided on all levels of the house and are positioned to take advantage of sunrise and sunset moments. The distinction between interior and exterior space is blurred via the use of large expanses of glass. The dry stacked stone base and natural cedar cladding both reappear within the home’s interior spaces. This home offers a unique solution to the client’s requests while satisfying the design requirements of the neighborhood covenants. The house provides a variety of indoor and outdoor living spaces that can be utilized in all seasons. Most importantly, the house takes its cues directly from its natural surroundings and local building traditions to become a prototype solution for the “modern mountain house”. Overview Ranch Creek Ranch Winter Park, Colorado Completion Date October, 2007 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Energize an all-white living room with one eye-popping work of art. Use the sunny palette of this print, AKELLO, to add a constant source of welcoming warmth. AKELLO is one of ten images from the AMAZU series. Printed with archival pigments on synthetic silk and mounted on dibond aluminum, no glass is required. Ready to hang, a recessed wood frame backing with hanging wire allows the piece to float 1.25 inch off the wall. AMAZU is a mixed media, collage-based series of ten pieces by Lisa Fromartz. They are done in large panoramic format with painting, drawing, scissor cut forms, and fragments of mass media images (two sizes, editions of 20). The series title, AMAZU, comes from the Ibo of Nigeria and means "no one knows everything." With work in MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, and public and private collections, Fromartz lives and works in New York City.

Photo Credit: George Dzahristos
Photo of a large transitional landscaping in Detroit.