The renovation of a mid century cottage on the lake, now serves as a guest house. The renovation preserved the original architectural elements such as the ceiling and original stone fireplace to preserve the character, personality and history and provide the inspiration and canvas to which everything else would be added. To prevent the space from feeling dark & too rustic, the lines were kept clean, the furnishings modern and the use of saturated color was strategically placed throughout.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $30,000-$60,000 Award Level: Silver Project Description: Our company was contracted to do a master plan for the family who was in desperate need of a rear yard renovation. The existing lawn area remained saturated throughout most of the year and the runoff from the neighboring property ran across their back yard, down the side of their property and all the way to the sidewalk in front of their house. The water was so intense that it had begun to cut through the back yard and erode the soil across the sidewalk and into the nearby storm drain. By identifying these drainage problems and discussing solutions with the homeowner, we were able to design and create the aesthetically pleasing and sustainable solution of a rain garden. The goal was to slow down storm water runoff, and catch pollution and sediment by creating a rain garden that acts as a filter prior to entering the storm drain, while enhancing the aesthetics of the property. The rain garden created was a shallow depression, 12 - 16" deep that collects rainfall runoff from all downspouts of the home and water collected into perforated pipes underneath the lawn area. The perforated pipe begins at the highest elevation in the yard and ends in the rain garden, the new lowest elevation that has been excavated down to an 8" depth. The perforated pipe captures the runoff water and allows the water to seep slowly back into the ground as it runs across the property and into the garden. The garden was lined with a geotextile filter fabric to aide in removing contaminants from the water, prevent migration of the stone in to the soil, and minimalize maintenance. A large variety of plant material was chosen, focusing mainly on native wetland species for their tolerance of our local soil types, moisture conditions and the habitat they provide for wildlife. The garden was abundant with native wildlife and was a sustainable ecosystem for birds and butterflies upon completion of the project. After planting, we arranged decorative stone throughout the garden to slow the flow of water and help prevent erosion. The combination of vegetative and stone surfaces provides temporary storage for runoff before the water either evaporates or infiltrates the soil. The surrounding beds throughout the property were also all amended with compost and replanted with plants that work in harmony with the rain garden. The front, side, and rear yards are a beautiful display of colors that bloom throughout the seasons and the plants throughout the entire property provide food and shelter for native wildlife. The rear yard that was once a muddy play space for the kids is now a dry lawn space that can be utilized by the family and their neighbors. This multi­ functional garden has become the focal point of the residence. Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

Classic elegance with a fresh face characterizes this stunner, adorned in Benjamin Moore’s pale green “Vale Mist”. For a serene, cohesive look, the beadboard and casings are painted to match. Counters and backsplashes are subtly-veined Himalayan Marble. Flat panel inset cabinetry was enhanced with a delicate ogee profile and graceful bracket feet. Oak floors were artfully stenciled to form a diamond pattern with intersecting dots. Brushed brass fixtures and hardware lend old-world appeal with a stylish flourish. Balancing the formality are casual rattan bistro stools and dining chairs. A metal-rimmed glass tabletop allows full view of the curvaceous walnut pedestal. Tucked into the narrow end of the kitchen is a cozy desk. Its walnut top warms the space, while mullion glass doors contribute openness. Preventing claustrophobia is a frosted wheel-style oculus window to boost light and depth. A bold statement is made for the small hutch, where a neutral animal print wallpaper is paired with Benjamin Moore’s ruby-red semi-gloss “My Valentine” paint on cabinetry and trim. Glass doors display serving pieces. Juxtaposed against the saturated hue is the pop of a white marble counter and contemporary acrylic handles. What could have been a drab niche is now a jewel box! This project was designed in collaboration with Ashley Sharpe of Sharpe Development and Design. Photography by Lesley Unruh. Bilotta Designer: David Arnoff Post Written by Paulette Gambacorta adapted for Houzz

The long, sleek fireplace glows with the sheen of crushed, coppery glass tiles and the subtly oxidized gleam of the mantle and hearth. The size of the fireplace and the dimension added to the wall prevent the large television from overwhelming the space.

Transitional porch idea in Other

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in San Francisco

This beautiful colonial in Marion, Massachusetts is even more gorgeous with its new GAF Timberline HD roof! There is more to a roof than shingles – in fact there are several components to a professionally installed GAF Lifetime Roofing System. Here is the anatomy of our Marion homeowner’s roof: GAF Timberline HD Shingles Marion, MAGAF Timberline HD Roof Shingles: A beautiful architectural shingle at an affordable price! This is our most popular roof shingle here at Care Free Homes! Our Marion customer selected the classic color, Charcoal. This high performance shingle features a 130 mph wind rating and highest possible fire rating. Underlayment: A felt/paper product that is installed over the entire roof deck, underlayment provides an additional layer of protection between the roof deck and the roof shingles. Ice Dam and Water Shield: After a brutal winter and unprecedented snow fall, many New England homes suffered damage from ice dams. Ice Dam and Water Shield provides added protection for eves, rakes, valleys as well as flashed areas around vent pipes, chimneys, dormers, and skylights. Whether it’s a winter wonderland or a hurricane, this homeowner will not have to worry about ice dams or driving rain. GAF Timberline HD, Marion, MA Dormers Premium Aluminum Drip Edge: Installed along the rakes, drip edge serves several purposes. It improves the efficiency of water shedding, prevents leaking from a wind-driven rain as well as movement between the deck and fascia boards. Drip edge also keeps pesky insects from infiltrating the space between the roof deck and the fascia boards. With a choice of three colors, white, brown and gray, it provides a finished look for a roof. GAF Pro-Start Eave/Rake Starter Strip: Every story has a beginning and every roof should have a starter strip. Here in New England we’ve got to have our roof be tougher than mother nature. To prevent shingle blow off, an ultra-adhered starter strip properly secures shingles in place during a storm. In contrast, the amateur roofer will often use cut-up shingles as a starter course. This weakened “starter course” lowers the wind resistance of a roof and makes it more susceptible to both wind and water damage. With straighter edges, Dura-Grip adhesive, and outstanding warranties – starter strip will provide beauty, performance and peace of mind. GAF Cobra Ridge Vent: Ridge vents provide necessary airflow to remove excess heat and moisture in an attic. It inhibits the growth of mold and protects the health of the homeowners as well as their stored possessions. A properly vented attic will also protect homes in harsh winter climates from ice damming. Why wait? Contact us today and make your house a Care Free home!

Deck - transitional deck idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a 1950s bathroom remodel in Austin

Raised Cedar-faced Perennial Beds (constructed of pressure treated lumber) were constructed on either side of rear gate to reduce bed maintenance (annual lawn edging) and add interest to a backyard which originally had only a lawn and fence. The boxes were lined with landscape fabric to prevent weed intrusion from the wilderness area behind the fence and landscape fabric was also used to partially enclose the ornamental tree roots to prevent them from traveling into the bed.

This project took 3 days from start to finish. The rock and boulders are designed to prevent mulch or debris from littering the sidewalk, also to prevent dogs from using the planter bed as a bathroom. Photos: Tony Vitale of Landscape Logic

This Plymouth, MN homeowner contacted Gem Chimney & Duct after noticing signs of water intrusion around the chimney system. Our team performed a full inspection and installed a custom-fabricated chimney cap designed to protect the flue from rain, snow, debris, and animal entry. The project also included chimney waterproofing and preventive maintenance to help extend the life of the masonry structure and improve overall chimney performance. Services completed: • Custom chimney cap installation • Chimney inspection • Waterproofing treatment • Preventive maintenance • Chimney safety evaluation Location: Plymouth, MN Company: GEM Chimney & Duct Phone: 612-800-8261 Website: https://gemchimneyduct.com

Time to upgrade your showering experience? Look no further than this exposed shower system! Not only does it add contemporary style to your bathroom room ensemble with its clean-lined design, but it adds unparalleled functionality. The thermostatic valve makes it easy to set the perfect temperature, preventing scalding and cold water shock. The hand shower allows you to rinse hard-to-reach places with ease. With the height-adjustable design, the height and angle of hand shower could be positioned flexibly. Plus, the solid brass construction offers a super heavy duty performance. An eye-catching and durable addition to your bathroom. - Please note that this product comes with a thermostatic shower valve with scald prevention feature. - Constructed from solid brass and 304 stainless steel (shower head) for durability and reliability. - Finished in a high quality, corrosion resistant matte black. - Features two functions: 12" x 8" (300mm x 200mm) rain shower, hand shower. - Hand shower with 60" (1500mm) stainless steel hose included. - Not suitable for low pressure. Minimum required water pressure is 0.05 MPa (0.5 bar). - All mounting hardware is included.

Pro-Painting & Drywall, Inc. Trim and baseboards Purpose and Protection Trim and baseboards help protect both you and your flooring as they cover edges, joints, and gaps in flooring. This includes transitions between flooring types and levels. When your new flooring meets carpet in a doorway, you can use an end cap to connect the two and prevent exposed edges. Or, if you find a small height difference between your new laminate floor and your kitchen tiles, T-molding covers the gap to prevent tripping or damage to either floor. For these sometimes-tricky situations, our range of T-molds, reducers, overlap reducers, and threshold moldings offer straightforward solutions. Trim and baseboards also protect your walls from the stains, dents, and water damage that comes with everyday living. This includes water from wet mopping, dents from vacuum cleaners, and scuffs from shoes, toys, and furniture. Call today 904-731-6471

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

t Stain Protection Services, we offer the most advanced stain preventative treatments for furnishings, carpeting and rugs. With "StainProtect", your beautiful furnishings will look newer and wear better because of the protection. Check out some of the latest fine furnishings that got our treatment, and remember that even the lightest of fabrics can be successfully protected against most household stains. Visit our website at stainprotect.ca or call 647-779-7755 to learn more about our services or receive a free estimate.

Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $30,000-$60,000 Award Level: Silver Project Description: Our company was contracted to do a master plan for the family who was in desperate need of a rear yard renovation. The existing lawn area remained saturated throughout most of the year and the runoff from the neighboring property ran across their back yard, down the side of their property and all the way to the sidewalk in front of their house. The water was so intense that it had begun to cut through the back yard and erode the soil across the sidewalk and into the nearby storm drain. By identifying these drainage problems and discussing solutions with the homeowner, we were able to design and create the aesthetically pleasing and sustainable solution of a rain garden. The goal was to slow down storm water runoff, and catch pollution and sediment by creating a rain garden that acts as a filter prior to entering the storm drain, while enhancing the aesthetics of the property. The rain garden created was a shallow depression, 12 - 16" deep that collects rainfall runoff from all downspouts of the home and water collected into perforated pipes underneath the lawn area. The perforated pipe begins at the highest elevation in the yard and ends in the rain garden, the new lowest elevation that has been excavated down to an 8" depth. The perforated pipe captures the runoff water and allows the water to seep slowly back into the ground as it runs across the property and into the garden. The garden was lined with a geotextile filter fabric to aide in removing contaminants from the water, prevent migration of the stone in to the soil, and minimalize maintenance. A large variety of plant material was chosen, focusing mainly on native wetland species for their tolerance of our local soil types, moisture conditions and the habitat they provide for wildlife. The garden was abundant with native wildlife and was a sustainable ecosystem for birds and butterflies upon completion of the project. After planting, we arranged decorative stone throughout the garden to slow the flow of water and help prevent erosion. The combination of vegetative and stone surfaces provides temporary storage for runoff before the water either evaporates or infiltrates the soil. The surrounding beds throughout the property were also all amended with compost and replanted with plants that work in harmony with the rain garden. The front, side, and rear yards are a beautiful display of colors that bloom throughout the seasons and the plants throughout the entire property provide food and shelter for native wildlife. The rear yard that was once a muddy play space for the kids is now a dry lawn space that can be utilized by the family and their neighbors. This multi­ functional garden has become the focal point of the residence. Photo Credit: Terren Landscapes

this custom designed changing dresser in mango yellow was made to fit the perfect needs of a newborn baby, and have enough storage area for diapers, changing utensils, bigger and smaller items. two narrow drawers and four pull outs give practical use of the space. the rounded aluminum handles give an optimum of handling and the rounded shape prevent from unwanted bumps along the way. the furniture can be re used as regular storage cabinet for toys and the parents once baby grows up.