Hotel Reego is a city-center resort located next to the main highway. It features a small restaurant and limited indoor seating, with the primary leisure area being the spacious lawn. To maximize the guests' relaxation and leisure experience, I have prioritized a larger grass area while avoiding excessive planting.

The small angular lakefront site created a difficult design challenge for JRML. We felt that bulk-heading the lake's edge, and designing the floor plan to correspond to the angle would optimize views from the primary rooms. At the client's request, we developed the Craftsman's exterior, while maintaining an open and transitional interior with large expanses of glass to imbibe the lake views. Noteworthy features included a debarked tree column, rustic cork wall, covered porches, balcony and an infinity pool.

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Tampa

Perched on a ridge at the edge of a wooded expanse, this mid-century modern home was designed to embrace both the intimate connection to the forest and the expansive valley views beyond. The site—carefully chosen from the family’s 52-acre homestead in western Wisconsin—balances privacy and openness, placing the home at the meeting point of dense trees and rolling fields. The approach winds through the forest, offering only glimpses of the structure. Upon arrival, the parking area is subtly positioned below the main level, reinforcing the sense of discovery. As one ascends the entry walk, the house unfolds, revealing a dramatic view through the two-story living space, anchored by a brick fireplace that extends from floor to ceiling. The asymmetrical roofline lifts upward, accentuating the openness and maximizing natural light. Inside, warm materials define the interiors. Wood ceilings and floors, complemented by concrete-look tile, establish a natural, grounded aesthetic. Black wood-clad beams provide scale and structure, subtly delineating spaces within the open-plan layout. A wood lattice screen partially conceals the dining area from the foyer, offering both openness and privacy. The kitchen—designed for gathering—features a large island, a dedicated baking station, and a breakfast counter that catches morning light while serving as a pass-through to the adjacent patio. Two textured glass sliding panels allow the kitchen to be closed off when needed. Just beyond, a hidden gem: the home’s personal Tiki room, complete with a vintage mug collection and a full bar. To the east, the central fireplace marks the transition to more intimate spaces. A wide stair, integrated with the hearth, leads to the lower level, while a library with a corner window creates a quiet retreat, perfect for reading and taking in the valley beyond. The primary suite extends off this wing, featuring a spa-like bath with a textured tile walk-in shower, a soaking tub positioned for dramatic views, and a private balcony overlooking the landscape. The lower level is designed for family gatherings and extended stays. A secondary fireplace, echoing the materials of the main level, anchors a cozy living area with an adjacent kitchenette. Additional bedrooms and baths provide ample accommodations, while a hidden playhouse under the stair and a dedicated bunk room add playful touches for visiting grandchildren. The home is a balance of openness and enclosure, modernity and warmth—designed not only as a retreat but as a multigenerational gathering place, deeply connected to the land.

This 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath custom home has a great rustic in-the-woods feel, with spectacular timber frame beams, an a-frame open concept great room, and a focus on natural elements and materials throughout the home. The homeowners didn’t want to cut down any of the surrounding trees on the property and chose to orient the home so that the forest was the primary view. The end result is a true “cabin in the woods” experience. The home was designed with the master suite on the main floor, along with a dedicated exercise room, full laundry room and wrap-around sundeck. The ground floor features a spacious rec room, office, and the two additional bedrooms. The finishes throughout the home are high end but rustic, including K2 Stone, Alder cabinetry, granite countertops, oil-rubbed bronze hardware, free standing soaker tubs in the bathrooms, hickory hardwood flooring, timber framing inside and out, and Hardie plank siding with cedar shingles.

This 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath custom home has a great rustic in-the-woods feel, with spectacular timber frame beams, an a-frame open concept great room, and a focus on natural elements and materials throughout the home. The homeowners didn’t want to cut down any of the surrounding trees on the property and chose to orient the home so that the forest was the primary view. The end result is a true “cabin in the woods” experience. The home was designed with the master suite on the main floor, along with a dedicated exercise room, full laundry room and wrap-around sundeck. The ground floor features a spacious rec room, office, and the two additional bedrooms. The finishes throughout the home are high end but rustic, including K2 Stone, Alder cabinetry, granite countertops, oil-rubbed bronze hardware, free standing soaker tubs in the bathrooms, hickory hardwood flooring, timber framing inside and out, and Hardie plank siding with cedar shingles.

Sited perfectly and intuitively on a beautiful parcel of land, this Vermont contemporary home is complemented by an intricate roof design, appreciated from above. The long axis of the house faces south on the gently sloping site to bring midwinter daylight and passive solar gain deep into the 16 ft. wide main volume. Just 2.5 acres of the 17.5 acre lot was developed, to minimize disturbance to the site, to preserve many of the long-lived mixed hardwood and softwood trees, including the owners’ favorite, a yellow birch with golden curly bark, and to protect the natural wetlands and stream outflow. The fully accessible main level contains the living room, dining room, kitchen, primary bedroom and bath, and a lovely westerly screened porch. Connected to the main volume are a garage with three bays including a small studio and a workshop. The home prioritizes intuitive, organic and incredibly functional spaces combined with simple stylistic elements, hints of a mid-century modern American home.

LEED certification level: Platinum. Builder: GCCM Construction Services LLC dba UberGreen Spaces & Homes. Mark Twain said it best, "If the world were to end today I'd move to Kentucky because they are 20 years behind everyone else." There is some truth to that because Kentuckians believe that 'if it aint broke dont fix it'. We designed and built Kentucky's first LEED Platinum Net Zero Energy Net Zero Water home in the private sector. We named the home 'My Green Kentucky Home' playing off the state song 'My Old Kentucky Home'. Our take on a home should have people and the planet in mind. We found LEED to be the best most credible third-party green certification program to address these important challenges today. The envelope of the home was designed to minimize energy losses and maximize inside comfort by using Insulated Concrete Form walls from the footers to the roof, spray foam and blown in cellulose in the attic, rigid foam beneath the Lower Level basement slab and triple-pane fully insulated casement windows. The home was oriented with the back facing south to maximize daylighting, passive heating in the winter and solar production. Our HVAC is geothermal with a storage tank to preheat domestic water. A fresh air system was installed in the return side of the HVAC system to filter and then mix with supply air to the home. All paints were zero VOC. The reclaimed KY horse farm fencing turned into beautiful hardwood floors was finished with a low VOC sealer. Carpets were low VOC and the 100% recycled padding was zero VOC. The custom cabinets for the kitchen and baths were made locally and built with FSC certified plywood with no added formaldehyde. The home collects 100% of the rainwater that hits the roof into a 3,300 gallon rainwater collection tank. The primary use of the collected water is to irrigate the lawns, landscaped beds and supply the hose bibs. When the tank is low it automatically shuts the tank valve and opens the city water valve to operate with city water pressure until the tank fills past a certain level, saving electricity and wear and tear on the pump. The cistern is designed to service all the homes domestic water needs when KY State Plumbing code will allow it in the future. All appliances are Energy Star and locally made by GE. The counter tops on all cabinets are recycled materials and durable without requiring sealers or maintenance. We went a step further for indoor air quality and installed AirRenew drywall by Certainteed which works like trees do in the environment by pulling in VOC's into the drywall and making it inert. The Florida Tile was made in Kentucky with recycled content. We monitor all utility usage per electrical circuit and monitor the amount of energy produced by the solar panels as well helping the owners make more informed decisions. The home was such a hit that it was the catalyst that sparked development in a dormant neighborhood of vacant lots. We had the home open for three months to the public where hundreds of folks toured it as it was laid out like an art museum. We had actual walls open all the way to the outside layer of ICF insulation where they saw the concrete and steel inside the walls. We also had the lower level basement slab cut open to show how we insulate beneath the concrete and how we drain and mitigate radon. It was a super inspirational project that made people think about people and the planet much differently than before. We hope to continue making great projects like these to help inspire, educate and create awareness around some of the most important topics and challenges we face today. Thank you to everyone at the USGBC for helping us make this happen and the great work you do every day!

When one thing leads to another...and another...and another... This fun family of 5 humans and one pup enlisted us to do a simple living room/dining room upgrade. Those led to updating the kitchen with some simple upgrades. (Thanks to Superior Tile and Stone) And that led to a total primary suite gut and renovation (Thanks to Verity Kitchens and Baths). When we were done, they sold their now perfect home and upgraded to the Beach Modern one a few galleries back. They might win the award for best Before/After pics in both projects! We love working with them and are happy to call them our friends. Design by Eden LA Interiors Photo by Kim Pritchard Photography

This week’s Home of the week is by Smith Custom Building and Design. This featured home is built on a 5 acre lot in the new cedar tree filled community also by Smith Custom Building and Design. This home has approximately 8,636 square feet of living space and 13,837 total. This house consists of five bedroom, six bathrooms and one-half bath. It also has an oversized kitchen with a butler's pantry, a game room, media room, library, poker room, wine cellar, office and guest quarters with their own living room and kitchen. The home has a 2,400 square foot back porch that wraps around and gives each room its own back porch space accessible by their custom double doors. This home also features a six-car garage. This home has been individually designed with the client's lifestyle in mind. Entering the modern farmhouse-style home, you are met by the grand formal dining room with a wine cellar big enough to hold all of your favorite wines. The library included floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The home has high ceilings throughout with custom trim work and each room has its own unique detail. You will find custom craft cabinets throughout with beautiful high end counter tops, a cast stone fireplace and cathedral-style groin vaulted ceilings down the primary wing. The owner of this unique custom home is willing to allow Smith Custom Building and Design to have future clients see the attention to detail and grand work of their custom home. If you are interested in touring this house, please schedule an appointment through our website, http://www.SmithCustomLLC.com or contact us at the number below. Smith Custom Building and Design gives you the option to sit down with the in-house Architect to design your dream house customized to the lifestyle you crave. Creating a one-of-a-kind custom home that meets your every need and want. These homes can be built on the customer's lots or on a lot Smith Custom Building and Design provides. Smith Custom Building and Design builds custom homes throughout the DFW and the surrounding areas with most of their homes being within 45 minutes of their office in Rockwall, Tx. You can find out more about Smith Custom Building and Design by visiting their website at www.SmithCustomLLC.com or by going to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SmithCustomBuildingAndDesign/. For further information or to schedule an appointment please contact Smith Custom Building and Design at 903-229-1025. This Home of the Week is presented by the Dallas Builders Association. For information on the Association please visit www.dallasbuilders.com.

Kitchen: Door Style: Edgewater Construction: International+/Full Overlay Wood Type: Hickory Finish: Tawny Island: Door Style: Edgewater Construction: International+/Full Overlay Wood Type: Paint Grade Paint: Showplace Paints - Dark Night After more than 15 years in their home, it was time for an upgrade. The homeowners loved the area where they lived and the unique, fabulous view it provided. Their trees were maturing beautifully, and recent landscaping improvements provided cherished outdoor living space. Although the owners had designed and built this to be the home of their dreams, those dreams changed over time. It all began with a discussion about "flipping the kitchen and dining room" in order to create one grand, yet cozy living space that encouraged togetherness, for either small or large gatherings. That discussion evolved into a more significant remodel that surpassed their expectations. Relocating the two primary rooms, kitchen and dining, afforded the opportunity to re-imagine other supporting spaces. A new walk-in pantry was added and the laundry, mud, and powder room areas were completely redefined. Additional finishing touches were added to the living/family room area, including removing a corner fireplace and building a new, larger fireplace in the center of the room surrounded by Showplace bookcase units. In the end, the owners got a lodge-inspired space that made them fall in love with their home all over again.

Established in 2005, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake is proud to be Duke Energy’s “First All-Electric Energy Star Certified Community” in South Carolina. Each home has been constructed with strict guidelines to insure each individual home will receive it’s own Energy Star certificate which in turn results in a reduced rate from Duke Energy on the energy bill for the life of the home. Through a partnership between the architecture firm, Chapman Design Group, Inc. and it’s construction arm, Icon Construction of South Carolina, Inc., special emphasis is placed on quality construction, methods and design details a well as a stringent construction quality control standard. The total efforts, skills, resources provide unyielding commitment directed toward building superior homes that will bring our homeowners many years of comfortable and carefree living. This 107 home community was created on a 43 acre property that was planned into two phases. Approximately 17 of these acres are to be left natural, providing the feel of an established neighborhood from the very beginning. The featured attraction is Rankin’s Lake. It is approximately 4 acres in size and was once a well-known fishing lake in Anderson in the 1940s and 50s. A stone bridge will adorn its spillway and will be constructed during the second phase of the project. The traditional style streetscape is enhanced with grass medians separating curb lines and sidewalks. This feature is accentuated in intermittent Alee Elm Trees and decorative post streetlights throughout the neighborhood. Every front and side lawn as well as all common areas continue to be maintained on a weekly basis by a private landscape maintenance company. This perpetual maintenance provided through the Homeowner’s Association insures a constant harmonious look throughout the entire community. From day one, several development principles were established and achieved: • The development’s concept was designed with all water front lots facing into Rankin’s Lake to have the street running between the homes and the lake. With this concept, it allows all of the neighborhood residents and their guest to take advantage of the pathways as well as enjoy to natural scenery of the lake each time the upon entering and exiting the neighborhood. This became a positive selling point as it encouraged the selection of building sites deeper into the development once you passed the lake. • The design concept of the development was to create a variation of the traditional home neighborhood where the homes, all with front porches are intentionally built closer to the sidewalk lined streets to encourage neighborly interaction. • Plans were designed with the garages at the rear of the lot as to make the neighborhood less about cars and more about the home and it’s residents. This was prioritized due to many subdivisions today are designed in such a way the home’s primary feature is a front facing garage which often have two cars in the driveway… hence, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake want to provide an alternative. • Each home design includes a spacious front porch, a screened porch and or a sunroom to encourage neighborly interaction and casual living. • The floor plans include both 2 and 3 bedroom plans with 2 to 3.5 baths with all master suites remaining on the main level. The entire development would have only Energy Star Certified homes.

A historic Spanish colonial residence (circa 1929) in Kessler Park’s conservation district was completely revitalized with design that honored its original era as well as embraced modern conveniences. The small kitchen was extended into the built-in banquette in the living area to give these amateur chefs plenty of countertop workspace in the kitchen as well as a casual dining experience while they enjoy the amazing backyard view. The quartzite countertops adorn the kitchen and living room built-ins and are inspired by the beautiful tree line seen out the back windows of the home in a blooming spring & summer in Dallas. Each season truly takes on its own personality in this yard. The primary bath features a modern take on a timeless “plaid” pattern with mosaic glass and gold trim. The reeded front cabinets and slimline hardware maintain a minimalist presentation that allows the shower tile to remain the focal point. The guest bath’s jewel toned marble accent tile in a fun geometric pattern pops off the black marble background and adds lighthearted sophistication to this space. Original wood beams, cement walls and terracotta tile flooring and fireplace tile remain in the great room to pay homage to stay true to its original state. This project proves new materials can be masterfully incorporated into existing architecture and yield a timeless result!

Situated on a large, picturesque lot surrounded by lush, mature trees, this project in Ann Arbor, MI, aimed to create a multi-generational home designed for family members of all ages to live harmoniously under one roof. Primary and secondary spaces were carefully planned and added to support the evolving needs of the household, creating separate wings in response to the different ages and lifestyles; Aging in place on the 1st floor, children and private office spaces on the 2nd floor to respond to the clients working from home. Key modifications to the first-floor layout were made to alleviate congestion, support the concept of “aging in place” and improve circulation in high-traffic areas, ensuring comfort and ease of movement throughout the home. The project included enlarging the existing garage, adding a new family room on the first floor, adding a new formal entry and mudroom, enlarging the living room, renovating the current 1st-floor en-suite for Aging in place, and adding a modern stair tower to the newly added 2nd-floor. The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms, a home office and a fully new en-suite that accentuates the views from the backyard. An abundance of expansive windows helps to blur the line between the natural and built environments, pulling in lots of natural light through the house. To help with the transformation from a traditional ranch to a modern 2-story, the roof line was designed as an abstraction of the original roof elements/slopes. The clients’ “new” home embodies both function and beauty, offering flexibility for future growth while creating a visually stunning composition of spaces.

Modern home addition of a primary suits from David Rogers Builders in Marvin, NC.
Inspiration for a huge modern kidney-shaped and concrete lap pool remodel in Charlotte

The design team at Bel Atelier selected lovely, sophisticated colors throughout the spaces in this elegant Alamo Heights home. This wallpapered master bath vanity alcove is sheer perfection!

Desert tranquility at its finest. Pulling from the hues surrounding her Joshua Tree home, artist Heather Day sculpted an airy minimalist primary bathroom with 3x12 Ceramic Tile in Ivory neatly stacked from floor to ceiling. DESIGN: Ryan Leidner PHOTOS: Margaret Austin Photography PRODUCT SHOWN: Ivory 3x12

Perched on a ridge at the edge of a wooded expanse, this mid-century modern home was designed to embrace both the intimate connection to the forest and the expansive valley views beyond. The site—carefully chosen from the family’s 52-acre homestead in western Wisconsin—balances privacy and openness, placing the home at the meeting point of dense trees and rolling fields. The approach winds through the forest, offering only glimpses of the structure. Upon arrival, the parking area is subtly positioned below the main level, reinforcing the sense of discovery. As one ascends the entry walk, the house unfolds, revealing a dramatic view through the two-story living space, anchored by a brick fireplace that extends from floor to ceiling. The asymmetrical roofline lifts upward, accentuating the openness and maximizing natural light. Inside, warm materials define the interiors. Wood ceilings and floors, complemented by concrete-look tile, establish a natural, grounded aesthetic. Black wood-clad beams provide scale and structure, subtly delineating spaces within the open-plan layout. A wood lattice screen partially conceals the dining area from the foyer, offering both openness and privacy. The kitchen—designed for gathering—features a large island, a dedicated baking station, and a breakfast counter that catches morning light while serving as a pass-through to the adjacent patio. Two textured glass sliding panels allow the kitchen to be closed off when needed. Just beyond, a hidden gem: the home’s personal Tiki room, complete with a vintage mug collection and a full bar. To the east, the central fireplace marks the transition to more intimate spaces. A wide stair, integrated with the hearth, leads to the lower level, while a library with a corner window creates a quiet retreat, perfect for reading and taking in the valley beyond. The primary suite extends off this wing, featuring a spa-like bath with a textured tile walk-in shower, a soaking tub positioned for dramatic views, and a private balcony overlooking the landscape. The lower level is designed for family gatherings and extended stays. A secondary fireplace, echoing the materials of the main level, anchors a cozy living area with an adjacent kitchenette. Additional bedrooms and baths provide ample accommodations, while a hidden playhouse under the stair and a dedicated bunk room add playful touches for visiting grandchildren. The home is a balance of openness and enclosure, modernity and warmth—designed not only as a retreat but as a multigenerational gathering place, deeply connected to the land.

This visually simple, modern solution is unique within its suburban context, and gives this family the custom landscape of their dreams. The homeowners’ wish list included a modern design and clearly defined spaces: a larger dining patio, firepit patio, hot tub, and a 4-season sport court (which gets flooded for ice hockey in the winter). Circulation and screening were key in Ground One’s landscape design. A sport court could overwhelm the entire backyard, so it was raised three feet above the primary backyard to physically separate different spaces, and minimize its visual impact. Rectangular bluestone in a running bond pattern was used in all the gathering spaces (dining, firepit, hot tub). Bluestone walls reinforce a simple material palette. A larger dining patio was installed near the house for greater entertaining flexibility. Plank paver paths connect to a private hot tub area and allow kids to don hockey gear and enter the sport court without messing up the house. The firepit patio is at the back of the property, nestled into the existing hillside under a large oak and below the sport court terrace. Plantings reinforce the geometry of each gathering space, provide focal points, and create layers of screening and separation from any given vantage point. Hardy species were selected for their low-maintenance requirements and various seasons of interest. Landscape lighting was incorporated to provide way finding between the patios, accent various hardscape elements, and highlight the trees.