Example of a mid-sized beach style backyard concrete and rectangular infinity pool fountain design in Charlotte

A custom designed and fabricated metal and wood spiral staircase that goes directly from the upper level to the garden; it uses space efficiently as well as providing a stunning architectural element. Costarella Architects, Robert Vente Photography

This is an example of a modern retaining wall landscape in Minneapolis.

Teen room inspired by beach glass. Custom lamp shades brought new life to the antique glass bases. Tackable panels were incorporated as a splash of color and efficiency. Photo Credit: Miro Dvorscak

"TaylorPro completely remodeled our master bathroom. We had our outdated shower transformed into a modern walk-in shower, new custom cabinets installed with a beautiful quartz counter top, a giant framed vanity mirror which makes the bathroom look so much bigger and brighter, and a wood ceramic tile floor including under floor heating. Kerry Taylor also solved a hot water problem we had by installing a recirculating hot water system which allows us to have instant hot water in the shower rather than waiting forever for the water to heat up. From start to finish TaylorPro did a professional, quality job. Kerry Taylor was always quick to respond to any question or problem and made sure all work was done properly. Bonnie, the resident designer, did a great job of creating a beautiful, functional bathroom design combining our ideas with her own. Every member of the TaylorPro team was professional, hard-working, considerate, and competent. Any remodeling project is going to be somewhat disruptive, but the TaylorPro crew made the process as painless as possible by being respectful of our home environment and always cleaning up their mess at the end of the day. I would recommend TaylorPro Design to anyone who wants a quality project done by a great team of professionals. You won't be disappointed!" ~ Judy and Stuart C, Clients Carlsbad home with Caribbean Blue mosaic glass tile, NuHeat radiant floor heating, grey weathered plank floor tile, pebble shower pan and custom "Whale Tail" towel hooks. Classic white painted vanity with quartz counter tops. Bathroom Design - Bonnie Bagley Catlin, Signature Designs Kitchen Bath. Contractor - TaylorPro Design and Remodeling Photos by: Kerry W. Taylor

There is a 20-foot change in elevation from the top of the driveway to the lowest point on the lot, where the outdoor shower stands. We artistically laid out steps and platforms to conceal plumbing, and ensure safety and proper drainage throughout the property.

The paver wall surrounding the stairs up to the front entrance was rebuilt with proper drainage and alignment to the steps. To save money on materials, we reused the original paver blocks but purchased new caps in a contrasting style to give the wall an updated and more sophisticated look. Photo credit: Michelle Masone

Room now for proper seating arrangement!
Minimalist patio photo in Toronto

This Shingle-style Victorian has a grand staircase with original oak paneling and hand turned spindles. We lightened it up by stripping the dated wallpaper and adding fabulous sconces and a light patterned stair runner.

Terraced walls and steps leading from the raised front yard down to the pool area. Lots of grading and setting the proper elevations were crucial to making this backyard pool.

Philadelphia Row Home Renovation focusing on maximizing storage for a young family of 5. We created a "mudroom" in the front of the row home with a large living room space for family time + hosting. We used kid-friendly furnishings with performance fabrics that are durable and easy to clean. Prioritized eco-friendly selections, utilizing locally sourced + American made pieces.

This house was graphically renovated. New paint colors, new carriage house garage door, new properly mounted wood shutters. Please understand that shutters must be mounted properly. 99% you see are wrong. The only problem here is that the windows are white and plastic. The image was created graphically so the homeowner can see the result and be sure what they want. They can give this to their builder to be sure they GET what they want.

A rain chain collects roof runoff and delivers it to the rain garden. The rain garden collects water and lets it soak into the ground slowly, so it doesn't run off into nearby waterways.

Multi-functional grab bars are both affordable and stylish. No one would ever know these Moen products are ADA_compliant grab bars that can support up to 250lbs when installed properly.

It's Christmas in July! This homeowner was interested in adding an outdoor space that would be continuous with their indoor living area. The large windows that separate the 2 spaces allows for their home to have a very open feel. They went with a contemporary craftsman style with clean straight lines in the columns and beams on the ceiling. The stone veneer fireplace, framed with full masonry block, with reclaimed Hemlock mantle as the centerpiece attraction and the stained pine tongue and groove vaulted ceiling gives the space a dramatic look. The columns have a stacked stone base that complements the stone on the fireplace and kitchen fascia. The light travertine flooring is a perfect balance for the dark stone on the column bases and knee walls beside the fireplace as well as the darker stained cedar beams and stones in the fireplace. The outdoor kitchen with stainless steel tile backsplash is equipped with a gas grill and a Big Green Egg as well as a fridge and storage space. This space is 525 square feet and is the perfect spot for any gathering. The patio is surrounded by stained concrete stepping stones with black star gravel. The original second story windows were replaced with smaller windows in order to allow for a proper roof pitch. TK IMAGES

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

We installed this silver and charcoal ashlar slate patio, walkway, and steps in 2002. The customers have maintained their investment by resealing regularly. This photo was taken in 2018 to illustrate how properly maintained concrete can last for years. PGS Concrete Designs, LLC

www.SharperCut.com - rehabbed retaining wall; correctly installed with proper drainage; new steps and patio; even the dog is ready
Inspiration for a transitional backyard concrete paver retaining wall landscape in DC Metro.

Pool - pool idea in New York