Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

Beautiful French inspired home in the heart of Lincoln Park Chicago. Rising amidst the grand homes of North Howe Street, this stately house has more than 6,600 SF. In total, the home has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three powder rooms. Designed with an extra-wide floor plan (21'-2"), achieved through side-yard relief, and an attached garage achieved through rear-yard relief, it is a truly unique home in a truly stunning environment. The centerpiece of the home is its dramatic, 11-foot-diameter circular stair that ascends four floors from the lower level to the roof decks where panoramic windows (and views) infuse the staircase and lower levels with natural light. Public areas include classically-proportioned living and dining rooms, designed in an open-plan concept with architectural distinction enabling them to function individually. A gourmet, eat-in kitchen opens to the home's great room and rear gardens and is connected via its own staircase to the lower level family room, mud room and attached 2-1/2 car, heated garage. The second floor is a dedicated master floor, accessed by the main stair or the home's elevator. Features include a groin-vaulted ceiling; attached sun-room; private balcony; lavishly appointed master bath; tremendous closet space, including a 120 SF walk-in closet, and; an en-suite office. Four family bedrooms and three bathrooms are located on the third floor. This home was sold early in its construction process. Nathan Kirkman

Benjamin Hill Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard lap pool remodel in Houston

As a luxury spec home builder, each year Pike Properties builds a home that tests their limits and pushes their budget to the max. It's their opportunity to show what they are capable of, learn how to execute more challenging building elements, and build up their portfolio. For 2019, this was that home. Upon the acquisition of a lot that offered over 300 feet of depth, it was time to build a home that isn't usually doable to build in areas close to Uptown Charlotte, NC, where Pike Properties builds. That is, a home that has an expansive footprint. This home measures around 100 feet in depth, and that allowed for the most unique feature, a Porte Cochere that leads to a motor court. Porte Cochere's originated in the late 18th and early 19th century in luxury private mansions and public buildings, to allow horse carriages to drop off passengers in all weather conditions, without passengers being exposed to the elements. Today, many luxury private residences, and still many public buildings, have them. Welcome to a your of Pike Properties' 2019 Showcase Home! Enjoy!

This simultaneously elegant and relaxed Tuscan style home on a secluded redwood-filled property is designed for the easiest of transitions between inside and out. Terraces extend out from the house to the lawn, and gravel walkways meander through the gardens. A light filled entry hall divides the home into public and private areas.

The trellised terrace opens up to a quieter view of a magnificent existing redwood grove. A bluestone footbridge crosses a bioswale filled with clusters of ornamental grasses and perennials. In the distance, an existing below-grade greenhouse, renovated as part of the project program. Photography by Marion Brenner

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Photograph by Pete Sieger
Mid-sized farmhouse red two-story wood gable roof photo in Minneapolis

For the William Cook House (c. 1809) in downtown Beverly, Massachusetts, we were asked to create an addition to create spatial and aesthetic continuity between the main house, a front courtyard area, and the backyard pool. Our carriage house design provides a functional and inviting extension to the home’s public façade and creates a unique private space for personal enjoyment and entertaining. The two-car garage features a game room on the second story while a striking exterior brick wall with built-in outdoor fireplace anchors the pool deck to the home, creating a wonderful outdoor haven in the home’s urban setting. Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Our designer has achieved a stylish look by combining dark cabinets and light-colored marbles.

Juniper wood raised beds. Woodchips surrounding and insectary beds for pollination.
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

This simultaneously elegant and relaxed Tuscan style home on a secluded redwood-filled property is designed for the easiest of transitions between inside and out. Terraces extend out from the house to the lawn, and gravel walkways meander through the gardens. A light filled entry hall divides the home into public and private areas.

1216 NE TILLAMOOK ST, PORTLAND OR Represented the Seller in the sale of this property. Contact us for more information about this neighborhood and a list of available properties via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com THE DETAILS: MINIMALIST VIBE WITH OLD CHARM Crisp and clean, remodeled Old-Pdx with large inviting modern spaces, tall ceilings and bright open floor plan. Newer kitchen and baths, fully finished basement with family room and third floor bonus space. Hardwood floors, tile, fireplace and built-ins. Great location near schools, parks, shopping + restaurants and public transportation.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun front yard brick formal garden in Boston.

Living room - mid-sized traditional formal and enclosed vinyl floor living room idea in Chicago with yellow walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Large cottage white two-story exterior home photo in San Francisco with a hip roof

This is living beyond the walls of your home fabulously. Perfect for all meals including breakfast by the pool. A summer staycation in your own backyard. Outdoor Kitchen designed and built by Outdoor Kitchen designer Michael Gotowala Preferred Properties. Outdoor living fabulously designer and master outdoor kitchen builder offers much more than just grilling.Outdoor living fabulously for the stars..... That's the stars in your family. You too can feel fabulous about living beyond the walls of your own home outdoors.Outdoor Kitchen Designed and built by Michael Gotowala Outdoor Kitchen Designer and founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES Michael Gotowala and his Preferred Properties team designed and built this tremendous outdoor living fabulously space and masterful outdoor kitchen that was nationally featured on DIY Network Cool Tools. Outdoor Kitchen Designer Michael Gotowala has 14 Outdoor kitchens featured in national publications such as Hearth & Home magazine, Signature Kitchen & Baths, and hard cover book CREATIVE HOMEOWNER'S BEST SIGNATURE OUTDOOR KITCHENS. The Preferred Properties team under Michael Gotowala is the only Connecticut outdoor kitchen designer featured. Not feeling fabulous about your outdoor living space? Reconsider your outdoor living space. To feel about your outdoor living space you must feel fabulous about your design. Contact us at THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com Michael Gotowala Outdoor Kitchen Designer and founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES

Melissa Clark Photography
Design ideas for a traditional shade stone garden path in DC Metro.