The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Bliss Garden Design
This is an example of a craftsman landscaping in Seattle.

Example of a classic entryway design in New York

Talk about a merry-go-round – practically every room on the first floor of this Noe Valley home was moved to a new location, with the goal of making a lighter, brighter, more useful layout. Once the dining room, the kitchen is now primed for efficient cooking, entertaining, and cozy at-home meals. The dining room is now adjacent, made welcoming by a rustic fireplace, and the living room is now at the back of the home, taking advantage of the peaceful garden views. Together with our friends at McGriff Architects, we were able to re-envision and renew an aging home. We love the peacock blue cabinetry and patterned concrete tile backsplash. The rustic wood island, fireplace mantel, and dining table nicely complement the classic San Francisco narrow-plank oak floors. The powder room greets guests with a showstopping contrast of materials, mixing bold geometric floor tiles with feminine floral walls. We also selected new paints for the exterior, providing some much-needed curb appeal. Architecture: McGriff Architects Photography: Christopher Stark

Bruce Cole Photography
Example of a small farmhouse white gable roof design with a shingle roof

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Stepping stones in a minimal gravel paved area lead past two lounge chairs to the intimate dining area. The herringbone-patterned limestone patio dissipates into a lush planting bed filled with loose swaths of shade-loving perennials and seasonal bulbs. Beech hedging, and formal clipped evergreens, surround the space and provide privacy, structure and winter interest to the garden. On axis to the main interior living space of the home, the fountain, is the focal point of the garden. A limestone water wall featuring an engraved pattern of fallen Honey Locust leaves nods to the centrally located mature Honey Locust tree that anchors the garden. Water, flowing down the wall, falls a short distance into a pool with a submerged limestone panel. The light noise of the falling water helps soften the sounds of the bustling downtown neighbourhood, creating a tranquil back drop for living and entertaining.

This beautifully appointed cottage is a peaceful refuge for a busy couple. From hosting family to offering a home away from home for Navy Midshipmen, this home is inviting, relaxing and comfortable. To meet their needs and those of their guests, the home owner’s request of us was to provide window treatments that would be functional while softening each room. In the bedrooms, this was achieved with traversing draperies and operable roman shades. Roman shades complete the office and also provide privacy in the kitchen. Plantation shutters softly filter the light while providing privacy in the living room.

We gave this rather dated farmhouse some dramatic upgrades that brought together the feminine with the masculine, combining rustic wood with softer elements. In terms of style her tastes leaned toward traditional and elegant and his toward the rustic and outdoorsy. The result was the perfect fit for this family of 4 plus 2 dogs and their very special farmhouse in Ipswich, MA. Character details create a visual statement, showcasing the melding of both rustic and traditional elements without too much formality. The new master suite is one of the most potent examples of the blending of styles. The bath, with white carrara honed marble countertops and backsplash, beaded wainscoting, matching pale green vanities with make-up table offset by the black center cabinet expand function of the space exquisitely while the salvaged rustic beams create an eye-catching contrast that picks up on the earthy tones of the wood. The luxurious walk-in shower drenched in white carrara floor and wall tile replaced the obsolete Jacuzzi tub. Wardrobe care and organization is a joy in the massive walk-in closet complete with custom gliding library ladder to access the additional storage above. The space serves double duty as a peaceful laundry room complete with roll-out ironing center. The cozy reading nook now graces the bay-window-with-a-view and storage abounds with a surplus of built-ins including bookcases and in-home entertainment center. You can’t help but feel pampered the moment you step into this ensuite. The pantry, with its painted barn door, slate floor, custom shelving and black walnut countertop provide much needed storage designed to fit the family’s needs precisely, including a pull out bin for dog food. During this phase of the project, the powder room was relocated and treated to a reclaimed wood vanity with reclaimed white oak countertop along with custom vessel soapstone sink and wide board paneling. Design elements effectively married rustic and traditional styles and the home now has the character to match the country setting and the improved layout and storage the family so desperately needed. And did you see the barn? Photo credit: Eric Roth

Matthew J. Cunningham
Example of a trendy home design design in Boston

Bedroom - mid-century modern bedroom idea in New York

The formal living room features a custom gray Hollywood Regency style sofa from Gilded Home. Barbara Barry Chairs with textured white fabric, antique mirrored coffee table with walnut trim and carved white wool area rug provide texture and interest. Etched metal wall art in shades of gold and silver are accented by the pillows on the sofa. Stephen Allen Photography

Architect of Record: David Burton, photographer: Paul Dyer
Large transitional concrete floor exterior home idea in San Francisco

Example of a huge minimalist concrete floor front door design in Los Angeles with white walls and a medium wood front door

Marco Ricca Photography
Inspiration for an asian carpeted family room remodel in New York with beige walls

This modern version of a traditional Cape Cod barn doubles as a pool house with changing rooms and a bath. The pool filtration and mechanical devices are hidden from view behind the barn. The location of the pool equipment reduces noise and maintains a peaceful environment. The indoor/outdoor dining area is open to the bluestone patio. Thyme, is evergreen, is planted between the bluestone pavers. The sliding doors have copper screens and open to provide a view of the backyard of the property.

Brett Winter Lemon Photography
Rustic one-story wood exterior home idea in Portland Maine with a green roof

Example of a transitional patio design in San Diego

Selective Designs | Black Pearl Pebble Tec
Elegant infinity pool photo in Phoenix