Living room - coastal medium tone wood floor living room idea in Los Angeles with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Photos by: Julie Soefer
Huge tuscan backyard stone patio photo in Houston with a roof extension

Patio - coastal backyard patio idea in Miami with no cover

Bedroom - AFTER
Bedroom - 1950s bamboo floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with beige walls

ZETA Coffee Brown High Gloss Lacquer & Dark Oak remodel in Chicago
Example of a trendy u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, brown cabinets and stone slab backsplash

Mountain style carpeted family room photo in Denver with beige walls

Indoor / Outdoor Court
Indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court - contemporary indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court idea in Grand Rapids

This is an example of a tropical outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Miami.

Pool Table that converts to a dining table. Can convert from 30" to 32" with mechanism built in. Comes in many different metal and wood finishes, including cloth color of choice.

Example of a huge transitional walk-out porcelain tile and gray floor basement design in Chicago with beige walls and no fireplace

In this remodel, the client wanted more space for recreation and entertaining as well as a peaceful retreat in their existing home. A detached two-car garage provided the ideal medium for this purpose, in which the biggest challenge was minimizing the visual impact of the transformation. A gable-ended addition to the garage and a half-story above allowed for a sport court and a large entertaining space, without appearing too massive from the street. A bridge creates an interior connection between the home and the garage’s upper level. An ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Royal Oaks Design Designer: Kieran Liebl From: Oakdale, Minnesota

Large trendy look-out vinyl floor and red floor basement photo in Chicago with gray walls and no fireplace

Basement - huge transitional walk-out porcelain tile and gray floor basement idea in Chicago with beige walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a huge transitional walk-out porcelain tile and gray floor basement remodel in Chicago with beige walls and no fireplace

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Example of an arts and crafts gray two-story gable roof design in Portland with a shingle roof

Rodney Rose Autumn Skies Landscapes
Inspiration for a transitional outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in San Francisco.

Ercole Salinaro
Trendy detached shed photo in San Diego

The basement is designed for the men of the house, utilizing a cooler colour palette and offer a masculine experience. It is completed with a bar, recreation room, and a large seating area.