Example of a classic courtyard rectangular pool fountain design in Los Angeles

Architect: Peter Becker General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Ciro Coelho
Living room - large mediterranean enclosed dark wood floor living room idea in Santa Barbara with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Kitchen, dining area and fire feature. Jason Liske photographer
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard gravel patio remodel in San Francisco with a bbq area

Photo by Oivanki Photography. Builder: Telich Custom Homes. Interior Design: Anne McCanless.
Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in Nashville with white walls

Kitchen - large cottage single-wall light wood floor kitchen idea in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, marble countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, no island, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances and shaker cabinets

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Inspiration for a large rustic travertine floor and beige floor dedicated laundry room remodel in Salt Lake City with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige walls, a side-by-side washer/dryer and brown countertops

Stacy Bass Second floor hideaway for children's books and toys. Game area. Study area. Seating area. Red color calls attention to custom built-in bookshelves and storage space. Reading nook beneath sunny window invites readers of all ages.

Example of an ornate backyard rectangular pool house design in New York

Inspiration for a farmhouse backyard rectangular hot tub remodel in Dallas

Photo by Rod Foster
Large transitional l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Orange County with white cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

Kathryn MacDonald Photography www.macdonaldphoto.com
Inspiration for a transitional master gray tile freestanding bathtub remodel in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets and gray walls

John Benson Photography / SSA Landscape Architects
Inspiration for a timeless backyard tile patio remodel in San Francisco with a gazebo and a pergola

Living room - coastal open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Providence with beige walls

Ryan Ozubko
Example of a mid-sized transitional gender-neutral medium tone wood floor walk-in closet design in San Francisco with open cabinets and white cabinets

Transform your backyard into an elegant retreat with outdoor entertainment features from Techo-Bloc. Installations like outdoor kitchen areas, outdoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits offer the luxuries of family time, romance, elegance and fun, while also adding value and beauty to your home. Shown: Techo-Bloc Aberdeen slabs in Azzurro and the Baltimore retaining wall in Brushed Pewter.

His and hers navy blue vanity with gold hardware and polished chrome fixtures. Photo by Normandy Remodeling
Example of a mid-sized transitional master white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove shower design in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a hinged shower door

To create a focal point in the kitchen, Kim Kendall designed a custom hood range to highlight the beautiful inlaid tile backsplash. Mary Parker Architectural Photography

Children's Bath. Custom wallpaper by Marthe Armitage. American black oak floating vanity. Poured in place terrazzo floor. Photo: Mikiko Kikuyama
Example of a trendy beige tile and ceramic tile bathroom design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored walls, an undermount sink, a one-piece toilet and solid surface countertops