Beez Kneez Pleez is an ceramic sculpture approximately 8 to 10-feet high by 3-feet in diameter. The piece has grown into a concrete art concept after I participated as part of an unplanned group, called "The Bee Swarm" in the Marche du Nain Rouge parade in Detroit. Visually noticing the decline of the honey bee in addition to being fascinated with the structure of the bee itself, I've begun a love for all the bee represents: hard work, happiness, warm sun, clover, industriousness and flowers. The use of carved and stacked honeycomb cells, fun, furry colors, and whimsical characterizations present the underlying seriousness and interconnectivity of this environmental issue, with a more lighthearted approach. This sculpture is a nod to the bee and the imperative role they play in the delicate balance of survival. The bee reminds us to leave that dandelion, violet, reduce pesticide use and preserve habitat. A totem of ceramic bees, leaves, flowers, corn, butterflies, frogs, rabbits, extruded hexagons, and perhaps a few other surprises arranged along an 10-foot steel pole. The pole will thread into a sturdy base via a threaded rod. Weight should not exceed 250 hundred pounds. The use of celadon glazes will highlight the intricate carving on the bees, honeycomb and other items which are nestled, hung with manilla rope or stick mounted along the length of the totem. The stabile and it's stoneware components is suited to indoor or outdoor areas. Created for ArtPrize 10 in 2018: Venue: Grand Rapids Public Museum. Permanently installed at Central Insurance Company Headquarters, Van Wert, Ohio

Traditional Tudor home completely updated and given a bright fresh style with crisp white millwork and a mix of blue and white fabrics and prints. A mix of custom and antique furnishings complete the space. Photographor: Elena Kaloupek | Dust Studios

Our clients purchased a condo in the heart of Chicago after deciding it was time to move from their longtime suburban home and embrace their dream of living downtown. Leaving their family home where their children grew up meant that our work needed to do two things for the family: help make the most of their new city life and create a warm and welcoming home for their two college-aged children. We wanted to make sure the children felt connected to their new home when visiting from school, so they were involved in the design of their bedrooms. By introducing new textures, like a fur stool in one bedroom and a brightly colored zig-zag headboard in the other, we were able to balance the children’s youthful tastes with the rest of the space, forming a cohesive concept that made the whole family feel right at home. Modern amenities, such as power-operated window treatments and an electric fireplace, were seamlessly integrated into the home, ensuring that the client can enjoy their space with a flip of a switch. The personalized, comfortable atmosphere meant that the clients live and entertain with effortlessness and joy. Ted Glasoe Photography

The kitchen and dining room in this 1960’s colonial were cramped and uncomfortable for any sort of large entertaining or crowd. With a small 3’ bump out along the back wall of the home, both rooms became much more spacious and useable. The kitchen addition allowed for a large center island and hearth cooking center as the focal point for the whole kitchen. While the expanded dining room, now allows room for a large holiday gathering, neighborhood card party or a group of kids after school. The custom kitchen was designed with Omega Cabinetry, leathered granite countertops around the perimeter and Ceasarstone on the island. The custom hearth hood encapsulates a 36” Thermador professional gas range top that makes cooking a joy! Alongside the 36” built-in Subzero French door refrigerator a Thermador steam/bake oven and convection oven offer the homeowner tremendous cooking and baking options. Finally, the microwave drawer in the island makes quick warm ups easy for the 3 children. Additionally, the kitchen was opened up dramatically to the home’s family room, creating an open feeling and central place for the family to gather. Backsplash - Type: 3x6 Handmade Tile Collection: South Beach Color: Olive Pendants - Manufacturer/Collection: Elk Lighting, Bergenen Collection, 10" Finish: Oil Rubbed Bronze Countertops - Perimeter: Seafoam Green Granite w/ an Ogee Edge Island: Quantra Quartz, 2231 Quartz w/ an Ogee Edge Stools - Pier One, 2582300 Marchella Rubbed Black Stool Wall Color - Benjamin Moore, HC96 Carrington Beige

The fifth of six homes in our Modern Farmhouse community at Cayson Fields is Lot 1, offering 4,800+ sq ft, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, main floor office, lower level recreation room and theater/gym. Classic and crisp with unexpected design elements, this home radiates with design details: custom iron floating staircase, Epicurean kitchen, massive quartz island and stunning fully-tiled 3/4 powder bath. The color palette is a fresh mix of white, black, and iron punctuated with glossy tiles and gold elements. The kitchen boasts a scullery, or separate large pantry that doubles as a prep area. High-end appliance package by Wolf and SubZero, and massive quartz island. The great room leads to the all-seasons covered outdoor living room and large, sunny and flat backyard. Upstairs, the Primary Suite and spa-like Primary Bath are a delightful retreat. Rounding out the lower level is the recreation room with wet bar and guest suite. Modern conveniences include an electric vehicle charging station and NWES Premium PV Solar System package. Cayson Fields is a private enclave in a much sought-after cul-de-sac location on Mercer Island’s South End. Each unique home offers a thoughtfully designed floor plan with modern living given priority. Secluded, yet connected to the South Island trail system with direct access to schools and shopping. The only luxury farmhouse community on Seattle’s Eastside!

Fireplace mantle and pierced cherry relief of hiking mountain man and raven. In 1991 I was asked to make a wall piece for the chimney wall in this Linville, NC home. My first impression when seeing the beautiful stone work was that sure didn’t want to cover it up. I gazed at it for a while and began to see an appropriate picture in the stone work. I made a full sized rubbing of the wall to map the grout lines in the masonry. Back in the studio, I overlaid it with a grid and reduced it to an 8.5″ x 14″ piece of paper on which I could do my design. After approval, I scoured the woods and fields along the mountain roads near our home in the Banner Elk, NC area and found a standing dead cherry tree. I cut it up preserving the forked branches. With a homemade chainsaw lumbering jig, I cut it into forked boards and had them planed and kiln dried. I drew the design on the original rubbing, marked the joints and cut out patterns which were glued to the forked boards and cut out with a jigsaw. The joints were mitered and spline grooves cut. Parts were then clamped end to end, drilled and pegged to lock the splines in place. All the edges were then sanded to a refined shape and oiled before fastening to the masonry.

Green Home Systems recently completed a successful solar project in Bloomsburg, PA for Eric M. The project was completed in a few months and consisted of 5.04 kW of solar panels installed on the flat roof of Eric’s home. Eric chose Green Home Systems for their competitive pricing and wide selection of solar panels. He was also impressed with their warranty and customer service. After researching online, Eric decided to go solar to reduce his utility bill, increase the value of his home, and take advantage of the easy payment terms offered by Green Home Systems. The installation process began with an inspection of the roof to ensure it was suitable for mounting the solar panels. The inspections revealed that some minor repairs were needed before installation could begin. Green Home Systems team quickly repaired any damage to the roof and got to work installing the panels. Once the installation was complete, Eric quickly noticed a reduction in his monthly utility bills as well as an increase in the value of his home due to having clean energy sources available. He also was very pleased with how quickly and efficiently Green Home Systems completed the project. The team at Green Home Systems is dedicated to providing customers with top-notch service and quality products at competitive prices. We strive to make your transition from traditional energy sources to renewable energy sources as smooth as possible by providing support throughout every step of the process. If you're looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to generate clean energy for your home or business, contact us today!

View of water feature garden with fully established plantings.
Large elegant backyard brick patio photo in Chicago with a pergola

Maura B McConnell Photography
Mudroom - mid-sized country porcelain tile mudroom idea in Philadelphia with white walls and a white front door

Our clients purchased a condo in the heart of Chicago after deciding it was time to move from their longtime suburban home and embrace their dream of living downtown. Leaving their family home where their children grew up meant that our work needed to do two things for the family: help make the most of their new city life and create a warm and welcoming home for their two college-aged children. We wanted to make sure the children felt connected to their new home when visiting from school, so they were involved in the design of their bedrooms. By introducing new textures, like a fur stool in one bedroom and a brightly colored zig-zag headboard in the other, we were able to balance the children’s youthful tastes with the rest of the space, forming a cohesive concept that made the whole family feel right at home. Modern amenities, such as power-operated window treatments and an electric fireplace, were seamlessly integrated into the home, ensuring that the client can enjoy their space with a flip of a switch. The personalized, comfortable atmosphere meant that the clients live and entertain with effortlessness and joy. Ted Glasoe Photography

The top view shown in this design presentation provides a full-color, scaled 3D overview of the final kitchen layout. It allows clients and trade professionals to visualize the spatial relationships between key elements—such as the two islands, perimeter cabinetry, appliance zones, custom banquette, and bar area—in a single glance. Why It’s Important: Clarifies Functionality: The top view reveals how traffic will flow, how different zones (cooking, prep, dining, entertaining) interact, and how open the space feels after removing the dividing wall. Enhances Communication: It serves as a bridge between the technical floor plan and the client’s understanding—making it easier for everyone from homeowners to electricians and cabinet installers to be on the same page. Reduces Mistakes: With every element clearly placed and proportioned, it helps avoid on-site guesswork and ensures proper measurements and installations from day one. Sets Expectations: It visually confirms the final design intent, so clients know exactly what to expect—eliminating surprises later in construction. This top view is a vital part of MDT’s seamless preconstruction process, ensuring our vision is fully aligned with our clients’ goals before we even break ground.

A truly restorative bedroom is designed around comfort, support, and the moments that make home feel like home. This welcoming space features the Doctor's Choice® Elite Soft Mattress from Denver Mattress, crafted for sleepers who prefer a softer feel while still benefiting from advanced support and pressure-relieving comfort. As part of the premium Doctor's Choice® Collection, the Elite Soft is engineered to cushion key pressure points while helping maintain healthy spinal alignment throughout the night. Its combination of plush comfort and supportive design creates a sleep surface that helps reduce tossing and turning, promoting deeper, more restorative rest. Surrounded by rich wood furnishings, calming colors, soft textures, and personal touches, this bedroom demonstrates how thoughtful design can support both relaxation and well-being. Whether enjoying a quiet morning, unwinding after a busy day, or sharing time with loved ones, the space is designed to help you feel comfortable, supported, and at ease.

Inspiration for a transitional landscaping in Salt Lake City.

This lakefront home is located on a small plateau in Forest Beach Estates, high above the lake and beach. The design of the home resulted from the Department of Environmental Qualities Critical Dunes Build-able area requirement. The resulting footprint created a flowing curved surface in plan and a curving perimeter that was covered by a curved roof. The views are spectacular from the three viewing levels of this home and allow the plan to provide multiple point panoramic vistas wherever you are in the spaces. We designed this home to be like a land ship with its ports of call the four seasons. Immersed in the waves and the ever changing surrounding landscape of Forest Beach, the beauty and qualities of the outdoor life can quickly transform your view of life. Photo Credit: Jim Yochum

Completed in 2019, this old school Tudor style home underwent a refreshing update to create a clean transitional style residence and completely new presence on the street. The previous front yard was tight and over planted and offered no parking for the owner or guests. The owner asked DDLA Design to create an all new front entry to provide a more welcoming entry experience with new parking areas. To do this, we introduced a low stone retaining wall in the front yard to create a defined, circular driveway that provided a comfortable parking and turning radius for an estate of this scale. The front driveway used a combination of decorative pavers to create interesting patterns and borders to compliment the stone used on the entry steps and caps. The front landscaping and planting areas were simplified using lower and more ornamental plantings to provide accents of color and evergreen background. Additional decorative urns were used to frame and accent the entry steps to the side garden and front door.

A custom designer tile shower paired with an endless supply of hot water can create the ultimate luxurious bathing experience. Custom tile showers are often designed with a variety of tiles, including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, or glass tiles. They can be customized to fit the specific needs and preferences of the homeowner, from the size and shape of the shower to the layout and color scheme of the tiles. The addition of an endless supply of hot water means that the homeowner can enjoy a long, relaxing shower without having to worry about running out of hot water. This can be achieved through the installation of a tankless water heater, which provides hot water on demand and can help to reduce energy costs. Together, a custom designer tile shower and an endless supply of hot water can offer the perfect blend of luxury and convenience, creating a spa-like atmosphere in the comfort of your own home. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or simply want to indulge in a little self-care, this combination can provide a rejuvenating and refreshing experience that is hard to beat.

Green Home Systems recently completed a successful solar project in Bloomsburg, PA for Eric M. The project was completed in a few months and consisted of 5.04 kW of solar panels installed on the flat roof of Eric’s home. Eric chose Green Home Systems for their competitive pricing and wide selection of solar panels. He was also impressed with their warranty and customer service. After researching online, Eric decided to go solar to reduce his utility bill, increase the value of his home, and take advantage of the easy payment terms offered by Green Home Systems. The installation process began with an inspection of the roof to ensure it was suitable for mounting the solar panels. The inspections revealed that some minor repairs were needed before installation could begin. Green Home Systems team quickly repaired any damage to the roof and got to work installing the panels. Once the installation was complete, Eric quickly noticed a reduction in his monthly utility bills as well as an increase in the value of his home due to having clean energy sources available. He also was very pleased with how quickly and efficiently Green Home Systems completed the project. The team at Green Home Systems is dedicated to providing customers with top-notch service and quality products at competitive prices. We strive to make your transition from traditional energy sources to renewable energy sources as smooth as possible by providing support throughout every step of the process. If you're looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to generate clean energy for your home or business, contact us today!

Gorgeous kitchen with black shaker cabinets and blue island offer an impact in this kitchen remodel. A new window to brighter the space and metallic accents from the brass cabinet knobs to brass light fixtures add room brightening contrast.

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Seattle