Mid-sized coastal gray three-story mixed siding gable roof idea

Inspiration for a contemporary outdoor patio shower remodel in New York

A beautifully boarded stair hall welcomes you into this inspirational modern Cape Cod home. The spacious floor plan includes an expansive kitchen, dining, and living area, complete with a charming butler's pantry and home office. Photo Credit: Scott Amundson

The style profile for this space was eclectic, modern, and a touch of traditional - a mash up that has quickly become my favorite. This timeless space reflects the spunky personality of my client and shows theres more to her than meets the eye.

The siding and trim are made from inexpensive but long-lasting Maine-milled White Cedar, installed in a reverse board and batten style which allows drainage and airflow behind the boards to extend their life. The siding was also left unfinished to weather to a silver grey, reducing cost, ecological footprint, and the need for future maintenance that paint or solid stain would incur.

Example of a small transitional powder room design in Richmond with green walls and a pedestal sink

Nestled on the historic grounds of the original 1888 schoolhouse in Lafayette, Colorado, this early twentieth-century home underwent a transformative modern farmhouse renovation. Embracing sustainable design principles, it seamlessly blended contemporary design, comfort, and durability. The open floor plan enhances modern living, while energy-efficient upgrades reduce the carbon footprint and improve indoor air quality, fostering a resilient and eco-friendly home.

Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts master carpeted and white floor bedroom design in Cincinnati with white walls and no fireplace

Example of a mountain style dark wood floor kitchen design with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and two islands

Complementary Woodstock Brown gables and cultured stone facade update the look of this Prior Lake MN home. Durable James Hardie siding reduces maintenance withstands harsh weather and storms.

Architect: Tim Brown Architecture. Photographer: Casey Fry
Large cottage white two-story mixed siding house exterior photo in Austin with a metal roof

Bruce Cole Photography
Example of a mid-sized cottage open concept light wood floor living room design

Complete renovation of a 19th century brownstone in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. Modern interiors that preserve many original details. Kate Glicksberg Photography

This new garage/workshop for a rural historic property was designed to reflect a nineteenth century outbuilding that had seen several expansions. Historic gable and shed shapes are used to reduce the mass of the structure. Other features include six-over-six, double-hung sash windows along with bands of casement windows, a standing-seam metal roof, and a traditional barn red paint.

This project began as a design-build proposal to build an addition for an indoor swim spa and exercise room to a ranch style house. The Clients were seeking a functional and inviting space reminiscent of the luxury resorts and space they have visited during their international travels. One of the biggest challenges was to fit the program within the site and buildable area constraints. In order to maximize floor area, the exterior walls of the addition were located parallel to the property lines along the required setbacks, which resulted in a non-orthagonal geometry in plan. The volume of the addition began to take shape with large floor to ceiling openings strengthening the connection to the outdoors with roof line that rises northward to capture daylight. A series of operable skylights ventilate the room and allow more daylight to penetrate into the adjacent existing den. Inspired by modern additions made to historic structures in Europe, we made a conscious decision to not try to blend the addition into the language of the existing ranch house, choosing instead to juxtapose a structure that was layered and felt light next to the cement tile roof and framed picture windows. The interior walls were finished with a marine grade plywood to withstand a humid environment, and the exteriors were clad with a cedar rainscreen to give privacy where needed and gradually reduced to allow for more glass and visibility. The Clients are immersed in the technological environment of Silicon Valley and appreciated the simple geometries and aesthetics of modern design. c david wakely

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Roof overhangs were eliminated, which saved expense and brought a crisp, modern appearance to a traditional form, allowing for very careful exterior sealing of roof-to-wall intersections. In lieu of roof overhangs, low pitched, steel roofed canopies provide cover to areas that require it, creating useful outdoor space and breaking up the simple form of the house. The siding and trim are made from inexpensive but long-lasting Maine-milled White Cedar, installed in a reverse board and batten style which allows drainage and airflow behind the boards to extend their life. The siding was also left unfinished to weather to a silver grey, reducing cost, ecological footprint, and the need for future maintenance that paint or solid stain would incur. Exterior and interior surfaces (unfinished wood, galvanized steel, unfinished concrete) were selected to be durable and low-maintenance, minimizing the long term operating costs and future ecological impact of the house.

Engineered cedar siding creates beautiful gray-blue tones at the exterior of the home, while adding a textural element to activate the simple exterior design.