Photography by Liz Linder (www.lizlinder.com)
This is an example of a traditional backyard landscaping in Boston.

Fine Focus Photography
Transitional screened-in back porch idea in Austin with a roof extension

Ceiling paint is Benjamin Moore Midnight Navy in high gloss, chandelier is Robert Abbey, bench is Lee Inds., floor lamp is Nuevo, bed is Bernhardt, lamps are Currey & Company, wallpaper is Osborne & Little

Cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Seattle with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, an island and brown countertops

Photography by: Coles Hairston
Example of a large tuscan white two-story stucco exterior home design in Austin with a hip roof

Attractive living as an architectural experiment: a 136-year-old water tower, a listed building with a spectacular 360-degree panorama view over the City of London. The task, to transform it into a superior residence, initially seemed an absolute impossibility. But when the owners came across architect Mike Collier, they had found a partner who was to make the impossible possible. The tower, which had been empty for decades, underwent radical renovation work and was extended by a four-storey cube containing kitchen, dining and living room - connected by glazed tunnels and a lift shaft. The kitchen, realised by Enclosure Interiors in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with furniture from LEICHT is the very heart of living in this new building. Shiny white matt-lacquered kitchen fronts (AVANCE-LR), tone-on-tone with the worktops, reflect the light in the room and thus create expanse and openness. The surface of the handle-less kitchen fronts has a horizontal relief embossing; depending on the light incidence, this results in a vitally structured surface. The free-standing preparation isle with its vertical side panels with a seamlessly integrated sink represents the transition between kitchen and living room. The fronts of the floor units facing the dining table were extended to the floor to do away with the plinth typical of most kitchens. Ceiling-high tall units on the wall provide plenty of storage space; the electrical appliances are integrated here invisible to the eye. Floor units on a high plinth which thus appear to be floating form the actual cooking centre within the kitchen, attached to the wall. A range of handle-less wall units concludes the glazed niche at the top. LEICHT international: “Architecture and kitchen” in the centre of London. www.LeichtUSA.com

Ryan Theede
Large arts and crafts two-story mixed siding house exterior photo

Example of a large mountain style two-story mixed siding exterior home design with a shed roof

A tile and glass shower features a shower head rail system that is flanked by windows on both sides. The glass door swings out and in. The wall visible from the door when you walk in is a one inch glass mosaic tile that pulls all the colors from the room together. Brass plumbing fixtures and brass hardware add warmth. Limestone tile floors add texture. Pendants were used on each side of the vanity and reflect in the framed mirror.

John Magor
Small elegant master gray tile and stone tile marble floor bathroom photo in Richmond with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Photography by Rebecca Lehde
Large contemporary two-story wood exterior home idea in Charleston with a hip roof

Gibeon Photography
Example of a tuscan gray floor wine cellar design with brown walls

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

Vance Fox
Example of a mountain style two-story wood flat roof design in Sacramento

Laurel Way Beverly Hills luxury modern mansion glass wall exterior & front entrance water & fire feature. Photo by William MacCollum.
Large minimalist multicolored three-story mixed siding flat roof photo in Los Angeles with a white roof

Out of seven children, twin daughters Bellamy and Tallulah hold their own as the only girls in the bunch. When recent renovations included installing the elevator, all rooms needed to be slightly reconfigured. "Our girls are getting older so we were happy to bring in something new and redecorate", says Cortney. Now into their teens, the girls have redone their bedroom to reflect their growing sense of style and independence. Above Tallulah's bed hangs a childhood portrait of her by Linda Mason. The upholstered bed frames are a recent purchase that add a decidedly feminine air to the space, while a brightly painted chair and striped draperies maintain a youthful punch. Even with two designer parents, the girls are free to weigh in on what goes into their room. "It is definitely a collaboration", Cortney explains. "[Our daughter] Bellamy really enjoys designing and has a natural talent for it. All of our kids bring their own artistic sense into their spaces, after all, we want their spaces to reflect them, too." Bed frames: Pondicherry Bed in Celery Jaipur, Serena and Lily Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz Design: Cortney and Robert Novogratz

©Melissa Clark Photography. All rights reserved.
Inspiration for a large transitional backyard rectangular and stone lap pool house remodel in DC Metro

We needed a bridge to cross the dry creek bed, so I designed a version of a Japanese yatsuhashi, or zig zag, bridge. It is clad in concrete backer board. I wanted to simulate a granite mountain plateau with a boulder peak. The client purchased the concrete lantern which perfectly complements the entrance to this woodland garden. Photo by Jay Sifford

David Charlez Designs carefully designed this modern home with massive windows, a metal roof, and a mix of stone and wood on the exterior. It is unique and one of a kind. Photos by Space Crafting