Inspiration for a country home design remodel in Portland Maine

Allison Cartwright, Photographer RRS Design + Build is a Austin based general contractor specializing in high end remodels and custom home builds. As a leader in contemporary, modern and mid century modern design, we are the clear choice for a superior product and experience. We would love the opportunity to serve you on your next project endeavor. Put our award winning team to work for you today!

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

Dimensions: 128 "L x 39" D x 24" H Sectional Area: 64 " D The Baseline sofa is in stock in the US for quick delivery at 128" x 63" with chaise in Gravel 26 and Tangent 16. Includes: Head Roll 6 3/4"dia x 23 1/2"w and three Back Cushions 21 3/4" x 25 1/2 x 2 3/4". Find fabric images Nueva, Bakar, Bubble II, Gravel, Plindy, Tangent, Desert, Herring and Nature, all available for special order with promotional pricing. Inquire for more info. Fabric samples are available upon request. Comes in Left Facing or Right Facing By Eilersen: Solid-wood frame with Nozag-spring seat-base, covered with polyurethane foam in a 600 g pre-compressed, fibre-fill wrap. Back cushion and neck-roll filling is 100% down and small duck feathers sewn into a ribbed, feather-proof cambric casing. To retain the feather cushion’s appearance and shape, regular fluffing-up and airing are recommended. 3 cushions and 1 bolster included. Born a classic. Named after its expression. Clean lines and uncomplicated elegance make Baseline an obvious starting point for the interior decoration of your living room. Baseline is the epitome of quality, comfort, and classic design. Plus double the flexibility. With its stylistically consistent simplicity, Baseline glides effortlessly into any interior. Moreover, we have produced it in a varied series of corners, centre elements, stools and chaise-lounge which provide almost unlimited possibilities for individual combinations. Build the modules in systems - or choose them as free-standing furniture. Both the seat and back are upholstered with a super flexible layer of pre-compressed fiberfill which optimizes sitting comfort and gives a soft, rounded look. You can easily purchase movable neckroll pillows and large down pillows, 55 x 65 cm, so Baseline invites even more relaxed enjoyment. The 25 cm broad armrest gives a balanced finish and also lifts the sofa which seems to float freely in the air on its legs of black-stained wood that are only a few centimetres high. You can choose your cover from Eilersen's large fabric collection. The cover is removable and fitted with velcro so you can easily take it off and clean it (follow the care and maintenance instructions of the fabric). Under the cover, the sofa is further protected by a base cover in 100% cotton.

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

Let’s be honest. Chimney cleaning probably isn’t the first thing on your spring to-do list. But if you used your fireplace this past winter, scheduling a chimney sweep before warm weather arrives is one of the best home maintenance decisions you can make. Here’s why Spring is the best time to schedule your chimney cleaning. Your Chimney Just Worked Hard All Winter It’s tired, simply burnt out! Every time you burned wood this season, creosote, also known as soot, was clinging to the inner walls of your chimney. It’s a natural byproduct of burning wood, but it’s also highly flammable and the leading cause of chimney fires. The longer it sits, the more it builds up. A professional chimney sweep, such as Superior Chimney, takes a look at your chimney flue liner, damper, and firebox — clearing it all out before that creosote becomes a serious issue. Spring is the Best Time to Take Care of the Chimney Fall is when everyone panics. The temperature drops, and the fireplace suddenly seems appealing. By scheduling now, in spring, you get to clean your chimney now so your house doesn’t smell from the creosote left in your fireplace and chimney Superior Chimney includes a FREE 14-Point Certified Written Inspection with photo documentation sent straight to your email with every chimney sweep we do. That’s the kind of full-service you want, and you’re more likely to get it when things aren’t hectic. Catch Problems Before They Get Expensive Here’s something homeowners don’t regularly remember: a chimney sweep isn’t just about cleaning. It’s about integrity. When a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technician pushes rods and brushes through your chimney system, if pieces of fire clay tile, tile joints, or brick start falling, that tells you exactly where a structural issue exists. That’s critical information for fireworthy, continued use of your fireplace. Avoid Any Obstructions Obstruction-free chimney systems is another key reason for a spring chimney sweep. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons love a quiet chimney during the warmer (and definitely the cold) months. Nesting, debris, and feces can create blockages, and a simple cleaning alone won’t remove most of them. Knowing what’s going on inside your chimney before critters move in is a whole lot easier than dealing with it in October. It’s the National Safety Standard — Not Just a Suggestion The NFPA 211, CSIA, NCSG, and IRC all recommend annual chimney inspections and cleanings for both wood burning and gas fireplaces. It’s not optional; it’s a safety standard. As the CSIA puts it simply: clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Well put CSIA. Did You Know? All of Superior Chimney’s technicians are certified by the CSIA, so you know you’re getting expertise you can trust. Then we take the extra step of taking pictures so you can ‘see’ exactly what’s going on with the chimney. Everything looks good from the ground. We’ll email the pictures to you so you can keep your own records of what we all saw during the last visit. Now you know why spring is the best time to schedule your chimney cleaning. Contact us or give us a call today at 877-244-6349 to get started.

"Installed the flooring about a year ago over thick carpet for a basement gym. Very pleased with it's performance. Gets regular use for a variety of activities. Stays fastened, supportive but not hard, good traction, easy clean up if needed but otherwise no maintenance. Worth the money - very happy with this buying decision!" - William https://www.greatmats.com/gym-flooring/gym-floor-tile-staylock-black.php

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

This Backyard Waterfall project included installation of a pondless waterfall approximately 15' in length on a sloped bank at the area next to the existing pool. The backyard waterfall cascades down the existing embankment. There is still retaining wall work in progress as of this video and pictures being shot. Future landscaping will be installed once surrounding hardscaping has been complete. Rocks and Boulders for this project were chosen and supplied by home owner. This pondless waterfall project was installed in Mohnton (Berks County), PA. Pondless Waterfalls are simply a re-circulating waterfall and/or stream without the presence of a pond. You can enjoy the sight and sound of running water without the maintenance of a pond. The waterfall is undoubtedly the most beautiful and favored feature in a water garden. If space is lacking in your yard or you have safety concerns with a pond, go Pondless! The name basically explains it all. It’s a waterfall and stream, without the pond. So why would you want a waterfall without a pond? The truth is that a Pondless Waterfall isn’t for everyone, but it can be a great alternative for someone who isn’t quite sure if a pond is right for their family. Because there is no pool of water, a Pondless Waterfall is a great option if you are concerned about safety issues associated with a traditional pond. Cost can be a big factor when considering the type of pond you want to build. In most cases, the price of a Pondless waterfall will be less than a pond, because there is less labor involved, as well as less rock and materials. Operating costs are also less. Because you’re not dealing with an established ecosystem, it’s not necessary to run the pump 24/7. The small size of the Pondless Waterfall means you can build and enjoy a beautiful waterfall anywhere in you yard. Taking care of your Pondless Waterfall is easy. Filling the reservoir every few weeks to compensate for water loss because of evaporation is all that’s required. Perhaps the best part of the Pondless Waterfall is the possibility for the future. If you change your mind later, wishing you’d build a pond, that’s ok! If you leave enough room around the base of the waterfall, it’s easy to add a pond onto a Pondless Waterfall. A Pondless Waterfall works much like a regular pond. The hole, deeper than a normal pond, is dug then lined with rock and gravel, and filled with water. The water is then circulated from beneath the rocks and gravel by a pump that sits on the bottom, inside a Snorkel™ Vault and Centipede™ Module. A pipe runs from there up to a BioFalls Filter and into an overflowing waterfall, where it falls back into the reservoir. Since the water level never pools above the level of the rock and gravel fill, it give the appearance of a waterfall without a pond, when in fact, the “pond” is there but not visible. The Pondless Waterfall has made many water-lovers who were previously unable to indulge in the sweet sounds of falling water, very happy. It’s a great alternative for those who are trying to get their feet wet, or looking to fit a little bit of paradise into their own backyard. In other words, when all else fails … go Pondless!

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

Blue stain pine made a wonderful choice for a cozy basement space in this rustic home. Ponderosa pine blue stain tongue and groove really is a one-of-a-kind selection for paneling and/or ceiling paneling, along with a variety of other uses. Its natural color gives it the appearance of being stained, but of course it really isn’t so no labor or maintenance is necessary to achieve the look. This blue stain is a sort of naturally occurring phenomenon that we get when Pine Beetles burrow into regular pine trees and inhabit the wood for a period of time, until the tree dies and they move on; the blue color of blue stain pine is a byproduct of the Pine Beetles’ presence. This lumber would need to be harvested anyway, so being able to put it to use in beautiful interior applications is a huge bonus to the environment.

This side yard was once soggy, compacted, and difficult to maintain, with runoff regularly spilling into the neighbor’s property. On behalf of the client we botained approval for a conservation landscape installation and rebate though the Montgomery County Rainscapes program. Using over 80% native plants—including species that tolerate wet conditions—we created a vibrant, low-maintenance garden that absorbs water, improves soil, and supports pollinators. A once-troubled space is now a thriving, sustainable landscape full of color, life, and purpose.

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

This Quarry tiled kitchen floor was in very good condition, with no cracked or broken tiles. However, my customer, who lives in the town of Tutbury, near Burton-on-Trent, was keen to boost the condition of the tiles further through professional maintenance, including a deep clean and a fresh seal to restore the sheen to the Quarry. NB, did you know it’s estimated that Tutbury has actually been inhabited for 3000 years, having once been the site of an Iron Age hill fort, this house of course was a lot more recent. To clean the tiles, I chose to use our tried and trusted alkaline cleaner, Tile Doctor Pro Clean. We use Pro Clean on most types of natural stone floor, including Quarry, Slate, and Victorian. I applied Pro Clean liberally across the floor and left it to dwell for a short period, giving it time to seep into the tile to get underneath and lift out any ingrained dirt. The cleaner was then agitated using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine to remove the dirt and other general muck. I then rinsed the floor with cold water and soaked up the resulting slurry with a wet-vac machine. Some areas of the floor proved to be quite stubborn to clean, so in these areas the cleaning process was repeated until satisfactory results were achieved. Finally, the floor was given another rinse and left to dry off overnight. The next day I returned to the property and checked that the floor was ready to seal by running several damp tests, with the results indicating that was no excess moisture remaining on the tiles. We carry out these tests before sealing because moisture can cloud the sealer and prevent it from properly protecting the tiles. My choice of sealer was Tile Doctor Seal & Go, a cost effective topical sealer that builds up a robust layer of protection on the surface of the floor and provides a durable sheen finish that, as you can see from the photographs, really lifts the appearance of the tiles. It’s a fact that any sealed tiled floor will need to be regularly maintained as sealers do wear off over time, especially in the high traffic areas, and this is when the floor starts to lose its appearance as dirt becomes trapped in the pores of the stone. The life of the sealer can be extended however by ensuring you only clean the floor with a PH Neutral cleaner. Trevor Preeece

This project came to us through a family referral. The homeowner's daughter had been a Fresh & Flawless client and was so happy with the results that she referred her mother when it was time for a proper deep clean on her Dallas Road home. Dallas Road is one of Victoria's most sought-after addresses, running along the waterfront in the heart of James Bay, and this home deserved a clean that matched the standard of the neighbourhood. Our team completed a full deep clean covering every room in detail. That included thorough attention to baseboards, door frames, window sills, ceiling fans, blinds, cabinet exteriors, appliance exteriors, bathroom grout and fixtures, light switches, and all the areas that tend to be overlooked in a routine clean. Every surface was treated with care and the right products for the finish. The homeowner was thrilled with the results and has since become a regular Fresh & Flawless client. Fresh & Flawless offers premium residential cleaning across Greater Victoria including James Bay, Fairfield, Oak Bay, Saanich, and surrounding areas. We specialize in deep cleans, standard maintenance cleans, and move in/out cleaning for homeowners who expect the details to be done right.

An American couple with a large extended family were regular visitors to Bermuda and actively seeking a Bermuda home when they found Castle Point. Well known for its prominent Castle Folly overlooking Castle Harbour, the property featured an abandoned main house, a guest cottage, ancillary buildings, and an excavated lot. It had become overgrown and had seen little maintenance since the mid-1980s. Their dream was to work with architects to design a flexible retreat—one that could be intimate when it was just the two of them, but also functional for hosting the entire family and guests. OBMI was challenged to enhance the property and its poetic yet rugged beauty. Only two of the eight acres were available for residential development, requiring careful analysis of our options. We designed a three-bedroom main house, two guest cottages, and a caretaker’s cottage that remained sympathetic to the surrounding landscape and left habitat for native birds and other species. The aesthetic follows classic Bermudian architecture using local materials and maximizing the legendary views.

Lampert Renovations
Inspiration for a small modern gray tile tub/shower combo remodel in Toronto with a vessel sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets and quartz countertops