Large transitional backyard stamped concrete patio photo in Cedar Rapids with a fire pit and a roof extension

The 4415 HO gas fireplace brings you the very best in home heating and style with its sleek, linear appearance and impressively high heat output. With a long row of dancing flames and built-in fans, the 4415 gas fireplace is not only an excellent heater but a beautiful focal point in your home. Turn on the under-lighting that shines through the translucent glass floor and you’ve got magic whether the fire is on or off. This sophisticated gas fireplace can accompany any architectural style with a selection of fireback options along with realistic Driftwood and Stone Fyre-Art. The 4415 HO gas fireplace heats up to 2,100 square feet but can heat additional rooms in your home with the optional Power Heat Duct Kit. The gorgeous flame and high heat output of the 4415 are backed up by superior craftsmanship and quality safety features, which are built to extremely high standards. From the heavy steel thickness of the fireplace body to the durable, welded frame surrounding the ceramic glass, you are truly getting the best gas fireplace available. The 2015 ANSI approved low visibility safety barrier comes standard over the glass to increase the safety of this unit for you and your family without detracting from the beautiful fire view.

Kitchen - transitional galley multicolored floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Example of a large transitional master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Salt Lake City with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

The back yard patio is the new living room. Let’s discuss. If you’ve tried to purchase an outdoor, propane heater, new grill, or even outdoor seating in the past six months, this is not news to you. We’re all doing our best to manage through the pandemic while still enjoying social connections and time with family and friends. The solution that so many of us have adopted is to spend more time outside. There’s a Norwegian saying that says, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” It’s a mantra worth adopting these days. We have a lot of customers who are ready to bundle up and enjoy their back yards as much as they enjoy their living rooms. But these lucky homeowners have had that opportunity for the past six months. Reading any further may make you pretty jealous, but we hope that it inspires you for a future project in your own back yard.

Photo by Caitlin Atkinson
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in San Francisco.

Aubrie Pick Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary master ceramic tile and green tile ceramic tile, double-sink and white floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, a floating vanity, white walls and white countertops

The master bedroom of this home is full of exciting colors and textures. The dark walls allow the bed to stand out while the rug and pillows add pops of color and texture. Brad Knipstein was the photographer.

When I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.” This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat. The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings. Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up. The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation. When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space. Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.

Arched Pergola (Options: 14' L x 14' Arc W, Mature Redwood, 2 Electrical Wiring Trims, Arched Roof with Lattice Panels, 4 Post Anchor Kit for Concrete, 1 Ceiling Fan Base, No Privacy Panels, No Curtain Rods, Transparent Premium Sealant).

Garden 9 in Palms
Photo of a modern landscaping in Los Angeles.

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, black appliances, an island and white countertops

It's Christmas in July! This homeowner was interested in adding an outdoor space that would be continuous with their indoor living area. The large windows that separate the 2 spaces allows for their home to have a very open feel. They went with a contemporary craftsman style with clean straight lines in the columns and beams on the ceiling. The stone veneer fireplace, framed with full masonry block, with reclaimed Hemlock mantle as the centerpiece attraction and the stained pine tongue and groove vaulted ceiling gives the space a dramatic look. The columns have a stacked stone base that complements the stone on the fireplace and kitchen fascia. The light travertine flooring is a perfect balance for the dark stone on the column bases and knee walls beside the fireplace as well as the darker stained cedar beams and stones in the fireplace. The outdoor kitchen with stainless steel tile backsplash is equipped with a gas grill and a Big Green Egg as well as a fridge and storage space. This space is 525 square feet and is the perfect spot for any gathering. The patio is surrounded by stained concrete stepping stones with black star gravel. The original second story windows were replaced with smaller windows in order to allow for a proper roof pitch. TK IMAGES

When I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.” This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat. The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings. Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up. The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation. When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space. Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.

Wolf 36" Professional Gas Cooktop Stainless Steel | CG365P Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center | uakc.com Patented dual-stacked sealed burners: Bring new dimensions of control to your cooking. Wolf's dual-stacked burner design, with two tiers of flame ports, bring the flame closer to (or further away from) the cooking vessel to deliver the right heat for the task at hand. 18,000 Btu burner: The most powerful burner on a Wolf gas cooktop ever. Boil even large stock pots of water 25 percent faster than with earlier models. Simmer and melt: The lower tier of the Wolf dual-stacked burner provides a range of precision control down to the merest breath of flame, capably maintaining the ultra-low Btus you need to splendidly melt chocolate or cheese and confidently keep homemade sauces and soups at the ideal simmer for hours. Signature Wolf controls: Wolf professional gas cooktops feature our signature red knobs (black or brushed stainless knobs are available) set against a stainless steel control panel with laser-etched graphics and LED indicator lights. Seamless stainless steel burner pan: Cleanup is simple, thanks to the one-piece stainless steel burner pan. Porcelain-coated, cast-iron burner grates: Continuous cast-iron grates with a matte black, porcelain finish let you slide pots easily on and off heat, or from one burner to another. Individual spark ignition system: Each burner has a sensor that detects if the flame has gone out while you're cooking and automatically reignites it electronically. Technical Features: Gas pressure regulator built into unit ETL certified for US and Canada Electrical Requirements: 110/120 V AC 60 Hz, 15 amp dedicated circuit (3) 9,200 Btu burners 12,000 Btu burner 18,000 Btu burner Star-K Kosher certified as Sabbath and holiday-compliant

Wolf 36" Transitional Gas Cooktop Stainless Steel | CG365T Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center | uakc.com Patented dual-stacked sealed burners: Bring new dimensions of control to your cooking. Wolf's dual-stacked burner design, with two tiers of flame ports, bring the flame closer to (or further away from) the cooking vessel to deliver the right heat for the task at hand. 18,000 Btu burner: The most powerful burner on a Wolf gas cooktop ever. Boil even large stock pots of water 25 percent faster than with earlier models. Simmer and melt: The lower tier of the Wolf dual-stacked burner provides a range of precision control down to the merest breath of flame, capably maintaining the ultra-low Btus you need to splendidly melt chocolate or cheese and confidently keep homemade sauces and soups at the ideal simmer for hours. Stylish controls: Stainless control knobs capped in black are set against an all-glass control panel. LED-backlit indicator lights appear only as controls are engaged, giving the panel a pure, clean look when not in use. Seamless stainless steel burner pan: Cleanup is simple, thanks to the one-piece stainless steel burner pan. Porcelain-coated, cast-iron burner grates: Continuous cast-iron grates with a matte black, porcelain finish let you slide pots easily on and off heat, or from one burner to another. Individual spark ignition system: Each burner has a sensor that detects if the flame has gone out while you're cooking and automatically reignites it electronically. Technical Features: Gas pressure regulator built into unit ETL certified for US and Canada Shipping Weight: 67 lbs Electrical Requirements: 110/120 V AC 60 Hz, 15 amp dedicated circuit (3) 9,200 Btu burners 12,000 Btu burner 18,000 Btu burner Star-K Kosher certified as Sabbath and holiday-compliant

Inspiration for a contemporary pool remodel in Boston

Wolf 30" Professional Gas Cooktop Stainless Steel | CG304P Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center | uakc.com Patented dual-stacked sealed burners: Bring new dimensions of control to your cooking. Wolf's dual-stacked burner design, with two tiers of flame ports, bring the flame closer to (or further away from) the cooking vessel to deliver the right heat for the task at hand. 18,000 Btu burner: The most powerful burner on a Wolf gas cooktop ever. Boil even large stock pots of water 25 percent faster than with earlier models. Simmer and melt: The lower tier of the Wolf dual-stacked burner provides a range of precision control down to the merest breath of flame, capably maintaining the ultra-low Btus you need to splendidly melt chocolate or cheese and confidently keep homemade sauces and soups at the ideal simmer for hours. Signature Wolf controls: Wolf professional gas cooktops feature our signature red knobs (black or brushed stainless knobs are available) set against a stainless steel control panel with laser-etched graphics and LED indicator lights. Seamless stainless steel burner pan: Cleanup is simple, thanks to the one-piece stainless steel burner pan. Porcelain-coated, cast-iron burner grates: Continuous cast-iron grates with a matte black, porcelain finish let you slide pots easily on and off heat, or from one burner to another. Individual spark ignition system: Each burner has a sensor that detects if the flame has gone out while you're cooking and automatically reignites it electronically. Technical Features: Gas pressure regulator built into unit ETL certified for US and Canada Electrical Requirements: 110/120 V AC 60 Hz, 15 amp dedicated circuit (2) 9,200 Btu burners 12,000 Btu burner 18,000 Btu burner Star-K Kosher certified as Sabbath and holiday-compliant