Holly Hill, a retirement home, whose owner's hobbies are gardening and restoration of classic cars, is nestled into the site contours to maximize views of the lake and minimize impact on the site. Holly Hill is comprised of three wings joined by bridges: A wing facing a master garden to the east, another wing with workshop and a central activity, living, dining wing. Similar to a radiator the design increases the amount of exterior wall maximizing opportunities for natural ventilation during temperate months. Other passive solar design features will include extensive eaves, sheltering porches and high-albedo roofs, as strategies for considerably reducing solar heat gain. Daylighting with clerestories and solar tubes reduce daytime lighting requirements. Ground source geothermal heat pumps and superior to code insulation ensure minimal space conditioning costs. Corten steel siding and concrete foundation walls satisfy client requirements for low maintenance and durability. All light fixtures are LEDs. Open and screened porches are strategically located to allow pleasant outdoor use at any time of day, particular season or, if necessary, insect challenge. Dramatic cantilevers allow the porches to project into the site’s beautiful mixed hardwood tree canopy without damaging root systems. Guest arrive by vehicle with glimpses of the house and grounds through penetrations in the concrete wall enclosing the garden. One parked they are led through a garden composed of pavers, a fountain, benches, sculpture and plants. Views of the lake can be seen through and below the bridges. Primary client goals were a sustainable low-maintenance house, primarily single floor living, orientation to views, natural light to interiors, maximization of individual privacy, creation of a formal outdoor space for gardening, incorporation of a full workshop for cars, generous indoor and outdoor social space for guests and parties.

Sunroom - mid-sized traditional concrete floor sunroom idea in Houston with a standard ceiling

'Jacob Cline' monarda. Westhauser Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern front yard landscaping in Milwaukee.

Soft white living space with soft pink chairs in.
Living room - coastal light wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Boston with blue walls

Featuring a sleek, clean-face design and a modern, smooth refractory-lined firebox, the Brentwood™ LV adds a touch of sophisticated elegance to any room. Aesthetics Smooth refractory-lined firebox creates a contemporary appearance that exudes style. Single rectangular black door allows for an unobstructed view of the fire. Streamlined Meets EPA Phase II-certified and Washington State emissions requirements (3.7 gr/hr). 55,000 BTU/hr* effectively heats up to 1,500 sq. ft.* Airtight combustion chamber delivers maximum efficiency to ensure steady home heating. Double-air combustion features two controls that allow you to customize the heating of your home, including: Main control for variable heat output Air boost for faster ignition Ease of Operation Efficient air wash system keeps the glass clean, reducing the hassle of maintenance. Heat-resistant handle stays cool to the touch. Burn time is approximately 6–8 hours for long-lasting comfort. Required Venting 6" ASHT+, S-2100+, HT6000+, HT6103+ or AC Chimney Design Versatility Choose between the clean-face panel kit* for a more contemporary design or the louver kit for a traditional look. *Requires gravity air distribution kit

Carson-Magness Landscapes, Inc.
Large contemporary brown one-story stucco gable roof idea in Los Angeles

Inspiration for a large traditional drought-tolerant and full sun front yard concrete paver and metal fence landscaping in Portland with a fire pit.

This project, located within the Camino Del Mar 'beach community', posed an interesting challenge. The project sits within the low lying areas of the San Dieguito River flood plain which required that the building finished floor be set at an elevation 7'-0" above the existing grade. Our goal in dealing with the flood plain requirements and the floor area restrictions was to create a simple, efficient plan that would maximize light, air and privacy, as well as have a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living. We have chosen durable materials appropriate to the neighborhood context that would perform well under a marine environment and satisfy the client's desire for an "autheticity of materials" with a contemporary aesthetic.

Perennial Garden
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Los Angeles.

Bush honeysuckle, Diervilla lonicera Le jardinet
Photo of a landscaping in Seattle.

Native grass seed meadow
Photo of a large farmhouse drought-tolerant and full sun backyard decomposed granite landscaping in Salt Lake City.

Perfect for containers, Louie pine is more chartreuse in summer but turns to gold in winter Photo credit; Alyson Ross-Markley
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

Example of a mid-sized classic gray two-story wood house exterior design in Other with a hip roof

Design ideas for a landscaping in San Francisco.

Garden travels: Mt. Lemmon marigold in Southern California
This is an example of a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

Inspiration for a contemporary landscaping in Phoenix.

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

Transitional exterior home idea in Denver

The main objective was to optimize storage and function. We chose a 18" wide dishwasher to save on space, added blind corner units with pull out trays, and built in a table accessible behind a drawer front. JBL Photography