This East Troy home on Booth Lake had a few drainage issues that needed to be resolved, but one thing was clear, the homeowners knew with the proper design features, their property had amazing potential to be a fixture on the lake. Starting with a redesign of the backyard, including retaining walls and other drainage features, the home was then ready for a radical facelift. We redesigned the entry of the home with a timber frame portico/entryway. The entire portico was built with the old-world artistry of a mortise and tenon framing method. We also designed and installed a new deck and patio facing the lake, installed an integrated driveway and sidewalk system throughout the property and added a splash of evening effects with some beautiful architectural lighting around the house. A Timber Tech deck with Radiance cable rail system was added off the side of the house to increase lake viewing opportunities and a beautiful stamped concrete patio was installed at the lower level of the house for additional lounging. Lastly, the original detached garage was razed and rebuilt with a new design that not only suits our client’s needs, but is designed to complement the home’s new look. The garage was built with trusses to create the tongue and groove wood cathedral ceiling and the storage area to the front of the garage. The secondary doors on the lakeside of the garage were installed to allow our client to drive his golf cart along the crushed granite pathways and to provide a stunning view of Booth Lake from the multi-purpose garage. Photos by Beth Welsh, Interior Changes

Master closet and bathroom addition to historic Spanish house Rick Ueda, Photographer

Bill Lesch
Inspiration for a large modern limestone floor and beige floor entryway remodel in Other with brown walls and a dark wood front door

These homeowners faced a significant challenge when designing the patio of their dreams. The yard sloped into a forest backing onto their home. This was resolved by building several steps that lead to a beautiful sunken patio with a surrounding U-Cara retaining wall that showcases their lush gardens. They chose to also add a U-Cara firepit as the focal point, so their family can relax in a cozy setting.

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

The key design driver for the project was to create a simple but contemporary extension that responded to the existing dramatic topography in the property’s rear garden. The concept was to provide a single elegant form, cantilevering out into the tree canopies and over the landscape. Conceived as a house within the tree canopies the extension is clad in sweet chestnut which enhances the relationship to the surrounding mature trees. Large sliding glass panels link the inside spaces to its unique environment. Internally the design successfully resolves the Client’s brief to provide an open plan and fluid layout, that subtly defines distinct living and dining areas. The scheme was completed in April 2016

The Fallon Confort Recliner by American Leather resolves the dilemma of reclining chairs because not only does it sit beautifully but it looks great, too. The back and footrest operate independently and are infinitely adjustable so that you can find the sitting position that's perfect for you. Clean and sharp, outer lines of Fallon's arms give these chairs a dynamic look. The thin, winged shape of the arms gently angle back for a fresh, contemporary feel. Specify swivel Stainless Steel, and two wood base options or stationary wood legs in Natural Walnut or Gray Ash.

www.vanessamphoto.com
Inspiration for a large transitional galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Orange County with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Basalt flagstones connecting raised planter beds to lawn area over a dry stream bed. The Dry stream bed provides drainage to the backyard containing a french drain and decorated with river rock and small boulders. Creeping Thyme was planted between the flagstones.

Barn Door install in progress. We continue to work on it actually, closing the gap between the drywall and the door proves a greater struggle than we anticipated. However, in our case, it is an issue that a wider door would fully resolve, which is what we plan to do (eventually).

Miele Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center 26767 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302 Phone 818.880.0011 Fax 818.880.0411 12050 Ventura Blvd.,Studio City, CA 91604 Phone 818.755.1111 Fax 818.755.9111 www.uakc.com Miele Generation 6000 is bringing design and innovation that exceed expectations. It includes two distinct design styles - PureLine and ContourLine - as well as several color options including Brilliant White and Truffle Brown. Design for Miele is not simply the exterior. Like the design principle, form follows function; the true beauty of the Generation 6000 series is highlighted by its intuitive user interface, which ensures unsurpassed performance and convenience in the kitchen. With these new color options and the uniform design of the Generation 6000 series, Miele has created a series of appliances that will seamlessly integrate into any kitchen or lifestyle. Whether appliances are installed vertically, horizontally, as a square or in a T-shape configuration, the design is fully resolved. M Touch – Top-class technology with a special touch Whether it’s creating a double cappuccino at the touch of a single button, finding the desired MasterChef automatic program on the Combi-Steam Oven in an instant or selecting the operating mode and temperature in just a few simple steps – Miele eliminates the guesswork. All of these operations are easier than ever because of M Touch. Reminiscent of smart phones and tablets, M Touch is an intuitive user interface that allows the user to swipe or scroll through the menu with the tip of a finger. A new high resolution control panel with white TFT (Thin Film Transistor) text brings a brilliant display. And because the interface is universal across all Gen 6000 appliances, the transition from appliance to appliance is easier than ever. Oven Innovations: Moisture Plus, Gourmet Center and MultiSteam Developed exclusively for Miele USA, Moisture Plus is a truly unique steam injection system featured in Miele M Touch 30” Convection Ovens. Moisture Plus automatically injects a burst of steam into the oven cavity at pre-determined points during the cooking process. The addition of moisture improves results when proofing dough, gives loaves of bread a crisp crust and glossy finish and makes cuts of meat particularly crisp on the outside and succulent inside. Also new to the 30” Convection Oven is the addition of MasterChef Plus programs. Ideal for the consummate baker at home, this exclusive new menu system houses 14 automatic bread programs and replicates results seen in artisan bakeries. Included are programs for sourdough, whole grain, rolls and baguettes. A pioneer in steam oven technology, Generation 6000 Steam and Combi-Steam Ovens are equipped with MultiSteam technology, a revolutionary new steam cooking generation. The addition of six steam inlets in the Steam Oven and eight steam inlets in the Combi-Steam Oven, delivers fast, even steam distribution and incredibly quick heat-up times for even cooking results through a more powerful steam generator. Long regarded for its ingredient-driven menu, Miele MasterChef programs are now located within the Gourmet Center. Choose from more than 100 easy to use programs for grains, vegetables, meats, fish and poultry. At just the touch of a button, the program will deliver menu options that guide the user step by step - from the desired oven mode to temperature - all resulting in the perfect dish. Generation 6000 Coffee Systems impress with comfort and innovation There are several new highlights to the Generation 6000 Whole Bean Coffee System including a new CupSensor, EasyClick Milk System and One Touch for Two features. Exclusive to Miele, the CupSensor automatically adjusts the height of the spout to the optimum position for different cup and glass sizes. Whether a tall latté macchiato or a dainty espresso is being prepared, the central spout automatically adjusts to the cup’s rim and eliminates splashing. The CupSensor even reacts precisely to beverages made with milk by raising the spout slightly to make room for the incoming espresso. Also new is the EasyClick milk system which is a dishwasher safe glass, milk flask that effortlessly clicks into place at the front of the machine. And for easy maintenance, the new Miele Coffee Systems now automatically rinse all milk spouts and hoses with water after each use. The One Touch for Two feature allows the user to prepare two coffee specialties such as cappuccino and latté macchiato at the same time, thus reducing prep time when two or more drinks are being served. Miele Generation 6000 series is distinguished by its elegant design and remarkable innovations to deliver unmatched results that can be seen, touched and tasted. German engineered and tested to last 20 years, Generation 6000 reinforces the Miele Design for Life philosophy and solidifies Miele at the forefront of residential culinary appliances.

This is a recent contemporary bath remodel we have completed. It has a great zen-like feel with a modern twist. Award-Winning Custom Home Builder in Central Houston. We are a design/build company offering clients 3D renderings to see their design before work begins. www.ashwooddesigns.com TK Images Houston TX

This design / build project in Redondo Beach, CA. focused on a family’s hall bathroom. There were multiple reasons that the homeowners decided to start this project but the issue that was most pressing was water damage from the shower. The homeowners knew it needed to be addressed ASAP. As long as a remodel was going to be completed they felt that it was time to address the layout as well. It was not efficient in its original state. Since bathrooms work so hard it was important that the remodel resolve this issue as well. The homeowners were also interested in new finishes. Desiring something more light and fresh with a coastal feel we began reimagining the layout. The before and after pictures explain it best but basically the new shower was placed against the wall where there previously was a toilet and window. The location and size of the window was changed as well. The shower is now a three wall alcove with grab bars to allow the homeowners to age in place. The white subway tile is accented by a mosaic tile in the homeowners’ favorite coastal shades. The light and beachy feel is reinforced with the grey ceramic tile floor. The vanity is a furniture-style with details like decorative feet. The space is tied together with a backsplash that matches the border in the shower.

This modern home, near Cedar Lake, built in 1900, was originally a corner store. A massive conversion transformed the home into a spacious, multi-level residence in the 1990’s. However, the home’s lot was unusually steep and overgrown with vegetation. In addition, there were concerns about soil erosion and water intrusion to the house. The homeowners wanted to resolve these issues and create a much more useable outdoor area for family and pets. Castle, in conjunction with Field Outdoor Spaces, designed and built a large deck area in the back yard of the home, which includes a detached screen porch and a bar & grill area under a cedar pergola. The previous, small deck was demolished and the sliding door replaced with a window. A new glass sliding door was inserted along a perpendicular wall to connect the home’s interior kitchen to the backyard oasis. The screen house doors are made from six custom screen panels, attached to a top mount, soft-close track. Inside the screen porch, a patio heater allows the family to enjoy this space much of the year. Concrete was the material chosen for the outdoor countertops, to ensure it lasts several years in Minnesota’s always-changing climate. Trex decking was used throughout, along with red cedar porch, pergola and privacy lattice detailing. The front entry of the home was also updated to include a large, open porch with access to the newly landscaped yard. Cable railings from Loftus Iron add to the contemporary style of the home, including a gate feature at the top of the front steps to contain the family pets when they’re let out into the yard. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

This master bath ‘Renovision’ came with three main requests from the homeowner: more storage, a larger shower and a luxurious look that feels like being at an upscale hotel. The Renovisions team accomplished these wishes and exceeded the clients expectations. Request number 1: more storage. The existing closet was reconfigured to accommodate better storage for towels and bath supplies making it both functional and attractive. The custom built pull-out hamper was perfect. The long vanity and center tower offers much more cabinet space and drawer storage compared to what they had, especially with the increased vanity height. Request number 2: A larger shower. Working within the existing footprint we were able to build a shower that is nearly a foot deeper as space was available. Creating a large rectangular cubby provides plenty of space for shampoos and soaps. The frameless sliding glass shower enclosure keeps the space open and airy while allowing the beautiful Carrera-look porcelain wall tiles to be the focus of this master bath. Request number 3: a luxurious look. Turning their once boring, builder grade bathroom into an upscale hotel-like space was challenging, however, not a problem for the Renovisions team and their creative ways of resolving design snags along the way. Re-locating the doorway to the bathroom was one way to create a more spacious flow in and out of the space. Having the right design to start was half the battle – installing the beautiful products right the first time to ensure a proper fit and finish worthy of the upscale feel is the other half. The delicate tile detail in the shower cubby is the ‘jewelry’ in the room – the soft curves of this 2-tone wave design tile adds a dramatic feel and enlightened mood this client loves. Overall, the homeowner was happy with every solution-based approach to all requests – their once dated builders bath is now bright, open and airy with a soft grey wall color adding to the soothing feel of this master bath.

The new owners were looking forward to living in their new home with an open floor plan, tall vaulted ceilings, and great views. It featured a large Great Room with two big French Doors separating the Dining Room from the Master Bedroom. But after only a few months they identified a major design flaw: Each of the French Doors had ten glass windows with two large windows above each door. (Check out our before and after designs, traffic flow diagrams and photos of this project.) Glass windows and doors allowed sound and light from guests or the TV in the great room to easily sneak into the bedroom. With unique work and sleep schedules (he’s a pilot, she’s a registered nurse) this design wasn’t working. Then there was a traffic flow design flaw: The Master Bedroom had a second entrance from a hallway. To get into the bedroom from the hallway you needed to walk down another claustrophobic hallway. To get from the Master Bedroom to the Master Bath begin at the most remote corner of the bedroom and down a hallway between two closets. Once inside the bath, a huge triangular Jacuzzi dominating the space. So, from a privacy and traffic flow perspective, this home had some major design issues. When Craig Weber first met with the owners, he listened to their ideas and concerns. The owners trusted Craig to come up with the most efficient and most effective solution to this design dilemma. He offered a solution that resolved the bed-bath traffic flow problem, offered some bedroom room privacy, and updated the bath. First, the two French Doors and windows were removed. A new wall was built with sound-absorbing materials, making the Great Room and Dining Room more comfortable spaces for entertaining while creating the bedroom privacy the owners craved. Solving the Bedroom/Bath traffic flow problem began with removing the two existing closets. The bath door was relocated next to the hall entrance, and then a new walk-in closet was added adjacent to the hallway entrance. The solution offered easy access to and from the bath, closet and hallway without a hint of claustrophobia. The Master Bath underwent a major transformation designed for convenience and comfort – especially during long, cold Minnesota winters. Most everything from the former bath was torn out, beginning with the giant Jacuzzi. A new bathtub that is wider and deeper than the standard size was installed with brushed Nickel fixtures. It’s the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine and candles. Warm floors are a Minnesota “must have.” The bath’s new ceramic floor features in-floor electric heat. Getting in and out of the tub is easy and comfortable. The new walk-in shower again features in-floor heating and a place to sit. The most interesting feature of this shower may the custom ceramic tile installed with unique patterns. A new vanity Cambria Bradshaw countertops features two under-hung ceramic sinks with matching brushed Nickel fixtures. Tall ceilings and three glass windows near the ceiling flood the room with natural light. A new energy-efficient window frames an ornamental stained glass window created by the owner’s father – a great personal touch. A quiet place to sleep. A private dining room for entertaining. A Master Bath to die for. And easy traffic flow. The owners couldn’t have been more delighted with the outcome. And Lilly, their cat, loves it too.

Swimming Pool is on a slope with drainage issues from all sides, Crystal Pools LLC designed to incorporate and resolve all the drainage issues and transform the yard into a luxurious backyard experience. Crystal pools patented Cleaning system, glass tile, Ozone system make this pool enjoyed everyday! with use of very little chlorine/salt.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/