Modern Tudor on the Prairie Our clients fell in love with the wide-open spaces of the White Oaks Savanna development. They dreamed of a home that celebrated the beauty of Minnesota’s ever-changing landscape and blurred the line between indoor and outdoor. They wanted a home with a traditional exterior, impressive entry, and modern interiors. The large site provides spectacular views of the restored prairie landscape. All four sides of this home are refined and architecturally resolved since each elevation is highly visible in the open prairie setting. Properly locating the home on the site was critical to maintaining the stunning prairie views. The home is nestled behind a hill instead of sitting on top of it, so it is blocked from the neighbors and respects their views. Natural materials adorn the exterior, including cedar, stone, stucco, and copper, that act as “jewelry” for the home. The cedar and copper will patina with time, adding richness and texture to the home. Front Door: The custom front door is 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall. It is paired with a matching fixed panel, so the door appears to be 8 feet wide from the outside, and is painted a cheery bright blue to greet visitors. The intentional placement of color adds vibrancy throughout the home in contrast to the quiet exterior colors. The bold pops of color requested by the client continue on the interior of the home, including a turquoise dining room, magenta closet doors, and a deep blue basement. Lantern Staircase: A triple-height stair floating in front of 18-foot-high windows welcomes visitors. At night, a hidden, remote controlled retractable shade scrim (lightweight shade) limits light pollution to follow the Dark Skies Initiative. Great Room: Cased openings of white oak create transition spaces and frame views to and from the grand, two-story great room. The entry and dining room have cozy 8-foot ceilings and are perched 12” up from the great room for views over the living room furniture. To avoid dining chairs sliding over the steps, a custom built-in credenza sits on the steps behind the dining table. Folding Outswing Door: The 20’ wide by 9.5’ tall folding outswing door blurs the line between outside and inside. A hidden bi-parting retractable bug screen allows the large door to remain open throughout the day to bring in fresh air. Catwalk: A catwalk, or raised walkway, on the upper floor overlooks the great room and leads to the guest suites. A long bench with built-in linen storage is tucked into a niche with clerestory windows, providing a cozy spot for guests to relax. Guest laundry is tucked into the backside of the fireplace chimney. Owner's Suite: From the start, the owners wanted their bedroom perched on the second level to maximize views of the prairie beyond. Located in its own wing of the home, the owners’ suite offers privacy. Magenta closet doors guide the owners into the bedroom and adjacent bathroom. Lifestyle: The home incorporates numerous lifestyle features that are as much a part of the house as the main spaces. A sauna is located on the main level, allowing for easy access after a dip in the pool and a wine cellar is tucked neatly under the staircase for convenient and beautiful display.

Because homes in historic German Village are required to be respectful of some of the original characteristics and features, the old limestone steps at the original front door of the historic part of the home had to be left in place, and a nod to their purpose with the placement of the brick walkway. The limestone walk was allowed in order to interrupt the visitor's attention and direct them to the new front door.

Here we see Gappsi Signature Natural Stone Travertine being used in varying mediums, including patio, coping, wall veneer and a fireplace. Designed in tandem with the homeowners wish list of Built-In BBQ with bar seating, Pool, Spa and a custom fireplace our Designers created a cohesive 1,900 sqft patio that enhanced and reclaimed this once wild and brush ridden yard. Located in Centerport North Shore Long Island this property challenged our design and build team from the start with its contouring slopes and heavly dense underbrush we spent a full seven days removing and regrading the property to work with our design. A seating walls along the back side serves the function of retaining the higher elevation sloping towards the back of the property, somewhere to rest upon and as well a contrasting vertical eye catching visual anchor. The lighter Fiorito Stone veneer plays as a subtle complimentary change to the exotic and brilliant colored Natural Travertine in French pattern. The Fiorito step treads also create a visual warning that there are steps, which benefits all especially at night. The design team incorporated the BBQ/Bar area along the retaining wall to flow unbroken to the fireplace and continue into the natural living waterfall. The addition of the waterfall near the fireplace was done as a theme of fire and water giving the natural elements their respect and admiration the customer wanted. Each of these areas have been given their individual space so the user can feel immersed in each setting without feeling crowded or within another area. The warm tranquil space in front of the fireplace is far enough away from the vivid and fun dining and BBQ/bar area that individuals can almost get away while still being in the backyard. Gappsi ability to design create and accommodate all that you see here helps set us apart from the competition. From conception of the homeowners ideas and wishes paired with the lay of the land helped form such an intricate and fuctional design. All accessories were also taken into consideration to perfectly fit such items as the spa dining table to the components of the BBQ/Bar. Gappsi provides Gunite, Vinyl, Fiberglass Swimming pools and Hot Tubs for Residential and commercial application in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY, http://gappsi.com/long-island-swimming-pool-companies-designs-builders-construction-ny.html Gappsi also provideDesign and installation of Landscape and Masonry for all Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/landscape-design-long-island-ny-landscaping-companies.html Gappsi also provides Home Remodeling Kitchens and Baths Roofing and siding for residence of Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/long-island-home-improvement-remodeling-general-contractor-ny.html If in need of Lawn and garden irrigation, in Suffolk and Nassau Gappsi can provide these services http://gappsi.com/irrigation/ along with PVC, wood aluminum and lop-loc fences installation. http://gappsi.com/fences/ To preserve and beautify yournatural Paving stones in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY Gappsi offers cleaning and sealing of patios Driveways and retaining walls. For commercial and residential Applications in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/patio-cleaning-and-sealing/ Our Showroom displays the most unique Travertine, Porphyry, Granite, Marble, Limestone and Sandstone pavers along with pool copings and veneers. Ready to be picked up at our Yard at 1015 West Jericho Turnpike Smithtown NY or delivered to your Location in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY http://pavingstoneselect.com/ To complete your landscapes outdoor Sports and recreations Gappsi offers Bocce Courts, Putting greens, Sports and Tennis Courts also supply and installation of Synthetic Turf. http://deckandpationaturalstones.com/artificial-grass-synthetic-turf-installation-long-island-ny.html+

Modern Tudor on the Prairie Our clients fell in love with the wide-open spaces of the White Oaks Savanna development. They dreamed of a home that celebrated the beauty of Minnesota’s ever-changing landscape and blurred the line between indoor and outdoor. They wanted a home with a traditional exterior, impressive entry, and modern interiors. The large site provides spectacular views of the restored prairie landscape. All four sides of this home are refined and architecturally resolved since each elevation is highly visible in the open prairie setting. Properly locating the home on the site was critical to maintaining the stunning prairie views. The home is nestled behind a hill instead of sitting on top of it, so it is blocked from the neighbors and respects their views. Natural materials adorn the exterior, including cedar, stone, stucco, and copper, that act as “jewelry” for the home. The cedar and copper will patina with time, adding richness and texture to the home. Front Door: The custom front door is 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall. It is paired with a matching fixed panel, so the door appears to be 8 feet wide from the outside, and is painted a cheery bright blue to greet visitors. The intentional placement of color adds vibrancy throughout the home in contrast to the quiet exterior colors. The bold pops of color requested by the client continue on the interior of the home, including a turquoise dining room, magenta closet doors, and a deep blue basement. Lantern Staircase: A triple-height stair floating in front of 18-foot-high windows welcomes visitors. At night, a hidden, remote controlled retractable shade scrim (lightweight shade) limits light pollution to follow the Dark Skies Initiative. Great Room: Cased openings of white oak create transition spaces and frame views to and from the grand, two-story great room. The entry and dining room have cozy 8-foot ceilings and are perched 12” up from the great room for views over the living room furniture. To avoid dining chairs sliding over the steps, a custom built-in credenza sits on the steps behind the dining table. Folding Outswing Door: The 20’ wide by 9.5’ tall folding outswing door blurs the line between outside and inside. A hidden bi-parting retractable bug screen allows the large door to remain open throughout the day to bring in fresh air. Catwalk: A catwalk, or raised walkway, on the upper floor overlooks the great room and leads to the guest suites. A long bench with built-in linen storage is tucked into a niche with clerestory windows, providing a cozy spot for guests to relax. Guest laundry is tucked into the backside of the fireplace chimney. Owner's Suite: From the start, the owners wanted their bedroom perched on the second level to maximize views of the prairie beyond. Located in its own wing of the home, the owners’ suite offers privacy. Magenta closet doors guide the owners into the bedroom and adjacent bathroom. Lifestyle: The home incorporates numerous lifestyle features that are as much a part of the house as the main spaces. A sauna is located on the main level, allowing for easy access after a dip in the pool and a wine cellar is tucked neatly under the staircase for convenient and beautiful display.

Sharifi-ha House Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of the design concept in Sharifi-ha House. The sensational, spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as the formal configuration of its exterior, directly respond to the displacement of turning boxes that lead the building volume to become open or closed, obtaining introverted or extroverted character. These changes may occur according to changing seasons or functional scenarios of floor plans. Like many other urban plots, the land for this project had a noticeably narrow façade-width compared with its length. Consequently, our expertise in transforming a two-dimensional façade to a three-dimensional one became indispensable. Here, the openness /closure of the building volume is a reference to traditional Iranian houses, which would dynamically serve as seasonal modes of habitation by offering both a Zemestan-Neshin (winter living room) and Taabestan-Neshin (summer living room) to their residents. In summertime, Sharifi-ha House offers an open /transparent /perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehran’s cold, snowy winters the volume closes itself, offering minimal openings in total absence of those wide summer terraces. In this project, the challenges to the concepts of open/closed typology (introverted/extroverted character) led to an exciting spatial transformation of an ever-changing residential building. The House is distributed over seven floors: the two basement floors are allocated to family conviviality, fitness facilities, and wellness areas, while the ground floor hosts parking and housekeeping rooms. Public activities all happen on the first and second floors, and the family’s private life takes place on the third and fourth floors. The project consisted of four major parts; the fixed volume of the structure, the void, and the fixed volume and the mobile volume, respectively. When the turning boxes are closed, the building captures sunlight throughout the space of the central void, which also connects the two fixed volumes by suspended bridges. The house adapts to the functional needs of its residents. For instance, depending on whether there is a guest or not, the guest room (located on the second floor) can be reconfigured for different purposes. Similarly, home office and breakfast room (turning rooms on the first and third floors) can change the formality of their appearance according to their residents’ desire. In other words, there is always the possibility of having different seasonal or lighting scenarios, some of which have been already considered in the BMS program of the project. From the initial design steps, we noticed that three pine trees outside could be incorporated into the spaces of the interior. Now, in the open mode of the house, the trees are pleasantly captured by the window frames. Stepping back for about three meters from the permitted construction boundary line allowed us to provide splendid daylight for the basement floors by inserting a glass fountain. The fitness and wellness areas are accommodated between this fountain and the basement pool where reflective installations reverberate the water’s radiance all over the space. The applied manufacturing technique for the turning mechanism was in fact a simple one; the same method which is currently employed in turning theatrical scenes, turning the floor of car exhibitions, steel companies and the shipping industry in Iran. But as our client himself was into importing CNC and other similar industrial German machines, he preferred the structural system to be fabricated in Germany. In doing so, he could engage his employees in the manufacturing process and thus train them for future maintenance purposes. Details of the handrails and air-penetration controlling methods were major issues considered in developing the design of the turning boxes. Designing foldable handrails and refining the edges of the boxes happened to be our feasible solutions. Considering the specialties of this kind of architecture, the structural system was inevitably a customized one. After digitally modeling the structure, a series of SAP2000 analysis were undertaken to examine static/dynamic performance of the proposed system. Being partially moveable is the dominant feature of this structural assembly, which was contemplated throughout the fabrication process by the German manufacturer company. The main loads all rest on the beams of the living rooms. Due to the various configurations the turning boxes may take, the loading calculation has been estimated based on the largest possible loading value applied to the system. Additionally, in order to prevent structural deformation controlling the probable vibrations in the turning boxes was taken into account during the design/calculations of the structure. The house was titled Sharifi-ha House, in honor of traditional Iranian mansions.

Modern Tudor on the Prairie Our clients fell in love with the wide-open spaces of the White Oaks Savanna development. They dreamed of a home that celebrated the beauty of Minnesota’s ever-changing landscape and blurred the line between indoor and outdoor. They wanted a home with a traditional exterior, impressive entry, and modern interiors. The large site provides spectacular views of the restored prairie landscape. All four sides of this home are refined and architecturally resolved since each elevation is highly visible in the open prairie setting. Properly locating the home on the site was critical to maintaining the stunning prairie views. The home is nestled behind a hill instead of sitting on top of it, so it is blocked from the neighbors and respects their views. Natural materials adorn the exterior, including cedar, stone, stucco, and copper, that act as “jewelry” for the home. The cedar and copper will patina with time, adding richness and texture to the home. Front Door: The custom front door is 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall. It is paired with a matching fixed panel, so the door appears to be 8 feet wide from the outside, and is painted a cheery bright blue to greet visitors. The intentional placement of color adds vibrancy throughout the home in contrast to the quiet exterior colors. The bold pops of color requested by the client continue on the interior of the home, including a turquoise dining room, magenta closet doors, and a deep blue basement. Lantern Staircase: A triple-height stair floating in front of 18-foot-high windows welcomes visitors. At night, a hidden, remote controlled retractable shade scrim (lightweight shade) limits light pollution to follow the Dark Skies Initiative. Great Room: Cased openings of white oak create transition spaces and frame views to and from the grand, two-story great room. The entry and dining room have cozy 8-foot ceilings and are perched 12” up from the great room for views over the living room furniture. To avoid dining chairs sliding over the steps, a custom built-in credenza sits on the steps behind the dining table. Folding Outswing Door: The 20’ wide by 9.5’ tall folding outswing door blurs the line between outside and inside. A hidden bi-parting retractable bug screen allows the large door to remain open throughout the day to bring in fresh air. Catwalk: A catwalk, or raised walkway, on the upper floor overlooks the great room and leads to the guest suites. A long bench with built-in linen storage is tucked into a niche with clerestory windows, providing a cozy spot for guests to relax. Guest laundry is tucked into the backside of the fireplace chimney. Owner's Suite: From the start, the owners wanted their bedroom perched on the second level to maximize views of the prairie beyond. Located in its own wing of the home, the owners’ suite offers privacy. Magenta closet doors guide the owners into the bedroom and adjacent bathroom. Lifestyle: The home incorporates numerous lifestyle features that are as much a part of the house as the main spaces. A sauna is located on the main level, allowing for easy access after a dip in the pool and a wine cellar is tucked neatly under the staircase for convenient and beautiful display.

Mid-sized minimalist backyard concrete and custom-shaped lap pool photo

As a Premier Home Builder. Sharkey Custom Homes Inc. has spent the last 18 years building beautiful and original homes to Lubbock TX and surrounding areas. We are committed to building homes of the highest quality while simultaneously making sure our customers needs are met or exceeded. When you choose to build the home of your dreams with us, you can rest assured that you will be treated with the respect and integrity that you and your future home deserves. Sharkey will be there at each step to make certain that your experience is a wonderful one. We also offer Remodeling, Architects, Interior Design, and Landscape Design. Home Building, Remodeling, Design, Architects, Interior Design, landscape design, Land, Lots, Pools, Painting, Patios, Floor Covering, Granite, Wallpaper, Fireplaces, Lighting, Appliances, Roofing, Chimneys, Iron Doors, Railing, Staircase, cabinets, trim carpentry, Audio, Video, theaters, fountains, windows, bathroom fixtures, mirrors, hardware, crown molding, tubs, sinks, faucets, ceiling fans, garage doors, heating, air conditioning, shutters, texture, faux finish, vent hood, tile, porcelain, clay, stucco, stone,travertine, concrete, fencing, waterfalls,

A traditional 1930 Spanish bungalow, re-imagined and respectfully updated by ArtCraft Homes to create a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home of over 1,300sf plus 400sf of bonus space in a finished detached 2-car garage. Authentic vintage tiles from Claycraft Potteries adorn the all-original Spanish-style fireplace. Remodel by Tim Braseth of ArtCraft Homes, Los Angeles. Photos by Larry Underhill.

Photo by Barbara Wilson Landscape Architect, LLC A small residential, seaside property located on Fairfield Beach, Fairfield was renovated by the new owners and adapted for their active family. Barbara was the landscape architect in charge of all of the landscape elements upgrades. She designed new bluestone curving paths to access the front and side doors and designed new landscape lighting to enhance the walks. The existing trees were saved and she designed new shade and salt-tolerant plantings which were added to provide seasonal color and interest while respecting the existing plantings. Along the beach front additional native beach grasses were added to stabilize the dunes while removing some invasive plantings. This work will be phased over the next few years in an effort to keep the sand stable. Beach roses were incorporated into a hollow in the dunes. A small lawn area was renovated and the surrounding Black Pines pruned to provide a small play area and respite from the sun. Beautiful reblooming hydrangeas line the edge of the gravel driveway. Rounded beach stones were used instead of mulch in the island planting along the edge of the adjacent road planted with Miscanthus, Mugo pine and yucca. Barbara designed a custom kayak rack, custom garbage enclosure, a new layout of the existing wooden deck to facilitate access to the side doors, and detailed how to renovate the front door into only an emergency access with new railings and steps. She coordinating obtaining bids and then supervised the installation of all elements for the new landscape the project. The interiors were designed by Jack Montgomery Design of Greenwich, CT and NYC . Tree work was completed by Bartlett Tree Experts. Freddy’s Landscape Company of Fairfield, CT installed the new plantings, installed all the new masonry work and provides landscape maintenance services. JT Low Voltage and Electric installed the landscape lighting.

INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPING INC. I.L.I. is a well respected and highly decorated award-winning Landscape Design/Construct/Maintain firm. To learn more about the services that I.L.I. can offer you, please visit our website www.internationallandscaping.com. Let our experience help enhance your property, and turn your vision into reality.

At Murakami Design Inc., we are in the business of creating and building residences that bring comfort and delight to the lives of their owners. Murakami provides the full range of services involved in designing and building new homes, or in thoroughly reconstructing and updating existing dwellings. From historical research and initial sketches to construction drawings and on-site supervision, we work with clients every step of the way to achieve their vision and ensure their satisfaction. We collaborate closely with such professionals as landscape architects and interior designers, as well as structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, respecting their expertise in helping us develop fully integrated design solutions. Finally, our team stays abreast of all the latest developments in construction materials and techniques.

Example of a large transitional master brown tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom design in Miami with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and multicolored walls

At Murakami Design Inc., we are in the business of creating and building residences that bring comfort and delight to the lives of their owners. Murakami provides the full range of services involved in designing and building new homes, or in thoroughly reconstructing and updating existing dwellings. From historical research and initial sketches to construction drawings and on-site supervision, we work with clients every step of the way to achieve their vision and ensure their satisfaction. We collaborate closely with such professionals as landscape architects and interior designers, as well as structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, respecting their expertise in helping us develop fully integrated design solutions. Finally, our team stays abreast of all the latest developments in construction materials and techniques.

As a Premier Home Builder. Sharkey Custom Homes Inc. has spent the last 18 years building beautiful and original homes to Lubbock TX and surrounding areas. We are committed to building homes of the highest quality while simultaneously making sure our customers needs are met or exceeded. When you choose to build the home of your dreams with us, you can rest assured that you will be treated with the respect and integrity that you and your future home deserves. Sharkey will be there at each step to make certain that your experience is a wonderful one. We also offer Remodeling, Architects, Interior Design, and Landscape Design. Home Building, Remodeling, Design, Architects, Interior Design, landscape design, Land, Lots, Pools, Painting, Patios, Floor Covering, Granite, Wallpaper, Fireplaces, Lighting, Appliances, Roofing, Chimneys, Iron Doors, Railing, Staircase, cabinets, trim carpentry, Audio, Video, theaters, fountains, windows, bathroom fixtures, mirrors, hardware, crown molding, tubs, sinks, faucets, ceiling fans, garage doors, heating, air conditioning, shutters, texture, faux finish, vent hood, tile, porcelain, clay, stucco, stone,travertine, concrete, fencing, waterfalls,

INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPING INC. I.L.I. is a well respected and highly decorated award-winning Landscape Design/Construct/Maintain firm. To learn more about the services that I.L.I. can offer you, please visit our website www.internationallandscaping.com. Let our experience help enhance your property, and turn your vision into reality.

Photo by Barbara Wilson Landscape Architect, LLC A small residential, seaside property located on Fairfield Beach, Fairfield was renovated by the new owners and adapted for their active family. Barbara was the landscape architect in charge of all of the landscape elements upgrades. She designed new bluestone curving paths to access the front and side doors and designed new landscape lighting to enhance the walks. The existing trees were saved and she designed new shade and salt-tolerant plantings which were added to provide seasonal color and interest while respecting the existing plantings. Along the beach front additional native beach grasses were added to stabilize the dunes while removing some invasive plantings. This work will be phased over the next few years in an effort to keep the sand stable. Beach roses were incorporated into a hollow in the dunes. A small lawn area was renovated and the surrounding Black Pines pruned to provide a small play area and respite from the sun. Beautiful reblooming hydrangeas line the edge of the gravel driveway. Rounded beach stones were used instead of mulch in the island planting along the edge of the adjacent road planted with Miscanthus, Mugo pine and yucca. Barbara designed a custom kayak rack, custom garbage enclosure, a new layout of the existing wooden deck to facilitate access to the side doors, and detailed how to renovate the front door into only an emergency access with new railings and steps. She coordinating obtaining bids and then supervised the installation of all elements for the new landscape the project. The interiors were designed by Jack Montgomery Design of Greenwich, CT and NYC . Tree work was completed by Bartlett Tree Experts. Freddy’s Landscape Company of Fairfield, CT installed the new plantings, installed all the new masonry work and provides landscape maintenance services. JT Low Voltage and Electric installed the landscape lighting.

This renovation was completed with the primary goal of removed the carpet in the stairs which was not only difficult to clean but constantly looking worn in this very busy household. Ideally they wanted a durable, low maintenance flooring solution that still added character and coziness. The solution: Luxury vinyl planks! The unique and discreet metal nosings we used respect the clean lines and richness of this amazing plank in a non-commercial way. NOTE: While not all vinyl planks are created equal - the good ones are worth paying a little extra for!

At Murakami Design Inc., we are in the business of creating and building residences that bring comfort and delight to the lives of their owners. Murakami provides the full range of services involved in designing and building new homes, or in thoroughly reconstructing and updating existing dwellings. From historical research and initial sketches to construction drawings and on-site supervision, we work with clients every step of the way to achieve their vision and ensure their satisfaction. We collaborate closely with such professionals as landscape architects and interior designers, as well as structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, respecting their expertise in helping us develop fully integrated design solutions. Finally, our team stays abreast of all the latest developments in construction materials and techniques.