I bought an old flatbed hay wagon probably 20 years ago with the Idea of building a Sheep Camp from scratch. Five or six years ago my son, Oskar and I collaborated on a design, and it has been a back burner project since. Last summer with pandemic restrictions, it turned into my Corona therapy project ,and I was finally able to finish it. Now it is a spare guest bedroom.

Inkberry offers a native twist on a parterre garden, enclosing a small bluestone terrace.
Photo of a transitional full sun front yard stone formal garden in Boston.

The clients were dismayed by their front-yard view of busy Scott Boulevard in Decatur, but they did not want to be boxed in by an evergreen hedge. Utility wires restricted allowable plants in most areas. Native grasses, wildflowers were combined with native shrubs to screen the busy four-lane road and create four-season interest. Blueberry, little bluestem, broomsedge, and Muhlygrass shown here.

The combination of Piasentina stone and green black metal exalts the shapes and volumes of the entire island, made up of two large functional islands. The Blade project provides solutions considered impossible before now. The innovative technology and programs can sub-divide the kitchen into functional areas without restrictions. Made in Italy. Distributed by Chic Design Group

I bought an old flatbed hay wagon probably 20 years ago with the Idea of building a Sheep Camp from scratch. Five or six years ago my son, Oskar and I collaborated on a design, and it has been a back burner project since. Last summer with pandemic restrictions, it turned into my Corona therapy project ,and I was finally able to finish it. Now it is a spare guest bedroom.

This is part of a whole home remodel we completed and featured in the Home Builder's Association Showcase of Remodeled Homes. This is the bathroom on the lower level, mostly for their son's usage. It was only upgraded with small modifications. We removed the previous linoleum flooring and installed Ottomano 6"x6" tile. The toilet, vanity, mirror and lighting was replaced. We reused the existing light from the upstairs bathroom to save on budget. The walls were painted a dark grey/blue. The trim was one of the only things that was reused from the existing home, due to budget restrictions. Photo by Laura Cavendish

This mixed-income housing development on six acres in town is adjacent to national forest. Conservation concerns restricted building south of the creek and budgets led to efficient layouts. All of the units have decks and primary spaces facing south for sun and mountain views; an orientation reflected in the building forms. The seven detached market-rate duplexes along the creek subsidized the deed restricted two- and three-story attached duplexes along the street and west boundary which can be entered through covered access from street and courtyard. This arrangement of the units forms a courtyard and thus unifies them into a single community. The use of corrugated, galvanized metal and fiber cement board – requiring limited maintenance – references ranch and agricultural buildings. These vernacular references, combined with the arrangement of units, integrate the housing development into the fabric of the region. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2008 Project Year: 2009

Originally used as a den, the art studio is separated from the primary residence and accessed by a stair landing to the basement and carport. Using this restricted access to advantage, the art studio is a space where serious work can be done without loosing the sense of connection to the remaining house.

Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage front porch remodel in Minneapolis with a fire pit, decking and a roof extension

A wall-long set of La Cantina doors can be opened to let fresh air into the dining room. Great for entertaining, this massive door set doesn't restrict a gathering to just inside or outside.

This mixed-income housing development on six acres in town is adjacent to national forest. Conservation concerns restricted building south of the creek and budgets led to efficient layouts. All of the units have decks and primary spaces facing south for sun and mountain views; an orientation reflected in the building forms. The seven detached market-rate duplexes along the creek subsidized the deed restricted two- and three-story attached duplexes along the street and west boundary which can be entered through covered access from street and courtyard. This arrangement of the units forms a courtyard and thus unifies them into a single community. The use of corrugated, galvanized metal and fiber cement board – requiring limited maintenance – references ranch and agricultural buildings. These vernacular references, combined with the arrangement of units, integrate the housing development into the fabric of the region. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2008 Project Year: 2009

This mixed-income housing development on six acres in town is adjacent to national forest. Conservation concerns restricted building south of the creek and budgets led to efficient layouts. All of the units have decks and primary spaces facing south for sun and mountain views; an orientation reflected in the building forms. The seven detached market-rate duplexes along the creek subsidized the deed restricted two- and three-story attached duplexes along the street and west boundary which can be entered through covered access from street and courtyard. This arrangement of the units forms a courtyard and thus unifies them into a single community. The use of corrugated, galvanized metal and fiber cement board – requiring limited maintenance – references ranch and agricultural buildings. These vernacular references, combined with the arrangement of units, integrate the housing development into the fabric of the region. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2008 Project Year: 2009

Challenge This 2001 riverfront home was purchased by the owners in 2015 and immediately renovated. Progressive Design Build was hired at that time to remodel the interior, with tentative plans to remodel their outdoor living space as a second phase design/build remodel. True to their word, after completing the interior remodel, this young family turned to Progressive Design Build in 2017 to address known zoning regulations and restrictions in their backyard and build an outdoor living space that was fit for entertaining and everyday use. The homeowners wanted a pool and spa, outdoor living room, kitchen, fireplace and covered patio. They also wanted to stay true to their home’s Old Florida style architecture while also adding a Jamaican influence to the ceiling detail, which held sentimental value to the homeowners who honeymooned in Jamaica. Solution To tackle the known zoning regulations and restrictions in the backyard, the homeowners researched and applied for a variance. With the variance in hand, Progressive Design Build sat down with the homeowners to review several design options. These options included: Option 1) Modifications to the original pool design, changing it to be longer and narrower and comply with an existing drainage easement Option 2) Two different layouts of the outdoor living area Option 3) Two different height elevations and options for the fire pit area Option 4) A proposed breezeway connecting the new area with the existing home After reviewing the options, the homeowners chose the design that placed the pool on the backside of the house and the outdoor living area on the west side of the home (Option 1). It was important to build a patio structure that could sustain a hurricane (a Southwest Florida necessity), and provide substantial sun protection. The new covered area was supported by structural columns and designed as an open-air porch (with no screens) to allow for an unimpeded view of the Caloosahatchee River. The open porch design also made the area feel larger, and the roof extension was built with substantial strength to survive severe weather conditions. The pool and spa were connected to the adjoining patio area, designed to flow seamlessly into the next. The pool deck was designed intentionally in a 3-color blend of concrete brick with freeform edge detail to mimic the natural river setting. Bringing the outdoors inside, the pool and fire pit were slightly elevated to create a small separation of space. Result All of the desirable amenities of a screened porch were built into an open porch, including electrical outlets, a ceiling fan/light kit, TV, audio speakers, and a fireplace. The outdoor living area was finished off with additional storage for cushions, ample lighting, an outdoor dining area, a smoker, a grill, a double-side burner, an under cabinet refrigerator, a major ventilation system, and water supply plumbing that delivers hot and cold water to the sinks. Because the porch is under a roof, we had the option to use classy woods that would give the structure a natural look and feel. We chose a dark cypress ceiling with a gloss finish, replicating the same detail that the homeowners experienced in Jamaica. This created a deep visceral and emotional reaction from the homeowners to their new backyard. The family now spends more time outdoors enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Their professional lives allow them to take a trip to paradise right in their backyard—stealing moments that reflect on the past, but are also enjoyed in the present.

Large craftsman gray two-story mixed siding gable roof idea in Toronto

The upper floor consists of 2 bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open home office. Due to building restrictions, the rooms are quit small, so we used some tricks to make them seem larger: they all have a high slanted wooden ceilings, they all have balconies as additional space, they have built-in closets instead of free-standing ones, and they have beautiful large French windows down to the floor instead of conventional ones. These elements can make the most boring room look spectacular!

A simple little beach house an hour north of Ft. Lauderdale for a family getaway. Two bedrooms (bunk beds for the children), doors and fixed glass all around, fir plywood floors and ceilings, solid core flush doors for partitions, decks on the east and west side. Pressure treated piles were driven into the sand until they hit rock, and extended up to become the structural columns. The house site was carved out of the Seagrape and Palmetto covered sand dune . . . . This could not be done today with coastal construction restrictions.

The combination of Piasentina stone and green black metal exalts the shapes and volumes of the entire island, made up of two large functional islands. The Blade project provides solutions considered impossible before now. The innovative technology and programs can sub-divide the kitchen into functional areas without restrictions. Made in Italy. Distributed by Chic Design Group

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in Toronto with gray walls