Interior design by others Our architecture team was proud to design this traditional, cottage inspired home that is tucked within a developed residential location in St. Louis County. The main levels account for 6097 Sq Ft and an additional 1300 Sq Ft was reserved for the lower level. The homeowner requested a unique design that would provide backyard privacy from the street and an open floor plan in public spaces, but privacy in the master suite. Challenges of this home design included a narrow corner lot build site, building height restrictions and corner lot setback restrictions. The floorplan design was tailored to this corner lot and oriented to take full advantage of southern sun in the rear courtyard and pool terrace area. There are many notable spaces and visual design elements of this custom 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick cottage home. A mostly brick exterior with cut stone entry surround and entry terrace gardens helps create a cozy feel even before entering the home. Special spaces like a covered outdoor lanai, private southern terrace and second floor study nook create a pleasurable every-day living environment. For indoor entertainment, a lower level rec room, gallery, bar, lounge, and media room were also planned.

Our architecture team was proud to design this traditional, cottage inspired home that is tucked within a developed residential location in St. Louis County. The main levels account for 6097 Sq Ft and an additional 1300 Sq Ft was reserved for the lower level. The homeowner requested a unique design that would provide backyard privacy from the street and an open floor plan in public spaces, but privacy in the master suite. Challenges of this home design included a narrow corner lot build site, building height restrictions and corner lot setback restrictions. The floorplan design was tailored to this corner lot and oriented to take full advantage of southern sun in the rear courtyard and pool terrace area. There are many notable spaces and visual design elements of this custom 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick cottage home. A mostly brick exterior with cut stone entry surround and entry terrace gardens helps create a cozy feel even before entering the home. Special spaces like a covered outdoor lanai, private southern terrace and second floor study nook create a pleasurable every-day living environment. For indoor entertainment, a lower level rec room, gallery, bar, lounge, and media room were also planned.

The kitchen sparkles like a jewel with it’s new open floor plan; gone is the restrictive Peninsula replaced with a longer Island and a sturdy long artisan table at the Island’s end. A dry Bar replaced the unused kitchen desk area and a built-in Banquet, bordered with a stepped-up base cabinet housing a Micro/Convection Oven, now offers additional seating when entertaining. The warm toasty finish of the Alder cabinetry is completed by the granite and tiled glass backsplash.

A New Build by Simply Exquisite Interiors. This once single story home was newly constructed by SEI for Client Ms. Alicia Gift another happy customer. Congratulations on your NEW HOME!

Interior design by others Our architecture team was proud to design this traditional, cottage inspired home that is tucked within a developed residential location in St. Louis County. The main levels account for 6097 Sq Ft and an additional 1300 Sq Ft was reserved for the lower level. The homeowner requested a unique design that would provide backyard privacy from the street and an open floor plan in public spaces, but privacy in the master suite. Challenges of this home design included a narrow corner lot build site, building height restrictions and corner lot setback restrictions. The floorplan design was tailored to this corner lot and oriented to take full advantage of southern sun in the rear courtyard and pool terrace area. There are many notable spaces and visual design elements of this custom 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick cottage home. A mostly brick exterior with cut stone entry surround and entry terrace gardens helps create a cozy feel even before entering the home. Special spaces like a covered outdoor lanai, private southern terrace and second floor study nook create a pleasurable every-day living environment. For indoor entertainment, a lower level rec room, gallery, bar, lounge, and media room were also planned.

Interior design by others Our architecture team was proud to design this traditional, cottage inspired home that is tucked within a developed residential location in St. Louis County. The main levels account for 6097 Sq Ft and an additional 1300 Sq Ft was reserved for the lower level. The homeowner requested a unique design that would provide backyard privacy from the street and an open floor plan in public spaces, but privacy in the master suite. Challenges of this home design included a narrow corner lot build site, building height restrictions and corner lot setback restrictions. The floorplan design was tailored to this corner lot and oriented to take full advantage of southern sun in the rear courtyard and pool terrace area. There are many notable spaces and visual design elements of this custom 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick cottage home. A mostly brick exterior with cut stone entry surround and entry terrace gardens helps create a cozy feel even before entering the home. Special spaces like a covered outdoor lanai, private southern terrace and second floor study nook create a pleasurable every-day living environment. For indoor entertainment, a lower level rec room, gallery, bar, lounge, and media room were also planned.

Living room - transitional living room idea in Chicago

This contemporary backyard oasis offers our clients indoor-outdoor living for year-round relaxation and entertaining. The custom rectilinear swimming pool and stacked stone raised spa were designed to maximize the tight lot coverage restrictions while the cascading waterfalls and natural stone water feature add tranquility to the space. Panoramic doors create a beautiful transition between the interior and exterior spaces allowing for more entertaining options and increased natural light. The covered porch features retractable screens, ceiling-mounted infrared heaters, T&G ceiling and a stacked stone fireplace while a custom black iron spiral staircase leads you to the upper deck and modern style pergola offering you additional lounge seating and a stunning view of this private in-town sanctuary.

Natural slab paving with native plantings modernize a traditional design while providing increased permeability and supporting pollinators.
Photo of a transitional full sun front yard stone formal garden in Boston.

Interesting story behind this new house...there used to be an old house on this property that burned down. Due to the local Township zoning restrictions I was required to build this new contemporary house directly over the existing rectangular foundation. The challenge was how to create an interesting contemporary architectural composition on a perfect rectangular foundation. Ultimately, I found the challenge to be exhilarating because when you're forced to start with a simple geometric shape, in this case a perfectly rectangular foundation, it challenges one's creative capacity.

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.

River Valley created Comprehensive Design and Installation of Hardscape, Lighting and Planting. The homeowners requested an outdoor living space that had to include a swimming pool, pool house, patios, and an outdoor kitchen. The space and pool had to be large enough to accommodate large gatherings. Several challenges had to be solved during the design phase such as the uneven grade of the backyard, water runoff, the restrictions imposed by the drain field on one side and the reserve drain field on the other and the building set back at the rear. These restrictions provided a very limited area of usable space. Measurements and elevations had to be absolutely precise in order for the project to remain within the imposed boundaries. The grading issues were particularly challenging so substantial retaining walls were used to elevate the pool and patio surfaces. This allowed minimizing the number of steps between the various levels in order to maximize the usable square footage of the patio while simultaneously staying within the allowable area. The design also dictated that the pool house line up precisely with the main house so its placement was particularly important. The materials chosen for the wall surfaces were dictated by what was already present on the house. Travertine stone was chosen for the patio surface to fulfill the homeowner’s desire for real stone and compliment the colors and textures of the wall materials. The careful choice of materials resulted in a cohesive, unified and comfortable outdoor living space.

The unique shape of the pool whirlpool combination was created to solve the problem of the backyard’s natural layout. The owner wanted to view the Bay from the pool but the restrictions of the lot required the pool to face the mountain terrain instead with the Bay on the right. A simple solution was to angle the whirlpool to face the stunning view of the Bay while still keeping the pool perpendicular to the trees. Bob Young Photography

The top landing is an open concept, and houses the families laundering facilities it is also a railroad between the rear guest bedroom, the family bathroom and the front bedroom which leads onto the upstairs balcony.

The project involved a large program that would yield a massive home on a limited and restricted site. The design strategy involved deconstructing the volume into pavilions that could generate a dialogue between built form and landscape and create intimate connections between the golf course and the living spaces. Robin Hill

Rear yard was developed as a set of terraces positioned to expand the interior spaces. Ipe deck in foreground has no foundation elements to interfere with the redwood root system. Artificial turf meets local water restrictions while providing expansive play space. Pool terrace is 29" above planter requiring no railing that would break up the flow of the space. Side and back retaining walls stabilize slope and augment existing elements from previous development.

The project involved a large program that would yield a massive home on a limited and restricted site. The design strategy involved deconstructing the volume into pavilions that could generate a dialogue between built form and landscape and create intimate connections between the golf course and the living spaces. Robin Hill

This contemporary backyard oasis offers our clients indoor-outdoor living for year-round relaxation and entertaining. The custom rectilinear swimming pool and stacked stone raised spa were designed to maximize the tight lot coverage restrictions while the cascading waterfalls and natural stone water feature add tranquility to the space.

Restricted by a compact but spectacular waterfront site, this home was designed to accommodate a large family and take full advantage of summer living on Cape Cod. The open, first floor living space connects to a series of decks and patios leading to the pool, spa, dock and fire pit beyond. The name of the home was inspired by the family’s love of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. The black pearl resides on the cap of the main stair newel post.