There are 2 buildings, 4 units total. Keeping within City of Austin regulations and impervious cover restrictions, we were limited to 1600-1700 square feet per unit. Each unit boasts an open floor plan concept, lots of natural light with high windows and modern styling. All four units sold out soon after the first open house. They are rated 3 stars with the Austin Energy Green program.

Designing a spectacular, spacious home that would take full advantage of ocean and salt marsh views on opposing sides of a long, thin slice of sloping land was a challenge embraced. To realize the full potential of the restrictive property, a multi-level structure was designed. Varied rooflines were created to give the home an appearance of being comfortably nestled in the landscape, while enabling the home to remain in proportion with the surrounding properties. Additional living space was gained by pulling the garage closer to the street and building a family room and an expansive deck above. Creative design options captured the scenic beauty of the narrow property and provided ocean views from primary living spaces throughout the day. Photo: Dan Gair, Blind Dog Photo, Inc.

If you were to look up “classic summer cottage” in the dictionary, there should be a picture of this house. Located in a densely populated community of historic summer cottages, this new gambrel-style home was designed to maintain the beach cottage feel of its predecessor. Due to strict zoning and easement restrictions the new construction had to be designed within the same footprint and volume of its former self. The new design allows for a more open floor plan, more living space, and an almost 180-degree view of the ocean. Filled with natural light and a palette of colors and materials reminiscent of seashells, this four-bedroom home is the quintessential summer retreat. Glass foldaway doors extend the main living area to a covered porch with gas fireplace. A fully finished basement suite, with walk-out access to a gas grilling patio and the beach, is perfect for guests. The interiors are an artful blend of modern fixtures along with some slightly more traditional materials that are in keeping with the cottage vibe. © Eric Roth Photography

If you were to look up “classic summer cottage” in the dictionary, there should be a picture of this house. Located in a densely populated community of historic summer cottages, this new gambrel-style home was designed to maintain the beach cottage feel of its predecessor. Due to strict zoning and easement restrictions the new construction had to be designed within the same footprint and volume of its former self. The new design allows for a more open floor plan, more living space, and an almost 180-degree view of the ocean. Filled with natural light and a palette of colors and materials reminiscent of seashells, this four-bedroom home is the quintessential summer retreat. Glass foldaway doors extend the main living area to a covered porch with gas fireplace. A fully finished basement suite, with walk-out access to a gas grilling patio and the beach, is perfect for guests. The interiors are an artful blend of modern fixtures along with some slightly more traditional materials that are in keeping with the cottage vibe. © Eric Roth Photography

The small, boring and dysfunctional patio space this client inherited when they purchased their home is now replaced by outdoor room experiences that better meet the entertainment needs and expectations of our client. The built-in masonry sofa and fire pit is always the hit of every party! The old mismatched dated planting areas have been removed to make way for current colorful succulents, natural grasses, and blooming perennials. The water hogging mowed lawn areas that were always being eaten by rabbits is now replaced with artificial grass that looks so real that the neighbors were reminding our client they could only water once a week due to drought restrictions!

Designing a spectacular, spacious home that would take full advantage of ocean and salt marsh views on opposing sides of a long, thin slice of sloping land was a challenge embraced. To realize the full potential of the restrictive property, a multi-level structure was designed. Varied rooflines were created to give the home an appearance of being comfortably nestled in the landscape, while enabling the home to remain in proportion with the surrounding properties. Additional living space was gained by pulling the garage closer to the street and building a family room and an expansive deck above. Creative design options captured the scenic beauty of the narrow property and provided ocean views from primary living spaces throughout the day. Photo: Dan Gair, Blind Dog Photo, Inc.

Previously blank wall is transformed in two stages. We firstly installed a custom designed closet interior - note the specialty recessed drawer handles and pull out hanging to accommodate the 16" depth (restricted by bathroom door on LHS wall in pic.).

Want a natural flooring material that performs like a champ? The cellular nature of cork allows it to absorb and maintain warmth, making it one of the warmer flooring surfaces next to carpet. It’s this same honeycomb structure that also allows it to act as a sound insulator, so areas that are exposed to high levels of noise can be restricted. If you’re looking for a eco-friendly alternative that brings great quality at reasonable pricing then look to floating cork flooring.

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

If you were to look up “classic summer cottage” in the dictionary, there should be a picture of this house. Located in a densely populated community of historic summer cottages, this new gambrel-style home was designed to maintain the beach cottage feel of its predecessor. Due to strict zoning and easement restrictions the new construction had to be designed within the same footprint and volume of its former self. The new design allows for a more open floor plan, more living space, and an almost 180-degree view of the ocean. Filled with natural light and a palette of colors and materials reminiscent of seashells, this four-bedroom home is the quintessential summer retreat. Glass foldaway doors extend the main living area to a covered porch with gas fireplace. A fully finished basement suite, with walk-out access to a gas grilling patio and the beach, is perfect for guests. The interiors are an artful blend of modern fixtures along with some slightly more traditional materials that are in keeping with the cottage vibe. © Eric Roth Photography

Along the central California coast, vacant lots are so rare that even properties once considered too troublesome to build on now get a second look. Our clients found such a site, dreaming of a beach house large enough to accommodate visits from extended family, with open living areas, high ceilings, decks, and a modern, innovative design. Described as a beautiful hillside lot overlooking Monterey Bay, surrounded by pastoral fields and beautiful eucalyptus groves, it appeared at first glance to be little more than steep, brush covered lot. It sloped steeply down off the road, dropping to a creek and an erosion scar measured nearly 40 feet across. The combination of the steep slope, the erosion scar, and zoning restrictions presented a challenge for both design and construction. Zachary Craycroft

There are 2 buildings, 4 units total. Keeping within City of Austin regulations and impervious cover restrictions, we were limited to 1600-1700 square feet per unit. Each unit boasts an open floor plan concept, lots of natural light with high windows and modern styling. All four units sold out soon after the first open house. They are rated 3 stars with the Austin Energy Green program.

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

The house is located in Conyers Farm, a residential development, known for its’ grand estates and polo fields. Although the site is just over 10 acres, due to wetlands and conservation areas only 3 acres adjacent to Upper Cross Road could be developed for the house. These restrictions, along with building setbacks led to the linear planning of the house. To maintain a larger back yard, the garage wing was ‘cranked’ towards the street. The bent wing hinged at the three-story turret, reinforces the rambling character and suggests a sense of enclosure around the entry drive court. Designed in the tradition of late nineteenth-century American country houses. The house has a variety of living spaces, each distinct in shape and orientation. Porches with Greek Doric columns, relaxed plan, juxtaposed masses and shingle-style exterior details all contribute to the elegant “country house” character.

This family loves to cook and entertain and they were restricted by their confining kitchen. We took care of that by opening up the space and removing a wall to the dining room and one to the living room which made it a large welcoming and lovely eat in kitchen.

There are 2 buildings, 4 units total. Keeping within City of Austin regulations and impervious cover restrictions, we were limited to 1600-1700 square feet per unit. Each unit boasts an open floor plan concept, lots of natural light with high windows and modern styling. All four units sold out soon after the first open house. They are rated 3 stars with the Austin Energy Green program.

Play area, sand pit
This is an example of a mid-sized full sun backyard stone outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in Denver for summer.

A garden path in winter white. (Photo by TThornton)
Photo of a traditional partial sun backyard landscaping in Chicago for winter.

This lakefront second home in the Irish Hills offered expansive lake views, yet the yard provided little usable space beyond the existing deck. The slope toward the water restricted gathering areas and made site access during construction especially complex. The goal was to extend the living environment beyond the deck. To create a series of spaces that felt connected to the water, social with corn hole tournaments and a cozy place to unwind in the evening after docking the boat, cast in warm, soft lighting.