Example of a large minimalist attached two-car garage design in Chicago

Our clients were relocating from the upper peninsula to the lower peninsula and wanted to design a retirement home on their Lake Michigan property. The topography of their lot allowed for a walk out basement which is practically unheard of with how close they are to the water. Their view is fantastic, and the goal was of course to take advantage of the view from all three levels. The positioning of the windows on the main and upper levels is such that you feel as if you are on a boat, water as far as the eye can see. They were striving for a Hamptons / Coastal, casual, architectural style. The finished product is just over 6,200 square feet and includes 2 master suites, 2 guest bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, sunroom, home bar, home gym, dedicated seasonal gear / equipment storage, table tennis game room, sauna, and bonus room above the attached garage. All the exterior finishes are low maintenance, vinyl, and composite materials to withstand the blowing sands from the Lake Michigan shoreline.

This home was featured in the January 2016 edition of HOME & DESIGN Magazine. To see the rest of the home tour as well as other luxury homes featured, visit http://www.homeanddesign.net/downtown-oasis-mangrove-bay/

Southwestern style kitchen with rustic wood island and limestone counters. Architect: Urban Design Associates Builder: R-Net Custom Homes Interiors: Billie Springer Photography: Thompson Photographic

Transitional master gray tile freestanding bathtub photo in Chicago with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, gray walls and a hinged shower door

Our clients were relocating from the upper peninsula to the lower peninsula and wanted to design a retirement home on their Lake Michigan property. The topography of their lot allowed for a walk out basement which is practically unheard of with how close they are to the water. Their view is fantastic, and the goal was of course to take advantage of the view from all three levels. The positioning of the windows on the main and upper levels is such that you feel as if you are on a boat, water as far as the eye can see. They were striving for a Hamptons / Coastal, casual, architectural style. The finished product is just over 6,200 square feet and includes 2 master suites, 2 guest bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, sunroom, home bar, home gym, dedicated seasonal gear / equipment storage, table tennis game room, sauna, and bonus room above the attached garage. All the exterior finishes are low maintenance, vinyl, and composite materials to withstand the blowing sands from the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Example of a mid-sized mountain style brown one-story wood and board and batten gable roof design in Phoenix with a shingle roof

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to math the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who could not live in a tiny house, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design assistance by Jimmy Thornton

Trent Bell
Example of a transitional bedroom design in Portland Maine with blue walls

The goal for these clients was to build a new home with a transitional design that was large enough for their children and grandchildren to visit, but small enough to age in place comfortably with a budget they could afford on their retirement income. They wanted an open floor plan, with plenty of wall space for art and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces to maintain the original garden feeling of the lot. A unique combination of cultures is reflected in the home – the husband is from Haiti and the wife from Switzerland. The resulting traditional design aesthetic is an eclectic blend of Caribbean and Old World flair. Jim Barsch Photography

Freestanding bathtub - country master beige floor freestanding bathtub idea in San Francisco with white walls

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.

We had the pleasure of working with a lovely retired couple in the Donelson area to give their home of 40 years a complete refresh. The transformation included expanding their kitchen by opening it to the living area, applying fresh paint throughout, refinishing the floors, and remodeling the bathroom. Take a look at the before pictures to truly appreciate the change! Our goal was to create a timeless, updated style while enhancing functionality and ensuring the home remains accessible for aging in place.