At CI Design + Build, a referral is the highest form of flattery. And when said word of mouth leads to a luxe, full-scope renovation for a pair of clients who have a genuine love for transformative design, well — now we’re really in our element. For the reno of this two-bedroom, high-rise condo overlooking the Chicago River, our design team was tapped to touch every surface while infusing the footprint with sophistication and timeless glamour. FOR A DECIDEDLY MODERN FEEL WITH TEMPERED MOMENTS OF DRAMA, WE OPTED FOR BOLD MATERIALS AND COLORS, INCLUDING DYNAMIC BLUE ROMA QUARTZITE FOR THE KITCHEN AND BAR. Intent on making the home a unique reflection of its owners, a couple who love hosting friends and family on the regular, we set the stage for elevated entertaining, leaning into statement-making design choices for the main living spaces. A geometric media wall in the living room, for example, commands attention via custom millwork boxes of varying depths, each punctuated by beautiful slabs of backlit onyx. Playful geometries continue in the presentation-worthy kitchen, where intersecting volumes and mixed materials define a bar top, an island counter, and a dining table. Here, a striking Sub-Zero/Wolf appliance suite, including a floor-to-ceiling wine fridge, makes functionality utterly fabulous. Incorporating white oak hardwood and gorgeous porcelain tile, every inch of flooring was updated for seamless continuity. In the primary bedroom, a calm and inviting sanctuary was defined, including a dramatic headboard wall that features shagreen-upholstered channels and angled millwork panels, and a statement fireplace that adds a strong focal point. The adjacent en suite stuns courtesy of Port Black marble-topped vanities and a shower bench that extends through the glass. Throughout, CI provided all the furnishings and decorative lighting for the home, making this a true turnkey project.

Samantha Melanson
Example of a large minimalist backyard stone patio design in Boston

The Clients contacted Cecil Baker + Partners to reconfigure and remodel the top floor of a prominent Philadelphia high-rise into an urban pied-a-terre. The forty-five story apartment building, overlooking Washington Square Park and its surrounding neighborhoods, provided a modern shell for this truly contemporary renovation. Originally configured as three penthouse units, the 8,700 sf interior, as well as 2,500 square feet of terrace space, was to become a single residence with sweeping views of the city in all directions. The Client’s mission was to create a city home for collecting and displaying contemporary glass crafts. Their stated desire was to cast an urban home that was, in itself, a gallery. While they enjoy a very vital family life, this home was targeted to their urban activities - entertainment being a central element. The living areas are designed to be open and to flow into each other, with pockets of secondary functions. At large social events, guests feel free to access all areas of the penthouse, including the master bedroom suite. A main gallery was created in order to house unique, travelling art shows. Stemming from their desire to entertain, the penthouse was built around the need for elaborate food preparation. Cooking would be visible from several entertainment areas with a “show” kitchen, provided for their renowned chef. Secondary preparation and cleaning facilities were tucked away. The architects crafted a distinctive residence that is framed around the gallery experience, while also incorporating softer residential moments. Cecil Baker + Partners embraced every element of the new penthouse design beyond those normally associated with an architect’s sphere, from all material selections, furniture selections, furniture design, and art placement. Barry Halkin and Todd Mason Photography

The Willow - Transitional Family Home on Acreage in Brush Prairie, Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. Lastly, the style. Shabby Chic (chique) was a trend favorited early on by these clients. We wanted to create a space that used similar elements in materials and construction while allowing their style to play out over interior walls. On the outside this amounted to over 200 square feet of Eldorado Stone’s stacked stone, giving the façade giving the exterior a strong, natural and rustic feel. The stone is additionally used in the rear of the home as well, to frame an outdoor family living area equipped with a full outdoor kitchen. On the interior, their style translated into many accents. Antique wall sconces. Reclaimed wood. Wrought iron fixtures. Ornate woodwork. And old-world stylings of modern furniture. That idea is evidenced in pieces like their mud-bench in the second entryway. The hyperfunctional mud-bench is made of dark, unfinished natural wood stained to match an adjacent tongue and groove ceiling. All of the ideas featured in this build were challenging. Rising to the challange and building homes that we're proud to put our name on is what we do. We hope you enjoy our work and this homeowner's shabby chic selections! Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya

At CI Design + Build, a referral is the highest form of flattery. And when said word of mouth leads to a luxe, full-scope renovation for a pair of clients who have a genuine love for transformative design, well — now we’re really in our element. For the reno of this two-bedroom, high-rise condo overlooking the Chicago River, our design team was tapped to touch every surface while infusing the footprint with sophistication and timeless glamour. FOR A DECIDEDLY MODERN FEEL WITH TEMPERED MOMENTS OF DRAMA, WE OPTED FOR BOLD MATERIALS AND COLORS, INCLUDING DYNAMIC BLUE ROMA QUARTZITE FOR THE KITCHEN AND BAR. Intent on making the home a unique reflection of its owners, a couple who love hosting friends and family on the regular, we set the stage for elevated entertaining, leaning into statement-making design choices for the main living spaces. A geometric media wall in the living room, for example, commands attention via custom millwork boxes of varying depths, each punctuated by beautiful slabs of backlit onyx. Playful geometries continue in the presentation-worthy kitchen, where intersecting volumes and mixed materials define a bar top, an island counter, and a dining table. Here, a striking Sub-Zero/Wolf appliance suite, including a floor-to-ceiling wine fridge, makes functionality utterly fabulous. Incorporating white oak hardwood and gorgeous porcelain tile, every inch of flooring was updated for seamless continuity. In the primary bedroom, a calm and inviting sanctuary was defined, including a dramatic headboard wall that features shagreen-upholstered channels and angled millwork panels, and a statement fireplace that adds a strong focal point. The adjacent en suite stuns courtesy of Port Black marble-topped vanities and a shower bench that extends through the glass. Throughout, CI provided all the furnishings and decorative lighting for the home, making this a true turnkey project.

The Willow - Transitional Family Home on Acreage in Brush Prairie, Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. Lastly, the style. Shabby Chic (chique) was a trend favorited early on by these clients. We wanted to create a space that used similar elements in materials and construction while allowing their style to play out over interior walls. On the outside this amounted to over 200 square feet of Eldorado Stone’s stacked stone, giving the façade giving the exterior a strong, natural and rustic feel. The stone is additionally used in the rear of the home as well, to frame an outdoor family living area equipped with a full outdoor kitchen. On the interior, their style translated into many accents. Antique wall sconces. Reclaimed wood. Wrought iron fixtures. Ornate woodwork. And old-world stylings of modern furniture. That idea is evidenced in pieces like their mud-bench in the second entryway. The hyperfunctional mud-bench is made of dark, unfinished natural wood stained to match an adjacent tongue and groove ceiling. All of the ideas featured in this build were challenging. Rising to the challange and building homes that we're proud to put our name on is what we do. We hope you enjoy our work and this homeowner's shabby chic selections! Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya

Great room - tropical great room idea in Miami with white walls

In this natural backyard oasis, a serene bronze Buddha statue takes center stage, enveloped by the majestic presence of natural mountains, lush trees, and vibrant plants. The atmosphere exudes tranquility and spirituality, providing a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. As you step into this enchanting space, the sight of the bronze Buddha amidst the surrounding beauty immediately soothes the soul. The statue stands as a symbol of peace and enlightenment, inviting contemplation and introspection. Embracing the scene are awe-inspiring natural mountains that rise in the distance, commanding a sense of grandeur and wonder. Their presence instills a feeling of being one with nature, fostering a deep connection to the earth. Amidst the verdant surroundings, an inviting seating area awaits with light brown chairs, designed for relaxation and appreciation of the breathtaking scenery. Here, you can unwind and immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of nature, allowing the mind to find solace and serenity. Every corner of this natural haven boasts an abundance of greenery, with trees and plants in a harmonious dance of life. The foliage provides a refreshing respite, filling the air with the invigorating scents of the outdoors. As the sun sets, the backyard transforms into a magical retreat. The bronze Buddha, nestled amidst the natural landscape, seems to glow with an ethereal radiance. The play of light and shadows enhances the sense of tranquility, enveloping the space in a calming aura. This backyard sanctuary is a place where one can reconnect with oneself and find inner peace. It celebrates the beauty of nature, the wisdom of the Buddha, and the essence of life's simplicity. It's a place to unwind, meditate, and savor the wonders of the natural world, providing a sanctuary to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.

Concrete can be made to look like any substance. Tile, stone, wood, brick, etc. With unlimited color options, Ky-Kan Coatings can transform any room in your home or business using lightweight, beautiful concrete.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Today’s skyscrapers do not accommodate ever-changing uses, health, and energy crisis. onE.GLobe proposes organically grown, flexible, and scalable live-work-play structures which can adapt to any condition. Stress increases the risk of chronic diseases, the leading cause of death and disability with around 75% (Source 1a, 1b). Improving human health through a thoughtfully designed environment is as important as energy conservation and carbon sequestration. We can also address all three goals with similar solutions, such as allocating large green areas, water features, and diverse uses in proximity. Nature makes people happier and healthier, and it also absorbs stormwater and can be used for renewable energy production. Therefore, we can achieve resiliency for both environment and society easily together. Amoeba Fusion aims to empower societies by providing a space for decentralized, innovative start-up communities. onE.GLobe considers the built environment a living, breathing, multiplying organism, evolving in nature with harmony. The structure can grow horizontally and vertically by adding new cores in different directions per each site condition. It creates public plazas shaded and shielded by the building as it grows. Fully self-sufficient structure houses flexible 3D printed dwellings and workspaces surrounded by semi-open garden spaces and atrium. Thirty feet deep floor plates receive daylight from the exterior and atrium and can conveniently be used as open-plan office space. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems are distributed through modular floor plates, on which 3D printed modules are flexibly plugged in. 3D printed inflatable shells with indoor air cleaning plants house a plug-in kitchen, bedroom, workspace, and bathroom modules. The bridge-connected clusters have decentralized systems with the off-grid micro-grid integrating renewable energy sources and excess energy storage. Compact layouts provide space for an increasing number of entrepreneurs, making them socialize and inspire near their accommodation. Eliminating corridors in dwelling units with an efficient design and replacing them with the garden space surrounding units achieve this endeavor. Amoeba Fusion New York is located at a General Commercial Zoning district in NYC with residential and commercial uses. The site currently accommodates six towers. This project explores a more resilient design solution for an innovative, diverse community for the post-pandemic world. Located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan, bordering Hell’s Kitchen with countless restaurants, the site is close to various public transportation, universities, cultural spaces, and businesses, making it ideal for an innovative, creative crowd. Mixed-use commercial and residential buildings are allowed with a floor area bonus of 20% with a public plaza. With tower regulation, there is no minimum lot coverage requirement, and no rule regarding the distribution of floor area allows the tallest buildings in the city. There are plenty of luxury residential buildings in New York City, but they don’t serve innovative young people and entrepreneurs. Co-living buildings do not provide proper workspaces within the facility. For these reasons, onE.GLobe aims to investigate ways to design long-term live-work-play environments for innovative young people and ease the effects of the future pandemics with its efficient, flexible dwelling units and workspaces surrounded by semi-open garden spaces, atrium, rooftops, public plazas, and wet ponds.

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

This multi-functional space houses a built-in shelving to store the family's book collection, a computer/desk area for all their home office needs, and a small seating arrangement in the center. Photo Credit: Donna Dotan Photography

Award Winning project by Shane Cook Design. This project features a highly customized floor plan, not typical to the building, and interiors on an upper floor of Houston’s dominant upper Kirby high-rise condominium. The challenge of this project was to provide the maximum amount of wall space to feature the client’s world-class contemporary art collection, while at the same time leaving an open, airy, contemporary living space. Lighting design, also by Mr. Cook, was integral to the client’s need to properly light the art, while at the same time allow for flexibility in the rotation of pieces from the collection. The floating ceiling elements in the entry area and living/dining areas help to both define individual spaces and organize the lighting fixtures. The North side of the ceiling element over the living/dining area follows the swooping curve of the building exterior and helps engage the building’s freestanding structural column. A meticulously detailed palate of neutral materials was chosen to create no competition with the featured artworks. While color is incorporated, it is kept to a “tone-on-tone” basis. A step up from the main living area into the kitchen serves to both give the overall space more of an open loft effect and separate this more utilitarian area. The curve of the steps up into the kitchen/tv area gives a sculptural quality to the space and plays off of the curve of the building’s facade. Custom designed items, all by Shane Cook, include the wool and silk entry rug, ceiling elements with integrated lighting (including the electronic files needed for the CNC machine laser cutting of the ceiling’s panels and reveals), dining table, and master bath vanity. Furniture selection was also by Mr. Cook. Artwork featured in the photography includes: 1- Entry: Robert Rauschenberg and Antony Gormley 2- Living/Dining: John Chamberlian (suspended from ceiling) and a monumental piece by Gene Davis (on the feature wall) 3- Living1: George Segal, Gene Davis, and Bernar Venet 4- Breakfast: Roni Horn, Michael Rouillard, and Willem de Kooning 5- TV: Donald Judd Image by: Aker Imaging

Completed in 2011, this home is designed for a steeply sloping urban lot in Vienna, Virginia. In response to a tight zoning code that limited the building's footprint, we designed a compact plan that rises 3 stories and draws inspiration from the historic character of this small town consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work. Utilizing our favorite Great Room Scheme, the main level is planned with a classic front porch, 2-story entry hall, formal dining room, Kitchen/Breakfast area, large Mud Room with separate entrance and, finally, the Great Room itself. The lower level is the Entertainment hub of the house and contains a guest suite, shop, exercise area, family room and play area with wet bar. Upstairs, 3 kid's bedrooms, 2 full baths, laundry area, Master Suite with large sleeping area and a 5 piece master bath with large walk-in closet are all efficiently arranged to maximize room size. Our clients were interested in a very expressive exterior formalism while staying within the traditional architectural norm of Vienna. We responded with a series of gable dormers, bay windows and a hexagonal sitting room clad with complimentary siding materials and bold colors. Eventually, the back of the structure will be finished out with a large deck at the main level and elaborate staircase that descends to the rear yard.

Completed in 2011, this home is designed for a steeply sloping urban lot in Vienna, Virginia. In response to a tight zoning code that limited the building's footprint, we designed a compact plan that rises 3 stories and draws inspiration from the historic character of this small town consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work. Utilizing our favorite Great Room Scheme, the main level is planned with a classic front porch, 2-story entry hall, formal dining room, Kitchen/Breakfast area, large Mud Room with separate entrance and, finally, the Great Room itself. The lower level is the Entertainment hub of the house and contains a guest suite, shop, exercise area, family room and play area with wet bar. Upstairs, 3 kid's bedrooms, 2 full baths, laundry area, Master Suite with large sleeping area and a 5 piece master bath with large walk-in closet are all efficiently arranged to maximize room size. Our clients were interested in a very expressive exterior formalism while staying within the traditional architectural norm of Vienna. We responded with a series of gable dormers, bay windows and a hexagonal sitting room clad with complimentary siding materials and bold colors. Eventually, the back of the structure will be finished out with a large deck at the main level and elaborate staircase that descends to the rear yard.