Karli Moore Photography
Inspiration for a timeless gray floor game room remodel in Columbus with gray walls

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 must-haves were a space that felt integrated with the home’s interior renovations, which provided a cook zone, living space, and a pool big enough to play water games. And of course, some much needed sun protection. Before, the original two decks were constructed to take in the view, one on top of the other off the back of the house. The 2nd story deck opened directly off the master bedroom. But these clients didn’t really use their bedroom as living space; they didn’t hang out on the deck either. Crucially though, the decks were way too tall and shallow; the sun could easily reach the sitting at most times of day, heating the space to uncomfortable temperatures. photography by Tre Dunham 2018

Spend the evening by this beautiful stone fireplace playing games while it storms outside. Enjoy your favorite movie while the kids play on the wood floors under your recycled barn beams. Beautiful! Builder: Blair Dibble Builder - www.blairdibble.com

Custom Backyard Putting Green and Sport Court with Basketball Hoop Systems, Containment Netting, Lighting, Various Sports Nets and Accessories. Painted lines for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and paddle sports.

Play house fit for full-time living set in lush garden. Design by Courtney B. Smith.
Deck - small cottage deck idea in San Francisco

play structure, swing set, play set, river rock walkway, columns, bubblers, landscaping, play area
Photo of a traditional outdoor playset in Portland.

Family room - traditional family room idea in Los Angeles

This room is the Media Room in the 2016 Junior League Shophouse. This space is intended for a family meeting space where a multi generation family could gather. The idea is that the kids could be playing video games while their grandparents are relaxing and reading the paper by the fire and their parents could be enjoying a cup of coffee while skimming their emails. This is a shot of the wall mounted tv screen, a ceiling mounted projector is connected to the internet and can stream anything online. Photo by Jared Kuzia.

Builder/Designer/Owner – Masud Sarshar Photos by – Simon Berlyn, BerlynPhotography Our main focus in this beautiful beach-front Malibu home was the view. Keeping all interior furnishing at a low profile so that your eye stays focused on the crystal blue Pacific. Adding natural furs and playful colors to the homes neutral palate kept the space warm and cozy. Plants and trees helped complete the space and allowed “life” to flow inside and out. For the exterior furnishings we chose natural teak and neutral colors, but added pops of orange to contrast against the bright blue skyline. This multipurpose room is a game room, a pool room, a family room, a built in bar, and a in door out door space. Please place to entertain and have a cocktail at the same time. JL Interiors is a LA-based creative/diverse firm that specializes in residential interiors. JL Interiors empowers homeowners to design their dream home that they can be proud of! The design isn’t just about making things beautiful; it’s also about making things work beautifully. Contact us for a free consultation Hello@JLinteriors.design _ 310.390.6849_ www.JLinteriors.design

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

With this SNAPSPORTS® Home Game Court, family and friends can play many sports on just 'One Court™' - Basketball, Pickleball, Volleyball, Inline Hockey, Tennis, Futsal, and more. Home court features: ? LED lighting for nighttime playevolution® PS surfacing which serves up a superior level of grip, so the ball bounces correctly and consistently for all sports, including Pickleball. ? DuraSlam® adjustable basketball goal ? Mult-Sport Game Net Systems and Court Lines ? LED lighting for nighttime play

This sophisticated game room provides hours of play for a young and active family. The black, white and beige color scheme adds a masculine touch. Wood and iron accents are repeated throughout the room in the armchairs, pool table, pool table light fixture and in the custom built in bar counter. This pool table also accommodates a ping pong table top, as well, which is a great option when space doesn't permit a separate pool table and ping pong table. Since this game room loft area overlooks the home's foyer and formal living room, the modern color scheme unites the spaces and provides continuity of design. A custom white oak bar counter and iron barstools finish the space and create a comfortable hangout spot for watching a friendly game of pool.

THEME Inspired by the Magic Tree House series of children’s books, this indoor tree house provides entertainment, fun and a place for children to read about or imagine adventures through time. A blue sky, green meadows, and distant matching beech trees recreate the magic of Jack and Annie’s Frog Creek, and help bring the characters from the series to life. FOCUS A floor armoire, ceiling swing and climbing rope give the structure a true tree house look and feel. A drop-down drawing and writing table, wheeled work table and recessed ceiling lights ensure the room can be used for more than play. The tree house has electric interior lighting, a window to the outdoors and a playful sliding shutter over a window to the room. The armoire forms a raised, nine-foot-wide play area, while a TV within one of the wall’s floor-to-ceiling cabinets — with a delightful sliding ladder — transforms the room into a family theater perfect for watching movies and holding Wii competitions. STORAGE The bottom of the drawing table is a magnetic chalk board that doubles as a display for children’s art works. The tree’s small niches are for parents’ shoes; the larger compartment stores children’s shoes and school bags. Books, games, toys, DVDs, Wii and other computer accessories are stored in the wall cabinets. The armoire contains two spacious drawers and four nifty hinged storage bins. A rack of handy “vegetable buckets” above the armoire stores crayons, scissors and other useful items. GROWTH The room easily adapts from playroom, to party room, to study room and even to bedroom, as the tree house easily accommodates a twin-size mattress. SAFETY The rungs and rails of the ladder, as well as the grab bars beside the tree house door are wrapped with easy-grip rope for safe climbing. The drawing table has spring-loaded hinges to help prevent it from dropping dangerously from the wall, and the table door has double sets of locks up top to ensure safety. The interior of each storage compartment is carpeted like the tree house floor to provide extra padding.

Clopay Avante Collection glass garage doors play a key role in the magical, translucent calm that prevails the newly completed Modern Green Barn. Inspired by the vernacular potato barns of Long Island’s East End, this unique, energy efficient home is one of the most innovative new designs in the Hamptons. It will receive six third party ratings, including LEED for Homes and National Green Building Standard. Large open spaces create dramatic views, and light and structure is infused into every space. As the sun sets, the Kalwall gable ends and ridge skylights shed soft light to the outside and the pilaster lanterns and etched glass Clopay Garage Doors begin to glow. Every room connects to the outdoors, and the transition between many of the rooms and outdoor spaces is seamless. The abundance of woods on the interior and exterior, and the finishes and warm colors, make it warm and inviting. Project by Stott Architecture for Newmark Developers.

Tucked into the hillsides of Marin, the environment played a predominant role in defining the contemporary yet exotic style of this home. In the master bedroom, a fireplace adds a cozy design element, while an inconspicuous home theater system can be elegantly tucked away when not in use. In the master bathroom, pebbled stone tile adorn the walls of the double shower that overlooks the hillsides of Marin. A guest bathroom was designed to compliment the eclectic aesthetic of the home. While in the center of the residence, a spiral acrylic staircase climbs 3 floors acting as a consistent element, tying together the varied yet complementary styles.

The combination den-office is a cozy place to take care of business, play a game of chess, read or chat. Though the overall home is transitional, this space leans more toward the traditional, anchored by the client's ornately carved desk.

The goal for this light filled finished attic was to create a play space where two young boys could nurture and develop their creative and imaginative selves. A neutral tone was selected for the walls as a foundation for the bright pops of color added in furnishings, area rug and accessories throughout the room. We took advantage of the room’s interesting angles and created a custom chalk board that followed the lines of the ceiling. Magnetic circles from Land of Nod add a playful pop of color and perfect spot for magnetic wall play. A ‘Space Room’ behind the bike print fabric curtain is a favorite hideaway with a glow in the dark star filled ceiling and a custom litebrite wall. Custom Lego baseplate removable wall boards were designed and built to create a Flexible Lego Wall. The family was interested in the concept of a Lego wall but wanted to keep the space flexible for the future. The boards (designed by Jennifer Gardner Design) can be moved to the floor for Lego play and then easily hung back on the wall with a cleat system to display their 3-dimensional Lego creations! This room was great fun to design and we hope it will provide creative and imaginative play inspiration in the years to come! Designed by: Jennifer Gardner Design Photography by: Marcella Winspear

The floor beneath the street level has been built as a child’s retreat of sorts. There are four bedrooms linked in pairs by Jack and Jill bathrooms. This, plus twin study centers, an open play room and a small lounge—strategically tucked away from study and play areas—that’s rigged for gaming and TV-watching. On this floor, the vibe is light and airy, with white walls against light hued floors of engineered oak. “They have a great combination of tones, and are more durable than actual wood,” notes Lazar. There is also plenty of custom cabinetry, from desks and drawers to multiple-sized nooks for stowing away toys and books. Though positioned as a children’s floor, it doesn’t have to be. The floor, and the entire house, has been designed with enough blank slate so it can be stylistically recast as an owner sees fit. “Everything is very subtle very clean,” says Lazar. “Anyone can come in and use the space any way they choose.” Thoughtfully designed by Steve Lazar design+build by South Swell. designbuildbysouthswell.com Photography by Joel Silva.