Perched on a hillside on California's coveted Central Coast, this modern variation of timeless architecture is focused on not only providing a pleasing exterior experience but also framed views of its beautiful surroundings. Black windows and warm wood eaves and details accent the strong white exterior providing balance.

We are very proud of this destination home. With expansive views and ready outdoor access this home can sleep up to 16. Perfect for anyone looking to experience a mountain lodge getaway. See more here: http://www.namulodge.com/

Mariko Reed
Patio - mid-sized 1950s backyard concrete patio idea in San Francisco with a fire pit and a roof extension

Savvy homeowners already know that Belk Builders is the Charlotte area's trusted source for quality siding replacement, including Hardie Plank, window replacement and roof replacement. However, we are also a top-quality resource for many additional exterior remodeling and upgrade projects. Our expertise goes beyond the surface as issues with the condition of what is underlying to complete a project that is structurally sound or requests from the homeowner may encompass more than your typical siding, window or roofing replacement. We have the knowledge, training and experience to complete almost anything that comes our way. A recent project in Huntersville, NC, stands as proof of our diverse expertise in all things exterior. This project consists of a screened porch to sunroom conversion using upscale windows and featuring a heated tile floor facade. Photos courtesy Belk Builders.

FREE ESTIMATES (847) 827-1605 About A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. We are Chicagoland’s Premier Roofing, Siding, Gutters and Windows Experts. At A.B. Edward, we enjoy working closely with our customers to provide honest information while exploring all possibilities. This attention to detail ensures a hassle-free experience in every facet of sales and service covering a multitude of residential construction projects. We have an A+ Better Business Rating Since 2003 & are an Angie’s List Super Service Award Company! Our company specializes in Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Windows Contractor Sales and service of the highest quality backed by comprehensive warranties are the hallmark of A.B. Edward. Our working relationship begins, as it should; listening to you and our relationship will continue long after your project is completed. We pride ourselves on making customers happy before, during and after a project is completed. Just listen to what some of our customers are saying about our roofing products and services in the North Shore, Illinois Area. Today, our family-owned and operated business proudly employs more than 30 people, and our services go well beyond roofing to include, roofing, siding, gutters, windows, masonry, insulation, decks, exterior painting, stucco, carpentry and more. Your home is your single greatest investment, and so we strive to treat your home as our own, taking care to ensure top-quality products, distinctive design, and expert installation, all backed by comprehensive warranties. Let us create the home of your dreams and we’ll take every step to be sure you’re 100% satisfied with your project and become another one of our “lifetime customers.” Please take a few moments to review our services, and feel free to contact us at any time, either by phone or email. As always, we provide our customers with a free written estimate for all of our residential construction projects. The goals of our company are simple: To achieve complete 100% customer satisfaction. To build trust by sharing professional advice based on vast experience. To provide the finest professional service to our customers. ### About A.B. Edward Enterprises, Inc. Since 2003 A.B. Edward Enterprises, Incorporated has been providing Chicagoland homeowners with products and installations in the roofing, siding, windows and gutters industry. A.B. Edward has an unblemished A+ Better Business Bureau rating, an Angie’s List Super Service Award Company, and also delivers top industry leading products such as GAF, James Hardie Siding Products, Pella Windows and Doors, DaVinci Roofscapes, Mastic Exterior Siding and more. Today, the family-owned and operated business proudly employs more than 30 people, and our services go well beyond roofing to include, masonry, insulation, decks, exterior painting, stucco, carpentry and more.

We are very proud of this destination home. With expansive views and ready outdoor access this home can sleep up to 16. Perfect for anyone looking to experience a mountain lodge getaway. See more here: http://www.namulodge.com/

Built in 1966 by a local architect influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's organic design principles, this home's remodel prioritized respecting its original character. Nestled in a wooded area frequented by deer and wild turkey, the design aimed to enhance the connection with nature, utilizing three exterior walls and a new roof while incorporating wood and earth tones. The kitchen's layout, confined by a limestone wall and setbacks, limited expansion options, so the design focused on adding appliances, optimizing storage, and increasing sociability within the existing footprint. The project successfully improved the cooking experience and functionality for entertaining.

Panel Type: SolarWorld SunModule Plus 275W Mono “My husband and I would like to share our experience with Zeev Zanzuri from JNA Solar Solutions. Zeev was referred to us by a friend who recommended him highly. At this point, we had already signed a contract with another solar company and were feeling very frustrated and disappointed. Zeev was very patient and understanding as we had many questions and concerns. We live in the city of San Marino, in the San Gabriel Valley, a city well known for being extremely difficult for contractors to get permits approved. The previous solar company misrepresented their prior experience with the city of San Marino and were unable to get our permits approved. This resulted in unnecessary delays and aggravation. Whatever Zeev promised, he delivered. He got the approvals from the city, explained our energy savings in detail and provided consistently great customer service. He was always responsive to our calls and followed up with us after the job was done to see if we had any problems. We are thrilled with our solar system and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Zeev Zanzuri and JNA Solar Solutions to friends, family, and neighbors.” San Marino, CA.

The Parker Sanctuary features a meticulously designed paver patio, a custom stone outdoor kitchen, and custom landscaping. This outdoor backyard retreat also includes a water feature to create the ultimate relaxation experience.

Savvy homeowners already know that Belk Builders is the Charlotte area's trusted source for quality siding replacement, including Hardie Plank, window replacement and roof replacement. However, we are also a top-quality resource for many additional exterior remodeling and upgrade projects. Our expertise goes beyond the surface as issues with the condition of what is underlying to complete a project that is structurally sound or requests from the homeowner may encompass more than your typical siding, window or roofing replacement. We have the knowledge, training and experience to complete almost anything that comes our way. A recent project in Huntersville, NC, stands as proof of our diverse expertise in all things exterior. This project consists of a screened porch to sunroom conversion using upscale windows and featuring a heated tile floor facade. Photos courtesy Belk Builders.

Every now and again we have the good fortune to provide our services in a location with stunningly gorgeous scenery. This Cape Neddick, Maine project represents one of those occasions. Nestled in the client’s backyard, the custom glass conservatory we designed and built offers breathtaking views of the Cape Neddick River flowing nearby. The picturesque result is a great example of how our custom glass enclosures can enhance your daily experience of the natural beauty that already surrounds your home. This conservatory is iconic in its form, designed and styled to match the existing look of the client’s residence, and built to withstand the full brunt of a New England winter. Positioned to maximize views of the river, the glass addition is completed by an adjacent outdoor patio area which provides additional seating and room to entertain. The new space is annexed directly to the home via a steel-reinforced opening into the kitchen in order to provide a convenient access path between the home’s interior and exterior. The mahogany glass roof frame was engineered in our workshop and then transported to the job site and positioned via crane in order to speed construction time without sacrificing quality. The conservatory’s exterior has been painted white to match the home. The floor frame sits atop helical piers and we used wide pine boards for the interior floor. As always, we selected some of the best US-made insulated glass on the market to complete the project. Low-e and argon gas-filled, these panes will provide the R values that make this a true four-season structure.

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

1. Safety Light is an amazing thing. It illuminates everything around us and allows us to see. Unfortunately, every night the sun removes itself along with its full spectrum of light. Now those things that we would normally see like steps, trees, or pools become difficult to see. Climbing stairs without lighting is a great way to fall. Even worse is if you miss the stairs and run face first into a tree. Worse than that is if you fall into the pool. You can see where this is going. Lighting up a landscape is important for safety. Any family or friends who aren’t familiar with the property could be endangered without a properly lit environment. 2. Security I promise these aren’t scare tactics, but security is a valid concern. Thieves prospecting a property will look in from the street. A well-lit building will have a better chance of scaring off a potential burglar compared to a non-lit darker front-yard. It is much easier to sneak around in the dark than in a well-lit beautiful landscape. 3. Beauty and Value LED Directional Landscape Flood Lights are experiences with several tactics to create a beautiful, safe, and secure landscape. Through up lights, down lights, accents, and path lights there are several great ways to improve a yard. Lights can provide, shadows, highlights, silhouettes, wall-washes, and a moonlight effect. Those are plenty of options for a great designer to make something beautiful. Beyond that, crafted fixtures with specific textures can change the environment substantially. Alcon Lighting provides the widest expanse of great products to set the mood for your landscape. Not only does great lighting make a great experience, it also adds value to the property. A beautiful property with a well-lit architecture and landscape can completely change the outer appearance of a property. This kind of value can provide a great return on your investment. 4. You’ve been doing it for years You’ve probably been managing lighting design and landscape lighting for years. If you celebrate Christmas, you can appreciate the hard work and the resulting beauty of a well-lit or elegantly glowing property. Every year, it becomes a competition to light the most extravagant lights and get the biggest luminous trees. Landscape lighting is like a tasteful and all year Christmas experience. If you’ve already been lighting up your house once a year, why not make it a full-time experience?

A view throught the common courtyard towards the open floor plan of the lving room, dining and kitchen areas, as well as the entry. Even the main entry is inside the courtyard. It allows the homeowner to enjoy the experience daily on their way from the garage.

The owners of this rumored John Hudson Thomas home wanted to preserve and restore the exterior architecture, while enhancing the home’s experience of the outdoors, particularly the huge volcanic rock outcroppings in the back yard. They also wanted a modern kitchen, pantry and powder room downstairs and a new master bath upstairs. We tore out the attached garage/ roof deck that was added in the 60’s and replaced it with a carport more in keeping with the original style of the home. In order to open the rear of the house up to the back yard we filled in the corners, adding a much needed mud room and some additional kitchen space and then added a 12’ wide x 8’ tall sliding door at the rear.

Our clients had a very clear vision for what they wanted in a new home and hired our team to help them bring that dream to life. Their goal was to create a contemporary oasis. The main level consists of a courtyard, spa, master suite, kitchen, dining room, living areas, wet bar, large mudroom with ample coat storage, a small outdoor pool off the spa as well as a focal point entry and views of the lake. The second level has four bedrooms, two of which are suites, a third bathroom, a library/common area, outdoor deck and views of the lake, indoor courtyard and live roof. The home also boasts a lower level complete with a movie theater, bathroom, ping-pong/pool area, and home gym. The interior and exterior of the home utilizes clean lines and warm materials. It was such a rewarding experience to help our clients to truly build their dream. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

The Parker Sanctuary features a meticulously designed paver patio, a custom stone outdoor kitchen, and custom landscaping. This outdoor backyard retreat also includes a water feature to create the ultimate relaxation experience.

The Parker Sanctuary features a meticulously designed paver patio, a custom stone outdoor kitchen, and custom landscaping. This outdoor backyard retreat also includes a water feature to create the ultimate relaxation experience.

The Parker Sanctuary features a meticulously designed paver patio, a custom stone outdoor kitchen, and custom landscaping. This outdoor backyard retreat also includes a water feature to create the ultimate relaxation experience.