The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

© elkstudios.com
Small trendy rooftop balcony photo in Los Angeles with no cover

This Lloyd Harbor Home situated on the water provided the perfect setting for a spectacular Bakes and Kropp kitchen. The custom inset cabinetry in classic white features our soft, delicate Watermark style profile. Walnut-trimmed drawers, a walnut wood countertop extension, and polished nickel hardware coordinate perfectly with the beautiful blue accent decor. Even the Thermador appliances feature matching blue details – Gorgeous! *Styling by Samhal Interiors

Completed Koi Pond in Baltimore County, MD We offer: Ponds | Waterfalls | Streams | Pondless Waterfalls | Fountains | Fish Ponds | Koi Ponds | Water Gardens | Eco System Ponds | Rain Water Harvesting | Landscape Lighting | LED Pond Lighting | Water Features | Design | Installation | Repair | Maintenance | Pond Cleaning | Pond and Waterfall Construction | Renovation | Consultation | Serving Baltimore County and Harford County Maryland (MD)

C.L. Fry Photography
Example of a small transitional gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile corner shower design in Austin with gray walls

photo by Karl Neumann
Large mountain style open concept and formal medium tone wood floor living room photo with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a media wall

Photo by Andrew Hyslop
Example of a small transitional powder room design in Louisville

Master bath
Inspiration for a large cottage bathroom remodel in Los Angeles

Partially recessed stainless steel spa with tile trim in this compact, San Fransisco backyard. Landscape design by Katharine Webster.
Hot tub - small modern courtyard concrete paver and rectangular aboveground hot tub idea in San Francisco

You can read more about the project through this Houzz Feature link: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/hillside-yard-offers-scenic-views-and-space-for-contemplation-stsetivw-vs~131483772

Traditionally detailed laundry room. The lattice screened cabinet is actually the end point for the laundry chute. Clothes on the floor above travel down a chute and into this cabinet.

Inspiration for a coastal white three-story exterior home remodel in Orange County with a red roof

My client for this project was a builder/ developer. He had purchased a flat two acre parcel with vineyards that was within easy walking distance of downtown St. Helena. He planned to “build for sale” a three bedroom home with a separate one bedroom guest house, a pool and a pool house. He wanted a modern type farmhouse design that opened up to the site and to the views of the hills beyond and to keep as much of the vineyards as possible. The house was designed with a central Great Room consisting of a kitchen area, a dining area, and a living area all under one roof with a central linear cupola to bring natural light into the middle of the room. One approaches the entrance to the home through a small garden with water features on both sides of a path that leads to a covered entry porch and the front door. The entry hall runs the length of the Great Room and serves as both a link to the bedroom wings, the garage, the laundry room and a small study. The entry hall also serves as an art gallery for the future owner. An interstitial space between the entry hall and the Great Room contains a pantry, a wine room, an entry closet, an electrical room and a powder room. A large deep porch on the pool/garden side of the house extends most of the length of the Great Room with a small breakfast Room at one end that opens both to the kitchen and to this porch. The Great Room and porch open up to a swimming pool that is on on axis with the front door. The main house has two wings. One wing contains the master bedroom suite with a walk in closet and a bathroom with soaking tub in a bay window and separate toilet room and shower. The other wing at the opposite end of the househas two children’s bedrooms each with their own bathroom a small play room serving both bedrooms. A rear hallway serves the children’s wing, a Laundry Room and a Study, the garage and a stair to an Au Pair unit above the garage. A separate small one bedroom guest house has a small living room, a kitchen, a toilet room to serve the pool and a small covered porch. The bedroom is ensuite with a full bath. This guest house faces the side of the pool and serves to provide privacy and block views ofthe neighbors to the east. A Pool house at the far end of the pool on the main axis of the house has a covered sitting area with a pizza oven, a bar area and a small bathroom. Vineyards were saved on all sides of the house to help provide a private enclave within the vines. The exterior of the house has simple gable roofs over the major rooms of the house with sloping ceilings and large wooden trusses in the Great Room and plaster sloping ceilings in the bedrooms. The exterior siding through out is painted board and batten siding similar to farmhouses of other older homes in the area. Clyde Construction: General Contractor Photographed by: Paul Rollins

Example of a transitional dark wood floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash and an island

Design: Debby Ruskin, Ruskin Gardens Co. Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

Tom Arban
Example of a large minimalist master gray tile and stone tile limestone floor freestanding bathtub design in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a trough sink and solid surface countertops

Wellborn Premier Prairie Maple Shaker Doors, Bleu Color, Amerock Satin Brass Bar Pulls, Delta Satin Brass Touch Faucet, Kraus Deep Undermount Sik, Gray Quartz Countertops, GE Profile Slate Gray Matte Finish Appliances, Brushed Gold Light Fixtures, Floor & Decor Printed Porcelain Tiles w/ Vintage Details, Floating Stained Shelves for Coffee Bar, Neptune Synergy Mixed Width Water Proof San Marcos Color Vinyl Snap Down Plank Flooring, Brushed Nickel Outlet Covers, Zline Drop in 30" Cooktop, Rev-a-Shelf Lazy Susan, Double Super Trash Pullout, & Spice Rack, this little Galley has it ALL!

Inspiration for a timeless master brown tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub remodel with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, a one-piece toilet, an undermount sink and brown walls

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.