Jared McKenna Photography
Example of a mountain style exterior home design in Boston

Minimalist deck photo in Dallas

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint.

This landscape is based on a painting by pioneering abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. The Art Garden method of Landscape Design is a process where the outdoor environment's design is based on the the work of a specific artist or work of art, or incorporates multiple art forms into the space, including sculpture, music, dance, performance art and experiential elements. The swirling shape of the front stones give the composition a sense of movement, while the variegated Sedum offer a structural contrast to the red wall, and can tolerate the hot dry microclimate of stone mulch and the concrete wall. Behind the wall is a massing of Hay Scented Fern, a lush bright green contrast to the red wall. The red arching wall offers a high contrast backdrop to the sculptural fire pit, which is a cast iron sugar kettle from South Carolina. It’s rim sits on top of two of the boulders, while fitting into a notch of the third boulder, creating an asymmetrical, funky balance, typical of Kandinsky’s work.

This was a full renovation of a 1920’s home sitting on a five acre lot. This is a beautiful and stately stone home whose interior was a victim of poorly thought-out, dated renovations and a sectioned off apartment taking up a quarter of the home. We changed the layout completely reclaimed the apartment and garage to make this space work for a growing family. We brought back style, elegance and era appropriate details to the main living spaces. Custom cabinetry, amazing carpentry details, reclaimed and natural materials and fixtures all work in unison to make this home complete. Our energetic, fun and positive clients lived through this amazing transformation like pros. The process was collaborative, fun, and organic.

The program consists of a detached Guest House with full Kitchen, Living and Dining amenities, Carport and Office Building with attached Main house and Master Bedroom wing. The arrangement of buildings was dictated by the numerous majestic oaks and organized as a procession of spaces leading from the Entry arbor up to the front door. Large covered terraces and arbors were used to extend the interior living spaces out onto the site. All the buildings are clad in Texas limestone with accent bands of Leuders limestone to mimic the local limestone cliffs in the area. Steel was used on the arbors and fences and left to rust. Vertical grain Douglas fir was used on the interior while flagstone and stained concrete floors were used throughout. The flagstone floors extend from the exterior entry arbors into the interior of the Main Living space and out onto the Main house terraces.

This was a full renovation of a 1920’s home sitting on a five acre lot. This is a beautiful and stately stone home whose interior was a victim of poorly thought-out, dated renovations and a sectioned off apartment taking up a quarter of the home. We changed the layout completely reclaimed the apartment and garage to make this space work for a growing family. We brought back style, elegance and era appropriate details to the main living spaces. Custom cabinetry, amazing carpentry details, reclaimed and natural materials and fixtures all work in unison to make this home complete. Our energetic, fun and positive clients lived through this amazing transformation like pros. The process was collaborative, fun, and organic.

Free form pool with rock weeping wall, stone beach entry, stamped & stained decking & rock flower beds. Rustic style open outdoor kitchen, with rock fireplace and pergola sitting area. Photo Credit: Epic Foto Group

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Living room - eclectic living room idea in New York

The homeowners had a keen eye for design, so the designers at Betz got helpful suggestions and input throughout the process. The architecture and construction materials of the cabana match the home to provide a seamless overall look, while the mature evergreen plantings helped to lend privacy right from the start.

The Shadowood House is part of a farm that has been in the client's family for generations. At the beginning of the process, the clients were living in a house (where this one now sits) that had been through addition after addition, making the spaces feel cramped and non-cohesive. They wanted a space for family gatherings, that was a modern take on a simple farmhouse. The clients wanted a house that feels comfortable for their children and grandchildren, but also enables them to age-in-place. In short, they wanted a house that would offer generations to come a place to feel at home. Josh Partee AIAP, ASMP, LEED AP / Architectural Photographer

Karen and Chad of Tower Lakes, IL were tired of their unfinished basement functioning as nothing more than a storage area and depressing gym. They wanted to increase the livable square footage of their home with a cohesive finished basement design, while incorporating space for the kids and adults to hang out. “We wanted to make sure that upon renovating the basement, that we can have a place where we can spend time and watch movies, but also entertain and showcase the wine collection that we have,” Karen said. After a long search comparing many different remodeling companies, Karen and Chad found Advance Design Studio. They were drawn towards the unique “Common Sense Remodeling” process that simplifies the renovation experience into predictable steps focused on customer satisfaction. “There are so many other design/build companies, who may not have transparency, or a focused process in mind and I think that is what separated Advance Design Studio from the rest,” Karen said. Karen loved how designer Claudia Pop was able to take very high-level concepts, “non-negotiable items” and implement them in the initial 3D drawings. Claudia and Project Manager DJ Yurik kept the couple in constant communication through the project. “Claudia was very receptive to the ideas we had, but she was also very good at infusing her own points and thoughts, she was very responsive, and we had an open line of communication,” Karen said. A very important part of the basement renovation for the couple was the home gym and sauna. The “high-end hotel” look and feel of the openly blended work out area is both highly functional and beautiful to look at. The home sauna gives them a place to relax after a long day of work or a tough workout. “The gym was a very important feature for us,” Karen said. “And I think (Advance Design) did a very great job in not only making the gym a functional area, but also an aesthetic point in our basement”. An extremely unique wow-factor in this basement is the walk in glass wine cellar that elegantly displays Karen and Chad’s extensive wine collection. Immediate access to the stunning wet bar accompanies the wine cellar to make this basement a popular spot for friends and family. The custom-built wine bar brings together two natural elements; Calacatta Vicenza Quartz and thick distressed Black Walnut. Sophisticated yet warm Graphite Dura Supreme cabinetry provides contrast to the soft beige walls and the Calacatta Gold backsplash. An undermount sink across from the bar in a matching Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop adds functionality and convenience to the bar, while identical distressed walnut floating shelves add an interesting design element and increased storage. Rich true brown Rustic Oak hardwood floors soften and warm the space drawing all the areas together. Across from the bar is a comfortable living area perfect for the family to sit down at a watch a movie. A full bath completes this finished basement with a spacious walk-in shower, Cocoa Brown Dura Supreme vanity with Calacatta Vicenza Quartz countertop, a crisp white sink and a stainless-steel Voss faucet. Advance Design’s Common Sense process gives clients the opportunity to walk through the basement renovation process one step at a time, in a completely predictable and controlled environment. “Everything was designed and built exactly how we envisioned it, and we are really enjoying it to it’s full potential,” Karen said. Constantly striving for customer satisfaction, Advance Design’s success is heavily reliant upon happy clients referring their friends and family. “We definitely will and have recommended Advance Design Studio to friends who are looking to embark on a remodeling project small or large,” Karen exclaimed at the completion of her project.

This was a full renovation of a 1920’s home sitting on a five acre lot. This is a beautiful and stately stone home whose interior was a victim of poorly thought-out, dated renovations and a sectioned off apartment taking up a quarter of the home. We changed the layout completely reclaimed the apartment and garage to make this space work for a growing family. We brought back style, elegance and era appropriate details to the main living spaces. Custom cabinetry, amazing carpentry details, reclaimed and natural materials and fixtures all work in unison to make this home complete. Our energetic, fun and positive clients lived through this amazing transformation like pros. The process was collaborative, fun, and organic.

This Bonita Bay remodel involved a transformative process in the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Walls were taken down to reposition the space, creating an open and more interconnected layout. This redesign enhances the flow of natural light, promotes a more spacious atmosphere, and fosters a cohesive and modern living experience.

Antique Skip Oak Flooring and Weathered Antique Timbers bring deep warm tones and rich texture into this cozy traditional sitting room, framing the space with a striking reclaimed wood archway and beam overhead. Manomin Antique Skip Oak reclaimed wood flooring is milled from a mix of red and white reclaimed oak, salvaged from century old structures around the United States. Underneath that antique veneer are deep warm tones that drink up their surroundings and reflect a truly unique look, unobtainable without reclaimed wood. Our Antique Oak Planks are skip planed, a process where only enough wood is milled off the surface of the boards to level them out, leaving a distressed look that bears the marks of the milling on giant saws more than 100 years ago. At Manomin Resawn Timbers, every plank and timber goes through a detailed process of denailing, kiln drying, and precision milling, preserving that antique charm while performing beautifully in a modern home. Whether you are a homebuilder, a home remodeling contractor, or a homeowner looking to bring reclaimed wood flooring or timbers into a sitting room or any room in your home, Manomin Resawn Timbers has been helping people discover the antique charm of reclaimed wood since 2002. Visit our showroom in Hugo, MN or reach out to us with a call or a message to get started.

This was a full renovation of a 1920’s home sitting on a five acre lot. This is a beautiful and stately stone home whose interior was a victim of poorly thought-out, dated renovations and a sectioned off apartment taking up a quarter of the home. We changed the layout completely reclaimed the apartment and garage to make this space work for a growing family. We brought back style, elegance and era appropriate details to the main living spaces. Custom cabinetry, amazing carpentry details, reclaimed and natural materials and fixtures all work in unison to make this home complete. Our energetic, fun and positive clients lived through this amazing transformation like pros. The process was collaborative, fun, and organic.

This Bonita Bay remodel involved a transformative process in the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Walls were taken down to reposition the space, creating an open and more interconnected layout. This redesign enhances the flow of natural light, promotes a more spacious atmosphere, and fosters a cohesive and modern living experience.

This Bonita Bay remodel involved a transformative process in the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Walls were taken down to reposition the space, creating an open and more interconnected layout. This redesign enhances the flow of natural light, promotes a more spacious atmosphere, and fosters a cohesive and modern living experience.

This Bonita Bay remodel involved a transformative process in the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Walls were taken down to reposition the space, creating an open and more interconnected layout. This redesign enhances the flow of natural light, promotes a more spacious atmosphere, and fosters a cohesive and modern living experience.