Miami Outdoor Solutions
Photo of a tropical landscaping in Miami.

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone pavers, this new area alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem to overcome was the disconnected feel of the existing patio; there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement in their outdoor space. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating and gaining the greatest amount of continuous, flat space that the client needed. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a very tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining hardscape gaps were later filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and then lit up with the incredibly versatile Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

Example of a mid-sized mountain style backyard stamped concrete and custom-shaped natural hot tub design in Houston

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards In general, Bryan and Connie Rellinger loved the charm of the old cottage they purchased on a Crooked Lake peninsula, north of Petoskey. Specifically, however, the presence of a live-well in the kitchen (a huge cement basin with running water for keeping fish alive was right in the kitchen entryway, seriously), rickety staircase and green shag carpet, not so much. An extreme renovation was the only solution. The downside? The rebuild would have to fit into the smallish nonconforming footprint. The upside? That footprint was built when folks could place a building close enough to the water to feel like they could dive in from the house. Ahhh... Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design helped the Rellingers come up with a timeless cottage design that breathes efficiency into every nook and cranny. It also expresses the synergy of Bryan, Connie and Stephanie, who emailed each other links to products they liked throughout the building process. That teamwork resulted in an interior that sports a young take on classic cottage. Highlights include a brass sink and light fixtures, coffered ceilings with wide beadboard planks, leathered granite kitchen counters and a way-cool floor made of American chestnut planks from an old barn. Thanks to an abundant use of windows that deliver a grand view of Crooked Lake, the home feels airy and much larger than it is. Bryan and Connie also love how well the layout functions for their family - especially when they are entertaining. The kids' bedrooms are off a large landing at the top of the stairs - roomy enough to double as an entertainment room. When the adults are enjoying cocktail hour or a dinner party downstairs, they can pull a sliding door across the kitchen/great room area to seal it off from the kids' ruckus upstairs (or vice versa!). From its gray-shingled dormers to its sweet white window boxes, this charmer on Crooked Lake is packed with ideas! - Jacqueline Southby Photography

The new walk in shower features a Moen showerhead and handheld, useful grab bars, and a fold down teak seat. There is not a full door, but there is a hinged panel that can be opened to allow for wheelchair and closed back up to keep the water in the shower.

Rebecca McAlpin
Bedroom - large transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Philadelphia with gray walls

LQDesign Studio, LLC
Inspiration for a large transitional master white tile marble floor bathroom remodel in Wilmington with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

A swimming pool/water feature, a main floor elevation high above pool grade, upper seating for two and a bbq, two lounges for sunning, an eating area, a gas firepit with seating for six, a fully plumbed stone change room/toilet, an outdoor shower and deep lush garden beds. Truthfully we didn't think it would work either, who knew?

Dimplex Revillusion™ 36" is a completely new way of looking at fireplaces, and changing the standard for electric. A clear view through the lifelike flames, to the full brick interior, captures the charm of a wood-burning fireplace. Enjoy the look of a fireplace cut straight from the pages of a magazine by choosing Revillusion™; clearly a better fireplace.

Inspiration for a country kitchen remodel in Denver

We had too much cabinet space before. I follow the paleo diet so I wanted a different type of kitchen. You don’t need lots of cabinets for crackers and stuff if you are a paleo homemaker - lots of cooking space though! (We have a freezer with a side of beef in the garage too.) We remodeled our smallish 1980’s kitchen from May to October of 2014. My sister did her kitchen a couple of years ago and told me about Houzz. She encouraged me to design the kitchen for my style of cooking and to look at the space itself before deciding on materials. The demolition, moving and lengthening of walls was not as expensive as I thought it would be. Removing the dining room wall was several thousand dollars because they had to build a temporary stud wall so they could put in the beam. However, a decision to lengthen that sink wall at the right end, for example, only added about $300 to the budget. Even if I had a smaller budget I would still choose all the space modifications first - as a priority. Photos by Catharine Krueger

Growsgreen Landscape Design, photo by Caitlin Atkinson.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in San Francisco with a fire pit.

ullivan's Island Home Renovation by Diament Builder Interior Design by Amy Trowman Design, Charleston, SC
Beach style living room photo in Charleston

This combination mudroom and laundry room was added to the existing footprint of the home by taking the square footage from the attached garage. Both white washer and drayer units sit side by side with a folding table with a Cambria quartz slab to the right. There are white painted cabinets with a pewter glaze above with a shaker door style and oil rubbed bronze hardware. A coat rack and bench were custom made with cubicles below for shoes and rattan baskets above for extra supplies. The walls are painted with a taupe color from Sherwin Williams. The flooring is a DuraCeramic vinyl composition tile, which will hold up to heavy traffic.

Transitional home design photo in Austin

This Modern colonial kitchen in Westchester County was built around a dining table to accomodate a large family. Handcrafted subway tiles were used as the backsplash and to frame the windows. Shaker style Brookhaven custom cabinets created the contemporary feel of the space.

Dining area with round white lacquer table, brass chandelier, leather seating, and ripplefold drapery wall.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary light wood floor and beige floor breakfast nook remodel in Philadelphia with white walls

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards In general, Bryan and Connie Rellinger loved the charm of the old cottage they purchased on a Crooked Lake peninsula, north of Petoskey. Specifically, however, the presence of a live-well in the kitchen (a huge cement basin with running water for keeping fish alive was right in the kitchen entryway, seriously), rickety staircase and green shag carpet, not so much. An extreme renovation was the only solution. The downside? The rebuild would have to fit into the smallish nonconforming footprint. The upside? That footprint was built when folks could place a building close enough to the water to feel like they could dive in from the house. Ahhh... Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design helped the Rellingers come up with a timeless cottage design that breathes efficiency into every nook and cranny. It also expresses the synergy of Bryan, Connie and Stephanie, who emailed each other links to products they liked throughout the building process. That teamwork resulted in an interior that sports a young take on classic cottage. Highlights include a brass sink and light fixtures, coffered ceilings with wide beadboard planks, leathered granite kitchen counters and a way-cool floor made of American chestnut planks from an old barn. Thanks to an abundant use of windows that deliver a grand view of Crooked Lake, the home feels airy and much larger than it is. Bryan and Connie also love how well the layout functions for their family - especially when they are entertaining. The kids' bedrooms are off a large landing at the top of the stairs - roomy enough to double as an entertainment room. When the adults are enjoying cocktail hour or a dinner party downstairs, they can pull a sliding door across the kitchen/great room area to seal it off from the kids' ruckus upstairs (or vice versa!). From its gray-shingled dormers to its sweet white window boxes, this charmer on Crooked Lake is packed with ideas! - Jacqueline Southby Photography

The owners of this home came to us with a plan to build a new high-performance home that physically and aesthetically fit on an infill lot in an old well-established neighborhood in Bellingham. The Craftsman exterior detailing, Scandinavian exterior color palette, and timber details help it blend into the older neighborhood. At the same time the clean modern interior allowed their artistic details and displayed artwork take center stage. We started working with the owners and the design team in the later stages of design, sharing our expertise with high-performance building strategies, custom timber details, and construction cost planning. Our team then seamlessly rolled into the construction phase of the project, working with the owners and Michelle, the interior designer until the home was complete. The owners can hardly believe the way it all came together to create a bright, comfortable, and friendly space that highlights their applied details and favorite pieces of art. Photography by Radley Muller Photography​ Design by Deborah Todd Building Design Services Interior Design by Spiral Studios​