Richard Herman is in the hospitality business and owns several upscale hotels in Florida and in other states as well as cattle ranches in both Florida and Missouri. Their farm in Ocala is by farm their most unique. The property serves as a 4-H demonstration project for the purpose of children’s education. They have been working with the Academy Prep of St. Pete which is dedicated to inner-city youths that are selected on the basis of need and achievement. Wife Diane spends her time on the farm raising Gypsy Vanners, a diminutive draft horse named after the job they did in Eastern Europe, pulling the wagons (vans) for gypsies that wandered across the continent. On the Ocala farm, there are several mules with a unique profession. Richard had visited the Hearthstone display at a Log & Timber Home Shows at the Orlando Convention Center many years ago. He was impressed that Hearthstone had stayed in touch with him over the years by mailings, invitations to shows, and periodic phone calls. When the time came to start serious consideration of the design of barn, Hearthstone responded promptly and professionally to Richard and Diane’s requests for information and a review of their ideas for their barn, which would serve as the centerpiece for their new farm. They wanted a multipurpose facility that could accommodate an educational environment and a large hall suitable for the fundraising events for his charities. Richard wanted a barn that reflected the look and feel of barns built at the dawn of the 20th century. Besides the rustic chicken houses and vegetable gardens, they have completely renovated a 1020’s era farmhouse to be as historically correct as possible and serves as the entry to the farm. “They very careful to feel us out, get comfortable with our capabilities, and be convinced that we could perform as promised,” said Project Manager John Ricketson of Hearthstone. Design Process There were some initial drawings that gave us a start on the basic shape and size of the barn. From there, it was a process of narrowing down the uses of each area and the spans that could be achieved. The barn was going to have the traditional “board & batten” exterior siding and a metal roof. There is a cantilevered ‘hay hood” on the north gable end above the large sliding barn doors that open into the foyer and horse stalls. The wings house a combination of areas, beginning with the large restrooms to accommodate crowds for events. Other parts of the wings have garage areas for the farm vehicles, feed room, tack room, wash rack, storage, offices, and smaller restrooms. Keeping with the look and feel of the turn of the century, Hearthstone developed a process for giving the timbers a surface texture that mimicked the circular cuts of timbers that had just come out of an old sawmill. This was easier said than done. Randy Giles guided his millwright (Wolfgang) in designing a machine that would do this effectively. The barn was delivered in October of 2014 and was erected over the course of two weeks, thanks to a hardworking crew (Eric Foster) and near-perfect weather. After the Hearthstone crew completed the erection and roof dry-in, it was time for the local carpenters to step up and install some light conventional framing on the gable ends before applying the roof fascia and exterior board & batten siding. Next came the big sliding barn doors, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. Large rustic fixtures were hung from the great hall roof timbers. Exterior The board & batten siding was cypress and allowed to turn color naturally as rain hit it and the sun started working on it with UV rays. This method causes a much grayer look closer to the ground and less so where the roof overhang provides protection. The North end has some large limestone boulders and planters arranged around the pad with tall pampas grass. The planters provide casual seating before events and during outside receptions. The entire area was sodded with lush St. Augustine grass and split rail fences were added to enclose the barn area. The corrugated metal roof was a special order material that immediately rusted after being exposed to moisture. The layer of rust protects the metal from the elements. Interior The board & batten theme was carried throughout most of the interior with the timbers left natural to show off the circular saw texture. All of the tongue & groove decking was shipped in advance to allow the local painter to pre-stain it with a dark brown transparent stain that is a beautiful background to the light color Eastern White Pine timbers. “Everything was unique in this project” said Project Manager John Ricketson. “The setting on a small demonstration farm close to Ocala, the multipurpose design, the circular saw texture on the timbers.” The Hermans are very proud of their farm’s outcome. Richard sent a note to Randy Giles, owner of Hearthstone: “The Barn is fantastic, not a single problem, period. Next month, we have Jo Dee Messina coming in to help with a fundraiser for a local center for abused kids. Folks love the farm, ...... but that barn gets all of the attention. I would encourage you to use me as a reference for your sales team, feel free to extend my cell phone to any prospective purchasers.”

HDBros The clients wanted a unique and spa-like master bath retreat to complement their already beautiful downtown loft. They wanted design solutions and attention to detail that would help distinguish their duplex apartment as a one-of-a-kind space tailored to their specific needs. The existing master bath did not have the sleek contemporary look they prefer, and the shower was too small. We enlarged the shower by removing a tub in an adjacent hall bath. The clients were willing to change the full hall bath into a powder room as they already had two full baths on the lower level. A simple palette of white, gray, and black enhances the contemporary design. We removed the wall between the master and hall bath, removed the hall bath tub, and built a new wall. We had to install all new plumbing rough-ins for the new fixtures. The new shower is 7-feet 9-inches by 4-feet -- enlarged from the original 4-foot square – with a linear drain in the floor. • The owners selected a river rock floor to provide acupressure and an organic touch to the modern room. • The black back wall has a large niche set with the same contrasting white tile as the side walls. The niche is outlined with metal trim. • Adding drama and the feel of a waterfall is an oversized 23-inch square rain head in the ceiling. The clients wanted two benches. Our crew mounted stainless steel L-brackets on the side walls. Our countertop fabricator routed the underside of the engineered quartz benches so the brackets sit flush. The clients also wanted a steam shower, so the glass doors span from the base to the tiled ceiling. We angled the shower ceiling such that the condensation drips would float back to the rear wall instead of straight down. Also set in the walls are waterproof blue-tooth enabled speakers. The clients were inspired by a photo of a countertop with dual ramp sinks. However, there were no references or design information. Our team stepped up to the challenge and created a detailed shop drawings with consultations between our designer, stone fabricator, and in-house plumber. A concealed tank/wall hung toilet fits the clean design lines. We installed the tank in the existing wall which had 2x6 framing. The toilet’s bidet seat (with remote control) required an electrical circuit. In one corner of the bathroom is a single unit wall-mounted drawer with five floating shelves above. The towel bars that are attached to each shelf are appliance pulls. The room has layers of light, including LED strips under the toilet, vanity, and shelving to highlight the floating/wall mounted units. The medicine cabinets have surface mounted lights, and there are recessed lights in the room, as well as in the shower. We also renovated the hall powder room with new flooring, vanity, and fixtures.

Awarded by the Classical institute of art and architecture , the linnean house has a restrained and simple elevation of doors and windows. Nestled in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the Linnean House is classical in both plan and elevation throughout its award-winning house plans. The main mass, comprising of the most formal and public spaces, is a spatial triptych along a symmetrical main axis. Inside the luxury home, the limestone façade, simple but well-proportioned with classical elements, extends itself into both the entry portico and main foyer with consistent proportions and materiality. This introduction allows the flanking living and dining rooms to be perceived as separate pavilions, each equipped with eight equal-proportioned French doors symmetrical of the main axis. Beyond the classical spaces are two wings which lead to the master suite and a kitchen/family space, respectively. Both of which are situated to queue from the French door axis, a focal feature in the repeatedly published home design. At the entry foyer, the stark stone luxury architecture is warmed by two symmetrical wood armoire-like freestanding sculptural objects, a persistent theme throughout the luxury house. In the kitchen, for instance, stand four similar wood armoire objects at opposite corners that act as columns and help give this space a sense of boundary and enclosure. The master bath vanity, in similar fashion, is introduced as a central free-standing form anchoring itself as a notable presence in the space. Lastly, the wine room is designed as a series of free-standing heavy wood cavity walls spanned only by a hint of glass.

The modern industrial design carries all around this house right out to the sleek yet inviting outdoor living space. The large fully covered deck overlooking the pool creates the perfect backdrop for social entertaining.

Tile floor, custom cedar screened door, 1x6 pine kneewalls, Miratec trim and columns
Mid-sized transitional screened-in back porch photo in Raleigh with a roof extension

It’s no surprise these Hanover clients reached out to Cathy and Ed of Renovisions for design and build services as they wanted a local professional bath specialist to turn their plain builder-grade bath into a luxurious handicapped accessible master bath. Renovisions had safety and universal design in mind while creating this customized two-person super shower and well-appointed master bath so their clients could escape to a special place to relax and energize their senses while also helping to conserve time and water as it is used simultaneously by them. This completely water proofed spacious 4’x8’ walk-in curb-less shower with lineal drain system and larger format porcelain tiles was a must have for our senior client –with larger tiles there are less grout lines, easier to clean and easier to maneuver using a walker to enter and exit the master bath. Renovisions collaborated with their clients to design a spa-like bath with several amenities and added conveniences with safety considerations. The bench seat that spans the width of the wall was a great addition to the shower. It’s a comfortable place to sit down and stretch out and also to keep warm as electric mesh warming materials were used along with a programmable thermostat to keep these homeowners toasty and cozy! Careful attention to all of the details in this master suite created a peaceful and elegant environment that, simply put, feels divine. Adding details such as the warming towel rack, mosaic tiled shower niche, shiny polished chrome decorative safety grab bars that also serve as towel racks and a towel rack inside the shower area added a measure of style. A stately framed mirror over the pedestal sink matches the warm white painted finish of the linen storage cabinetry that provides functionality and good looks to this space. Pull-down safety grab bars on either side of the comfort height high-efficiency toilet was essential to keep safety as a top priority. Water, water everywhere for this well deserving couple – multiple shower heads enhances the bathing experience for our client with mobility issues as 54 soft sprays from each wall jet provide a soothing and cleansing effect – a great choice because they do not require gripping and manipulating handles yet provide a sleek look with easy cleaning. The thermostatic valve maintains desired water temperature and volume controls allows the bather to utilize the adjustable hand-held shower on a slide-bar- an ideal fixture to shower and spray down shower area when done. A beautiful, frameless clear glass enclosure maintains a clean, open look without taking away from the stunning and richly grained marble-look tiles and decorative elements inside the shower. In addition to its therapeutic value, this shower is truly a design focal point of the master bath with striking tile work, beautiful chrome fixtures including several safety grab bars adding aesthetic value as well as safety benefits.

Our client desired a functional, tasteful, and improved environment to compliment their home. The overall goal was to create a landscape that was subtle and not overdone. The client was highly focused on their deck environment that would span across the rear of the house with an area for a Jacuzzi as well. A portion of the deck has a screened in porch due to the naturally buggy environment since the home is situated in the woods and a low area. A mosquito repellent injection system was incorporated into the irrigation system to help with the bug issue. We improved circulation of the driveway, increased the overall curb appeal of the entrance of the home, and created a scaled and proportional outdoor living environment for the clients to enjoy. The client has religious guidelines that needed to be adhered to with the overall function and design of the landscape, which included an arbor over the deck to support a Sukkah and a Green Egg smoker to cook Kosher foods. Two columns were added at the driveway entrance with lights to help define their driveway entrance since it's the end of a long pipe-stem. New light fixtures were also added to the rear of the house. Our client desired multiple amenities with a limited budget, so everything had to be value engineered through the design and construction process. There is heavy deer pressure on the site, a mosquito issue, low site elevations, flat topography, poor soil, and overall poor drainage of the site. The original driveway was not sized appropriately and the front porch had structural issues, as well as leaked water onto the landing below. The septic tank was also situated close to the rear of the house and had to be contemplated during the design process. Photography: Morgan Howarth. Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen, Surrounds Inc.

Inspiration for a small contemporary home design remodel in San Francisco

This wine cellar is complete with custom stonework, french wine cellar doors and window, a custom built soffit that spans the entire wine cellar, granite countertops, custom stained and lacquered wine racking, wine bins, wine lockers, wine display shelves and stores 1.440 bottles of wine.

This room was previously a separate kitchen and dining space. By removing the wall int he middle of the room, and spanning abeam the width of the room we were able to create a much more functional great room for these clients. With an industrial feel with brick, exposed beams, pipe and plank details throughout, this space is something a little different. perfect for this family with an open mind and a craving for anything but ordinary.

The Trueform Concrete 60" ADA Floating Concrete Bathroom Sink is perfect for commercial or residential bathrooms. The 48" inner sink allows two people to comfortably wash side by side and allows the flow of water to transition into a single center drain.

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2016 Houzz
Example of a farmhouse home design design in Seattle

Large elegant detached guesthouse photo in San Francisco

Form and function blend wonderfully together in this Arts-and-Crafts style house plan. A bold combination of exterior building materials elicits interest outside, while inside, a practical design creates space in the house plan's economical floor plan. To maximize space, the foyer, great room, dining room, and kitchen are completely open to one another. A cathedral ceiling spans the great room and kitchen, expanding the rooms vertically. The bedrooms are split for ultimate master suite privacy, and a cathedral ceiling caps the master bedroom for an added sense of space. A bonus room, accessed near the master suite, offers options for storage and expansion. Two family bedrooms and a hall bath are located on the opposite side of the house plan.

Ohio Exteriors installed a LivingSpace Transitions 4 season custom cathedral style sunroom that measured 12' x 16'. we installed the custom vinyl windows. We tied into the existing roof, and matched the existing shake siding. We extended the existing HVAC system. We also installed new French doors.

Inspiration for a coastal home design remodel in San Francisco

Our client, a young executive in the cosmetics industry, wanted to take advantage of a very large, empty space between her house and pool to create a beautiful and functional outdoor living space to entertain family and clients, and to hold business meetings. Gayler Design Build, in collaboration with Jeff Culbertson/Culbertson Durst Interiors, designed and built this gorgeous Outdoor Great Room. She needed a place that could accommodate a small group of 8 for Sunday brunch, to a large corporate gathering of 35 colleagues. She wanted the outdoor great room to be contemporary (so that it coordinated with the interior of her home), comfortable and inviting.   Clear span roof design allowed for maximum space underneath and heaters and fans were added for climate control, along with 2 TVs and a stereo system for entertaining. The bar seats 6, and has a large Fire Magic BBQ and 2 burner cooktop, 2 under counter refrigerators, a warming drawer and assorted cabinets and drawers.

This shot shows the large island accessed by the travertine bridge that spans over lower lazy river. The entertaining island has a firepit, sitting area, and a 10 person spa with stacked stone spilways, and the spa has its own small beach entry.

Our client, a young executive in the cosmetics industry, wanted to take advantage of a very large, empty space between her house and pool to create a beautiful and functional outdoor living space to entertain family and clients, and to hold business meetings. Gayler Design Build, in collaboration with Jeff Culbertson/Culbertson Durst Interiors, designed and built this gorgeous Outdoor Great Room. She needed a place that could accommodate a small group of 8 for Sunday brunch, to a large corporate gathering of 35 colleagues. She wanted the outdoor great room to be contemporary (so that it coordinated with the interior of her home), comfortable and inviting.   Clear span roof design allowed for maximum space underneath and heaters and fans were added for climate control, along with 2 TVs and a stereo system for entertaining. The bar seats 6, and has a large Fire Magic BBQ and 2 burner cooktop, 2 under counter refrigerators, a warming drawer and assorted cabinets and drawers.