This compact, urban backyard was in desperate need of privacy. We created a series of outdoor rooms, privacy screens, and lush plantings all with an Asian-inspired design sense. Elements include a covered outdoor lounge room, sun decks, rock gardens, shade garden, evergreen plant screens, and raised boardwalk to connect the various outdoor spaces. The finished space feels like a true backyard oasis.

Elite Metalcraft were instructed to design, manufacture and install two identical semi-elliptical staircases for a lavish home in North London. The stairs were constructed from helically rolled mild steel stringers which were slotted to hold a matching curved glass balustrade, completed with a brushed stainless steel handrail. Open-riser treads formed in polished marble were used to add reflection to the naturally illuminated stairwell. These elliptical staircases provide the standout architectural feature of the building, adding to the portfolio of Elite Metalcrafts specialist high-end staircase designs.

Inspiration for a modern home theater remodel in New York

The Deschutes House is located on an urban site facing the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. The architectural massing of the house has been wrapped around a south-facing, grassy courtyard, with dramatic 2nd story spaces cantilevered toward the river. The main living space is completely transparent to the river on one side and to the courtyard on the other side, providing two entirely different views from the room. The living ceiling plane has enlivened by CNC-milled wood-strip ceiling panels, with variegated shapes inspired by landscape morphology. The house is clad with a two different types of siding: tightly spaced Western red cedar and corrugated metal siding. The warm tones of the wood contrast nicely with the cool tones of the metal siding and metal roofing. The fireplace chimney is clad in Montana ledgestone with a combination of earth tones and grey-blue colors. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and snow protection; metal siding for maximum durability; and radiant floor heating. The house also has solar hot water panels for domestic hot water.

The goal of this project was to create a more pleasing aesthetic appearance for this kitchen. If you look closely, you can see that on the other side of this window are the walls of a neighboring home. This wasn't exactly ideal for our clients as it wasn't a pleasant view to look at and it imposed on their family's privacy. So we created this prairie style stained glass window. The window was inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and was designed to add both privacy and color to our client's kitchen.

Detail of one of the many retaining walls and planters created using board formed, cast in place concrete. Light source is a tiny bronze fixture inset into the concrete and containing a small LED bulb.

Megan Chaffin
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Chicago

Pebble Shower Floor
Huge minimalist pebble tile floor and beige floor double shower photo in Boston with a hinged shower door

Lindsay Thompson

Photos by Darren Hicks

Stamped concrete patio, fieldstone pattern with a block seating with caps and a block fire-pit.
Large minimalist backyard stamped concrete patio photo in DC Metro with a fire pit

The entryway of this Sterling, VA home makes a statement with an elegant staircase featuring Antique Java Fossilized® flooring. The flooring continues onto the second story for a seamless, inviting look and feel.

Alex Strazzanti
Wet room - small modern master blue tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile wet room idea in Seattle with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and quartzite countertops

Miss Frugal Fancy Pants
Elegant bathroom photo in Tampa

Inspiration for a small industrial metal straight staircase remodel in Chicago with metal risers

Example of a mid-sized transitional wooden curved metal railing staircase design in Austin with tile risers

J. Albert Studios
Huge traditional brown two-story wood exterior home idea in Cleveland

Vicenza Grigio Limestone
Inspiration for a large coastal backyard concrete paver patio remodel with no cover