The clients for this project approached SALA ‘to create a house that we will be excited to come home to’. Having lived in their house for over 20 years, they chose to stay connected to their neighborhood, and accomplish their goals by extensively remodeling their existing split-entry home.

A built in desk area provides ample space for two. Do homework, pay bills, use the computer, all while staying connected to the adjacent kitchen and family room.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped pool remodel in Orange County

The master bathroom has lots of contrast and drama with its dark floors, doors, and other features, while the countertops, cabinets, and walls remain light.The deep soaking tub and shower are fitted with brass plumbing fixtures, as well. The black grout joints in the shower continue the contrast from the floor. Photo © Alyssa Rosenheck 2016

Amber Frederiksen Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard custom-shaped and concrete natural pool remodel in Miami with a bbq area

Ciro Coelho Photography
Contemporary beige one-story exterior home idea in Santa Barbara with a metal roof

Photo by Jeri Koegel
Mid-sized trendy galley kitchen photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, glass sheet backsplash and an island

A smart Santa Barbara home where modern tech fades into the background—control your environment from the Savant app, stream music invisibly, stay connected with whole-home Wi-Fi, and feel secure with discreet Ubiquiti cameras.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Hayley McCormick
Example of a small farmhouse master white tile and subway tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

This architectural delight nestled in Brentwood Hills was designed by Edna Muir in 1960 and featured on the cover of Art and Architecture in 1962. Flash forward to today’s remodel where the builder upheld the beautiful design while upgrading the space for today’s tech needs. With every light and shade on the system and full Alexa integration, this home stays connected in just the right ways.

This architectural delight nestled in Brentwood Hills was designed by Edna Muir in 1960 and featured on the cover of Art and Architecture in 1962. Flash forward to today’s remodel where the builder upheld the beautiful design while upgrading the space for today’s tech needs. With every light and shade on the system and full Alexa integration, this home stays connected in just the right ways.

The team at Cummings Architects is often approached to enhance an otherwise wonderful home by designing a custom kitchen that is both beautiful and functional. Located near Patton Park in Hamilton Massachusetts this charming Victorian had a dated kitchen, mudroom, and waning entry hall that seemed out of place and certainly weren’t providing the owners with the kind of space and atmosphere they wanted. At their initial visit, Mathew made mental sketches of the immediate possibilities – an open, friendly kitchen concept with bright windows to provide a seamless connection to the exterior yard spaces. As the design evolved, additional details were added such as a spacious pantry that tucks smartly under the stair landing and accommodates an impressive collection of culinary supplies. In addition, the front entry, formerly a rather dark and dreary space, was opened up and is now a light-filled hall that welcomes visitors warmly, while maintaining the charm of the original Victorian fabric. Photo By Eric Roth

Challenge This 2001 riverfront home was purchased by the owners in 2015 and immediately renovated. Progressive Design Build was hired at that time to remodel the interior, with tentative plans to remodel their outdoor living space as a second phase design/build remodel. True to their word, after completing the interior remodel, this young family turned to Progressive Design Build in 2017 to address known zoning regulations and restrictions in their backyard and build an outdoor living space that was fit for entertaining and everyday use. The homeowners wanted a pool and spa, outdoor living room, kitchen, fireplace and covered patio. They also wanted to stay true to their home’s Old Florida style architecture while also adding a Jamaican influence to the ceiling detail, which held sentimental value to the homeowners who honeymooned in Jamaica. Solution To tackle the known zoning regulations and restrictions in the backyard, the homeowners researched and applied for a variance. With the variance in hand, Progressive Design Build sat down with the homeowners to review several design options. These options included: Option 1) Modifications to the original pool design, changing it to be longer and narrower and comply with an existing drainage easement Option 2) Two different layouts of the outdoor living area Option 3) Two different height elevations and options for the fire pit area Option 4) A proposed breezeway connecting the new area with the existing home After reviewing the options, the homeowners chose the design that placed the pool on the backside of the house and the outdoor living area on the west side of the home (Option 1). It was important to build a patio structure that could sustain a hurricane (a Southwest Florida necessity), and provide substantial sun protection. The new covered area was supported by structural columns and designed as an open-air porch (with no screens) to allow for an unimpeded view of the Caloosahatchee River. The open porch design also made the area feel larger, and the roof extension was built with substantial strength to survive severe weather conditions. The pool and spa were connected to the adjoining patio area, designed to flow seamlessly into the next. The pool deck was designed intentionally in a 3-color blend of concrete brick with freeform edge detail to mimic the natural river setting. Bringing the outdoors inside, the pool and fire pit were slightly elevated to create a small separation of space. Result All of the desirable amenities of a screened porch were built into an open porch, including electrical outlets, a ceiling fan/light kit, TV, audio speakers, and a fireplace. The outdoor living area was finished off with additional storage for cushions, ample lighting, an outdoor dining area, a smoker, a grill, a double-side burner, an under cabinet refrigerator, a major ventilation system, and water supply plumbing that delivers hot and cold water to the sinks. Because the porch is under a roof, we had the option to use classy woods that would give the structure a natural look and feel. We chose a dark cypress ceiling with a gloss finish, replicating the same detail that the homeowners experienced in Jamaica. This created a deep visceral and emotional reaction from the homeowners to their new backyard. The family now spends more time outdoors enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Their professional lives allow them to take a trip to paradise right in their backyard—stealing moments that reflect on the past, but are also enjoyed in the present.

The existing coffee table and end tables stayed in the room, providing a sense of something old and something new, again connecting and creating a timeless feeling that this room has always existed this way in this home. This adds to that Southern family heirloom feeling and charm, where some items are well loved pieces and others are new and connected to the personality of the home owner.

Grasses planted behind the stone seat wall help to reinforce the curved design of the wall. Westhauser Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern backyard concrete paver landscaping in Milwaukee with a fire pit.

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2014 Houzz
Farmhouse living room photo in Seattle

This kitchen is the heart of the home. An informal eating area allows everyone to stay connected.
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room remodel with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige countertops

Entryway - country entryway idea in Philadelphia