Large arts and crafts beige one-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Raleigh

Home Builder Ridgestone Homes
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This front entrance was inspired by the palatial pools at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, these homeowners craved their own piece of paradise closer to home. From grand columns and diamond inlays to intricate balustrades and Techo Bloc's Travertina, Gary Duff Designs delivered a dreamy design right to their backyard. Revamped patios, featuring additional seating and a hospitable outdoor kitchen keeps the entire outdoor space feeling just as inviting as it is inspiring. The backyard’s classic old-world charm will leave you thinking of faraway places under the Tuscan sun.

Example of a mid-sized beach style master corner shower design in Charleston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount tub, white walls and an undermount sink

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Great room with entertainment area, pool table, gaming area, walk up wet bar, (1) stained and lacquered, recessed paneled, cherry column constructed around monopole in between game table and entertainment; Entertainment area to include gas fireplace with full height natural stone surround and continuous hearth extending below custom entertainment stained and lacquered built in and under stair closet; (2) dedicated trey ceilings with painted crown molding and rope lighting each for pool table and TV area; ¾ bathroom with linen closet; Study/Bedroom with double glass door entry and closet; Unfinished storage/mechanical room; -Removal of existing main level basement stairway door and construction of new drywall wrapped stair entryway with arched, lighted, drywall wrapped display niche at landing; new code compliant deeper projection window well installed with dirt excavation and removal outside of study/bedroom egress window; Photo: Andrew J Hathaway, Brothers Construction

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.”

Trendy patio photo in Austin

photo by William E. Enos
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Photo by Pete Cadieux
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Impressive, bubbling urns are the highlight of this pool and tie into the rustic, Mediterranean feel of this property. The urns flank either side of the stairs leading out of this gorgeous pool and send water cascading down the stair-step spillover fountains into the pool. A separate spa is closer to the home and mimics the clean lines of the pool. Two contemporary, vertical travertine sculptures form a fountain that serves as a focal point for the main entry into the backyard space.

Lower Level Bar Area with Stained Wood (Cupboards & Ceiling) & Custom Stone Work - Creek Hill Custom Homes MN
Inspiration for a basement remodel in Minneapolis

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.”

This condo was stuck in the 70s: dingy brown cabinets, worn out fixtures, and ready for a complete overhaul. What started as a bathroom update turned into a complete remodel of the condo. The kitchen became our main target, and as we brought it out of the 70s, the rest came with it. Our client wanted a home closer to their grandchildren, but to be comfortable and functional, it needed an update. Once we begin on a design plan for one space, the vision can spread across to the other rooms, up the walls, and down to the floors. Beginning with the bathroom, our client opted for a clean and elegant look: white quartz, subway tile, and floating shelves, all of which was easy to translate into the kitchen. The shower and tub were replaced and tiled with a perfectly sized niche for soap and shampoo, and a slide bar hand shower from Delta for an easy shower experience. Perfect for bath time with the grandkids! And to maximize storage, we installed floating shelves to hide away those extra bath toys! In a condo where the kitchen is only a few steps from the master bath, it's helpful to stay consistent, so we used the same quartz countertops, tiles, and colors for a consistent look that's easy on the eyes. The kitchen received a total overhaul. New appliances, way more storage with tall corner cabinets, and lighting that makes the space feel bright and inviting. But the work did not stop there! Our team repaired and painted sheetrock throughout the entire condo, and also replaced the doors and window frames. So when we're asked, "Do you do kitchens?" the answer is, "We do it all!"

Most kitchens in the 1920's were small and did not address the back yard. Todays family often hands out in the kitchen and enjoys dining alfresco or even stepping out side to do some grilling. the gut renovation of this kitchen revealed a few surprises ...like the addition done in the 50's or 60's did not think to add a foundation before enclosing the back porch and annexing the space for the kitchen. We remedied that as well as relocating the powder room closer to the stair hall giving the views and the access to the rear yard back to the kitchen space.

Custom Laser cut metal panel. Stair lighting Frank DeSantis Photography
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Ground One designed and built a deck off the back of the house for casual sitting, mirroring the house’s front porch. This deck and the screened porch steps descend to a patio terrace. To expand the entertaining space and accommodate the setback restrictions for a permitted gas firepit, we excavated the lot’s back slope to gain bonus space and create a rustic campfire spot. Large boulders found on the site during house construction are incorporated into a retaining wall. Colonial bluestone fills the gaps between these large accent stones and surrounds the firepit. Additional boulders hold up the patio and a slab of bluestone bridges the terrace and patio, preserving the overall drainage pattern. Bluestone is the common thread throughout the project, but it is used in different forms; clean lines closer to the house transition to a more weathered look as you move toward the natural area. The swale is a variety of boulder sizes and river rock to create a more visually-compelling creekbed. The firepit patio is comfortable for just two people, but can also accommodate a larger group. It is close to the dining space, but physical separation allows for entertaining in different configurations: pre-dinner cocktails around the fire, a roaring flame as backdrop during dinner, kids roasting marshmallows while the adults linger within sight at the dining table, or the gang huddled around a bonfire.

Step into a cozy and inviting atmosphere – a Hygge-inspired Scandinavian kitchen that is sure to warm the heart and bring the family closer together. Previously closed off and isolated from the rest of the home and family, we opened up walls between the kitchen and dining room and created an open-concept space that encourages togetherness and shared moments. Goodbye to isolation and hello to a kitchen that not only looks stunning but also fosters a sense of unity and connection. The front of the home now has a full glass door as well as a full glass side panel to allow more light into the front entrance. The homeowners needed more storage, so we created a floor-to-ceiling bank of pantry cupboards in an unused part of the eat-in kitchen, and we also created more storage under the bench. The removal of the wall was a little challenging because it was a load-bearing wall. We needed to add a full-span beam around to the back of the home and have it installed in one piece. We had to reroute the mechanical systems, a bulkhead and mechanical chase now to hide the beam and the plumbing. The selections and colours – light cabinetry with sage-coloured lower cabinets, white countertops and natural maple hardwood – add to the beautiful open feeling the homeowners wanted. The original kitchen had dated finishes and was tired looking. The peninsula and meal-homework-and-crafts nook make the perfect setting for a young family.

Closer view shows the care used to incorporate the house into the landscape. The elevated screen porch has a steel and wood stair down to the slab steps.