Architect: Sarah Susanka, AIA Photography: Jim Westphalen Integration of Prairie-style architecture and Japanese garden. Palette of patterned and textures borrowed from the surroundings. Sequence of places makes a continuous necklace around the home.

2010 NATIONAL NARI REGIONAL AWARD WINNER Project Scope The owners of this 7,000 square foot colonial in Oakton, Virginia, were seeking a multi-level Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor living space off the back of their home. They turned to Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes for a design solution that would include a stone patio, a second-story deck, a screened-in porch and linking staircases. While the structure was designed primarily for family dining and entertaining, it also had to accommodate periodic social gatherings of one hundred guests or more. To meet these needs, the project would include a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, several serving counters with permanent refrigeration, and well-delineated socializing and dining zones. The existing home’s setting offered several impressive assets the new outdoor living area was designed to exploit. The sprawling acreage features old stand trees, wooded paths and a private lake. Beautifully landscaped, it unfolds as an idyllic panorama that naturally draws people to the outdoors. Challenges Since the rear elevation was situated on a slope that drops away from the house, the Michael Nash team had to raise the grade two feet within in a 2,000 square foot area extending out from the back of the house. Infrastructure plans also called for a sophisticated drainage system that had to accommodate a whole series of water “runoff” considerations to be integrated into the decking itself. Excavation included constructing retaining walls to bolster the elevated grade—which also had to support a concrete slab, the primary foundation for the entire complex. Solutions The ground level decking consists of a 2,000 square foot flagstone patio level with the home’s lower level doors. There is a decorative water fountain mid-patio—an ornate collectible acquired in Florida. Food preparation is concentrated within a specially designed semi-circular wall that creates an “outdoor kitchen” equipped with a 60” Viking barbecue grill, a prep sink, a warming drawer, refrigerator and appropriate storage. There is a granite surfaced dining counter with seating for eight. Wrought iron railing and approximately 20 decorative columns (some encasing steel vertical supports) are incorporated into the design scheme. Many of the columns house accent lights. The top level—supported by horizontal steel beams– is a 2,500 square foot deck constructed entirely of Trex decking. The open air decking is, again, directly accessible from rooms on the second level of the house including the kitchen, sunroom and family room. The platform’s most prominent feature is a U-shaped “kitchenette” with cedar shake shingle roofing. Like its counterpart one level below, the facility is equipped with grill, refrigerator and stainless steel cabinetry. One portion of the deck has been allocated for a 16’ x 16’ octagonal screened-in porch crowned by a pair of 2’ x 4’ skylights. The porch can be accessed from the home’s conservatory via a set of French doors. With its mosaic tile flooring, stained cedar panel ceiling and honed granite counters, the interior is elegant and calming. Hand-painted stenciling and a wall-mounted water feature provide distinctive detailing. Finally, the design introduced elements to highlight and reinforce an awareness of the lovely bucolic setting. Fountains and water features combined with textured surfaces and mosaic tiling and backsplashes to present a villa-like ambiance well-suited to the Virginia countryside.

This front garden was transformed into a garden patio that attracts birds and butterflies. Kelly Greenwood
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean partial sun backyard stone formal garden in San Francisco.

Landmark
Inspiration for a huge transitional white two-story stucco gable roof remodel in Minneapolis with a shingle roof

Spacecrafting Photography
Inspiration for a transitional exterior home remodel in Minneapolis

Sean Litchfield
Entryway - farmhouse entryway idea in Boston

Staircase - large traditional wooden curved wood railing staircase idea in New York with painted risers

When faced with aging walls & steps, our client needed to reconstruct their entry. On this project LCM PLUS exposed ledge, repaired a sewer line, coordinated with the City for planning & permitting, acquired engineered drawings, and navigated our client through the process for the construction of their new retaining wall and entry steps. Having the project management expertise of a full service Design | Build firm on your side through a large project makes the difference. LCM PLUS is fully licensed for all aspects of excavation, building & construction

Single Family Residence at Windansea Beach, acquire a parcel 5,000 SQ FT, develop a 3 bedroom and 2 bath, only some steps to the beach. Project has interior courtyard with pool, basement with game room, TV/Movie room and roof deck with panoramic view of the ocean.

Single Family Residence at Windansea Beach, acquire a parcel 5,000 SQ FT, develop a 3 bedroom and 2 bath, only some steps to the beach. Project has interior courtyard with pool, basement with game room, TV/Movie room and roof deck with panoramic view of the ocean.

We acquired the deck with the house. A quick pressure washing and some rock around the edges.
Deck - mid-sized traditional backyard deck idea in Raleigh with no cover

When faced with aging walls & steps, our client needed to reconstruct their entry. On this project LCM PLUS exposed ledge, repaired a sewer line, coordinated with the City for planning & permitting, acquired engineered drawings, and navigated our client through the process for the construction of their new retaining wall and entry steps. Having the project management expertise of a full service Design | Build firm on your side through a large project makes the difference. LCM PLUS is fully licensed for all aspects of excavation, building & construction.

When faced with aging walls & steps, our client needed to reconstruct their entry. On this project LCM PLUS exposed ledge, repaired a sewer line, coordinated with the City for planning & permitting, acquired engineered drawings, and navigated our client through the process for the construction of their new retaining wall and entry steps. Having the project management expertise of a full service Design | Build firm on your side through a large project makes the difference. LCM PLUS is fully licensed for all aspects of excavation, building & construction.

Dustin Peck
Example of a large mountain style wooden l-shaped staircase design in Charlotte with wooden risers

Staircase - large transitional wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase idea in Vancouver with painted risers

This was a rather challenging installation, using the old hollow aluminum mailbox post that used to be next to wooden steps closer to the front door, and a new similar post the client had acquired. I used red head anchors into the concrete and drilled holes for gate hinges that held up these heavy gates. Putting a lock on it was an exercise in creative improvisation that worked quite well. I simply used pieces of maple painted black to hold in an old salvaged dead bolt lockset.

Example of a trendy concrete straight staircase design in Houston with concrete risers

Living room inspired by pieces acquired from family's worldwide travels. Includes a beige sofa with burnt orange accents and built in shelving back with navy sisal wallpaper Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography

Mid-sized beach style guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Boston with white walls