Inclined Elevator Built on a Hillside The Challenge: These Sausalito homeowners wanted a home elevator that would take them from their ground level garage to their hilltop residence. The project needed to be completed without disturbing the structure of the house or damaging the hillside vegetation. Our Solution: We assisted with the design and then built an inclined elevator to run on a 90-foot track, rising from the ground level of the garage to the first floor of the house. To not damage the vegetation, the elevator path was designed to be a trench, as narrow as possible, with only a 1 inch of clearance on either side of the elevator cab. Because of the low tolerance, the trench had to be built absolutely straight. Every day we took careful measurements with a laser. The lateral shoring was accomplished in 8’ lifts with soil nail and reinforced shotcrete. Subsequently, the concrete structure of the garage and the horizontal trench for the inclined elevator were constructed. After the project was completed, the homeowners not only had a convenient means to get from the garage to their home, they also had an ultra modern garage with an attractive roof garden. To discuss your elevator project, please contact concrete contractors, SteelCore Builders at: 415-331-0525.

The home’s limestone facade is mimicked by the flagstone path, while a Tri colored beech helps pull the home’s red brick into the landscape. “Curves in the planting help transition and balance the straight lines, and soften the home’s hard surfaces with curves,

A local Corvallis family contacted G. Christianson Construction looking to build an accessory dwelling unit (commonly known as an ADU) for their parents. The family was seeking a rustic, cabin-like home with one bedroom, a generous closet, a craft room, a living-in-place-friendly bathroom with laundry, and a spacious great room for gathering. This 896-square-foot home is built only a few dozen feet from the main house on this property, making family visits quick and easy. Our designer, Anna Clink, planned the orientation of this home to capture the beautiful farm views to the West and South, with a back door that leads straight from the Kitchen to the main house. A second door exits onto the South-facing covered patio; a private and peaceful space for watching the sunrise or sunset in Corvallis. When standing at the center of the Kitchen island, a quick glance to the West gives a direct view of Mary’s Peak in the distance. The floor plan of this cabin allows for a circular path of travel (no dead-end rooms for a user to turn around in if they are using an assistive walking device). The Kitchen and Great Room lead into a Craft Room, which serves to buffer sound between it and the adjacent Bedroom. Through the Bedroom, one may exit onto the private patio, or continue through the Walk-in-Closet to the Bath & Laundry. The Bath & Laundry, in turn, open back into the Great Room. Wide doorways, clear maneuvering space in the Kitchen and bath, grab bars, and graspable hardware blend into the rustic charm of this new dwelling. Rustic Cherry raised panel cabinetry was used throughout the home, complimented by oiled bronze fixtures and lighting. The clients selected durable and low-maintenance quartz countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, porcelain tile, and cultured marble. The entire home is heated and cooled by two ductless mini-split units, and good indoor air quality is achieved with wall-mounted fresh air units.

Parking strip art. Who said it needs to be straight grass?
Design ideas for a mid-sized rustic drought-tolerant front yard gravel landscaping in Salt Lake City.

Architectural designer Bill Harper worked closely with the new homeowners to reimagine the uses of the various first floor spaces: • An obvious first measure was one we’ve done at many homes: Combine the kitchen with the separate (and too-small) adjacent dining room by eliminating the wall between. This opened up the kitchen and provided an informal eating area. • The prior living room had an awkward shape for a living room (too long relative to its width) but was perfect as a new formal dining room. • We moved the living room to the former lower-level dining room but connected it more elegantly (and conveniently) to the kitchen by adding a short, straight stair—and also a balcony that serves as a wider, more welcoming path from the entry foyer to the kitchen. • Another obvious change was to eliminate the first-floor shower and take advantage of the freed-up space to create a combination laundry-powder room off the kitchen (but not right off the kitchen), thereby rescuing the washer and dryer from the basement. -Photos by Jim Raycroft

Inspire joy with the cheerful color of a patterned floral backsplash. Beautiful cabinetry, sleek hardware, and a solid neutral countertop give the perfect compliment to this bold backsplash. This space is sure to bring everyday smiles! Cabinetry: Tribeca Hudson straight shaker in Snow White Countertop: Q Stone, Mirano Gray Flooring: Marketplace, Pebble Path, Vinyl Tile 12 x 24 Additional job notes: Bulkhead removal, Roll-out trays, Double trash pull-out, Upper and lower lazy susans, Pots and pans drawer base, recessed lighting, LED under-cabinet lighting. Designed by Tracy West with O'Hanlon Kitchens. Call, text, or email for your free in-home design consultation: 717-755-5555 443-285-0558 info@okitchens.com www.OKitchens.com Photo Credit: Julia Transue @The Photo House

Front entry to Ford Creek THD-2037. View plan: https://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/ford-creek-2037/

Architectural designer Bill Harper worked closely with the new homeowners to reimagine the uses of the various first floor spaces: • An obvious first measure was one we’ve done at many homes: Combine the kitchen with the separate (and too-small) adjacent dining room by eliminating the wall between. This opened up the kitchen and provided an informal eating area. • The prior living room had an awkward shape for a living room (too long relative to its width) but was perfect as a new formal dining room. • We moved the living room to the former lower-level dining room but connected it more elegantly (and conveniently) to the kitchen by adding a short, straight stair—and also a balcony that serves as a wider, more welcoming path from the entry foyer to the kitchen. • Another obvious change was to eliminate the first-floor shower and take advantage of the freed-up space to create a combination laundry-powder room off the kitchen (but not right off the kitchen), thereby rescuing the washer and dryer from the basement. -Photos by Jim Raycroft

Home is organized around central courtyard through which home is entered. photo by Whit Preston
Home design - contemporary home design idea in Austin

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.

A local Corvallis family contacted G. Christianson Construction looking to build an accessory dwelling unit (commonly known as an ADU) for their parents. The family was seeking a rustic, cabin-like home with one bedroom, a generous closet, a craft room, a living-in-place-friendly bathroom with laundry, and a spacious great room for gathering. This 896-square-foot home is built only a few dozen feet from the main house on this property, making family visits quick and easy. Our designer, Anna Clink, planned the orientation of this home to capture the beautiful farm views to the West and South, with a back door that leads straight from the Kitchen to the main house. A second door exits onto the South-facing covered patio; a private and peaceful space for watching the sunrise or sunset in Corvallis. When standing at the center of the Kitchen island, a quick glance to the West gives a direct view of Mary’s Peak in the distance. The floor plan of this cabin allows for a circular path of travel (no dead-end rooms for a user to turn around in if they are using an assistive walking device). The Kitchen and Great Room lead into a Craft Room, which serves to buffer sound between it and the adjacent Bedroom. Through the Bedroom, one may exit onto the private patio, or continue through the Walk-in-Closet to the Bath & Laundry. The Bath & Laundry, in turn, open back into the Great Room. Wide doorways, clear maneuvering space in the Kitchen and bath, grab bars, and graspable hardware blend into the rustic charm of this new dwelling. Rustic Cherry raised panel cabinetry was used throughout the home, complimented by oiled bronze fixtures and lighting. The clients selected durable and low-maintenance quartz countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, porcelain tile, and cultured marble. The entire home is heated and cooled by two ductless mini-split units, and good indoor air quality is achieved with wall-mounted fresh air units.

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.

A local Corvallis family contacted G. Christianson Construction looking to build an accessory dwelling unit (commonly known as an ADU) for their parents. The family was seeking a rustic, cabin-like home with one bedroom, a generous closet, a craft room, a living-in-place-friendly bathroom with laundry, and a spacious great room for gathering. This 896-square-foot home is built only a few dozen feet from the main house on this property, making family visits quick and easy. Our designer, Anna Clink, planned the orientation of this home to capture the beautiful farm views to the West and South, with a back door that leads straight from the Kitchen to the main house. A second door exits onto the South-facing covered patio; a private and peaceful space for watching the sunrise or sunset in Corvallis. When standing at the center of the Kitchen island, a quick glance to the West gives a direct view of Mary’s Peak in the distance. The floor plan of this cabin allows for a circular path of travel (no dead-end rooms for a user to turn around in if they are using an assistive walking device). The Kitchen and Great Room lead into a Craft Room, which serves to buffer sound between it and the adjacent Bedroom. Through the Bedroom, one may exit onto the private patio, or continue through the Walk-in-Closet to the Bath & Laundry. The Bath & Laundry, in turn, open back into the Great Room. Wide doorways, clear maneuvering space in the Kitchen and bath, grab bars, and graspable hardware blend into the rustic charm of this new dwelling. Rustic Cherry raised panel cabinetry was used throughout the home, complimented by oiled bronze fixtures and lighting. The clients selected durable and low-maintenance quartz countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, porcelain tile, and cultured marble. The entire home is heated and cooled by two ductless mini-split units, and good indoor air quality is achieved with wall-mounted fresh air units.

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.

Step into the hallway to the left of the front door, where you’ll find the path to two spare bedrooms and a bathroom. This view looks straight down the hall toward one of the guest bedrooms, with the bathroom door conveniently located on the left, perfect for family or visitors.

Photos by Joe Murgel
Inspiration for a small modern full sun front yard stone landscaping in Toronto for summer.

Set on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia, this rustic modern farmhouse sits close enough to the shoreline that a private dock runs straight off the back yard, with the Blue Ridge visible across the water. A tin-gray metal roof breaks into multiple gables and dormers over crisp white board-and-batten siding, while wood-tone shutters and a flagstone entry path bring in the rustic warmth. A full-width covered porch — deep enough for a run of rocking chairs — opens directly onto the lake and mountain view. Inside, the great room carries that same rustic-farmhouse language up to a vaulted, shiplap-clad ceiling crossed with exposed wood beams. A reclaimed sliding barn door anchors one end of the room, while a wall of glass doors keeps the water in view from the sofa.