Kat Alves
Example of a minimalist home design design in Sacramento

Despite the challenge of a limited lot size, property setbacks, and strict lot coverage requirements, LandStudio360 designed a space for this new Baker Ranch home that complied with the HOA Design Guidelines yet pushed the design to the limits which satisfied the homeowners' desires. The custom shaped contemporary pool and spa fit set the tone of the yard as the primary view feature from inside the home. The expansive sideyard provided opportunity to expand the living space to the outdoors with the addition of a covered great room warm enough to spend winter evenings snuggled up by the fire or hosting large family gatherings. This yard has become the hangout spot for all friends and family.

Despite the challenge of a limited lot size, property setbacks, and strict lot coverage requirements, LandStudio360 designed a space for this new Baker Ranch home that complied with the HOA Design Guidelines yet pushed the design to the limits which satisfied the homeowners' desires. The custom shaped contemporary pool and spa fit set the tone of the yard as the primary view feature from inside the home. The expansive sideyard provided opportunity to expand the living space to the outdoors with the addition of a covered great room warm enough to spend winter evenings snuggled up by the fire or hosting large family gatherings. This yard has become the hangout spot for all friends and family.

Despite the challenge of a limited lot size, property setbacks, and strict lot coverage requirements, LandStudio360 designed a space for this new Baker Ranch home that complied with the HOA Design Guidelines yet pushed the design to the limits which satisfied the homeowners' desires. The custom shaped contemporary pool and spa fit set the tone of the yard as the primary view feature from inside the home. The expansive sideyard provided opportunity to expand the living space to the outdoors with the addition of a covered great room warm enough to spend winter evenings snuggled up by the fire or hosting large family gatherings. This yard has become the hangout spot for all friends and family.

The original single-level deck and roof was heavily deteriorated, structurally unsafe and difficult to maintain. Form and function came together with this deck project to create clean lines and an enjoyable entertainment space. This contemporary two-level rooftop deck conforms to strict, local historic district guidelines in the Old Town neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, and meets the requirements for the roof warranty. The deck surface is Ipe material and stainless steel cable railing. The upper deck has two seating areas, additional electrical circuits and a water feature, while the lower deck has a bar and grilling area.

Ecolok LokBox™ - Easy, Eco, Safe, Modular Storage Cube An excellent organizer for your stuff. No tools or messy adhesives needed. The Lok Box assembles and disassembles in seconds using our patented technology. Stack or place multiple cubes side by side to create a unique storage area. Great for storing and organizing your items when you have limited space. The storage cubes come unfinished, or naked. Decorate or finish them with paint, stain, stickers and more. Made from CARB certified wood, which means the material meets the strict California requirement for formaldehyde emission levels. The material is also harvested from sustainable forests.

Despite the challenge of a limited lot size, property setbacks, and strict lot coverage requirements, LandStudio360 designed a space for this new Baker Ranch home that complied with the HOA Design Guidelines yet pushed the design to the limits which satisfied the homeowners' desires. The custom shaped contemporary pool and spa fit set the tone of the yard as the primary view feature from inside the home. The expansive sideyard provided opportunity to expand the living space to the outdoors with the addition of a covered great room warm enough to spend winter evenings snuggled up by the fire or hosting large family gatherings. This yard has become the hangout spot for all friends and family.

The owners requested that their home harmonize with the spirit of the surrounding Colorado mountain setting and enhance their outdoor recreational lifestyle - while reflecting their contemporary architectural tastes. The site was burdened with a myriad of strict design criteria enforced by the neighborhood covenants and architectural review board. Creating a distinct design challenge, the covenants included a narrow interpretation of a “mountain style” home which established predetermined roof pitches, glazing percentages and material palettes - at direct odds with the client‘s vision of a flat-roofed, glass, “contemporary” home. Our solution finds inspiration and opportunities within the site covenant’s strict definitions. It promotes and celebrates the client’s outdoor lifestyle and resolves the definition of a contemporary “mountain style” home by reducing the architecture to its most basic vernacular forms and relying upon local materials. The home utilizes a simple base, middle and top that echoes the surrounding mountains and vegetation. The massing takes its cues from the prevalent lodgepole pine trees that grow at the mountain’s high altitudes. These pine trees have a distinct growth pattern, highlighted by a single vertical trunk and a peaked, densely foliated growth zone above a sparse base. This growth pattern is referenced by placing the wood-clad body of the home at the second story above an open base composed of wood posts and glass. A simple peaked roof rests lightly atop the home - visually floating above a triangular glass transom. The home itself is neatly inserted amongst an existing grove of lodgepole pines and oriented to take advantage of panoramic views of the adjacent meadow and Continental Divide beyond. The main functions of the house are arranged into public and private areas and this division is made apparent on the home’s exterior. Two large roof forms, clad in pre-patinated zinc, are separated by a sheltering central deck - which signals the main entry to the home. At this connection, the roof deck is opened to allow a cluster of aspen trees to grow – further reinforcing nature as an integral part of arrival. Outdoor living spaces are provided on all levels of the house and are positioned to take advantage of sunrise and sunset moments. The distinction between interior and exterior space is blurred via the use of large expanses of glass. The dry stacked stone base and natural cedar cladding both reappear within the home’s interior spaces. This home offers a unique solution to the client’s requests while satisfying the design requirements of the neighborhood covenants. The house provides a variety of indoor and outdoor living spaces that can be utilized in all seasons. Most importantly, the house takes its cues directly from its natural surroundings and local building traditions to become a prototype solution for the “modern mountain house”. Overview Ranch Creek Ranch Winter Park, Colorado Completion Date October, 2007 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

Located in, Summit Park, Park City UT lies one of the most efficient houses in the country. The Summit Haus – designed and built by Chris Price of PCD+B, is an exploration in design and construction of advanced high performance housing. Seeing a rising demand for sustainable housing along with rising Carbon emissions leading to global warming, this house strives to show that sensible, good design can create spaces adequate for today’s housing demands while adhering to strict standards. The house was designed to meet the very rigid Passiv House rating system – 90% more efficient than a typical home in the area. The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45 degree sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The views range from short, highly wooded views to a long corridor out towards the Uinta Mountain range towards the east. The house was designed and built based off Passiv Haus standards, and the framing and ventilation became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements. Zola triple-pane, tilt-and-turn Thermo uPVC windows contribute substantially to the home’s energy efficiency, and takes advantage of the beautiful surrounding of the location, including forrest views from the deck off of the kitchen. Photographer: George Oakley

Custom living room contains a stone fireplace Photos by Eric Lucero
Inspiration for a craftsman formal brown floor living room remodel in Denver with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon

This West Shore property sits on the shore of Lake Tahoe, where strict TRPA requirements and a fast-paced schedule shaped the design process. The landscape supports a full remodel of the home and guest house, integrating TRPA-required BMPs, onsite stormwater management, and a planting palette suited to the alpine environment. Large-caliper, hand-selected specimen trees were placed with exacting care to frame views, anchor outdoor rooms, and soften the home’s contemporary architecture. An updated pool, lakeside spa, and curated art pieces create a series of modern spaces for family gathering and quiet moments by the water. The result is a functional, contemporary landscape that supports the home’s modern transformation while honoring Tahoe’s natural setting. *Completed while serving as Project Landscape Architect at a previous firm.

Wooden Classicism Nesbitt House – Seaside, Florida Architect: Robert A. M. Stern Builder: O.B. Laurent Construction E. F. San Juan produced all of the interior and exterior millwork for this elegantly designed residence in the influential New Urban town of Seaside, Florida. Challenges: The beachfront residence required adherence to the area’s strict building code requirements, creating a unique profile for the compact layout of each room. Each room was also designed with all-wood walls and ceilings, which meant there was a lot of custom millwork! Solution: Unlike many homes where the same molding and paneling profiles are repeated throughout each room, this home featured a unique profile for each space. The effort was laborious—our team at E. F. San Juan created tools for each of these specific jobs. “The project required over four hundred man-hours of knife-grinding just to produce the tools,” says Edward San Juan. “Organization and scheduling were critical in this project because so many parts were required to complete each room.” The long hours and hard work allowed us to take the compacted plan and create the feel of an open, airy American beach house with the influence of 1930s Swedish classicism. The ceiling and walls in each room are paneled, giving them an elongated look to open up the space. The enticing, simplified wooden classicism style seamlessly complements the sweeping vistas and surrounding natural beauty along the Gulf of Mexico. --- Photography by Steven Mangum – STM Photography

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon

Our clients approached us to transform their urban backyard into an outdoor living space that would provide them with plenty of options for outdoor dining, entertaining, and soaking up the sun while complementing the modern architectural style of their Virginia Highlands home. Challenged with a small “in-town” lot and strict city zoning requirements, we maximized the space by creating a custom, sleek, geometric swimming pool and flush spa with decorative concrete coping, a large tanning ledge with loungers and a seating bench that runs the entire width of the pool. The raised beam features a dramatic wall of sheer descent waterfalls and adds a spectacular design element to this contemporary pool and backyard retreat.

Wooden Classicism Nesbitt House – Seaside, Florida Architect: Robert A. M. Stern Builder: O.B. Laurent Construction E. F. San Juan produced all of the interior and exterior millwork for this elegantly designed residence in the influential New Urban town of Seaside, Florida. Challenges: The beachfront residence required adherence to the area’s strict building code requirements, creating a unique profile for the compact layout of each room. Each room was also designed with all-wood walls and ceilings, which meant there was a lot of custom millwork! Solution: Unlike many homes where the same molding and paneling profiles are repeated throughout each room, this home featured a unique profile for each space. The effort was laborious—our team at E. F. San Juan created tools for each of these specific jobs. “The project required over four hundred man-hours of knife-grinding just to produce the tools,” says Edward San Juan. “Organization and scheduling were critical in this project because so many parts were required to complete each room.” The long hours and hard work allowed us to take the compacted plan and create the feel of an open, airy American beach house with the influence of 1930s Swedish classicism. The ceiling and walls in each room are paneled, giving them an elongated look to open up the space. The enticing, simplified wooden classicism style seamlessly complements the sweeping vistas and surrounding natural beauty along the Gulf of Mexico. --- Photography by Steven Mangum – STM Photography

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon