The client’s brief was to create a space reminiscent of their beloved downtown Chicago industrial loft, in a rural farm setting, while incorporating their unique collection of vintage and architectural salvage. The result is a custom designed space that blends life on the farm with an industrial sensibility. The new house is located on approximately the same footprint as the original farm house on the property. Barely visible from the road due to the protection of conifer trees and a long driveway, the house sits on the edge of a field with views of the neighbouring 60 acre farm and creek that runs along the length of the property. The main level open living space is conceived as a transparent social hub for viewing the landscape. Large sliding glass doors create strong visual connections with an adjacent barn on one end and a mature black walnut tree on the other. The house is situated to optimize views, while at the same time protecting occupants from blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds. The wall to wall sliding doors on the south side of the main living space provide expansive views to the creek, and allow for breezes to flow throughout. The wrap around aluminum louvered sun shade tempers the sun. The subdued exterior material palette is defined by horizontal wood siding, standing seam metal roofing and large format polished concrete blocks. The interiors were driven by the owners’ desire to have a home that would properly feature their unique vintage collection, and yet have a modern open layout. Polished concrete floors and steel beams on the main level set the industrial tone and are paired with a stainless steel island counter top, backsplash and industrial range hood in the kitchen. An old drinking fountain is built-in to the mudroom millwork, carefully restored bi-parting doors frame the library entrance, and a vibrant antique stained glass panel is set into the foyer wall allowing diffused coloured light to spill into the hallway. Upstairs, refurbished claw foot tubs are situated to view the landscape. The double height library with mezzanine serves as a prominent feature and quiet retreat for the residents. The white oak millwork exquisitely displays the homeowners’ vast collection of books and manuscripts. The material palette is complemented by steel counter tops, stainless steel ladder hardware and matte black metal mezzanine guards. The stairs carry the same language, with white oak open risers and stainless steel woven wire mesh panels set into a matte black steel frame. The overall effect is a truly sublime blend of an industrial modern aesthetic punctuated by personal elements of the owners’ storied life. Photography: James Brittain

Carefully designed landscape lighting accents the deep roof overhang as well as the exterior stone to provide an orchestrated sense of drama at night.

Rolling Shutters are the ultimate solution when you want to protect what’s behind your windows and doors. With Rolling Shutters, enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home has a sturdy layer of hurricane protection and storm protection. Rolling shutters shield against wind-blown debris, sand blasting and water penetration. Strong, secure, and durable, Rolling Hurricane Shutters are proven to reduce energy and maintenance costs while making your home more comfortable to live in. Rolling Shutters can be retrofitted to existing openings or built-in to almost any format of design.

This is the renovated design which highlights the vaulted ceiling that projects through to the exterior.
Small 1960s gray one-story concrete fiberboard and clapboard house exterior photo in Chicago with a hip roof, a shingle roof and a gray roof

Super-strong 1000 SF creekside deck is ready for anything! Composite decking maintains its appearance for decades, even as the old wooden framing underneath it ages. Rust-protected steel framing ensures that even in wet locations, the supporting framework will live as long as the top.

This enclosure shows what is called "The gradient effect" This happens when you open or close the colored vinyl sashes. The vinyl shown here is our bronze color option. Each tier that is opened allows the sashes to stack on one another making it darker. Very cool option if you have strong sun you want to block at any point in the day.

This enclosure shows what is called "The gradient effect" This happens when you open or close the colored vinyl sashes. The vinyl shown here is our bronze color option. Each tier that is opened allows the sashes to stack on one another making it darker. Very cool option if you have strong sun you want to block at any point in the day.

The Tice Residences replace a run-down and aging duplex with two separate, modern, Santa Barbara homes. Although the unique creek-side site (which the client’s original home looked toward across a small ravine) proposed significant challenges, the clients were certain they wanted to live on the lush “Riviera” hillside. The challenges presented were ultimately overcome through a thorough and careful study of site conditions. With an extremely efficient use of space and strategic placement of windows and decks, privacy is maintained while affording expansive views from each home to the creek, downtown Santa Barbara and Pacific Ocean beyond. Both homes appear to have far more openness than their compact lots afford. The solution strikes a balance between enclosure and openness. Walls and landscape elements divide and protect two private domains, and are in turn, carefully penetrated to reveal views. Both homes are variations on one consistent theme: elegant composition of contemporary, “warm” materials; strong roof planes punctuated by vertical masses; and floating decks. The project forms an intimate connection with its setting by using site-excavated stone, terracing landscape planters with native plantings, and utilizing the shade provided by its ancient Riviera Oak trees. 2012 AIA Santa Barbara Chapter Merit Award Jim Bartsch Photography

This enclosure shows what is called "The gradient effect" This happens when you open or close the colored vinyl sashes. The vinyl shown here is our bronze color option. Each tier that is opened allows the sashes to stack on one another making it darker. Very cool option if you have strong sun you want to block at any point in the day.

This enclosure shows what is called "The gradient effect" This happens when you open or close the colored vinyl sashes. The vinyl shown here is our bronze color option. Each tier that is opened allows the sashes to stack on one another making it darker. Very cool option if you have strong sun you want to block at any point in the day.

Matthew Niemann
Patio - mediterranean backyard patio idea with a roof extension

Mountain style double front door photo in Boise with a dark wood front door

Tree peony blossoms last longer if the plant is positioned to have morning and later afternoon light, but not strong direct noon light. In China and Japan, beautiful parasols are used to protect the blossoms. Or you could just cut the young blossoms when young, and float them in a bowl indoors.

Ashwood, from TimberTech's Legacy Collection, offers looks that are authentic and unique, resembling exotic, distressed hardwood which is often seen used in high-end outdoor furniture. Ashwood delivers strong aesthetics, along with scratch, stain and fade resistance and the high-performance product line is backed by a 25-year fade and stain warranty. The Legacy Collection, as with TimberTech's Tropical and Terrain Collections, features a protective polymer cap surrounding each board.

Rolling Shutters are the ultimate solution when you want to protect what’s behind your windows and doors. With Rolling Shutters, enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home has a sturdy layer of hurricane protection and storm protection. Rolling shutters shield against wind-blown debris, sand blasting and water penetration. Strong, secure, and durable, Rolling Hurricane Shutters are proven to reduce energy and maintenance costs while making your home more comfortable to live in. Rolling Shutters can be retrofitted to existing openings or built-in to almost any format of design.

Beautiful 3-Season room finished in a custom color floor; providing strong, durable and long lasting protection for years.
Mid-sized classic concrete back porch idea with a roof extension

Reinforced structure, Repair and Refinishing of Wood Bridge in Webster Groves, MO. The torrential rain of July caused the creek above this bridge in Webster Groves to flood and sweeping the bridge 1-2 feet away from its original placement. In addition, supporting posts beneath the bridge that were not originally anchored, slipped and floated away. In order to prevent future movement of the wood bridge and to ensure proper post support, we anchored a ledger to a concrete block, replaced wood support beams, and tied all supporting elements using strong Simpson Strong Ties. After reinforcing the structure to ensure flooding would not negatively impact the bridge, we cleaned all existing wood, replaced rotted bridge boards, and applied a clear natural stain with built-in UV protection that should protect the wood of the bridge and provide an attractive cosmetic appearance for about two years, when it will need to be refinished again. A fun and good outcome for the project.

Ehlen Creative Communications
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Minneapolis

Reinforced structure, Repair and Refinishing of Wood Bridge in Webster Groves, MO. The torrential rain of July caused the creek above this bridge in Webster Groves to flood and sweeping the bridge 1-2 feet away from its original placement. In addition, supporting posts beneath the bridge that were not originally anchored, slipped and floated away. In order to prevent future movement of the wood bridge and to ensure proper post support, we anchored a ledger to a concrete block, replaced wood support beams, and tied all supporting elements using strong Simpson Strong Ties. After reinforcing the structure to ensure flooding would not negatively impact the bridge, we cleaned all existing wood, replaced rotted bridge boards, and applied a clear natural stain with built-in UV protection that should protect the wood of the bridge and provide an attractive cosmetic appearance for about two years, when it will need to be refinished again. A fun and good outcome for the project.