The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Phil Bond
Inspiration for a rustic wood exterior home remodel in San Francisco

Bedroom. Photography by Manolo Langis Located at the intersection where Sunset Boulevard meets the Pacific Ocean, this iconic board formed concrete structure was neglected for years. SUBU Design Architecture was brought in to reimagine the space along with a team of professionals. Through a collective effort, this unique structure has been reorganize to fit a variety of lifestyles and commercial needs.

Patio kitchen - large traditional backyard stone patio kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a gazebo

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Modern exposed steel and glass pool house with cantilevered concrete structure.
Mid-sized modern exterior home idea in Dallas

This 5,077 square foot Traditional Coastal Colonial custom home was designed by P2 Design. The home displays harmonious symmetry, with a horizontal white siding façade, van deusen blue wood shutters that complement the tasteful matching paneled front door, and natural stone chimneys. The architectural style fits neatly in the neighborhood by drawing on the surrounding colonial homes, giving it a touch of history, and blending it with a more casual traditional coastal appearance. Photos by Latham Architectural

The following many photos are a representative sampling of our past work.
Small mountain style backyard deck photo in Minneapolis with a pergola

This 5687 sf home was a major renovation including significant modifications to exterior and interior structural components, walls and foundations. Included were the addition of several multi slide exterior doors, windows, new patio cover structure with master deck, climate controlled wine room, master bath steam shower, 4 new gas fireplace appliances and the center piece- a cantilever structural steel staircase with custom wood handrail and treads. A complete demo down to drywall of all areas was performed excluding only the secondary baths, game room and laundry room where only the existing cabinets were kept and refinished. Some of the interior structural and partition walls were removed. All flooring, counter tops, shower walls, shower pans and tubs were removed and replaced. New cabinets in kitchen and main bar by Mid Continent. All other cabinetry was custom fabricated and some existing cabinets refinished. Counter tops consist of Quartz, granite and marble. Flooring is porcelain tile and marble throughout. Wall surfaces are porcelain tile, natural stacked stone and custom wood throughout. All drywall surfaces are floated to smooth wall finish. Many electrical upgrades including LED recessed can lighting, LED strip lighting under cabinets and ceiling tray lighting throughout. The front and rear yard was completely re landscaped including 2 gas fire features in the rear and a built in BBQ. The pool tile and plaster was refinished including all new concrete decking.

Glencoe Residence Landscape. Entire property Constructed by: Arrow. Designed and Photographed by: Marco Romani, RLA Landscape Architect. ------A motorcourt turnaround area at the head of the driveway, Here we mixed bluestone and brick in order to match the palette of house colors. The bluestone is cut at a thick gauge to handle the weight of vehicles.

Pool house - coastal backyard rectangular pool house idea in New York

Cottage bathroom photo in Los Angeles

Steve Hall Hedrich Blessing
Inspiration for a modern wooden open and metal railing staircase remodel in Denver

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Inspiration for a large timeless screened-in back porch remodel in Other

Photography-Hedrich Blessing Fairbanks Residence: The combination of three apartments was done to create one free flowing living space with over 4,800 SF connecting the 39th and 40th floors, with amazing views of Chicago. A new glass stair replaces an existing wood stair in the penthouse residence, and allows light to pour deep into the home and creates a calming void in the space. The glass is used as the primary structural material and only stainless steel is used for connection clips. The glass assembly of both tread and wall includes 3 layers of ½” lo-iron tempered glass with an AVB interlayer and hinge-like connector under tread and at connection to concrete to allow for rotation or vertical movement of up to one inch. The fireplace module incorporates the minimal gas and stone fireplace with hidden cabinet doors, an HVAC fan coil, and the LCD TV. The full height absolute-white kitchen wall also has a large working island in white oak that ends in an eat-in table. Solid wide plank hickory is used on the floor to compliment the rift-cut white oak cabinetry in the fireplace and kitchen, the tower’s concrete structure, and the plaster walls throughout painted in 4 different whites.

This 5,077 square foot Traditional Coastal Colonial custom home was designed by P2 Design. The home displays harmonious symmetry, with a horizontal white siding façade, van deusen blue wood shutters that complement the tasteful matching paneled front door, and natural stone chimneys. The architectural style fits neatly in the neighborhood by drawing on the surrounding colonial homes, giving it a touch of history, and blending it with a more casual traditional coastal appearance. Photos by Latham Architectural

Inspiration for a transitional home design remodel in Los Angeles

French Inspired Pool and Landscape by Marco Romani, RLA - Landscape Architect. Design and Construction of Entire Property by: Arrow
Inspiration for a timeless backyard stone patio kitchen remodel in Chicago