Living room - tropical living room idea

This is a private residence. The goals were to provide an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area while blocking unsightly views and accenting positive views. We added a small waterfall and firepit to the programming of the space. The structures follow the curved roof line of the home.

Morningside Architect, LLP Structural Engineer: Tan Associates Inc. Contractor: John Hu Photographer: Rick Gardner Photography
Large tuscan beige two-story brick exterior home photo in Houston

This is a private residence. The goals were to provide an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area while blocking unsightly views and accenting positive views. We added a small waterfall and firepit to the programming of the space. The structures follow the curved roof line of the home.

The clients' program was simple: "Light, please." The original layout of this forty year old, generous 3300 square foot residence isolated the kitchen and dining room. The dark cabinetry and imposing structure added to an already claustrophobic sense. Finish photography by Dale Lang, PhD, AIAP.

The program consists of a detached Guest House with full Kitchen, Living and Dining amenities, Carport and Office Building with attached Main house and Master Bedroom wing. The arrangement of buildings was dictated by the numerous majestic oaks and organized as a procession of spaces leading from the Entry arbor up to the front door. Large covered terraces and arbors were used to extend the interior living spaces out onto the site. All the buildings are clad in Texas limestone with accent bands of Leuders limestone to mimic the local limestone cliffs in the area. Steel was used on the arbors and fences and left to rust. Vertical grain Douglas fir was used on the interior while flagstone and stained concrete floors were used throughout. The flagstone floors extend from the exterior entry arbors into the interior of the Main Living space and out onto the Main house terraces.

Photographer: Dan Piassick
Large elegant formal and open concept porcelain tile living room photo in Dallas with blue walls and a standard fireplace

This is a private residence. The goals were to provide an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area while blocking unsightly views and accenting positive views. We added a small waterfall and firepit to the programming of the space. The structures follow the curved roof line of the home.

This is a private residence. The goals were to provide an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area while blocking unsightly views and accenting positive views. We added a small waterfall and firepit to the programming of the space. The structures follow the curved roof line of the home.

A great view of the custom built playhouse. This structure features all the elements of an outdoor play structure, including two slides, monkey bars, mini rock climbing wall, a swing and a "trapeze bar" / ring combo. The left "cabin" has a set of cedar stairs that allow access to the upper deck and bridge to the upper deck of the right "cabin" The left cabin features a light switch which turns all the 12V DC lighting in each cabin on or off. It also has a cedar staircase to the upper level, a PVC "sound pipe" that allows two people to talk into it, a magnetic board for play magnets, access to the ball pit slide, and a cool "button box" that is programmed with different animal noises depending on which button is pressed. The right cabin is a combination kitchen / grocery store and puppet show area and contains all the related toys and details expected in such an area. The bamboo siding edges and corners are sourced from Texture Plus, who specialize in faux siding materials.

Located near the foot of the Teton Mountains, the site and a modest program led to placing the main house and guest quarters in separate buildings configured to form outdoor spaces. With mountains rising to the northwest and a stream cutting through the southeast corner of the lot, this placement of the main house and guest cabin distinctly responds to the two scales of the site. The public and private wings of the main house define a courtyard, which is visually enclosed by the prominence of the mountains beyond. At a more intimate scale, the garden walls of the main house and guest cabin create a private entry court. A concrete wall, which extends into the landscape marks the entrance and defines the circulation of the main house. Public spaces open off this axis toward the views to the mountains. Secondary spaces branch off to the north and south forming the private wing of the main house and the guest cabin. With regulation restricting the roof forms, the structural trusses are shaped to lift the ceiling planes toward light and the views of the landscape. A.I.A Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2017 Project Year: 2008

This cottage was designed as an accessory structure to a river home. Crafted as a shop to work on fishing tackle and host garden tools, it’s program evolved into both a functional workshop with strong exterior details and comfortable getaway with pleasing interior décor and accents. The guest balcony captures the wonderful view of Poplar Neck Creek.

Located near the foot of the Teton Mountains, the site and a modest program led to placing the main house and guest quarters in separate buildings configured to form outdoor spaces. With mountains rising to the northwest and a stream cutting through the southeast corner of the lot, this placement of the main house and guest cabin distinctly responds to the two scales of the site. The public and private wings of the main house define a courtyard, which is visually enclosed by the prominence of the mountains beyond. At a more intimate scale, the garden walls of the main house and guest cabin create a private entry court. A concrete wall, which extends into the landscape marks the entrance and defines the circulation of the main house. Public spaces open off this axis toward the views to the mountains. Secondary spaces branch off to the north and south forming the private wing of the main house and the guest cabin. With regulation restricting the roof forms, the structural trusses are shaped to lift the ceiling planes toward light and the views of the landscape. A.I.A Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2017 Project Year: 2008

The search for the elegantly simple in a complex world is omnipresent – LEICHT‘s new programme with its warm but at the same time precise look is the perfect solution. The focus of the new developments is the new planning concept EVO which shows new directions with the innovative integrated programme of unit fronts and worktop. The virtually invisible worktop with its surrounding metal edge has a flush finish with the fronts and gives the kitchen an exceedingly puristic air. The material mix too makes the ensemble all the more exciting: structured genuine wood meets velvety matt lacquer, the warm tone of the wood meets the cooler air of carbon grey – a skilful combination of contrasts. The new oak surface with an expressive, horizontal relief structure lends the range its warm and high-grade appearance. At the same time, the cool precision in the presentation of transitions and very fine contours is surprising. The exciting material mix is also characteristic, an inspiring composition that appeals to the senses:

In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography

This space defines the hub of the garden, I placed it in the corner so it is central to the ADU and the dining area/access from the house. The BBQ is now part of the social space. The raised planter and walls all are functions of design but also reflect my solution for the many grading levels on the neighboring perimeter spaces as well as grading within the former space and act to create floating bench and BBQ moments I programmed in. The concrete plinth is for extra seating/food or plant displays.

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2017 Houzz Loggia Design team: Ederra Design Studio
Patio - traditional backyard patio idea in Los Angeles with a roof extension

2019 Silver Winner | PHTA International Awards of Excellence This custom, design-build project in Lincoln, NE is all about attention to detail. A concrete swimming pool, spa and outdoor patio with a 1,600 square foot bar and grill building are the focal points of the outdoor entertaining area. The pool features an infinity-edge spa, natural stone waterfall and slide, swim up bar with levitating stainless steel bar stools, and zero-entry pool edge. It was important to the clients, who are from the Midwest, to incorporate natural stones and colors from the region. The outdoor landscape design also ensures enjoyment and safety for their family and young grandchildren. The pool is a custom shotcrete structure that is 1,147 square feet. It has a beautiful natural stone and shotcrete waterfall with a built in Dolphin slide, and underwater bench. Opposite of the waterfall are five custom-built levitating stainless steel bar stools with an in-pool walk lane and a full swim up bar. A pallet of glass tile gives this natural, freeform pool some shine. The glass-walled, infinity-edge spa features a separate filtration system, heater, pumps and air blower that run off automation. Across from the spa is a custom-cut, flagstone beach entry with LED-lit bubblers for the grandkids. We incorporated the brick and architectural design of the home throughout the outdoor building, and continued this look into the open-concept bar and grill. The bar and grill is over 1,600 square feet and seats 50 with beautiful, hand-tufted booths, bar stools, professional bar equipment, custom granite tops, and even a men’s and women’s bathroom. Two 16’ wide glass bi-folding doors flawlessly incorporate the covered outdoor travertine courtyards, with matching travertine flooring used inside the building. A 27’ linear fire pit with natural stone wall includes five stainless steel scupper boxes to match the bar stools. The project has over 6,000 square feet of “tiramisu” travertine used in the patios and courtyards, including a second natural stone fire pit and seating wall. This project sits on a natural spring, so the entire design was elevated to help mitigate groundwater, and also provide a safer barrier to the pool. A second stream and waterfall are fed by the natural spring runoff water, which is also used for irrigation purposes. This self-contained stream and waterfall extend the enjoyment of the outdoor space further into the season, when the pool system shuts down for the winter months. Large spruce trees and a variety of maples were planted along the property, incorporating natural landscaping materials and design concepts to both provide privacy and manage downhill drainage. The energy-efficient outdoor lighting system is fully programmable for zoning, dimming, and color changing. In addition, the pool pumps and in-pool LED lights are also automated, and all can be programmed from a simple, smartphone app.