Spike Mafford Photography

Learn seed starting basics and get a jump start on growing the flower garden of your dreams. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Written by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai. Photos by Michèle M. Waite. Published by Chronicle Books.

©toddhaiman2014
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional partial sun backyard gravel formal garden in New York for spring.

The clients sought a serene indoor-outdoor retreat to unwind, featuring a spa-like bath with disappearing walls, a spacious freestanding tub, and abundant natural light. The layout was reconfigured for functionality, privacy, and a calm, timeless design that blends harmoniously with the home's aesthetic, creating a perfect space for relaxation and family visits. Notable Products and Materials: Signature Custom Cabinetry, Colonial Door, Rift Cut White Oak, Stained Irish Cream / Countertop by Stoneville USA, White Calacatta Polished / Shower Wall - Cerim Exalt 12" x 24" Magic White Lucido, Porcelain Tile from Tile Shop / Flooring from Tile Shop - Concrete looking porcelain, Floor Gres Industrial Sage / Axis Modern Sconce Satin Nickel by Hammerton

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Photo: Joshua Mayer, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Cream Wild Indigo / Baptisia bracteata University of Wisconsin Arboretum

When the developer found this brownstone on the Upper Westside he immediately researched and found its potential for expansion. We were hired to maximize the existing brownstone and turn it from its current existence as 5 individual apartments into a large luxury single family home. The existing building was extended 16 feet into the rear yard and a new sixth story was added along with an occupied roof. The project was not a complete gut renovation, the character of the parlor floor was maintained, along with the original front facade, windows, shutters, and fireplaces throughout. A new solid oak stair was built from the garden floor to the roof in conjunction with a small supplemental passenger elevator directly adjacent to the staircase. The new brick rear facade features oversized windows; one special aspect of which is the folding window wall at the ground level that can be completely opened to the garden. The goal to keep the original character of the brownstone yet to update it with modern touches can be seen throughout the house. The large kitchen has Italian lacquer cabinetry with walnut and glass accents, white quartz counters and backsplash and a Calcutta gold arabesque mosaic accent wall. On the parlor floor a custom wetbar, large closet and powder room are housed in a new floor to ceiling wood paneled core. The master bathroom contains a large freestanding tub, a glass enclosed white marbled steam shower, and grey wood vanities accented by a white marble floral mosaic. The new forth floor front room is highlighted by a unique sloped skylight that offers wide skyline views. The house is topped off with a glass stair enclosure that contains an integrated window seat offering views of the roof and an intimate space to relax in the sun.

Dense woodland vegetation lends privacy and sound protection this front yard sitting area. Natural vegetation was encouraged, shaped, and supplemented with Texas native plants.

This particular project brought great pride to our Regal, it was a perfect example of the ingenious collaboration of design ideas between the client and Sean. An open design concept must be executed with space and functionality in mind. This project accomplished just that. The tray ceilings and recessed lighting convey an artistic architectural design that supplemented the expansiveness of the entire space.

Shown with the Ledgestone Fireback and Bronze Crushed Glass. Includes under floor lighting, Tile Trim Kit, GreenSmart Remote, 180 CFM (twin 90) Fans, Safety Screen. Operates during a power outage and can direct supplemental heat into 2 additional areas! Heating Capacity: 2,100 sq ft BTU Range: 42,000 - 21,670 (NG) 42,00 - 21,400 (LP) Glass View: Two Sides 41-3/4" x 12-15/16"

This is an example of a southwestern landscaping in Phoenix.

When the developer found this brownstone on the Upper Westside he immediately researched and found its potential for expansion. We were hired to maximize the existing brownstone and turn it from its current existence as 5 individual apartments into a large luxury single family home. The existing building was extended 16 feet into the rear yard and a new sixth story was added along with an occupied roof. The project was not a complete gut renovation, the character of the parlor floor was maintained, along with the original front facade, windows, shutters, and fireplaces throughout. A new solid oak stair was built from the garden floor to the roof in conjunction with a small supplemental passenger elevator directly adjacent to the staircase. The new brick rear facade features oversized windows; one special aspect of which is the folding window wall at the ground level that can be completely opened to the garden. The goal to keep the original character of the brownstone yet to update it with modern touches can be seen throughout the house. The large kitchen has Italian lacquer cabinetry with walnut and glass accents, white quartz counters and backsplash and a Calcutta gold arabesque mosaic accent wall. On the parlor floor a custom wetbar, large closet and powder room are housed in a new floor to ceiling wood paneled core. The master bathroom contains a large freestanding tub, a glass enclosed white marbled steam shower, and grey wood vanities accented by a white marble floral mosaic. The new forth floor front room is highlighted by a unique sloped skylight that offers wide skyline views. The house is topped off with a glass stair enclosure that contains an integrated window seat offering views of the roof and an intimate space to relax in the sun.

THEME Every element of this room evokes images from the Enchanted Forest. Tiny lights twinkle like fireflies; curtains swing from real tree limbs and sticker stones lay a pathway to the bed. Ceramic mushrooms and birdhouses are scattered throughout the room, creating perfect hiding spots for fairies, pixies and other magical friends. The dominant color of both bedroom and bathroom — a soft, feminine pink — creates a soothing, yet wondrous atmosphere. In the corner sits a large tree with a child-size door at the base, promising a child-size adventure on the other side. FOCUS Illuminated by two beautiful flower-shaped lamps, the six-footdiameter circular bed becomes the centerpiece of the room. Imitation bark on the bed’s exterior augments the room’s theme and makes it easy for a child to believe they have stepped out of the suburbs and into the forest. Three lily pads extending from tree bark serve as both steps to the bed and stools to sit on. Ready-made for princess parties and sleepovers, the bed easily accommodates two to three small children or an adult. Twelvefoot ceilings enhance the sense of openness, while soft lighting and comfy pillows make this a cozy reading and resting spot. STORAGE The shelves on the rear of the bed and the two compartments in the tree — one covered by a doubledoor, the other by a miniature door — supplement the storage capacity of the room’s giant closet without interrupting the theme. GROWTH The bed meets standard specifications for a baby crib, and can accommodate both children and adults. The railing is easily removed when baby girl becomes a “big girl,” and eventually, a teenager. SAFETY Rounded edges on all of the room’s furnishings help prevent nasty bumps, and lamps are positioned well out-of-reach of small children. The mattress is designed to fit snugly to meet current crib safety standards, while a 26-inch railing allows this bed to act as a safe, comfortable and fun play area.

Mid-sized transitional 3/4 porcelain tile and beige tile porcelain tile and beige floor alcove shower photo in Omaha with brown walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and granite countertops

The solution to a windowless room was to install a skylight that greets sunrise daily. A heated floor provides year-round comfort. To supplement the variance in natural light, all lighting is dimmable and includes LED strips under the cabinets and in the tub niche.

Antique White Melamine with Painted Doors, Drawer Faces & Trim. Additional closet space was created in the master bedroom to supplement walk-in closets.

Many recent renovations had already taken place at this phenomenal old Tudor home. The kitchen redo was saved for last. Our mission, imposed by our client, was to create a jaw-dropping, ultra-functional space for family and friends to gather in for years to come. Naturally, the new kitchen would have to reflect the style of the home seamlessly. One challenge was to incorporate very large professional style appliances into the space while keeping the feel of a stately, yet warm home. Custom wood panels were designed for the refrigerator units to give a furniture feel. A copper hood was designed to bring in an old world element. Wood panels were applied to all other appliances – two dishwashers, a wine refrigerator, and a beverage refrigerator. An iron I-beam that separated the original kitchen from the butler’s pantry and back entry was covered in wood with chamfers to match the other ceiling beams in the home by a local woodworker. Due to the age of the home, the outside walls are concrete block. This necessitated chiseling troughs into the concrete for electrical wiring. Ceilings were studded randomly, so finding openings for recessed lighting was hit or miss. A large cluster of wiring and plumbing to the second floor had to be hidden behind cabinetry to the left of and above the refrigerators. HVAC wasn’t straight forward either. Toe kick heaters from the old kitchen had to be replaced with other sources. A propane tank had to be added to fuel the large dual fuel, double oven range. The homeowner wanted to add a walk-in pantry for extra storage, so space was taken from an existing exterior space. This created the need for extra insulation, supplemental heat and added lighting. Needless to say, mechanicals were a big challenge. Natural stone was added in backsplash areas to the ceiling to mimic the rectangular stone on the exterior of the home. Wood panels fill the backsplash areas under wall cabinets. Large chandeliers light the space. Open shelves at the wet bar/prep area offer convenient storage for grab and go service items. A built-in pantry with antique mirrored mullion doors hides a microwave, several other small appliances as well as dishes and food items. This pantry was tucked into an alcove for an added architectural element. Herringbone wood floors are classic and timeless. Wrought iron hardware and shelf brackets fit right in. Large Barley twist legs ground the island giving a nod to the Tudor style. Mission accomplished. Matt Villano Photography

Shade gardens don't have to be boring, in fact they can be some of the most surprising and dynamic gardens to design. Layered plantings like this one create lots of texture and interest-even when the plants aren't in bloom! Even better, this garden uses native plantings and will not need supplemental water once established.

The client provided a unique collection of framed images of Napoleon Bonaparte which were collected over several decades. The images are hung on a custom gallery rail system designed. Holes were drilled through the stems of Visual Comfort picture lights to allow the gallery rods to pass through the lights. This allowed centering of the picture lights to each rod. The bookcase lights are from the same series but they were modified to accept a one inch diameter custom rosette. The cabinet hardware, as with all of the metal finishes in the room, is polished nickel and includes Baldwin flush ring pulls, Von Morris mortise butt hinges and Brusso ball catches. The beveled mirror and frame above the hearth is actually a Seura television mirror with Premier Glass. The television is completely undetectable when it is off and, when it is on, the picture is clear and bright. Undetectable behind the mirror is a Russound IR receiver that transfers IR signals to a cable box, DVD player, and Apple TV receiver located in the lower cabinets. The source components are connected to the television with HDMI cables. Bose wall-mounted speakers, positioned in the lower alcoves of the bookcase, are supplemented with a Sonos subwoofer placed under the sofa. Surrounding the mantle and mirror is a three inch wide frame, identical to the frame around the gallery wall, that allows the Chesney's Edinburgh Carrara marble mantle and the steel Andover register grate to be set back from the bookcases. The mantle rests securely on a hearth stone of honed black granite which was recessed into the concrete floor. Suspended within the grate is an EcoSmart Bioethonal burner specifically designed for historic register grates. Volcanic stone was placed between the burner and the grate to conceal the front of the burner. The bookcases, cabinets and wall paneling are fabricated from a combination of solid mahogany and mahogany plywood. Crown and base molding were eliminated from the design to minimize the impact of the library in an otherwise contemporary house. The fascia above the bookcases and mantle, as well as the fascia above the gallery wall, are single pieces of solid mahogany carefully shaved to follow the irregular contours of the drywall ceiling and eliminate the need for caulk or fillers. The same method was employed at the bottom rail of the face frame to allow it to follow the slight undulations of the concrete floor. Eloy Estrada built the wood components and installed them along with all of the other components in the room. The two adjustable height Galerie des Lamps floor lamps on either side of the mantle are from the Grasshopper series. The Visual Comfort Dorchester Pharmacy floor lamps, on either side of the sofa, plug into a recessed Lew electrical floor box that was recessd into the floor under the sofa. The room originally had a chandelier and recessed lights all of which were all removed. The Lutron light switches, in matte Midnight, allow for independent dimming of the bookcase and picture lights. Within three of the bookcase alcoves are Littlight gooseneck lamps used to highlight various artifacts. The outlets for these lamps, and their transformers, are concealed under a removable wood panel at the back of the alcove. The cords for the display lamps cleanly pass through a Mockett grommet. The layout of the room and gallery rail system were designed by Leland Stone.