Inspiration for a mid-sized backyard concrete paver patio remodel with a pergola

Scott L. Rand AIA architect
Deck - coastal deck idea in Baltimore with decking

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Bobcat Lodge- Lake Rabun Be welcomed to this perfect mountain/lake lodge through stone pillars down a driveway of stamped concrete and brick paver patterns to the porte cochere. The design philosophy seen in the home's exterior extends to the interior with 10 fireplaces, the finest materials, and extraordinary craftsmanship. Great Room Enter the striking foyer with the antique heart pine, walnut and bird's-eye maple inlaid pattern that harmonizes with the natural unity of the spacious great room. The visually anchored stone fireplace accented by hand hewn circa 1800 oak beams silhouettes the soft lake views making a dynamic design statement. The great room was designed with togetherness in mind and features high vaulted ceilings, wormy oak flooring with walnut borders, a spacious dining area, a gourmet kitchen and for softer and more intimate moments a keeping room. Kitchen: Wormy chestnut cabinets, Complimenting South American granite countertops Wolf cooktop, double oven Preparation bar Serving Buffet Separate wet bar Walk-in Pantry Laundry Room: entrance off the foyer, wormy chestnut cabinets and South American granite Keeping Room: Nestled off the kitchen area intimately scaled for quieter moments, wormy chestnut ceilings with hand hewn oak beams from Ohio and Pennsylvania, wormy oak flooring accented with walnut and sycamore, and private fireplace Powder Room off foyer Three Master Bedroom Suites: each with its own unique full bathroom and private alcove with masonry wood burning fireplace Master suite on the main floor with full bath enlivened by a fish theme with earthtones and blue accents, a copper soaking tub, large shower and copper sinks Upstairs master suite with wormy oak flooring sits snug above the lake looking through a tree canopy as from a tree house facilitating a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere- full bath features jetted tub, separate shower, large closet, and friendly lizards sitting on copper sinks Terrace Level Master Suite offers trey ceilings, entrance to stone terrace supported by cyprus tree trunks giving the feel of a rainforest floor: Full bath includes double mosaic-raised copper sinks, antler lighting, jetted tub accented with aquatic life tiles and separate water closet This warm and inviting rustic interior perfectly balances the outdoor lake vistas with the comfort of indoor living.moving directly to the outdoor living spaces. A full length deck supported by cyprus trees offers the opportunity for serious entertaining. The stone terrace off the downstairs family room leads directly to the two stall boathouse for lakeside entertaining with its own private fireplace. Terrace Level: 14 foot ceilings, transom windows A master suite A guest room with trey ceilings, wool carpet, and full bath with copper sinks,double vanity and riverock shower Family room with focal stone fireplace, wet bar with wine cooler, separate kitchen with sink, mini refrigerator and built in microwave Wine closet with hand painted plaster finish A full bath for drippy swimmers with oversized river rock shower accented with crayfish and salamander tiles Extras All windows are Loewen windows A ridge vent system Custom design closets Poured foundation for house and boathouse European spruce framing Exterior siding: 1 x 12 pressure treated pine with 1 x 4 batten strips Siding has three coat process of Sikkens stain finish Ten masonry fireplaces Stacked rock from Rocky Gap Virginia Eight foot custom Honduran Pine True plaster walls with three coat process faux finish Locust hand rails for the deck Support cyprus tree trunks from Charleston Outside light fixtures custom made in NY Five hot water heaters, circulating pump Duel fuel heat pump/propane, 1000 gallon buried propane tank, four zone heating system Two laundry rooms All Fireplaces set up for flat screen TV's Adjacent lot available for purchase

Inspiration for a contemporary master beige tile drop-in bathtub remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, multicolored walls, an integrated sink and a hinged shower door

Featured on Pete Nelson's Treehouse Masters, Season 3: Episode 3, "Bionic Tree House." http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/treehouse-masters/ Architectural Elements had the amazing opportunity to help Pete Nelson renovate one of his very first tree house projects. The house's original wooden supports & staircase were old and decayed. Architectural Elements fabricated and installed new, steel support beams that would move and grow with the trees. We also created a segmented staircase with blackened steel railings. Inside the house, we provided a kinetic ladder to access a lofted relaxation space.

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

A compact secondary counter zone can move coffee, toast and serving overflow away from the main kitchen. Closed base cabinetry controls visual clutter, while visibly supported wood shelves keep everyday serving pieces within reach. AI-assisted planning concept; cabinetry scope does not automatically include countertops, electrical work, permits or local installation.

A transitional farmhouse kitchen remodel for a young family. The kitchen was dark and lacking an abundance of countertop space. The first thing we decided to do was to relocated the kitchen sink from the corner. By moving the sink and expanding the kitchen footprint the new layout supported an island with seating for 4 bar stools. The surrounding cabinets are painted and the island is textured materials in barnside finish.

Quartz and textured granite countertops provide a sophisticated feel while allowing for ease of maintenance after those late night poker parties. A retractable exterior door system can be fully-pocketed to provide great integration of the indoor & outdoor spaces.

Craftsman style house opens up for better connection and more contemporary living. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dinning room and reconfiguring the stair layout allowed for more usable space and better circulation through the home. The double dormer addition upstairs allowed for a true Master Suite, complete with steam shower! Photo: Pete Eckert

A PLACE TO GATHER Location: Eagan, MN, USA This family of five wanted an inviting space to gather with family and friends. Mom, the primary cook, wanted a large island with more organized storage – everything in its place – and a crisp white kitchen with the character of an older home. Challenges: Design an island that could accommodate this family of five for casual weeknight dinners. Create more usable storage within the existing kitchen footprint. Design a better transition between the upper cabinets on the 8-foot sink wall and the adjoining 9-foot cooktop wall. Make room for more counter space around the cooktop. It was poorly lit, cluttered with small appliances and confined by the tall oven cabinet. Solutions: A large island, that seats 5 comfortably, replaced the small island and kitchen table. This allowed for more storage including cookbook shelves, a heavy-duty roll out shelf for the mixer, a 2-bin recycling center and a bread drawer. Tall pantries with decorative grilles were placed between the kitchen and family room. These created ample storage and helped define each room, making each one feel larger, yet more intimate. A space intentionally separates the upper cabinets on the sink wall from those on the cooktop wall. This created symmetry on the sink wall and made room for an appliance garage, which keeps the countertops uncluttered. Moving the double ovens to the former pantry location made way for more usable counter space around the cooktop and a dramatic focal point with the hood, cabinets and marble backsplash. Special Features: Custom designed corbels and island legs lend character. Gilt open lanterns, antiqued nickel grilles on the pantries, and the soft linen shade at the kitchen sink add personality and charm. The unique bronze hardware with a living finish creates the patina of an older home. A walnut island countertop adds the warmth and feel of a kitchen table. This homeowner truly understood the idea of living with the patina of marble. Her grandmother’s marble-topped antique table inspired the Carrara countertops. The result is a highly organized kitchen with a light, open feel that invites you to stay a while. Liz Schupanitz Designs Photographed by: Andrea Rugg

Ryan Struck Photography
Urban kitchen photo in New York

A transitional farmhouse kitchen remodel for a young family. The kitchen was dark and lacking an abundance of countertop space. The first thing we decided to do was to relocated the kitchen sink from the corner. By moving the sink and expanding the kitchen footprint the new layout supported an island with seating for 4 bar stools. The surrounding cabinets are painted and the island is textured materials in barnside finish.

Transitional master bedroom photo in Chicago with beige walls

Example of a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

Open bookcases were designed in the snack bar that faces toward the Family Room. This snack bar allows for a separate eating area, as well a seating space for entertaining. It also creates a divider between the Family Room and Kitchen, and is used as a brace for the kitchen perimeter. Custom Antique White Grabill Cabinetry gives this kitchen an elegant, yet vivacious traditional feel.

Inspiration for a modern concrete paver landscaping in San Diego.

Budget friendly cedar fence boards were used in the interior space. Since the space is unheated - the cedar boards fair well in the moderate climate of Seattle.

A church congregation moved to a newer building leaving their beautiful old stained glass windows behind in the previous church. After photographing all the windows, a design was formed based on a composite of the one huge main window. The faux stained glass work was done; a faux wood grain frame was applied with matched the wood of the pulpit and the altar. The work was done on canvas and mounted to a plywood support so the panels could be hung in the new building. This project was done for Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Windsor, York County, PA.