Search results for "Supportive community" in Home Design Ideas

Elevated Living in Highland Park
Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting.
Home Details
The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic.
Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living.
Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation
Practical Connections
The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space.
Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes:
A kitchenette for outdoor meals
A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling
Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain
Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.

This Baton Rouge home, in The Settlement at Willow Grove, has a style inspired by a California Coastal vocabulary. It is a 2-story with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a powder room. The square footage for the conditioned spaces is 4,340 sq ft and the total under roof is 5,343 sq ft. It is designed with the main living spaces having views and access to a comfortable side porch, patio and pool. The exterior style is cleverly woven into the interior design with architectural detailing and choices in finishes, fixtures and furnishings.
As you enter the home through a steel and glass door unit, the coffered ceiling foyer opens to a stair and then leads you down a hallway with white oak beams that becomes the main circulation spine to most of the first-floor spaces in the house. One of those unique spaces is the wet bar that is integrated into a space below the stairs in such a way that the steps are expressed in the ceiling design.
The kitchen, dining and living room form a great room with each space defined by white oak beams supported by corbelled pilasters. White oak accents are implemented throughout this area in cabinetry and in floating shelves on one entire wall in the living room. The kitchen features a large island and provides serving access to the side porch through counter height sliding window units. Access is also provided to a spacious butler pantry behind the kitchen.
Along the main hallway, one can access the garage, a drop off area and the laundry room. Further down around the corner you’ll find the master suite with a beautifully appointed bathroom featuring a footed tub as the focal point with views through a large window to a small, landscaped area. The his and her closet is designed for each’s needs with an island.
Upstairs you’ll find a large landing that can also serve as an exercise area and then find 2 more bedrooms, which share a bathroom. One of the bedrooms serves as a study but can also become a bedroom when needed with a murphy bed. This study/bedroom cantilevers off the corner of the house, providing spectacular views through a spray of windows to a community park down the street. A large playroom accessed of the landing is provided for family fun.

River Homes
Civic, Pedestrian, and Personal Scale
Our urban design strategy to create a modern, traditional neighborhood centered around three distinct yet connected levels of scale – civic, pedestrian, and personal.
The civic connection with the city, the Milwaukee River and the adjacent Kilbourn Park was addressed via the main thoroughfare, street extensions and the River Walk. The relationship to pedestrian scale was achieved by fronting each building to its corresponding street or river edge. Utilizing elevated entries and main living levels provides a non-intimidating distinction between public and private. The open, loft-like qualities of each individual living unit, coupled with the historical context of the tract supports the personal scale of the design.
The Beerline “mini-block” – patterned after a typical city block - is configured to allow for each individual building to address its respective street or river edge while creating an internal alley or “auto court”. The river-facing units, each with four levels of living space, incorporate rooftop garden terraces which serve as natural, sunlit pavilions in an urban setting.
In an effort to integrate our typical urban neighborhood with the context of an industrial corridor, we relied upon thoughtful connections to materials such as brick, stucco, and fine woods, thus creating a feeling of refined elegance in balance with the “sculpture” of the historic warehouses across the Milwaukee River.
Urban Diversity
The Beerline River Homes provide a walkable connection to the city, the beautiful Milwaukee River, and the surrounding environs. The diversity of these custom homes is evident not only in the unique association of the units to the specific “edges” each one addresses, but also in the diverse range of pricing from the accessible to the high-end. This project has elevated a typically developer-driven market into a striking urban design product.
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This beach condo could not have a more beautiful location on the Pacific Ocean. This community has been here since the 60's. The condo was dated and showing signs of the salt water breezes.
A rework of the main floor kitchen and dining opened up the space and created a light and airy feel. Pillars that were not supporting and a beam that was for visual purposes only were removed. This allowed us to connect the two rooms and create one large space.
All of the conveniences of new cabinetry were added. The additional cabinets in the dining area have doubled the storage. The family room level received a face lift with new shiplap siding and doors to access hidden storage.
The whole main floor has new luxury vinyl siding that adds to the beachy feel.

The Rosebury Farm project by Squared Architects is a thoughtfully planned residential development located on the edge of suburban London, designed to balance contemporary living with a strong sensitivity to its rural surroundings. Set within a green belt context, the scheme consists of a collection of individually designed homes that follow a self-build or custom-build approach, allowing for variation while maintaining a cohesive architectural identity.
The design emphasizes integration with the landscape, using staggered building forms and carefully arranged massing to reduce visual impact and preserve key views across the site. Natural materials and a restrained palette help the homes blend into their environment, while features such as green walls and planted areas reinforce the connection between architecture and nature.
Internally, the houses are designed with flexible, open-plan layouts that support modern living, prioritizing natural light and spatial fluidity. Sustainability is a core principle throughout the project, with energy-efficient strategies and environmentally responsive design choices embedded from the outset.
Overall, Rosebury Farm represents a contemporary yet context-sensitive housing model, combining architectural quality, environmental awareness, and a community-oriented approach to residential development.

Elevated Living in Highland Park
Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting.
Home Details
The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic.
Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living.
Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation
Practical Connections
The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space.
Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes:
A kitchenette for outdoor meals
A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling
Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain
Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.

Whole-Home Renovation — Windsor, Vero Beach
Stunning renovation of a village home in Windsor, the private barrier-island community in Vero Beach, Florida. Planned by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk on New Urbanist principles, Windsor is defined by its Anglo-Caribbean architecture: standing-seam metal roofs, deep loggias, classical columns, and palm-shaded courtyard pools set between the Indian River and the Atlantic.
The renovation carries that vocabulary through the whole property. A column-lined loggia wraps the courtyard pool, with a covered outdoor living room — fireplace, mounted television, and woven lounge seating under an exposed timber ceiling. Inside, the work runs from the white oak floors and grasscloth tray ceiling in the dining room to a paneled living room, a light-filled chef's kitchen with glass-front cabinetry and a gas range island, and a butler's pantry finished in soapstone and hand-painted cabinetry against a bold botanical wallpaper. Bedrooms are kept calm and coastal, several opening to upper porches that look across the village rooftops. Supporting spaces — laundry, study, and primary bath — were detailed to the same standard as the main rooms.
The result is a Treasure Coast home that reads as authentically Windsor: relaxed, well-built, and suited to indoor-outdoor island living year-round.
Ryan A. Jones & Associates — construction and renovation, Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast.

The 722 Ash Street residence consists of a 1500 sf primary house with a contiguous 500 sf accessory dwelling. The project is set in the rich culture of North Lawrence, its rear property line abuts the Lawrence levee trail which runs for nine miles along the north bank of the Kansas River.
North Lawrence is known for its quality soil, large trees, curbless streets and random size parcels before it breaks into larger farms further from the urban center. It is built on the typical orthogonal grid of American development, but it represents the older growth of the city prior to urban planners and zoning regulations. The rumble of freight trains and farm trucks in the shadows of the towering grain elevators are only blocks away. It is home to many who enjoy being only a bridge crossing away from Lawrence’s vibrant downtown but are far enough away to maintain their independence from many of the restrictions on living near the historic district. They can work in their large gardens and toiling in their garages and shops in a manner more rural than urban.
The house on 722 Ash St. is imbued with the character of North Lawrence and the Levee Trail area. The design was inspired by the Midwestern farmstead vernacular of the region. These timeless vernacular qualities house all the accommodations necessary for modern, sustainable living. A unique feature of this house is the Accessory Dwelling Unit permitted in the zoning district. It is a small separate residence on the same lot that can be used for income property or for extended family members. It also supports the city of Lawrence’s goals of increased density close to downtown rather than continued sprawl into the countryside.
The buildings use technology and common-sense design to reduce the building’s footprint and assure the owners low energy use and costs. A 4.9 Kw solar collection system is located on the only south facing gable and the super insulated envelopes (r-62 roof and r-35 walls) of all three forms easily exceeds the standards. Studio 804 continues their long standing pattern of maintaining the highest level of sustainable design while remaining contextually sensitive to the surrounding community. This house, like every Studio 804 project since 2008, is USGBC LEED Platinum Certified.

Gulf-Front Grandeur
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Hufham Farris Construction
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This one-of-a-kind Gulf-front residence in the New Urbanism community of Alys Beach, Florida, is truly a stunning piece of architecture matched only by its views. E. F. San Juan worked with the Alys Beach Town Planners at Khoury & Vogt Architects and the building team at Hufham Farris Construction on this challenging and fulfilling project.
We supplied character white oak interior boxed beams and stair parts. We also furnished all of the interior trim and paneling. The exterior products we created include ipe shutters, gates, fascia and soffit, handrails, and newels (balcony), ceilings, and wall paneling, as well as custom columns and arched cased openings on the balconies. In addition, we worked with our trusted partners at Loewen to provide windows and Loewen LiftSlide doors.
Challenges:
This was the homeowners’ third residence in the area for which we supplied products, and it was indeed a unique challenge. The client wanted as much of the exterior as possible to be weathered wood. This included the shutters, gates, fascia, soffit, handrails, balcony newels, massive columns, and arched openings mentioned above. The home’s Gulf-front location makes rot and weather damage genuine threats. Knowing that this home was to be built to last through the ages, we needed to select a wood species that was up for the task. It needed to not only look beautiful but also stand up to those elements over time.
Solution:
The E. F. San Juan team and the talented architects at KVA settled upon ipe (pronounced “eepay”) for this project. It is one of the only woods that will sink when placed in water (you would not want to make a boat out of ipe!). This species is also commonly known as ironwood because it is so dense, making it virtually rot-resistant, and therefore an excellent choice for the substantial pieces of millwork needed for this project.
However, ipe comes with its own challenges; its weight and density make it difficult to put through machines and glue. These factors also come into play for hinging when using ipe for a gate or door, which we did here. We used innovative joining methods to ensure that the gates and shutters had secondary and tertiary means of support with regard to the joinery. We believe the results speak for themselves!
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Photography by Layne Lillie, courtesy of Khoury & Vogt Architects

California native foliage outside the ground floor library ensures there are beautiful views from meeting rooms and community space. It also softens the feel of the property for those walking by. Even these small planted space have a profound impact on the property's perceived value as well as its ability to collect water and support pollinators.
Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Elevated Living in Highland Park
Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting.
Home Details
The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic.
Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living.
Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation
Practical Connections
The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space.
Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes:
A kitchenette for outdoor meals
A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling
Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain
Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.

Kevin Reeves, Photographer
Updated kitchen with center island with chat-seating. Spigot just for dog bowl. Towel rack that can act as a grab bar. Flush white cabinetry with mosaic tile accents. Top cornice trim is actually horizontal mechanical vent. Semi-retired, art-oriented, community-oriented couple that entertain wanted a space to fit their lifestyle and needs for the next chapter in their lives. Driven by aging-in-place considerations - starting with a residential elevator - the entire home is gutted and re-purposed to create spaces to support their aesthetics and commitments. Kitchen island with a water spigot for the dog. "His" office off "Her" kitchen. Automated shades on the skylights. A hidden room behind a bookcase. Hanging pulley-system in the laundry room. Towel racks that also work as grab bars. A lot of catalyzed-finish built-in cabinetry and some window seats. Televisions on swinging wall brackets. Magnet board in the kitchen next to the stainless steel refrigerator. A lot of opportunities for locating artwork. Comfortable and bright. Cozy and stylistic. They love it.

Whole-Home Renovation — Windsor, Vero Beach
Stunning renovation of a village home in Windsor, the private barrier-island community in Vero Beach, Florida. Planned by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk on New Urbanist principles, Windsor is defined by its Anglo-Caribbean architecture: standing-seam metal roofs, deep loggias, classical columns, and palm-shaded courtyard pools set between the Indian River and the Atlantic.
The renovation carries that vocabulary through the whole property. A column-lined loggia wraps the courtyard pool, with a covered outdoor living room — fireplace, mounted television, and woven lounge seating under an exposed timber ceiling. Inside, the work runs from the white oak floors and grasscloth tray ceiling in the dining room to a paneled living room, a light-filled chef's kitchen with glass-front cabinetry and a gas range island, and a butler's pantry finished in soapstone and hand-painted cabinetry against a bold botanical wallpaper. Bedrooms are kept calm and coastal, several opening to upper porches that look across the village rooftops. Supporting spaces — laundry, study, and primary bath — were detailed to the same standard as the main rooms.
The result is a Treasure Coast home that reads as authentically Windsor: relaxed, well-built, and suited to indoor-outdoor island living year-round.
Ryan A. Jones & Associates — construction and renovation, Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast.

This penthouse condo in Raven Woods is home to an adventurous, nature-loving couple. With their children grown and starting families of their own, Jeremy and Cynthia (names changed) chose to downsize their livable space and “upsize” in quality and luxury.
The couple hired us to help them achieve several well-defined goals: feeling immersed and connected to nature, having warm and welcoming spaces to host their family and friends, and selecting pieces that would support local makers and artisans. (If you know me, you know that nature, connection, and community are some of my most important values, personally and professionally — the perfect fit!)
Using our comprehensive design process, we spent months designing, procuring, and installing their new, long-time home. The resulting spaces are breathtaking, creating a daily living experience that is full of serenity and bliss.
Welcoming & Bright Home with Forest Views:
Ahhh… can you imagine coming home to a space as bright and soothing as this one? To find inspiration for this home’s interiors, we needed to look no further than out the windows, where mountain views greet us to the north and the ocean beckons from the south.
Paying homage to their locale, we curated a colour palette of subtle blues and grays, warm-toned woods, and natural materials, all set against a crisp, white backdrop. These help us create a seamless visual transition between the interior and exterior. Let’s start our tour in the living area…
A Cozy Living Area with Warmth & Dimension:
In the living area, the fireplace was the starting point for the design, as it determined the size of the space and the scale of our furnishings. To keep this area feeling cozy but not crowded, we selected this soft ottoman to serve as a table surface with a tray or as additional seating when Jeremy and Cynthia host guests. (Multi-purpose items are one of the 5 elements of The Simple Home.)
Additional textures — the sofa, upholstered swivel chairs, pillows, and ceramic wall art reminiscent of sand dollars — offer further depth and dimension in this simple yet layered space. The result is a cozy living room area perfect for a relaxing read on an overcast day or a social evening by the fire.
While daunting at first, this home’s small and open footprint offered a special opportunity for us to design thoughtful “zones”. To create a defined living space, we used an area rug to establish a border and situated the larger seating (the sofa) on the right. Its visual weight serves as a grounding barrier that naturally separates the living and dining areas.
Overhead, the centrally located brass and glass chandelier serves as another focal point, making the entire living area feel like one unit. Last but not least…
Styled with tall decorative lamps, this light oak and rattan console sits just behind the sofa, creating an additional visual barrier between the living and dining areas. We styled it with accessories that complement the overall palette, and it has the added benefit of providing storage right where Jeremy and Cynthia need it, the dining area.
An Art-Infused Dining Area:
The dining area is warm, woodsy, and filled with locally sourced art that Jeremy and Cynthia love. Next to the console is a custom textile piece from Vancouver artist, With Strings Attached, that mimics the scenic, mountain backdrop. The blue hues of the piece work in harmony with the warm wood dining table, cool gray upholstered chairs, and neutral stools at the kitchen bar.
On the other side of the space, is Jeremy’s and Cynthia’s favourite piece, a commissioned work of art by local maker, Katie Napier. Carefully positioned in a central location and framed by two modern sconces, this piece captures the feel of gentle waters on a misty day and evokes calm.
Other curated pieces include this rectangular vessel centrepiece by sculptural artist, Martha Sturdy, bearing a stunning moss arrangement by Soul Roots Moss Art. As this couple can attest, a treasured memento or piece of art can transform your space and your mood, transporting you to a relaxed and peaceful state.
A Bedroom Full of Light & Texture:
This beautiful bedroom is another manifestation of Jeremy and Cynthia’s favourite experiences: hiking the rainforest trails and enjoying the spray of the sea. The blue-and-green branching pattern found in the window treatments and pillows ground the space, while bright turquoise lamps — akin to sea glass — infuse the room with a touch of coastal vibrance.
Similar to the living area, we added comfort through texture and warm tones, incorporating oak end tables, natural woven wall decor above the headboard, knitted ottomans at the foot of the bed, a textured duvet, and an extra plush area rug.
A Loft Inspired by Flora & Fauna:
For the loft space, we moved away from coastal elements and decided to ground the space in the more earthy elements of nature: flora and fauna. We selected an umber-hued sofa complemented by floral decorative pillows and walls adorned with botanical prints by Heather Johnston.
This multi-purpose space serves as a reprieve for our clients to read, practice yoga, and relax. Alternatively, a Frame TV intentionally meant to blend as art allows the space to function as a secondary entertainment space or a place for their granddaughter to play and sleep over.
Praise from Our Clients:
This home’s small footprint pushed us to be more resourceful in our furniture sourcing and more creative in our space planning. The result is a home as livable, beautiful, and intentional as any larger home would be. Most importantly, Jeremy and Cynthia love it!
“Lori listened to our love of nature and designed our condo reflecting that love. It is beautiful, serene, and welcoming. We couldn't be happier.”
If you’re ready to uncover the hidden potential in your home, that is what we do best. Contact us here or download our complimentary guide below to discover more.

Gulf-Front Grandeur
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Hufham Farris Construction
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This one-of-a-kind Gulf-front residence in the New Urbanism community of Alys Beach, Florida, is truly a stunning piece of architecture matched only by its views. E. F. San Juan worked with the Alys Beach Town Planners at Khoury & Vogt Architects and the building team at Hufham Farris Construction on this challenging and fulfilling project.
We supplied character white oak interior boxed beams and stair parts. We also furnished all of the interior trim and paneling. The exterior products we created include ipe shutters, gates, fascia and soffit, handrails, and newels (balcony), ceilings, and wall paneling, as well as custom columns and arched cased openings on the balconies. In addition, we worked with our trusted partners at Loewen to provide windows and Loewen LiftSlide doors.
Challenges:
This was the homeowners’ third residence in the area for which we supplied products, and it was indeed a unique challenge. The client wanted as much of the exterior as possible to be weathered wood. This included the shutters, gates, fascia, soffit, handrails, balcony newels, massive columns, and arched openings mentioned above. The home’s Gulf-front location makes rot and weather damage genuine threats. Knowing that this home was to be built to last through the ages, we needed to select a wood species that was up for the task. It needed to not only look beautiful but also stand up to those elements over time.
Solution:
The E. F. San Juan team and the talented architects at KVA settled upon ipe (pronounced “eepay”) for this project. It is one of the only woods that will sink when placed in water (you would not want to make a boat out of ipe!). This species is also commonly known as ironwood because it is so dense, making it virtually rot-resistant, and therefore an excellent choice for the substantial pieces of millwork needed for this project.
However, ipe comes with its own challenges; its weight and density make it difficult to put through machines and glue. These factors also come into play for hinging when using ipe for a gate or door, which we did here. We used innovative joining methods to ensure that the gates and shutters had secondary and tertiary means of support with regard to the joinery. We believe the results speak for themselves!
---
Photography by Layne Lillie, courtesy of Khoury & Vogt Architects

This 1,450+ sq. ft. residence captures a globally inspired, modern aesthetic rich in color and personality. The design combines bold yet harmonious tones with natural textures and deep wood accents to create a space that feels both vibrant and grounded. The exterior’s contemporary palette seamlessly transitions into an interior layered with thoughtful details and curated décor, offering a collected and cultured ambience. Every element—from the lighting selections to the furniture placement—was chosen to balance style and function, creating a home that feels inviting, expressive, and livable. Perfectly suited for a modern young family, this home supports a lifestyle centered around connection and community.

Set against the rolling Kerrville landscape, the home’s metal roofing system blends modern performance with a natural Hill Country aesthetic. Long rooflines, matching chimney treatments, and concealed fasteners support rainwater harvesting requirements while staying true to the community’s design guidelines. The workmanship reflects the same consistency and discipline our teams bring to high-end builds across Central Texas, including projects held by our San Antonio roofer crews who have been working diligently without ever shifting focus from the homeowner’s design goals.

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Gulf-Front Grandeur
Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida
Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects
Builder: Hufham Farris Construction
---
This one-of-a-kind Gulf-front residence in the New Urbanism community of Alys Beach, Florida, is truly a stunning piece of architecture matched only by its views. E. F. San Juan worked with the Alys Beach Town Planners at Khoury & Vogt Architects and the building team at Hufham Farris Construction on this challenging and fulfilling project.
We supplied character white oak interior boxed beams and stair parts. We also furnished all of the interior trim and paneling. The exterior products we created include ipe shutters, gates, fascia and soffit, handrails, and newels (balcony), ceilings, and wall paneling, as well as custom columns and arched cased openings on the balconies. In addition, we worked with our trusted partners at Loewen to provide windows and Loewen LiftSlide doors.
Challenges:
This was the homeowners’ third residence in the area for which we supplied products, and it was indeed a unique challenge. The client wanted as much of the exterior as possible to be weathered wood. This included the shutters, gates, fascia, soffit, handrails, balcony newels, massive columns, and arched openings mentioned above. The home’s Gulf-front location makes rot and weather damage genuine threats. Knowing that this home was to be built to last through the ages, we needed to select a wood species that was up for the task. It needed to not only look beautiful but also stand up to those elements over time.
Solution:
The E. F. San Juan team and the talented architects at KVA settled upon ipe (pronounced “eepay”) for this project. It is one of the only woods that will sink when placed in water (you would not want to make a boat out of ipe!). This species is also commonly known as ironwood because it is so dense, making it virtually rot-resistant, and therefore an excellent choice for the substantial pieces of millwork needed for this project.
However, ipe comes with its own challenges; its weight and density make it difficult to put through machines and glue. These factors also come into play for hinging when using ipe for a gate or door, which we did here. We used innovative joining methods to ensure that the gates and shutters had secondary and tertiary means of support with regard to the joinery. We believe the results speak for themselves!
---
Photography by Layne Lillie, courtesy of Khoury & Vogt Architects

Elevated Living in Highland Park
Blairsville, Georgia — Located in the Highland Park community of North Georgia, “Winding Ridge,” designed by James Knight, combines natural materials with clean, contemporary design for a home that is both functional and well-suited to its mountain setting.
Home Details
The home includes 5,808 heated square feet, organized to support both everyday living and hosting guests. The exterior features white board-and-batten siding, dark roofing, and warm wood accents for a balanced, modern mountain aesthetic.
Main Level: Three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide convenient, stair-free living.
Upper Level: The primary suite occupies the entire top floor, offering added privacy and access to a balcony with views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Lower Level: Two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms create flexible space for guests, extended family, or recreation
Practical Connections
The layout prioritizes efficiency and organization. A mudroom and laundry room connect the two-car garage to the main living areas, creating a practical transition space.
Above the garage, a semi-attached in-law suite offers a private living area that remains connected to the main home while allowing for independence.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces are designed to function as an extension of the interior. The covered entertaining area includes:
A kitchenette for outdoor meals
A stone fireplace with seating beneath a timber-frame ceiling
Expansive decking overlooking the North Georgia mountain
Winding Ridge is a thoughtfully planned custom home that balances scale, comfort, and connection to its surroundings.
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