Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu 
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects 
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers 
Staging: Da Lusso Design 
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed 
Location: Los Altos, CA
 Year completed: 2017

Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Boston.

©Morgan Howarth
Photo of a traditional partial sun garden path in DC Metro.

This is an example of an asian rock landscaping in San Luis Obispo.

Design ideas for a traditional shade stone garden path in New Orleans.

In our busy lives, creating a peaceful and rejuvenating home environment is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Built less than five years ago, this Stinson Beach Modern home is your own private oasis. Surrounded by a butterfly preserve and unparalleled ocean views, the home will lead you to a sense of connection with nature. As you enter an open living room space that encompasses a kitchen, dining area, and living room, the inspiring contemporary interior invokes a sense of relaxation, that stimulates the senses. The open floor plan and modern finishes create a soothing, tranquil, and uplifting atmosphere. The house is approximately 2900 square feet, has three (to possibly five) bedrooms, four bathrooms, an outdoor shower and spa, a full office, and a media room. Its two levels blend into the hillside, creating privacy and quiet spaces within an open floor plan and feature spectacular views from every room. The expansive home, decks and patios presents the most beautiful sunsets as well as the most private and panoramic setting in all of Stinson Beach. One of the home's noteworthy design features is a peaked roof that uses Kalwall's translucent day-lighting system, the most highly insulating, diffuse light-transmitting, structural panel technology. This protected area on the hill provides a dramatic roar from the ocean waves but without any of the threats of oceanfront living. Built on one of the last remaining one-acre coastline lots on the west side of the hill at Stinson Beach, the design of the residence is site friendly, using materials and finishes that meld into the hillside. The landscaping features low-maintenance succulents and butterfly friendly plantings appropriate for the adjacent Monarch Butterfly Preserve. Recalibrate your dreams in this natural environment, and make the choice to live in complete privacy on this one acre retreat. This home includes Miele appliances, Thermadore refrigerator and freezer, an entire home water filtration system, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry by SieMatic, Ceasarstone kitchen counter tops, hardwood and Italian ceramic radiant tile floors using Warmboard technology, Electric blinds, Dornbracht faucets, Kalwall skylights throughout livingroom and garage, Jeldwen windows and sliding doors. Located 5-8 minute walk to the ocean, downtown Stinson and the community center. It is less than a five minute walk away from the trail heads such as Steep Ravine and Willow Camp.

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Chicago with no cover and a bbq area

A closer view of the 8-year old landscape installation shows that it still looks like new.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional full sun front yard concrete paver formal garden in Detroit.

Photo of a traditional retaining wall landscape in Other.

PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Espie DESIGNER Jules Moore When Mike and Genevieve Broadbent decided to renovate their backyard in Herne Bay, they did so to make a statement. Their beautiful house would be well at home with a traditional classic look. But Mike opted for a resort-style landscape.

Smooth and sleek, Blu 80 mm Smooth is the perfect driveway paver to fit any modern home's exterior. Due to its 80 mm height, Blu is optimal for driveway use and paving any surface exposed to vehicular traffic.Now available in our HD2 technology for an ultra-tight poreless finish with anti-aging technology; this paver is offered in vibrant and neutral colors. If you're looking to add contrast around this subtle and clean paving stone, the Blu 6 × 13 mm can be added to create contrasting patterns or banding along the Blu 80 modular pattern. Blu 80's versatility doesn't end there. It can also be installed in a permeable application by swapping polymeric sand for stone and it benefits from all the de-icing salt resistance necessary for harsh winters. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/blu-80-smooth/

Barnes Walker Ltd Treehouse designed and built by Treehouse Life Ltd www.treehouselife.co.uk
Photo of a traditional outdoor playset in Manchester.

Photo of a rustic hillside landscaping in Toronto.

Cedar gate with arbour entrance to the backyard. Flagstone landing with cobblestone border.
This is an example of a small transitional partial sun backyard stone garden path in Toronto for summer.

The landscape design for this private residence brings together a diverse array of elements to create an ethereal, multi-sensory experience where sound, movement, colour and scent are simultaneously evoked. Shielded by a forty foot hedge, the site challenged us to create an exterior, yet interior, world where Asian and Western influences intersect. In honouring the traditions of Feng Shui, the retaining wall does not sit directly on the entrance. Meditation pathways lead to areas of retreat and socialization (including an outdoor fire, a restored pool and covered seating area). An ergonomic garden and potting station lined with fruit trees allows the client to grow her own plants and vegetables. A multi-leveled water feature is framed with lush camellias and peonies; the landscape is lined with evergreens and decorated with Chinese basalt and local granite. The multi-sensory design comes to life in the grove of Shirofugen cherry trees as it sheds its petals to the music of a custom Corten steel wind chime sculpture made by English artist David Harber. A weather station was placed on site for a month to determine the weight of the chimes—each one set to the pentatonic scale. This is a space where our clients can grow and evolve their lives with the seasons.

This backyard patio design is inspired by our Para patio slab. Large-scale, ultra-smooth texture and fine lines best describe the all-new Para HD. Manufactured with Techo-Bloc’s patented High Definition technology, an extremely tight surface texture with pores that are virtually invisible. The Para HD provides contemporary styling and design flexibility. Each of its three sizes are packaged and sold separately allowing your projects to reflect your personal creativity. This 60 mm product is available in a 500 mm x 250 mm, 500 mm x 500 mm and 500 mm x 750 mm. It is available in both hyper smooth and polished textures. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/para/

Smooth and sleek, Blu 80 mm Smooth is the perfect driveway paver to fit any modern home's exterior. Due to its 80 mm height, Blu is optimal for driveway use and paving any surface exposed to vehicular traffic.Now available in our HD2 technology for an ultra-tight poreless finish with anti-aging technology; this paver is offered in vibrant and neutral colors. If you're looking to add contrast around this subtle and clean paving stone, the Blu 6 × 13 mm can be added to create contrasting patterns or banding along the Blu 80 modular pattern. Blu 80's versatility doesn't end there. It can also be installed in a permeable application by swapping polymeric sand for stone and it benefits from all the de-icing salt resistance necessary for harsh winters. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/blu-80-smooth/

Barnes Walker Ltd
Photo of a traditional partial sun stone garden path in Manchester.

Kevin Clarke@cmgstudios
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary full sun garden path in Christchurch.