Search results for "Terrain" in Home Design Ideas
ZeroEnergy DesignThis modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income.
FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own.
SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio.
MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch.
SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf)
RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property.
COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements.
OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income.
PROJECT TEAM
ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer
A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor
Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry
Lisa Finch - Original Artwork
European Architectural Supply - Windows
Eric Roth Photography - Photography
Studio MMA Architecture + DesignLocated on a wooded lot on the south side of Mount Orford in Estrie, this country house is designed to enjoy views of the wooded slope down to a stream at the bottom of the valley and rising to the opposite cliff. The south offers a splendid view of distant mountains. Of modest size, the house is simple, modern and showcases natural materials. It opens towards the forest and the landscape while preserving the intimacy of the customers. The interior is spacious; the living spaces are communicating and friendly, with a high ceiling above the living room and a large picture window in front of the master bedroom, on the mezzanine. The living areas open onto an outdoor terrace that anchors the house to its rocky terrain, protected from the weather and hidden from the street. The rock of the land is highlighted at the edge of the terrace, where a rock face down the slope. A large roof overhang protects the house from the sun in the summer, and the low-level concrete floors absorb sunlight in the winter. The house has been designed according to the criteria of LEED and Novoclimat.
HUDSON DESIGN Architecture & Construction MgmtExample of an arts and crafts exterior home design in New York
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Eldorado StonePerched high above the desert floor, this exclusive community of homes was designed specifically to take full advantage of close indoor/outdoor relationships, to showcase panoramic views and directional breezes. Adjacent mountains sweep across the site, and varied massing combined with rustic stone and wood beams recall historic European hill-towns. Each of the three plans incorporates multiple courtyards and porticos with a centralized, formal entry experience. The interplay of interior volumes articulates natural light and dramatic textures. Public and private spaces have been carefully zoned, to provide pockets of seclusion, balanced with generous entertainment areas. Inclusion of multiple water features combined with indigenous landscape seamlessly blend with the architecture to create a stunning sense of place among the rugged desert terrain.
Eldorado Stone featured: Veneto Fieldledge
Eldorado Brick featured: Brolio RomaBrick
Architect: Steve Sennikoff
Architecture Firm: Mark Scheurer Architect
Mason: Dan Stringer Masonry
Andover Landscape Design & ConstructionSituated on the shore of newfound lake in central new hampshire, this outdoor retreat looks west over the spring fed waters toward the mountains beyond.
Our design intent was to provide the homeowners with a viewing perspective that captured the feel of lakefront living. The fire pit terrace, situated on a plane aligned with the home’s main floor, uses native granite from a nearby quarry to create a refined campfire retreat. This carefully calculated elevation makes the upper plateau appear to jut out into the lake.
A quick walk down a grass path with granite lawn treads brings us to a private beach for lounging and water access. Transitioning from refined to rustic successfully makes the landscape feel cohesive and inviting.
Pioneer West Homes• Energy Star certified new homes are designed and built to standards well above those of existing home and deliver energy efficiency savings of up to 30 percent when compared to typical new homes. A new home that has earned the Energy Star label has undergone a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the U.S. Situated on the home site to maximize the terrain and sunlight, this Energy Star home delivers better quality, better comfort, and better durability. Villa de Palma is certified to Energy Star Version 3. Photo by Paul Kohlman
Eldorado StonePerched high above the desert floor, this exclusive community of homes was designed specifically to take full advantage of close indoor/outdoor relationships, to showcase panoramic views and directional breezes. Adjacent mountains sweep across the site, and varied massing combined with rustic stone and wood beams recall historic European hill-towns. Each of the three plans incorporates multiple courtyards and porticos with a centralized, formal entry experience. The interplay of interior volumes articulates natural light and dramatic textures. Public and private spaces have been carefully zoned, to provide pockets of seclusion, balanced with generous entertainment areas. Inclusion of multiple water features combined with indigenous landscape seamlessly blend with the architecture to create a stunning sense of place among the rugged desert terrain.
Eldorado Stone featured: Veneto Fieldledge
Eldorado Brick featured: Brolio RomaBrick
Architect: Steve Sennikoff
Architecture Firm: Mark Scheurer Architect
Mason: Dan Stringer Masonry
ZeroEnergy DesignThis modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income.
FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own.
SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio.
MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch.
SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf)
RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property.
COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements.
OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income.
PROJECT TEAM
ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer
A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor
Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry
Lisa Finch - Original Artwork
European Architectural Supply - Windows
Eric Roth Photography - Photography
Greey PickettNestled perfectly along a mountainside in the North Scottsdale Estancia Community, with views of Pinnacle Peak, and the Valley below, this landscape design honors the surrounding desert and the contemporary architecture of the home. A meandering driveway ascends the hillside to an auto court area where we placed mature cactus and yucca specimens. In the back, terracing was used to create interest and support from the intense hillside. We brought in mass boulders to retain the slope, while adding to the existing terrain. A succulent garden was placed in the terraced hillside using unique and rare species to enhance the surrounding native desert. A vertical fence of well casing rods was installed to preserve the view, while still securing the property. An infinity edge, glass tile pool is the perfect extension of the contemporary home.
Project Details:
Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett
Architect: Drewett Works
Contractor: Manship Builders
Interior Designer: David Michael Miller Associates
Photography: Dino Tonn
MWA, Inc.Photographer: Nate Bennett
Large craftsman brown two-story wood gable roof idea in Sacramento with a metal roof
Large craftsman brown two-story wood gable roof idea in Sacramento with a metal roof
Oliver Custom HomesGalley kitchen open to living and dining rooms with gray, flat panel custom cabinets, white walls, beige stone floors, and custom wood ceiling.
Open concept kitchen - large modern galley limestone floor, beige floor and wood ceiling open concept kitchen idea in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash and an island
Open concept kitchen - large modern galley limestone floor, beige floor and wood ceiling open concept kitchen idea in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash and an island
Penning LandscapesDecomposed granite walkway to a gated garden. Maintained by Lou Penning Landscapes Inc.
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in San Francisco.
Photo of a mediterranean landscaping in San Francisco.
db Landscaping LLCAfter sitting on the market for three years, this property was purchased by a visionary client who understood that the right landscape designer could turn the unusable landscape into highly comfortable outdoor spaces. db Landscaping LLC designed a series of tiered outdoor living spaces, gardens, and access to the lake that responded to the steep lakeshore terrain of the property. Larger areas for entertaining were complimented by smaller, more intimate spaces for relaxing. The new landscape incorporated lake views and water access while utilizing environmentally responsible materials such as aged local stone and drought tolerant native plants. Storm-water runoff was also engineered to mitigate erosion and allow water to return to the ground rather than entering the lake directly. The resulting outdoor rooms and gardens were balanced, relaxing, and in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
SV DesignWhen full-time Massachusetts residents contemplate building a second home in Telluride, Colorado the question immediately arises; does it make most sense to hire a regionally based Rocky Mountain architect or a sea level architect conveniently located for all of the rigorous collaboration required for successful bespoke home design. Determined to prove the latter true, Siemasko + Verbridge accompanied the potential client as they scoured the undulating Telluride landscape in search of the perfect house site.
The selected site’s harmonious balance of untouched meadow rising up to meet the edge of an aspen grove and the opposing 180 degree view of Wilson’s Range spoke to everyone. A plateau just beyond a fork in the meadow provided a natural flatland, requiring little excavation and yet the right amount of upland slope to capture the views. The intrinsic character of the site was only enriched by an elk trail and snake-rail fence.
Establishing the expanse of Wilson’s range would be best served by rejecting the notion of selected views, the central sweeping curve of the roof inverts a small saddle in the range with which it is perfectly aligned. The soaring wave of custom windows and the open floor plan make the relatively modest house feel sizable despite its footprint of just under 2,000 square feet. Officially a two bedroom home, the bunk room and loft allow the home to comfortably sleep ten, encouraging large gatherings of family and friends. The home is completely off the grid in response to the unique and fragile qualities of the landscape. Great care was taken to respect the regions vernacular through the use of mostly native materials and a palette derived from the terrain found at 9,820 feet above sea level.
Photographer: Gibeon Photography
Design Farm GroupNatural stone walls and steps help highlight the black exterior color of the this Cape re-design. In order to integrate the sloped terrain and create ample gathering spaces, we created various levels in the landscape. The terraced levels help open up the narrow space and provide better views to the Hudson River below. Ornamental grasses and ferns and a simple palette of white plantings create dimension against the black architecture. Native pea stone create simple yet thoughtful patios and walking paths.
Photo Credit : Meeka Van der Wal
Architect : Meg Fowler
Builder : Joe Gambardella
Landscape Designer : Meeka Van der Wal
Accent LandscapesThis inviting garden vignette captures the essence of sustainable mountain landscaping. A curved flagstone path winds through a layered xeriscape garden featuring drought-tolerant grasses, Russian sage, and compact evergreens, all nestled in a bed of decorative gravel mulch. Golden ornamental grasses add vertical texture and seasonal interest, while boulders and a charcoal metal fence provide structure and boundary. Set against a backdrop of mature pines and distant mountain views, this design highlights the beauty of native plantings, erosion control, and functional pathways—perfect for Colorado’s semi-arid climate and sloped terrain.
Timberline Patio CoversTransform your backyard into a year-round outdoor living space with a custom patio cover, TimberTech decking, an outdoor kitchen, and a stone-clad fireplace. The covered structure features a gable roof with four skylights, pine soffit, Doug fir beams, and cedar-wrapped posts, creating a warm, inviting space with natural light and architectural detail.
The TimberTech Terrain decking in Coconut Husk provides a cohesive finish across the deck, fascia, picture-framed stairs, and matching borders. Black surface-mounted picket railings complement the decking and tie together the overall design.
The outdoor kitchen is designed to accommodate a refrigerator, with plans for updated gas and water connections. A custom fireplace featuring Koryak Ridge stacked stone, blue stone accents, and a black fireplace insert creates a natural focal point for relaxing and entertaining.
Finished with recessed lighting, black Bromic heaters, coordinated roofing, and integrated gutter and drainage connections, this custom outdoor living space combines comfort, functionality, and timeless style for enjoying the backyard in every season.
Miller-Roodell Architects LtdThe owners of Moonlight Basin Ranch are from the southeast, and they wanted to start a tradition of skiing, hiking, and enjoying everything that comes with the classic Montana mountain lifestyle as a family. The home that we created for them was built on a spectacular piece of property within Moonlight Basin (Resort), in Big Sky, Montana. The views of Lone Peak are breathtaking from this approximately 6500 square foot, 4 bedroom home, and elk, moose, and grizzly can be seen wandering on the sloping terrain just outside its expansive windows. To further embrace the Rocky Mountain mood that the owners envisioned—and because of a shared love for Yellowstone Park architecture—we utilized reclaimed hewn logs, bark-on cedar log posts, and indigenous stone. The rich, rustic details in the home are an intended continuation of the landscape that surrounds this magnificent home.
Penny LawnsBefore view of side yard - The terrain in Kennesaw, GA is notoriously difficult for landscaping due to dense red clay and deeply embedded granite. These rocky conditions often require heavy machinery, like jackhammers or rock saws, to break through large stones just beneath the surface. What looks like a manageable yard can quickly reveal solid rock layers that slow down grading and increase labor. The clay and rock also create poor drainage, leading to water pooling that must be addressed with solutions like dry creek beds or advanced regrading. Despite the challenge, with the right tools and planning, even the toughest Kennesaw yards can be transformed into functional, beautiful spaces.
Timberline Patio CoversTransform your backyard into a year-round outdoor living space with a custom patio cover, TimberTech decking, an outdoor kitchen, and a stone-clad fireplace. The covered structure features a gable roof with four skylights, pine soffit, Doug fir beams, and cedar-wrapped posts, creating a warm, inviting space with natural light and architectural detail.
The TimberTech Terrain decking in Coconut Husk provides a cohesive finish across the deck, fascia, picture-framed stairs, and matching borders. Black surface-mounted picket railings complement the decking and tie together the overall design.
The outdoor kitchen is designed to accommodate a refrigerator, with plans for updated gas and water connections. A custom fireplace featuring Koryak Ridge stacked stone, blue stone accents, and a black fireplace insert creates a natural focal point for relaxing and entertaining.
Finished with recessed lighting, black Bromic heaters, coordinated roofing, and integrated gutter and drainage connections, this custom outdoor living space combines comfort, functionality, and timeless style for enjoying the backyard in every season.
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