East Sound, Puget Sound, Washington State Photography: Dale Lang
Mid-sized mountain style backyard deck photo in Seattle with no cover

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

Inspiration for a small traditional partial sun courtyard formal garden in Raleigh with decking for spring.

The client’s request was quite common - a typical 2800 sf builder home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living space, and den. However, their desire was for this to be “anything but common.” The result is an innovative update on the production home for the modern era, and serves as a direct counterpoint to the neighborhood and its more conventional suburban housing stock, which focus views to the backyard and seeks to nullify the unique qualities and challenges of topography and the natural environment. The Terraced House cautiously steps down the site’s steep topography, resulting in a more nuanced approach to site development than cutting and filling that is so common in the builder homes of the area. The compact house opens up in very focused views that capture the natural wooded setting, while masking the sounds and views of the directly adjacent roadway. The main living spaces face this major roadway, effectively flipping the typical orientation of a suburban home, and the main entrance pulls visitors up to the second floor and halfway through the site, providing a sense of procession and privacy absent in the typical suburban home. Clad in a custom rain screen that reflects the wood of the surrounding landscape - while providing a glimpse into the interior tones that are used. The stepping “wood boxes” rest on a series of concrete walls that organize the site, retain the earth, and - in conjunction with the wood veneer panels - provide a subtle organic texture to the composition. The interior spaces wrap around an interior knuckle that houses public zones and vertical circulation - allowing more private spaces to exist at the edges of the building. The windows get larger and more frequent as they ascend the building, culminating in the upstairs bedrooms that occupy the site like a tree house - giving views in all directions. The Terraced House imports urban qualities to the suburban neighborhood and seeks to elevate the typical approach to production home construction, while being more in tune with modern family living patterns. Overview: Elm Grove Size: 2,800 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Completion Date: September 2014 Services: Architecture, Landscape Architecture Interior Consultants: Amy Carman Design

Picture perfect Outdoor Living Space for the family to enjoy and even for the perfect date night under the stars! 100' perimeter geometric style pool & spa combo in Sugar Land. Key features of the project: - Centered and slightly raised geometric style spa - Travertine ledger stone and coping throughout the pool & raised wall feature - "California Smoke" Comfort Decking around the pool and under the pergola - 15' wide tanning ledge that is incorporated into the pool steps - Two large fire bowls - 10 x 16 Pergola with polycarbonate clear cover - Artificial turf borders most the pool area in - Plaster color: Marquis Saphire #HotTubs #SwimSpas #CustomPools #HoustonPoolBuilder #Top50Builder #Top50Service #Outdoorkitchens #Outdoorliving

Topher Ayrhart
Inspiration for a large contemporary exterior home remodel in Austin

Example of a huge farmhouse backyard concrete paver patio design in Salt Lake City with a pergola

A typical post-1906 Noe Valley house is simultaneously restored, expanded and redesigned to keep what works and rethink what doesn’t. The front façade, is scraped and painted a crisp monochrome white—it worked. The new asymmetrical gabled rear addition takes the place of a windowless dead end box that didn’t. A “Great kitchen”, open yet formally defined living and dining rooms, a generous master suite, and kid’s rooms with nooks and crannies, all make for a newly designed house that straddles old and new. Structural Engineer: Gregory Paul Wallace SE General Contractor: Cardea Building Co. Photographer: Open Homes Photography

Large island style backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped water slide photo in Orange County

Example of a classic backyard deck design in DC Metro with a fire pit

Tiltshift Studio
Example of a minimalist entryway design in Austin

Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
Inspiration for a small modern courtyard patio remodel in Sacramento

This Year Round Betterliving Sunroom addition in Rochester, MA is a big hit with friends and neighbors alike! After seeing neighbors add a sunroom to their home – this family had to get one (and more of the neighbors followed in their footsteps, too)! Our design expert and skilled craftsmen turned an open space into a comfortable porch to keep the bugs and elements out!This style of sunroom is called a fill-in sunroom because it was built into the existing porch. Fill-in sunrooms are simple to install and take less time to build as we can typically use the existing porch to build on. All windows and doors are custom manufactured at Betterliving’s facility to fit under the existing porch roof.

Each outdoor room of this El Cerrito Mid Century Modern backyard deck, from the outdoor kitchen, to the dining area, to lounge area, maximize the views of the bay. This couple were very excited about and involved in designing the look and feel of their outdoor living space. For instance, instead of the typical deck redwood flooring, we were able to accommodate their desire to have a flagstone floor built on a redwood frame, which was more in keeping with their Mid Century Modern style. The husband was a gourmet chef and particularly enjoyed the design of his specialty outdoor kitchen.

A stunning rustic modern exterior blends organic materials and sleek design in this energy-efficient mountain retreat, showcasing sustainable construction and luxurious craftsmanship.

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Inspiration for a mediterranean bedroom remodel in Tampa with blue walls

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Eat-in kitchen - large modern l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, solid surface countertops, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Photo credit: www.parkscreative.com
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Seattle with a fire pit

Photo by Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Transitional laundry room photo in New York with white cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops