This summer travel season, we're especially inspired by the possibilities presented by the Barndominium - a unique style of home which has emerged as a popular "up north" family getaway concept over the last couple of years. Barndominiums are the product of large barn kits which are converted into a living space. They tend to be affordable, low-maintenance, and energy efficient houses that typically include a large attached garage. For large families and outdoor enthusiasts, the allure of the barndominium is clear - it combines a cottage-like, open-concept living space with a large attached garage capable of accommodating all of your vacation toys! We recently had the pleasure of helping make one Byron Center client's barndominium dream a reality. The home sits on several acres of northern Michigan land in which the family enjoys hunting, fishing, and all the recreational activities that the great outdoors have to offer.

Our exterior painting project in Woodinville, WA, featured a sleek combination of dark and light gray tones. The dark gray brings a sophisticated touch to the house, while the light gray highlights key features. Our team worked with precision to ensure a flawless finish that will protect the home from the damp weather typical of northwest Washington. The homeowners appreciated our attention to detail and the lasting quality of the paint job.

The Milea 6-Piece Deep Sofa Sectional Set is something new in the world of outdoor furniture. Designed to offer a contemporary style not typically seen in outdoor sectional couches, this set looks as at-home on the beach as it does in the countryside. Whether you routinely hold large summer gatherings or you want to start, this set is the perfect outdoor furniture for a great time. Features: Set includes a two-piece sofa, two armless chairs, a corner chair, coordinated accent pillows, and a conversation table. Powder-coated aluminum frame is lightweight and rust-free. Durable Viro® wicker lasts up to five times longer than other wickers. Cushions are wrapped in all-weather, fade resistant Sunbrella® fabric. Engineered for both hot and cold climates. Easy to clean with a mild soap and water. Designed to coordinate with the pieces in the Milea Collection by RST Brands.

Outstanding kitchen installed in Dracut, MA. Black Pearl leather granite on top of white cabinets and Silver Cloud granite complementing the island. Great combination!

Josh Thornton
Large eclectic multicolored floor hallway photo in Chicago with pink walls

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Home bar - traditional home bar idea in San Francisco

A fantastic find at the local Habitat for Humanity store led to the decision to repurpose a complete set of high-quality oak cabinets. These cabinets boast superior construction compared to what is typically available at large retail chains, featuring solid oak and plywood instead of inferior pressed materials. With only minor repairs required, the main task was to apply a finish that would complement the new kitchen design. The cabinets underwent a thorough cleaning, sanding, staining, and lacquering process, resulting in a distinctive and impressive look achieved affordably without compromising on quality.

Custom hall table, grey, white, blue, round mirror
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal dark wood floor and brown floor foyer remodel in New York with gray walls and a white front door

We created this pool ourselves with a block construction, internally rendered and then a liner; the results are fantastic and a liner comes with warranty, and when in the future it has to be replaced, it can be done so for a fraction of the cost of most typical pool repairs. The frame less glass helps to keep a small space open. The wide board spotted gum gives a luxurious feel to the large undercover dining area.

Waterproof vinyl decking material over living space. I really think this is the best material for going over a living space. You do have to moderately maintain this material, (basically keep it clean), and eventually replace it as it's life cycle comes to an end. I would say the typical life is 12 to 15 years for a medium grade product with a higher millage vinyl lasting 20 plus years with proper care. The railing is a powder coated aluminum with pickets. A great space to take in this water view. Photos by Doug Woodside, Decks and Patio Covers

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2014 Houzz
Traditional exterior home idea in Portland

Pool - contemporary pool idea in Los Angeles

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

It'll be hard for you to tell from a distance that this is an artificial aloe plant. It is expertly reproduced with the right bluish green hues typically found on agave plants, and this faux plant comes potted in a brown fishbowl pot. It is ready to go to be displayed in your store window, or to be part of a retail store display. For a summer or outdoor wedding or party, mix this aloe with our potted lavender and other succulents on your tablescapes for an easy and unique tablescape that does not use flowers. Sold individually, Aloe In Brown Pot measures 5in Diameter x 13.5in High. As with all products made by Serene Spaces Living, you can be assured of quality and design for this aloe as well!

Handcrafted from ethically sourced redwood burl slabs, this live-edge rustic bed showcases the raw beauty of natural wood with unique grain patterns, knots, and organic edges. Inspired by old-world joinery, each piece is built-to-order and designed for both durability and visual impact. Unlike typical corral-style frames, this bed provides full structural support for your mattress while serving as a striking centerpiece. Finished with a non-toxic natural wood finish, every bed is one-of-a-kind and crafted to last for generations. Available in King, Queen, and California King sizes with custom options upon request.