Situated mid-way between the historic Philips Academy campus and the bustling downtown area, this property came to life with a design that’s both functional and beautiful. When we initially sat down with the homeowners to discuss their lifestyle, they had just gotten a very exuberant puppy that needed a place to run and play. A traditional fence would isolate the yard and really restrict it’s flow, so we created a ‘puppy lawn’ surrounded by a stainless steel cable system that allows for a safe-dog environment while simultaneously keeping the sight lines open to the remainder of the property. A circular fieldstone fire pit with a hand-tooled, two-piece cap sits perfectly within the bluestone patio. Located adjacent to the screened porch in the most private part of the yard, the location is optimal for this ultimate four-season retreat. “The attention to detail is so critical to our builds. I constantly obsess over the ultimate ‘look’ as well as the fit and finish, as I believe it’s these details that the homeowners deserve. The bluestone cap on this fire pit was spec’d as two pieces to keep the joints minimal and clean. The exterior edge was rock-faced on-site by our masons and a stainless-steel ring in the center will protect the masonry from the heat of the flames. Careful stone selection as well as furniture choices create a composition that’s so very pleasing to the eye.” Russell Throughout the remainder of the property, matching fieldstone walls help with the slight grade change and is complemented by a variety of flowering perennials designed to have a succession of blooms, all within a cool color tone. Sit around the fire pit with a glass of wine on a crisp fall night and enjoy this perfect retreat within the energy of the downtown area; the dog is sure to join you.

This compact Toronto backyard is the ultimate low-maintenance retreat! Featuring a small fiberglass pool, composite decking and artificial turf.
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Toronto.

This stunning landscape in Chicago's western suburbs is designed for ultimate personal and group entertaining. The composite deck features a Pratic pergola that can be adjusted to block rain and sun or fully open to the sky, complemented by glass railings for unobstructed views. The Unilock patio below is thoughtfully designed to differentiate dining and lounge areas, while an outdoor fireplace with a mounted TV provides a perfect spot for watching games and movies. The outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, grill, and pellet smoker, and the addition of an outdoor barrel sauna and cold plunge creates a luxurious spa-like atmosphere in the backyard.

This stunning landscape in Chicago's western suburbs is designed for ultimate personal and group entertaining. The composite deck features a Pratic pergola that can be adjusted to block rain and sun or fully open to the sky, complemented by glass railings for unobstructed views. The Unilock patio below is thoughtfully designed to differentiate dining and lounge areas, while an outdoor fireplace with a mounted TV provides a perfect spot for watching games and movies. The outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, grill, and pellet smoker, and the addition of an outdoor barrel sauna and cold plunge creates a luxurious spa-like atmosphere in the backyard.

Enjoy the ultimate relaxation with the Luxier FSB-005 freestanding bathtub. Made for deep soaking and relaxation, you can stretch out and unwind in full comfort after a long day of hard work. This versatile bathtub complements a wide range of bathroom styles and becomes a luxurious centerpiece of your bathing area. All Luxier freestanding bath tubs are backed by one year US warranty and customer support. Features: - Stunning stylish European inspired design - Freestanding design creates a striking focal point in your bathing area - Offers 12.5 inch depth deep soaking experience - Made with durable acrylic and fiberglass composite - Adjustable legs for leveling - 57 gallon capacity - Overflow protection for optimal safety - One year US warranty and customer support Specifications: - Part Number: BT-FSB-005 - Length: 66.93" - Width: 31.5" - Height: 23.23" - Material: Acrylic and fiberglass composite - Color: White - Overflow: Yes - Drain: Chrome Pop up drain stopper - Drainage: Flexible drainage pipe What’s included: - FSB-005 Freestanding Bathtub - Flexible drainage pipe

This stunning landscape in Chicago's western suburbs is designed for ultimate personal and group entertaining. The composite deck features a Pratic pergola that can be adjusted to block rain and sun or fully open to the sky, complemented by glass railings for unobstructed views. The Unilock patio below is thoughtfully designed to differentiate dining and lounge areas, while an outdoor fireplace with a mounted TV provides a perfect spot for watching games and movies. The outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, grill, and pellet smoker, and the addition of an outdoor barrel sauna and cold plunge creates a luxurious spa-like atmosphere in the backyard.

Masterfully Crafted 4,200 SF Craftsman Home in Vibrant Community Welcome to a pinnacle of craftsmanship in the heart of East Dallas. Nestled in the Belmont Addition Conservation District, this stunning 4,200 square foot Craftsman-style residence is a testament to sophisticated living and top-tier workmanship. This home sits on an 8,800 square foot elevated lot, offering not just a house, but a lifestyle. Community & Lifestyle: Embark on a life enriched by diversity and neighborhood camaraderie. The Belmont Addition is a tapestry of various cultures, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment. Residents enjoy frequent social events, fostering a uniquely warm and engaging community atmosphere. Positioned in the bustling Lower Greenville section, you’re at the epicenter of local boutiques, exquisite dining, and vibrant nightlife. Uncompromised Quality: Experience a home where every detail is a conversation piece, and no expense has been spared. From the foundational to the aesthetic, each aspect has been meticulously selected for quality, durability, and refinement. Notable Features Include: Outdoor Excellence: Immerse yourself in the outdoor splendor of a rare elevated lot, offering sweeping views of the meticulously landscaped yard from the vantage point of a generous front porch. Crafted with durable Trex Select Composite Decking, this space is designed for endless seasons of relaxation and social gatherings. Transition to the backyard, a private escape boasting a detached, oversized 2-car garage, providing not just storage but opportunities for a workshop or hobby space. Situated on Palo Pinto, one of the wider avenues in Lower Greenville, residents relish the tranquility afforded by limited through traffic, enhancing the property's peaceful character and creating a serene urban oasis amidst the vibrant city pulse. Elegant Interiors: Bask in an interior defined by luxurious white oak wood flooring, solid core doors adorned with Baldwin hardware, and custom cabinetry that adds a personal touch to the sophisticated layout. Indulge in the convenience of a state-of-the-art wine cellar, accommodating over 300 bottles, and two stylish wet bars. Gourmet Kitchen: A culinary enthusiast's dream, featuring high-end Subzero, Wolf, and Cove appliances, set against stunning Cambria Quartz countertops. Efficient & Comfortable: Comprehensive foam insulation and a Navien gas condensing tankless water heater ensure consistent comfort throughout the seasons. The inclusion of a crawlspace dehumidifier and a whole-home generator provides uninterrupted tranquility. Smart & Secure: From the motorized gate at the alley entrance to advanced pre-wiring for data and future AV options, security and technology are seamlessly integrated. Structural Integrity: Geotechnical & Structural engineering anchors the home with a robust pier & beam foundation, safeguarded by a comprehensive 2-10 Home Warranty for ultimate peace of mind.

After interviewing 8 custom home builders, Andre chose to build his retirement home with us. His two bedroom, two bath home includes a garage and a shop underneath. By building a smaller home we were able to infuse beautiful modern design touches such as the Finlandia cedar sauna, polished concrete floors, a spectacular tile shower, exceptional energy efficiency, an expansive TimberTech XLM composite deck, and 24-ft. tall vaulted living room. Photo by: Carl Christianson/G. Christianson Construction

Enjoy the ultimate relaxation with the Luxier FSB-007 freestanding bathtub. Made for deep soaking and relaxation, you can stretch out and unwind in full comfort after a long day of hard work. This versatile bathtub complements a wide range of bathroom styles and becomes a luxurious centerpiece of your bathing area. All Luxier freestanding bath tubs are backed by one year US warranty and customer support. Features: - Stunning stylish European inspired design - Freestanding design creates a striking focal point in your bathing area - Offers 13.5 inch depth deep soaking experience - Made with durable acrylic and fiberglass composite - Adjustable legs for leveling - 64 gallon capacity - Overflow protection for optimal safety - One year US warranty and customer support - UPC, cUPC Certified Specifications: - Part Number: BT-FSB-007 - Length: 66.54" - Width: 31.5" - Height: 23.23" - Material: Acrylic and fiberglass composite - Color: White - Overflow: Yes - Drain: Chrome Pop up drain stopper - Certification: UPC, cUPC Certified - Drainage: Flexible drainage pipe What’s included: - FSB-007 Freestanding Bathtub - Flexible drainage pipe

This compact Toronto backyard is the ultimate low-maintenance retreat! Featuring a small fiberglass pool, composite decking and artificial turf.
Design ideas for a contemporary landscaping in Toronto.

CAPITAL DESIGN: Ionic Order (Roman) - Scamozzi Capital CAPITAL MATERIAL: PolyStone® Fiberglass Composite CAPITAL SIZE: 10" x 4-7/8" x 16-3/8" PROJECT LOCATION: New Haven, Connecticut PROJECT COMMENTS: Consulting with Chadsworth, the architects chose a Scamozzi column capital, which was nearly an exact replica of the severely damaged originals at the main entrance. The house was originally built in 1895. Like much of the house, which had been neglected for many decades, the original capitals ultimately proved to be held together by 150 years of paint. The capitals are a key feature of a strongly symmetrical facade, and the architects were grateful to remain true to the original design intent. This house is a late and rare example of very strict Georgian revival done in the East Rock neighborhood. The original house owner, Moritz Spier, was a warm-hearted coal merchant known to have carried the accounts of hundreds of families through the many economic downturns of that period. The house had few owners, and its highly detailed interior woodwork has thankfully remained unpainted. Because of its large foyer and wide open central staircase, the geometry of the house helped it survive a trend of partitioning large houses into Yale graduate student apartments. The Scamozzi capitals utilized for the renovation of this historic home were (8) of Chadsworth's PolyStone® fiberglass composite capitals. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ROBERT NARRACCI, EXTERIOR, RESIDENTIAL, RENOVATION

Primary bathroom with a large composite tub. Decorative wall of tile for the shower. Complete with a gas wall fireplace for ultimate relaxation.
Example of a large trendy multicolored tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile, beige floor and double-sink bathroom design in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a floating vanity

Sunroom - contemporary sunroom idea in St Louis

This stunning landscape in Chicago's western suburbs is designed for ultimate personal and group entertaining. The composite deck features a Pratic pergola that can be adjusted to block rain and sun or fully open to the sky, complemented by glass railings for unobstructed views. The Unilock patio below is thoughtfully designed to differentiate dining and lounge areas, while an outdoor fireplace with a mounted TV provides a perfect spot for watching games and movies. The outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, grill, and pellet smoker, and the addition of an outdoor barrel sauna and cold plunge creates a luxurious spa-like atmosphere in the backyard.

These clients spent the majority of their time outside and entertained frequently, but their existing patio space didn't allow for larger gatherings. We added nearly 500 square feet to the already 225 square feet existing to create this expansive outdoor living room. The outdoor fireplace is see-thru and can fully convert to wood burning should the clients desire. Beyond the fireplace is a spa built in on two sides with a composite deck, LED step lighting, and outdoor rated TV, and additional counter space. The outdoor grilling area mimics the interior of the clients home with a kitchen island and space for dining. Heaters were added in ceiling and mounted to walls to create additional heat sources. To capture the best lighting, our clients enhanced their space with lighting in the overhangs, underneath the benches adjacent the fireplace, and recessed cans throughout. Audio/Visual details include an outdoor rated TV by the spa, Sonos surround sound in the main sitting area, the grilling area, and another landscape zone by the spa. The lighting and audio/visual in this project is also fully automated. To bring their existing area and new area together for ultimate entertaining, the clients remodeled their exterior breakfast room wall by removing three windows and adding an accordion door with a custom retractable screen to keep bugs out of the home. For landscape, the existing sod was removed and synthetic turf installed around the entirety of the backyard area along with a small putting green. Selections: Flooring - 2cm porcelain paver Kitchen/island: Fascia is ipe. Counters are 3cm quartzite Dry Bar: Fascia is stacked stone panels. Counter is 3cm granite. Ceiling: Painted tongue and groove pine with decorative stained cedar beams. Additional Paint: Exterior beams painted accent color (do not match existing house colors) Roof: Slate Tile Benches: Tile back, stone (bullnose edge) seat and cap

Our team took this traditional ranch and overhauled it to create a contemporary dream fit for it’s young family and their elevated tastes. This project included a 300 square foot kitchen addition as well as a full remodel of the existing house. This house proves that modern does not have to feel cold. We replaced the dated windows and doors with a full wall of Jeldwen windows, as well as a huge La Cantina multi slide door for ultimate entertaining. We added contemporary frameless interior doors, white oak flooring, and custom designed walnut cabinets. We finished out the kitchen island with marble waterfall edges and a matching stone splash. The bathrooms were upgraded with a clean and neutral palette that is as durable as it is beautiful. We mixed warm wood tones and creamy tiles with contemporary matte balck and brass fixtures and lighting for a perfect mix of natural texture and refined style. On the exterior- we added smooth stucco to the traditional siding and replaced the composite roof with beautiful stainless steel standing seam. Wood accents in the garage doors and entry add warmth. The end result is a Modern Ranch that exudes clean, contemporary style without losing its Montecito ranch heritage.

Red Balau Batu hardwood used to complete stairs over a walkout basement with matching horizontal siding and soffit, and tiered retaining wall with landscaping. Wood supplied by Kayu Canada Inc. Work done by Ultimate Renovations.

Urban landscape masterplan and installation. We created continuity of color, texture, and form starting at the street and front yard, and reaching to the rear yard and alleyway. Contemporary and naturalistic plantings blur the lines of rigidity and formality of this modern garden, while the structure of hardscaping holds the composition together year-round.

The Tice Residences replace a run-down and aging duplex with two separate, modern, Santa Barbara homes. Although the unique creek-side site (which the client’s original home looked toward across a small ravine) proposed significant challenges, the clients were certain they wanted to live on the lush “Riviera” hillside. The challenges presented were ultimately overcome through a thorough and careful study of site conditions. With an extremely efficient use of space and strategic placement of windows and decks, privacy is maintained while affording expansive views from each home to the creek, downtown Santa Barbara and Pacific Ocean beyond. Both homes appear to have far more openness than their compact lots afford. The solution strikes a balance between enclosure and openness. Walls and landscape elements divide and protect two private domains, and are in turn, carefully penetrated to reveal views. Both homes are variations on one consistent theme: elegant composition of contemporary, “warm” materials; strong roof planes punctuated by vertical masses; and floating decks. The project forms an intimate connection with its setting by using site-excavated stone, terracing landscape planters with native plantings, and utilizing the shade provided by its ancient Riviera Oak trees. 2012 AIA Santa Barbara Chapter Merit Award Jim Bartsch Photography