This Inner Suburban Cottage is located in Tighes Hill, Newcastle, formerly an industrial area but due to it's proximity to the city is now becoming popular with young families and professionals seeking the inner city lifestyle. The client brief was to replace a rundown two bedroom miners cottage with a modern home for a family of three children and two adults on a 320sqm corner block. The design solution delivered the main house containing open living, dining, kitchen, three bedrooms, main bathroom, laundry and double garage. The large parents retreat comprising of a combined spacious bedroom, lounge and sitting area, seperate kitchen and generous ensuite is located above the double garage, connects to the house via an internal stairway and features a separate entrance to enable the space to be utilised as self-contained guest lodging. The street front facade reflects the original miners cottage with weatherboards, front porch and skillion roof while beyond the street frontage, a stylish transition to finishes such as Colorbond Nail Strip cladding and timber paneling relfect the contemporary style of the young family. Passive solar design was incorporated with north-oriented living, dining, kitchen areas featuring polished concrete slab for thermal mass. Cross-ventilation has been incorporated into the design with strategic window placement throughout. The seamless transition from indoor living areas to covered outdoor entertaining area is achieved through the polished concrete slab continuing from indoors to outdoors, at one level and large sliding stacker doors with screens.

This ICF (Integrated Concrete Forms) cottage is based on Bob Chatham’s “Fairhope Green Home” design. The owners liked the design and floor plan of the Green Home cottage and Bob adapted the plans to meet their needs and lifestyle. The overall goal of the project was to build a house that was congruent with Fairhope's traditional cottage-style designs and was structurally certified to withstand a Category 5 Hurricane. The owners also wanted to incorporate the most energy efficient HVAC, lighting and appliances available in order to have a truly energy efficient home. Additional goals included utilizing repurposed and reclaimed materials and existing pine and pecan trees on the one-acre lot for outside and inside wood trim and shelving. The house also has a 3 ton WaterFurnace Geothermal heat pump HVAC system, 10+ inches of Demilec soy based spray foam insulation in the roof.

This Rancho Bernardo home was renovated to utilize all of its exterior space with concrete pathways leading to the side backyard. Featuring a beautifully matching gas firepit to balance the easy-maintenance hardscape, this front yard is enclosed with partial walls to match the exterior of the home. www.choosechi.com. Photos by Scott Basile, Basile Photography.

Featured here is a project that utilized Bomanite Imprint Systems and Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Antico and these hardscape surfaces would be great to add unique design detail to any residence while providing an enticing atmosphere for year-round living.

This daylight photo captures the successful overhaul of the home's front entry, featuring a clean, wide concrete driveway that transitions smoothly to structured planting beds. The landscape utilizes mulch and hardy shrubs, providing a low-maintenance, polished curb appeal.

This Inner Suburban Cottage is located in Tighes Hill, Newcastle, formerly an industrial area but due to it's proximity to the city is now becoming popular with young families and professionals seeking the inner city lifestyle. The client brief was to replace a rundown two bedroom miners cottage with a modern home for a family of three children and two adults on a 320sqm corner block. The design solution delivered the main house containing open living, dining, kitchen, three bedrooms, main bathroom, laundry and double garage. The large parents retreat comprising of a combined spacious bedroom, lounge and sitting area, seperate kitchen and generous ensuite is located above the double garage, connects to the house via an internal stairway and features a separate entrance to enable the space to be utilised as self-contained guest lodging. The street front facade reflects the original miners cottage with weatherboards, front porch and skillion roof while beyond the street frontage, a stylish transition to finishes such as Colorbond Nail Strip cladding and timber paneling relfect the contemporary style of the young family. Passive solar design was incorporated with north-oriented living, dining, kitchen areas featuring polished concrete slab for thermal mass. Cross-ventilation has been incorporated into the design with strategic window placement throughout. The seamless transition from indoor living areas to covered outdoor entertaining area is achieved through the polished concrete slab continuing from indoors to outdoors, at one level and large sliding stacker doors with screens.

Custom Quonset Huts become artist live/work spaces, aesthetically and functionally bridging a border between industrial and residential zoning in a historic neighborhood. The open space on the main floor is designed to be flexible for artists to pursue their creative path. The two-story buildings were custom-engineered to achieve the height required for the second floor. End walls utilized a combination of traditional stick framing with autoclaved aerated concrete with a stucco finish. Steel doors were custom-built in-house.

Our client hired us to renovate their yard that had an old patio that was installed incorrectly years previous. They wanted as maintenance free as possible but with a definite budget in mind. Lastly, they wanted to begin to grow a lot of vegetables at home and therefore wanted some raised cedar planters to suit their needs. We utilized rundle for the bedding areas and concrete edges for ease of maintaining the property in their retirement years. Great project!!

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States. Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out. The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people. The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles. The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary. From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.

This Inner Suburban Cottage is located in Tighes Hill, Newcastle, formerly an industrial area but due to it's proximity to the city is now becoming popular with young families and professionals seeking the inner city lifestyle. The client brief was to replace a rundown two bedroom miners cottage with a modern home for a family of three children and two adults on a 320sqm corner block. The design solution delivered the main house containing open living, dining, kitchen, three bedrooms, main bathroom, laundry and double garage. The large parents retreat comprising of a combined spacious bedroom, lounge and sitting area, seperate kitchen and generous ensuite is located above the double garage, connects to the house via an internal stairway and features a separate entrance to enable the space to be utilised as self-contained guest lodging. The street front facade reflects the original miners cottage with weatherboards, front porch and skillion roof while beyond the street frontage, a stylish transition to finishes such as Colorbond Nail Strip cladding and timber paneling relfect the contemporary style of the young family. Passive solar design was incorporated with north-oriented living, dining, kitchen areas featuring polished concrete slab for thermal mass. Cross-ventilation has been incorporated into the design with strategic window placement throughout. The seamless transition from indoor living areas to covered outdoor entertaining area is achieved through the polished concrete slab continuing from indoors to outdoors, at one level and large sliding stacker doors with screens.

The Smith’s hired us to do several home improvement projects to the exterior of their house, which were inspired by two other homes in the neighborhood. To start, they were looking to add a front porch with a more prominent entrance, as well as a garage eyebrow. In addition, since they were also not happy with the color of their home’s stucco or brick, we were asked to design a new color palette which would utilize the new window color, while also reducing the focus of the stucco. With that, since the homeowners were concerned about efficiency and making sure the house was properly maintained, they requested new windows, as well as new gutters, downspouts, and covers. Their siding was also an issue since a large portion of it had started to rot and since the rear sunroom and deck had sunk 4+ inches, structural issues were also a problem. Our Process: In an effort to create the pleasing exterior that was requested, we reached out to an architectural team member who helped us envision a four color paint palette. We installed a rustic cedar porch post, craftsman-style shutters, and metal roof details for a very pleasing result. As requested, we also installed all-new windows throughout the home and replaced their gutters, downspouts, and covers, as well as the siding that had rotted away. Since their deck was improperly installed, we removed the old sun room and deck footings, and poured new ones. However, I was not comfortable fixing the issue without knowing the cause, so upon closer inspection, we discovered that water from the neighbor’s house, the driveway, and the Smith’s roof was causing drainage issues. To fix the problem, we installed two main underground drainage lines which would divert water away from the home. From there, we were able to bring both structures to level heights where they could be properly secured and as a finishing touch, we added new tile to the sunroom to give it a more rustic feel. As a result of the drainage issues, a large section of the driveway had sunk as well, so we removed the concrete and poured it with proper underlayment, rebar, stronger concrete, and a proper pitch. Extras: While working at the home, the owners asked us to install a new wood-burning fireplace, as well as a new front door and an exhaust fan in the master bathroom. In addition, since we overheard the homeowner say that they wanted to be able to park their car in the garage, we made a point to organize it for them so there was adequate space for a vehicle. Result: The Smith’s had originally found us on Houzz.com and were incredibly pleased with our quality of work, as well as our ability to stay within their budget and stick to a set timeline. Not only did they give us an excellent review, but hugs were given upon our final goodbye as well. It was a great day.

This Inner Suburban Cottage is located in Tighes Hill, Newcastle, formerly an industrial area but due to it's proximity to the city is now becoming popular with young families and professionals seeking the inner city lifestyle. The client brief was to replace a rundown two bedroom miners cottage with a modern home for a family of three children and two adults on a 320sqm corner block. The design solution delivered the main house containing open living, dining, kitchen, three bedrooms, main bathroom, laundry and double garage. The large parents retreat comprising of a combined spacious bedroom, lounge and sitting area, seperate kitchen and generous ensuite is located above the double garage, connects to the house via an internal stairway and features a separate entrance to enable the space to be utilised as self-contained guest lodging. The street front facade reflects the original miners cottage with weatherboards, front porch and skillion roof while beyond the street frontage, a stylish transition to finishes such as Colorbond Nail Strip cladding and timber paneling relfect the contemporary style of the young family. Passive solar design was incorporated with north-oriented living, dining, kitchen areas featuring polished concrete slab for thermal mass. Cross-ventilation has been incorporated into the design with strategic window placement throughout. The seamless transition from indoor living areas to covered outdoor entertaining area is achieved through the polished concrete slab continuing from indoors to outdoors, at one level and large sliding stacker doors with screens.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States. Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out. The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people. The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles. The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary. From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The design goal was to produce a corporate or family retreat that could best utilize the uniqueness and seclusion as the only private residence, deep-water hammock directly assessable via concrete bridge in the Southeastern United States. Little Hawkins Island was seven years in the making from design and permitting through construction and punch out. The multiple award winning design was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture with California Mission influences and developed for the corporation or family who entertains. With 5 custom fireplaces, 75+ palm trees, fountain, courtyards, and extensive use of covered outdoor spaces; Little Hawkins Island is truly a Resort Residence that will easily accommodate parties of 250 or more people. The concept of a “village” was used to promote movement among 4 independent buildings for residents and guests alike to enjoy the year round natural beauty and climate of the Golden Isles. The architectural scale and attention to detail throughout the campus is exemplary. From the heavy mud set Spanish barrel tile roof to the monolithic solid concrete portico with its’ custom carved cartouche at the entrance, every opportunity was seized to match the style and grace of the best properties built in a bygone era.

Our client hired us to renovate their yard that had an old patio that was installed incorrectly years previous. They wanted as maintenance free as possible but with a definite budget in mind. Lastly, they wanted to begin to grow a lot of vegetables at home and therefore wanted some raised cedar planters to suit their needs. We utilized rundle for the bedding areas and concrete edges for ease of maintaining the property in their retirement years. Great project!!

Solus contemporary drinks ring/table accessory for the Hemi fire bowl shown here at Predator Ridge resort, BC, Canada. Hemi fire bowl available in sizes 26" 36" and 48" The Solus thin elegant profile adds an artistic architectural element to any outdoor space. At 16.5” ( 415mm ) tall, the fire bowl creates an instant gathering place, providing warmth and atmosphere for relaxed conversation, al fresco dining or having outdoor time with the family ( kids love it ! ). The standard Fire pit Hemi 36 is available with a natural gas/lp or bio fuel burner. We offer manual lit and electronic ignition which produces substantial heat for any outdoor space. Should it be a requirement for a residence, hotel or restaurant an additional glass protective shield can be ordered. The Firebowl Hemi 36 is available in 10 Solus High Performance Concrete colours. Solus has also designed a custom hardwood table top and all metal tops which can be utilized on those days that you need a table and not a roaring fire. An all weather cover custom fabricated for Solus is an option which greatly extends the warranty of all Solus fire pits.

This backyard got a major upgrade - we started with a clean slate: removed queen palms + citrus trees, cleared select plants, moved existing granite to the side, handled grading, and took care of hauling/dumping so the new layout could shine. Then we brought the “outdoor kitchen goals” to life: ✅ Gas + electric utilities trenched and run to the BBQ area ✅ Irrigation updates for a healthier, cleaner system ✅ The centerpiece: a 15’ BBQ island with a backsplash + stainless setup — Travertine top + Turbo 4 grill, Ooni pizza oven, charcoal grill, griddle — Access door, utensil drawer, install kit — Finished with stucco + paint surround — Deco tile backsplash + turndown for a polished custom look ✅ Concrete pavers expanded the entertainment footprint — BBQ patio + walkway to the garden area + filled in patio space near the garden ✅ Desert-fresh finishing touches — 6 tons of ½” screened Mad Gold granite — New plant palette: 3 tall accent trees, 15 five-gallon plants, plus 2 citrus trees ✅ Lighting ✨ ✅ And the comfort-maker: Alumawood shade structure End result: a true Peoria entertaining hub—shade, lighting, pavers, and a kitchen setup that’s ready for BBQ nights and pizza parties. ??

Great curb appeal, low maintenance, and cost effective was our marching orders on this project. We designed a nice and clean looking yard that has lots of Wow! factor and is easy to maintain. Our client wanted a secure walkway from front to back but one that is easy on the wallet. Utilizing man-made stone steps and retaining systems we were easily able to build that for them. We also added a cedar privacy screen under the walkout deck that is louvered so they can open or close it depending on the circumstances.

Our client hired us to renovate their yard that had an old patio that was installed incorrectly years previous. They wanted as maintenance free as possible but with a definite budget in mind. Lastly, they wanted to begin to grow a lot of vegetables at home and therefore wanted some raised cedar planters to suit their needs. We utilized rundle for the bedding areas and concrete edges for ease of maintaining the property in their retirement years. Great project!!