With a focus on simplicity, we have successfully converted this backyard into a versatile and functional space, utilizing a modular and contemporary paver design. By strategically placing architectural slabs within the lawn, we have established distinct outdoor rooms that cater to various activities, all within the convenience of a single backyard. The integration of rusted steel and concrete retaining walls not only levels the lawn but also optimizes the available space, providing ample room for the entire family to enjoy.

Another great acreage project with fantastic flow and functionality!! Utilizing natural rock and rundle for bedding as well as some bullet-proof plantings this project has great curb appeal and is easy to maintain. Mowers edge makes cutting the grass easy and all the plantings are contained within buttoned up beds. Landscape lighting and accent boulders add to the dramatic scape. PS, the little tree in the front out by the street was planted by the developer and has since been removed.

We used pre-cast concrete pool coping and utilized a glass pool tile for the raised bond beam.
Mid-sized transitional backyard stone and custom-shaped hot tub photo in Los Angeles

This commercial tenant improvement was completed in 2016 for locally based international safe manufacturer and retailer. The improvements focused on representing the company’s deep local roots utilizing barnwood and other traditional materials while also representing its forward thinking vision with the creative use of metals, historical safes and polished concrete. Featuring reclaimed wood walls & trim, concrete floors, Zodiaq Astral Pearl, semi-private cubicles and reclaimed wood barn door. McCandless & Associates Architects Photography by: Farrell Scott

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.

Mark Hoyle 2008 SC HBA Pinnacle Award Winner. home features a main and lower level symmetrical plan featuring outdoor living area with desires of capturing lake views. Upon entering this 6800 square foot residence a wall of glass shelves displaying pottery and sculpture greets guests as it visually separates the foyer from the dining room. Beyond you will notice the dual sided stone fireplace that extends 22 feet to the ceiling. It is intended to be the centerpiece to the home’s symmetrical form as it draws your eye to the clerestory windows that allow natural light to flood the grand living and dining space. The home also features a large screened porch that extends across the lakeside of the home. This porch is utilized for entertaining as well as acting as exterior connector for the interior spaces. The lower level, although spacious, creates a cozy atmosphere with stacked stone archways, stained concrete flooring, and a sunken media room. The views of the lake are captured from almost every room in the home with its unique form and layout.

By utilizing Siloam stone to retain with multiple tiers, we were able to accommodate a walk out basement. This allows for a spacious and private patio area surrounded by colorful plantings.

This commercial tenant improvement was completed in 2016 for locally based international safe manufacturer and retailer. The improvements focused on representing the company’s deep local roots utilizing barnwood and other traditional materials while also representing its forward thinking vision with the creative use of metals, historical safes and polished concrete. Featuring reclaimed wood walls & trim, concrete floors, Zodiaq Astral Pearl, semi-private cubicles and reclaimed wood barn door. McCandless & Associates Architects Photography by: Farrell Scott

Our client gave us the go ahead to "do what we do" having seen our portfolio. So this is what we did..... One of our most creative grade changes to date utilizing multiple products from Ideal Concrete and weathered boulders from the property. The goal was to create a space that fit in to the unique architecture of the house yet appears to have always been there. We specialize in natural outdoor spaces with a niche for landform design. https://youtu.be/FB7SsIR671E

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!!

Thedo Remmelink, a Dutch native, competed in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics in snowboarding. He moved to Steamboat Springs in order to coach snowboarding for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Thedo is the type of person whom you are thankful that the client carries the torch. Our goal of this project was to design a sustainable home. We chose straw bale as the primary material because of its high R-value (tested at R-40 to 45), its ability to resist high winds, it’s attribute of acting as a thermal tempering mass and it’s thick old world feel. The S.I.P.’s (Structural Insulated Panels) in the roof have an R-Value of 49. The home also utilizes passive solar, most of the glazing faces south and southeast. The concrete slab and the central heating element provide the mass to store the solar heat. The concrete slab contains radiant heating. However, the radiant heat is designed to be at a very low consistent temperature. The central heating element is used for task heating. The kitchen and dining side of this heating element is gas, and the living room side contains a highly efficient wood stove. In addition to our primary goal of creating a sustainable home, it was also extremely important to create a design that reflects Thedo’s personality and a house that settles into the open valley. The upper curves reflect the surrounding hills. The half level change at the master bedroom along with the cross-axial plan creates spatial flow directly informed by the site’s change in elevation, solar aspect, and the views to the north and south to the Elk River Valley. The use of logs for the structure juxtapose the high tech energy efficient lighting and the 18 inch thick straw bale walls contrast the precisely cut stone and metal rails. Through these contrasting elements one realizes the permanence as well as the ethereal nature of home.

Another great acreage project with fantastic flow and functionality!! Utilizing natural rock and rundle for bedding as well as some bullet-proof plantings this project has great curb appeal and is easy to maintain. Mowers edge makes cutting the grass easy and all the plantings are contained within buttoned up beds. Landscape lighting and accent boulders add to the dramatic scape. PS, the little tree in the front out by the street was planted by the developer and has since been removed.

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. Upstairs, a living space helps to make creative pursuits in an expensive city more attainable. 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.

The Feeney cable rails provide a sleek design element while also providing safety for the homeowners and guests. Differences in landscape elevations of the property made the concrete transition to the yard difficult. Utilizing some brain power and determination, steps were incorporated to create an entrance to the deck from the yard.

This 5,000 square-foot project consisted of a new barn structure on a sloping waterfront property. The structure itself is tucked into the hillside to allow direct access to an upper level space by driveway. The forms and details of the barn are in keeping with the existing, century-old main residence, located down-slope, and adjacent to the water’s edge. The program included a lower-level three-bay garage, and an upper-level multi-use room both sporting polished concrete floors. Strong dedication to material quality and style provided the chance to introduce modern touches while maintaining the maturity of the site. Combining steel and timber framing brought the two styles together and offered the chance to utilize durable wood paneling on the interior and create an air-craft cable metal staircase linking the two levels. Whether using the space for work or play, this one-of-a-kind structure showcases all aspects of a personalized, functional barn. Photographer: MTA

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!!

The mature tree was up lit and utilized for down lighting onto the pool terrace, steps and lawn.
Design ideas for a large modern partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Chicago for summer.

Transforming a standard suburban backyard into a multi-functional entertainment hub, this project focuses on the perfect balance of recreation and relaxation. We designed and installed a professional-grade synthetic turf putting green with custom contours and multiple pin placements, allowing the homeowner to sharpen their short game just steps from the back door. The project is anchored by a sprawling stamped concrete patio that seamlessly integrates a custom-built stone fire pit finished with reflective fire glass. To define the space, we utilized hand-carved stone seat walls and a natural river rock border for superior drainage and aesthetic texture. From the cedar pergola for shaded lounging to the precision-cut stone masonry, every detail was crafted to create a sophisticated, low-maintenance sanctuary for hosting and play.