The Timothy Hyde House, c. 1729, dear to the homeowners for its historic details, but long-lacking the family oriented spaces and living areas essential for today’s extended family lifestyle. Unwilling to compromise an ounce of character, this growing family longed for more practical amenities like a visitor’s private retreat with bedroom, living room and bath, garage parking, a proper master bedroom layout with full bath and walk-in closet, in addition to a new kitchen that would function as the heart of the home. Ultimately the total square footage was doubled and the entire flow of the home was reworked keeping all of the character details intact. The kitchen is the hub, serving up its center island topped off with reclaimed white oak once belonging to a barn built in the 1880’s; jet mist leather granite tops off the remainder of the kitchen. Custom cable lighting was the ingenious solution for the complicated preservation of the original exposed beams and posts in the kitchen. The barn door was custom crafted from original timbers. Many cups of coffee will be enjoyed at the cozy, sun-filled dining nook overlooking the family room and new adjacent deck. The rear, separate entry mudroom with step-up laundry was a long awaited luxury over the previous basement facilities. Moving upstairs, a centrally located bathroom was removed to create a wheelhouse style landing/passage hall, now home to a quiet workspace, featuring original wide plank floors and tailor-made sconces. Baths were added and upgraded including soapstone tops, marble, a glorious soaker tub in the generous master bath, all giving the home a taste of luxury. Bathing in sunlight rests the master suite starring the original beams, cathedral ceilings, and well-suited chandelier. Throughout the home strategically designed built-ins provide a plethora of storage and organization. This 280 year-old Colonial shines on brighter than ever. We are proud to have been part of its long history. Photo by Eric Roth

Within its 35m² of functional space, divided into an anteroom and a bathroom, Fernanda crafted a sunroom that intentionally brings together a vast array of elements: native Atlantic Forest species in a biophilic and naturalistic arrangement, a hand-painted chinoiserie adorning the walls, classic jequitibá wood furniture, refined retro-inspired tapestries, wallpapers, wooden beams reminiscent of country homes, ceramic lighting fixtures, and vases created exclusively for the project. This composition clearly expresses the richness of detail in her work and the depth of her research. Driven by a desire to offer visitors a bucolic, fresh, and ethereal experience, landscaping was a central element of the project. Regarding the furniture, classic, rounded, lightweight, and intricately crafted forms were a prerequisite. Thus, the choice fell on pieces from Paschoal Bianco, crafted individually by master carpenters who are true artists in wood carving. Opting for the natural tone of jequitibá wood, the armchairs, stool, and side tables transport visitors to the grand residences and châteaus of rural France. To soften the design, natural fibers from Biasá were incorporated into the sofa, the Paris rattan chair, and a round rug, all displayed in an area the designer dubbed “the poetry corner.” This corner, featuring a classic writing desk, a porcelain coffee cup, eucalyptus branches, books, and a note card beside a large window dressed with a dramatic, meticulously crafted curtain by A Morada, could only be called “the poetry corner.” Here, the public is invited to sit, contemplate the surrounding landscape, read, and write.

The context of this home is set atop a hillside, making for a tricky entry sequence. The driveway meanders up and around the house to the rear of the property. Though this is the back of the property, it is indeed the main entry as well. Given that the other side of the home sits 15' above ground elevation, our client's desire was to design a space off the backside of the home that doesn't inhibit the entry for new visitors, but allows for a seamless outdoor living space off their kitchen/ living room. We achieved this balance by retaining a front walkway to the main entry using large 24" x 36" bluestone slabs in a running band through the new patio space. Visually the clean lines of this walkway lead visitors to the front entrance while also subtly defining the two seating areas of the new patio terrace. The reclaimed granite piers, Saratoga Granite Seating walls, and plantings provide further definition which truly enhance the sense of space! Needless to say, our clients were thrilled with the finished product!

Reminiscent of the iron details often seen in the most loved areas of New Orleans this historic design casts a warm glow to welcome visitors to your doorstep. The Marcado Black and amber seedy glass gives the appearance of time gone by. It is a perfect addition to the Coastal Armour Collection and features an impressive 5-year finish warranty.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The town of Blue Ridge offers eclectic shopping and dining in a quaint small town setting. With the historic Blue Ridge Depot at its center, Blue Ridge is a center for arts and galleries, antiques, unique shopping and eateries. For capturing the best views of your home or cabin, Envision Virtual Tours is your professional and reliable choice for high resolution virtual tours and photos. Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. It was established as a railroad town, with the depot at its heart. Visitors would ride the train to town, eat dinner at the Blue Ridge Hotel, and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today's visitors still ride the train and take leisurely walks along Main Street, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, small town atmosphere and friendly people of Blue Ridge. The town was founded in 1886 as a result of the arrival of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. In the early years, at different times, there were five hotels and several boarding houses in downtown Blue Ridge.

In Feng Shui, the entry is extremely important. On the outside of a building, it's good to have a "Ming Tang", which literally means "bright palace". In layman's terms, it's something beautiful that welcomes the visitor. You can also have a Ming Tang in your entry, to welcome visitors into your home.

Saturday June 27, 2:30 to 4:00pm | Bluemont Piedmont Retreat by Jay Graham, FASLA of Graham Landscape Architecture, with Ralph Cunningham, FAIA Nestled at the base of the Shenandoah foothills in Virginia, this 178-acre site, once used for agriculture, has been transformed by the current owners into an attractive country retreat. The expansive landscape surrounding the residence incorporates Modernist design elements while acknowledging the site’s vibrant agricultural history. Visitors enter the property along an extended driveway, aligned to perfectly capture views of the nearby foothills before meandering through a wooded area featuring a beautiful array of stone walls and mature oak trees that terminate abruptly in a clearing, offering guests their first glimpse of the main residence. Pathways, and terraces, encircle the home where a wedge-shaped entry garden beckons, drawing visitors through the front door. Other spaces include the Tapestry and Master’s gardens, which were designed to introduce a diverse palette of plants to the property, direct views, and provide an additional splash of color and personality to the outdoor area. Adjacent to the home and bounded by natural boulders found on site, a turf platform provides flat ground for outdoor games. Beyond the lawn, a newly established meadow completes the design plan as it draws attention outward to more natural aspects of the environment, a pond, and restored woodlands. Photo copyright Allen Russ

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Lake Lanier Custom Homes Envision Web Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains and nurtured by the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers, Lake Sidney Lanier is named for the poet Sidney Clopton Lanier, whose admiration of the area's scenic beauty inspired him to compose his famous "Song of the Chattahoochee". Lake Lanier is one of America's favorite lakes. With several million visitors annually enjoying its recreational facilities, it has been the most visited Corp of Engineers project in the nation. One reason for the lake's popularity is its proximity to metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. A well-developed road network surrounds Lake Lanier, with several highways crossing the main body. Visitors can enjoy the city of Atlanta and, in the space of a short drive, can lose themselves in the tranquility at Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier, impounded by Buford Dam, encompasses 38,000 surface acres of water with 540 miles of shorelines. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed and operates numerous public parks around the lake for camping and day-use activities. Lake Lanier Islands, a development by the State of Georgia and the Corps of Engineers, is the major resort area on the lake. The Islands complex provides picnicking, camping, beach areas, a water theme park, tennis courts, golf courses, rental boats, and hotel accommodations. Numerous other recreation areas operated by county and city agencies also offer recreational opportunities around the lake. Lake Lanier was host to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Rowing and Sprint/Canoe/Kayak Events, as well as the 1996 Paralympic Yachting events. These honors have helped make Lanier a world class lake.

The BG winery was the subject of a renovation in order to improve for the needs of its visitors. The famous and delicious wine presentations and tastings are the main attractions at this fabulous place. Therefore, we placed the bar in front of the entrance to be directly seen when entering. As a decorative element it is featuring displays of soils. Because the groups of visitor vary in size, but also because the space is used as an exquisite breakfast area for the guests of the nearby inn, we came up with a new idea: The division of the space by a glass wall. Consequently, this results in an event space or a private dining room. The convertible approach adds flexibility and dynamic to the whole place. Furthermore, we enabled the large hallway of the winery going towards the restrooms to be used as a wardrobe for larger gatherings. Meanwhile, the additional room serves as a VIP lounge for only the finest guests. The design team took everything into consideration while preparing layouts, developing individual objects and finetuning details: clients’ needs, the nice location and the usage of the attractive space. We designed in detail all furniture elements, while using reclaimed wood from old wine barrels for table tops and accent walls. In this regard the winery as a location of joy and community feels and breathes authentic. The whole interior design is rustic with fine touches of modern, resulting in a suiting atmosphere. As for the color scheme, we proposed a pastel blue as a contrast to the reclaimed wood. Touches of color in the Patchwork tiles around the bar area and a mixture of hand-made lamps mix to roud up the rustic vibe. Share your ideas for your location with us in a brief introductory call, free of charge.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Envision Virtual Tours and Professional Photographers provide the high quality media neccessary for premium marketing of homes. Nestled in the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains, there is a lot to offer visitors looking for a small historic town with plenty of charm. Cornelia is one of the stops along the U.S. 441 Heritage Highway. Visitors to downtown can shop, eat and enjoy the historic and scenic attractions. Fenders Diner is a retro and fun dining experience. Overlooking Cornelia is the 54-foot Chenocetah Tower built in the 1930s by the WPA and used until 1971 for fire observation on a seasonal basis. The Tower and its surroundings, including one of the largest stands of Rhododendron minor in the nation and Russell Lake Recreation Area are now part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The centerpiece of downtown is definitely the Big Red Apple monument, adjacent to the historic Railroad Depot. Elvis fans will love the Loudermilk Boarding House & Everything Elvis Museum.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Lake Lanier Custom Homes Envision Web Nestled in the foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains and nurtured by the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers, Lake Sidney Lanier is named for the poet Sidney Clopton Lanier, whose admiration of the area's scenic beauty inspired him to compose his famous "Song of the Chattahoochee". Lake Lanier is one of America's favorite lakes. With several million visitors annually enjoying its recreational facilities, it has been the most visited Corp of Engineers project in the nation. One reason for the lake's popularity is its proximity to metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. A well-developed road network surrounds Lake Lanier, with several highways crossing the main body. Visitors can enjoy the city of Atlanta and, in the space of a short drive, can lose themselves in the tranquility at Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier, impounded by Buford Dam, encompasses 38,000 surface acres of water with 540 miles of shorelines. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed and operates numerous public parks around the lake for camping and day-use activities. Lake Lanier Islands, a development by the State of Georgia and the Corps of Engineers, is the major resort area on the lake. The Islands complex provides picnicking, camping, beach areas, a water theme park, tennis courts, golf courses, rental boats, and hotel accommodations. Numerous other recreation areas operated by county and city agencies also offer recreational opportunities around the lake. Lake Lanier was host to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Rowing and Sprint/Canoe/Kayak Events, as well as the 1996 Paralympic Yachting events. These honors have helped make Lanier a world class lake.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours. The town of Blue Ridge offers eclectic shopping and dining in a quaint small town setting. With the historic Blue Ridge Depot at its center, Blue Ridge is a center for arts and galleries, antiques, unique shopping and eateries. For capturing the best views of your home or cabin, Envision Virtual Tours is your professional and reliable choice for high resolution virtual tours and photos. Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. It was established as a railroad town, with the depot at its heart. Visitors would ride the train to town, eat dinner at the Blue Ridge Hotel, and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today's visitors still ride the train and take leisurely walks along Main Street, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, small town atmosphere and friendly people of Blue Ridge. The town was founded in 1886 as a result of the arrival of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. In the early years, at different times, there were five hotels and several boarding houses in downtown Blue Ridge.

Pelican Bay Home Reborn: A Complete Redesign and Rebuild Pelican Bay Home Reborn: A Complete Redesign and Rebuild Blog Introduction: The Pelican Bay community in Naples, Florida has seen many homes come and go, but one house stands out from the rest. Recently, a 3,400 square-foot, four bedroom home underwent a complete renovation that breathed new life into it. With a renewed design and upgraded features, this is the perfect example of what can be done when you take on a full redesign and rebuild of your property. Let’s explore what makes this home so special. The Open Kitchen & Dining Room One of the most striking elements of the home is its open kitchen and dining room. The kitchen area was designed to maximize space by utilizing an island with storage underneath as well as bar seating for entertaining guests. The cabinets are made from solid wood with intricate details that add to the overall aesthetic of the kitchen. Adjacent to this area is a spacious dining room with enough seating for six people comfortably. The unique ceiling feature adds drama to the room while still keeping it light and airy. The Gas Fireplace & Ground Floor Living Room The cozy living room is anchored by a gas fireplace covered in stone tile that gives off a warm ambiance throughout the whole house. This space was designed to be inviting yet comfortable, allowing visitors to relax while still feeling inspired by its modern touches such as built-in shelves and neutral furniture pieces. There are also two sliding doors that lead out onto the back patio which gives even more options for entertaining guests or just enjoying some fresh air on a nice day! The dramatic entryway sets the tone for what's to come throughout this newly renovated Pelican Bay home in Naples, Florida. With its inviting living areas, open kitchen/dining area, gas fireplace centerpiece, ceiling features throughout, outdoor patio space—this home has been completely transformed into something truly special! Whether you're looking for inspiration on how to renovate your own property or just want to admire an amazing work of art—this remodeled Pelican Bay home should definitely be at the top of your list! About Pelican Bay Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida is known for its stunning beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. Its ideal location nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and a vast nature preserve ensures that visitors to the area can experience an array of outdoor activities, from fishing and kayaking, to swimming, golfing or hiking through mangrove swamps. With an abundance of luxurious resorts, fine dining establishments, spa treatments and shopping galore, Pelican Bay is one of the premier destinations on the west coast of Florida. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an action packed getaway full of adventure and excitement, Pelican Bay offers something for everyone. Award-Winning House Builders in Florida If you're looking for a reliable house builder in Florida, look no further! Every project is important to us and each one is completed with the utmost commitment to quality and attention to detail. With years of experience in the field, our team has the expertise and resources necessary to create whatever kind of home you can imagine. Whether you're building from scratch or remodeling an existing structure, we provide friendly and professional service every step of the way, from initial design and permitting all the way through construction and follow up! Let us help make your dream house a reality today.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Envision Virtual Tours and Professional Photographers provide the high quality media neccessary for premium marketing of homes. Nestled in the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains, there is a lot to offer visitors looking for a small historic town with plenty of charm. Cornelia is one of the stops along the U.S. 441 Heritage Highway. Visitors to downtown can shop, eat and enjoy the historic and scenic attractions. Fenders Diner is a retro and fun dining experience. Overlooking Cornelia is the 54-foot Chenocetah Tower built in the 1930s by the WPA and used until 1971 for fire observation on a seasonal basis. The Tower and its surroundings, including one of the largest stands of Rhododendron minor in the nation and Russell Lake Recreation Area are now part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The centerpiece of downtown is definitely the Big Red Apple monument, adjacent to the historic Railroad Depot. Elvis fans will love the Loudermilk Boarding House & Everything Elvis Museum.

Our ambition for Bodega Bauer was to create an architecture that was informed by the same particularities of the earth which are embodied in the wine of the region. Siting and materiality are guided by the subtleties of sun and wind exposure, climate, the unexpected nuances of each season, and the presence and absence of water and shade. The Incan irrigation technology that made the region habitable since pre-Columbian times by channeling snow melt from the Andes, was a powerful source of inspiration. Extending this system of ancient waterways, a central channel connects the house to the winery, and becomes a collector for water harvested from the building’s rooftops for irrigation. The new channel guides visitors along a sensuous journey through which one encounters the elements – sun, wind, soil, and water – which make the wine unique. What emerges is an architecture that accentuates its environment, and is at one with the raw, bold spirit of Mendoza. Along the irrigation channel, two linear forms – one descending, the other rising out of the ground – evoke the correspondence of architecture and wine. The descending structure is the wine-making facility which follows the gravity fed wine making process into the barrel aging vault below. The ascending structure allows the visitor to see how the wine is made, and culminates with a tasting room overlooking the vineyards and landscape. The forms of the winery create a playful interplay of sloping planes that allow the subtle topography of the ground to be perceived.

German Embassy in Pristina - Kosovo, contracted the architecture office “Ferizi + Ferizi Architects” to plan and implement an Annex Office building for their purposes. As detached part of this building is designed the waiting area, as alone standing structure. This Office Building is constructed by assembling of Eight used office containers that were delivered on trucks and set up after only a few hours on the basis of the LEGO principle, according to the planning on strip foundations. By removing the flexible exterior wall panels, a large room of 115 m² was created, with the counter wall as a room partition between two office spaces, each with seven workstations as well as three counters for agents on one side and a room for visitors on the other side. With this system, room solutions can be easily implemented in all dimensions. The container, seen as a geometric shape, is a simple, octagonal, solid box. The standardized perfection of its dimensions is striking: 2.44 meters wide, 2.59 meters high and 6.06 meters or 12.19 meters long. Since its introduction in 1956 by the American transport entrepreneur Malcom McLean, the container has become a standardized transport module worldwide, whether on ships, trucks or construction sites. The shipping containers have additionally revolutionized the transport industry, pushed the globalization noticeably, and thus directly or indirectly influenced all our lives. But after only a few years, when the first overseas containers wore out, many engineers recognized the positive properties of used shipping containers for building houses, especially since they are robust, flexible, multifunctional and second-hand relatively inexpensive to purchase. The time has long passed by to treat containers exclusively as transport objects. As a "measure of all things", containers can hardly be ignored in construction. Their use is no longer limited to temporary use since school containers, information containers, office containers or entire residential buildings are now part of our everyday life in the construction industry. However, current examples of the container architecture prove that even the most demanding solutions for container building are feasible. For their specific aesthetic and spatial qualities, containers also serve as design parameters for the development of new forms of architecture and urbanity. The office building as an extension of the visa section, characterized by modern materials and contemporary aesthetics has been designed and built mainly as a low-energy building. Extensive insulation to achieve a comfortable and sustainable constant temperature in the interior, high window quality and low energy consumption make the building energy-efficient. The sophisticated lighting technology, networks, heating systems and air-conditioning systems are also components of this equipment. It creates an overall harmonic picture and guarantees the highest standard in sustainable construction, taking into consideration the fact that environmentally friendly recycling and reutilization have become an increasingly important issue in our society. West and East side of the wooden facade is compact and has few openings, while the southern facade is completely open with lot of glass. Its spatial openness ensures a transparent, friendly work environment, which allows a lot of light into the space. This openness allows an uninterrupted, pleasant and close-to-nature view from interior spaces into the beautiful garden. During the installation of sophisticated light sources in the garden, emphasis was not only put on functionality and security, but also on the beauty of the garden shown through the illumination in the evening. Large, horizontal white “brisole” serve as external sun protection systems, mounted on the canopies of the entrance areas of the modular construction and the enclosure, adeptly cast shade on these areas and at the same time shape the entire architectural language. While on one hand, the two quadratic ledges suspended in the air, are docked with steel stairs and match the wooden façade, lead the staff to their office space, the artful modern interior, on the other hand, perfectly unites the functionality, innovative technology, culture and positive effects on the employees' efficiency and wellbeing. A lot of white, interjected by warm wooden and colored accents, determines the ambience. In the case of the lighting solution, the mainly linear ceiling lighting is used as the overlapping design element both for the offices of the visa section as well as for the counters and the waiting area for the visitors. They underline the puristic design in order to create a pleasant light for a desired general illumination and ensure optimal light conditions without causing disturbing reflections on the computer screens. In addition, precisely positioned pendant luminaires are installed at the workstations, which ensure pleasant room brightness. In the entrance area, the harmonic and uniform lighting effect from the ground highlights the integration of photography and architecture. Photographs of landscapes, people, places, expressing unforgettable, impressive moments and memories have been lovingly engraved on 8 x 8cm square oak blocks. The idea of an effective, impressive environment that stimulates and inspires the work was the premiss on which the whole design concept was based. Consequently, the modular construction was no longer viewed through its history of utilization and scars, but rather as a structure of work ambiance, art and elegance. FERIZI + FERIZI Architects Photo: Arben Llapashtica

Contractor: David Clough Photographer: Dan Gair/Blind Dog Photo, Inc. This period home straddles two centuries and dual roles. As the home for the headmaster of an independent high school, it is also considered a school asset as a facility for visitors. Formal details define the public rooms that accommodate school functions. A ground-floor guest suite hosts campus visitors. The catering-quality kitchen, like a hinge, connects the intimate living quarters to formal spaces. The heart of their family sanctuary is the great room just beyond the kitchen. The headmaster holds occasional student classes in his living room, connecting students to this campus legacy. He and his wife can see the front door of the main building from his upstairs window. Boundaries between public and private life are sensitively articulated throughout.

A new porch highlights the front door, once difficult to find, on this variation of a traditional Cape Cod home. Ample windows on axis with the living room entry focus a visitor’s attention on a sun filled garden terrace and water feature. From above, light streams through a ridge clerestory, inspired by the client’s love of the Stanford University Barn’s similar roof detail. The newly raised ceiling creates a lofty, inviting space. Below the living room, a new basement home theater is finished with fine wood paneling and accented with art from their collection.

This project hits very close to home for us. Not your typical office space, we re-purposed a 19th century carriage barn into our office and workshop. With no heat, minimum electricity and few windows (most of which were broken), a priority for CEO and Designer Jason Hoffman was to create a space that honors its historic architecture, era and purpose but still offers elements of understated sophistication. The building is nearly 140 years old, built before many of the trees towering around it had begun growing. It was originally built as a simple, Victorian carriage barn, used to store the family’s horse and buggy. Later, it housed 2,000 chickens when the Owners worked the property as their farm. Then, for many years, it was storage space. Today, it couples as a workshop for our carpentry team, building custom projects and storing equipment, as well as an office loft space ready to welcome clients, visitors and trade partners. We added a small addition onto the existing barn to offer a separate entry way for the office. New stairs and an entrance to the workshop provides for a small, yet inviting foyer space. From the beginning, even is it’s dark state, Jason loved the ambiance of the old hay loft with its unfinished, darker toned timbers. He knew he wanted to find a way to refinish the space with a focus on those timbers, evident in the statement they make when walking up the stairs. On the exterior, the building received new siding, a new roof and even a new foundation which is a story for another post. Inside, we added skylights, larger windows and a French door, with a small balcony. Along with heat, electricity, WiFi and office furniture, we’re ready for visitors!