From KUBE Architecture: "They [owners] wanted a house of openness and light, where their children could be free to explore and play independently, still within view of their parents. The solution was to create a courtyard house, with large sliding glass doors to bring the inside out and outside in." Greg Powers Photography Contractor: Housecraft

Benjamin Moore Kansas Grain 2160-60
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Boston with yellow walls

Jackie Meiring & Simon Devitt

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges. The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work. Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other. All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan. Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape. The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

Master shower in an incredible rustic home built by Southern Living home builder Structures by Chris Brooks (www.structuresbychrisbrooks.com). Photo credit: www.davidcannonphotography.com

Advance Cabinetry MI- Mouser Custom Cabinetry
Inspiration for a rustic walk-out medium tone wood floor basement remodel with gray walls

We had the awesome opportunity to complete this 8ft Western Red Cedar board-on-board privacy fence that included metal gate frames with industrial hinges and 2x6 single stage trim cap. We used exterior rated GRK screws for 100% of the installation, not a single nail on the entire project. The project also included demolition and removal of a failed retaining wall followed by the form up and pouring of a new 24” tall concrete retaining wall. As always we are grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing clients who allow us to turn ideas into reality. If you have an idea for a custom fence, retaining wall, or any other outdoor project, give 806 Outdoors a call. 806 690 2344.

Northpeak Design
Patio - rustic patio idea in Manchester

Example of a transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Kansas City with beige walls and no fireplace

The small bathroom is not wide enough for a traditional bathtub so a hand-built cedar Ofuro soaking tub allows for deep, luxurious bathing. Stand up showers are no problem. Photo by Kate Russell

This partially wooded, acre and a half lot in West Dundee presented many challenges. The clients began working with a Landscape Architect in the early spring, but after not getting the innovative ideas they were seeking, the home builder and Architect suggested the client contact our landscape design/build firm. We immediately hit it off with the charismatic clients. They had a tall order for us: complete the design and implement the construction within a three month period. For many projects this would be a reasonable time frame. However construction delays and the coordination of multiple trades left a very short window to complete the work. Beyond the tight time frame the site required specific care in preserving the many mature surrounding trees, as well as addressing a vast grade change. Over fifteen feet of grade change occurs from one end of this woodland property to the other. All of these constraints proved to be an enormous challenge as we worked to include and coordinate the following elements: the drive layout, a dramatic front entry, various gardens, landscape lighting, irrigation, and a plan for a backyard pool and entertainment space that already had been started without a clear plan. Fortunately, the client loved our design ideas and attention to detail and we were able to mobilize and begin construction. With the seamless coordination between our firm and the builder we implemented all the elements of this grand project. In total eight different crews and five separate trades worked together to complete the landscape. The completed project resulted in a rewarding experience for our firm, the builder and architect, as well as the client. Together we were able to create and construct a perfect oasis for the client that suited the beautiful property and the architecture of this dream home.

Michael Hunter
Living room - rustic living room idea in Houston with brown walls

A luxury residence in Vail, Colorado featuring wire-brushed Bavarian Oak wide-plank wood floors in a custom finish and reclaimed sunburnt siding on the ceiling. Arrigoni Woods specializes in wide-plank wood flooring, both recycled and engineered. Our wood comes from old-growth Western European forests that are sustainably managed. Arrigoni's uniquely engineered wood (which has the look and feel of solid wood) features a trio of layered engineered planks, with a middle layer of transversely laid vertical grain spruce, providing a solid core. This gorgeous mountain modern home was completed in the Fall of 2014. Using only the finest of materials and finishes, this home is the ultimate dream home. Photographer: Kimberly Gavin

Peter Vanderwarker
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern brown one-story wood flat roof remodel in Boston

Hunting Lodge
Mid-sized mountain style detached three-car shed photo in Denver

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

This custom home was artfully designed by the architects at Historical Concepts. The “Stemwinder Camp” home is located in the beautiful Balsam Mountain Preserve community. Balsam Mountain Preserve is a private, gated, mountain, golf and equestrian community in the western North Carolina Mountains. The details and design of the craftsman style cottage provide every room with a sunny and bright interior. Stemwinder Camp incorporates many detailed elements that help create a contemporary feel while still maintaining the craftsman style principles.

Small home office with a view.
Small country freestanding desk carpeted study room photo in Cleveland with gray walls and no fireplace

Modern farmhouse mudroom with cubbies, shiplap walls, and a barn door into the laundry room.
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage dark wood floor mudroom remodel in Cleveland with white walls and a dark wood front door