With this client who has been passionate about plants all his life, there was naturally a close collaboration and a lot of input from him. Upon closer inspection you'd find some very exceptional plants that are sort of experimental but "all worth the try" in Gordon's eyes. And he is right! I relished the opportunity to use Star Magnolia stellata, Redbud Cercis 'Avondale' and 'Silver Cloud', Arabian Lilac 'Grand Duke of Tuscany', Royal Bromeliad Vriesea imperialis, also many unusual bulbs such as Scilla. Besides structure providing shrubs and trees (Tecoma, existing Indian Hawthorne with beautiful structures, Sweet Pea Bush, Golden Breath of Heaven, Ilex, Ginkgo, Bronze Loquat etc.) you'll see here also my favorite perennials, succulents and grasses, all as low care and undemanding as well as low-water as possible, to keep the landscape colorful and interesting year round. One of the highlights of this garden are the dry stream beds, bird bath and garden bench that we added. Built originally by himself and his wife, the dry stream beds were overgrown, mostly hidden by plant debris, or half rolling down hill. We had fun selecting a mixed collection of colorful and richly textured boulders of various sizes over, and with the input from 7 team members: Gordon, me, the contractor, the supervisor and three workers, we re-created the stream beds, making sure that anchor stones on the sides were well embedded in the slope, and that stone shelves and “top dressing” with smaller pebbles would add to the visual interest. Now these beds form very pleasing architectural features that look like they have always been there. We were all surprised how quickly all plants adapted to the site and started growing and putting out bloom. Now the old birdbath, a traditional white thing with dove figurines resting on the scalloped bowl, looked out of place, and I suggested to replace it with a stone bowl. And that part of the garden just called for a bench under the Macademia nut tree, to observe the birds and contemplate the whole creation. Only stone would do, but not any stone! Gordon picked a Basalt boulder that was naturally bowl shaped. It’s so heavy that it took 8 men to heave it into place! The Basalt bench was not much lighter, and together they make a very inviting scene. This job should last for a while. Photographed by Emma Almendarez at http://www.emmatheodoraphotography.com/

The idea of the communality of a rural kitchen serving multi functions was at the heart of the design of this hand crafted collection. Before the zeal for labour saving devices turned the kitchen into more of a science lab, kitchens were the centre of the home that bound communities together, where heat and nourishment were found along with workers and family. Bastide freestanding furniture has been created as a comprehensive system mixing varying combinations of cupboards to surround a range or a Belfast sink. Handcrafted in France from oak using traditional joinery techniques, this informal eclectic style enables a casual and relaxed approach to kitchen living.

Architect: Bart Prince
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Here you can see the dual fully integrated Sub-Zero side by side fridge and freezer with large brass pulls. Directly in front is the smaller kitchen island, custom made from wood tiles in a herringbone pattern, completed with granite countertop and farmhouse custom made copper sink. Behind is the island, you can see the light sea-foam hue of the back painted glass backsplash. Photography by Marie-Dominique Verdier.

Unique woven wine barrel stave wall treatment above decanting are in tasting room. Photo by: Brian Worker
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The owners of this renovated workers cottage are enthusiastic about entertaining and wanted a practical yet interesting kitchen to fit into this uniquely shaped lean-to space. The generous island has a Corian Raincloud benchtop with space for seating at the far end. A pink mosaic splashback and pendant lights add interest and reflect the personality of the owners.

Traditional Kitchen Renovation & Design Of A First Floor Ranch. See what our client say about Paul Lopa Designs: It went as smooth as it possibly could go. The only bumps in the road was with what we found during demolition, you never know what your gonna run into when all the walls,floors and fixtures come out. Paul had explained to us that depending on what we found under all the out dated stuff it might take a little longer. Paul was there doing the work with his workers he showed up on time and finished on schedule. It was no problem being in touch with Paul because he answered his phone or got back to us in a timely fashion. He has an excellent sense of design he knows what goes well together and makes the house flow with comfort and usability. (R)Haw Ron

The homeowner's chose our custom cabinetry line, Caves Millwork, so they would not be limited by the restrictions of a manufactured line. We were able to build the exact design and layout of the homeowners' desires to truly fit their personalities and lifestyle. The natural cherry cabinetry was crafted by our wood workers to perfectly fit around this commercial size range. The inset cove with the pot filler and narrow quartz counter top ledge is the perfect addition for the homeowner's cooking needs. -Allison Caves, CKD Caves Kitchens

This customized humidor sits in the corner of the "Man Cave" and features the same "Trevi" hardware and "Magma Gold" granite that were used in the bar area. This "Man Cave" utilizes two commercial "smoke eater" units to keep the air circulating and prevents the space from smelling like cigars! These units are miracle workers as you could not detect the slightest trace of cigar odor!

Southern Builders is a commercial and residential builder located in the New Orleans area. We have been serving Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi since 1980, building single family homes, custom homes, apartments, condos, and commercial buildings. We believe in working close with our clients, whether as a subcontractor or a general contractor. Our success comes from building a team between the owner, the architects and the workers in the field. If your design demands that southern charm, it needs a team that will bring professional leadership and pride to your project. Southern Builders is that team. We put your interest and personal touch into the small details that bring large results.

An alcove off the kitchen served as the perfect space to create a home bar. A re-purposed workers bench is the base for this delightfully charming and rustic bar that has plenty of room below to store all the cocktail essentials. Photo by David Tsay

Traditional Kitchen Renovation & Design Of A First Floor Ranch. See what our client say about Paul Lopa Designs: It went as smooth as it possibly could go. The only bumps in the road was with what we found during demolition, you never know what your gonna run into when all the walls,floors and fixtures come out. Paul had explained to us that depending on what we found under all the out dated stuff it might take a little longer. Paul was there doing the work with his workers he showed up on time and finished on schedule. It was no problem being in touch with Paul because he answered his phone or got back to us in a timely fashion. He has an excellent sense of design he knows what goes well together and makes the house flow with comfort and usability. (R)Haw Ron

Our client’s choice of a custom designed chest of drawers by an Italian manufacturer, Laura Meroni was inspired by the bench-tops used by marble workers to rest the slabs of stone before cutting them. The light squeezes through the horizontal and vertical lines turning this chest of drawers into a modern sculpture. Our client imprinted his personality, taste and interest in his choice of furnishings and memorabilia which he placed in the key areas of his bedroom.

Southern Builders is a commercial and residential builder located in the New Orleans area. We have been serving Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi since 1980, building single family homes, custom homes, apartments, condos, and commercial buildings. We believe in working close with our clients, whether as a subcontractor or a general contractor. Our success comes from building a team between the owner, the architects and the workers in the field. If your design demands that southern charm, it needs a team that will bring professional leadership and pride to your project. Southern Builders is that team. We put your interest and personal touch into the small details that bring large results.

Christopher Nelson photos
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Traditional Kitchen Renovation & Design Of A First Floor Ranch. See what our client say about Paul Lopa Designs: It went as smooth as it possibly could go. The only bumps in the road was with what we found during demolition, you never know what your gonna run into when all the walls,floors and fixtures come out. Paul had explained to us that depending on what we found under all the out dated stuff it might take a little longer. Paul was there doing the work with his workers he showed up on time and finished on schedule. It was no problem being in touch with Paul because he answered his phone or got back to us in a timely fashion. He has an excellent sense of design he knows what goes well together and makes the house flow with comfort and usability. (R)Haw Ron

Modern meets classic. The flooring tile in this picture is our 12x12 Saltillo regular square tile in its natural color variations. They are sealed with our oil based sealer (semi gloss). You can also have the Saltillo tile stained and sealed in brick red, antique birch, soft brown, walnut, or white wash. Other sealed options are glossy, and matte. The beautiful Talavera tile on the kitchen counter and backsplash are in the following patterns: T31 blue large angle 2x4, T31 off white 4x4, SP1 decorative Talavera 4x4 (special design). Theses tiles are sold per piece. (Saltillo tidbits: The area of Saltillo Mexico where the tile is made has the proper mix of clay, climate, and dedicated workers to produce one of the world's most popular tiles. Saltillo tiles are not merely "sundried", they are also kiln fired. The way in which these tiles are stacked and positioned in the kiln produces their natural shading and range of colors. The stripping is caused by the overlapping of tiles when they are stacked in the kiln). We also carry Saltillo regular square in 4x4, 8x8, and 16x16, or in Super (round edges) in 12x12. Questions? Message us or call us at 210-736-2634. Check out our website at www.reesotiles.com.

Photo: Margot Hartford © 2018 Houzz
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The idea of the communality of a rural kitchen serving multi functions was at the heart of the design of this hand crafted collection. Before the zeal for labour saving devices turned the kitchen into more of a science lab, kitchens were the centre of the home that bound communities together, where heat and nourishment were found along with workers and family. Bastide freestanding furniture has been created as a comprehensive system mixing varying combinations of cupboards to surround a range or a Belfast sink. Handcrafted in France from oak using traditional joinery techniques, this informal eclectic style enables a casual and relaxed approach to kitchen living.