SRQ Magazine's Home of the Year 2015 Platinum Award for Best Bathroom, Best Kitchen, and Best Overall Renovation Photo: Raif Fluker
1950s master concrete floor bedroom photo in Tampa with white walls

Photo: Whitney Lyons © 2014 Houzz
Example of a classic living room design in Portland

Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in San Francisco.

After 4 years of growth, this nature garden is bursting with springtime color. Flowering purple plum draws the eye while soft shrubs edge the dry creek bed and provide food for native lepidoptera.

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Architect: Amanda Martocchio Architecture & Design Photography: Michael Moran Project Year:2016 This LEED-certified project was a substantial rebuild of a 1960's home, preserving the original foundation to the extent possible, with a small amount of new area, a reconfigured floor plan, and newly envisioned massing. The design is simple and modern, with floor to ceiling glazing along the rear, connecting the interior living spaces to the landscape. The design process was informed by building science best practices, including solar orientation, triple glazing, rain-screen exterior cladding, and a thermal envelope that far exceeds code requirements.

The beautiful, old barn on this Topsfield estate was at risk of being demolished. Before approaching Mathew Cummings, the homeowner had met with several architects about the structure, and they had all told her that it needed to be torn down. Thankfully, for the sake of the barn and the owner, Cummings Architects has a long and distinguished history of preserving some of the oldest timber framed homes and barns in the U.S. Once the homeowner realized that the barn was not only salvageable, but could be transformed into a new living space that was as utilitarian as it was stunning, the design ideas began flowing fast. In the end, the design came together in a way that met all the family’s needs with all the warmth and style you’d expect in such a venerable, old building. On the ground level of this 200-year old structure, a garage offers ample room for three cars, including one loaded up with kids and groceries. Just off the garage is the mudroom – a large but quaint space with an exposed wood ceiling, custom-built seat with period detailing, and a powder room. The vanity in the powder room features a vanity that was built using salvaged wood and reclaimed bluestone sourced right on the property. Original, exposed timbers frame an expansive, two-story family room that leads, through classic French doors, to a new deck adjacent to the large, open backyard. On the second floor, salvaged barn doors lead to the master suite which features a bright bedroom and bath as well as a custom walk-in closet with his and hers areas separated by a black walnut island. In the master bath, hand-beaded boards surround a claw-foot tub, the perfect place to relax after a long day. In addition, the newly restored and renovated barn features a mid-level exercise studio and a children’s playroom that connects to the main house. From a derelict relic that was slated for demolition to a warmly inviting and beautifully utilitarian living space, this barn has undergone an almost magical transformation to become a beautiful addition and asset to this stately home.

Master Bedroom is a combination of stone end walls and re-stacked log timbers side walls with plaster and timber ceiling. Photos By Audrey Hall
Bedroom - mid-sized rustic master bedroom idea

Eclectic light wood floor enclosed dining room photo in Los Angeles with gray walls

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea

Example of a mid-sized trendy 3/4 beige tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and brown floor alcove shower design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops, a hinged shower door and brown countertops

Floating stairs supported solely from the central stringer allows for accent lights to wash the wall from the end of each tread. The Copper railing brings warmth to this light well with sunlight streaming down from skylights above.

This spacious home in North Vancouver's Deep Cove community had been built and decorated just over 20 years ago and was in need of updating. Our clients who are empty nesters, spend much of their time in the kitchen and family room so we focused on these spaces keeping in mind that the more formal spaces on the main floor will follow in a few years time. For the most part the layout of their kitchen worked well for them so our role was to tweak the kitchen and family room furniture layout and to select updated finishes and furnishings. Since this home transformation is not happening all at once, we purposefully selected classic finishes, like antique brass hardware, that will tie in with the rest of the home's decor until it can be updated. The resulting refresh stays true to the original feel of the house while giving it a clean, updated look.

Encelia farinosa, a wonderful native plant for hot, sunny spaces, has silvery gray foliage year round. Stipa tenuissima ornamental grass lends movement in the background. Design and photo by Perennial Garden Consultants.

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic dining room remodel in New York

Holleder and FIve, the couple's 9-year-old twin boys, share a room as do the other four children. "We knew we wanted our kids to share rooms, so that was a huge design element", says Cortney. "We think it is important that they learn how to work with others, so even our boys share a big dormitory style bathroom." In order to keep the center of the room open, Robert and Cortney placed the boys' beds toe-to-toe along one wall. In true Novogratz fashion, the beds are inexpensive frames from IKEA that received a treatment of custom upholstery. Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz Design: Cortney and Robert Novogratz

Covering a second story Trex deck, this gable end patio cover includes a ceiling fan and recessed lighting. The second story deck & patio cover combination is a great place for year-round BBQ’s and outdoor dinners, while the Trex Spiral Stairs lead underneath to a great sheltered play area for the kids.

Suppress weeds with cardboard and compost Le jardinet

Inspiration for a small transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Denver with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and turquoise countertops