This Minnesota Artisan Tour showcase home features three exceptional natural stone fireplaces. A custom blend of ORIJIN STONE's Alder™ Split Face Limestone is paired with custom Indiana Limestone for the oversized hearths. Minnetrista, MN residence. MASONRY: SJB Masonry + Concrete BUILDER: Denali Custom Homes, Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY: Landmark Photography

Patio kitchen plans these days require the ability to incorporate high-tech, modern appliances into timeless – even ancient-looking – environments. You can see this juxtaposition pulled off perfectly in this outdoor kitchen by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston. “A smart patio kitchen plan requires not only a balance of the new and old,” says Outdoor Homescapes owner Wayne Franks, “but a blending of new elements – like an outdoor kitchen – with the existing home and outdoor living features like a pool, hardscaping or landscaping.” In this case, explains Franks, the existing 25-by-15-foot pool had a craggy edge of moss rock boulders, plus a spa and firepit faced with a rough Scabos splitface travertine. “The overall look was rustic and naturalistic,” says Franks, “so we of course wanted the new outdoor kitchen island to match.” Hence the 14-foot-long outdoor kitchen island with a raised bar, also faced in the Scabos splitface travertine and topped with a Normandy granite countertop. The hardscaping around it is Kool Deck® textured concrete. “People used to shy away from busy textures in outside patio kitchen plans, but now they’re embracing them,” notes Franks. “They’re increasingly attracted to the beautiful imperfections and irregularities of nature – there’s more of an authenticity and character to it.” Now, for the high-tech part: A Traeger wood pellet grill. Traeger grills are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to infuse amazing, rich flavor and for their versatility (they can grill, bake, smoke, slow cook, braise and barbecue). This premier model, the Memphis Pro 304, features 562 square inches of cooking space and a three-in-one cooking system (high-temperature grill, low-and-low smoker and true-convection-oven roasting and baking). It also has an intuitive Intelligent Temperature Control (see the display panel to the left of the grill) that can be set for cooking and internal temperature. A programmable food probe tells you when the internal temperature is reached and drops the grill down to a programmed lower temperature to keep the food warm till serving. The dual-fan convection system, with reliable metal blades, circulates heat evenly for tender, juicy results. Double-walled and sealed construction of 304 stainless steel allows for optimum heat retention and consistent temperatures in all weather conditions. A direct-flame “flavorizer” insert delivers the added flavor of a seared finish. Outdoor Homescapes also added a mount sink with a custom oil-rubbed bronze faucet by Moen and the following RCS stainless steel accessories: a pull-out trash door, a countertop trash chute, dual horizontal grill utensil drawers and a swing-out storage door. “At first, you’d think all this technology and the smooth, modern stainless steel would fight with the rustic look of the rough-faced stone in outdoor patio kitchen plans,” says Franks. “But it actually provides some visual rest from all the rugged textures and busyness.” Serving a similar function is the smooth, polished Scabos travertine tile used for the pool coping and firepit ledge. “It’s a perfect environment for the client to entertain business associates,” says Franks. “He’s very happy with the old-meets-new approach, and so are we.” More patio kitchen plans can be found at Outdoor Homescapes of Houston’s website, at www.outdoorhomescapes.com

Huggy Bear Quaker style door in Cherry with Nutmeg stain. Island is Cherry with Slate stain. Backsplash is split-face travertine. Custom paneled hood. Cambria Cardiff Cream countertops. Wolf gas range.

Stunning effects are achieved with the natural color variations in the travertine tile and the texture differences in the smooth and split-faced stone.

With an ascending slope, we were able to tuck this pool and spa into the hillside and maximize their outdoor space. We used travertine for coping on the upper edge of the raised bond beam and tie that into the pool using a split faced travertine on the face and highlighted columns

Custom, floating walnut shelving and lower cabinets/book shelves work for display, hiding video equipment and dog toys, too! Thibaut aqua blue grasscloth sets it all off in a very soothing way. Photo by: Melodie Hayes

Jim Bartsch
Example of a trendy master beige tile and travertine tile travertine floor drop-in bathtub design in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and beige walls

The kitchen, breakfast room and family room are all open to one another. The kitchen has a large twelve foot island topped with Calacatta marble and features a roll-out kneading table, and room to seat the whole family. The sunlight breakfast room opens onto the patio which has a built-in barbeque, and both bar top seating and a built in bench for outdoor dining. The large family room features a cozy fireplace, TV media, and a large built-in bookcase. The adjoining craft room is separated by a set of pocket french doors; where the kids can be visible from the family room as they do their homework.

Huggy Bear Quaker style door in Cherry with Nutmeg stain. Island is Cherry with Slate stain. Backsplash is split-face travertine. Custom paneled hood. Cambria Cardiff Cream countertops. Wolf gas range.

The designer was going for a soft, comfortable, but elegant coastal home look ... and she got it just right in this master bathroom. The free standing tub is framed by the striking split face stack stone travertine wall - absolutely gorgeous. Behind the stacked wall is a walk-in shower with lots of room and sunlight. The sun coming in actually warms the floor. We have Ivory travertine floors for the bathroom and shower walls and a 4 x 4 travertine for the shower floor. The bathroom vanity tops are a polished seashell limestone, a natural seashell limestone, made with Shell Reef. The same limestone is on the bench tops. What a great job of pulling all these details together.

An used closet under the stairs is transformed into a beautiful and functional chilled wine cellar with a new wrought iron railing for the stairs to tie it all together. Travertine slabs replace carpet on the stairs. LED lights are installed in the wine cellar for additional ambient lighting that gives the room a soft glow in the evening. Photos by: Ryan Wilson

Jim Bartsch
Example of a trendy master travertine floor bathroom design in Denver with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops and a one-piece toilet

Island style master black tile and slate tile slate floor bathroom photo in Miami with yellow walls

Commissioned to shed new light on a dark and dated master bath suite, we banished the cultured marble, raised the ceiling, and installed bright clerestory windows. We crowned custom bamboo cabinets with poured concrete counters, extended them to the Jacuzzi tub surrounds, and finished the space with gleaming nickel hardware, a recycled glass shower enclosure, and tumbled marble floors with radiant heating, for year-round warmth. Our clients were so pleased with the results they asked us to continue the same sense of elegance and serenity we had started in the master bath and extend it towards a full remodel of their family room and kitchen. We installed new hardwood floors to emphasize the comfortable, quiet spaciousness of a newly arranged layout. Quartzite counters, quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry, and a recycled glass tile backsplash were combined to produce a sophisticated kitchen, gleaming surfaces and clean lines, while rough split-faced travertine brick enriched an updated fireplace, bookended by built-in shelves and cabinetry, to make a strong, practical center in the family room.

An used closet under the stairs is transformed into a beautiful and functional chilled wine cellar with a new wrought iron railing for the stairs to tie it all together. Travertine slabs replace carpet on the stairs. LED lights are installed in the wine cellar for additional ambient lighting that gives the room a soft glow in the evening. Photos by: Ryan Wilson

The designer was going for a soft, comfortable, but elegant coastal home look ... and she got it just right in this master bathroom. The free standing tub is framed by the striking split face stack stone travertine wall - absolutely gorgeous. Behind the stacked wall is a walk-in shower with lots of room and sunlight. The sun coming in actually warms the floor. We have Ivory travertine floors for the bathroom and shower walls and a 4 x 4 travertine for the shower floor. The bathroom vanity tops are a polished seashell limestone, a natural seashell limestone, made with Shell Reef. The same limestone is on the bench tops. What a great job of pulling all these details together.

Huggy Bear Quaker style door in Cherry with Nutmeg stain. Island is Cherry with Slate stain. Backsplash is split-face travertine. Custom paneled hood. Cambria Cardiff Cream countertops. Wolf gas range.

An used closet under the stairs is transformed into a beautiful and functional chilled wine cellar with a new wrought iron railing for the stairs to tie it all together. Travertine slabs replace carpet on the stairs. LED lights are installed in the wine cellar for additional ambient lighting that gives the room a soft glow in the evening. Photos by: Ryan Wilson

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