Setting the Stage

The area around a home can impact the way the home looks almost as much as the architecture. Landscaping that severely contrasts with the style of the home can detract from the beautiful aesthetic. It is important to give the yard some thought when designing a home. A solid plan does not have to be …

Work-from-home Options

The home office use to be the realm of CEOs and intrepid entrepreneurs, but  things have changed. Of course, a home office can still be used for running your business, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a space to store important documents and work on home budgeting can be just as significant. With the …

Pool Party

With the 4th of July holiday this weekend, many people probably wish they had a pool in their backyard in which to cool off. You may think that a pool will only fit a certain type of house, but these days a home pool can be designed to fit with any architectural style. Photo by …

Paper for a Pop of Color

There are a myriad of ways to add color and interest to a room but one which we often forget about is wallpaper. Decorating with wallpaper got its start during the Renaissance when people couldn’t get their hands on tapestries but still wanted to spruce up their rooms with large pretty pictures. Over the centuries, …

Dining with Style

On Tuesday we looked at how some homes are now combining the kitchen, dining and living rooms into one large multi-use space. For some, this is a highly functional layout that fits a laid back lifestyle while others might want something more structured. So today we will look at examples of formal dining rooms which …

At the Heart of the Home

Trends come and go but one that seems to be sticking around is the kitchen as the center of the home. Industry experts report that while overall home size is getting smaller, particularly in urban areas, kitchen sizes are staying the same or even getting larger. This is due to the fact that the kitchen …

Heart of the Home

We all tend to think that the living room, or perhaps the dinning room or patio, is going to be the social hub of the home but in the end everyone ends up in the kitchen. The kitchen also doubles as a homework help center, home office, and snack station. So even if you aren’t …

Escape to the Mountains in Contemporary Style

Mountains are majestic. Meadows are relaxing. Put them together and you have the perfect location for a home: a Mountain Meadow. In this contemporary home design, Redmond architecture company Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl blends the house into the surrounding landscape and endeavors to be as unobtrusive as possible. However, this does not compromise the view nor …

Spiraling Upwards

Seattle architecture firm Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl relishes opportunities to practice the art of architecture in every detail. This beautiful spiral staircase is part of Hillcrest Farm and works its way up the observation tower. At the base is a nearly life-size bear statue accompanied by a small garden area. It is a bit of a hike …

Updated View

Remodeling a home can take as much work, if not more, than designing and building one from scratch. To be done properly, the home renovation must take the original structure and meld new ideas and materials with it to create a cohesive design. The Lakefront Splendor home renovation is an excellent example of taking an …