While cleaning out the attic of this recently purchased Arlington farmhouse, an amazing view was discovered: the Washington Monument was visible on the horizon. The architect and owner agreed that this was a serendipitous opportunity. A badly needed renovation and addition of this residence was organized around a grand gesture reinforcing this view shed. A glassy “look out room” caps a new tower element added to the left side of the house and reveals distant views east over the Rosslyn business district and beyond to the National Mall. A two-story addition, containing a new kitchen and master suite, was placed in the rear yard, where a crumbling former porch and oddly shaped closet addition was removed. The new work defers to the original structure, stepping back to maintain a reading of the historic house. The dwelling was completely restored and repaired, maintaining existing room proportions as much as possible, while opening up views and adding larger windows. A small mudroom appendage engages the landscape and helps to create an outdoor room at the rear of the property. It also provides a secondary entrance to the house from the detached garage. Internally, there is a seamless transition between old and new. Photos: Hoachlander Davis Photography

Photography by Morgan Howarth

This cottage style architecture was created by adding a 2nd floor and garage to this small rambler. Photography: Sicora, Inc.

Three story modern farmhouse though located on the East Coast of Virginia combines Southern charm with a relaxing California vibe.

Spacecrafting Photography, Inc.

E.S. Johnson Builders faced a challenge to create an authentic Bucks County farmhouse on a narrow lot with a rear yard that has a steep fall-off. The design goal to create a home that looked as if it was added on to over the last 150 years was achieved by building the main structure with four wings, each wing having its own distinctive look appropriate to the time period. This design created two courtyards, one rear and one front, and the rear second story terrace which overlooks a view of the pool on the lower level and outdoor living area. The sharp drop in the rear elevation gave an opportunity to cascade the outdoor living area. A large whirlpool cascades into the main pool; the main pool then drops again into another small pool complemented by a large arbor and exterior stone fireplace. Despite its historic detailing, it is very functional for the modern family featuring a triple-entrance courtyard, a main entrance that leads to the foyer/gallery, and a study/home office that has a front porch entrance as well as an entrance that leads into a side hall. Many of the interior walls are made of shiplap poplar, the beamed ceiling in the kitchen displays the exposed joists from the floor above, and open rafters in the recreation room are reminiscent of an old large gathering hall. All of the fireplaces are of authentic Pennsylvania fieldstone and the floors are reclaimed wide planks made of Appalachian Red Oak. Eldorado Stone Profile Featured: Veneto Fieldledge with an Overgrout Design Builder/Photographer: Eric Johnson, E.S. Johnson Builders Website: www.esjohnson.com Phone: (704)987-7950

Rob Karosis

Updated Laundry Room that Will Attract Buyers Lesa Bell/Elsie Thompson Harry Norman Realtors

The playhouse was moved to this location to make way for a future addition to the main house which gave it the perfect placement to look over the pool and the patio. Lucky kids! Remodel by BC Custom Homes Steve Eltinge, Eltinge Photograhy

Photography by VHT

Photographer: Angle Eye Photography

This home was completely renovated, including an addition. It was transformed from a Colonial style to Greek Revival, which was more fitting for the neighborhood. The screened porch was added as a part of the renovation, with Greek Revival style pillars separating the screens, and durable ipe decking for a floor.

French Flair Interior Design

outdoor fireplace

This wrap-around NYC roof garden design in the West Village features a custom-built planter 15'x30' made of red cedar and filled with a lush mix of evergreens, spiral junipers, and flowers. Read more about this garden on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION AND ADDITION Built in the 1940s, this cottage had an incredible amount of character and personality but was not conducive to the way we live today. The rooms were small and did not flow well into one another. The renovation of this house required opening up several rooms and adding square footage to the back of the home, all the while, keeping the curb appeal of a small cottage. Photographs by jeanallsopp.com