This LEED for Homes Platinum project, 3 Palms, is 56% more energy efficient than California Energy Code Standards due to its passive solar design and high performance exterior shell. Website for more information: www.3PalmsProject.com. Designer: John Turturro, Turturro Design Studio; Architect of Record: Larry Graves, Alliance Design Group; Photographer: Jake Cryan Photography

Morgan Howarth Photography Architect: Ben Ames AIA, Interior Design: Cathrine Hailey

Elegant Interior Designs in the Philadelphia Suburbs completed a full deck redesign winning a COTY Award in 2011. The client had a poorly utilized dysfunctional deck consisting of a dining table, six chairs and a grill. The narrow dimensions of the deck precluded easy passage way around the table. In addition, the positioning of the grill and the depth of the deck did not allow enough room for a much needed conversational seating area. The pressure treated lumber was a maintenance and splintering problem. There has been a dramatic change from the run down, dilapidated, dysfunctional deck to this stunning outdoor living space. As shown in the photo on the right, this project greatly enhances the existing structure aesthetically. It has increased the value of the property. It creates a more elegant and stately look and feel to the home. • The furniture, fabrics and pillows are sun and mildew resistant and water repellant. They have a sophisticated style and are very durable due to their high rubs factor. Not only are they beautiful but practical as well. PERGOLA A cedar pergola was stained to match the deck boards and added over the dining area to create a more interesting outdoor living space. It also provided a place to attach the fan and light. Now the dining area easily allows adequate traffic flow around the table. LIGHTING Deck time doesn’t end when the sun goes down. The lamp, fan with lights, wall fixtures and overhead spot lights add different levels of light that create a beautiful ambience. Riser lights were added on every few steps that give off soft illumination for safety on stairs. BEFORE COOKING AREA The placement of the grill and the narrow width of the deck did not allow for adequate seating. The removal of the grill on this side of the deck and the enlarged space allowed for the addition of a conversational seating area for relaxation with a fire pit for added ambiance and warmth on a chilly evening. The stunning outdoor lamp is heavily weighted and can stand up to the elements. Problems of slipping, splinters and maintenance are addressed. The cognac colored deck boards are a PVC product engineered for maximum scratch, mildew and stain resistance. The deck boards were laid on a diagonal and bordered in a dark brown contrast color to add to the high end look. The black railing is a composite material with smooth lines and no visible hardware. • Deck boards with a flat grain surface make it very slip resistant next to the pool. • The products do not splinter, so the client can walk barefoot to the pool and hold all hand rails without fear. • Low maintenance decking and railing material eliminates the need to stain and seal. Pamela Kofsky of Elegant Interior Designs, Ambler, PA

Photos: Thome Photography

Lisa Duncan

Master Bedroom with cool gray walls and cream bed cover and green accents. Chair from Thrive. Photo by Lawrence

photos by Stephani Buchman

The interior is dominated by the warm glow of wood and is designed in concert with the owners’ wishes for natural materials and natural light. Photo: Rob Karosis

Family Room- Living Area

College Park Lanai addition, Orlando, FL. Addition includes raised porch with expanded outdoor dining and outdoor living areas. Coastal stained pine wood ceilings. Azek / PVC custom columns and beams. Beams include removable panels with access to cavity and track for motorized screens. Artistic Pavers concrete pavers with ivory shell finish. Artisitc Pavers ivory shell pool deck with remodel pool coping.

Lori Hamilton Photography

Jim Schmid

Liz Donnelly

Dennis Mayer, Photographer

A book loving family of four, Dan, Julia and their two daughters were looking to add on to and rearrange their three bedroom, one bathroom home to suit their unique needs for places to study, rest, play, and hide and go seek. A generous lot allowed for a addition to the north of the house connecting to the middle bedroom/den, and the design process, while initially motivated by the need for a more spacious and private master bedroom and bathroom, evolved to focus around Dan & Julia distinct desires for home offices. Dan, a Minnesotan Medievalist, craved a cozy, wood paneled room with a nook for his reading chair and ample space for books, and, Julia, an American Studies professor with a focus on history of progressive children's literature, imagined a bright and airy space with plenty of shelf and desk space where she could peacefully focus on her latest project. What resulted was an addition with two offices, one upstairs, one downstairs, that were animated very differently by the presence of the connecting stair--Dan's reading nook nestled under the stair and Julia's office defined by a custom bookshelf stair rail that gave her plenty of storage down low and a sense of spaciousness above. A generous corridor with large windows on both sides serves as the transitional space between the addition and the original house as well as impromptu yoga room. The master suite extends from the end of the corridor towards the street creating a sense of separation from the original house which was remodeled to create a variety of family rooms and utility spaces including a small "office" for the girls, an entry hall with storage for shoes and jackets, a mud room, a new linen closet, an improved great room that reused an original window that had to be removed to connect to the addition. A palette of local and reclaimed wood provide prominent accents throughout the house including pecan flooring in the addition, barn doors faced with reclaimed pine flooring, reused solid wood doors from the original house, and shiplap paneling that was reclaimed during remodel. Photography by: Michael Hsu

Tatum Brown Custom Homes {Photo Credit: Danny Piassick} {Interior Design: Robyn Menter Design Associates} {Architectural credit: Mark Hoesterey of Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro Architects}

Might Photography