Interior design by McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors using Ames Ingham Lighting. Custom Rectangle 4.

Four Walls Photography, fourwallsphotography.com

Painting and art studio interior with clerestory windows with mezzanine storage above. Photo by Clark Dugger

Jimmy White

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Architect Paul Noborikawa, principal at Noborikawa & Associates in Hawaii, seamlessly blends environment and design in this luxury residence on the island of Oahu. The main attraction of the modern home is a great room that opens to the yard courtesy of 75 feet of Series 600 Multi-Slide Doors from Western Window Systems. Other features include an energy-efficient design, modern materials such as polished concrete floors, granite counters, and storage for kayaks and surfboards.

Tower Creek Construction

Nulook Homes

a sofa with sections without a back was used to preserve the open space and encourage a natural flow between the dining area and the sitting area. Shelly Harrison Photography

Florian Grohen

As you can see, a beautiful, dark-stained patio ceiling rises high over this patio addition design. Here's the "before" shot of the white Hardie panel ceiling before we replaced it with the dark tongue and groove boards: Atop this wood patio ceiling is a 210-square-foot hipped roof extension off the existing house, with red brick, white trim and grey composite shutters matching the existing house. Underneath the patio ceiling sits a new outdoor kitchen and a fireplace with a seating area. The outdoor kitchen island includes a raised countertop with bar seating for six and the following Renaissance Cooking Systems (RCS) stainless steel appliances: drop-in cooler, horizontal door, sink , single access door, trash door, 30-inch Cutlass Pro grill, double drawer/door and lowered power burner. The gas-burning fireplace features a mounted flat-screen TV, a wooden mantel and a flagstone hearth that matches the pool coping. The family's existing wicker patio furniture was placed in the new seating area around the fireplace. We really love the finishing materials in this patio addition design. The fireplace and exterior walls of the kitchen island are dry-stacked Chardonnay ledgestone. The countertop is Spectrus granite. As this 3D graphic rendering shows, the new stamped concrete patio features a Versailles pattern with a contrasting border. The 645-square-foot patio under the roof addition is a lighter tan and the 1,580-square-foot patio around the pool and firepit is a darker tan, visual distinction between the two areas.

The study has a floating butcherblock desk and shelves stained to match the floors.

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.

Interior Designer Scottsdale, AZ - Southwest Contemporary

Imagine waking up in this bedroom! Stunning Pella Architect Series wood windows frame your home’s view in dramatic fashion.