The homeowner of this ranch style home in Orange Park Acres wanted the Kitchen Breakfast Nook to become a large informal Dining Room that was an extension of the new Great Room. A new painted limestone effect on the used brick fireplace sets the tone for a lighter, more open and airy space. Using a bench for part of the seating helps to eliminate crowding and give a place for the grandkids to sit that can handle sticky hands. Custom designed dining chairs in a heavy duty velvet add to the luxurious feeling of the room and can be used in the adjacent Great Room for additional seating. A heavy dark iron chandelier was replaced with the lovely fixture that was hanging in another room; it's pale tones perfect for the new scheme. The window seat cushions were updated in a serviceable ostrich print taupe vinyl enhanced by rich cut velvet brocade and metallic woven pillows, making it a perfect place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Photo by Anthony Gomez.

Ivan Hunter

Matthew Millman Photography http://www.matthewmillman.com/

Entry to the Orbit Homes, Seavue luxury home.

interior design by Sonia van der Zwaan

Cedarstone Homes new model the “Living” defines the contemporary approach, in single family home design. Its open concept kitchen-dining-living space is a bright and spacious response to the informal lifestyle of modern families. Here the kitchen and island take centre stage and become the true focus of family living and entertaining. The overall L-shaped footprint of the house takes a courtyard style garden and maximizes connection and views from indoors to out. The practical interior provides an “away room” which can be adapted as a den, library, or formal sitting room. It also features a spacious and functionally outfitted mudroom – that most essential component of modern family life. Rather than being a curvy “showpiece” stairwell, the stairs act as a light well affording interconnecting views to the garden and living areas from the upper levels. A generous front porch and entry respond to the traditional family centered streetscape of the “village”. The selected exterior material palette combines smooth faced stone with clapboard siding in earthy tones to create a unique blend of the contemporary and the traditional. Glazed commercial style garage doors provide an extra “zip”. The four bedroom plan measures 2617 square feet. The elongated plan adapts itself well to either a traditional or a corner lot configuration.

Front Foyer into Dining Room

Holly Marder © 2012 Houzz

Alex Amend © 2012 Houzz

The restoration of a c.1850's plantation house with a compatible addition, pool, pool house, and outdoor kitchen pavilion; project includes historic finishes, refurbished vintage light and plumbing fixtures, antique furniture, custom cabinetry and millwork, encaustic tile, new and vintage reproduction appliances, and historic reproduction carpets and drapes. © Copyright 2011, Rick Patrick Photography

Photo: Shannon Malone © 2012 Houzz Design: Amelia Hirsch Design

House and garden design become a bridge between two different bodies of water: gentle Mecox Bay to the north and wild Atlantic Ocean to the south. An existing house was radically transformed as opposed to being demolished. Substantial effort was undertaken in order to reuse, rethink and modify existing conditions and materials. Much of the material removed was recycled or reused elsewhere. The plans were reworked to create smaller, staggered volumes, which are visually disconnected. Deep overhangs were added to strengthen the indoor/outdoor relationship and new bay to ocean views through the structure result in house as breezeway and bridge. The dunescape between house and shore was restored to a natural state while low maintenance building materials, allowed to weather naturally, will continue to strengthen the relationship of the structure to its surroundings. Photography credit: Kay Wettstein von Westersheimb Francesca Giovanelli Titlisstrasse 35 CH-8032 Zurich Switzerland