This Cape Cod cottage has Endless Summer Hydrangea and a perennial garden that borders the pea stone driveway. A custom pergola is surrounded by Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) and Privet. The entrance to the home has a fenced perennial garden that includes Boxwood, Japanese Holly, Coreopsis, Catmint, Gaura, and Vinca.

Photo by Rob Bramhall

This formerly drab and ordinary space in an 1853 Greek Revival home became a fun bath area for the homeowner's two year old with the addition of blue and green mosaic tiles, a child-sized toilet, a larger bath tub, and pendant lighting. A skylight brings in cheerful natural lighting. Photos by Shelly Harrison.

Beautifully renovated bathroom with white elegant custom cabinetry, white tiles and white walls. Just some of the features of the bathroom makeover include heated flooring, rainfall shower head, niche, shower bench, linear shower drain, glass enclosure, vessel sinks, custom mirrors, crown molding on the corner cabinetry, sconces, a chandelier and ceramic flooring that mimics the look of hardwood to add warmth. Buchman Photo

Custom aluminum fence designed & installed by Dakota Unlimited.

Updated traditional kitchen on Lake Austin, with cabinets in Sherwin Williams "Greek Villa" and "Iron Ore", and walls in "Neutral Ground".

Hively Landscapes http://www.hivelylandscapes.com/ Project Entry: Residence on Fairfax Category: Residential $60,000 & Over Award Level: Bronze Project Description: Our clients, Lisa and Mark, approached us to design and install an outdoor living area at their residence. Their criteria were simple: they wished to install a pool and a partially shaded entertaining area, while eliminating the blacktopped parking area behind their residence. They emphasized the importance of preserving the view of the surrounding countryside from their second story windows and deck. They wished the project to be a good value - modest in cost, and not extravagant Lisa has an appreciation for gardening and wanted to care for her landscape on her own, but has limited time. The only request of Mark was a simple cooking area with both a charcoal and a gas grill, and a preparation counter. We suggested a few additional objectives: to create a secure yet dramatic and inviting entrance to the new living area, and to introduce the client to the benefits of creative landscape lighting. A challenge on this property, as on most projects, was to manage the additional stormwater resulting from the impervious paved areas as well as an addition to the home. Wherever possible, the new paving was sloped towards planting areas or lawn areas for natural infiltration. Where necessary, the paving was gently sloped to several floor drains. These drains, along with downspouts, were plumbed to a properly sized infiltration pit. Existing grades were carefully considered and modified as necessary. Another challenge was working around existing sanitary sewer lines, and leaving existing cleanouts accessible yet disguised within the planting areas. The project was designed around an existing water well, which had been abandoned years prior when the residence was connected to public water service. We recommended reactivating the well for landscape use This source was used to supply an outdoor hydrant and a drip irrigation system, which we designed and placed throughout the plantings. While the material choices for the segmental retaining wall and paving were conservative, we used design tricks to add interest. An area rug was created in the pergola area by utilizing a man-made flagstone material with a paver border. Columns with lanterns enhance the retaining wall. The client desired to not see plastic coping or concrete around the pool. We recommended a bullnose paver pool coping. This was installed by one of our own hardscaping crews, using colored mortar. Challenging curves and corners called for precise cuts in the coping and in the paving. A special feature of the new entrance is the gate, which we designed from stock components and had built at a local shop. Dogwood castings and a plasma-cut steel wildlife scene acknowledge Lisa and Mark's love of gardening and wildlife. All other components are aluminum (with recycled content), and the finished product was powder coated for durability. The flying birds were added to the wildlife scene in the shop to satisfy zoning requirements for maximum opening size. Repetition of the block columns and lanterns completes a very secure yet inviting entrance. Aluminum picket fencing was used in visible areas and to complement the gate. The rear and sides of the property received black wire mesh on the existing split rail fence, which was economical and satisfies security needs while blending into the rural surroundings. We designed a landscape planting that would result in color throughout the seasons and create a sense of enclosure without detracting from the desirable views. A large maple was relocated to another location on the property, and a pin oak was protected and preserved. The garden areas adjacent to the pool paving received weed control fabric and gravel, which keeps maintenance low and keeps the paving clean. Lisa has had to do very little pruning, weeding, or watering, and spends most of her gardening effort in planting colorful container gardens. Our clients greatly appreciate the birds and butterflies that have been attracted to the property. During the initial installation, footers for a future shade structure were precisely installed, inspected, and paved over. A custom-manufactured PVC pergola with retractable canopies and roll-down blinds was placed the following season. We recommended and installed a variety of landscape lighting, including lanterns on the columns and on the house (installed by others), and low voltage pathway lights. Low voltage rope lighting concealed in the rafters of the pergola produces a warm glow. We are proud of achieving all of the client's goals as well as several goals that we introduced to them_ We have received many compliments, and have worked with Mark and Lisa on several additional projects.

Stacey Brandford Photography

We have gotten many questions about the stairs: They were custom designed and built in place by the builder - and are not available commercially. The entry doors were also custom made. The floors are constructed of a baked white oak surface-treated with an ebony analine dye. The stair handrails are painted black with a polyurethane top coat. Photo Credit: Sam Gray Photography

•Designed by Liz Schupanitz while at Casa Verde Design. •2011 NKBA Awards: 1st Place Medium Kitchens •2011 NKBA Awards: MSP magazine Editor's Choice Award for Best Kitchen •2011 NKBA Awards: NKBA Student's Choice Award for Best Kitchen Photography by Andrea Rugg

Alan Skipper

An all white kitchen is simple, but the homeowner added elements of color with a bright colored rug. The orange, purple, and red rug adds element of color to liven the simple space. Studio Q Photography

White stone benchtops with modern bay window looks out over park. Banquette seating and bookshelves.

Outdoor Essentials Evanston White Vinyl Picket Fence Installation by DREAMscape Outdoors Hanover, PA. We do fencing right, by taking our time to ensure it's installed properly, with level posts, proper amount of concrete footers, remove all access soil, & seed when complete. That other contractors in our area do not do this and they rush and half it to get it done, and on to the next because they aren't charging properly just so they can be the low price to get the job... FOLLOW US on Instagram & Facebook for more inspirational Landscapes & Hardscapes, Decks & Fencing. Watch us & Subscribe on YouTube. Watch the project here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D6kDGongdE

Olivier Koning Photography

White privacy fence +gate designed and built by Atlanta Decking & Fence. Photography by JS Photo FX.