дачный дом из рубленого бревна с камышовой крышей
Inspiration for a large country two-storey beige house exterior in Other with wood siding and a green roof.

Photography by Richard Chivers https://www.rchivers.co.uk/ Island Cottage is an existing dwelling constructed in 1830, in a conservation area at the southern limit of Sidlesham Quay village, West Sussex. The property was highlighted by the local authority as a key example of rural vernacular character for homes in the area, but is also sited in a major flood risk area. Such a precarious context therefore demanded a considered approach, however the original building had been extended over many years mostly with insensitive and cumbersome extensions and additions. Our clients purchased Island Cottage in 2015. They had a strong sense of belonging to the area, as both had childhood memories of visiting Pagham Harbour and were greatly drawn to live on the South Coast after many years working and living in London. We were keen to help them discover and create a home in which to dwell for many years to come. Our brief was to restore the cottage and reconcile it’s history of unsuitable extensions to the landscape of the nature reserve of Sidlesham and the bay of Pagham beyond. The original house could not be experienced amongst the labyrinthine rooms and corridors and it’s identity was lost to recent additions and refurbishments. Our first move was to establish the lines of the original cottage and draw a single route through the house. This is experienced as a simple door from the library at the formal end of the house, leading from north to south straight towards the rear garden on both floors. By reinstating the library and guest bedroom/bathroom spaces above we were able to distinguish the original cottage from the later additions. We were then challenged by the new owners to provide a calm and protective series of spaces that make links to the landscape of the coast. Internally the cottage takes the natural materials of the surrounding coastline, such as flint and timber, and uses these to dress walls and floors. Our proposals included making sense of the downstairs spaces by allowing a flowing movement between the rooms. Views through and across the house are opened up so to help navigate the maze like spaces. Each room is open on many sides whilst limiting the number of corridor spaces, and the use of split levels help to mark one space to the next. The first floor hosts three bedrooms, each of unique style and outlook. The main living space features a corner window, referencing an open book set into the wall at the height of a desk. Log burners, sliding doors, and uncovered historic materials are part of the main reception rooms. The roof is accessible with a steep stair and allows for informal gathering on a grass terrace which gains views far beyond the immediate gardens and neighbouring nature reserve. The external facades have been uplifted with larch cladding, new timber windows, and a series of timber loggias set into the gardens. Our landscaping strategy alleviates flood risk by providing a bung to the garden edge, whilst encouraging native species planting to take over the new timber structure that is directly connected to the house. This approach will help to plant the house in its surroundings, which is vital given the local connection to the Sidlesham Nature Reserve. Throughout the project the client sourced much of the interior finishes and fixtures directly from salvage yards and online second hand boutiques. The house is decorated with reclaimed materials referencing the worn and weary effect of time spent on the beach or at the sea side. Now complete, the house genuinely feels reconciled to its place, a haven for our clients, and an exemplary project for our future clients who wish to link their childhoods with their future homes.

Richard Chivers
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A steeply sloping property in the Franklin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles is the site for this 200 square foot writer’s studio, labeled the “Black Box” for its minimal geometry and dark stained cladding. Floating above an existing residence and capturing a panoramic view of Griffith Park and its famed Observatory, the Black Box serves as the office for a technology author and columnist. Entry to the structure is obtained by ascending the hillside stairs and passing below the tree canopy enveloping the studio. A custom fabricated steel fenestration system opens to the entry platform though a pair of telescoping doors. The assembly turns the corner and terminates in a picture window, directing the occupant to the expansive views. The position of the studio and the arrival sequence creates the desired separation between home life and work life. Brian Thomas Jones

Trent Bell
Photo of a small country one-storey brown house exterior in Portland Maine with wood siding, a shed roof and a green roof.

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Photographer: Matthew Hutchison
Small arts and crafts one-storey beige exterior in Chicago with wood siding, a gable roof and a green roof.

We renovated the exterior and the 4-car garage of this colonial, New England-style estate in Haverford, PA. The 3-story main house has white, western red cedar siding and a green roof. The detached, 4-car garage also functions as a gentleman’s workshop. Originally, that building was two separate structures. The challenge was to create one building with a cohesive look that fit with the main house’s New England style. Challenge accepted! We started by building a breezeway to connect the two structures. The new building’s exterior mimics that of the main house’s siding, stone and roof, and has copper downspouts and gutters. The stone exterior has a German shmear finish to make the stone look as old as the stone on the house. The workshop portion features mahogany, carriage style doors. The workshop floors are reclaimed Belgian block brick. RUDLOFF Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016 and 2017. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017 and 2018, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: JMB Photoworks

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