Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2013 Houzz Read the Houzz article about this tree house: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/8884948/list/The-Most-Incredible-Kids--Tree-House-You-ll-Ever-See-

My version of a Barn Farm house.
This is an example of an eclectic exterior in Seattle.

This homeowner has long since moved away from his family farm but still visits often and thought it was time to fix up this little house that had been neglected for years. He brought home ideas and objects he was drawn to from travels around the world and allowed a team of us to help bring them together in this old family home that housed many generations through the years. What it grew into is not your typical 150 year old NC farm house but the essence is still there and shines through in the original wood and beams in the ceiling and on some of the walls, old flooring, re-purposed objects from the farm and the collection of cherished finds from his travels. Photos by Tad Davis Photography

5000 square foot custom home with pool house and basement in Saratoga, CA (San Francisco Bay Area). The exterior is in a modern farmhouse style with bat on board siding and standing seam metal roof. Luxury features include Marvin Windows, copper gutters throughout, natural stone columns and wainscot, and a sweeping paver driveway. The interiors are more traditional.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.

Brett Boardman
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey black exterior in Sydney.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.

Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a country living room in New York.

The client’s brief was to create a space reminiscent of their beloved downtown Chicago industrial loft, in a rural farm setting, while incorporating their unique collection of vintage and architectural salvage. The result is a custom designed space that blends life on the farm with an industrial sensibility. The new house is located on approximately the same footprint as the original farm house on the property. Barely visible from the road due to the protection of conifer trees and a long driveway, the house sits on the edge of a field with views of the neighbouring 60 acre farm and creek that runs along the length of the property. The main level open living space is conceived as a transparent social hub for viewing the landscape. Large sliding glass doors create strong visual connections with an adjacent barn on one end and a mature black walnut tree on the other. The house is situated to optimize views, while at the same time protecting occupants from blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds. The wall to wall sliding doors on the south side of the main living space provide expansive views to the creek, and allow for breezes to flow throughout. The wrap around aluminum louvered sun shade tempers the sun. The subdued exterior material palette is defined by horizontal wood siding, standing seam metal roofing and large format polished concrete blocks. The interiors were driven by the owners’ desire to have a home that would properly feature their unique vintage collection, and yet have a modern open layout. Polished concrete floors and steel beams on the main level set the industrial tone and are paired with a stainless steel island counter top, backsplash and industrial range hood in the kitchen. An old drinking fountain is built-in to the mudroom millwork, carefully restored bi-parting doors frame the library entrance, and a vibrant antique stained glass panel is set into the foyer wall allowing diffused coloured light to spill into the hallway. Upstairs, refurbished claw foot tubs are situated to view the landscape. The double height library with mezzanine serves as a prominent feature and quiet retreat for the residents. The white oak millwork exquisitely displays the homeowners’ vast collection of books and manuscripts. The material palette is complemented by steel counter tops, stainless steel ladder hardware and matte black metal mezzanine guards. The stairs carry the same language, with white oak open risers and stainless steel woven wire mesh panels set into a matte black steel frame. The overall effect is a truly sublime blend of an industrial modern aesthetic punctuated by personal elements of the owners’ storied life. Photography: James Brittain

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this ​two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Set on ten acres abutting protected conservation land, the zoning for this site allowed for a creative multi-unit residential project. The design concept created a sustainable modern farm community of three distinct structures. A sense of individuality is established between the buildings, while a comprehensive site design references historic farms with a home-like, residential scale. An existing structure was renovated to house three condo units, featuring sliding barn doors and floor-to-ceiling storefront glass in the great room, with 25’ ceilings. Across a circular cobblestone drive, a new house and barn structure houses two condo units. Connecting both units, a garage references a carriage house and barn with small square windows above and large bays at ground level to mimic barn bays. There is no parking lot for the site – instead garages and a few individual parking spaces preserve the scale of a natural farm property. Patios and yards in the rear of each unit offer private access to the lush natural surroundings and space for entertaining.

2016 MBIA Gold Award Winner: From whence an old one-story house once stood now stands this 5,000+ SF marvel that Finecraft built in the heart of Bethesda, MD. Thomson & Cooke Architects Susie Soleimani Photography

Photo Credit: Kimberley Bryan © 2013 Houzz http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9193817/list/My-Houzz--History-Resonates-in-a-New-Washington-Farmhouse

Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. http://www.stoneybanknurseries.com/ Project Entry: Restoration of Rose Valley Farm 2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $60,000 & Over Award Level: Gold Project Description: Rose Valley Farm is an irreplaceable part of local identity and pride as much as it is a testament to the development of distinctive American design and craftsmanship. Our challenge was to restore this historic landscape to former glory while seamlessly blending desired amenities. This landscape architecture restoration project has preserved the work of our predecessors by creating a living document and preserving arguably the finest example of the arts and crafts movement in America. In 1901 Quaker architect William Lightfoot Price founded the Rose Valley Association to save and encourage the continuation of craftsmanship in response to the Industrial Revolution. In support of Price's experiment, Mr. and Mrs. Charles T Schoen purchased the estate and commissioned Price to transform the existing cottage into an elegant villa. After Schoen's death, Maurice and Adele Saul purchased the property. The property and villa was retained in a family trust after Saul's death in 1974. In 2005, a developer purchased the estate and the twenty-six acres of land that remained attached to the estate with the intent of creating a housing community. The Borough of Rose Valley rarely allows housing developments within its boundaries. The borough agreed to allow the developer to construct a higher density townhouse community with the condition that half of the property remained as open space and notable trees and buildings would be protected and preserved. Our company was brought in by the new estate owners with the intent to repurpose the historical artifacts found throughout the site and to restore the gardens to their previous state of glory. The developer gave the estate owner permission to remove any salvageable stone and plantings that would be lost in during construction. In addition to the many salvaged shrubs and trees, over 20 mature trees from our nursery were hand selected and transplanted onto the estate. The result is a landscape that responds to the age of the house while providing critical screening from the surrounding development. Trees shading the formal gardens and untamed undergrowth swarming garden bed remnants were proof that the gardens had not received any maintenance for at least ten years_ Garden beds were purged and then reinstated by adding new boxwood varieties that are more resistant to the diseases that were crippling existing boxwoods. Transplanted peonies and irises now burst into bloom around the repaired central garden fountain in springtime followed by an array of lilies and lavender in the summer. A spectrum of over 120 different plant species was selected for the estate in order to provide year round interest. Amsonia's lavender blue flowers steal the show early in the spring and its leaves celebrate autumn by turning a brilliant yellow. Different daylily species were chosen with staggered bloom times to enlighten the gardens with their colorful manner. Japanese Stewartia was selected to enhance the diversity and compliment other mature trees as it decorates the landscape throughout the season with flowers, foliage, and intricate bark patterns. The remnant stone foundations of the original pump house were not feasible to restore but held the old grindstone from the mill on the property. The mill grindstone was relocated by crane and incorporated into a new water feature in the formal gardens. The foundations of the pump house were transformed into a ruin garden with multiple water features and lush plantings. Large Haste leaves create a backdrop for the finely detailed leaves of ferns growing from cracks in the stone walls. Eroding slopes near the studio guest house threatened its longevity and needed to be stabilized. More than 400 tons of large boulders were brought in to stabilize the steep bank near the studio building. A crane was used to lift the boulders as each stone was individually placed into the bank. Gro-low Fragrant Sumac and Cutleaf Stephanandra were especially useful in retaining soil on the steep bank while providing wonderful interest throughout the seasons. Any visiting guest will feel at home with their own private gather spaces connected to the studio. Views of the landscape are enjoyed off the back grilling patio of the studio guest house. Native Switchgrass and Northern Sea Oats are planted in the nearby embankment. They rustle in the wind all summer long and come fall highlight the landscape with seed heads. Pink Muhly Grass contrasts against the yellow leaves of Yucca filamentosa 'Golden Sword' as they mark the staircase that descends the hill to the observation terrace. The seamless blend of old and new features on the site was possible through the dedication of the new owners, designers, arid laborers working to preserve, restore, and enhance the works of outstanding craftsmen created a century ago. The result is a residence in which the sole purpose of its existence is to display and preserve one of the finest arts and crafts estates in the country. This landscape architecture historical restoration project has actualized the grace of a mature landscape in a modern era. Photo Credit: Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.

The Port Ludlow Residence is a compact, 2400 SF modern house located on a wooded waterfront property at the north end of the Hood Canal, a long, fjord-like arm of western Puget Sound. The house creates a simple glazed living space that opens up to become a front porch to the beautiful Hood Canal. The east-facing house is sited along a high bank, with a wonderful view of the water. The main living volume is completely glazed, with 12-ft. high glass walls facing the view and large, 8-ft.x8-ft. sliding glass doors that open to a slightly raised wood deck, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space. During the warm summer months, the living area feels like a large, open porch. Anchoring the north end of the living space is a two-story building volume containing several bedrooms and separate his/her office spaces. The interior finishes are simple and elegant, with IPE wood flooring, zebrawood cabinet doors with mahogany end panels, quartz and limestone countertops, and Douglas Fir trim and doors. Exterior materials are completely maintenance-free: metal siding and aluminum windows and doors. The metal siding has an alternating pattern using two different siding profiles. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and rain protection; metal siding (recycled steel) for maximum durability, and a heat pump mechanical system for maximum energy efficiency. Sustainable interior finish materials include wood cabinets, linoleum floors, low-VOC paints, and natural wool carpet.

Brett Boardman
Inspiration for a contemporary hallway in Sydney with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.

Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.