South Street/Entry Exterior. Laser cut screens and timber cladding with concealed garage tilt-a-door.
Contemporary three-storey exterior in Gold Coast - Tweed with concrete fiberboard siding.

The screened-in porch on this mid-century beach house was updated while remaining in sync with the rest of the neighborhood. Raising the ceiling gave the space a more open feeling and made room for ceiling fans with light boxes to illuminate balmy summer evenings. Beadboard panels on the outside walls and ceiling added a vertical rhythm while maintaining the mid-century ambiance.

The extension to this 1890’s single-fronted, weatherboard cottage in Hawthorne, Melbourne is an exercise in clever, compact planning that seamlessly weaves together traditional and contemporary architecture. The extension preserves the scale, materiality and character of the traditional Victorian frontage whilst introducing an elegant two-storey extension to the rear. A delicate screen of vertical timbers tempers light, view and privacy to create the characteristic ‘veil’ that encloses the upper level bedroom suite. The rhythmic timber screen becomes a unifying design element that extends into the interior in the form of a staircase balustrade. The balustrade screen visually animates an otherwise muted interior sensitively set within the historic shell. Light wells distributed across the roof plan sun-wash walls and flood the open planned interior with natural light. Double height spaces, established above the staircase and dining room table, create volumetric interest. Improved visual connections to the back garden evoke a sense of spatial generosity that far exceeds the modest dimensions of the home’s interior footprint. Jessie & Jones

This beautiful 3 season screened porch features a rustic dry stack stone fireplace and 270 degree views or the surrounding forest. This timber frame structure by Renaissance Builders will be enjoyed for generations to come. Harlin Photography

This industrial inspired kitchen combines a timber island with recycled timber benchtop frame which has been set against a white sleek background. The island is in the middle of an open plan room yet it becomes part of the furniture with the use of timber. The white background with integrated fridge also disappears ensuring this space feels more like the rest of the house than the kitchen. The island houses concealed drawers and cupboards on one side and 2 ovens, a dishwasher, sink, microwave and storage on the other. Photography by Sue Murray - imagineit.net.au

This cozy screened-in porch features a stone fireplace and rustic furniture that make it enjoyable year-round. Photo Credit: Roger Wade Studios
Inspiration for a country side yard verandah in Other with a roof extension.

Courtyard style garden with exposed concrete and timber cabana. The swimming pool is tiled with a white sandstone, This courtyard garden design shows off a great mixture of materials and plant species. Courtyard gardens are one of our specialties. This Garden was designed by Michael Cooke Garden Design. Effective courtyard garden is about keeping the design of the courtyard simple. Small courtyard gardens such as this coastal garden in Clovelly are about keeping the design simple. The swimming pool is tiled internally with a really dark mosaic tile which contrasts nicely with the sandstone coping around the pool. The cabana is a cool mixture of free form concrete, Spotted Gum vertical slats and a lined ceiling roof. The flooring is also Spotted Gum to tie in with the slats. Photos by Natalie Hunfalvay

The open dining room is lit by a rustic iron chandelier that hangs down from the timber ridge above. Photos: Copyright Heidi Long, Longview Studios, Inc.

Retractable Screens, also known as Roll-up Screens and Vertical Rolling Screens are completely customized to meet the needs of the space. Easy to see through and completely retractable, exterior Retractable Screens create a cool, comfortable, insect-free environment without sacrificing your view. Designed to provide superior solar protection, they mitigate UV damage, optimize comfort and provide daytime privacy even in windy settings. Extra sun control can be achieved by increasing thread counts and weave density. Retractable Solar Shades provide energy-efficient sun shading, shelter against bugs and mosquitoes, climate control and rain/wind reduction while allowing outward visibility. Depending on screen fabric selection, our solar shade fabric selections are capable of blocking up to 95% of ultra-violet (UV) rays–saving up to 50% of the energy used to heat and cool homes. Motorize Retractable Screens provide control at the touch of a button. Somfy Motors allow activation by wall mounted toggle switch or several different types of remote control options. These Retractable Screens will stop at upper and lower limits and are able to stop any where along the travel path on command. Optional Manual Override features allow for operation in case of power outage for motorized units. Manual Operations are available on most models. Motorized Retractable Screens equipped with Somfy RTS motors may be upgraded for use in Smart Homes and operated via Smartphone or other Mobile Devices. Retractable Screens should be retracted when not in use. The screens are raised and housed inside the aluminum housing. All major components of the system are powder coated aluminum for durability, ease of operations, and longevity. All Retractable Screens from Shade & Shutter Systems come with a 5 year Warranty, to include the Somfy Motor. Retractable Screens offer wind and rain abatement for breezy days. Many of our clients enjoy outdoor patio settings along coastal areas and beach front properties. Those areas also endure regular breezes that can be knocked down with retractable Screens for a more enjoyable experience. Although these screens are not designed for storm protection, winds to 40 mph are easily abated. If you would like more information about Retractable Screens, our Product Specialists can be reached at 800-522-1599.

This home was completely renovated, including an addition. It was transformed from a Colonial style to Greek Revival, which was more fitting for the neighborhood. The screened porch was added as a part of the renovation, with Greek Revival style pillars separating the screens, and durable ipe decking for a floor.

This screened porch was created as a sanctuary, a place to retreat and be enveloped by nature in a calm, 
relaxing environment. The monochromatic scheme helps to achieve this quiet mood while the pop 
of color comes solely from the surrounding trees. The hits of black help to move your eye around the room and provide a sophisticated feel. Three distinct zones were created to eat, converse 
and lounge with the help of area rugs, custom lighting and unique furniture. Cathy Zaeske

Hal Kearney, Photographer
This is an example of an eclectic verandah in Other.

This Gold Coast renovation of a riverfront timber framed residence involved the removal of a few decades of refurbishments. Existing 1970s features were discovered and refurbished while a layer of new finishes and cabinet work were added. The pool mosaic and diving board was retained in the pool refurbishment.

Texas Timber Frames
This is an example of a country open plan dining in Denver.

Cedar timber frame screen porch in the forest
Inspiration for a small country backyard screened-in verandah in Ottawa with a roof extension and decking.

Ann - Louise Buck
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard deck in Sydney with a pergola.

Design by Vibe Design Group Photography by Robert Hamer
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brown exterior in Melbourne with wood siding and a flat roof.

Built with Zen in mind,this tea room was designed and built using traditional Japanese joinery and materials. Some of the Japanese elements include: bamboo ceiling panels, Yukimi shoji screens (screens with a vertical viewing panel) anda traditional Japanese straw plaster (called Wara Juraku) which gave the walls a unique texture. Millwork engineered & manufactured by Berkeley Mills

The Eagle Harbor Cabin is located on a wooded waterfront property on Lake Superior, at the northerly edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about 300 miles northeast of Minneapolis. The wooded 3-acre site features the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, a lake that sometimes behaves like the ocean. The 2,000 SF cabin cantilevers out toward the water, with a 40-ft. long glass wall facing the spectacular beauty of the lake. The cabin is composed of two simple volumes: a large open living/dining/kitchen space with an open timber ceiling structure and a 2-story “bedroom tower,” with the kids’ bedroom on the ground floor and the parents’ bedroom stacked above. The interior spaces are wood paneled, with exposed framing in the ceiling. The cabinets use PLYBOO, a FSC-certified bamboo product, with mahogany end panels. The use of mahogany is repeated in the custom mahogany/steel curvilinear dining table and in the custom mahogany coffee table. The cabin has a simple, elemental quality that is enhanced by custom touches such as the curvilinear maple entry screen and the custom furniture pieces. The cabin utilizes native Michigan hardwoods such as maple and birch. The exterior of the cabin is clad in corrugated metal siding, offset by the tall fireplace mass of Montana ledgestone at the east end. 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 snow protection; and metal siding for maximum durability. Sustainable interior finish materials include bamboo/plywood cabinets, linoleum floors, locally-grown maple flooring and birch paneling, and low-VOC paints.