The front loggia is bathed in the emerging sunlight of an spring Arizona morning; a mix of existing and new date palm trees, Saguaros, Indian Fig, and other cacti grace the entry courtyard in front of the main house. The renovated four-car garage is seen in the background, with Camelback Mountain in the distance. Design Architect: Gene Kniaz, Spiral Architect; General Contractor: Eric Linthicum, Linthicum Custom Builders Photo: Maureen Ryan Photography

Aerial view of the front facade of the house and landscape. Robert Benson Photography

Landmark Photography

Shaun Ring

Architect: Kilbane Architecture. Builder: Detar Construction Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/sedona/

This kitchen has it all! Under-cabinet lighting, floating shelves, a huge 10'x5' island, professional grade appliances, and tons of storage make dinner time easy!

Built by Sanford Custom Builders and custom designed by Jan Gleysteen Architects, this classical shingle and stone home offers finely crafted architectural details throughout. The home is situated on a gentle knoll and is approached by a circular receiving court. Amenities include 5 en-suite bedrooms including a master bedroom with adjoining luxurious spa bath, walk up office suite with additional bath, media/movie theater room, step-down mahogany family room, first floor office with wood paneling and barrel vaulted ceilings. On the lower level there is a gym, wet bar and billiard room.

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Custom double glazed panels with 6mm tempered Solarban 80 high performance Low E the roof 4mm high performance Solarban 60 Low E for sidewalls R Value is approximately 3.03

Beds brimming with salvia, lavender and other drought tolerant plants surround this garden space and greenhouse. The landing is made from basalt stone and leads to stairs to the lower level. photo: Urban Habitats Landscape Studio

A library ladder is a charming, unexpected addition to a kitchen, but totally functional for accessing storage.

At Archadeck of Nova Scotia we love any size project big or small. But, that being said, we have a soft spot for the projects that let us show off our talents! This Halifax house was no exception. The owners wanted a space to suit their outdoor lifestyle with materials to last far into the future. The choices were quite simple: stone veneer, Timbertech composite decking and glass railing. What better way to create that stability than with a solid foundation, concrete columns and decorative stone veneer? The posts were all wrapped with stone and match the retaining wall which was installed to help with soil retention and give the backyard more definition (it’s not too hard on the eyes either). A set of well-lit steps will guide you up the multi-level deck. The built-in planters soften the hardness of the Timbertech composite deck and provide a little visual relief. The two-tone aesthetic of the deck and railing are a stunning feature which plays up contrasting tones. From there it’s a game of musical chairs; we recommend the big round one on a September evening with a glass of wine and cozy blanket. We haven’t gotten there quite yet, but this property has an amazing view (you will see soon enough!). As to not spoil the view, we installed TImbertech composite railing with glass panels. This allows you to take in the surrounding sights while relaxing and not have those pesky balusters in the way. In any Canadian backyard, there is always the dilemma of dealing with mosquitoes and black flies! Our solution to this itchy problem is to incorporate a screen room as part of your design. This screen room in particular has space for dining and lounging around a fireplace, perfect for the colder evenings! Ahhh…there’s the view! From the top level of the deck you can really get an appreciation for Nova Scotia. Life looks pretty good from the top of a multi-level deck. Once again, we installed a composite and glass railing on the new composite deck to capture the scenery. What puts the cherry on top of this project is the balcony! One of the greatest benefits of composite decking and railing is that it can be curved to create beautiful soft edges. Imagine sipping your morning coffee and watching the sunrise over the water. If you want to know more about composite decking, railing or anything else you’ve seen that sparks your interest; give us a call! We’d love to hear from you.