Call us at 805-770-7400 or email us at info@dlglighting.com. We ship nationwide. Photo credit: Jim Bartsch

http://www.pickellbuilders.com. Cynthia Lynn photography. Stone and Stucco Old World Style House with Brick Accents, limestone front door surround, glazed clay chimney pots and crushed bluestone driveway.

Photography: Aaron Usher III www.aaronusher.com/

Contemporary metal railings on front steps and balcony made by Capozzoli stairworks.For more info please visit our website www.thecapo.us or contact us at 609-635-1265.

Renovated bungalow to fresh modern house. New cedar shakes painted a dark gray which sets off the white painted trim. New front porch columns, decking with new windows and new rear family room addition. Photo credit: Tracey Kurtz

Mike Kamenoff

Detailed Craftsman Front View. Often referred to as a "bungalow" style home, this type of design and layout typically make use of every square foot of usable space. Another benefit to this style home is it lends itself nicely to long, narrow lots and small building footprints. Stunning curb appeal, detaling and a friendly, inviting look are true Craftsman characteristics. Makes you just want to knock on the door to see what's inside! Steven Begleiter/ stevenbegleiterphotography.com

Craig Kronenberg used simple materials and forms to create this family compound. The use of stained siding, a stone base and a standing seam metal roof make this a low maintenance home. The house is located to focus all rooms on the river view. Photographs by Harlan Hambright.

Master suite includes a second story screened porch with adjacent terrace that overlooks the pool.

A classic combination of navy blue and warm white trim maximizes the curb appeal of this two-story charmer. Sunny yellow on the front door and porch swing enhances its personality.

Traditional Cape Cod "Half house" entry at twilight. Photo by Scott Gibson, courtesy Fine Homebuilding magazine The renovation and expansion of this traditional half Cape cottage into a bright and spacious four bedroom vacation house was featured in Fine Homebuilding magazine and in the books Additions and Updating Classic America: Capes from Taunton Press.

Firmness . . . Santa Cruz’s historically eclectic Pleasure Point neighborhood has been evolving in its own quirky way for almost a century, and many of its inhabitants seem to have been around just as long. They cling to the relaxed and funky seaside character of their beach community with an almost indignant provinciality. For both client and architect, neighborhood context became the singular focus of the design; to become the “poster child” for compatibility and sustainability. Dozens of photos were taken of the surrounding area as inspiration, with the goal of honoring the idiosyncratic, fine-grained character and informal scale of a neighborhood built over time. A low, horizontal weathered ipe fence at the street keeps out surfer vans and neighborhood dogs, and a simple gate beckons visitors to stroll down the boardwalk which gently angles toward the front door. A rusted steel fire pit is the focus of this ground level courtyard, which is encircled by a curving cor-ten garden wall graced by a sweep of horse tail reeds and tufts of feather grass. Extensive day-lighting throughout the home is achieved with high windows placed in all directions in all major rooms, resulting in an abundance of natural light throughout. The clients report having only to turning on lights at nightfall. Notable are the numerous passive solar design elements: careful attention to overhangs and shading devices at South- and West-facing glass to control heat gain, and passive ventilation via high windows in the tower elements, all are significant contributors to the structure’s energy efficiency. Commodity . . . Beautiful views of Monterey Bay and the lively local beach scene became the main drivers in plan and section. The upper floor was intentionally set back to preserve ocean views of the neighbor to the north. The surf obsessed clients wished to be able to see the “break” from their upper floor breakfast table perch, able to take a moment’s notice advantage of some killer waves. A tiny 4,500 s.f. lot and a desire to create a ground level courtyard for entertaining dictated the small footprint. A graceful curving cor-ten and stainless steel stair descends from the upper floor living areas, connecting them to a ground level “sanctuary”. A small detached art studio/surfboard storage shack in the back yard fulfills functional requirements, and includes an outdoor shower for the post-surf hose down. Parking access off a back alley helps to preserve ground floor space, and allows in the southern sun on the view/courtyard side. A relaxed “bare foot beach house” feel is underscored by weathered oak floors, painted re-sawn wall finishes, and painted wood ceilings, which recall the cozy cabins that stood here at Breakers Beach for nearly a century. Delight . . . Commemorating the history of the property was a priority for the surfing couple. With that in mind, they created an artistic reproduction of the original sign that decorated the property for many decades as an homage to the “Cozy Cabins at Breakers Beach”, which now graces the foyer. This casual assemblage of local vernacular architecture has been informed by the consistent scale and simple materials of nearby cottages, shacks, and bungalows. These influences were distilled down to a palette of board and batt, clapboard, and cedar shiplap, and synthesized with bolder forms that evoke images of nearby Capitola Wharf, beach lifeguard towers, and the client’s “surf shack” program requirements. The landscape design takes its cues from boardwalks, rusted steel fire rings, and native grasses, all of which firmly tie the building to its local beach community. The locals have embraced it as one of their own. Architect - Noel Cross Architect Landscape Architect - Christopher Yates Interior Designer - Gina Viscusi-Elson Lighting Designer - Vita Pehar Design Contractor - The Conrado Company

Images by LifeSeven Photography

A south facing extension has been built to convert a derelict Grade II listed barn into a sustainable, contemporary and comfortable home that invites natural light into the living spaces with glass extension to barn. Glovers Barn was a derelict 15th Century Grade II listed barn on the ‘Historic Buildings at Risk’ register in need of a complete barn renovation to transform it from a dark, constrained dwelling to an open, inviting and functional abode. Stamos Yeoh Architects thoughtfully designed a rear south west glass extension to barn with 20mm minimal sightline slim framed sliding glass doors to maximise the natural light ingress into the home. The flush thresholds enable easy access between the kitchen and external living spaces connecting to the mature gardens.

The owners requested a Private Resort that catered to their love for entertaining friends and family, a place where 2 people would feel just as comfortable as 42. Located on the western edge of a Wisconsin lake, the site provides a range of natural ecosystems from forest to prairie to water, allowing the building to have a more complex relationship with the lake - not merely creating large unencumbered views in that direction. The gently sloping site to the lake is atypical in many ways to most lakeside lots - as its main trajectory is not directly to the lake views - allowing for focus to be pushed in other directions such as a courtyard and into a nearby forest. The biggest challenge was accommodating the large scale gathering spaces, while not overwhelming the natural setting with a single massive structure. Our solution was found in breaking down the scale of the project into digestible pieces and organizing them in a Camp-like collection of elements: - Main Lodge: Providing the proper entry to the Camp and a Mess Hall - Bunk House: A communal sleeping area and social space. - Party Barn: An entertainment facility that opens directly on to a swimming pool & outdoor room. - Guest Cottages: A series of smaller guest quarters. - Private Quarters: The owners private space that directly links to the Main Lodge. These elements are joined by a series green roof connectors, that merge with the landscape and allow the out buildings to retain their own identity. This Camp feel was further magnified through the materiality - specifically the use of Doug Fir, creating a modern Northwoods setting that is warm and inviting. The use of local limestone and poured concrete walls ground the buildings to the sloping site and serve as a cradle for the wood volumes that rest gently on them. The connections between these materials provided an opportunity to add a delicate reading to the spaces and re-enforce the camp aesthetic. The oscillation between large communal spaces and private, intimate zones is explored on the interior and in the outdoor rooms. From the large courtyard to the private balcony - accommodating a variety of opportunities to engage the landscape was at the heart of the concept. Overview Chenequa, WI Size Total Finished Area: 9,543 sf Completion Date May 2013 Services Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design

Stephen Allen Photography