A tea pot, being a vessel, is defined by the space it contains, it is not the tea pot that is important, but the space. Crispin Sartwell Located on a lake outside of Milwaukee, the Vessel House is the culmination of an intense 5 year collaboration with our client and multiple local craftsmen focused on the creation of a modern analogue to the Usonian Home. As with most residential work, this home is a direct reflection of it’s owner, a highly educated art collector with a passion for music, fine furniture, and architecture. His interest in authenticity drove the material selections such as masonry, copper, and white oak, as well as the need for traditional methods of construction. The initial diagram of the house involved a collection of embedded walls that emerge from the site and create spaces between them, which are covered with a series of floating rooves. The windows provide natural light on three sides of the house as a band of clerestories, transforming to a floor to ceiling ribbon of glass on the lakeside. The Vessel House functions as a gallery for the owner’s art, motorcycles, Tiffany lamps, and vintage musical instruments – offering spaces to exhibit, store, and listen. These gallery nodes overlap with the typical house program of kitchen, dining, living, and bedroom, creating dynamic zones of transition and rooms that serve dual purposes allowing guests to relax in a museum setting. Through it’s materiality, connection to nature, and open planning, the Vessel House continues many of the Usonian principles Wright advocated for. Overview Oconomowoc, WI Completion Date August 2015 Services Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture

It isn’t uncommon for our customers who have big projects to use the same manufacturers products throughout their entire home. For this customer, who also had our team build an orangery for them with Origin products fitted throughout the build, wanted our team to keep up with the good work and continue to fit the same range across the rest of their home. As a part of the job, our team were asked to not only fit Origin windows throughout the rest of the property, but to also build 2 porches with one at the front of the home and the other at the side of the home, both of which would be fitted with Origin products. For the windows for the house, the customer decided to have the Origin OW80 windows fitted across their home to match the style of their orangery, and for the porches a Origin SE04 panel was used the front door, with the side porch having a Origin single door with the upper half of the door glazed and the lower half have a panel complete with cat flap fitted into it. As you can see from the images, the Origin products fitted provide a brilliant final touch to this build and a consistent look throughout the entire property. In this picture you can see the side of the customers house from the end of the customers drive.

The proposed infill extension successfully created a new large and open kitchen / dining / living space with a new WC and utility room where there is less natural light. By reinstating the original wall between the front reception room and previous dining space, the proportions of the living space to the rear are more commensurate to family living and create a cosy internal environment. The new extension utilises large Crittall style glazing for the new doors and windows, as well as 2 large new sky lights which draw light deep into the plan. Importantly for this project, we also designed the lighting scheme for our client to maximise the comfort of the internal spaces, which in balance with the bright finishes, contrasting black fixtures and minimalist furniture creates a harmonious, cosy and crisp interior.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Residential exterior painting is a labor-intensive, detailed, and time-consuming project that demands the rich experience of a professional house painter. Whether you intend to put your house for sale, improve its curb appeal, or host many parties, new exterior paint can allow you to fall in love with your home all over again. Isn’t a DIY painting project more cost-effective? While the initial cost may be cheaper, when you cut corners and overlook imperfections, you may end up spending more than intended to correct the errors. Instead, hiring an exterior house painting team will ensure that your project is ideally, efficiently, and professionally completed. Let's explore the benefits of hiring a professional house painter in Miami, Florida

Beautiful modern entry-way with a large driveway winding down and large front-facing windows.

Cedar Renditions Aluminum siding in Cedar Bark.

Little Birches rear exterior

Alpine, funk, gezellig - these words drove the design direction of this modern ski chalet. To emphasize the high ceilings and huge windows, a simple color palette of a custom black, white and whitewashed wood were incorporated, along with calculated hits of color and pattern. A reverse floor plan, with the kitchen and living room on the third floor, highlight the importance of the two spaces where the family spends most of their time together. Here, windows surround the space on all four sides providing ample natural light. A large, stoic fireplace is balanced with a not so basic Ikea sectional covered in a playful, funky, custom designed fabric based off of a 16th century Dutch painting. Function and durability reign supreme in the entrance and bedrooms, where rubber flooring was used for use with wet snow gear and bunks were installed for ultimate sleepover and mountain vibes. Through layered textures, a high contrast palette and unconventional design elements, this ski chalet is anything but ordinary. Interior Design: Casework General Contractor: Ethan Beck Homes Architect: Keystone Architecture Photography: Mikola Accuardi Press: Dwell, Sunset, Schoolhouse Best 9, Schoolhouse, Contemportist, Uncrate On the Blog: Custom Floral Fabric, Big Dreams of a Small Chalet

Exterior auto court and entry stairs. Builder - Build Inc, Interior Design - Tate Studio Architects, Landscape - Desert Foothills Landscape, Photography - Thompson Photographic.

Mid-century modern custom beach home

Exterior - Front Entry Beach House at Avoca Beach by Architecture Saville Isaacs Project Summary Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The interpretation of experiencing life at the beach in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off a circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. The interiors reinforce architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun.   Project Description Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ The core idea of people living and engaging with place is an underlying principle of our practice, given expression in the manner in which this home engages with the exterior, not in a general expansive nod to view, but in a varied and intimate manner. The house is designed to maximise the spectacular Avoca beachfront location with a variety of indoor and outdoor rooms in which to experience different aspects of beachside living. Client brief: home to accommodate a small family yet expandable to accommodate multiple guest configurations, varying levels of privacy, scale and interaction. A home which responds to its environment both functionally and aesthetically, with a preference for raw, natural and robust materials. Maximise connection – visual and physical – to beach. The response was a series of operable spaces relating in succession, maintaining focus/connection, to the beach. The public spaces have been designed as series of indoor/outdoor pavilions. Courtyards treated as outdoor rooms, creating ambiguity and blurring the distinction between inside and out. A progression of pavilions and courtyards are strung off circulation spine/breezeway, from street to beach: entry/car court; grassed west courtyard (existing tree); games pavilion; sand+fire courtyard (=sheltered heart); living pavilion; operable verandah; beach. Verandah is final transition space to beach: enclosable in winter; completely open in summer. This project seeks to demonstrates that focusing on the interrelationship with the surrounding environment, the volumetric quality and light enhanced sculpted open spaces, as well as the tactile quality of the materials, there is no need to showcase expensive finishes and create aesthetic gymnastics. The design avoids fashion and instead works with the timeless elements of materiality, space, volume and light, seeking to achieve a sense of calm, peace and tranquillity. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Focus is on the tactile quality of the materials: a consistent palette of concrete, raw recycled grey ironbark, steel and natural stone. Materials selections are raw, robust, low maintenance and recyclable. Light, natural and artificial, is used to sculpt the space and accentuate textural qualities of materials. Passive climatic design strategies (orientation, winter solar penetration, screening/shading, thermal mass and cross ventilation) result in stable indoor temperatures, requiring minimal use of heating and cooling. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ Accommodation is naturally ventilated by eastern sea breezes, but sheltered from harsh afternoon winds. Both bore and rainwater are harvested for reuse. Low VOC and non-toxic materials and finishes, hydronic floor heating and ventilation ensure a healthy indoor environment. Project was the outcome of extensive collaboration with client, specialist consultants (including coastal erosion) and the builder. The interpretation of experiencing life by the sea in all its forms has been manifested in tangible spaces and places through the design of the pavilions, courtyards and outdoor rooms. The interior design has been an extension of the architectural intent, reinforcing architectural design principles and place-making, allowing every space to be utilised to its optimum capacity. There is no differentiation between architecture and interiors: Interior becomes exterior, joinery becomes space modulator, materials become textural art brought to life by the sun. Architecture Saville Isaacs https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/ https://www.architecturesavilleisaacs.com.au/

Photos: Ed Gohlich

Pippa Wilson Photography An exterior shot of the double loft extension and single storey rear extension, with slate hung tiles and roof box in this London terrace house.

Black butt weatherboards cladding combine with double glazed thermally broken aluminium windows, exposed structural steel and rendered nib wall. Flat concealed roof and FC lined soffit. Photo by Tom Ferguson