Our Houston landscaping team was recently honored to collaborate with renowned architectural firm Murphy Mears. Murphy Mears builds superb custom homes throughout the country. A recent project for a Houston resident by the name of Borow involved a custom home that featured an efficient, elegant, and eclectic modern architectural design. Ms. Borow is very environmentally conscious and asked that we follow some very strict principles of conservation when developing her landscaping design plan. In many ways you could say this Houston landscaping project was green on both an aesthetic level and a functional level. We selected affordable ground cover that spread very quickly to provide a year round green color scheme that reflected much of the contemporary artwork within the interior of the home. Environmentally speaking, our project was also green in the sense that it focused on very primitive drought resistant plant species and tree preservation strategies. The resulting yard design ultimately functioned as an aesthetic mirror to the abstract forms that the owner prefers in wall art. One of the more notable things we did in this Houston landscaping project was to build the homeowner a gravel patio near the front entrance to the home. The homeowner specifically requested that we disconnect the irrigation system that we had installed in the yard because she wanted natural irrigation and drainage only. The gravel served this wish superbly. Being a natural drain in its own respect, it provided a permeable surface that allowed rainwater to soak through without collecting on the surface. More importantly, the gravel was the only material that could be laid down near the roots of the magnificent trees in Ms. Borow’s yard. Any type of stone, concrete, or brick that is used in more typical Houston landscaping plans would have been out of the question. A patio made from these materials would have either required cutting into tree roots, or it would have impeded their future growth. The specific species chosen for ground cover also bear noting. The two primary plants used were jasmine and iris. Monkey grass was also used to a small extent as a border around the edge of the house. Irises were planted in front of the house, and the jasmine was planted beneath the trees. Both are very fast growing, drought resistant species that require very little watering. However, they do require routine pruning, which Ms. Borow said she had no problem investing in. Such lawn alternatives are frequently used in Houston landscaping projects that for one reason or the other require something other than a standard planting of carpet grass. In this case, the motivation had nothing to do with finances, but rather a conscientious effort on Ms. Borow’s part to practice water conservation and tree preservation. Other hardscapes were then introduced into this green design to better support the home architecture. A stepping stone walkway was built using plain concrete pads that are very simple and modern in their aesthetic. These lead up to the front stair case with four inch steps that Murphy Mears designed for maximum ergonomics and comfort. There were a few softscape elements that we added to complete the Houston landscaping design. A planting of River Birch trees was introduced near the side of the home. River Birch trees are very attractive, light green trees that do not grow that tall. This eliminates any possible conflict between the tree roots and the home foundation. Murphy Mears also built a very elegant fence that transitioned the geometry of the house down to the city sidewalk. The fence sharply parallels the linear movement of the house. We introduced some climbing vines to help soften the fence and to harmonize its aesthetic with that of the trees, ground cover, and grass along the sidewalk.

Sean Gallagher

LEICHT Küchen: http://www.leicht.de/en/references/inland/project-rheingau/ Severain Architekten: http://www.severain.de/

Kaplan Architects, AIA Location: Redwood City , CA, USA Front entry fence and gate to new residence at street level with cedar siding.

This Northwest Modern design used natural cedar siding, structural insulated panels, board form concrete, permeable pavers, a glass ceiling + floor and a residential elevator to offer sustainable luxury for our clients.

Photo by Eric Roth

A spectacular exterior will stand out and reflect the general style of the house. Beautiful house exterior design can be complemented with attractive architectural features. Unique details can include beautiful landscaping ideas, gorgeous exterior color combinations, outdoor lighting, charming fences, and a spacious porch. These all enhance the beauty of your home’s exterior design and improve its curb appeal. Whether your home is traditional, modern, or contemporary, exterior design plays a critical role. It allows homeowners to make a great first impression but also add value to their homes.

Brady Architectural Photography

Vienna Addition Skill Construction & Design, LLC, Design/Build a two-story addition to include remodeling the kitchen and connecting to the adjoining rooms, creating a great room for this family of four. After removing the side office and back patio, it was replaced with a great room connected to the newly renovated kitchen with an eating area that doubles as a homework area for the children. There was plenty of space left over for a walk-in pantry, powder room, and office/craft room. The second story design was for an Adult’s Only oasis; this was designed for the parents to have a permitted Staycation. This space includes a Grand Master bedroom with three walk-in closets, and a sitting area, with plenty of room for a king size bed. This room was not been completed until we brought the outdoors in; this was created with the three big picture windows allowing the parents to look out at their Zen Patio. The Master Bathroom includes a double size jet tub, his & her walk-in shower, and his & her double vanity with plenty of storage and two hideaway hampers. The exterior was created to bring a modern craftsman style feel, these rich architectural details are displayed around the windows with simple geometric lines and symmetry throughout. Craftsman style is an extension of its natural surroundings. This addition is a reflection of indigenous wood and stone sturdy, defined structure with clean yet prominent lines and exterior details, while utilizing low-maintenance, high-performance materials. We love the artisan style of intricate details and the use of natural materials of this Vienna, VA addition. We especially loved working with the family to Design & Build a space that meets their family’s needs as they grow.

Jeff Jeannette / Jeannette Architects

Exterior siding from Prodema. ProdEx is a pre-finished exterior wood faced panel. Stone veneer from Salado Quarry.

Set in Hancock Park, a historic residential enclave in central Los Angeles, the St. Andrews Accessory Dwelling Unit is designed in concert with an addition to the main house. Richly colored, V-groove fiber cement panels provide a visual connection between the new two-story ADU and the existing 1916 craftsman bungalow. Yet, the ADU also expresses contemporary features through its distilled sculptural form. Clean lines and simple geometry emphasize the modern gestures while large windows and pocketing glass doors allow for plenty of natural light and connectivity to the exterior, producing a kind of courtyard in relation to the main home. The compact size required an efficient approach. Downstairs, a kitchenette and living space give definition to an open floor plan. The upper level is reserved for a full bathroom and bedroom with vaulted ceilings. Polished concrete, white oak, and black granite enrich the interiors. A primary suite addition to the main house blends seamlessly with the original. Hallway arches echo the original craftsman interior, connecting the existing living spaces to the lower addition which opens at ground level to the rear yard. Together, the ADU, main house, and a newly constructed patio with a steel trellis create an indoor/outdoor ensemble. Warm and inviting project results from the careful balance of historical and contemporary, minimalist and eclectic.

Set in Hancock Park, a historic residential enclave in central Los Angeles, the St. Andrews Accessory Dwelling Unit is designed in concert with an addition to the main house. Richly colored, V-groove fiber cement panels provide a visual connection between the new two-story ADU and the existing 1916 craftsman bungalow. Yet, the ADU also expresses contemporary features through its distilled sculptural form. Clean lines and simple geometry emphasize the modern gestures while large windows and pocketing glass doors allow for plenty of natural light and connectivity to the exterior, producing a kind of courtyard in relation to the main home. The compact size required an efficient approach. Downstairs, a kitchenette and living space give definition to an open floor plan. The upper level is reserved for a full bathroom and bedroom with vaulted ceilings. Polished concrete, white oak, and black granite enrich the interiors. A primary suite addition to the main house blends seamlessly with the original. Hallway arches echo the original craftsman interior, connecting the existing living spaces to the lower addition which opens at ground level to the rear yard. Together, the ADU, main house, and a newly constructed patio with a steel trellis create an indoor/outdoor ensemble. Warm and inviting project results from the careful balance of historical and contemporary, minimalist and eclectic.