Matthew Millman Photography

Photography by: Jamie Padgett

Denis Sokolov Lera Sokolova Yuliya Martinenko Artem Martinenko Tanya Lazovaya

Liz Donnelly

Contemporary great room with two-story height looks out onto the water from its vast doors and windows. The fireplace extends up into the second floor, where there is a library with access from a terrace.

The Lake Forest Park Renovation is a top-to-bottom renovation of a 50's Northwest Contemporary house located 25 miles north of Seattle. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

Burns Century Interior Design www.burnscentury.com Photography by Jan Stittleburg

Antiques, including a pair of Portuguese eel traps hanging over the fireplace mantel, Chinese garden stools, a rustic mirrored cabinet, and French blown-glass demijohn bottles, add a patina of age.

This elegant expression of a modern Colorado style home combines a rustic regional exterior with a refined contemporary interior. The client's private art collection is embraced by a combination of modern steel trusses, stonework and traditional timber beams. Generous expanses of glass allow for view corridors of the mountains to the west, open space wetlands towards the south and the adjacent horse pasture on the east. Builder: Cadre General Contractors http://www.cadregc.com Interior Design: Comstock Design http://comstockdesign.com Photograph: Ron Ruscio Photography http://ronrusciophotography.com/

Victorian Pool House Architect: John Malick & Associates Photograph by Jeannie O'Connor

Cabinets: River City Wood Works

Franklin Lakes Master Suite with Custom Tray Ceilings and Architectural Moldings

The design of this refined mountain home is rooted in its natural surroundings. Boasting a color palette of subtle earthy grays and browns, the home is filled with natural textures balanced with sophisticated finishes and fixtures. The open floorplan ensures visibility throughout the home, preserving the fantastic views from all angles. Furnishings are of clean lines with comfortable, textured fabrics. Contemporary accents are paired with vintage and rustic accessories. To achieve the LEED for Homes Silver rating, the home includes such green features as solar thermal water heating, solar shading, low-e clad windows, Energy Star appliances, and native plant and wildlife habitat. All photos taken by Rachael Boling Photography

Cool light creates shadows in Bonus room with gothic windows

The key living spaces of this mountainside house are nestled in an intimate proximity to a granite outcrop on one side while opening to expansive distant views on the other. Situated at the top of a mountain in the Laurentians with a commanding view of the valley below; the architecture of this house was well situated to take advantage of the site. This discrete siting within the terrain ensures both privacy from a nearby road and a powerful connection to the rugged terrain and distant mountainscapes. The client especially likes to watch the changing weather moving through the valley from the long expanse of the windows. Exterior materials were selected for their tactile earthy quality which blends with the natural context. In contrast, the interior has been rendered in subtle simplicity to bring a sense of calm and serenity as a respite from busy urban life and to enjoy the inside as a non-competing continuation of nature’s drama outside. An open plan with prismatic spaces heightens the sense of order and lightness. The interior was finished with a minimalist theme and all extraneous details that did not contribute to function were eliminated. The first principal room accommodates the entry, living and dining rooms, and the kitchen. The kitchen is very elegant because the main working components are in the pantry. The client, who loves to entertain, likes to do all of the prep and plating out of view of the guests. The master bedroom with the ensuite bath, wardrobe, and dressing room also has a stunning view of the valley. It features a his and her vanity with a generous curb-less shower stall and a soaker tub in the bay window. Through the house, the built-in cabinets, custom designed the bedroom furniture, minimalist trim detail, and carefully selected lighting; harmonize with the neutral palette chosen for all finishes. This ensures that the beauty of the surrounding nature remains the star performer.