Wood Tray Ceiling Over a Kitchen Island: Why It Works and How to Design One
A wood tray ceiling over the island adds warmth and defines the kitchen in an open plan. How to design one, from a custom home kitchen in Athens, AL.
Glass Interior Walls: How Steel-Framed Partitions Add a Room Without Losing Light
Steel-framed glass interior walls add an office or dining room without blocking light. Pros, cons and planning tips, from a custom home in Huntsville, AL.
Covered Outdoor Kitchen With a Fireplace: How to Plan an Outdoor Pavilion
How to plan a covered outdoor kitchen with a fireplace: utilities, grill ventilation, layout and materials, from a custom home pavilion in Grant, AL.
Library Wall With a Rolling Ladder: How to Plan Custom Built-Ins
How to plan a library wall with a rolling ladder and other custom built-ins, from shelf structure to lighting, shown in a custom home in Grant, AL.
Two-Story Living Room Pros and Cons: How to Make One Feel Comfortable
Two-story living rooms bring light and drama, but they can be hard to heat and cool. Pros, cons and design tips, from a custom home in Huntsville, AL.
Building a House on a Sloped Lot in Huntsville: What to Plan For
Building on a hillside lot in Huntsville? What to plan for: foundation, driveway, drainage, retaining walls and views, from a custom home on a wooded slope.
Waterfall Island Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It?
A waterfall island makes a striking centerpiece but uses more stone. Pros, cons and what to ask your fabricator, from a custom kitchen in Huntsville, AL.
Painted Brick House: Pros, Cons and How to Do It Right
Painted brick looks classic but adds upkeep. The pros, cons and right way to do it, plus how to pair it with warm interiors, from a custom home in Athens, AL.
Modern Lodge Style Homes: Mountain-Lodge Warmth Without the Heaviness
Stone, timber and big fireplaces, without the cabin feel. Six elements of modern lodge style home design, shown in a custom home on acreage in Grant, AL.
Courtyard Home Design: How to Build a House Around a Private Outdoor Space
A courtyard home wraps the house around a private outdoor space. Six principles for designing one, shown in a Huntsville, AL custom home built around a pool.
How Deep Should a Covered Porch Be? A Porch Depth Guide
The right covered porch depth: about 8 feet for seating, 10 to 12 for sofas or dining. A porch depth guide, shown in a custom home outside Athens, AL.
Vaulted Ceiling With Exposed Beams: Design Tips and What to Know
How to design a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams: structural vs. faux beams, lighting and comfort, shown in a custom home in Brownsboro, AL near Huntsville.
What Makes a Craftsman Home? 6 Details That Define the Style Today
What makes a home a Craftsman? Broad eaves, tapered columns, natural materials and deep porches. Six defining details, shown in a Huntsville, AL custom home.
Working Pantry vs. Butler’s Pantry: How to Design a Kitchen for Entertaining
A working pantry hides the mess; a butler’s pantry serves the party. How to plan both in a kitchen built for entertaining, from a Brownsboro, AL custom home.
Is Modern Farmhouse Going Out of Style? How to Design One That Lasts
Is modern farmhouse going out of style? The decor is, the architecture isn’t. Six ways to design one that lasts, shown in a custom home outside Athens, AL.
Open Without Feeling Empty: 5 Design Moves From a Huntsville Custom Home
How to Make an Open Floor Plan Feel Warm, Not Empty: 7 Design Moves An open floor plan feels warm when it is open but zoned: each area gets its own anchor, the materials are natural and repeated throughout, the ceiling comes down to a human scale, and there is somewhere quiet to retreat to. […]