A view of the front porch, clad in recycled travertine pavers from the LBJ Library in Austin. Exterior paint color: "Ocean Floor," Benjamin Moore. Photo: Whit Preston

This gem of a house was built in the 1950s, when its neighborhood undoubtedly felt remote. The university footprint has expanded in the 70 years since, however, and today this home sits on prime real estate—easy biking and reasonable walking distance to campus. When it went up for sale in 2017, it was largely unaltered. Our clients purchased it to renovate and resell, and while we all knew we'd need to add square footage to make it profitable, we also wanted to respect the neighborhood and the house’s own history. Swedes have a word that means “just the right amount”: lagom. It is a guiding philosophy for us at SYH, and especially applied in this renovation. Part of the soul of this house was about living in just the right amount of space. Super sizing wasn’t a thing in 1950s America. So, the solution emerged: keep the original rectangle, but add an L off the back. With no owner to design with and for, SYH created a layout to appeal to the masses. All public spaces are the back of the home--the new addition that extends into the property’s expansive backyard. A den and four smallish bedrooms are atypically located in the front of the house, in the original 1500 square feet. Lagom is behind that choice: conserve space in the rooms where you spend most of your time with your eyes shut. Put money and square footage toward the spaces in which you mostly have your eyes open. In the studio, we started calling this project the Mullet Ranch—business up front, party in the back. The front has a sleek but quiet effect, mimicking its original low-profile architecture street-side. It’s very Hoosier of us to keep appearances modest, we think. But get around to the back, and surprise! lofted ceilings and walls of windows. Gorgeous.

A warm contemporary plan, with a distinctive stairwell tower. They chose us because of the variety of styles we’ve built in the past, the other satisfied clients they spoke with, and our transparent financial reporting throughout the building process. Positioned on the site for privacy and to protect the natural vegetation, it was important that all the details—including disability access throughout. A professional lighting designer specified all-LED lighting. Energy-efficient geothermal HVAC, expansive windows, and clean, finely finished details. Built on a sloped lot, the 3,300-sq.-ft. home appears modest in size from the driveway, but the expansive, finished lower level, with ample windows, offers several useful spaces, for everyday living and guest quarters. Contemporary exterior features a custom milled front entry & nickel gap vertical siding. Unique, 17'-tall stairwell tower, with plunging 9-light LED pendant fixture. Custom, handcrafted concrete hearth spans the entire fireplace. Lower level includes an exercise room, outfitted for an Endless Pool. Parade of Homes Tour Silver Medal award winner.

This walkout brick bungalow was transformed into a contemporary home with a complete redesign of the front exterior and a second floor addition. Overlooking Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe, Barrie, Ontario, this redesigned home features an open concept second. Steel and glass railings and an open tread staircase allow for natural light to flow through this newly created space. The exterior has a hint of West Coast Modern/Contemporary finishes, with clear cedar accentuating the resized garage. James Hardie Panel and painted aluminum channel combined with black framed EVW Windows compliment this revitalized, modern exterior.

New custom green home in the Wedgewood/Bryant neighborhood of Seattle. The rear of the home is designed with several tiers of angled decks which connect the indoors with the outside. The decks are designed with FSC certified Tigerwood decking. The deck railing is a custom stainless steel cable railing system. Architecture and Design by Heidi Helgeson, H2D Architecture + Design Construction by Thomas Jacobson Construction Photo by Sean Balko, Filmworks Studio

Architect: Grouparchitect. Contractor: Barlow Construction. Photography: © 2011 Grouparchitect
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

アトランタにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (マルチカラーの外壁、コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

View of the house from the street. The house is relatively closed in this direction for privacy from the street, but numerous high clerestory windows provide light and ventilation. David Quillin, Andy Levy

Tom Kuniholm
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

Designed by Johnson Squared, Bainbridge Is., WA © 2014 John Granen
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

Peter Molick Photography
ヒューストンにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング、混合材屋根) の写真

A Vancouver new build pops in a neighborhood full of post-war homes. This custom home was designed in a modern esthetic to reflect a young couple’s happening lifestyle. The working duo plan to start a family so will have little time for home maintenance. At the top of their list of wants were durable, quality materials that perform. Clad in James Hardie with cedar accents, a metal roof and fibreglass powder coating windows this home is set for exceptional longevity.

バンクーバーにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング、縦張り) の写真

シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング、混合材屋根) の写真

Liam Frederick Bill Timmerman
フェニックスにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな二階建ての家 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

One of the goals of this project was to provide a durable exterior envelope with rainscreen siding. A Nana Wall door opens up the interior space directly to the deck. Porcelain pavers are set on pedestals and waterproof membrane. A solid metal railing encompasses the deck perimeter. View is to the West. Photo by Mike Jensen.

Remodel and addition by Grouparchitect & Eakman Construction. Photographer: AMF Photography.
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

The pre-finished fiber cement exterior panels provide a muted textural palette, achieving a durable low maintenance building enclosure that melds with the surrounding landscape. Photography by James Hung