Showing posts with label Architecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Architecture. Show all posts

Sunday, December 19, 2010

BEAUTIFUL PRE-DESIGNED HOUSE PLANS BY PREMIER RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTS SPITZMILLER & NORRIS

home design, home design ideas and inspiration, custom home,
If you're thinking of building a new home, there are plenty of beautiful house plans available online, but searching through millions of mediocre designs can be frustrating.  Why not begin with the premier architectural firm of Spitzmiller & Norris?

Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.
The architectural firm of Spitzmiller & Norris, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has been designing high-end homes throughout the Southeastern United States since 1985.  Now, this firm offers pre-designed house plans online, "inspired by classic American and European architecture with rich character and thoughtful design."
Charming exteriors, attention to the smallest interior details and the intelligent flow of...floor plans characterize (Spitzmiller & Norris) house designs. -- Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.
It's easy to sort through the fabulous selection of pre-designed house plans by Spitzmiller & Norris. Simply select an architectural style and start browsing!  We've provided direct links below, along with some screenshots of our favorite homes in each collection...

American Classic House Plans
One of our favorite home designs in the American Classic House Plan Collection is the Hudson Valley (see screenshot below).
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Hudson Valley House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc. - Exterior
This stone and shake shingle with covered front porch defines this American country house. The Foyer opens into the Dining Room on the right and the Stairway on the left. Entering further, the Living Room with a large fireplace opens onto a Rear Loggia and Covered porch. The Kitchen and Breakfast Room overlook a Covered Terrace with a large fireplace, which also has access to the Rear Covered Porch. The Master Bedroom with a sitting area has his-and-her closets and a generously sized bath with separate vanities. The Second Floor holds four large Bedrooms, each with private bath and a Computer Alcove. The Lower Level provides more than enough room for the Recreation Room with fireplace and access to the Rear Covered Terrace, a Guest Bedroom with bath, and Exercise Room and an Office. -- Hudson Valley House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.
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First Floor of the Hudson Valley House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.   The spacious first floor features 10' 4" ceiling heights and 4,327 square feet of living space.  Notice the fabulous architectural details of the design, some of which include: box beam ceilings; numerous covered porches;  a bay window and fireplace in the dining room; first floor master suite with two walk-in closets, sitting area, dressing area and luxurious master bath; covered loggia off the living room; covered terrace with fireplace and built-ins off the kitchen breakfast room; the laundry, mud room and home office off the large kitchen.
home design, home design ideas and inspiration, custom home, custom homebuilding, luxury home, luxury house, luxury home design
Second Floor of the Hudson Valley House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.  The second floor, accessible by the main staircase in the foyer, as well as the convenient back staircase located in the kitchen service area, features 9' 4" ceiling heights and 2,360 square feet of living space.  Rooms on this level include: four bedrooms, each with a private bath and walk-in closet, a sitting area and computer alcove (or children's study).  
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Lower Level of the Hudson Valley House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.  The lower level of the Hudson Valley house plan features a wine cellar, an additional guest bedroom with private bath, an exercise room, recreation room, keeping room with wet bar (or kitchenette), an additional home office directly accessible from the home's exterior, a covered terrace, and plenty of storage.
European House Plans
One of our favorite homes in the European House Plan Collection is Staffordshire House by Spitzmiller & Norris.

home design, home design ideas and inspiration, custom home, custom homebuilding, luxury home, luxury house, luxury home design, new home design
Staffordshire House, inspired by a classic English Manor, features 7,611 total square feet of living space; five bedrooms; five full bathrooms, in addition to two-half baths; 10' ceilings on the first floor; 9' ceilings on the second level.
Grace, simplicity and charm describe this wonderful English Manor. The steeply pitched rooflines and arched shuttered windows evoke a welcoming approach to the covered front portico. The Foyer/Gallery provides the axis off which reside the curved staircase, the Study with a fireplace, the Dining Room with covered side porch and the Living Room with Bowed Bay Window overlooking the Rear Terrace. The generous Kitchen with an island overlooks the Breakfast Room, which flows into the Keeping Room with fireplace. A Butler’s Pantry connects the Kitchen and the Dining Room. On the second floor, five large Bedrooms, each with its own private bath enjoy access to the Children’s Library with bay window overlooking the front portico. The Lower Level provides the homeowners with their own Wet Bar overlooking the Media/Billiards Room, a large Recreation and Game Room, an Exercise Room and an additional Bedroom or Office. A three-car garage is attached to the house by a Breezeway with entry through the rear Mud-entry. -- Staffordshire House by Spitzmiller & Norris
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Staffordshire House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris - First Floor
The first floor of Staffordshire House features 10' ceilings; 4,233 square feet of living space; living room leading to private terrace; dining room with separate covered porch; butler's pantry / servery; first floor master suite; study off the foyer; elegant curved staircase; large kitchen with island, breakfast area, keeping room and back staircase; mud entry with convenient first floor laundry room.
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The second floor, accessible by staircases off the foyer and kitchen, features 9' ceilings; 3,378 square feet of living space; children's library or children's study; five bedrooms each with private bath and walk-in closet.
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The lower level features 2,666 square feet of living space; exercise room; wet bar; wine cellar; media room / home theater; recreation area / game room / billiards area; bedroom or home office with private bath.

Estate House Plans
From the Estate House Plan Collection, we selected two French-inspired homes -- the Grenoble and the Dubonnet.

Exterior Rendering of the elegant Grenoble House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris -- "This French Country Estate offers a distinctive variation from the typical floor plan. Its Covered Porch Entry at one side of the house is a fresh yet timeless take on the private side porches built to capture the breezes while providing privacy. The contiguous Dining Room and Living Room provide ease of public entertaining with the Kitchen, Breakfast and Family Rooms opposite the Gallery and Stair Hall. The First Floor Master Suite is privately situated in its own wing and opens onto the rear Covered Porch with fireplace. His and her closets flank the hallway to the Master Bath. Three Bedrooms and a Study occupy the second floor each with its own private bath. The Lower Level affords plenty of room for a large Game Room with wet bar and fireplace, an Exercise Room and a Private Office. The three-car garage situated at the rear of the house is attached through a breezeway."


home design, home design ideas and inspiration, custom home, custom homebuilding, luxury home, luxury house, luxury home design, new home design, new house design, new construction, luxury construction
Exterior Rendering of the Dubonnet House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc. -- "Distinctive French stylings announce this plan as a hallmark to excellence. The flared rooflines accent the exterior of brick and stone. Large public spaces with comfortable flow allow for easy entertaining. This plan presents the master suite on the first floor along with a Library with fireplace and Home Office included in the same wing. Opposite the foyer, the plan includes a large Dining Room, a Great Room with fireplace, a Keeping Room with fireplace and Kitchen with separate Breakfast Room. The central circular stair gives an elegant touch to a private part of the house. Screened porches wrap the rear of the house to a stone terrace. Three bedrooms, each with their own bath, are included on the second floor. The Terrace Plan provides ample room for a Game Room, an additional Recreation Room, and Exercise Room and a Fifth Bedroom with private entrance if required. The three-car garage is attached via a loggia at the rear."
Country House Plans
The Country House Plan Collection includes one of our all-time favorite designs -- the Magnolia House Plan.

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Exterior Rendering of the lovely Magnolia House by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc. -- "The inspiration for this charming house is the Southern French architecture of Louisiana. Unlike its antecedents, the plan features a most pleasant and comfortable family kitchen and den, not to mention an integral three car garage with a mud entry. It offers the graceful symmetry of a wide center hall flanked by library on one side and dining room on the other. A favorite touch is the handsome, wide, staircase which is set off to one side of the center hall in a space all its own. A large living room with French doors overlooks a spacious covered porch. Our “Magnolia” plan comes in two versions to accommodate the variety of family life styles. One version features the master suite on the first floor with all secondary bedrooms on the floor above. The other version arranges all bedrooms on the second or upper level. In either version a total of six bedrooms is easily achievable."
The Mountain & Lake House Plan Collections features many beautiful designs, including the stone and shingle-style Lake Laurel Lodge.

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Exterior Rendering of Lake Laurel Lodge House Plan by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc. -- "This New England stone and shingle style house designed for lakeside living offers a modified courtyard entry with Port-cochere. Through the Covered Porch, the Entry Hall and Stair Hall open onto a step down into the Living Room with large fireplace and views overlooking the Terrace beyond. The spacious Kitchen opens into the Dining Room and also onto the Screened-In Porch with stone fireplace and built-in grill. The Master Suite occupies the right side of the house with a bowed-bay alcove, providing for scenic views. Three Bedrooms with private baths and a Playroom with Covered Porch reside on the Second Floor along with a Study Alcove and a Computer Alcove. The Lower Level provides space for a Recreation Room with fireplace, a Game Room with Wet Bar, Wine Cellar with Tasting Room and an Office. Additional features throughout this design make this a house that will surprise and delight you!"

Beach House Plans
Finally, you'll find designs that range from New England coastal to Southern vernacular in Spitzmiller & Norris' Beach House Plan Collection.  We've chosen to highlight the lowcountry-inspired Bluff View Cottage.

home design, home design ideas and inspiration, custom home, custom homebuilding, luxury home, luxury house, luxury home design, new home design, new house design, new construction, luxury construction
Exterior Rendering of Bluff View Cottage by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc. -- "This lap sided, tin roofed Low Country Cottage is designed to maximize views from the Screened Porch running the length of the rear of the house. A deep Front Porch leads into the Foyer, which holds the Stairway on the right, the Dining Room on the left and the Living Room straight ahead. The Kitchen opens into the Family Room, which has a large fireplace and access to the rear Screened Porch. The Master Bedroom, with its own fireplace and full Master Bath accommodations, also opens onto the rear Screened Porch.  Three Bedrooms, each with its own bath, and a Playroom are located on the second floor. The Lower Level provides space for a two-car garage, a Billiards/Game Room and Recreation Room with a wet-bar and bath. Its Covered Terrace is accessible from each of the rear facing rooms."

For more information on these and other homes by Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc., please visit their website at www.spitzmillerandnorris.com.


Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc.
5825 Glenridge Drive
Number One, Suite 206
Atlanta, GA 30328

Aspinal of London Ltd. 120x600

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

CLASSIC SEASIDE HOMES BY ASHER ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

”Classic

We first came across Asher Associates Architects, LLC when this fabulous beach house by Mark Asher, the firm's principal, was featured in the October / November 2010 issue of Design NJ Magazine.  We've provided a few screenshots, but you can visit asherarchitects.com to see the full portfolio.

Here's why we're a fan of their work...



We love that Mr. Asher and his associates design classic shore houses.  They're rooted in historic tradition, and from the exterior, they blend well with the surrounding architecture; they appear as if they were perhaps built a hundred years earlier.  The interiors are quite different, however, since these homes are open, full of light and designed in a very livable manner.

”Classic
We love the gambrel roof, the porch above the front door, the huge windows (which still manage to maintain a classic look in spite of their massive size), the bright interior with its interesting ceilings and sense of space, the superb craftsmanship..... We could go on and on....

Mr. Asher's homes are quietly elegant and feature classic architectural detail and superb craftsmanship.  "The firm’s design ideology is rooted in 'New Urbanist' philosophies which assert that buildings should be designed as good neighbors, deliberately intended to have a gentle impact on the streetscape and community." -- asherarchitects.com

”Classic
Another screenshot from Mr. Asher's portfolio.  This home feels like a New England Colonial at the beach!
”Great
Here's an interior screenshot of a living room or great room.  Notice the beautiful windows and the ceiling details.  Too many times you'll see new homes with spaces that are open, but seem out of proportion or cavernous.  Mr. Asher pays attention to scale and builds in such intricate architectural details so that his rooms, while large and spacious, still manage to feel intimate.

If you're in the market to build or renovate a home -- especially at the beach -- why not look into Asher Associates, LLC?

For more information:


Asher Associates, LLC
Mark Asher, AIA, Principal

115 West Avenue, Suite 202
Jenkintown, PA 19046
Tel. 215.576.1413
Fax 215.576.0879
asherinfo@asherarchitects.com

9723 Second Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Tel. 609.368.1411
Fax 609.368.0099




Thursday, December 9, 2010

EXPERIENCE THE COUNTRY COUTURE LIFESTYLE AT BLACKBERRY FARM

Own the ultimate country cottage at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN (just 25 minutes outside Knoxville) in the scenic Smoky Mountains.  Screenshots from Blackberry Farm Living website (www.blackberryfarmliving.com).
When Apartment Therapy featured Blackberry Farm, the ultra-posh Smoky Mountain inn (just 25 minutes outside Knoxville, Tennessee), we couldn't resist visiting their website.  That's when we learned about "Blackberry Farm Living," an exclusive ownership opportunity.  The select few can purchase one of twenty-five turn-key homes and cottages at this fabulous resort.  We've posted some screenshots, but you'll find more information and gorgeous photos on their website.

Screenshots from Blackberry Farm Living -- visit the website to learn more about this exclusive ownership opportunity.
What we love most about the project is the development team's dedication to environmental and architectural integrity.  The homesites are carefully situated and "protected by thousands of acres held in a conservation easement," and guidelines have been established "to help owners create homes that reflect the spirit of Blackberry’s signature architectural style."


And that's only the beginning....
As a Private Owner, you’ll savor the exceptional tastes of the Blackberry community like never before. Cellars filled with extraordinary wines and spirits. Baskets of heirloom vegetables, charcuterie and cheeses waiting on your doorstep. From exclusive tastings to in-home events with master chefs, owners will enjoy unforgettable experiences, adventures and enrichment. -- read more at Blackberry Farm Living
The Joe Pye Cottage at Blackberry Farm.
The turn-key properties feature exquisite interior design.
If you'd like a taste of the Blackberry Farm lifestyle, you can shop their website, where you'll find artisanal products and gifts -- perfect for this holiday season.  You'll also find the Blackberry Farm Cookbook by proprietor, Sam Beall.  Click here to read some of the fabulous reviews, or even better, purchase the book online!

The Blackberry Farm Cookbook makes a fabulous holiday gift.  Purchase it at Blackberry Farm's online shop or at booksellers like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. 

For more information, please visit:

Saturday, December 4, 2010

SHINGLE STYLE MASTER RENOVATION BY OLIVER COPE ARCHITECT & MAYFAIR CONSTRUCTION


This addition / renovation by Oliver Cope Architect and Mayfair Construction is truly exceptional.  The architect and builder transformed the house from a generic, though lovely, colonial into this exceptional shingle-style home.


Check out a photo of the house in its original state.  While it was a lovely white colonial, it was a bit bland.


But after Oliver Cope and Mayfair Construction completed the project, the architecture is exceptional.


The "new" home feels like it's been there forever; it seems like it has a history, as if it existed on that site for perhaps a hundred years in its current state.


The different shapes and rooflines add interest to the home.  The design also make the structure feel more intimate, which is not easy to accomplish with a house this size.


The rear exterior: The covered porches face the water.  The back of the home is just as beautiful and interesting as the facade.


A gorgeous kitchen, with painted white cabinetry, marble countertops and wide-plank hardwood floors.  Notice the curve of the woodwork on the island, the shape sort of mimics the arches.  And that sweet dog looks awfully happy in this gorgeous house!



I like this a lot -- it's a breakfast / keeping room, overlooking the water.  Again, we see the arches repeated, this time in the built-in cabinetry that surrounds the fireplace.


And here we have two photos of the library.  Of course the woodwork is fabulous, but my favorite aspect is the shape of the room and the ceiling, which adds a sense of drama.  The architect or architectural team responsible for the project created an elegant home with a sense of history, and the talented craftsmen at Mayfair Construction, who carried out Oliver Cope's vision, certainly deserve kudos, as well.


For more information, please visit:

Saturday, November 20, 2010

ROBERT A. M. STERN: House at Blue Water Hill (2007)

Have you seen the House at Blue Water Hill (2007) by Robert A. M. Stern?  If you haven't, it is truly magnificent (which should come as no surprise since Mr. Stern designed it).  I've posted a few screenshots below, but you can visit RAMSA.com for more photos...
Sky-blue stained shingles, leaded hand-blown glass, and white-painted shutters and window boxes at the double-hung windows give the house a casual feel of early twentieth-century beach houses in Maine or Nantucket. Picturesque gables and dormers at the gambrel roof reduce the apparent height of the house. Classical detailing, hand-scraped oak floors, beadboard paneling, and cork ceilings bring the simple charm indoors.
Look at how the home is situated.  The blue hydrangeas complement the facade... 

The rear facade and outdoor living area of the House at Blue Water Hill by master architect Robert A. M. Stern, with its beautiful pool area and flagstone patio.
An inviting outdoor living area, featuring terraces, porches, pool, etc.
The view, the woodwork, the fireplace, the sense of intimacy -- need I say more?
And speaking of a view... 
A breakfast room adjoins the kitchen (with pale painted blue cabinetry. 
The staircase.... 
The entrance hall... A truly spectacular home!