Terrace House

Designed for clients who are passionate about cooking and entertaining, this new home construction project redefines outdoor living by creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces across multiple levels. Expansive sliding doors, open-air terraces, and thoughtful design elements make every space feel integrated with nature, making the outdoors an extension of the home rather than a separate feature.

The primary element of this design is the internal courtyard, which, following our update, transforms into a vibrant, multifunctional outdoor living space. It now features a fully equipped open-air kitchen, dining area, and hang-out space. We achieved all this while carefully preserving the cherished Ginkgo tree, ensuring it remains a natural focal point.

The front living room benefits from dual-aspect lighting with large windows on both the south and north sides. This design choice floods the space with natural light throughout the day while offering courtyard views. Adjacent to this, we arranged the kitchen with a transitional seating area that bridges the gap between cooking and lounging. Our clients have most family meals in the kitchen, so we integrated a four-person table directly into the kitchen island. Separated by the central interior stairs, the dining room extends the home’s social space to the rear, opening up to a view of the courtyard and the Ginkgo tree.

Descending from the interior living space down to the courtyard, a custom stainless steel and limestone staircase guides you to the exterior courtyard. The outdoor kitchen, conveniently located along the exterior wall at the heart of the courtyard, provides easy access to electrical and plumbing lines. The kitchen design includes all the essentials for the outdoor chef: a place for a smoker and charcoal grill, a gas grill, a stainless steel sink, a beverage cooler, and Kalamazoo Gourmet stainless steel cabinets for storage. Masonry matching the home’s exterior facade forms the kitchen’s foundation, while a limestone countertop completes the design with an organic and durable finish.

We finished the entertaining area with Natural Cleft Bluestone pavers that tie the space together, linking the courtyard to the front gate entrance and the roof deck. The stairs to the roof deck are made of limestone, featuring a custom stainless steel handrail that’s both sturdy and refined, with concealed LED lighting that adds a soft glow. Up top, we laid down ceramic pavers that are durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. Overhead, a custom-designed, powder-coated aluminum trellis structure provides shade and architectural interest.