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Floating Pavilion Guest House Suggests Monet Painting

Wirra Willa is a tiny pavilion guest house that seems to float on the lily pond, creating a scene straight from a Monet painting.

The tranquil guest house was designed for his father by architect Mathew Woodward in New South Wales, Australia, on an 80-acre former citrus fruit orchard.

It comprises simply a bedroom at one end, a living room at the other.

On cold winter nights, the living room offers a toasty fire.

But the living room floor can slide back and now it is a hot tub room that contrasts its heat with the cold lily pond outside.

All of the glazing supporting the roof disappears, leaving just a bedroom curtain to appear as the major structural element.

A breeze catching and gently swaying the curtain becomes part of the architectural design.

During the day this curtain is slid to the central passageway between the bedroom and the living room over the pond.

Woodward designed the space as an homage, echoing the Mies van der Rohe ‘floating’ Fansworth House.

The style of the small structure complements the existing larger residence in place, but pared down to the essentials for peaceful living.

A walk-in shower is little more than a passageway – that also overlooks the lily pond.

A lovely space that encourages reflection and repose.

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Nautical Theme for a San Francisco Perch

Translucent glass is all that comes between the eyes of passers-by and the master bathroom in the middle floor of this San Francisco home above Dolores Park by Craig Steely Architecture.

It is an astonishing feat of privacy maintenance while fully opening a very urban home to the view.

The translucent glass has a lovely turquoise wash, reflecting the nautical theme of the view.

Other than the turquoise, the bathroom material palette is limited to a cool veined marble…

… and a matte charcoal slate, the perfect foil for the white porcelain.

A nautical theme plays out with circular porthole windows.

On the top floor of the very citified townhouse, the architects spring a surprise.

A private stairway up the side of the house leads to the clients’ very own rooftop beach shack!

Here, simple materials are reminiscent of the rough weathered woods of driftwood and boardwalks.

Nothing but glass between the lounger and the view!

Up here, marble is married to a rather more earthy pine for a semi-outdoor barbecue kitchen overlooking a hot tub in the small garden in the back.

And in the front, a living room perch from which to watch the San Francisco city lights.

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Design Dilemma: 5 Exterior Renovations with a Big Payback

When many of us renovate our homes, we’re thinking beyond just an improvement in space, functionality and looks for ourselves. We’re also thinking that down the line, when it comes time to sell, there could be a financial payoff as well. Some of us, in fact, decide to spruce up a space, specifically for that reason.

So what are the best renovations if you hope to substantially increase the value of your home? A new pool? A big fancy kitchen? A complete overhaul of the electrical wiring or old plumbing?

The answers may surprise you. According to Realtors® in the 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, smaller exterior projects are actually those that provide the best return on the investment. The report is compiled annually in collaboration with Hanley Wood’s Remodeling Magazine and compares changes in home improvement project costs with Realtors®’ perceptions of what those projects contribute to a home’s price at resale.

Here’s where you get the best return on your dollar:

1) A Steel Entry Door.

Realtors® say a steel entry door replacement returns the most money, with an estimated 101.8 percent of costs recouped upon resale (compared to an estimated 96.6 percent recoup last year). The steel entry door replacement is consistently the least expensive project in the annual Cost vs. Value Report, costing little more than $1,200 on average and was the only project on this year’s list to recoup more than 100 percent of its cost at resale on a national level.

2) Stone Veneer.
Manufactured stone veneer on the exterior is a great way to spiff up a home, and nearly always pays back —at 92.2 percent. Also in this category are fiber cement siding (84.3 percent) and vinyl siding replacement (80.7 percent).

Here’s what fiber cement siding looks like:

And here vinyl siding — we can see why clean new siding would enhance a home’s value!

3. Garage Door Replacement.

Because garage doors are often the public “face” of homes in the United States, they make a big impact on curb appeal, as you can see below. A mid-range replacement brings an 88.5 percent return on investment, and an upscale replacement 82.5 percent:

And here:

And here:

4. A Wood Deck Addition.

The return on this investment is 80.5 percent, and it’s easy to understand why. A wood deck, in effect, provides a whole other “room” to be enjoyed in good weather. Barbecues, sunning, birthday parties, and dining al fresco all become possibilities.

And here:

5. Wood Window Replacement.
Cracking warped single pane windows are one of the most obvious replacement targets with a substantial payback at 78.8 percent. The best thing about this renovation is that it also reduces utility bills, so it’s double payback!

So there you have it. Clearly, renovations with a big payback are those that provide clear curb appeal to your home. And these are not necessarily more expensive structural changes. Basically, anything that dramatically improves the aesthetics of your home is going to provide a huge payback, and not just for your wallet, but for your own enjoyment.