Subscribe Follow or share

Outdoor Space/Project of the Year

The Oasis

The Oasis is a renovation and addition for a couple who entertains extensively throughout the year. Their home is the hub of activity for a large, multigenerational family. The previous outdoor area featured small, disparate areas that created pockets of hard-to-use space. The designers reimagined how the spaces could work better together while providing additional functionality, making the outdoor area usable year-round. Additionally, a portion of the interior spaces needed to be more connected to the new exterior spaces, making the connection between indoors and out seamless. 

The primary challenge was to address the home’s storm drainage issue. Years of erosion had created a significant risk of water infiltration into the home’s finished basement. 

The design solution offers several individual spaces for dining, fireside chats, shaded happy hours or watching the grandkids play on the sports court. Each separate space flows organically into the next for connection between activities. Tying these spaces together is a central, custom-designed and fabricated 20-foot linear fire pit. This central focal point features both fire and water elements.

Atop the covered lounge pavilion sits a tray green-roof system that captures and controls rainwater, preventing storm drainage from becoming inundated during heavy downfalls. Inside, the focus was to connect every space to the newly imagined exterior. The design team updated the client’s office with a large picture window to frame the view of this new outdoor oasis. The fresh, light-filled space compelled the team to introduce sleek custom cabinets, slender metal floating shelves and intentionally placed lighting. Function meets form in these interior spaces, drawing the homeowner’s eye to the stunning view.

An interior lounge also found new purpose with a redesign that better connects to the outdoor spaces. The design team combined a small TV parlor with a rarely used exercise room to create a larger gathering space visible from multiple points around the house. As with other spaces inside, floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between inside and outside.

Every detail of The Oasis was designed with connection in mind. Nothing can be taken away without affecting the overall function of the space. Each newly designed detail is cohesive with the overall home, yet unique in its own way.

Architect

SixTwentyOne

Interior Designer

Lisa Schmitz Interior Design

Contractor

Ambassador Construction

Landscaper

Aesthetic Outdoor Design

Photos by

Nate Sheets

Resources

Engineer: Apex Engineers  Cabinets: Royal Fixture Company  Countertops: Carthage Stoneworks  Roofing: Green Roof Trays

Floor plans, Drawings, Elevations

Before Photos

Additional Winners

Hotel-Like Luxury

The overall goal for this custom home was to bring a sense of modern Prairie style, instilling a feeling of the past with common sense for the future. The homeowner emphasized the concept of a modern luxury hotel—warm and inviting with clean lines. The design team chose limestone and rift oak throughout the home to contrast each other in a warm, earth-tone feeling.

View Project »

Long Island Project

Interior Project Long Island The goal for the Long Island project was a complete upgrade to give the clients a larger and more functional kitchen. The design team needed to

View Project »

Farina

James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Smith is a renowned figure in the local and national culinary arts community.

View Project »

Delmar Ranch

Custom Residence Delmar Ranch This home is an expansive mid-century modern ranch. The design team was tasked with creating a bright modern space that fit the family’s active lifestyle but

View Project »

A Stylish Ensuite

Interior Project A Stylish Ensuite This primary bath redesign presented several challenges for the team. The ceiling was more than 1½ inches out of level, so furring strips were installed

View Project »

Gillpatrick

The homeowners used their love of wood and natural elements to source unique wood materials for this home, using it throughout to showcase their design ideas. The goal was to create a show-stopping home that the homeowners could use as a personal showcase for their clients.

View Project »

The Oasis

Outdoor Space/Project of the Year The Oasis The Oasis is a renovation and addition for a couple who entertains extensively throughout the year. Their home is the hub of activity

View Project »