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An Exuberant First Home Overlooking Thailand’s Andaman Ocean

A stunning first home by DBALP in Thailand’s popular Phuket region has a modern vocabulary with simple geometry.

Like many ocean viewing homes, the public entertaining space occupies the top floor.

This top floor expands out to an outdoor piazza for entertaining.

But that stunning piazza is entered from a very discrete and non revealing entry.

The house opens out in front towards the glorious Andaman Ocean from atop a high cliff.

Designed for a family of four with three dogs, elegance meets ease of upkeep in this sleek and simple masterpiece.

Nothing detracts from its sublime vista.

A powerful and peaceful space.

Its long and narrow frontage maximizes the ocean view.

Dining is placed front and center of the first home for these clients, an expat couple from Hong Kong.

Intriguingly, a raised level beyond the lowered ceiling in front creates a more conversational ambiance on a semi private mezzanine.

The fully glazed front of the house is open to the sea air.

Underneath the public floor, the master bedroom faces the sea but with the master bathroom to the back of the house, overseeing a peaceful courtyard.

The children’s bedrooms are to the right, and the master bedroom to the left downstairs.

To the side of the children’s bedrooms, a lovely stairway exits to a small terraced lawn.

Altogether a very confident and exuberant first home for a fortunate family.

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Design Dilemma: Veranda, Terrace or Patio?

Traditional Landscape by Greenwich Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Conte & Conte, LLC
As you sip your lemonade on your front porch this summer, you may find yourself reflecting, idly: what’s the difference between a veranda, a patio, a porch and terrace? How does a deck fit in? Alas, these are the profound philosophical questions of summer. And as the humidity thickens and the temperatures soar, the urge to take refuge on a patio or porch builds, so we’ve got answers! Here’s a brief glossary to your outdoor space confusion.

A PATIO
A patio can be attached to a house, or completely detached. Either way, it is always hard-paved of stone or cement, and it sits firmly on the earth. We associate patios with the West Coast and Southwest, of the US — the perfect spot for a siesta in mid-afternoon or a margarita at the end of the day. It’s even better when there’s a fireplace on the patio for chilly desert nights.

A TERRACE
Like a patio, a terrace can be attached or detached and it is also always hard-paved. However, unlike a patio, it is always raised from the earth around it. The Atlanta house, below, has just the right amount of majesty, suggested by the word “terrace”. We prefer ours with sweeping views, or perhaps overlooking a pool.

A VERANDA
Unlike a terrace or patio, a veranda is always attached to the house and it has a roof, which is not a condition of patio-hood. It can be wooden or hard-paved. We like ours best surrounded by wisteria and hydrangeas. but we’ll also accept a leafy forest or palm trees as below.

A PORCH
A veranda and porch are basically the same thing. Porches, however, are attached and do not necessarily have a roof. They are often enclosed, especially in hot humid climates where mosquitoes are a problem. Porches are likely to be smaller than verandas, but not necessarily. It’s just that “veranda” seems to be quite a grand word for a porch, which has a more ordinary feel to it.  We like ours screened in and outfitted with a couple of rockers and a hammock.

A DECK
A deck can be attached or detached from a house. It is of wood construction and is elevated above the ground, by just a few inches or a few feet. Decks are great for parties. They require a barbecue grill if they are to be considered fully-equipped.

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A Blissful Meditative Spa for Sonoma Sybarites

A serene spa pavilion for meditation and yoga opens to the landscape of balmy Sonoma County in Northern California.

The meditation retreat, designed by SF-based Aidlin Darling Design, is set in the rambling garden of an existing rammed-earth house.

Friends and family can come here to regroup.

Included is a peaceful dining pavilion to enjoy a leisurely al fresco meal with friends.

Next to the dining pavilion, a pool offers a quiet place of rest and relaxation.

The outdoor yoga studio overlooks the rolling hills of Sonoma, providing a zen-like retreat.

A rustic trellis further provides shade from the California sun and frames distant views of San Francisco to the south.

The utter simplicity of its design is conducive to a spa-like experience of getting away from it all.

Connecting the spa to the main house is a quiet rammed-earth entrance curved around the stairs.

A steam room completes the sybaritic retreat.

Just a few strokes paint a space of pure bliss.