Below images are intended to show a variety of home design problems and solutions. I have limited these selections to 6 per category, which are Coastal Homes, Starter Castles, Larger Homes, Subdivision Homes, Interior Detailing and Other. The intent is to show a flexible design capability.
The philosophy this designer has always followed is that client concerns come first and better/best solutions can be found satisfying those concerns. Listening is the first obligation. So these designs reflect client desires filtered thru a competent design mind. Not all designs are personal favorites- but all are professionally executed and do not violate time honored ‘rules of design’.
Virtually all these designs presented were executed post late 90’s. This corresponds to a relocation to the triangle area in North Carolina, and transitioning from hand sketching and 2d manual or computer aided drafting, to full 3d computer modeling. Some images are the original 3d computer model designs, and some are photographs of the completed project.
Coastal Homes
The environment along the North Carolina Coast is varied. The many barrier islands have their own unique characteristics as does the intercoastal waterway. Beyond individual home design requirements are coastal regulations that can vary a good bit, and definitely impact design approach. Wind, flood zones, pile foundations, wetlands are involved but these conditions are not necessarily visible in the resultant designs. If there is a consistent condition present these designs it is that the living spaces are 1 story above grade.
Intercoastal project with side entry and a confortable kinky look. 
Fun design with big panorama spaces and views on the ocean front. 
One of my favorite designs inside and out, possible because of great clients. 
Ocean front design with an effective step down and coordinated form with simple exterior texture and detail, 
This barrier island project replaced an old family cottage on the ‘2nd row’. Best views were diagonally oriented. 
Not my preferred plan format or exterior style, but much appreciated by these traditional southern and pretty upbeat clients.
Starter Castles
One of the tongue in cheek nicknames given these larger than necessary home design ‘styles’ that flourished in big lot developments in affluential neighborhoods starting in the late 90’s -and coming to a sudden halt (delay really) in 2009. Socio-economics aside these homes represent true challenges to a designer. They are small villages. Master planning, mastery of geometry, and complicated structure are inherent difficulties, and proved to be a lot of fun to solve.
This design earns the ‘starter castle’ moniker. 
This design nicely steps down the sloped lot. 
Maybe the most complex design and structure ever requested of me. 
Another great client. This project on narrow and very deep city lot was a challenge. 
An early starter castle project. These rambling designs do have a rich and dynamic interior living experience. 
Smaller castle project effectively turns the facade of a front facing living space to the approach line of sight.
Larger Homes
Larger homes showing here are just that, and not categorized at all by style. They therefore represent client desires. Client desires and trends emerged from a cocoon in the 90’s. That decade brought financial elbow room for more folks. A lot of designs not tied firmly to traditional or contemporary roots were dubbed ‘transitional’, and generally incorporated more open floor plans in the living areas, and a looser vocabulary of eclectic detailing. These presented projects are homes for folks living in the ‘triangle’, which is somewhat affluent area as reflected in these larger scaled homes. It is interesting how very different the culture, level of ‘affluence’, and home size and style desires are in this western mountainous ‘Asheville’ zone where I currently live and practice.
SIte conditions sometimes dictate the courtyard entry as a best option. 
Assymetrical gables are effective in connecting parts in complicated designs 
This bigger and longer low country style design has a comfortable ramble to it. 
These transitional home designs with eclectic detailing are open to invention. 
Scaled down and simplified brick and stone starter castle. 
Painted brick and quiet colored architectural features.
Subdivision Homes
These designs are not so large, and located in smaller lot subdivisions where spreading out may not be an option, a more constrained budget is reality, and design conformity is often implicitly or explicitly required. These slightly more restrictive conditions suit a lot of folks. And a little flair and individual design expression- as well as a properly functioning plan- are certainly still possible.
The faceted roof dormer in an upstairs bath is an important detail in this design. 
A nicely proportioned transitional brick design. 
Rear facade faces the subdivision golf course, and is well composed. 
Straight up transitional design with some punch offered by the entry and big bay arched roof lines. 
Craftsman flavored detailing is well suited to casual designs and wooded lots. 
This comfortable designs belongs in its neighborhood.
Interior Detailing
Good home design should set up interior spaces so they can be finished to meet a client’s criteria. Looking inside a home in the design stage has been greatly facilitated with 3d modeling. Which in turn allows modifications and fine tuning and available to the client to assist in visualization….Note that all the smaller home plan designs that dominate this HOMEarchitecture website place a lot of emphasis on interior spaces and how they live.
Starter castle interiors. Nicely integrated windows and (decorative beams). 
A formal bathroom for certain tastes. Infrequently used tubs have value in that they create needed window opportunities. 
Easy to live in kitchen with a great corner windows and sink. 
Take off on a traditional winding stair design. 
First home design. A small ski chalet. 
Very clever rear entry/gazebo design with a glass oof bringing light down to a fully underground basement space.
Exterior Living
Spending time outside is good. Creating spaces to enjoy that outside is good. Creating hardscape vignettes that are a pleasure to look at from inside is a great side benefit. What is fun is that design options are endless. And often DIY sympathetic. One home design criterion I find important is to provide some outdoor space under cover as it truly expands usage opportunities.
Gazebos can take advantage of open space in all directions. 
Raised exterior living on the intercoastal. Curved deck surrounds a magnificent old live oak tree. 
Details. These baby landscape walls are built of 2×6 treated lumber. 
Water features below the observation patio 
Exterior living is is a big deal this large home overlooking a lake and golf course. 
Fluid transition design from lower yard to the main level sitting deck
Other Projects
These designs don’t fall into a single category. They represent a thought or design condition that is a little more unique, or was satisfying to be a part of for some reason. Find real quick summaries in the photo captions.
A favorite early design of 4 quadrants, organized with wing walls meeting at a centered fireplace. 
This cabin executed with relaimed lumber was an inspiration to the ‘small cabin-loft’ series. 
A small looking yet sizable house on a fairly narrow lot 
A significant redo/expansion to a 70’s designed contemporary. 
Variation of the ‘earth-solar’ series done with a slightly crazy Asheville builder/craftsman. 
Simple and small and plenty of house for most folks.