17 Ways to Design a Home for Work and Play

After selling their previous house in a historic Birmingham neighborhood, architects Lynielle and Richard Long hoped to find a serene spot nestled in the woods for their expanding family. A split-level rancher in the suburb of Vestavia Hills fit the bill, but it needed a lot of work. Combining their expertise, the couple transformed the tired 1970s property into a family-friendly home for themselves and their two kids. Plus, they made space to set up their own firm, Long and Long Design.

The wooded setting was what sold them on the house. The screened porch blends the house into the setting.

The Longs’ home makes space for both noise and quiet, introversion and extroversion, work and life. A teepee on the screened porch serves as a designated play space for the kids where they can let their imaginations wander.

The decking is left natural, while the rafters are stained to match the doors and windows of the house. Contrasts such as this are repeated throughout the Longs’ design. The architects opted for a simple ceiling fan without a light kit, hanging string lights along the perimeter for soft illumination at night.