Large elegant open concept light wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Salt Lake City with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

Photo: Shaun Cammack The goal of the project was to create a modern log cabin on Coeur D’Alene Lake in North Idaho. Uptic Studios considered the combined occupancy of two families, providing separate spaces for privacy and common rooms that bring everyone together comfortably under one roof. The resulting 3,000-square-foot space nestles into the site overlooking the lake. A delicate balance of natural materials and custom amenities fill the interior spaces with stunning views of the lake from almost every angle. The whole project was featured in Jan/Feb issue of Design Bureau Magazine. See the story here: http://www.wearedesignbureau.com/projects/cliff-family-robinson/

Custom-made cat walkways, built-in feline fun. © Holly Lepere
Example of an eclectic family room design in Santa Barbara with green walls

Charles Smith
Inspiration for a timeless living room remodel in Dallas with a music area

ORIJIN STONE exclusive custom-crafted limestone veneer blend. Custom fabricated hearth stone in our Pewter™ limestone. Photography by Canary Grey.
Trendy dark wood floor family room photo in Minneapolis with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a large transitional formal carpeted living room remodel in Indianapolis with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Brad Montgomery tym Homes
Living room - large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Barry Grossman Photography
Example of a trendy living room design in Miami

Transitional enclosed beige floor family room photo in Orange County with blue walls and a standard fireplace

Living room - large mediterranean formal and open concept dark wood floor and gray floor living room idea in Miami with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Designer: Aaron Keller | Photographer: Sarah Utech
Transitional living room photo in Milwaukee

Example of a large transitional open concept painted wood floor and black floor family room design in Seattle with blue walls, no fireplace and no tv

Living Room
Inspiration for a modern living room remodel in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace and no tv

This custom white oak wall unit was designed to house a bar, a TV, and 5 guitars. The hammered metal pulls and mirrored bar really make this piece sparkle.

Photography: Marc Angelo Ramos
Elegant family room photo in San Francisco with beige walls

built by: Alec Genung Construction Inc. photo by: Susan Teare designed by: Birdseye Design
Example of a large classic living room design in Burlington with a standard fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace

The grand living room needed large focal pieces, so our design team began by selecting the large iron chandelier to anchor the space. The black iron of the chandelier echoes the black window trim of the two story windows and fills the volume of space nicely. The plain fireplace wall was underwhelming, so our team selected four slabs of premium Calcutta gold marble and butterfly bookmatched the slabs to add a sophisticated focal point. Tall sheer drapes add height and subtle drama to the space. The comfortable sectional sofa and woven side chairs provide the perfect space for relaxing or for entertaining guests. Woven end tables, a woven table lamp, woven baskets and tall olive trees add texture and a casual touch to the space. The expansive sliding glass doors provide indoor/outdoor entertainment and ease of traffic flow when a large number of guests are gathered.

Inspiration for a coastal family room remodel in Houston