We were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston. They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s. Many years back, they had contracted a local pool company to install an old lagoon-style pool, which they had since grown tired of. When they initially called us, they wanted to know if we could build them an outdoor room at the far end of the swimming pool. We scheduled a free consultation at a time convenient to them, and we drove out to their residence to take a look at the property. After a quick survey of the back yard, rear of the home, and the swimming pool, we determined that building an outdoor room as an addition to their existing landscaping design would not bring them the results they expected. The pool was visibly dated with an early “70’s” look, which not only clashed with the late 50’s style of home architecture, but guaranteed an even greater clash with any modern-style outdoor room we constructed. Luckily for the Peseks, we offered an even better landscaping plan than the one they had hoped for. We proposed the construction of a new outdoor room and an entirely new swimming pool. Both of these new structures would be built around the classical geometry of proportional right angles. This would allow a very modern design to compliment an older home, because basic geometric patterns are universal in many architectural designs used throughout history. In this case, both the swimming pool and the outdoor rooms were designed as interrelated quadrilateral forms with proportional right angles that created the illusion of lengthened distance and a sense of Classical elegance. This proved a perfect complement to a house that had originally been built as a symbolic emblem of a simpler, more rugged and absolute era. Though reminiscent of classical design and complimentary to the conservative design of the home, the interior of the outdoor room was ultra-modern in its array of comfort and convenience. The Peseks felt this would be a great place to hold birthday parties for their child. With this new outdoor room, the Peseks could take the party outside at any time of day or night, and at any time of year. We also built the structure to be fully functional as an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor entertainment area. There was a smoker, a refrigerator, an ice maker, and a water heater—all intended to eliminate any need to return to the house once the party began. Seating and entertainment systems were also added to provide state of the art fun for adults and children alike. We installed a flat-screen plasma TV, and we wired it for cable. The swimming pool was built between the outdoor room and the rear entrance to the house. We got rid of the old lagoon-pool design which geometrically clashed with the right angles of the house and outdoor room. We then had a completely new pool built, in the shape of a rectangle, with a rather innovative coping design. We showcased the pool with a coping that rose perpendicular to the ground out of the stone patio surface. This reinforced our blend of contemporary look with classical right angles. We saved the client an enormous amount of money on travertine by setting the coping so that it does not overhang with the tile. Because the ground between the house and the outdoor room gradually dropped in grade, we used the natural slope of the ground to create another perpendicular right angle at the end of the pool. Here, we installed a waterfall which spilled over into a heated spa. Although the spa was fed from within itself, it was built to look as though water was coming from within the pool. The ultimate result of all of this is a new sense of visual “ebb and flow,” so to speak. When Mr. Pesek sits in his couch facing his house, the earth appears to rise up first into an illuminated pool which leads the way up the steps to his home. When he sits in his spa facing the other direction, the earth rises up like a doorway to his outdoor room, where he can comfortably relax in the water while he watches TV. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Small residential garden to suite a modern house and active children. -kwmla-
This is an example of a small contemporary backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

Luxurious modern take on a traditional white Italian villa. An entry with a silver domed ceiling, painted moldings in patterns on the walls and mosaic marble flooring create a luxe foyer. Into the formal living room, cool polished Crema Marfil marble tiles contrast with honed carved limestone fireplaces throughout the home, including the outdoor loggia. Ceilings are coffered with white painted crown moldings and beams, or planked, and the dining room has a mirrored ceiling. Bathrooms are white marble tiles and counters, with dark rich wood stains or white painted. The hallway leading into the master bedroom is designed with barrel vaulted ceilings and arched paneled wood stained doors. The master bath and vestibule floor is covered with a carpet of patterned mosaic marbles, and the interior doors to the large walk in master closets are made with leaded glass to let in the light. The master bedroom has dark walnut planked flooring, and a white painted fireplace surround with a white marble hearth. The kitchen features white marbles and white ceramic tile backsplash, white painted cabinetry and a dark stained island with carved molding legs. Next to the kitchen, the bar in the family room has terra cotta colored marble on the backsplash and counter over dark walnut cabinets. Wrought iron staircase leading to the more modern media/family room upstairs. Project Location: North Ranch, Westlake, California. Remodel designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. Eclectic Living Room with Asian antiques from the owners' own travels. Deep purple, copper and white chenille fabrics and a handknotted wool rug. Modern art painting by Maraya, Home built by Timothy J. Droney

Mid-sized transitional 3/4 multicolored tile and mosaic tile bathroom photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Boston with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Rustic wood house exterior idea in Other with a shed roof

This is a mid-sized galley style laundry room with custom paint grade cabinets. These cabinets feature a beaded inset construction method with a high gloss sheen on the painted finish. We also included a rolling ladder for easy access to upper level storage areas.

Photo by Emily Followill
Elegant living room photo in Atlanta with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Master Bathroom with low window inside shower stall for natural light. Shower is a true-divided lite design with tempered glass for safety. Shower floor is of small carrarra marble tile. Interior by Robert Nebolon and Sarah Bertram. Robert Nebolon Architects; California Coastal design San Francisco Modern, Bay Area modern residential design architects, Sustainability and green design

Custom double vanity with perfect pull-out storage for hair products and organization! Photos by Chris Veith
Large elegant master white tile and mosaic tile marble floor and white floor bathroom photo in New York with beaded inset cabinets, an undermount tub, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Paul Dyer Photography
Inspiration for a timeless gray tile and glass tile mosaic tile floor corner shower remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, an undermount tub, gray walls and recessed-panel cabinets

Bathroom - mid-sized farmhouse blue tile and glass tile medium tone wood floor bathroom idea in Charlotte with beige walls and a hinged shower door

Painted to room a nice dark blue gray to give the room a soft and cozy feel. Added light linens and an area rug to make it pop off that dark color.

Los Altos, CA.
Living room - traditional living room idea in San Francisco with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a mid-sized country white two-story wood house exterior design in Atlanta with a metal roof

Inspiration for a tropical shade stone garden path in Miami.

Cottage bathroom photo in Little Rock

Mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Photo Credit, Jenn Smira
Danish 3/4 white tile and subway tile black floor bathroom photo in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops