Search results for "Absorbance" in Home Design Ideas

The needs for this project included an expansive outdoor space that provides an unobstructed view of the open space behind the home while also being able to enjoy the sunny Colorado weather. Through an in depth design process the decision to use Tigerwood, a hardwood decking, was established. Tigerwood provides a long lasting decking option that looks beautiful and absorbs wear and tear much better than its softwood and composite counterparts.
For the roof it was decided that a timber frame design with cedar tongue and groove would be the best duo for form, function, and aesthetics. This allowed for multiple lights, outlets, and a ceiling fan to be integrated into the design.

View to the 128" diagonal screen with a 4K image.
The wall behind the screen, the side walls, and the ceiling area around the screen are covered in black velvet cloth material. The velvet absorbs 95% of the light, minimizing reflections from the screen. This helps enhance the contrast and black levels of the image and makes the projected image pop off of the screen.

Choosen by the client, the homeowner decided to go away from the color of the black pulls for the appliances. Going with stainless steel, the appliances refract light from the recessed ceiling lights and outdoors, absorbing the warmth of the space. A great choice!
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This 1924 beauty deserved a well planned and carefully detailed main level remodel. The goal for this project was to restore some of the original design elements and mix with modern day living and materials. Removing the wall between kitchen and dining space allowed the Gravelly Lake view to be absorbed from every angle. By carrying similar colors, styles and materials around the different rooms the home now has a cohesive style.

Moss Garden: A Living Carpet of Tranquility
A moss garden is a serene, low-maintenance landscape feature that evokes a profound sense of calm and natural beauty. Composed of vibrant, velvety mosses that thrive in shaded, humid environments, these gardens offer a soft, carpet-like groundcover that replaces traditional lawns or gravel with rich, green texture.
At Westland Design, our moss gardens are thoughtfully integrated into the overall landscape to enhance a feeling of timelessness and stillness. Whether nestled beneath the canopy of trees, edging a stone pathway, or surrounding a tranquil water feature, moss brings subtle movement and color to quiet corners of the garden.
Key qualities of a moss garden include:
Evergreen softness: Moss provides lush, year-round greenery that requires no mowing or fertilizing.
Quiet beauty: It absorbs sound, contributing to a peaceful, contemplative environment.
Natural elegance: Ideal for Japanese-style gardens or woodland settings, moss complements stone, water, and wood elements with organic harmony.
A moss garden is more than a design choice—it’s an invitation to slow down, observe closely, and appreciate nature’s quiet elegance.

Silicon Valley ADU: front entry: swing door with sidelite.
building Lab is a design build firm specialized in modern architecture.
Large minimalist gray one-story concrete fiberboard exterior home photo in San Francisco with a metal roof and a gray roof
Large minimalist gray one-story concrete fiberboard exterior home photo in San Francisco with a metal roof and a gray roof

This lower level space started off as a storage space for inherited household furniture and miscellaneous infrequently used items. Pierre Jean-Baptiste Interiors reimagined the space as it now exists using some of our clients few requirements including a stage for the family comedians at the rear of the lower level, a movie screening area, a serving table for frequent soiree’s, and cozy resilient furnishings. We infused style into this lower level changing the paint colors, adding new carpet to absorb sound and provide style. We also were sure to include color in the space strategically. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the upcoming video of this space!

This young family purchased their first home in 2021, and let's say it was full of original 1970s charm - i.e., nothing had been done to this house in the past 50 years.
We had recently completed a project for a family member, so they called us in to help. During our initial consultation, they shared a modest project budget, and we explained that we wouldn't be able to accomplish much on such a limited budget. Several weeks passed, and they ultimately raised their funding, and we signed on for the job.
Even after doubling their budget, we still had our work cut out for us. The original kitchen was very small in comparison to the square footage of the home, and opening up the space meant we needed to add two structural beams between the first and second stories.
These homeowners already had one small child, and were expecting another in the coming months. They also have large families in the area, so creating an ample gathering space for multiple cooks was crucial to the final layout. Some of their wish list items included a bar and a large island with plenty of seating. They also wanted the kitchen open to the family room.
This home had a formal and informal dining area, so we opted to absorb the casual eating area into the newly expanded kitchen floorplan. We relocated their laundry room to create an extended family room, which included the new bar area. We were also able to use the under-stair space to create a kitchen pantry. The kitchen transformed from 115 sq. ft. to a spacious 260 sq. ft., all within existing poorly used space. We were able to create clear sightlines to the backyard and pool from the new kitchen and family room, perfect for a young family.
Aesthetically speaking, our clients wanted a neutral space that could grow and change with their family. We kept the expensive items like cabinets, countertops, and tile in classic finishes like whites and navy blues, while we had more fun with things like the faucet, hardware, and light fixtures that could easily be updated over the years. The finished product is a warm, clean, family-friendly space that invites you to come in and pull up a chair.

Moss Garden: A Living Carpet of Tranquility
A moss garden is a serene, low-maintenance landscape feature that evokes a profound sense of calm and natural beauty. Composed of vibrant, velvety mosses that thrive in shaded, humid environments, these gardens offer a soft, carpet-like groundcover that replaces traditional lawns or gravel with rich, green texture.
At Westland Design, our moss gardens are thoughtfully integrated into the overall landscape to enhance a feeling of timelessness and stillness. Whether nestled beneath the canopy of trees, edging a stone pathway, or surrounding a tranquil water feature, moss brings subtle movement and color to quiet corners of the garden.
Key qualities of a moss garden include:
Evergreen softness: Moss provides lush, year-round greenery that requires no mowing or fertilizing.
Quiet beauty: It absorbs sound, contributing to a peaceful, contemplative environment.
Natural elegance: Ideal for Japanese-style gardens or woodland settings, moss complements stone, water, and wood elements with organic harmony.
A moss garden is more than a design choice—it’s an invitation to slow down, observe closely, and appreciate nature’s quiet elegance.

Complementing the Home
This homeowner approached the experts at Braen Supply to help him select materials for his newly constructed home. The style and design of the house was already completed, therefore, the selected materials needed to complement the features of the home.
The homeowner’s one request was to find a patio stone that would emulate a bluestone; however, it would not absorb as much heat as bluestone, allowing swimmers to comfortably move from the pool to the patio without having to worry about shoes.
Working With the Experts
The experts at Braen Supply were able to find the perfect material to meet the homeowner’s needs and then used that to find materials for the façade, fireplace and outdoor kitchen, while still maintaining a concise look throughout the home. The materials that were selected gave the home a unique, yet classic look.

Above a newly constructed triple garage, we created a multifunctional space for a family that likes to entertain, but also spend time together watching movies, sports and playing pool.
Having worked with our clients before on a previous project, they gave us free rein to create something they couldn’t have thought of themselves. We planned the space to feel as open as possible, whilst still having individual areas with their own identity and purpose.
As this space was going to be predominantly used for entertaining in the evening or for movie watching, we made the room dark and enveloping using Farrow and Ball Studio Green in dead flat finish, wonderful for absorbing light. We then set about creating a lighting plan that offers multiple options for both ambience and practicality, so no matter what the occasion there was a lighting setting to suit.
The bar, banquette seat and sofa were all bespoke, specifically designed for this space, which allowed us to have the exact size and cover we wanted. We also designed a restroom and shower room, so that in the future should this space become a guest suite, it already has everything you need.
Given that this space was completed just before Christmas, we feel sure it would have been thoroughly enjoyed for entertaining.

Glo European Windows A7 series was carefully selected for the Elk Ridge Passive House because of their High Solar Heat Gain Coefficient which allows the home to absorb free solar heat, and a low U-value to retain this heat once the sunsets. The A7 windows were an excellent choice for durability and the ability to remain resilient in the harsh winter climate. Glo’s European hardware ensures smooth operation for fresh air and ventilation. The A7 windows from Glo were an easy choice for the Elk Ridge Passive House project.
Gabe Border Photography

This three bedroom duplex apartment is uniquely located at the corner of Gramercy Park. The project involved the renovation of one apartment and expansion into the unit above. The one bedroom apartment upstairs was converted into a Master Suite, while the original Master Bedroom was absorbed into the living room, creating a larger entertainment space to accommodate a piano and a custom bar with a cantilevered counter.
A new staircase connecting the existing apartment with the Master Suite is tucked away to maximize open social area. The dark wood floors were continued through the stair to suggest that this had always been part of the original design.
Upstairs, the new Master Bedroom faces south overlooking the park with integrated millwork on either side of the fireplace. A built-in bed floats off the floor and adjacent wall. Her closet used space flanking the fireplace for built-in shoe storage, providing a functional yet colorful display when lit. Cove lighting, stretched fabric and frosted glass were employed to provide a warm glow for the spaces when not illuminated by the abundant daylight on both levels.
Project by Richard Meier & Partners, Architects LLP

Çimstone applies European Standards for its quality control and produces with the Italian BRETON technology. Combining the natural stone textures with the robustness of quartz, Çimstone is reliably used for laboratories in particular due to its anti-bacterial hygienic composition. Further, it may be applied to such different areas of use as internal walls, facade, stairs, window sills, skirting and flooring.
Not absorbing liquid due to its compact composition, Çimstone is stain-proof and displays a high resistance to the abrasive effects of acids and bases thanks to this property. It may be produced in different colours compatible with cupboard covers, which suit different expectations, with texture and design alternatives. Capable of being provided with effects with such different materials as mirror, glass, seashells colored with pigments, Çimstone offers such alternatives different from those surface covering materials which have come to be accustomed up to the present time and completes the changing kitchen and bathroom culture and modern designs of the present day.

Floating cork flooring is a lovely, resilient and environmentally sound flooring option. When looking for a flooring option that brings more benefits than drawbacks, let cork impress you. It is comparable in price to traditional hardwood and tile and can be as easy if not easier to install. It is highly scratch resistant - more so than other natural flooring options, and is better at absorbing impact and sound. Give floating cork flooring a look over today.

This wooden wardrobe is simple and elegant, it combines white & Black board with golden handle to create minimalist charm. Adopts natural rattan with handmade weaving technology, the natural rattan not only has the effect of absorbing moisture and heat but also delivering perfect visual effect, add charming to your home.

We can't say enough how window treatments can transform a space. Customizing to the room's unique elements is important to maximize your room's full potential. In this dining room, we draw attention to the ceiling structure and wood beam design by custom making the treatments on an angle. Rotating the square medallions also reiterates the angled ceiling so that the eye naturally rests on the architectural details. The adjacent Living Room continues the timeless pattern with floor to ceiling treatments, drawing attention to the ceiling height and crown molding details. Not only do these treatments help to absorb sound (making for a more intimate setting), they also navigate the eye to the home's character and view while acting as a stunning focal.
Megan Kranz

THE SETUP
“You have to figure out how to rebuild a life worth living,” Basia Kozub’s client says. Her husband passed away suddenly three years ago. Holidays with family became more important, and she found herself struggling with a 37-year old kitchen that was falling apart. “I made a decision to move forward,” she says. “I went, ‘You know what? I’m redoing the kitchen.'”
The big task of getting started was as easy as having a conversation – literally. Basia was on the job, helping the client sort through priorities, wishes and ideas. Basia’s client is 5′ 4″, likes keeping an eye on the kiddoes in the backyard and wanted certain things to have their own place.
THE REMODEL
The objectives were:
Enlarge and open the space
Find a classic look that incorporates blues
Upgrade to easy-to-use appliances
Hide an office space within the space
Ample storage for dishes
Design challenges:
Uneven window alignment on the back wall
Original kitchen smaller than desired, stuctural concerns if walls to be moved
Keep folks close – figure out seating for entertaining
Main sink in corner is ideal, but windows are hard to reach
Lots of storage needed for dishes, glass collection, pantry items, bar bottles and office supplies
Specific storage needs for oft-used spices and utensils
THE RENEWED SPACE
Design solutions:
Replace back wall windows, establish window size continuity
Take out two walls to open up the space, tall shallow cabinet and a tall filler added to conceal a new header
Large island that seats six easily
Custom corner sink cabinet with recessed edge allows vertically challenged homeowner to reach the windows
Mindful storage planning features: plenty of cabinets, pull-out bar bottle storage, file drawers & cubbies with pocket doors for office appliances, magic corner pullouts, and appliance garages with pocket doors
Shelf behind range for easy access to daily-use spices and oils. Also: spice and utensil pullouts on either side of range
The clients says every priority and wish box got checked. The highly functional design absorbed everything that used to be in that area of the house, but now those things are out of the way.
“In the past, we were all spread out when we gathered for the holidays, because we had to spread out. Now, we’re all in here together, including my 92-year old mother. We’re visiting, cooking, laughing… everyone is here. And I’m really learning how to use these appliances. This kitchen has given me a whole new life.”

Located on a wooded lot on the south side of Mount Orford in Estrie, this country house is designed to enjoy views of the wooded slope down to a stream at the bottom of the valley and rising to the opposite cliff. The south offers a splendid view of distant mountains. Of modest size, the house is simple, modern and showcases natural materials. It opens towards the forest and the landscape while preserving the intimacy of the customers. The interior is spacious; the living spaces are communicating and friendly, with a high ceiling above the living room and a large picture window in front of the master bedroom, on the mezzanine. The living areas open onto an outdoor terrace that anchors the house to its rocky terrain, protected from the weather and hidden from the street. The rock of the land is highlighted at the edge of the terrace, where a rock face down the slope. A large roof overhang protects the house from the sun in the summer, and the low-level concrete floors absorb sunlight in the winter. The house has been designed according to the criteria of LEED and Novoclimat.

Maximizes Your Laser
TV Experience
AWOL VISION CINEMATIC ALR SCREEN
Overcoming Ceiling Light with Ease
Our Ceiling -Light Rejecting material absorbs 95% of overhead lighting. A micro-cirriform optical structure on the surface filters out ceiling light for superior picture quality.
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