When envisioning the Hygeia Lot 3 single family residential home in Encinitas, California, Lindsay and Rory Brown of The Brown Studio sought to weave unique architectural details throughout the minimalist design scheme. To add depth to the overall look and feel of the space, and to complement the home’s existing ‘hard’ angles, the team selected Banker Wire’s IPZ-25 woven wire mesh. Specified in a stainless steel and brass finish, the wire mesh was utilized to create the interior stairway railing, which functions as the focal point of the lower lounge room area. Adding an elegant touchpoint to the space, the wire mesh reiterates the angular look and feel while providing much-needed depth through the stainless steel and brass finish. Similarly, for the project-at-large, the design team favored a seamless indoor/outdoor design scheme, with the Banker Wire mesh application helping to achieve this; the exterior of the home features Gabion rock walls, created using an enclosing wire structure to secure the rocks into a wall formation. By adding the wire mesh interior stairway railing, the design team was able to create an indoor/outdoor connection through highlighting these unique wire touchpoints. “The Hygeia Lot 3 house is full of unique angles and architectural details—it’s two levels of playful design and carefully crafted architectural details,” says Loryn Cook, Designer, The Brown Studio. “We wanted to use materials that reflect this line of thinking, and Banker Wire’s architectural mesh provided the stability and breathability we were after.” The simple, lightweight material of the IPZ-25 wire mesh pattern—which has a 54% open area—utilizes a mixture of stainless steel to achieve balanced sturdiness; when mixed with the copper-based alloy of brass, a beautiful contrast occurs, while the team’s custom system holds the wire in place. Through utilizing different wire diameters for the warp and shute—achieving balanced stiffness in both directions—the intercrimp surface gives the material a high degree of reflective energy. As a result, the mesh pattern imitates an array of colors that changes as the viewer moves throughout the space. “For this project, we wanted a material that was permeable enough to see through, but detailed enough to catch the eye,” adds Cook. “IPZ-25 provides a myriad of different textures and colors, depending on the perspective from which it is viewed from—we love it specifically for this effect.” In regards to the fabrication process, Robert Richter, Owner of Flur Metals, notes that although it was initially a challenge, this project is proof that the outcome is well worth it. “We typically utilize more rigid mesh types for this kind of application, but because of how unique IPZ-25 is, The Brown Studio came to us asking if we could make it work,” says Richter. “We did not shy away from the challenge; this project was exciting, as we were able to utilize such a delicate, beautiful mesh, but a non-traditional way. Once one side was ‘tac’d in,’ we pulled it tight, and ‘tac’d’ the other side to the frame. Then, the border was welded to another frame that sandwiched the mesh in place,” adds Richter. “This application is proof that it can be done! It’s still one of my favorite projects we have ever worked on.”

Floating Vanity, Wall Hung Toilet, Pocket Door create a seamless floor space
Inspiration for a contemporary bathroom remodel in Sacramento

The goal of this project was to transform the existing decrepit landscape into a newly modern space with the purpose of entertaining family and friends. The clients also wanted a hint of ‘steam-punk’ incorporated into the overall theme. To achieve the wants and needs of the client a new composite deck was installed with an angular form to maximize space on an already tight backyard with large setbacks. A swim spa was built into the deck and a secret hatch door was installed for any future maintenance. Large angled steps lead you from the deck down to the new random flagstone patio. A large custom pavilion was installed over the patio to shelter users from the elements. Oversized rough Douglas Fir posts and beams were used along with some black powder coated steel bars to achieve the steam punk theme. Extensive engineering was involved to achieve the cantilevered look and reduce the need for an outside post. Tongue and groove cedar planks make up the ceiling of the structure along with LED pot lights. 3 pieces of sandblasted Eramosa stone acts as a bar area for users in the newly installed hot tub. Lastly a frosted glass privacy screen with LED colour changing lights separates the sitting area under the pavilion and the barbecue area of the deck. Some existing plants and shrubs were salvaged during construction and were reused in the new low maintenance-planting plan. A new section of fence closes off the backyard for the homeowner’s dogs and a new gate was created with the use of steel bars to mirror the pavilion.

Kitchen photo in Other

The intent of this was project was to create a porch addition to expand the living area of the house during the warm months of the year. The space accommodates an area for cooking, dining and entertaining. The layout and finishes were chosen to flow with the interior of the home, creating a seamless extension of house. The collar ties add a custom detail making this structure custom and unique. The built-in kitchen is located directly outside the back door. A small veneer wall creates a separation from the kitchen to the dining table, while also doubling as a seat or serving area for the chef. The ‘L’ shaped sectional is a cozy sitting area for the family to relax by the new concrete fire table, or to sit in the shade and watch the kids play in the backyard. The structure is cladded in a PVC material which achieves the clean and simple look that the client was hoping for. The cladding material is also very low maintenance and will continue to look great for many years to come. Although the client was really drawn to modern design, they wanted to make sure that the porch wouldn’t look out of place with the house. To achieve a look that met their aesthetic requirements, the structure was kept relatively traditional, but a modern flare was achieved with the addition of simple plantings, accents, and natural square cut stepping-stones.

Inspiration for a modern living room remodel

This Mercer Island house is an exercise in the ever elusive work-life balance. Designed by Floisand Studio. Photo Credit: Ed Sozinho. Featured in the May 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.

When planning to construct their elegant new home in Rye, NH, our clients envisioned a large, open room with a vaulted ceiling adjacent to the kitchen. The goal? To introduce as much natural light as is possible into the area which includes the kitchen, a dining area, and the adjacent great room. As always, Sunspace is able to work with any specialists you’ve hired for your project. In this case, Sunspace Design worked with the clients and their designer on the conservatory roof system so that it would achieve an ideal appearance that paired beautifully with the home’s architecture. The glass roof meshes with the existing sloped roof on the exterior and sloped ceiling on the interior. By utilizing a concealed steel ridge attached to a structural beam at the rear, we were able to bring the conservatory ridge back into the sloped ceiling. The resulting design achieves the flood of natural light our clients were dreaming of. Ample sunlight penetrates deep into the great room and the kitchen, while the glass roof provides a striking visual as you enter the home through the foyer. By working closely with our clients and their designer, we were able to provide our clients with precisely the look, feel, function, and quality they were hoping to achieve. This is something we pride ourselves on at Sunspace Design. Consider our services for your residential project and we’ll ensure that you also receive exactly what you envisioned.

The goal of this project was to transform the existing decrepit landscape into a newly modern space with the purpose of entertaining family and friends. The clients also wanted a hint of ‘steam-punk’ incorporated into the overall theme. To achieve the wants and needs of the client a new composite deck was installed with an angular form to maximize space on an already tight backyard with large setbacks. A swim spa was built into the deck and a secret hatch door was installed for any future maintenance. Large angled steps lead you from the deck down to the new random flagstone patio. A large custom pavilion was installed over the patio to shelter users from the elements. Oversized rough Douglas Fir posts and beams were used along with some black powder coated steel bars to achieve the steam punk theme. Extensive engineering was involved to achieve the cantilevered look and reduce the need for an outside post. Tongue and groove cedar planks make up the ceiling of the structure along with LED pot lights. 3 pieces of sandblasted Eramosa stone acts as a bar area for users in the newly installed hot tub. Lastly a frosted glass privacy screen with LED colour changing lights separates the sitting area under the pavilion and the barbecue area of the deck. Some existing plants and shrubs were salvaged during construction and were reused in the new low maintenance-planting plan. A new section of fence closes off the backyard for the homeowner’s dogs and a new gate was created with the use of steel bars to mirror the pavilion.

Inspiration for a dining room remodel in Chicago

Example of a mid-century modern living room design in Philadelphia

Northeast Spa & Pool Association
Inspiration for a pool remodel in Philadelphia

FINISH: PRIMED The advantages of this approach – of this type of interior door finish – are fairly obvious. Pick a color, any color that suits your projects best. Mix and apply. Re- coat whenever you feel it is necessary to do so. Touch it up. It gives you, the proud owner of these interior doors, complete freedom of choice, and the significant savings, especially where it comes to bulk orders, can be a true source of joy. As Kurt Vonnegut mentions in one of his novels (Bluebeard, unless I’m mistaken … check it out when you get a chance), the thrill of laying on colors is a large part of the artist’s professional satisfaction. In other words, a keen pleasure. When back in the remote past visual arts became a field dominated by professionals rather than hobbyists, the main problem of “just laying on paint” became obvious: you can’t. The medium of choice back then was egg tempera, a permanent, fast-drying substance consisting of colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk. Portraits and ornaments were executed in this medium, and the wood panel was the surface of choice. One of tempera’s interesting features is that it is not as easily absorbed by wood as other mediums. Some sort of primer was necessary, of course, but pretty much any substance that dried evenly could be used. The drawbacks of tempera, or pintura al temple, as the Spanish call it, only became obvious with the advent of the Renaissance, when the leading representatives of the trade turned to oil (and interior doors suddenly became a great deal less crude, but that’s a story for another day). Oil painting is the process of “painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder.” Commonly used types include linseed (highly preferable in art, though not necessarily in interior doors, mind you), poppy seed, walnut, and safflower. Today, five hundred years later, it is safe to say that oil is more versatile than pintura al temple – by orders of magnitude. Specifically, the contrasts achieved through the former are much greater, the darks are far deeper, and three- dimensional, highly realistic images are much easier to achieve. Next time you visit a museum, take a closer look at pintura al temple portraits. All of them, without exception, come off as a bit “flat” as opposed to their latter-day counterparts. Also, where glazing is concerned … Glazing: a painting technique in which a transparent layer, with just a touch of pigment, is laid over a previously painted surface, allowing light to travel through the glaze and be reflected back off of the opaque layer below. Gentle shadows, subtle changes of color, smooth transitions – all these can be achieved through glazing, which was used by all artists up until the middle of the Nineteenth Century, when artist tubes were invented, revolutionizing the field, and other techniques began to be explored. Tempera enthusiasts (it takes all kinds to make a world) will assure you that glazing is not just possible in pintura al temple but is actually the basis of the whole enterprise. Well, what are you going to do? They’re enthusiasts. Anyway, la peinture à l'huile, as the French call it, re-introduced the ancient problem of most surface’s propensity to absorb dipingere, as the Italians call the stuff. Wood or canvas, it is all the same: you’re not going to get very far without a good primer. Experiments were conducted, and soon rabbit skin glue emerged as the least expensive and most effective solution. It was easy to apply. It dried evenly. It made the application of the l’huile stuff on top of it a walk in the park. There were drawbacks. Today, rabbit skin glue is considered to be a major cause of cracking by most modern conservators. (Remember, when you visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art – and did you see those interior doors? … some of them are quite something … - most “old masters” pictures are completely covered with a cobweb of cracks? There you go). Because the glue is hygroscopic, it continually absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, causing the glue to swell and shrink as ambient humidity levels change. Over many humidity cycles, this repeated flexing causes the brittle oily layers to crack. To combat this problem, modern primers are made of acrylic materials which are guaranteed not to cause any damage to the dipingere. No bubbling, no cracks. Your interior doors are safe.

Inspiration for a kitchen remodel in Other

Mumford & Wood has designed and manufactured beautiful windows and doors for Kylemore House on the Coombe Estate, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. This is an exclusive 9,000 sq ft new-build house which has recently been awarded winner of the ‘Best Out of London Home’ and runner-up of the ‘Best Luxury Home’ at the 2014 Evening Standard New Homes Awards. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty Coombe Park is within 10 minutes of Wimbledon Village, the Common and Richmond Park. Designed by Hoban Design, Kingston upon Thames (www.hobandesign.co.uk) for main contractor Epsom Builders, a family run business in Surrey, the property has been designed to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency with an ‘A’ EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) Energy Rating and Code 4 Sustainable Homes. Mumford & Wood Conservation™ timber fenestration products are highly energy efficient and play their part in this overall achievement. Kylemore is one of only 0.01% of homes built to achieve this standard in England.

Bathroom - bathroom idea in Paris

Northeast Spa & Pool Association
Pool photo in Philadelphia