We designed a large curving balcony to achieve many goals: 1) balcony provides another space to the upper floor of this home, and outdoor "room" 2) the balcony connects a rear stairwell entrance to the main public living spaces 3) balcony re-focuses the house to the open side yard prized garden of the owner, his passion. The balcony acknowledges and honors his good work. 4) The curve of the balcony is continued into the living room and becomes the curve of a soffit with hidden lighting. This creates an indoor/outdoor continuity making the house plus the garden become "the home". 5) The flow of the balcony supports the flow of the garden path below it and moves good energy through the garden space and home. Mark Miller

Exterior refresh. We decided to use a warm creamy white for the paint and used a warm black as an accent color to complement the new dark bronze windows. We went with a warm spiced rum finish for a wood accent color to pay acknowledgment to the existing brown roof. This adorable home turned out bright and charming.

ARCHITECTURE: Honor Award
 PROJECT: Leunter Commons CLIENT: Case Western Reserve University ARCHITECTURE FIRM: Stantec CONTRACTOR: Krill Co., Inc. ENGINEERS: Thorson Baker & Associates, Inc.; Karpinski Engineering, Inc. PHOTOGRAPHER: Jason Meyer of Feinkkopf Photography DESCRIPTION: Originally designed in 1963, Leunter Commons exemplified mid-century modern architecture. While the building had undergone updates over the decades, there were many factors that necessitated a renovation. These challenges were addressed while acknowledging the original building’s architecture and context. The new construction was designed as an extension, rather than an addition, by maintaining the original material palette, rhythm, proportions, sightlines, and the expression of horizontality of the existing building. JURY COMMENTS: This project is simple and self-confident, commensurate with the existing building. The enhancements are function driven influenced by the architecture of the building. The solution shows great restraint and did not overreach. The project is transformational while positively engaging its campus context. There is a very nice resonance between the building and the program.

Internationally Acknowledged Interior Designers & Decorators
Bedroom - traditional bedroom idea in Atlanta

Cottage bathroom photo in New York

Vintage planter filled with Colocasia 'Black Coral' and surrounded by a mixed perennial border
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Columbus.

Saturday May 16, 10:30am to 12:00pm | Saratoga Blackwell Hillside Garden by Rebecca Dye and Hank Helbush of Design Focus International Register: https://tclf.org/event/garden-dialogues-northern-california-2015 Each detail of this spectacular Saratoga landscape was considered with its hillside site in mind, from the size of the pool to the choice of antique stone masonry. Working closely with the owner, the landscape architects created a series of intimate garden spaces on three terraces. At the top of the site, entertainment is the name of the game where a bocce ball court and a fire pit take advantage of the site’s commanding views of the Santa Clara Valley. Below the house, a jewel-like pool captures the eye, with its intricate glass-tile and bronze water jets. At its end, a seating area and fireplace are shaded by an arbor covered with climbing roses, adding both fragrance and hue. Visitors descend a series of terraced stone stairs set into the hillside, punctuated by raised beds of strawberries, lavender, artichokes, and citrus. A formal parterre flower garden on the terrace is replanted periodically with colorful blooms in acknowledgment of the changing seasons. Photos by Lauren Devon

To create a kitchen worthy of today's demands, we needed a larger space. The formal dining room provided exactly what we needed. The soft blue cabinets and backsplash are a gentle nod to 1900's with an open plan and size that acknowledges the kitchen requirements of today's families. Besides the beautiful double oven 48" Ilve range, the walnut vent hood and the corner fireplace, you won't want to miss the double refrigerators, pull out spices and well appointed butler's pantry.

To create a kitchen worthy of today's demands, we needed a larger space. The formal dining room provided exactly what we needed. The soft blue cabinets and backsplash are a gentle nod to 1900's with an open plan and size that acknowledges the kitchen requirements of today's families. Besides the beautiful double oven 48" Ilve range, the walnut vent hood and the corner fireplace, you won't want to miss the double refrigerators, pull out spices and well appointed butler's pantry.

imagery intelligence
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Dallas

Step into this beautifully transformed bathroom, a serene blue and bold sanctuary nestled within a distinguished South Pasadena home. This space artfully marries modern indulgence with historical charm. The first thing that captivates your attention is the gleaming brass fixtures from Brizo. These fixtures aren’t merely functional; they’re bold statement pieces that inject a layer of refined elegance. The brass showerhead, sink faucet, and bathtub faucet radiate against the calm backdrop. Next to these radiant fixtures, you’ll find cabinets bathed in a soothing shade of sky blue. This tranquil hue instills a sense of serenity, transforming the bathroom into a peaceful oasis. This is the perfect place to start and end your day in the city of South Pasadena. Contrasting the contemporary fixtures and cabinetry, the walls display traditional Tongue and Groove paneling. This classic design detail pays homage to the home’s rich history. When paired with the sky-blue cabinets, it ushers in a coastal, airy vibe. As you venture further into the space, your gaze naturally falls onto the floor. Here, a striking chevron pattern captures the eye. The rhythmic alternation of tile shades creates a dynamic visual journey across the room. The shower and the bathtub are enveloped in immaculate white quartz slabs. The subtle grey veins throughout the quartz radiate a spa-like ambiance. These serene elements, along with the white quartz, brass fixtures, sky-blue cabinets, and dynamic chevron tile flooring, harmonize perfectly. Illuminating this exquisite ensemble is the soft, warm glow of strategically placed LED recessed lighting. These modern lights enhance every design detail, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The LEDs highlight the textures and colors in the room, providing efficient and adjustable light. Finally, in acknowledgment of the house’s historical lineage, the bathroom window has been custom-crafted. These windows invite an abundance of natural light, offering glimpses of the charming South Pasadena neighborhood. They fill the room with warmth, paying homage to the history and character of the city. In summary, this ‘blue and bold’ bathroom stands as a testament to the seamless fusion of modern elements with historical charm. It showcases visually stunning aesthetics combined with practical functionality. Truly embodying the spirit of the city of South Pasadena.

Step into this beautifully transformed bathroom, a serene blue and bold sanctuary nestled within a distinguished South Pasadena home. This space artfully marries modern indulgence with historical charm. The first thing that captivates your attention is the gleaming brass fixtures from Brizo. These fixtures aren’t merely functional; they’re bold statement pieces that inject a layer of refined elegance. The brass showerhead, sink faucet, and bathtub faucet radiate against the calm backdrop. Next to these radiant fixtures, you’ll find cabinets bathed in a soothing shade of sky blue. This tranquil hue instills a sense of serenity, transforming the bathroom into a peaceful oasis. This is the perfect place to start and end your day in the city of South Pasadena. Contrasting the contemporary fixtures and cabinetry, the walls display traditional Tongue and Groove paneling. This classic design detail pays homage to the home’s rich history. When paired with the sky-blue cabinets, it ushers in a coastal, airy vibe. As you venture further into the space, your gaze naturally falls onto the floor. Here, a striking chevron pattern captures the eye. The rhythmic alternation of tile shades creates a dynamic visual journey across the room. The shower and the bathtub are enveloped in immaculate white quartz slabs. The subtle grey veins throughout the quartz radiate a spa-like ambiance. These serene elements, along with the white quartz, brass fixtures, sky-blue cabinets, and dynamic chevron tile flooring, harmonize perfectly. Illuminating this exquisite ensemble is the soft, warm glow of strategically placed LED recessed lighting. These modern lights enhance every design detail, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The LEDs highlight the textures and colors in the room, providing efficient and adjustable light. Finally, in acknowledgment of the house’s historical lineage, the bathroom window has been custom-crafted. These windows invite an abundance of natural light, offering glimpses of the charming South Pasadena neighborhood. They fill the room with warmth, paying homage to the history and character of the city. In summary, this ‘blue and bold’ bathroom stands as a testament to the seamless fusion of modern elements with historical charm. It showcases visually stunning aesthetics combined with practical functionality. Truly embodying the spirit of the city of South Pasadena.

Tucker Design Awards celebrate the innovation and vision that designers bring to their projects through the specification and use of natural stone materials. For members of the Natural Stone Institute, acknowledgement as a contributor to a Tucker Design Awards winning project is a genuine tribute to their traditional values, physicality of work and dedication to precise specifications required in the realization of such accomplished architectural design. Landscape Architect Design Workshop, Aspen, CO Architect Poss Architecture, Aspen, CO Landscape Contractor Landscape Workshop, Carbondale, CO Stone Supplier/Installer Gallegos Corporation, Wolcott, CO Stone Quarry Arkins Park Stone, Loveland, CO Within walled boundaries, Woody Creek Garden embraces its high alpine environment through explorations of stone and water that serve as unifying elements of form in the design of the various outdoor spaces. Through striking and distinctively detailed stonework, water is portrayed in its various states and forms – atmospheric mist, single rivulets, cascades, and still pools. Two courtyards interlink the residence allowing each room to enjoy the visual landscape. In the entrance courtyard, the sound from a carved 24”x 24” cut-granite fountain reverberates throughout the walled space. Placed for gathering and quiet contemplation, a pin-wheel arrangement of sculptural, granite slabs provide a honed surface for sitting while providing year-round interest. Each stone was individually specified with intentionally spaced core fractures, utilizing the extraction method to serve as sculpted details. Large sandstone pavers, set in sand and cut in an irregular, but geometric fashion bring a sense of modernity to the space. Throughout the property, stone detailing seek to heighten one’s experience of the landscape and views. Upon the home’s entry, an 18” rectilinear cut in the freestanding stone wall frames a distant peak, creating a singular reference to the outside world in this encased space. Emerging from the center of an organically-shaped carved sandstone slab, water is carried along a narrow 2” runnel sandstone cap, disappearing into the framed horizon. This glimpse to the west is the only opening in the tightly enclosed courtyard. From its opposite aspect, the feature creates a welcoming gesture at the home’s front entrance. The slender rivulet of water trickles from the sandstone slab above onto a honed granite plane, set within a sandstone terrace In contrast, a second promontory courtyard commands a strong presence over its alpine setting, leaving the steeply sloping site undisturbed. A 12’x 40’ reflecting pool – a thin sheet of water over honed black granite – captures the form and silence of the everchanging natural environment on its taut surface. Along its edge, water flows over a ½” radius edge, disappearing into a recirculating slot. Commissioned by Italian artist Bruno Romeda, a bronze sculpture rests upon an elevated granite plinth. Along its western edge, designers crafted a two-tiered, infinity edge detail. In the first vertical drop, water flows between the pool and perimeter stone walls, landing onto an intermediate bench, while the second drop introduces a chamfered edge, allowing water to embrace the vertical relief without splashing. Sandstone terraces provide continuous access to the various landscape features of the garden. At the base of the battered perimeter walls, a sandstone path leads to a fire pit, encircled by lichen-covered boulders. Along the courtyard’s eastern perimeter, water appears to emerge from the hillside, fracturing and falling against the irregular vertical stone wall, melting in a curtain-like formation behind the spa. The colors, distinctive detailing and striking stonework were selected based on their appropriateness to the context. From above, a rectilinear pool lies behind the wall, silently mirroring the sky above and offering no ostensible connection to the structure or to its source.

September, Date and Time TBD | Saratoga Blackwell Hillside Garden by Rebecca Dye and Hank Helbush of Design Focus International Each detail of this spectacular Saratoga landscape was considered with its hillside site in mind, from the size of the pool to the choice of antique stone masonry. Working closely with the owner, the landscape architects created a series of intimate garden spaces on three terraces. At the top of the site, entertainment is the name of the game where a bocce ball court and a fire pit take advantage of the site’s commanding views of the Santa Clara Valley. Below the house, a jewel-like pool captures the eye, with its intricate glass-tile and bronze water jets. At its end, a seating area and fireplace are shaded by an arbor covered with climbing roses, adding both fragrance and hue. Visitors descend a series of terraced stone stairs set into the hillside, punctuated by raised beds of strawberries, lavender, artichokes, and citrus. A formal parterre flower garden on the terrace is replanted periodically with colorful blooms in acknowledgment of the changing seasons. Photo by Lauren Devon

To create a kitchen worthy of today's demands, we needed a larger space. The formal dining room provided exactly what we needed. The soft blue cabinets and backsplash are a gentle nod to 1900's with an open plan and size that acknowledges the kitchen requirements of today's families. Besides the beautiful double oven 48" Ilve range, the walnut vent hood and the corner fireplace, you won't want to miss the double refrigerators, pull out spices and well appointed butler's pantry.

Internationally Acknowledged Interior Designers & Decorators
Example of a classic bedroom design in Atlanta

With the accent wall being so predominant in the space and extending from one end of the apartment to the other, it was only natural to stage this multi-functional space with decorative items that complimented the shade of green such as the fruit, flowers and blue decorative pillows.

Tucker Design Awards celebrate the innovation and vision that designers bring to their projects through the specification and use of natural stone materials. For members of the Natural Stone Institute, acknowledgement as a contributor to a Tucker Design Awards winning project is a genuine tribute to their traditional values, physicality of work and dedication to precise specifications required in the realization of such accomplished architectural design. Architect Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Seattle,WA Stone Installers Gallegos Corporation, Basalt, CO Stone Supplier Quarra Stone Company, Madison, WI Stone Quarry Bertozzi Felice di Rovai G & C Srl, Pietrasanta (LU), Italy Truffer AG, Vals, Switzerland The Independence Pass Residence is sited at the edge of a nature preserve in Aspen, Colorado with views of an alpine meadow, forests of evergreen and aspen trees, the Roaring Fork River and the Rocky Mountains. The owners requested something very different from large, ostentatious heavy-timber homes that appear throughout the Aspen slopes: a home that would reach out to nature, not to gird against it; one that would feel light and modern, yet not on display. Approached from the north, a driveway leads from the main road to a private parking court, sheltered from wind and weather. The house stretches between two existing hills on the site; forming a threshold to the views of the meandering river and nature preserve beyond. The lower level is expressed as a series of stone-clad walls that extend the building into the landscape. The upper level is a sleek box with a metal roof that floats on slender columns. Pre-weathered wood siding is used to clad the upper level of the buildings and will continue to weather to a silver grey. All exterior cladding materials are intended to weather naturally with little maintenance to a palette of soft grays. A wall of black-stained cedar boards marks the main entry and extends through the house into a double-height space with a floating stair. Cantilevered wood stair treads lead to the upper level and main living pavilion where full-height walls of glass reveal panoramic views of the nature preserve and New York peak. The living room, dining room and kitchen occupy the center of the linear floor plan, with a master bedroom suite to the west and a family room and outdoor courtyard to the east. A fireplace clad in Vals quartzite forms the western edge of the living room with a large skylight above. A reading alcove with a bench of wood slats is lined with Douglas fir panels and stainless steel shelves for display of the owner’s photography collection. Sliding panels of glass open to an outdoor deck, further blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. A second stair connecting all levels of the house is crafted of a one-inch thick steel plate that is both structure and guardrail, slicing through the vertical space. Ground level spaces include three bedrooms with individual baths, a guest suite, mudroom and exercise room.

Internationally Acknowledged Interior Designers & Decorators
Living room - mid-sized eclectic open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Atlanta with beige walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv