An Ohio family in search of a place to enjoy the Portuguese coast acquired a four-bedroom apartment just outside the center of Cascais. Our studio was engaged to turn a compartmented interior into a holiday residence for a household that gathers in numbers: one that could seat everyone at once and still hold the ease and lightness of a home by the beach. The original plan included a kitchen and laundry room sealed off from the living room, floor finishes and levels that changed from threshold to threshold, and bathrooms in varying styles. Work began by redefining the alignments and circulation. The principal transformation was the opening of the kitchen, creating a more generous social setting centered on a bespoke island fitted with storage and seating. The interior takes its cues from the building’s geometric façade, which projects and recedes in volumes and voids. Bespoke joinery in oak and lacquer carries continuity and order through the apartment. Concealed storage runs throughout: at the entrance, in the dining area, along the living area, and beneath built-in benches. The laundry is merged into the kitchen behind perforated doors for ventilation while keeping the service area discreet. Behind the sofa, a console slips a workspace into the living area without conceding its openness. Curved elements answer the rectilinear architecture; artisanal glazed vertical tiles repeat from the backsplashes onto custom side tables. The palette stays deliberately narrow; the muted oak and lacquer are joined by a softened timber floor, Portuguese Lioz stone, and walls painted to the color of bare plaster. Existing doors and baseboards were repainted in a warm light gray that draws the original elements into the language of the new interior. Upholstery and decorative accents hint at the terracotta, sky blue, and yellow of the façade. The bedrooms are set with upholstered headboards on oak frames, bedside tables that extend those outlines, and wardrobes fit for a long stay. Locally made rugs, bedcovers, and throw pillows soften the composition. In the bathrooms, the plans were reorganized and the showers enlarged. Lioz was used for the counters and sinks, shelves, shower bases, and bathtub surround, with microcement bringing a soothing warmth to the walls, and storage in floating cabinets. Deeper in tone than the rest of the apartment yet never dim, they are quietly elegant rooms made for lingering — taking one’s time getting ready, or unwinding at the end of a day. PHOTOGRAPHY: © ALEXANDER BOGORODSKIY

CLASSIC, FRESH, FUNCTIONAL The number one priority was functionality; the client’s space before had a lot of wasted space. She had a desperate need for more kitchen storage, which we doubled for her. The client had a strict budget, but we were able to completely transform the kitchen, enlarging the island for each of her children to have their own cubby for school work and gadgets. We added in more lighting, both task and accent. We used lighting to showcase the client’s colorful vintage dish collection. Following the trends, but keeping it classic, we used subway tile and a generous porcelain farm sink. She wanted a natural feeling, something fresh and timeless. We incorporated a contrasting stainless steel hood and an island in a dark espresso finish, paired with a gray linen glaze on the perimeter cabinets. We combined metal finishes—champagne light fixtures and pewter cabinetry pull—to give the space an acquired, collected look.

CREATION — Concrete, Plaster, Modeling Paste and Sand / Acrylic, Enamel, Metallic and Tempera Paints / India and Iridescent Inks / Acrylic Resin on canvas. 48” x 60” E-Mail For Quote Photo by SWK Digital Imagery.

For years, early morning walks past this 1910 Craftsman in Houston's historic Avondale neighborhood left the new owners with lingering fantasies of making it their future home. When it became available, they acquired a home rich with history, but one nearly abolished. The home was once inhabited by Texas Governor (1931-1932) and founder of Humble Oil, Ross Sterling. But, renovations subdivided the home into multi-family rentals and destroyed original finishes. The developer driven modifications were abruptly halted by city red tags in 2018 after original windows were demolished and replaced with vinyl substitutes. With a nearly clean slate on the interior, the HRDD renovation aims to be respectful to the original context while providing coplimentary modern surprises atypical to the era. One such example is a new opening that punctures through the second floor, extending to a roof skylight. Situated at the transition between formal and informal rooms on the first floor and common space on the second floor, this subtraction is lined with a scalloped wood screen. The screen is one of multiple moments within the home where texture will combine with minimal white surfaces, providing a backdrop to the owners' collection of antique Indian furniture pieces. Additionally, a new detached replaced an existing dilapidated garage apartment and contains the owner's photography studio. Windows and a skylight are placed to capture coveted north light, ideal for photographing and editing. The main room remains an austere slate, with ceiling vaulting to a single aperture to create a dynamic moment that carries a dialogue to the opening in the main home.

Michael J. Lee Photography Master Suite, Kitchen, Dining Room, and Family Room renovation project. Paint: Ben. Moore "Kasbah" and "Autumn Purple" Oval is covered in wallpaper. This is the oval closet with the back of the bathroom vanity.

Custom Floors helped select, acquire and install all Tile, Wood, and wall to wall Carpet products in the Wedgewood Building Companyhomes, and Williams Custom Art Builders home. Custom Floors also contributed all of this as well as Custom Stone fabricated and installed countertops in the Christopher Scott Homes Home, and the Bedrock Builders home. photos taken by Britney Webb

This off‑season flip turned into a full‑scale rescue mission. The home had been “renovated” just 24 months earlier by a contractor who cut more than a few corners—starting with the removal of the original late‑1970s atrium, which they demoed and reframed unsafely. Once we acquired the property, we tore out the entire compromised section and rebuilt it correctly, installing three structural beams and restoring the integrity of the home. From there, we executed a complete interior transformation. We redesigned the floor plan, removed the outdated wet bar, and relocated the primary vanity into the bathroom where it belonged. The renovation included new drywall repairs, fresh texture, premium paint, updated fixtures, modern hardware, LVT flooring, and new carpet throughout. Outside, we refreshed the exterior with Sherwin‑Williams Emerald Rain Refresh on the existing Hardie siding and lime‑washed the brick using Romabio products for a clean, timeless finish. This project is a perfect example of what happens when craftsmanship, structural knowledge, and design come together the right way. If your home needs repairs, a redesign, or a full exterior makeover, Deskins Siding & Exteriors is ready to help. Reach out today and let’s bring your home back to life.

The Home A family heirloom full of warm memories passed down for generations to come greets you after opening the beautiful knotty alder front door. The rear staircase and separate back entrance allows for multi-generations to share this home. The Eagles Nest is a place for all to land. The five bedroom, four bath mountain modern plan offers several areas for relaxing and entertaining. Upon entering, you are welcomed by the warmth of the beams, hickory floors and inviting fireplace. The overall environment gently whispers, “come in, sit down and relax”. The back staircase off the kitchen leads you to a private oasis. The lower level is designed to serve two purposes. It can be a separate living quarter because of its private entrance, or an extension of the house for entertaining. The open floor plan maximizes square footage for all to enjoy and partake, or for one to find their own quiet space. The Builder We build your dreams is the heartfelt motto of Murphy’s Custom Homes, and that’s because we take great pride in crafting homes that reflect the individuality of the people who live in them. With more than 35 years of experience and passion, Murphy’s Custom Homes personally crafts clients’ dream homes by combining their ideas with our expert design team, experience, the environmental elements of the land, quality construction techniques and state-of-the-art products. We are committed to our clients’ satisfaction during every step of the homebuilding process — from the development of ideas and acquiring land — until the final celebration of walking through the front door and seeing those dreams fulfilled. View a full gallery of our work at murphyscustomhomes.com or call 719-488-8818. The Interior Design Inspired by nature’s palette and a touch of modern, the Eagles Nest is a calm haven of earth tones and casual elegance. The interior is an inviting blend of subtle neutrals and pops of color, combined with metals, textures, and fine finishes, creating a transitional rustic design. Entertain guests in the large downstairs rec room with a glass of wine at the built-in bar, or take on an opponent with a game of foosball. The homeowners joined forces with Caprice King at Upstage Furniture Consignments to paint the pallet of the home. Caprice King staged the home with additional furnishings and accessories, lending the home a designer’s touch while utilizing her spatial expertise and attention to detail.

We acquired an old Victorian home in need of complete rehab and set out to be respectful of the historical nature and aesthetic of the home while nudging it forward in a modern, somewhat eclectic, way. Since nearly all of the original details except the floors and a beautiful stair were removed by previous owners, we felt free to use materials and finishes that spoke to the homes history but are decidedly current. The result, a light-filled and colorful home with interesting details in every room, speaks to our aesthetic and design direction.

This remodeling project acquired a new face and interpretation of the spaces by liberating the floor plan. Walls were removed to allow natural light to come into the space. This old split level home was transformed from the inside to the outside.

This original 1970's master bedroom suite was transformed into a very exciting and unique southwestern design. In the Master bath we chose a double slipper copper tub, saguaro cactus for the vanity bases with custom copper sinks, and a parota wood slab for the counter and back splash acquired in Mexico by Casa Mexicana Imports. Artobrick wall tiles were designed with hand picked colors and patterns. The barn door for closing the space between bedroom and bath was antique Mexican paneled door we upholstered bathroom view side with a Sunbrella fabric Pendleton design and framed it in leather. The Adobe fireplace and custom shelf unit in the master bedroom were added, Custom paint for the walls in the bath and the Master bedroom ceilings. Hickory wood flooring was used for the bedroom, which tied in well with the natural saguaro cactus wood tones.

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling one, DesBuild Construction is your best bet for a job well done. With years of making folks happy in the DC Metro area we have acquired a long list of well satisfied clients.

Breezy Coastal-Inspired Hearth Room Sustainable, natural, wholly engaging, and a showcase for their cultural pieces and art was the concept for this home. The couple wanted to use sustainable and environmentally friendly products throughout their home as much as possible. Being from both California and Florida, they wanted a coastal influence that didn’t look contrived or over-stylized in a Midwestern home. Also, they desired a serene, peaceful space where all senses were engaged. Incorporating the Feng Shui elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water in color, texture and product choice was used in this design. A problem area with the original room was a large, blocky oak fireplace. The top half was removed and the hearth was painted white, opening up the space considerably. The back wall was painted a serene blue as an accent. An overall neutral palette of taupe, blues and grey balanced the wood tones found in the flooring and teak accents the couple acquired on their travels. We recovered their existing love seat with taupe diamond-stripe cotton in a slipcover style, adding to the casual atmosphere of a beach house. Organic cotton, hand-blocked pillows with red cherry blossoms provide a pop of color to the seating. A swivel rocker gives flexibility to multiple focal points and conversation. The 100% hemp rug has a turquoise oversized damask print and is a plush anchor to the hearth setting. A long grey-washed rattan bench serves as a cocktail table and woven Roman shades provide needed contrast to the back wall. A distressed, reclaimed bench sits below bold art as a bright accent area to an overall neutral space. The centerpiece of the room is a large cerulean blue buffet with fretwork & glass doors. A large Buddha head serves as a meditative focal point with Asian-inspired art and lighting. Julie Austin Photography

For years, early morning walks past this 1910 Craftsman in Houston's historic Avondale neighborhood left the new owners with lingering fantasies of making it their future home. When it became available, they acquired a home rich with history, but one nearly abolished. The home was once inhabited by Texas Governor (1931-1932) and founder of Humble Oil, Ross Sterling. But, renovations subdivided the home into multi-family rentals and destroyed original finishes. The developer driven modifications were abruptly halted by city red tags in 2018 after original windows were demolished and replaced with vinyl substitutes. With a nearly clean slate on the interior, the HRDD renovation aims to be respectful to the original context while providing coplimentary modern surprises atypical to the era. One such example is a new opening that punctures through the second floor, extending to a roof skylight. Situated at the transition between formal and informal rooms on the first floor and common space on the second floor, this subtraction is lined with a scalloped wood screen. The screen is one of multiple moments within the home where texture will combine with minimal white surfaces, providing a backdrop to the owners' collection of antique Indian furniture pieces. Additionally, a new detached replaced an existing dilapidated garage apartment and contains the owner's photography studio. Windows and a skylight are placed to capture coveted north light, ideal for photographing and editing. The main room remains an austere slate, with ceiling vaulting to a single aperture to create a dynamic moment that carries a dialogue to the opening in the main home.

This off‑season flip turned into a full‑scale rescue mission. The home had been “renovated” just 24 months earlier by a contractor who cut more than a few corners—starting with the removal of the original late‑1970s atrium, which they demoed and reframed unsafely. Once we acquired the property, we tore out the entire compromised section and rebuilt it correctly, installing three structural beams and restoring the integrity of the home. From there, we executed a complete interior transformation. We redesigned the floor plan, removed the outdated wet bar, and relocated the primary vanity into the bathroom where it belonged. The renovation included new drywall repairs, fresh texture, premium paint, updated fixtures, modern hardware, LVT flooring, and new carpet throughout. Outside, we refreshed the exterior with Sherwin‑Williams Emerald Rain Refresh on the existing Hardie siding and lime‑washed the brick using Romabio products for a clean, timeless finish. This project is a perfect example of what happens when craftsmanship, structural knowledge, and design come together the right way. If your home needs repairs, a redesign, or a full exterior makeover, Deskins Siding & Exteriors is ready to help. Reach out today and let’s bring your home back to life.

Panel to house artwork slides aside on a track to reveal a media hide-away. This two bedroom condominium renovation at Treetops reflects the modernist preferences of the Latin American owners. The renovation is defined by visual simplicity and the exquisite detailing is contrasted by traditional mountain finishes for the floor and cabinetry. This design is not for amateurs. One could even refer to it as an acquired taste for visual and textural purity. photo by Jeff Scrogins

Fibrocon proudly presents Lineadecor Kitchens. Kitchens are manufactured by the production facility of Lineadecor with the experience and knowledge it has acquired in the wooden sector. Lineadecor has played a leading role in the development of modular kitchen sector through constantly improving its technology-based and human-oriented investments. Making significant investments in its infrastructure to achieve its predetermined objectives, Lineadecor renewed its entire manufacturing facility with high-level technologies upon putting its production facilities in operation in 2006. Today, Lineadecor kitchens are manufactured with a modern understanding by the production facility located over an area of 30,000 m2. Following technological developments in the world closely in line with its objective of being a global brand, Lineadecor has established an electronic infrastructure allowing for monitoring any stage from manufacturing to distribution. Annual manufacturing capacity has reached 25,000 kitchens as a result of the excellence achieved through the cutting-edge technology used and ERP system applied.

Introducing our Denali Leather Recliner, an exemplary blend of modern rustic and western styles that is perfect for those seeking a comfortable, stylish, and incredibly cozy seating option within limited spaces. This exemplary piece of modern rustic design features a sleek silhouette with tapered exposed wood arms, paired with premium leather upholstery that exudes a contemporary aesthetic. The luxurious pull-up leather of the recliner will acquire a gorgeous patina over time, adding to its already exquisite appeal. Crafted with utmost precision and care, this elegant leather recliner is proudly 100% American-made, adhering to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Its plush cushioning and expertly designed reclining mechanism ensure the utmost comfort, making it the perfect addition to any home or office. It is certain to become a treasured favorite of your family and friends. Overall Dimensions: 42" H x 28" W x 36" D Arm Height: 25" Seat Dimensions: 18" H x 22" W x 21" D Wall Clearance: 20" Overall Layout: 64" Leather Description: An authentic oil pull up leather. This pure aniline leather is dyed for color and then the oil stuffing process completes the pull up effect. This leather has a color added to the stuffing process to give this leather a deep aged break when pulled and upholstered. A pull up leather will lighten in color when pulled giving a heavy contrast to the areas of the furniture with a loose application. This leather a very liberal effect that moves with the wind. The effect is very forgiving and adds character to any furniture style. Color variation should be expected from hide to hide and within dye lots. Natural characteristics such as healed scars, scratches, neck and belly wrinkles will be apparent throughout the hides. Prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause it to fade. 100% top/full grain cowhide leather is characterized by variations in shade, texture, color and grain. Healed marks and scars are to be expected and enhance the natural beauty of the hides. These variations are normal and unique features of genuine 100% top grain cowhide leather.

Acquired by the home owner -- the beautiful, antique, oak transition piece seen in the background accentuates the separation between this home’s entry and living rooms. Included within the design and construction are site-distressed, reclaimed timbers, as well as walls with a hand applied specialty finish. Waukesha, WI