Inspiration for a cottage medium tone wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and an island

When a couple with young children decided to purchase their first Manhattan apartment, they called in designer Christopher Maya to create something livable and contemporary. In the Foyer, you are greeted by a phillip jeffries gold leaf ceiling that is adorned with two scalloped flush mounts from shades of light. Photographer: Christian Harder

Cathy Schwabe Architecture Rear View showing deck, living space and main bedroom - 840 SF, 2BR Cottage Photo by David Wakely
Example of a trendy two-story wood exterior home design in San Francisco

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

Lindsay Salazar
Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in Salt Lake City

William
Elegant l-shaped kitchen photo in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Laundry room - modern laundry room idea in Boston

Augie Salbosa
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Hawaii with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and blue walls

Photography by: Mark Lohman Styled by: Sunday Hendrickson
Small country light wood floor and brown floor sunroom photo in Little Rock with a standard ceiling and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized classic single-wall travertine floor open concept kitchen design with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops and beige backsplash

Cottage exterior home photo in New Orleans

This bathroom is found in the basement of the house. With low ceilings and no windows, the designer was able to add some life to this room through his design. The double vanity is perfect for him and hers. The shower includes a steam unit for a perfect spa retreat in your own home. The tile flowing over to the ceiling brings in the whole room. The mirrors are electric mirrors which include great lighting and a tv inside the mirror itself! Overall, it's the perfect escape from a long day at work or just to simply relax in. Astro Design Centre - Ottawa, Canada DoubleSpace Photography

Entryway - 1950s entryway idea in Boston

A steel "corner board" was used in place of the common wood corner board. The garage door was treated to blend with the house walls.
Large trendy attached two-car garage photo in Denver

Photography by Picture Perfect House
Family room - mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor, shiplap wall and brown floor family room idea in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Woodbridge
Example of a small classic dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room design in New Orleans with white walls and no fireplace

Benjamin Benschneider
Beach style brown floor dining room photo in Seattle with beige walls

Mediterranean home in San Mateo with traditional layout and accents. In keeping with the character of the home, client chose to include detailed crown moldings in grape pattern, decorative posts and panels on the appliances. The wall between the kitchen and breakfast room was removed to create a large open space with island and still maintained private seating area. Retained existing parquet flooring original to the home that blends nicely with the Dura Surpreme, Cherry cabinets. Devised much needed storage space with pantry cabinets, roll-outs, spice pull-outs, built-in trash and recycling. In the end, a lovely, open space worthy of guests any day of the week. Treve Johnson Photography

David Duncan Livingston
Example of a mid-sized country u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen design in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island