Like many California ranch homes built in the 1950s, this original master bathroom was not really a "master bath." My clients, who only three years ago purchased the home from the family of the original owner, were saddled with a small, dysfunctional space. Chief among the dysfunctions: a vanity only 30" high, and an inconveniently placed window that forced the too-low vanity mirror to reflect only the waist and partial torso--not the face--of anyone standing in front of it. They wanted not only a more spacious bathroom but a bedroom as well, so we worked in tandem with an architect and contractor to come up with a fantastic new space: a true Master Suite. In order to refine a design concept for the soon-to-be larger space, and thereby narrow down material choices, my clients and I had a brainstorming session: we spoke of an elegant Old World/ European bedroom and bathroom, a luxurious bath that would reference a Roman spa, and finally the idea of a Hammam was brought into the mix. We blended these ideas together in oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and a tiny tile mosaic in beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece. The new generously sized bathroom boasts a jetted soaking tub, a very large walk-in shower, a double-sided fireplace (facing the tub on the bath side), and a luxurious 8' long vanity with double sinks and a storage tower. The vanity wall is covered with a mosaic vine pattern in a beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece,. The custom Larson Juhl framed mirrors are flanked by gorgeous hand-wrought scones from Hubbardton Forge which echo the vine and leaf pattern in the mosaic. And the vanity itself features an LED strip in the toe-kick which allows one to see in the middle of the night without having to turn on a shockingly bright overhead fixture. At the other end of the master bath, a luxurious jetted tub nestles by a fireplace in the bay window area. Views of my clients' garden can be seen while soaking in bubbles. The over-sized walk-in shower features a paneled wainscoting effect which I designed in Crema Marfil marble. The vine mosaic continues in the shower, topped by green onyx squares. A rainshower head and a hand-held spray on a bar provides showering options. The shower floor slopes gently in one direction toward a hidden linear drain; this allows the floor to be read as a continuation of the main space, without being interrupted by a center drain. Photo by Jeff Fiorito

US Floors

Revitalizing a 1950’s Ranch The owners of this property purchased the dilapidated 1950’s ranch with the intention of demolishing it and building a modern residence in its place. A yearlong demolition delay caused the owners to rethink their plan, and instead, looked to Slocum Hall to design an addition and reconfigure the existing home to meet their programmatic needs. The prominent two-car front-facing garage was converted into Living Space with 12’ ceilings. An addition towards the rear of the property housed a new Garage, Mudroom and expanded Kitchen spaces. All the living spaces were reconfigured to function more efficiently, creating four bedroom suites and an expansive basement for recreation and informal entertaining.

Exquisite and unique, Calacatta Classique Quartz stuns with its clean whites and striking through-body veining. This showstopper countertop offers the look of luxurious marble in durable and maintenance-free quartz.

Like many California ranch homes built in the 1950s, this original master bathroom was not really a "master bath." My clients, who only three years ago purchased the home from the family of the original owner, were saddled with a small, dysfunctional space. Chief among the dysfunctions: a vanity only 30" high, and an inconveniently placed window that forced the too-low vanity mirror to reflect only the waist and partial torso--not the face--of anyone standing in front of it. They wanted not only a more spacious bathroom but a bedroom as well, so we worked in tandem with an architect and contractor to come up with a fantastic new space: a true Master Suite. In order to refine a design concept for the soon-to-be larger space, and thereby narrow down material choices, my clients and I had a brainstorming session: we spoke of an elegant Old World/ European bedroom and bathroom, a luxurious bath that would reference a Roman spa, and finally the idea of a Hammam was brought into the mix. We blended these ideas together in oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and a tiny tile mosaic in beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece. The new generously sized bathroom boasts a jetted soaking tub, a very large walk-in shower, a double-sided fireplace (facing the tub on the bath side), and a luxurious 8' long vanity with double sinks and a storage tower. The vanity wall is covered with a mosaic vine pattern in a beautiful Bursa Beige marble from Turkey and white Thassos marble from Greece,. The custom Larson Juhl framed mirrors are flanked by gorgeous hand-wrought scones from Hubbardton Forge which echo the vine and leaf pattern in the mosaic. And the vanity itself features an LED strip in the toe-kick which allows one to see in the middle of the night without having to turn on a shockingly bright overhead fixture. At the other end of the master bath, a luxurious jetted tub nestles by a fireplace in the bay window area. Views of my clients' garden can be seen while soaking in bubbles. The over-sized walk-in shower features a paneled wainscoting effect which I designed in Crema Marfil marble. The vine mosaic continues in the shower, topped by green onyx squares. A rainshower head and a hand-held spray on a bar provides showering options. The shower floor slopes gently in one direction toward a hidden linear drain; this allows the floor to be read as a continuation of the main space, without being interrupted by a center drain. Photo by Jeff Fiorito

http://www.heidisbridge.com/
Minimalist home design photo in Philadelphia

Example of a 1950s staircase design in Orange County

Complete luxury with this large walk-in shower. Overhead rainfall panel and two separate shower heads keep you warm and relaxed. The tile is a rustic barnwood look with small travertine squares for the inset.

It shouldn’t be shocking that Mid-westerns are the last to experience the trends trickling in from the east and west coasts. While contemporary styles in white and grey have been flooding their homes over the past 3-5 years, homeowners in the Midwest seem to choose warmer hues in transitional styles. When brainstorming what our next display should encompass, we decided to blend the trends we see emerging in the Midwest with a cool, fun edge. Transitioning modern to Minnesota involves warmer colors, texture and depth to design. Flat panel doors in an off-white paired with a rich and earthy textured melamine encompass just that. Mixing metals, especially with gold is becoming increasingly popular. The display is shown blending stainless steel with fun, accessories in gold. Homeowners are beginning to like both the ease and the look of simplicity. As shown in our display, they are pairing flat-panel doors with a c-channel to take the place of knobs and pulls. Quartz countertops in a 2 cm (3/4”) thickness are almost always paired with this style, sometimes in a matte finish as they are a new trend and also reduce glare. This dark brown, almost black matte quartz top is shown contrasting against the glossy warm-white base cabinets in the display. Who hasn’t been on their hands and knees digging countlessly for the matching container and lid? Interior cabinet accessories save time and energy. Some trends in kitchen organization that the display incorporates include hands-free waste bins, knife/utensil pull-outs, container organizers, corner pull-outs, pull-out towel bars, Keurig cup organizers and dishware drawers. Having an organized kitchen is an upgrade but it without a doubt keeps us sane. What’s a space that doesn’t ignite a spark of interest? Have fun with it! In this space the existing circular soffit was designed around, yet celebrated. A bubble mosaic backsplash layered with bubble glass doors and decorative spheres are a fun way to play with shape. With bold light fixtures being a big trend for 2017, finding the perfect statement fixture for the space was the icing on the cake. Color can always personalize a space. In this case, the Pantone color of the year, Greenery #15-0343, became an inspiration when selecting accessories. Anyone with a sense of humor will appreciate the golden “man handle”. After all, we all love a great conversation piece.

Raised Porch with Stacked Stone Facade by Gappsi This private residence located on Long Island, NY features the design & installation by Gappsi Group. We begin our design process with a customized presentation and preliminary design review. After a few hours of brainstorming collaboratively with the customer and our team here at Gappsi, we nailed down the perfect combination to meet the needs of the customer, both aesthetically and functionally. The main platform leading from the grand raised porch has two sets of steps on either side to provide access to the lower outdoor entertaining area of the home as well as the bottom level patio. This multi-dimensional structure perfectly separates each designated area while maintaining a cohesive design. The columns, steps, and walls showcase a cultured stacked stone facade, of Bucks Country Dressed Field Stone. We finish the project with some detail elements such as the decorative black aluminum railing, and the strategically placed columns with accent pier mounts for ambiance lighting. All construction and installation was completed by our highly skilled Gappsi Group team members; Giuseppe Abbrancati, Vincent D’Accolti, Curt Cardillo, and Jason Chierchie. Gappsi provides Gunite, Vinyl, Fiberglass Swimming pools and Hot Tubs for Residential and commercial application in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY, http://gappsi.com/long-island-swimming-pool-companies-designs-builders-construction-ny.html Gappsi also provideDesign and installation of Landscape and Masonry for all Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/landscape-design-long-island-ny-landscaping-companies.html Gappsi also provides Home Remodeling Kitchens and Baths Roofing and siding for residence of Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/long-island-home-improvement-remodeling-general-contractor-ny.html If in need of Lawn and garden irrigation, in Suffolk and Nassau Gappsi can provide these services http://gappsi.com/irrigation/ along with PVC, wood aluminum and lop-loc fences installation. http://gappsi.com/fences/ To preserve and beautify yournatural Paving stones in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY Gappsi offers cleaning and sealing of patios Driveways and retaining walls. For commercial and residential Applications in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY. http://gappsi.com/patio-cleaning-and-sealing/ Our Showroom displays the most unique Travertine, Porphyry, Granite, Marble, Limestone and Sandstone pavers along with pool copings and veneers. Ready to be picked up at our Yard at 1015 West Jericho Turnpike Smithtown NY or delivered to your Location in Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island NY http://pavingstoneselect.com/ To complete your landscapes outdoor Sports and recreations Gappsi offers Bocce Courts, Putting greens, Sports and Tennis Courts also supply and installation of Synthetic Turf. http://deckandpationaturalstones.com/artificial-grass-synthetic-turf-installation-long-island-ny.html+ To partner with Gappsi on your next project please contact us at 631-543-1177, or to learn more about Gappsi products and services please visit www.gappsi.com.

It shouldn’t be shocking that Mid-westerns are the last to experience the trends trickling in from the east and west coasts. While contemporary styles in white and grey have been flooding their homes over the past 3-5 years, homeowners in the Midwest seem to choose warmer hues in transitional styles. When brainstorming what our next display should encompass, we decided to blend the trends we see emerging in the Midwest with a cool, fun edge. Transitioning modern to Minnesota involves warmer colors, texture and depth to design. Flat panel doors in an off-white paired with a rich and earthy textured melamine encompass just that. Mixing metals, especially with gold is becoming increasingly popular. The display is shown blending stainless steel with fun, accessories in gold. Homeowners are beginning to like both the ease and the look of simplicity. As shown in our display, they are pairing flat-panel doors with a c-channel to take the place of knobs and pulls. Quartz countertops in a 2 cm (3/4”) thickness are almost always paired with this style, sometimes in a matte finish as they are a new trend and also reduce glare. This dark brown, almost black matte quartz top is shown contrasting against the glossy warm-white base cabinets in the display. Who hasn’t been on their hands and knees digging countlessly for the matching container and lid? Interior cabinet accessories save time and energy. Some trends in kitchen organization that the display incorporates include hands-free waste bins, knife/utensil pull-outs, container organizers, corner pull-outs, pull-out towel bars, Keurig cup organizers and dishware drawers. Having an organized kitchen is an upgrade but it without a doubt keeps us sane. What’s a space that doesn’t ignite a spark of interest? Have fun with it! In this space the existing circular soffit was designed around, yet celebrated. A bubble mosaic backsplash layered with bubble glass doors and decorative spheres are a fun way to play with shape. With bold light fixtures being a big trend for 2017, finding the perfect statement fixture for the space was the icing on the cake. Color can always personalize a space. In this case, the Pantone color of the year, Greenery #15-0343, became an inspiration when selecting accessories. Anyone with a sense of humor will appreciate the golden “man handle”. After all, we all love a great conversation piece.

Industry: Building Design and Construction Location: USA The Objective Develop a 3D model for retaining wall design plan meant to block the flood water from a nearby river The Solution Several elements as specified by client were incorporated to design a retaining wall and a detailed 3D model was developed. Technology/Software Used 3Ds Max An environmental consultant had to assess a site and provide a plan to the client for retaining wall design meant to block the flood water from a nearby river from entering the site. Some old hand drawn sketches of a retaining wall structure and a PPT with landscaping plans, was all that was provided. Improvising the basic design and preparing a well rendered 3D model, to facilitate the consultant to give final presentation of the design to the client, was the task. Challenges 1. Client expected a design improvement based on a landscape PPT & some handmade designs developed in 2008. 2. Files were without any exact dimensions or additional inputs from the client 3. No plans, elevations and CAD files were given to support the team for further design revisions and 3D modeling 4. Client’s verbal explanations were to be used as a base to analyze and understand the requirements. 5. Numerous brainstorming sessions, repeated iterations and approvals. 6. Client was accessible only through email and conference call Engineering Solution Retaining the wall to stop flood water from a nearby river entering the area filling it with debris 1. Hi-Tech team deftly handled the communication, approvals and design development process. 2. Built a retaining wall to extend the useful area towards the flood plain of the river. 3. Retaining wall was designed as a 3 stepped structure with property (7 – 8 homes and a swimming pool) at the top. 4. Terraces with trees and shrubs were included. This design feature made the entire wall look like a natural retaining boulder covered with greenery. 5. Narrow walkways and stairs that led to the terrace were incorporated in the design 6. Subterranean garage under the flat ground surface of the property was also included as a part of the design Benefits 1. In a short span of one month, the team managed to develop a fully fledged design and plan for the retention wall. 2. Vacant space was effectively utilized; the stepped wall not only stooped the flood water from entering the client’s property, but also created space for 7-8 homes. 3. The designed structure looked very much a part of the natural terrain, and in fact added to the beauty of the surround

Grouted vinyl tile that looks like traditional tile.
Inspiration for a small eclectic white tile and ceramic tile vinyl floor and multicolored floor alcove bathtub remodel in Sacramento with furniture-like cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops and gray countertops

Modern luxury meets warm farmhouse in this Southampton home! Scandinavian inspired furnishings and light fixtures create a clean and tailored look, while the natural materials found in accent walls, casegoods, the staircase, and home decor hone in on a homey feel. An open-concept interior that proves less can be more is how we’d explain this interior. By accentuating the “negative space,” we’ve allowed the carefully chosen furnishings and artwork to steal the show, while the crisp whites and abundance of natural light create a rejuvenated and refreshed interior. This sprawling 5,000 square foot home includes a salon, ballet room, two media rooms, a conference room, multifunctional study, and, lastly, a guest house (which is a mini version of the main house).

Materials and interior paint selected by Cherry City Interiors & Design
Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized contemporary master beige tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub idea in Portland with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink and tile countertops

When homeowners Garry and Sherry bought their 1799 farmhouse in Lancaster, they prepared themselves for many years of renovation: 28 years, to be exact. They gradually tackled inside projects like the master bath, basement, a recent kitchen remodel and even an office-turned-Irish pub. During one painfully hot summer, they installed a pool that became their go-to for summer entertainment and parties. Now, Garry and Sherry’s four children have grown and the couple has found free time in not devoting their days to hockey, volleyball and softball games. So several years ago, they decided to take on the outdoor space. The couple contacted Bobby Kenyon and Adrian Kapp of C.E. Pontz (www.cepontzsons.com) to create a design that would blend with the rustic look of their farmhouse. They hoped to increase the amount of entertaining space by enlarging the patio area and adding a pavilion and outdoor kitchen. Another must-have was a covered area that could ensure the party would not end even if the weather would not cooperate. After brainstorming with Bobby and Adrian, they decided to include a gas fireplace, an outdoor television in the pavilion, and a Kegerator in the kitchen. For the outdoor overhaul, C.E. Pontz began by adding two separate patios of flagstone and natural stone that combine to a total area of 1,100 square feet. They laid large stone slabs to create a walkway connecting the kitchen and living area. For sunny days, C.E. Pontz installed an outdoor kitchen complete with granite countertops, sink, gas burner, grill and storage area. A pergola above the grill offers shade to whomever is tending the tongs that night. Sherry said that having an outdoor kitchen has made entertaining a time for sharing and enjoying food rather than preparing and serving it. When their indoor kitchen was being remodeled last summer, the family prepared nearly all of their meals outdoors, from eggs at breakfast to pasta at dinner. And they still love the summer staple of anything with grill marks. Because the perfect addition to charred meats and veggies is usually a cold draft, C.E. Pontz completed the kitchen with a Kegerator, placed conveniently in arm’s reach of the guest seating. Across the walkway and above the adjoining stone patio, C.E. Pontz built a 16- by 20-foot pavilion, or, essentially, a living room under the trees. A fan hanging from the vaulted ceiling keeps guests cool while they lounge in plush wicker chairs, watching television. Sherry and Garry furnished the space with dark wicker seating from Wicker Imports in Lancaster (www.wickerimportsonline.com). They added pillows and cushions in earth-toned patterns for extra comfort and color. To keep the space alive after the sun sets, they decorated with lots of candles as well as copper lighting that Garry, having an electrical background, installed himself. Plus, C.E. Pontz constructed a gas-fed stone fireplace just outside the pavilion that illuminates the living area and provides a cozy warmth in colder months. Garry, who has a green thumb according to his wife, sets out 18 to 20 large planters around the pool and patio in the summer. These complement the roses, nandina and various grasses that C.E. Pontz used to landscape around the patios. In spring, the couple works to beautify the beds so that in summer, they simply need to water the plants and enjoy the flora. “It is truly an outdoor oasis that we utilize during the warm months and are sorry to see closed during the winter months,” Sherry says. After nearly thirty years of transformation, their 217-year-old home is the entertaining hot spot for friends, family and grandkids. Fun Facts: A Kegerator? Simpler than it sounds, a Kegerator is a dispensing device connected to a keg (typically of beer) that is kept in a refrigerated container. It maintains the quality of the beer for longer periods of time, even for several months. Approximately 60 tons of stone base material were used for this project. Two patios were added that combined a total area of 1,100 square feet of natural flagstone. This landscape features about 18,000 pounds of flagstone. This article appears in the April 2016 issue of Susquehanna Style Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Susquehanna Style » http://www.susquehannastyle.com/April-2016/Historic-Hot-Spot/

This 2,700 square-foot renovation of an existing brick structure has provided a stunning, year round vacation home in the Lake Sunapee region. Located on the same footprint as the original brick structure, the new, one-story residence is oriented on the site to take advantage of the expansive views of Mts. Sunapee and Kearsarge. By implementing a mix of siding treatments, textures and materials, and unique rooflines the home complements the surrounding site, and caps off the top of the grassy hill. New entertainment rooms and porches are located so that the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains are always prominent. Dressed in bright and airy colors, the spaces welcome conversation and relaxation in spectacular settings. The design of three unique spaces, each of which experience the site differently, contributed to the overall layout of the residence. From the Adirondack chairs on the colonnaded porch to the cushioned sofas of the sunroom, personalized touches of exquisite taste provide an undeniably comforting atmosphere to the site. Photographer: Joseph St. Pierre

Large transitional gray one-story mixed siding house exterior idea with a hip roof and a shingle roof