Outdoor living at it's best. The client asked for a flexible deck on the north side of the property. The other part of the brief was to add privacy. Our solution was layered-privacy, including a recycled plastic screen stage backdrop. The line of bamboo behind the screen was added for privacy and also to aid runoff from the street. Bamboo sucks up water very efficiently. Due to climate change we have developed a number of practical solutions to mitigate challenging drainage situations. Most days this space functions as a lovely lounge and on special occasions, it can be converted to a a dance floor. The recycled plastic laser cut decorative screens are made in Australia. Behind the decorative screen is Graceful Bamboo (Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis') one of the tightest clumpers with stems only 1 inch apart. It grows 25 to 30 feet high and carries foliage on the upper two-thirds of the stems, making the first 8 to 10 feet bare. This bamboo is a tight, vertical grower with graceful, cascading foliage and leaf tips that point downward. A neat grower, with the added bonus that it does not drop as much leaf litter as other varieties. The growth habit makes this variety perfect for tight locations where some height is needed, like the 3 story home next door. In the foreground is the azure blue coy pond we designed and found a marine biologist/ pond expert to build. Tucked under the overhang of the house, which give the fish protection from the birds. The pond shimmers day & night– the ultimate focal point, stocked with colorful coy.

Client: Private Residence In South London Brief: To supply & install light carpet to stairs, as a runner on the steps and close-covered on the landings

Louisa, San Clemente Coastal Modern Architecture The brief for this modern coastal home was to create a place where the clients and their children and their families could gather to enjoy all the beauty of living in Southern California. Maximizing the lot was key to unlocking the potential of this property so the decision was made to excavate the entire property to allow natural light and ventilation to circulate through the lower level of the home. A courtyard with a green wall and olive tree act as the lung for the building as the coastal breeze brings fresh air in and circulates out the old through the courtyard. The concept for the home was to be living on a deck, so the large expanse of glass doors fold away to allow a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoors and feeling of being out on the deck is felt on the interior. A huge cantilevered beam in the roof allows for corner to completely disappear as the home looks to a beautiful ocean view and Dana Point harbor in the distance. All of the spaces throughout the home have a connection to the outdoors and this creates a light, bright and healthy environment. Passive design principles were employed to ensure the building is as energy efficient as possible. Solar panels keep the building off the grid and and deep overhangs help in reducing the solar heat gains of the building. Ultimately this home has become a place that the families can all enjoy together as the grand kids create those memories of spending time at the beach. Images and Video by Aandid Media.

Client: Karl Lagerfeld store in Regent Street Brief: To supply & install Mellau carpet with stair rods to stairs
Staircase - large modern carpeted l-shaped metal railing staircase idea in London with carpeted risers

For this project the clients wanted a vacation home for frequent entertaining and family gatherings; a home that was as comfortable as a lodge for large numbers of people or as cozy as a bungalow for a couple’s weekend getaway. They also needed the house to fit an odd shaped lot situated at the end of a peninsula overlooking the lake, with a steep drop-off into the lake. The resulting home is as unique as the needs of the client. A brief list of features: - Adjacent full guest quarters over the three bay garage - Every bedroom has a walkout balcony including the second floor guest bedrooms. Second floor and guest suites have balconies with lake view. - Covered loggia connects both buildings (1 - main home and 2 - indoor pool, guest quarters, home gym and 3 bay garage) - Covered loggia contains double-sided fireplace, gourmet outdoor kitchen, and full dining and seating areas - Indoor pool and home gym exercise area - Outdoor Pool has an infinity edge waterfall that drops to a catch basin on either side of the sculpture pedestal (the furthermost point) and is recycled back up into the pool. - Sunken hot tub within outdoor pool - Exterior features copper roofing, shake siding, stone and multiple gable brackets - End roof pergola with glass panels allows sun to shine through into indoor pool area - Full basement - Wrap around deck - Built-in plant containers surrounding outdoor pool area

One of few factory buildings remaining in St Albans. The building was acquired from St Albans council in 2005 and was previously used as a Museum archive storage facility. Cutting edge architects Hut Architecture were given our brief to design 8 luxury contemporary flats using the Hat Factory theme with a stylish and contemporary twist.

Louisa, San Clemente Coastal Modern Architecture The brief for this modern coastal home was to create a place where the clients and their children and their families could gather to enjoy all the beauty of living in Southern California. Maximizing the lot was key to unlocking the potential of this property so the decision was made to excavate the entire property to allow natural light and ventilation to circulate through the lower level of the home. A courtyard with a green wall and olive tree act as the lung for the building as the coastal breeze brings fresh air in and circulates out the old through the courtyard. The concept for the home was to be living on a deck, so the large expanse of glass doors fold away to allow a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoors and feeling of being out on the deck is felt on the interior. A huge cantilevered beam in the roof allows for corner to completely disappear as the home looks to a beautiful ocean view and Dana Point harbor in the distance. All of the spaces throughout the home have a connection to the outdoors and this creates a light, bright and healthy environment. Passive design principles were employed to ensure the building is as energy efficient as possible. Solar panels keep the building off the grid and and deep overhangs help in reducing the solar heat gains of the building. Ultimately this home has become a place that the families can all enjoy together as the grand kids create those memories of spending time at the beach. Images and Video by Aandid Media.

Eagerly awaiting retirement, a New England-based client acquired a property in a former office building in central Lisbon. Artfully refurbished by Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos, the façade is composed of geometric strata of medium-gray panels alternating with weathered vertical staves. Our studio’s brief was to furnish and equip the interior of the vacation home to converse with the architecture, so family and friends visiting Lisbon would stay in an elegant, private setting, filled with locally-made and designer items. Upon entering, a small shelf and mirror function as a welcome valet. The corridor opens to a cozy living room with lambent afternoon light let in by large sliding doors. Just outside, the balcony sports a café table and chairs set for an aperitivo. An enveloping sofa, produced in Portugal, and an organic recliner, create an intimate lounge area facing a classic, modular media cabinet. An artisan-made wool ottoman adds a beat of color; the lights speak in plump opaline glass and thin black metal rods. The glass top of the dining table fades into the space, leaving its sculptural, marine blue base; in a play of textures, the upholstery of the dining chairs coordinates elegantly with the smoked glass. Tile, oak, and stainless steel come together in a custom kitchen island, with additional counter space and convenient storage. As the interior is replete with oiled oak in the floors, baseboards, doors, and cabinetry, matching wood furniture warms the bedrooms. The vertical spindles of the beds recall the pattern of the exterior façade. Laptop work is accommodated by a small console desk with a chair clothed in burgundy. Acorn-shaped pendants, inviting bed linens and rugs, and undulating curtains, all in the warm white of the walls, form a nest for relaxation.

It’s rare when a client comes to me with a brief for a complete home from scratch, but that is exactly what happened here. My client, a professional musician and singer, was having a luxury three-story condo built and wanted help choosing not only all the hardscape materials like tile, flooring, carpet, and cabinetry, but also all furniture and furnishings. I even outfitted his new home with plates, flatware, pots and pans, towels, sheets, and window coverings. Like I said, this was from scratch! We defined his style direction for the new home including dark colors, minimalistic furniture, and a modern industrial sensibility, and I set about creating a fluid expression of that style. The tone is set at the entry where a custom laser-cut industrial steel sign requests visitors be shoeless. We deliberately limited the color palette for the entire house to black, grey, and deep blue, with grey-washed or dark stained neutral woods. The navy zellige tiles on the backsplash in the kitchen add depth between the cement-textured quartz counters and cerused cabinetry. The island is painted in a coordinating navy and features hand-forged iron stools. In the dining room, horizontal and vertical lines play with each other in the form of an angular linear chandelier, lighted acrylic light columns, and a dining table with a special faceted wave edge. Chair backs echo the shape of the art maps on the wall. We chose a unique, three dimensional wall treatment for the living room where a plush sectional and LED tunable lights set the stage for comfy movie nights. Walls with a repeating whimsical black and white whale skeleton named Bruce adorn the walls of the powder room. The adjacent patio boasts a resort-like feeling with a cozy fire table, a wall of up-lit boxwoods, and a black sofa and chairs for star gazing. A gallery wall featuring a roster of some of my client’s favorite rock, punk, and jazz musicians adorns the stairwell. On the third floor, the primary and guest bathrooms continue with the cement-textured quartz counters and same cerused cabinetry. We completed this well-appointed home with a serene guest room in the established limited color palette and a lounge/office/recording room. All photos by Bernardo Grijalva

Client: Private Residence In Fitzrovia Brief: To supply & install Westex Carpets Exquisite Velvet Barley & Westex Carpets Exquisite Velvet Vanilla to premises

This amazing remodel by J.S. Brown & Co. in the River Forest neighborhood in Dublin, Ohio was designed with sunshine in mind! By removing an interior wall, the kitchen was completely opened to the adjacent sunroom for maximum views of the spectacular back yard. Also on the mission brief from the homeowners was shady place to enjoy their yard outdoors. A large roof over a paver patio was just the ticket for watching the grandkids run around in cool comfort.

The extension and remodelling of this Grade II Listed manor house inspired some key architectural innovations including a bespoke, curved glass atrium which has discreetly enclosed the central courtyard and a glass staircase and landing to give additional access and improved circulation. The wholly glass staircase was the first to be installed in the UK. Spanning the courtyard, the double-glazed, high tech glass roof creates a dramatic, contemporary feature within the building's historic core. The new space has created a large kitchen and dining room at the centre of the home that links up with the rest of the house. Natural light has been optimised and with the original walls in full view, there is an inside outside quality to the new internal space. Spratley & Partners managed the build on site and the interior design. The brief also addressed the property's environmental credentials and included the addition of a ground source pump for heating and solar panels.

Our clients – a family of four – had moved into a terraced home that needed updating. Our brief was an interiors scheme for the whole house. The living room needed character adding back to it, so we chose pieces that complimented the original features of the beautiful house. The neutral bathroom was designed to feel light and airy. In the kitchen, deep hues compliment neutral wood, for a modern update. For the study area – an extension of the living room – we chose a muted blue to contrast against the light oak, for a calming space to work, featuring bespoke joinery (seen here).

Client: Private Residence In West London Brief: To supply & install herringbone wood to premises
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in London

Built on a dune overlooking Lake Michigan, this residence appears to emerge from the landscape. The project brief called for an artful house that promotes wellness and outdoor living. Rugged beauty and four-season adventure drew the owners to the area but presented challenges, including wildfire risk. The site needed a durable shelter that responsibly integrates with the environment. Clad in sand-colored stucco, the house will intentionally be obscured by grasses and junipers over time. Outdoor spaces are layered to match the undulating topography. A steel superstructure enables an ultra-thin roof with overhangs for passive solar design that withstand gale-force winds and heavy snow loads. A crushed-granite courtyard offers refuge on windy days. This space is enclosed by operable Cor-Ten panels that rotate open to reveal dune views or close for a cloistered experience. The courtyard is further defined by a deconstructed roof with an aperture that frames sky views. Expansive glazing and porcelain flooring unites interior and exterior, evoking a sense of inhabiting an infinity house. A screen porch, concealed by louvers, is a contemporary interpretation of a time-honored lake house vernacular. ​Layers of light and an edited palette of materials unify the interior and evoke a laid-back feeling of beach towns. On both levels, bronze glass walls artfully define rooms while preserving views.

Client: Private Residence In North London Brief: To supply & install white carpet to stairs
Inspiration for a timeless carpeted curved staircase remodel in London with carpeted risers

Client: Private Residence In North London Brief: To supply & install grey stair carpet with black border to stairs
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional carpeted u-shaped mixed material railing staircase remodel in London with carpeted risers

Location: Situated on Bunurong country near the town of Sorrento, the site was uniquely positioned between the back beach and the footy oval. The broad wedge-shaped site featured a steep vegetated dune climbing 6 meters to the rear and remnant coastal Moonah trees at the front, providing a distinctive natural context. Design Brief: The objective was to create an enduring 4-bedroom holiday house that harmonized with its coastal environment. The design was intended to be both stylish and robust, offering high amenity and serviceability. This house was envisioned as a long-term investment, serving the dual purpose of accommodating a growing family and functioning as a part-time rental property. Architectural Features: Contextual Integration: The architectural response meticulously respected and enhanced the site's natural features, seamlessly integrating the vegetated dune and preserving the Moonah trees within the landscape strategy. Materiality and Aesthetics: The material palette was selected for its durability and ability to withstand the harsh coastal conditions while maintaining a refined and stylish appearance. This included the use of resilient, high-quality materials that age gracefully over time. Spatial Versatility: The spatial configuration was designed to adapt to the evolving needs of a growing family and the demands of a rental property. Flexible spaces were created to provide a balance between communal living areas and private retreats. Indoor-Outdoor Connectivity: Emphasizing seamless indoor-outdoor connections, the design featured expansive glazing, outdoor terraces, and integrated landscaping to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. High Amenity and Comfort: The house boasted a laminate black-butt chef's kitchen, stone and tile surfaces, and state-of-the-art climate control systems, including integrated heating and cooling, to ensure year-round comfort and ease of maintenance. The architectural vision aimed to create a timeless residence that would serve as a cherished family retreat and a sought-after rental property, responding elegantly to its coastal context and the demands of modern living.

Client: Private Residence In Knightsbridge Brief: To supply & install Marmoleum Granada to premises
Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in London