Location, location, location! Isn’t that what all of our real-estate friends and colleagues are always telling us? Our clients made a wise choice when purchasing this beautifully located ocean front property nestled in the dunes of Palm Beach, but they were presented with a challenge: how to take this luxury townhouse from dark and dated to a chic easy breezy dream home that reflects is naturally gorgeous sun and sand dunes surroundings as well as our clients laid back personalities. Built in 1981, this dream home’s post-modern style with dark wood architectural features, cold concrete structure, and harsh lighting felt out of step by todays standards. Our solution: open the staircase and switch out the wood paneled banister for clear glass, exposing its grand design and allowing for amazing and unobscured views of the property’s outdoor spaces as well as the home’s common areas, permitting its large loft space to shine. Bedrooms were treated to neutral color-schemes inspired by the Palm Beach dunes that surround this oceanfront home. An impressive pallet of textures and materials were chosen, and juxtapositions of lux linens and natural textiles like grass wall coverings and a large arrangement of sculptural branches brings the outside, in. Big and bold custom metal sculptures were installed in the primary bedroom along with hand blown glass light fixtures, adding that touch of glam that we are known for. The private courtyard revamp is above and beyond anything you will see in Palm Beach. Playful and luxurious, it features a koi pond, a two story art installation and a dramatic custom stone waterfall. Its seating area makes great use of this homes original design by softening the heavy overhang with ceiling coverings in Peaky Cyprus and covering the walls with grass, creating a very cool and cozy space to relax and unwind. The entire courtyard is expertly illuminated by artistic lighting that makes every corner a sparkling treat for the eyes. We had fun with this ambitious project and we hope your takeaway is to let location be your guide when looking for your dream home, because anything is possible in design but great surroundings are rare treasures that must be found and cherished.

Sited gently on the lower slope of a dramatic sixty foot high coastal bank and surrounded by miles of undeveloped Cape Cod National Seashore beaches and scrub pines is a warm, modern beach house that is more than just a place to enjoy uninterrupted ocean views and sea breezes. Our clients dreamed of a house that would work equally well as both a year-round family “camp” and also as a “thinking retreat” for collaborating with their colleagues. Image Courtesy © Jane Messinger

As Sheila Gibson Stoodley writes in an article about this project in Robb Report, “Brian Hemingway is sensitive to light in the best way possible.” “The Vancouver, British Columbia-based architect wanted this 22,000-square-foot home near Boston to glow like a lantern at night, and he attained that goal on behalf of the homeowners.” The wood and stone that Hemingway favored for the home informed the space’s color palette. So critical were these materials that settling on a shade of stain for the Douglas fir and the finishes to be used on the Virginia Mist granite took months of consultation. Walker Zanger, the stone supplier, worked with the owner and with Colin Flavin, a Boston-based architect who partnered with Hemingway, to choose, detail, and fabricate the granite. The stone is used indoors and out, heightening the boundary-blurring effect that the design team desired. Though the owners are ardent art collectors, they did not build their home to showcase specific works; the real artists here are the architects, Hemingway and Flavin. So deft were they at inviting nature into their creation that, from certain angles, it can be hard to tell where the outdoors stops and starts. “There are deliberately no window treatments so that Mother Nature weaves the most beautiful textural backgrounds,” said interior designer Andrew Sheinman, of New York’s Pembrooke & Ives. He oversaw the interiors, working alongside his colleague Michael Lewis. “The seasons change the look and aspect of the house,” said Sheinman, “and we wanted to play on this.” Bleu de Savoie marble, from France, is used in the baths, to contrast with the Virginia Mist granite and soften the palette and give the baths a spa-like serenity. Hand-chiseled Oxford Black granite is used on exterior landscape walls, to tie the Virginia Mist seamlessly to the natural stone outcroppings.

Louis Frye, Designer/Colleague MDR Architects, Orange County, CA. Johannes Merkler, Photographer
Example of a large tuscan enclosed living room design in Los Angeles

As Sheila Gibson Stoodley writes in an article about this project in Robb Report, “Brian Hemingway is sensitive to light in the best way possible.” “The Vancouver, British Columbia-based architect wanted this 22,000-square-foot home near Boston to glow like a lantern at night, and he attained that goal on behalf of the homeowners.” The wood and stone that Hemingway favored for the home informed the space’s color palette. So critical were these materials that settling on a shade of stain for the Douglas fir and the finishes to be used on the Virginia Mist granite took months of consultation. Walker Zanger, the stone supplier, worked with the owner and with Colin Flavin, a Boston-based architect who partnered with Hemingway, to choose, detail, and fabricate the granite. The stone is used indoors and out, heightening the boundary-blurring effect that the design team desired. Though the owners are ardent art collectors, they did not build their home to showcase specific works; the real artists here are the architects, Hemingway and Flavin. So deft were they at inviting nature into their creation that, from certain angles, it can be hard to tell where the outdoors stops and starts. “There are deliberately no window treatments so that Mother Nature weaves the most beautiful textural backgrounds,” said interior designer Andrew Sheinman, of New York’s Pembrooke & Ives. He oversaw the interiors, working alongside his colleague Michael Lewis. “The seasons change the look and aspect of the house,” said Sheinman, “and we wanted to play on this.” Bleu de Savoie marble, from France, is used in the baths, to contrast with the Virginia Mist granite and soften the palette and give the baths a spa-like serenity. Hand-chiseled Oxford Black granite is used on exterior landscape walls, to tie the Virginia Mist seamlessly to the natural stone outcroppings.

This interdisciplinary project was a delight to collaborate with colleagues in architecture, interior design, and the client to build a luxury dream home landscape for this growing family. We focused on creating an interconnection between indoor and outdoors through a cohesive design. This project became a stately home that now sits proudly amongst other historical architectural gems in the neighborhood. Our team designed multiple terraces and outdoor living spaces, including a roof deck with porcelain tiles, custom planters, privacy screening, and fire features. An aluminum pergola system with lights and heaters was added to create an outdoor dining space to the terrace adjacent to the kitchen and primary living room. To top it all off, we added an irrigation system to the entire property to keep the landscape looking green and lush year-round.

This antique-style living room is the perfect place for enjoying tea with friends or indulging in a deep discussion among colleagues. Featured" antique mirrored coffee tables, black Bombay chests, stone fireplace and antique rugs.

This Westlake, Ohio client needed to maximize the floor plan of their space. It had to be functional and comfortable enough for this growing family to lounge on the floor and play games, but also a space fit for entertaining, from children to corporate colleagues. ​Photos by Amanda Hemstreet Photography

This small simple, elegant, garden house was designed by LandCurrent and constructed by Greg Morrow & Sons. The small structure is set within a sloping meadow. Native stones found during excavation have been used to form organic walls and steps. Planting of various varieties of lavender, sage, kinnikinnick and creeping euonymus seamlessly connect the garden to the existing meadow. The garden house was designed within the height and floor area that precludes the need for building permits. The pattern of window slits provide ample light and gives the garden house a contemporary look. LandCurrent is interested in designing small, elegant, and affordable landscapes and structures fit for today’s economy. This garden house was the recipient of the 2010 People's Choice Award and the 2010 Colleague's Landscape Architecture Award in Eugene, Oregon.

This interdisciplinary project was a delight to collaborate with colleagues in architecture, interior design, and the client to build a luxury dream home landscape for this growing family. We focused on creating an interconnection between indoor and outdoors through a cohesive design. This project became a stately home that now sits proudly amongst other historical architectural gems in the neighborhood. Our team designed multiple terraces and outdoor living spaces, including a roof deck with porcelain tiles, custom planters, privacy screening, and fire features. An aluminum pergola system with lights and heaters was added to create an outdoor dining space to the terrace adjacent to the kitchen and primary living room. To top it all off, we added an irrigation system to the entire property to keep the landscape looking green and lush year-round.

A modern dining room design that combines both fancy and cozy in the most elegant and sophisticated way. An open space designed especially for the family of a business entrepreneur where he can entertain his business colleagues and have the most wonderful quality time with his family. The key elements to having a bright, sophisticated, minimalist open family room are chrome, Glass, and a neutral color palette.

This interdisciplinary project was a delight to collaborate with colleagues in architecture, interior design, and the client to build a luxury dream home landscape for this growing family. We focused on creating an interconnection between indoor and outdoors through a cohesive design. This project became a stately home that now sits proudly amongst other historical architectural gems in the neighborhood. Our team designed multiple terraces and outdoor living spaces, including a roof deck with porcelain tiles, custom planters, privacy screening, and fire features. An aluminum pergola system with lights and heaters was added to create an outdoor dining space to the terrace adjacent to the kitchen and primary living room. To top it all off, we added an irrigation system to the entire property to keep the landscape looking green and lush year-round.

Location, location, location! Isn’t that what all of our real-estate friends and colleagues are always telling us? Our clients made a wise choice when purchasing this beautifully located ocean front property nestled in the dunes of Palm Beach, but they were presented with a challenge: how to take this luxury townhouse from dark and dated to a chic easy breezy dream home that reflects is naturally gorgeous sun and sand dunes surroundings as well as our clients laid back personalities. Built in 1981, this dream home’s post-modern style with dark wood architectural features, cold concrete structure, and harsh lighting felt out of step by todays standards. Our solution: open the staircase and switch out the wood paneled banister for clear glass, exposing its grand design and allowing for amazing and unobscured views of the property’s outdoor spaces as well as the home’s common areas, permitting its large loft space to shine. Bedrooms were treated to neutral color-schemes inspired by the Palm Beach dunes that surround this oceanfront home. An impressive pallet of textures and materials were chosen, and juxtapositions of lux linens and natural textiles like grass wall coverings and a large arrangement of sculptural branches brings the outside, in. Big and bold custom metal sculptures were installed in the primary bedroom along with hand blown glass light fixtures, adding that touch of glam that we are known for. The private courtyard revamp is above and beyond anything you will see in Palm Beach. Playful and luxurious, it features a koi pond, a two story art installation and a dramatic custom stone waterfall. Its seating area makes great use of this homes original design by softening the heavy overhang with ceiling coverings in Peaky Cyprus and covering the walls with grass, creating a very cool and cozy space to relax and unwind. The entire courtyard is expertly illuminated by artistic lighting that makes every corner a sparkling treat for the eyes. We had fun with this ambitious project and we hope your takeaway is to let location be your guide when looking for your dream home, because anything is possible in design but great surroundings are rare treasures that must be found and cherished.

This Westlake, Ohio client needed to maximize the floor plan of their space. It had to be functional and comfortable enough for this growing family to lounge on the floor and play games, but also a space fit for entertaining, from children to corporate colleagues. ​Photos by Amanda Hemstreet Photography

This customer wanted the Renovisions Team to create a home office/ Library away from his Boston office in the hustle & bustle of the city. He also wanted to use this space to entertain colleagues and guests when visiting from out of state. He approached us requesting to have this newly re-built space to have the look and feel of a Montana lodge he recently visited. First, we removed the existing ceiling to open up the space and finish as a cathedral ceiling. We added a large ridge beam which was wrapped in rustic wood to give it an old world look. Several recessed lights were installed on dimmer switches and 2 ceiling fans were installed along the ridge beam for air circulation. The idea was to create a cozy organic outdoor natural feel by incorporating rustic wide plank oak flooring with a dark walnut stain and high gloss finish to create an old, antique look which gave a lived in and comfortable feel to the room. Custom bookcases which were painted antique white were built to accommodate this homeowner’s extensive and growing collection of books. A chimney was built from floor to ceiling and New England Fieldstone was applied to the front. A gas fireplace was installed featuring Herringbone brick inside with an arched top design atop the raised stone hearth. With just a touch of a button on a remote control these homeowners have a lifelike flame and tremendous heat to warm up any cold winter day or night The homeowners were elated with this very comfortable, inviting room “Renovision” and now have a wonderful retreat their entire family and guests can enjoy. What a fabulous natural setting to showcase this customer’s bear skin rug collection!

This Westlake, Ohio client needed to maximize the floor plan of their space. It had to be functional and comfortable enough for this growing family to lounge on the floor and play games, but also a space fit for entertaining, from children to corporate colleagues. ​Photos by Amanda Hemstreet Photography

This is a recent project completed a few days ago, supervised by our colleague Mark Wyner.
Trendy pool photo in Houston

Hygge – pronounced "hoo-ga" – is coziness. A way of living that emphasizes the importance of simplicity and unwinding. It's hospitality and warmth. But at DIRTT, it also means a living lab. The home is a giant test subject for the possibilities of prefabricated construction. The home demonstrates what's possible when traditional craftsmanship and modern technology combine. Complex angles and curves become a possibility. Exquisite finishes become reality when labor costs are flipped on their head. The home has become what it was meant to be all along; a place to gather with colleagues, Clients, family and friends to break bread and get to know one another.

"We often rush to divide everything as white and black and store them separately in a separate place. But seemingly opposing things that are inseparable - that is the world - are a mixture of different things." _Matisyahu_ The contrast between black and white is not only a choice but also a way to make it special. When stepping into an all-white or all-black living space, it is easy to feel purity or luxury, but it can also suggest a little skepticism about the monotony or oppressiveness it brings. So using black and white is therefore not difficult but definitely not easy. In the apartment project at Vinhomes Symphony apartment that we implemented this time, white and black are no longer just two opposing colors, but they are combined and mixed, intertwined creatively to create a unity. As an expression of day and night, brilliance and mystery, white and black have adopted tricks and materials, arrays of blocks and light, blending together with the goal of creating living spaces with comfort, convenience and luxury. "This is probably a very special and interesting project for me and my colleagues, right from the first approach, the investor is also a sister, a person with a young, dynamic way of thinking with a very special and very own taste. After each actual project, we keep a diary of the conceptualization, design and execution process. Join us to look back on the process of project formation as well as better understand the philosophy, ideas and functions that have been sent in the project" - Kts. Dang Duong - Founder of D2Architects. The current status of the project is 2 apartments located at location A-20 and A-21 in S6A building of Vinhomes Symphony apartment. With an east-facing façade, the apartment is endowed with the advantage of natural light as well as excellent panoramic views. The highlight of this apartment is the view opening to the Phuc Loi lotus lagoon with a large area, more than 10 hectares and airy landscape by the Duong River. These are not merely apartments, but they are also places to express creativity and make harmonious use of natural light and surrounding nature. Every view from these apartments not only opens up amazing scenery but also a lifestyle full of relaxation and tranquility amidst the noisy city. With the special importance of location and unique views, making perfect use of space and light here is not only an advantage but also a great potential to create a sophisticated and classy living space. The sophistication in design and handling of space has been put on top by us, in order to make the most of these extremely special advantages. In order for a living space to truly become a place called "Home" – a place where we want to return and feel peaceful while there, we have carefully researched the preferences and desires of the owner. Sharing with me about her hobby, Ms. Yen expressed that she loves a modern space with minimalist style and cool tones, creating a sense of tranquility and elegance. This is clearly reflected in the original idea for the apartment. What's even more interesting is his teenage son's hobby of playing Lego. This is not only a personal preference but also a special source of inspiration for the design process. From these data, we built a preliminary idea for the comprehensive living space of the apartment. The combination of the requirement of modern, minimalist space and cool tones along with creative elements from his son's personal hobby of playing Lego has created a unique living space, both reflecting the owner's own personality and meeting the needs of living and personal preferences. This is the foundation for creating a real home, where each member of the family feels content and peaceful every time they return. The project uses the main tone of industrial wood painted in dark gray, white and dark veneer. Versatile combination with other modern materials such as smoke glass and artificial stone,... Create a work of architectural art where everything intersects harmoniously with natural light like a great symphony. The contrast between the bass of the cool tone and the warm, gentle touch of the light creates an impressive picture of a delicate blend of opposing elements. The soft, beautiful touch of this space is hidden in the strength and modernity of the materials used. This is not only a house, but also a mirror that clearly reflects the personality and philosophy of life of the owner. The modern, youthful spirit is clearly shown from the moment you cross the threshold to enter the house. Flexibility, creativity and the harmonious intersection of materials and light have created a colorful and sophisticated living space, while celebrating the beauty of modernity and youthful vitality. LIVING ROOM: The living room is not merely a living area or common living space of the family, but according to feng shui concept, this is the place where the best energy of the house is concentrated. Therefore, creating a special living room space is extremely important. Neutral gray-white tones are made in the background, creating the foundation for sophistication and elegance. Color accents are subtly applied, creating a unique touch for the house, increasing the creativity and style of the owner. Maintaining the spirit of LEGO - unlimited creativity - through every corner, every architectural line has created an interesting space experience right in the living room. It stimulates the imagination of all ages, opening up space for each person to freely create, build and connect with each other through the common language of LEGO. KITCHEN & DINNING ROOM: The kitchen is an indispensable piece in every family, this place is likened to the heart of the whole house. All one needs to create great taste is love and creativity in the kitchen. Because the kitchen with family meals is the emotional bond between members. Therefore, designing a beautiful and functional kitchen requires a delicate combination of colors, shapes and meticulousness in choosing the right materials. Today's kitchen is invested by many people in both form and quality, so a beautiful, luxurious, modern, comfortable kitchen that fully meets the needs of each family is the design criterion D2 Architects aims for. The Lego House project is not just a project anymore but it is really the result of sending all our core values and creative spirit to create a living space that symbolizes the interconnectedness of design, art and soul. D2Architects A : Khuat Duy Tien -Thanh Xuan Bac - Ha Noi – Viet Nam M: d2architects.vn@gmail.com W: d2architects.vn P: 0965551101 - 0965554792