In the rebuild, the house was enlarged towards the pool. To compensate for lost space, the patio was cantilevered over Koi pond.
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

The upper floor plan was expanded which meant that the entryway lost natural light. To compensate, we put in glass floors so that the light was still reach the entryway and also form a focal point for this part of the open plan living room. We also removed a small window to the left and replaced it with a door and small balcony

Castle projects included a faux portcullis over the front entry, and large hinges and handles for the massive double doors to The Great Hall. The overhead garage doors were made to look like old stable doors with large hinge straps, door handles and window grilles. Over 300 large 1” square clavos and 300 square pyramid head bolts were forged to hold all the hardware in place. The door manufacturer provided heavy-duty springs to compensate for the weight of the steel hardware. (Mild steel, satin black paint and finish.) Artist Blacksmith Jeff Benson. Photo by Jane Benson

When a family living in Singapore decided to purchase a New York City pied-à-terre, they settled on the historic Langham Place, a 60-floor building along 5th Ave which features a mixture of permanent residencies and 5-star hotel suites. Immediately after purchasing the condo, they reached out to Decor Aid, and tasked us with designing a home that would reflect their jet-setting lifestyle and chic sensibility. Book Your Free In-Home Consultation Connecting to the historic Tiffany Building at 404 5th Ave, the exterior of Langham Place is a combination of highly contemporary architecture and 1920’s art deco design. And with this highly unique architecture, came highly angular, outward leaning floor-to-ceiling windows, which would prove to be our biggest design challenge. One of the apartment’s quirks was negotiating an uneven balance of natural light throughout the space. Parts of the apartment, such one of the kids’ bedrooms, feature floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light, while other areas, such as one corner of the living room, receive little natural light. By sourcing a combination of contemporary, low-profile furniture pieces and metallic accents, we were able to compensate for apartment’s pockets of darkness. A low-profile beige sectional from Room & Board was an obvious choice, which we complemented with a lucite console and a bronze Riverstone coffee table from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. Circular tables were placed throughout the apartment in order to establish a design scheme that would be easy to walk through. A marble tulip table from Sit Down New York provides an opulent dining room space, without crowding the floor plan. The finishing touches include a sumptuous swivel chair from Safavieh, to create a sleek, welcoming vacation home for this international client.

Inspiration for a bathroom remodel in San Francisco

When a family living in Singapore decided to purchase a New York City pied-à-terre, they settled on the historic Langham Place, a 60-floor building along 5th Ave which features a mixture of permanent residencies and 5-star hotel suites. Immediately after purchasing the condo, they reached out to Decor Aid, and tasked us with designing a home that would reflect their jet-setting lifestyle and chic sensibility. Book Your Free In-Home Consultation Connecting to the historic Tiffany Building at 404 5th Ave, the exterior of Langham Place is a combination of highly contemporary architecture and 1920’s art deco design. And with this highly unique architecture, came highly angular, outward leaning floor-to-ceiling windows, which would prove to be our biggest design challenge. One of the apartment’s quirks was negotiating an uneven balance of natural light throughout the space. Parts of the apartment, such one of the kids’ bedrooms, feature floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light, while other areas, such as one corner of the living room, receive little natural light. By sourcing a combination of contemporary, low-profile furniture pieces and metallic accents, we were able to compensate for apartment’s pockets of darkness. A low-profile beige sectional from Room & Board was an obvious choice, which we complemented with a lucite console and a bronze Riverstone coffee table from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. Circular tables were placed throughout the apartment in order to establish a design scheme that would be easy to walk through. A marble tulip table from Sit Down New York provides an opulent dining room space, without crowding the floor plan. The finishing touches include a sumptuous swivel chair from Safavieh, to create a sleek, welcoming vacation home for this international client.

“They really got excited when I showed them the comma-shaped island with room enough to seat the entire family and still have plenty of space for additional culinary pursuits,” explained Cartee. The project was complicated by the use of mixed flooring materials, with tile in the kitchen and adjoining hardwood flooring and carpet. We removed the tile & carpet and extended the hardwood flooring from the living room and entryway into the kitchen. Since it was originally a lighter oak stain, we refinished it in a darker shade to make sure no honey oak remained! At some point, perhaps during a previous remodel years before, the house shifted and settled, taking the ceiling and floor out of level by an inch or so. "It happens from time to time,” says Cartee, who has worked on homes much older, “but our carpenters did a masterful job of compensating for the drop with the careful application of flat crown trim, especially over the vent hood where complications from a previous bath remodel were encountered.”

The upper floor plan was expanded which meant that the entryway lost natural light. To compensate, we put in glass floors so that the light was still reach the entryway and also form a focal point for this part of the open plan living room. We also removed a small window to the left and replaced it with a door and small balcony

Pondless Waterfall Pondless Waterfalls are simply a re-circulating waterfall and/or stream without the presence of a pond. You can enjoy the sight and sound of running water without the maintenance of a pond. The waterfall is undoubtedly the most beautiful and favored feature in a water garden. If space is lacking in your yard or you have safety concerns with a pond, go Pondless! The name basically explains it all. It’s a waterfall and stream, without the pond. So why would you want a waterfall without a pond? The truth is that a Pondless Waterfall isn’t for everyone, but it can be a great alternative for someone who isn’t quite sure if a pond is right for their family. Safety Because there is no pool of water, a Pondless Waterfall is a great option if you are concerned about safety issues associated with a traditional pond. Cost Cost can be a big factor when considering the type of pond you want to build. In most cases, the price of a Pondless waterfall will be less than a pond, because there is less labor involved, as well as less rock and materials. Operating costs are also less. Because you’re not dealing with an established ecosystem, it’s not necessary to run the pump 24/7. Space The small size of the Pondless Waterfall means you can build and enjoy a beautiful waterfall anywhere in you yard. Maintenance - Taking care of your Pondless Waterfall is easy. Filling the reservoir every few weeks to compensate for water loss because of evaporation is all that’s required. Flexibility Perhaps the best part of the Pondless Waterfall is the possibility for the future. If you change your mind later, wishing you’d build a pond, that’s ok! If you leave enough room around the base of the waterfall, it’s easy to add a pond onto a Pondless Waterfall. Complete System It might be difficult to imagine a waterfall and stream without a pond. Where does the water go? A Pondless Waterfall works much like a regular pond. The hole, deeper than a normal pond, is dug then lined with rock and gravel, and filled with water. The water is then circulated from beneath the rocks and gravel by a pump that sits on the bottom, inside a Snorkel Vault and Centipede Module. A pipe runs from there up to a BioFalls Filter and into an overflowing waterfall, where it falls back into the reservoir. Since the water level never pools above the level of the rock and gravel fill, it give the appearance of a waterfall without a pond, when in fact, the “pond” is there but not visible. The Pondless Waterfall has made many water-lovers who were previously unable to indulge in the sweet sounds of falling water, very happy. It’s a great alternative for those who are trying to get their feet wet, or looking to fit a little bit of paradise into their own backyard. In other words, when all else fails … go Pondless!

Study room - small 1950s built-in desk study room idea in Seattle

Mid-sized elegant master beige tile and ceramic tile medium tone wood floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub photo in Indianapolis with blue walls

The deliberate roughness of the ceiling and raw-looking wood furniture is compensated with sophisticated shapes and colour accents of paintings, chairs and lamps. Pale gray with occasional red and pink splashes make the design project more refined and vivid.

Excerpt via our website ` "This little cottage was designed and built for storage and gardening purposes. A sanctuary away from the main house, set among big white pines, close to the perennial gardens. Clients have reported spending evenings on the porch sipping red wine and watching wild turkeys forage in the fields. The building is essentially an 8×12 saltbox with an added four-foot porch. A dormer is attached to the front and extended out over the porch. The additional gable detail enhances the design and adds character and charm by breaking up the rooflines. Four opening barn sash windows, a single 3’ door and a workbench give this cottage its uniqueness. The building in the picture has been finished off with special touches; including optional white cedar shingle siding and a set of stairs to compensate for the slope of the site. This cottage would make a great backyard retreat, bunkhouse, or special hide away." Available as diy plans ($50), cabin kits, or fully assembled.

The building is essentially an 8×12 saltbox with an added four-foot porch. A dormer is attached to the front and extended out over the porch. Fabulous roofline. Four opening barn sash windows, a single 3’ door and a workbench give this cottage its uniqueness. The building in the picture has been finished off with special touches; including optional white cedar shingle siding and a set of stairs to compensate for the slope of the site.

When a family living in Singapore decided to purchase a New York City pied-à-terre, they settled on the historic Langham Place, a 60-floor building along 5th Ave which features a mixture of permanent residencies and 5-star hotel suites. Immediately after purchasing the condo, they reached out to Decor Aid, and tasked us with designing a home that would reflect their jet-setting lifestyle and chic sensibility. Book Your Free In-Home Consultation Connecting to the historic Tiffany Building at 404 5th Ave, the exterior of Langham Place is a combination of highly contemporary architecture and 1920’s art deco design. And with this highly unique architecture, came highly angular, outward leaning floor-to-ceiling windows, which would prove to be our biggest design challenge. One of the apartment’s quirks was negotiating an uneven balance of natural light throughout the space. Parts of the apartment, such one of the kids’ bedrooms, feature floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light, while other areas, such as one corner of the living room, receive little natural light. By sourcing a combination of contemporary, low-profile furniture pieces and metallic accents, we were able to compensate for apartment’s pockets of darkness. A low-profile beige sectional from Room & Board was an obvious choice, which we complemented with a lucite console and a bronze Riverstone coffee table from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams. Circular tables were placed throughout the apartment in order to establish a design scheme that would be easy to walk through. A marble tulip table from Sit Down New York provides an opulent dining room space, without crowding the floor plan. The finishing touches include a sumptuous swivel chair from Safavieh, to create a sleek, welcoming vacation home for this international client.

This spacious entertainer's kitchen is part of a whole house remodel and 2-story addition. Our clients' goal was to create a larger, more functional kitchen with a strong connection to the outdoors. The unique flip up window allows for a complete connection to the outdoor covered space. No expense was spared in this design as the clients' desire for all natural materials drove the selections. The quartzite island in Opus White provides a textural and colorful element that grounds the space and complements the soapstone perimeter counters. The flip out window is a unique feature that bridges indoor and outdoor, and provides unique entertaining element. The focal point of the kitchen are the large windows looking into their greenspace, in order to preserve the view there were very few upper cabinets planned. To compensate with this direction, the lower cabinets were outfitted with top-of-the line interior accessories to provide the most functional and efficient storage. High-end, Wolf and Sub Zero appliance and the addition of a walk-in pantry completed the wish list! Steel beams were the solution to creating the large open connection between existing structure and new kitchen addition. We had to incorporate a shallow steel beam spanning the whole width of the kitchen to not impede the existing 8' ceiling height, yet allow for the master bedroom addition directly above the new kitchen addition. In order to bridge interior and exterior spaces, a custom, flip-out window was selected. This sits on the finished counter slab, which extended into the adjacent covered entertaining patio. This allowed no room for error, all the components had to fit together exactly to insure the extended countertop would function as the sill. The value provided our clients was in helping select high quality materials and install them with exceptional quality. Our team did an outstanding job of keeping our client on track and avoiding costly mistakes. This project was not delivered within the original budget due to several client driven change orders.

Inspiration for a country home design remodel in Seattle

Photo: Bonnie McCarthy © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in Los Angeles

Modern basement is something especially convenient to have in order to compensate for lack of daylight that gets in there. Modern room style has minimalistic behavior to it when only major furniture and supplements are displayed making it look organized. At the same time asymmetry and sharp angles add playfulness typical for a room suitable to hang out with friends and spend your free time. In this case central element is corner fireplace that harmonically connect both room areas and can be enjoyed from both of them finishing the atmosphere created by rustic hardwood floors.