This project reimagines an under-used back yard in Portland, Oregon, creating an urban garden with an adjacent writer’s studio. Taking inspiration from Japanese precedents, we conceived of a paving scheme with planters, a cedar soaking tub, a fire pit, and a seven-foot-tall cedar fence. A maple tree forms the focal point and will grow to shade the yard. Board-formed concrete planters house conifers, maples and moss, appropriate to the Pacific Northwest climate. Photo: Anna M Campbell: annamcampbell.com

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

For a family putting down lasting roots in Park City, this 10,000-square-foot estate within the gated enclave of Quarry Mountain Ranch is conceived as both sanctuary and legacy. Designed to evolve alongside its owners, the home balances permanence with a deep sensitivity to the land it inhabits. Thoughtfully positioned within an alpine meadow shaped by the gentle flow of McLeod Creek, the residence embraces its setting. The waterway threads through the property, sustaining native grasses and drawing elk, deer, and migratory birdlife, grounding daily life in the rhythms of season and landscape. Broad planes of glass and sheltering rooflines frame uninterrupted views of ski slopes and distant ridgelines, while long sightlines pull natural light deep into the interior. Terraces and covered outdoor rooms mediate between house and meadow, creating spaces for gathering, reflection, and year-round connection to the outdoors. A restrained palette of wood and stone echoes the textures of the terrain, lending warmth and durability to the home’s contemporary expression. A separate guest house extends the architectural language, forming a discreet compound that supports family life, hospitality, and the enduring cadence of alpine living. Architecture: Advanced Design Interior Design: Erin Brewer Design

Barbara Ries Photography
Example of a trendy patio design in San Francisco with a bbq area

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

Part mirage, part miracle - this masterful modern evocation is in the best Louisiana vernacular tradition. It was conceived by architect Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects Lafayette, Louisiana) for an unusual piece of property in Metairie whose cheated landscape gives the illusion of open country spaces. He has created a “cottage” that already looks as if it might be a survivor from a couple of centuries ago. Using reclaimed building materials, magnificent beams, beautiful old flooring with classically scaled rooms, it was a perfect project for Decorations Lucullus. Both architect and interior designers admit the real magic rested with the client whose highly developed aesthetic and extensive experience in design gave the process amazing vitality. Conceived as a “résidence secondaire” to be near grandchildren, she wanted something more snug than her large primary house out of town but without sacrificing the qualities of charm or elegance. While the project is still evolving, she can’t repress a smile when some passer-by stops to chat over the rose-heavy iron fence, perhaps peering into the gracious side hall, asking how this old house has managed to survive all the changes in the neighborhood. Photography by Sara Essex Bradly

For a family putting down lasting roots in Park City, this 10,000-square-foot estate within the gated enclave of Quarry Mountain Ranch is conceived as both sanctuary and legacy. Designed to evolve alongside its owners, the home balances permanence with a deep sensitivity to the land it inhabits. Thoughtfully positioned within an alpine meadow shaped by the gentle flow of McLeod Creek, the residence embraces its setting. The waterway threads through the property, sustaining native grasses and drawing elk, deer, and migratory birdlife, grounding daily life in the rhythms of season and landscape. Broad planes of glass and sheltering rooflines frame uninterrupted views of ski slopes and distant ridgelines, while long sightlines pull natural light deep into the interior. Terraces and covered outdoor rooms mediate between house and meadow, creating spaces for gathering, reflection, and year-round connection to the outdoors. A restrained palette of wood and stone echoes the textures of the terrain, lending warmth and durability to the home’s contemporary expression. A separate guest house extends the architectural language, forming a discreet compound that supports family life, hospitality, and the enduring cadence of alpine living. Architecture: Advanced Design Interior Design: Erin Brewer Design

Part mirage, part miracle - this masterful modern evocation is in the best Louisiana vernacular tradition. It was conceived by architect Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects Lafayette, Louisiana) for an unusual piece of property in Metairie whose cheated landscape gives the illusion of open country spaces. He has created a “cottage” that already looks as if it might be a survivor from a couple of centuries ago. Using reclaimed building materials, magnificent beams, beautiful old flooring with classically scaled rooms, it was a perfect project for Decorations Lucullus. Both architect and interior designers admit the real magic rested with the client whose highly developed aesthetic and extensive experience in design gave the process amazing vitality. Conceived as a “résidence secondaire” to be near grandchildren, she wanted something more snug than her large primary house out of town but without sacrificing the qualities of charm or elegance. While the project is still evolving, she can’t repress a smile when some passer-by stops to chat over the rose-heavy iron fence, perhaps peering into the gracious side hall, asking how this old house has managed to survive all the changes in the neighborhood. Photography by Sara Essex Bradly

Cella Architecture - Erich Karp, AIA Laurelhurst Portland, OR This new Tudor Revival styled home, situated in Portland’s Laurelhurst area, was designed to blend with one of the city’s distinctive old neighborhoods. While there are a variety of existing house styles along the nearby streets, the Tudor Revival style with its characteristic steeply pitched roof lines, arched doorways, and heavy chimneys occurs throughout the neighborhood and was the ideal style choice for the new home. The house was conceived with a steeply pitched asymmetric gable facing the street with the longer rake sweeping down in a gentle arc to stop near the entry. The front door is sheltered by a gracefully arched canopy supported by twin wooden corbels. Additional details such as the stuccoed walls with their decorative banding that wraps the house or the flare of the stucco hood over the second floor windows or the use of unique materials such as the Old Carolina brick window sills and entry porch paving add to the character of the house. But while the form and details for the home are drawn from styles of the last century, the home is certainly of this era with noticeably cleaner lines, details, and configuration than would occur in older variants of the style.

SDH Studio - Architecture and Design Location: Bal Harbour, Florida, USA Set in a magnificent corner lot in Bal Harbour Village the site is filled with natural light. This contemporary home is conceived as an open floor plan that integrates indoor with outdoor maximizing family living and entertaining.

Conceived by architect Rafael Viñoly—432 Park Avenue is the tallest residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. This apartment designed by John Beckmann and his design firm Axis Mundi has some of the most breathtaking views in Manhattan. Known for their glamorous low-slung aesthetic, Axis Mundi took the challenge to design the residence for an American client living in China with a family of four, and an important art collection (including the likes of Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, Susan Frecon, Vik Muniz and Lisette Schumacher, among others). In the dining room, a Bocci “28 Chandelier” hangs above an intricate marble and brass table by Henge, with ceramics by John Born. Entering the main living area, a monumental “Let it Be” sectional from Poltrona Frau sits on a silver custom-designed Joseph Carini wool and silk rug. A ‘Surface” coffee table designed by Vincent Van Duysen and “Fulgens” armchairs in saddle leather by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia create the penultimate space for entertaining. The sensuous red library features custom-designed bookshelves in burnished brass and walnut, as a “Wing Sofa” in red velvet from Flexform floats atop a “Ponti” area rug from the Rug Company. “JJ Chairs” in Mongolian lamb fur from B&B Italia add a rock and roll swagger to the space. The kitchen accentuates the grey marble flooring and all-white color palette, with the exception of a few light wood and marble details. A dramatic pendant in hand-burnished brass, designed by Henge, hovers above the kitchen island, while a floating marble counter spans the window opening. It is a serene spot to enjoy a morning cappuccino while pondering the ever-changing skyline of the Metropolis. In a counterintuitive move, Beckmann decided to make the gallery dark by finishing the walls in a smoked lacquered plaster with hints of mica, which add sparkle and glitter. John Beckmann made sure to include extravagant fabrics from Christopher Hyland and a deft mix of textures and colors to the design. In the master bedroom is a wall-length headboard system in leather and velvet panels from Poliform, with luxurious bedding from Frette. Dupre Lafon lounge chairs in a buttery leather rest on a custom golden silk carpet by Joseph Carini, while a pair of parchment bedside lamps by Jean Michel Frank complete the design. The facade is treated with an LED lighting system which changes colors and can be controlled by the client with their iPhone from the street. Design: John Beckmann, with Hannah LaSota Photography: Durston Saylor Contractor: Cardinal Construction Size: 4000 sf © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Conceived by architect Rafael Viñoly—432 Park Avenue is the tallest residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. This apartment designed by John Beckmann and his design firm Axis Mundi has some of the most breathtaking views in Manhattan. Known for their glamorous low-slung aesthetic, Axis Mundi took the challenge to design the residence for an American client living in China with a family of four, and an important art collection (including the likes of Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, Susan Frecon, Vik Muniz and Lisette Schumacher, among others). In the dining room, a Bocci “28 Chandelier” hangs above an intricate marble and brass table by Henge, with ceramics by John Born. Entering the main living area, a monumental “Let it Be” sectional from Poltrona Frau sits on a silver custom-designed Joseph Carini wool and silk rug. A ‘Surface” coffee table designed by Vincent Van Duysen and “Fulgens” armchairs in saddle leather by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia create the penultimate space for entertaining. The sensuous red library features custom-designed bookshelves in burnished brass and walnut, as a “Wing Sofa” in red velvet from Flexform floats atop a “Ponti” area rug from the Rug Company. “JJ Chairs” in Mongolian lamb fur from B&B Italia add a rock and roll swagger to the space. The kitchen accentuates the grey marble flooring and all-white color palette, with the exception of a few light wood and marble details. A dramatic pendant in hand-burnished brass, designed by Henge, hovers above the kitchen island, while a floating marble counter spans the window opening. It is a serene spot to enjoy a morning cappuccino while pondering the ever-changing skyline of the Metropolis. In a counterintuitive move, Beckmann decided to make the gallery dark by finishing the walls in a smoked lacquered plaster with hints of mica, which add sparkle and glitter. John Beckmann made sure to include extravagant fabrics from Christopher Hyland and a deft mix of textures and colors to the design. In the master bedroom is a wall-length headboard system in leather and velvet panels from Poliform, with luxurious bedding from Frette. Dupre Lafon lounge chairs in a buttery leather rest on a custom golden silk carpet by Joseph Carini, while a pair of parchment bedside lamps by Jean Michel Frank complete the design. The facade is treated with an LED lighting system which changes colors and can be controlled by the client with their iPhone from the street. Design: John Beckmann, with Hannah LaSota Photography: Durston Saylor Renderings: 3DS Contractor: Cardinal Construction Size: 4000 sf © Axis Mundi Design LLC

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

The Binary House was conceived as part of Hometta's premier collection. It explores several dualities of modern living. Photo Credit: Ben Hill
Example of a minimalist freestanding bathtub design in Houston

Lucas Fladzinski
Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, granite countertops and brown cabinets

Designer Allie Mann Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Transitional home office photo in DC Metro

The Binary House was conceived as part of Hometta's premier collection. It explores several dualities of modern living. Photo Credit: Ben Hill
Small minimalist living room photo in Houston with white walls

Caitlin Atkinson
Deck - contemporary deck idea in Los Angeles with no cover

Elegant kitchen photo in San Francisco