Photography by Joe Dodd
Patio - modern patio idea in San Francisco

Marc Tey
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior home remodel in Singapore

Impluvium Architecture Location: Murphys, CA, USA See a full video tour here > https://vimeo.com/297813382 This is my Parents 2nd Custom House (see Haley #1 for their first house I designed). I was the Architect with my mother the Interior Designer and my Father the Builder This is a special (2nd house) project designed to house us (the kids and my sister's family) in the detached bungalows that are connected via breezeway to the main house. It is a true resort house with a great deal of love and craftsmanship!

Ever heard some say “It has good bones?” Well, no one had ever said that about this house; it needed a major overhaul - “A TOTAL GUT.” It’s saving grace was: 1. It’s enthusiastic new homeowners. 2. The expansive and gorgeous views of Okanagan Lake. 
 We were asked to assist our clients with big-picture-planning for their newest investment property. Upon initial walk through of the home, it was immediately evident there were many previous ‘bandaid-type’ updates that it had gone through over the years. This house was in prime need of an overhaul inside and out: - multiple dropped Ceilings with layers of Plumbing add ons - wall to wall Carpet -a tired Bathtub directly inside the Master Bedroom - a “dreaded” Corner Kitchen Sink -multiple add ons involving three confusing front entry doors Discovering what was previously done and the quandary of why these things were done is always so interesting to discover and can be very overwhelming for clients. A big part of what we love most about Design is helping to propose new ideas to revitalize and improve all that has come before. It is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of our work. Our Renovation Strategy began in Layout Design for optimizing Interior & Exterior flow, moving into Concept & Style Planning, Millwork and Finish Selections. We then created an ordered implementation sequence which would allow the homeowners to live on one floor while the other was being renovated Later they would move to the finished floor and renovate the remaining areas. Once complete, the home quickly sold and we look forwards to assisting these happy investors on their next endeavour.

Located on a marsh in the upper reaches of the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, the existing house was well-sited and well-built, but the design failed to exploit the views and more importantly was a confused combination of contemporary and traditional elements. The new homeowners, a successful businesswoman and an accomplished artist and photographer, were interested in creating a fully-contemporary environment to open up space, connect indoors with outdoors, display artwork and showcase the husband’s distinctive photographs. One glaring deficiency was the curb appeal and approach sequence: the grade sloped down and the path to the house followed, but this led to an uncomfortable dip and abrupt rise to the front door. By creating a virtual “moat,” occupied by a grid of raised-bed grasses contained in aluminum-clad boxes, and spanning the moat with an ipe bridge, the approach becomes level and engaging. The façade of the existing house was blank and bland, and with no cover. Adding a deep overhang with a wide porch creates a welcoming, covered condition, accentuated by a 6’ wide pivoting front door that feels more like a moving piece of wall. Another deficiency was the connection to the outdoors. By adding glass to the front and back of the house, and removing interior walls selectively, the house takes on a diaphanous quality that allows one to see through to the marsh beyond, even when in the driveway. The raised-bed grasses act as abstract, geometric versions of the marsh beyond. A large, pyramidal skylight establishes a spatial hierarchy around which the rooms revolve. The house featured several tray-ceilinged spaces – living room, kitchen, and master bedroom – that were poorly-proportioned and with panels at the top that resembled inset flat panel doors. The solution was to use a different strategy for each: the bedroom turns the ceiling into an eggshell through the use of a creative trim detail; the living room has an oversized sculptural, backlit lighting element; and the kitchen has a collage of painted rectangular forms that support or include lighting pieces. A palette of concrete, blackened steel, stainless steel and colors carefully chosen by homeowner and architect create an interior and exterior environment punctuated by moments that are as artistic as the featured works in the black-ceilinged gallery.

This top-to-bottom renovation in Ramona, California, transformed a once heavy and confused interior into a serene retreat. Our design introduced a warm, inviting atmosphere with a stunning mix of medium and dark wood tones, paired with contrasting textural stone elements and bold black accents. The result is a space that feels balanced, abundant, and deeply connected to nature. Designed for a spiritual client seeking harmony, this home now embodies tranquility and comfort. Every element, from the rich wood tones to the organic textures, works together to create a space that supports mindfulness and relaxation. The careful blend of materials creates a sanctuary-like environment, making it the perfect retreat from the everyday hustle. This transformation highlights our expertise in creating personalized spaces that bring balance and warmth, aligning with our client's lifestyle and values.

Custom made kitchen cabinets with a color that we created after many tests and the results...wow. I love simplicity, even when I write to you what you see, so lets do this: The custom cabinets are 3/4'' plywood frame and the doors and the face of the drawers are maple as well. Remember, when you hear Maple kitchen cabinets, that is what it means. NOT all of it Maple, there is but very uncommon. Unless you can afford it and really want it so why not, right? Self close, smart stops, pantry. Regarding any pantry, custom cabinets or semi custom, they both have pull out shelves but up to 5' high. City Code. The city worry that nothing will full on you or little children. The counter is Hond, no sheen Quartz with straight edge. The floor is the original Oak. It always amaze me that they used to build houses with solid Oak floor. WOW!! The backsplash is Porcelain with wavy look. The floating shelves are heavy duty, meaning, the wood is solid and we need to create a custom metal to drill it to the shelve and installing it to the studs. This is if you want to put heavy stuff like plats, glasses etc. Island with a sitting area so we extended the counter out by 16''. If you want to extend more, brackets will ne needed for supporting the countertop. That is it basically. I hope I made it clear. I know it's not easy to do/plan a project with many challenges and the main one is to who are you going to give your savings, your money to do the remodeling, to create your dream. I know. Just follow your heart, take 3 bids, no need more, you will just get more confused. Much blessing to you. Ori

Lake County Estate, Jessica Lagrange Interiors LLC, Photo by Hedrich Blessing
Trendy dark wood floor great room photo in Chicago

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Lake Burton Area . Knowing the areas and resources of Lake Burton is our specialty Lake Burton is a 2,775 acre man-made lake with 62 miles of shoreline located in the northeastern corner of Georgia in Rabun County. It is the first lake in a five-lake series called the Tallulah River Watershed that follows the original course of the Tallulah River. The series of lakes starts with Lake Burton as the northernmost lake followed by Lake Seed, Lake Rabun, Lake Tallulah Falls and the eastern arm of Lake Tugalo (the western arm is formed by the Chattooga River. The lakes are owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company to generate hydroelectric energy for Georgia's largest city, Atlanta. At one time these lakes were the largest producers of electricity in the state of Georgia. Now, they only provide peak power supply. The lake was built in a deep valley located along a 10 mile section of the Tallulah River. The Lake Burton Dam was closed on December 22, 1919 and the lake started to fill. The dam is a gravity concrete dam, with a height of 128 feet and a span of 1,100 feet. The spillway is equipped with eight gates 22 feet wide by 6.6 feet high. The total capacity at an elevation of 1,866.6 feet is 108,000 acre-ft, of which 106,000 acre-ft is usable storage. The generating capacity of the dam is 6,120 kilowatts (two units).Lake Burton is the highest Georgia Power lake in Georgia. Lake Burton gets its named from the town of Burton, which was the second largest town in Rabun County with a population of approximately 200 but now lies below the lake's surface. The town (and the lake) was named after local prominent citizen Jeremiah Burton and was situated along the road from Clayton, Georgia to the Nacoochee Valley. Andrew Jackson Ritchie served as the postmaster for the area for several years. Gold was first discovered in Rabun County where Dicks Creek and the Tallulah River come together and was the reason for the town's founding in the early 1800s. The Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and Moccasin Creek State Park are located on the western side of the lake. Lake Burton is home to several species of fish, including Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Catfish, Walleye, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch. The residents of Lake Burton are a mix of permanent residents and seasonal vacationers who together make-up the Lake Burton Civic Association, a local organization who goal is to maintain the lake through volunteer clean-ups and other such events. Let a Lake Burton resident and expert show you the way The Lake Burton Civic Association is an active homeowners association for residents of the Lake Burton area and sponsors many events throughout the year such as: burton, custom, envision, georgia, lake, mountain, nc, north, photography, web, western, Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, Seed Lake,Virtual Tours.

A transformation of a modest raised ranch into a modern oasis. I was the interior designer and general contractor from mechanicals to finishing. It’s also my personal home. The interior design style is that of modern minimalist meets organic modern. I wanted a space that reduced distractions and let the eyes, head, and soul rest. Where everything inside the home has a specific use and purpose. The objects in our home are fewer but each hold a great personal value. You might expect to see this airy aesthetic, with its gallery white walls, in California or New York. Not nestled in a modest 50 year old neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. Creating a minimal aesthetic is one of the trickiest design styles to pull off. It is more than just less stuff and lots of white. It means sticking to these design principals: -weaving in an abundance of textures -incorporating natural finishes -keenly curating art -giving extra attention to scale -limiting purely decorative items -maximizing natural light This style is not to be confused with the frugality of reductive design. I have incorporated many elevated basics that create an aesthetic of quiet luxury: -architectural bead for trim-less doors -first-of-its kind interior door hardware made of terrazzo -historical marble found in landmark interiors like the NY Public Library -premium flush air vents that disappear out of site -luxury appliances from GE Café and Signature -elegant and resilient terrazzo field tiles Ours was not a simple interior remodel and addition: -gutted and remodeled the existing 2,000 SF -added on approximately another 1,000 SF -moved and installed all new major mechanicals i.e. heating, plumbing and electrical. -knocked through foundation walls to extend the space back -dug down and built up

Transform your family room effortlessly depending on whether you want to relax, play games, read, or watch TV together. Unclutter the coffee table and reduce confusion with the simplicity of a single remote the entire family can use to control everything: TV, music, streaming content, DVD player, lights, shades and temperature. Home entertainment equipment can be concealed so you only see and hear it when you want to and your family room keeps the sense of style you desire.

I copied from the previous page which cover it all. No need confusion... I hope you understand.
Kitchen - large french country u-shaped light wood floor and multicolored floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, an island and black countertops

Another exiting perspective brings to the fray a custom hand carved diagonal bookshelf. In the forefront, one sees the meticulous craftsmanship that went into the wood work on the sliding barn door in addition to the custom bronze handle.

This top-to-bottom renovation in Ramona, California, transformed a once heavy and confused interior into a serene retreat. Our design introduced a warm, inviting atmosphere with a stunning mix of medium and dark wood tones, paired with contrasting textural stone elements and bold black accents. The result is a space that feels balanced, abundant, and deeply connected to nature. Designed for a spiritual client seeking harmony, this home now embodies tranquility and comfort. Every element, from the rich wood tones to the organic textures, works together to create a space that supports mindfulness and relaxation. The careful blend of materials creates a sanctuary-like environment, making it the perfect retreat from the everyday hustle. This transformation highlights our expertise in creating personalized spaces that bring balance and warmth, aligning with our client's lifestyle and values.

The long-lasting, hand woven Avery Island Collection from Lakeview Outdoor Designs offers an upscale look with multiple configuration options. UltimatePatio.com

Located on a marsh in the upper reaches of the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, the existing house was well-sited and well-built, but the design failed to exploit the views and more importantly was a confused combination of contemporary and traditional elements. The new homeowners, a successful businesswoman and an accomplished artist and photographer, were interested in creating a fully-contemporary environment to open up space, connect indoors with outdoors, display artwork and showcase the husband’s distinctive photographs. One glaring deficiency was the curb appeal and approach sequence: the grade sloped down and the path to the house followed, but this led to an uncomfortable dip and abrupt rise to the front door. By creating a virtual “moat,” occupied by a grid of raised-bed grasses contained in aluminum-clad boxes, and spanning the moat with an ipe bridge, the approach becomes level and engaging. The façade of the existing house was blank and bland, and with no cover. Adding a deep overhang with a wide porch creates a welcoming, covered condition, accentuated by a 6’ wide pivoting front door that feels more like a moving piece of wall. Another deficiency was the connection to the outdoors. By adding glass to the front and back of the house, and removing interior walls selectively, the house takes on a diaphanous quality that allows one to see through to the marsh beyond, even when in the driveway. The raised-bed grasses act as abstract, geometric versions of the marsh beyond. A large, pyramidal skylight establishes a spatial hierarchy around which the rooms revolve. The house featured several tray-ceilinged spaces – living room, kitchen, and master bedroom – that were poorly-proportioned and with panels at the top that resembled inset flat panel doors. The solution was to use a different strategy for each: the bedroom turns the ceiling into an eggshell through the use of a creative trim detail; the living room has an oversized sculptural, backlit lighting element; and the kitchen has a collage of painted rectangular forms that support or include lighting pieces. A palette of concrete, blackened steel, stainless steel and colors carefully chosen by homeowner and architect create an interior and exterior environment punctuated by moments that are as artistic as the featured works in the black-ceilinged gallery.

A transformation of a modest raised ranch into a modern oasis. I was the interior designer and general contractor from mechanicals to finishing. It’s also my personal home. The interior design style is that of modern minimalist meets organic modern. I wanted a space that reduced distractions and let the eyes, head, and soul rest. Where everything inside the home has a specific use and purpose. The objects in our home are fewer but each hold a great personal value. You might expect to see this airy aesthetic, with its gallery white walls, in California or New York. Not nestled in a modest 50 year old neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. Creating a minimal aesthetic is one of the trickiest design styles to pull off. It is more than just less stuff and lots of white. It means sticking to these design principals: -weaving in an abundance of textures -incorporating natural finishes -keenly curating art -giving extra attention to scale -limiting purely decorative items -maximizing natural light This style is not to be confused with the frugality of reductive design. I have incorporated many elevated basics that create an aesthetic of quiet luxury: -architectural bead for trim-less doors -first-of-its kind interior door hardware made of terrazzo -historical marble found in landmark interiors like the NY Public Library -premium flush air vents that disappear out of site -luxury appliances from GE Café and Signature -elegant and resilient terrazzo field tiles Ours was not a simple interior remodel and addition: -gutted and remodeled the existing 2,000 SF -added on approximately another 1,000 SF -moved and installed all new major mechanicals i.e. heating, plumbing and electrical. -knocked through foundation walls to extend the space back -dug down and built up

Kurt. K
Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Seattle

This top-to-bottom renovation in Ramona, California, transformed a once heavy and confused interior into a serene retreat. Our design introduced a warm, inviting atmosphere with a stunning mix of medium and dark wood tones, paired with contrasting textural stone elements and bold black accents. The result is a space that feels balanced, abundant, and deeply connected to nature. Designed for a spiritual client seeking harmony, this home now embodies tranquility and comfort. Every element, from the rich wood tones to the organic textures, works together to create a space that supports mindfulness and relaxation. The careful blend of materials creates a sanctuary-like environment, making it the perfect retreat from the everyday hustle. This transformation highlights our expertise in creating personalized spaces that bring balance and warmth, aligning with our client's lifestyle and values.