The living room and adjacent dining room continue the black, white and green color scheme throughout the home. Brown tones in the furniture and wood flooring warm it up. A curved sofa, two caned chairs and a brass coffee table accent the living room. Contemporary lighting and modern art accent both rooms.

This home features a unique architectural design that emphasizes texture over color. Throughout the interior and exterior of the home, the materials truly shine. Smooth glass, chunky wood, rough stone, and textured concrete are combined to create a neutral palate that has interest and the feeling of movement. Despite such heavy building materials, the architectural design of the home feels much lighter than the traditional rustic mountain home thanks to expansive windows that flood the interior with natural light and create a connection between the inside of the home and out. This connection between the inside and out creates a true feeling of a mountain escape while the laid-back approach to the design creates a relaxing retreat experience. The A5f series of windows with double pane glazing was selected for the project for the clean and modern aesthetic, the durability of all-aluminum frames, and the ease of installation with integrated nail flange. High-performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals all contribute to better performance than is seen in traditional aluminum windows. This means that larger expanses of glazing provide the feeling of indoor-outdoor integration while also maintaining comfort and protection from the weather year-round.

A rhythm is felt from the ceiling beams to the glass upper cabinets, design themes that flow to the dining and great room to maintain a light and airy atmosphere. The cadence continues between zones for entertaining and cooking. The beverage area is connected but does not overpower the function of the kitchen. Undercounter refrigeration, drinkware, glass front cabinetry and the television unite as a hub for hosting. A small sink by the cooktop serves both areas for prep and beverage. Overhead, the rangehood is simple in form with an intention to resemble a European plaster hood. The tile backsplash has a handmade feel for a transitional appearance with old-world comfort.

Mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Other with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a tv stand

After having spent several years living in a trailer getting to know their rural property in La Pine Oregon, our clients made the decision to build a small off-the-grid modern cabin that they can retire in and use as a hub for entertaining family and friends. Keeping the cabin modest in scale and construction cost was critical to this couple since they planned to build the cabin themselves and didn’t want to overextend themselves financially so they can continue pursuing their love for international travel and maximize time spent with their loved ones. Set amongst a grove of lodge pole pines, the cabin was designed with simplicity in mind and utilizes materials that help it fit in seamlessly with the surrounding high desert environment while being low maintenance and fire resistant. Although the cabin is compact in footprint, the interior spaces are all designed to open out onto a large outdoor deck, effectively doubling the usable living space, while a covered breezeway provides protected access to the main entry and houses an outdoor kitchen for entertaining in warmer weather and wood storage for use in the indoor/ outdoor fireplace during the winter months. The compact 600 square foot interior footprint also has a 200 square foot flexible loft space which can be used to work from and house guests alike. The exterior breezeway, main living space and loft was designed to be open to the vaulted wood rafters, steel collar ties and skylights above, creating a seamless transition between the interior and exterior and a sense of openness and lightness unusual for such a compact footprint.

You don't have to own a big celebrity mansion to have a beautifully appointed house finished with unique and special materials. When my clients bought an average condo kitted out with all the average builder-grade things that average builders stuff into spaces like that, they longed to make it theirs. Being collectors of colorful Fiesta tableware and lovers of extravagant stone, we set about infusing the space with a dose of their fun personality. There wasn’t a corner of the house that went untouched in this extensive renovation. The ground floor got a complete make-over with a new Calacatta Gold tile floor, and I designed a very special border of Lunada Bay glass mosaic tiles that outlines the edge of every room. We ripped out a solid walled staircase and replaced it with a visually lighter cable rail system, and a custom hanging chandelier now shines over the living room. The kitchen was redesigned to take advantage of a wall that was previously just shallow pantry storage. By opening it up and installing cabinetry, we doubled the counter space and made the kitchen much more spacious and usable. We also removed a low hanging set of upper cabinets that cut off the kitchen from the rest of the ground floor spaces. Acquarella Fantasy quartzite graces the counter surfaces and continues down in a waterfall feature in order to enjoy as much of this stone’s natural beauty as possible. One of my favorite spaces turned out to be the primary bathroom. The scheme for this room took shape when we were at a slab warehouse shopping for material. We stumbled across a packet of a stunning quartzite called Fusion Wow Dark and immediately fell in love. We snatched up a pair of slabs for the counter as well as the back wall of the shower. My clients were eager to be rid of a tub-shower alcove and create a spacious curbless shower, which meant a full piece of stone on the entire long wall would be stunning. To compliment it, I found a neutral, sandstone-like tile for the return walls of the shower and brought it around the remaining walls of the space, capped with a coordinating chair rail. But my client's love of gold and all things sparkly led us to a wonderful mosaic. Composed of shifting hues of honey and gold, I envisioned the mosaic on the vanity wall and as a backing for the niche in the shower. We chose a dark slate tile to ground the room, and designed a luxurious, glass French door shower enclosure. Little touches like a motion-detected toe kick night light at the vanity, oversized LED mirrors, and ultra-modern plumbing fixtures elevate this previously simple bathroom. And I designed a watery-themed guest bathroom with a deep blue vanity, a large LED mirror, toe kick lights, and customized handmade porcelain tiles illustrating marshland scenes and herons. All photos by Bernardo Grijalva

This 2250 sq. ft. space soars above New York City's Fifth Avenue overlooking the beautiful Central Park. The owner had an extensive art collection and wanted the rooms to reflect their artistic sensibility and warmth. The furnishings combined their love of modern art with their dreamy nostalgia. Many of the pieces were centered around the owner's love of contemporary furniture, many of which were created by famous furniture designer Mario Bellini. Each room tells a story, one that the owner will continue to tell throughout the years. Featured brands include: Mario Bellini furnishings, Armani Casa, and Flos and Artemide lighting, and Venetian plaster.

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

Open-concept living and kitchen space with vaulted, wood-beamed ceilings that draw the eye upward and set a warm, cabin-modern tone. Rich hardwood flooring anchors a plush leather sectional and a soft area rug, creating an inviting gathering space that feels both grand and grounded. Just beyond, the kitchen continues the story with sleek white cabinetry, a waterfall-edge island, and a pendant globe light that adds a touch of understated elegance. It's a space built for connection — where craftsmanship and comfort meet under a ceiling that makes every gathering feel a little more special.

After having spent several years living in a trailer getting to know their rural property in La Pine Oregon, our clients made the decision to build a small off-the-grid modern cabin that they can retire in and use as a hub for entertaining family and friends. Keeping the cabin modest in scale and construction cost was critical to this couple since they planned to build the cabin themselves and didn’t want to overextend themselves financially so they can continue pursuing their love for international travel and maximize time spent with their loved ones. Set amongst a grove of lodge pole pines, the cabin was designed with simplicity in mind and utilizes materials that help it fit in seamlessly with the surrounding high desert environment while being low maintenance and fire resistant. Although the cabin is compact in footprint, the interior spaces are all designed to open out onto a large outdoor deck, effectively doubling the usable living space, while a covered breezeway provides protected access to the main entry and houses an outdoor kitchen for entertaining in warmer weather and wood storage for use in the indoor/ outdoor fireplace during the winter months. The compact 600 square foot interior footprint also has a 200 square foot flexible loft space which can be used to work from and house guests alike. The exterior breezeway, main living space and loft was designed to be open to the vaulted wood rafters, steel collar ties and skylights above, creating a seamless transition between the interior and exterior and a sense of openness and lightness unusual for such a compact footprint.

The room has wooden print vinyl floors and a vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam. Classic modern kitchen with a shaker blue island and grey cabinets. Cabinets line the back wall in an L shape and continue after the backdoor to line the far wall. The kitchen has white quarts countertops and stainless steel fixtures and appliances. Gas stove in the island and a single bowl sink. There are three hanging kitchen lights- one over the sink and two over the kitchen island. There are eight recessed lights in the kitchen as well.

Perched high above the Islington Golf course, on a quiet cul-de-sac, this contemporary residential home is all about bringing the outdoor surroundings in. In keeping with the French style, a metal and slate mansard roofline dominates the façade, while inside, an open concept main floor split across three elevations, is punctuated by reclaimed rough hewn fir beams and a herringbone dark walnut floor. The elegant kitchen includes Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf range, SubZero glass paned refrigerator, open walnut shelving, blue/black cabinetry with hand forged bronze hardware and a larder with a SubZero freezer, wine fridge and even a dog bed. The emphasis on wood detailing continues with Pella fir windows framing a full view of the canopy of trees that hang over the golf course and back of the house. This project included a full reimagining of the backyard landscaping and features the use of Thermory decking and a refurbished in-ground pool surrounded by dark Eramosa limestone. Design elements include the use of three species of wood, warm metals, various marbles, bespoke lighting fixtures and Canadian art as a focal point within each space. The main walnut waterfall staircase features a custom hand forged metal railing with tuning fork spindles. The end result is a nod to the elegance of French Country, mixed with the modern day requirements of a family of four and two dogs!

Full gut renovation and facade restoration of an historic 1850s wood-frame townhouse. The current owners found the building as a decaying, vacant SRO (single room occupancy) dwelling with approximately 9 rooming units. The building has been converted to a two-family house with an owner’s triplex over a garden-level rental. Due to the fact that the very little of the existing structure was serviceable and the change of occupancy necessitated major layout changes, nC2 was able to propose an especially creative and unconventional design for the triplex. This design centers around a continuous 2-run stair which connects the main living space on the parlor level to a family room on the second floor and, finally, to a studio space on the third, thus linking all of the public and semi-public spaces with a single architectural element. This scheme is further enhanced through the use of a wood-slat screen wall which functions as a guardrail for the stair as well as a light-filtering element tying all of the floors together, as well its culmination in a 5’ x 25’ skylight.

A view of the great room, as seen staining in the 12'-0" case opening that separates the two story great room for the kitchen. We see the use of more mosaic tiles that match the kitchen backsplash. The client continued the theme of using the cabinets as an accent element. The open shelves are painted a deep brown color to mimic the color of the wet bar and kitchen island cabinets.

This stunning fully Vineuve designed and renovated kitchen showcases a complete transformation with a subtle grey cabinetry with clean lines, a prominent central island featuring a maple butcher block waterfall countertop, and an elegant marble herringbone backsplash that adds sophisticated texture to the space. The renovation involved strategically filling in a doorway to create a continuous wall, which now features a seamlessly integrated hidden cabinet door fridge that blends perfectly with the surrounding cabinetry for a clean, uninterrupted look. The open-concept layout flows effortlessly into adjacent living areas, enhanced by recessed lighting in a coffered ceiling and oak hardwood flooring that extends throughout the space, creating a bright, modern, and highly functional culinary environment.

This home features a unique architectural design that emphasizes texture over color. Throughout the interior and exterior of the home, the materials truly shine. Smooth glass, chunky wood, rough stone, and textured concrete are combined to create a neutral palate that has interest and the feeling of movement. Despite such heavy building materials, the architectural design of the home feels much lighter than the traditional rustic mountain home thanks to expansive windows that flood the interior with natural light and create a connection between the inside of the home and out. This connection between the inside and out creates a true feeling of a mountain escape while the laid-back approach to the design creates a relaxing retreat experience. The A5f series of windows with double pane glazing was selected for the project for the clean and modern aesthetic, the durability of all-aluminum frames, and the ease of installation with integrated nail flange. High-performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals all contribute to better performance than is seen in traditional aluminum windows. This means that larger expanses of glazing provide the feeling of indoor-outdoor integration while also maintaining comfort and protection from the weather year-round.

A pair of painted fabric panels hang from a wood rod mounted above a framed painting. Additional artwork lines the wall opposite, leading toward a black-framed glass door at the end of the hall. Polished concrete floors continue throughout. by NextGen Home Builders

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

You don't have to own a big celebrity mansion to have a beautifully appointed house finished with unique and special materials. When my clients bought an average condo kitted out with all the average builder-grade things that average builders stuff into spaces like that, they longed to make it theirs. Being collectors of colorful Fiesta tableware and lovers of extravagant stone, we set about infusing the space with a dose of their fun personality. There wasn’t a corner of the house that went untouched in this extensive renovation. The ground floor got a complete make-over with a new Calacatta Gold tile floor, and I designed a very special border of Lunada Bay glass mosaic tiles that outlines the edge of every room. We ripped out a solid walled staircase and replaced it with a visually lighter cable rail system, and a custom hanging chandelier now shines over the living room. The kitchen was redesigned to take advantage of a wall that was previously just shallow pantry storage. By opening it up and installing cabinetry, we doubled the counter space and made the kitchen much more spacious and usable. We also removed a low hanging set of upper cabinets that cut off the kitchen from the rest of the ground floor spaces. Acquarella Fantasy quartzite graces the counter surfaces and continues down in a waterfall feature in order to enjoy as much of this stone’s natural beauty as possible. One of my favorite spaces turned out to be the primary bathroom. The scheme for this room took shape when we were at a slab warehouse shopping for material. We stumbled across a packet of a stunning quartzite called Fusion Wow Dark and immediately fell in love. We snatched up a pair of slabs for the counter as well as the back wall of the shower. My clients were eager to be rid of a tub-shower alcove and create a spacious curbless shower, which meant a full piece of stone on the entire long wall would be stunning. To compliment it, I found a neutral, sandstone-like tile for the return walls of the shower and brought it around the remaining walls of the space, capped with a coordinating chair rail. But my client's love of gold and all things sparkly led us to a wonderful mosaic. Composed of shifting hues of honey and gold, I envisioned the mosaic on the vanity wall and as a backing for the niche in the shower. We chose a dark slate tile to ground the room, and designed a luxurious, glass French door shower enclosure. Little touches like a motion-detected toe kick night light at the vanity, oversized LED mirrors, and ultra-modern plumbing fixtures elevate this previously simple bathroom. And I designed a watery-themed guest bathroom with a deep blue vanity, a large LED mirror, toe kick lights, and customized handmade porcelain tiles illustrating marshland scenes and herons. All photos by Bernardo Grijalva