Huge eclectic l-shaped porcelain tile open concept kitchen photo in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This Upper East Side prewar interior was specifically designed as a guest apartment for friends and family to stay for long periods of time. They wanted their guests to feel like home while staying in the city. Our criteria was that it had to be functional while remaining tailored, sophisticated and inviting. The space was rather dark so we opted for wallcoverings and paint colors that were soft, textural and exuded contrast. Our design was to completely renovate the living room, bathroom and master bedroom/sitting area. The kitchen was cosmetic with floor stain, paint, hardware and lighting. Grey, taupe, white and black were accents in the living room and created a friendly environment. This room also had to function as a guest room therefore a pullout sofa covered in a Lee Jofa linen was the perfect choice. The Bedroom has a soft palate which is extremely welcoming with touches of silver and pale grey. The hints of peacock blue and brown transform the space completely and work well with the pheasant mirror above the bed. There is also a reading nook where our star Winston occasionally takes naps when he returns from his runs in Central Park. Photography Jane Beiles

Vista view of the pool and some pool scaping.
This is an example of a large contemporary drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles.

Le jardinet

Located in a high-traffic area of the home, this custom wet bar and hutch was created to make a beautiful design statement while providing smart and practical storage solutions. Design Connection, Inc. provided; Space plans, custom cabinet designs, furniture, wall art, lamps, and project management to ensure all aspects of this space met the firm’s high criteria.

Anyone who has a deck or a swimming pool has used this old cliche when talking about their space: “Oh, we just live out here in the summertime!” So, we got to thinking...what if you really lived outside in the summertime? What would an outdoor house look like? What would it need to provide? Could you really “live out there”? Casa Cielo (“Sky House”) is a totally private, mostly roofless “house”, where the owners can really live in the warmer months. Open-air living room, dining room, and bedroom spaces were created. The clients wanted a modern, spa-like ambiance. Inspiration was provided by the client’s vacations to modernist hotspots Hix Island House in Vieques, Puerto Rico and Orbit In, Palm Springs, California. Design Criteria: - Create an “Outdoor House” around an existing pool. - Build sustainably. - Carefully consider wall designs to ensure total privacy. - “Bring the Indoors Outside” with clean, modern living spaces. Special Features: - Living room and Dining room with a gas fireplace - FSC Certified Tigerwood sundeck. - Outdoor bedroom and shower. - Poolhouse with a bathroom and kitchenette.

The owner's of this property love to garden. They wanted a beautiful landscape appropriate to the surrounding forest that is dog durable and easy to maintain. The North Rim design guidelines allow only specific plant species to be considered, in specific combinations, at specific rates. Dappled Earth developed planting combinations that massaged this criteria to create dramatic blocks of native blooms.

Anyone who has a deck or a swimming pool has used this old cliche when talking about their space: “Oh, we just live out here in the summertime!” So, we got to thinking...what if you really lived outside in the summertime? What would an outdoor house look like? What would it need to provide? Could you really “live out there”? Casa Cielo (“Sky House”) is a totally private, mostly roofless “house”, where the owners can really live in the warmer months. Open-air living room, dining room, and bedroom spaces were created. The clients wanted a modern, spa-like ambiance. Inspiration was provided by the client’s vacations to modernist hotspots Hix Island House in Vieques, Puerto Rico and Orbit In, Palm Springs, California. Design Criteria: - Create an “Outdoor House” around an existing pool. - Build sustainably. - Carefully consider wall designs to ensure total privacy. - “Bring the Indoors Outside” with clean, modern living spaces. Special Features: - Living room and Dining room with a gas fireplace - FSC Certified Tigerwood sundeck. - Outdoor bedroom and shower. - Poolhouse with a bathroom and kitchenette.

Our clients were looking for a mudroom locker for the room off of the garage. They had a few specifics and dimension criteria for the locker. Drawer storage on the bottom for shoes and sports equipment. Individual enclosed lockers for coats and jackets. Cubbies on the top for mittens, hats, and etc. Side pantry cabinet for extra storage. This mudroom locker cabinet is constructed of maple and finished in white.

Anyone who has a deck or a swimming pool has used this old cliche when talking about their space: “Oh, we just live out here in the summertime!” So, we got to thinking...what if you really lived outside in the summertime? What would an outdoor house look like? What would it need to provide? Could you really “live out there”? Casa Cielo (“Sky House”) is a totally private, mostly roofless “house”, where the owners can really live in the warmer months. Open-air living room, dining room, and bedroom spaces were created. The clients wanted a modern, spa-like ambiance. Inspiration was provided by the client’s vacations to modernist hotspots Hix Island House in Vieques, Puerto Rico and Orbit In, Palm Springs, California. Design Criteria: - Create an “Outdoor House” around an existing pool. - Build sustainably. - Carefully consider wall designs to ensure total privacy. - “Bring the Indoors Outside” with clean, modern living spaces. Special Features: - Living room and Dining room with a gas fireplace - FSC Certified Tigerwood sundeck. - Outdoor bedroom and shower. - Poolhouse with a bathroom and kitchenette.

The client desired to have a full remodel/renovation of their kitchen with certain criteria. In these images, we installed brand-new cabinets, floor tiles along with the installation of the marble countertop & new appliances (i.e. sink, faucet, etc.)

The criterion for choosing one particular kitchen countertop usually comes down to the following: durability, visual appealing and easiness to maintain. We’d have to say that the most important of these criteria when deciding upon one type of kitchen countertop is the durability, since it will be used on a daily basis. Because of the fact that most of the work that takes place in the kitchen is performed on the countertop, it should be able to withstand whatever the Virginia homeowners decide to do with the minimum amount of care for visual aspect of the kitchen countertop.

THE SETUP Multiple ovens, multiple workspaces, multiple sinks – when you think about it, non-jewish kitchens have been adapting the criteria of kosher kitchens for years. Gladys’ clients in West Rogers Park are Orthodox Jewish. The house they bought already had a kosher kitchen – it just wasn’t done that well. It needed some more things to be duplicated for the dairy side and the meat side. Plus, it was dark and the configuration wasn’t very conducive for a family of eight. It was time for a remodel. Design Objectives Improve kosher kitchen Add more storage in the island Better lighting More open, lighter feel Change the wood floor in the kitchen to tile THE REMODEL Design Challenges - We had originally planned on removing a wing wall by the breakfast area. During demolition, we learned it contained a support beam. - The kitchen is a substantial size, but having two sinks, dishwashers, and ovens presented a challenge – how do we fit it all in and make it flow with the storage still accessible near the work areas? Where do you stop the materials for the new space? - -- The right tile, paint, lighting, etc. would be needed to make the remodeled area cohesive with the rest of the main floor. - An existing column limited cabinet options and thus, storage capacity. Could we conceal it without disrupting the cabinetry flow? Design Solutions - We had to keep the wing wall, but decided to continue the tile on the sides of the cabinets and maintain the height of the tile to line up with the rest of the backsplash. This actually presented a very nice and cohesive look, especially since the opposite side has a wing wall to the left of the refrigerator. - We used “L-shaped” corner sinks instead of the rectangular ones set on an angle. This gave us more of the legs of the triangles versus the hypotenuse, which allowed for the two dishwashers, and the pullout utensil canisters and spice pullouts while still keeping the 3-drawer cabinets on either side of the range (by the sinks). The old island had the recess for stools which the family never used. By extending the width of the island 6” and utilizing this leg space, we were able to fit 18”-deep cabinets on this side – adding lots of accessible storage. The family can now work simultaneously on the dairy side (the side with the fridge) and the meat side (opposite) without getting in each other’s way. We separated the cooking by using the range oven for the meat and a built-in microwave in the base cabinet. The wall oven with built-in microwave on top is for dairy. - Corner sinks opened up the middle area for a wider range – we went from a 30” to a 36”. Removing all the wall cabinets (on the range wall) made a big difference. That opened up the entire space while adding some visual impact. (Not pictured: We also made the cabinets directly opposite the range wall tall and removed the countertop, resulting in more room for rollouts and even more storage!) The kitchen now has more storage than it did before. - We ended up painting the ceiling of the kitchen into the hallway that leads to the foyer. The living and dining rooms were separated by a soffit, so that became a natural boundary. We kept the tile in the kitchen by stopping it short of the hallway and lining it up with the pantry wall. This creates a border between the breakfast area and family room. The rest of the existing wood floors were refinished to refresh and make the hue darker. We also painted a dark accent wall and carried it into the breakfast area to make the rooms look deeper. - The in-the-way column housed plumbing and couldn’t be moved. We still built cabinets in that spot – we just had to build a chase inside it to conceal the pipes. There was still plenty of room for new storage. We also took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. The continuous tall cabinets added a functional elegance to the space. THE RENEWED SPACE The client’s long-awaited dream of a better kosher kitchen has finally been achieved, beautifully combining enhanced storage solutions with adherence to the family’s orthodox dietary laws. The kitchen’s standout feature, an expanded island, now offers a spacious and efficient workspace. This allows several family members to cook together comfortably, without the inconvenience of bumping into each other, ensuring a harmonious and productive cooking environment.

It is a luxury hotel located in Noordwijk aan Zee, a coastal town in the Netherlands.The hotel is situated on the shores of the North Sea and offers stunning views of the beach and the surrounding area. Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin is a five-star hotel. It is recognized for its high level of luxury, amenities, and service, which align with the criteria for a five-star rating. Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin is known for its elegance, exceptional service, and extensive facilities.It has been a prominent landmark since its establishment in 1885 and has hosted many high-profile events and guests over the years.The hotel features a range of luxurious accommodations, including rooms, suites, and penthouses, all furnished with upscale amenities and stylish decor. HIGOLD's outdoor furniture is also a partner of the five-star hotel.The hotel is decorated with HIGOLD‘s outdoor furniture, and the furniture in the picture is from HIGOLD. The hotel also offers various dining options, including several restaurants and bars that cater to different culinary preferences.Guests can enjoy fine dining experiences, international cuisine, or relax with a drink while taking in the panoramic views of the sea. Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin is also well-known for its extensive conference and event facilities, making it a popular venue for corporate gatherings, weddings, and other special occasions.The hotel's dedicated staff ensures that guests have a memorable and comfortable stay, and the location provides easy access to the beach and nearby attractions. Overall, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin is a prestigious hotel that combines luxury, beauty, and excellent service to offer a memorable experience for its guests.

Because they’re protected between glass, Enclosed blinds retain their ‘like new’ look over time and with repeated use. They stay clean and free of damage from kids, pets, and anything else that might come into contact with your doorglass. No dusting, no tangled or dangling cords, and no crimped or dented blinds. The thermally sealed doorglass can be used in doors to meet ENERGY STAR criteria, giving you energy savings and long-term value, too. They reduce heat loss in the winter and solar heat gain in the summer. Our offering includes energy-saving Low-E glass options and impact-resistant, triple-glazed doorglass that safeguards against high winds, offers sound suppression, and reduces heat transmission. With our Light-Touch Blinds, a single-touch control lets you choose the perfect light or privacy level. The ergonomically considered design places the fingertip control within easy reach to tilt, raise, and lower blinds the entire length of the doorglass—with only the slightest movement required. Privacy channels on each side of the doorglass eliminate light gaps when the blinds are closed—no streetlight shadows or sunlight glare. Easy to clean, no dusting required. Light and Privacy Control.

Anyone who has a deck or a swimming pool has used this old cliche when talking about their space: “Oh, we just live out here in the summertime!” So, we got to thinking...what if you really lived outside in the summertime? What would an outdoor house look like? What would it need to provide? Could you really “live out there”? Casa Cielo (“Sky House”) is a totally private, mostly roofless “house”, where the owners can really live in the warmer months. Open-air living room, dining room, and bedroom spaces were created. The clients wanted a modern, spa-like ambiance. Inspiration was provided by the client’s vacations to modernist hotspots Hix Island House in Vieques, Puerto Rico and Orbit In, Palm Springs, California. Design Criteria: - Create an “Outdoor House” around an existing pool. - Build sustainably. - Carefully consider wall designs to ensure total privacy. - “Bring the Indoors Outside” with clean, modern living spaces. Special Features: - Living room and Dining room with a gas fireplace - FSC Certified Tigerwood sundeck. - Outdoor bedroom and shower. - Poolhouse with a bathroom and kitchenette.

This is a birds eye view of the site & building front facade. The broken roof lines are due to the height limits established by the zoning criteria.
Mid-sized traditional multicolored two-story stone exterior home idea in New York with a hip roof

THE SETUP Multiple ovens, multiple workspaces, multiple sinks – when you think about it, non-jewish kitchens have been adapting the criteria of kosher kitchens for years. Gladys’ clients in West Rogers Park are Orthodox Jewish. The house they bought already had a kosher kitchen – it just wasn’t done that well. It needed some more things to be duplicated for the dairy side and the meat side. Plus, it was dark and the configuration wasn’t very conducive for a family of eight. It was time for a remodel. Design Objectives Improve kosher kitchen Add more storage in the island Better lighting More open, lighter feel Change the wood floor in the kitchen to tile THE REMODEL Design Challenges - We had originally planned on removing a wing wall by the breakfast area. During demolition, we learned it contained a support beam. - The kitchen is a substantial size, but having two sinks, dishwashers, and ovens presented a challenge – how do we fit it all in and make it flow with the storage still accessible near the work areas? Where do you stop the materials for the new space? - -- The right tile, paint, lighting, etc. would be needed to make the remodeled area cohesive with the rest of the main floor. - An existing column limited cabinet options and thus, storage capacity. Could we conceal it without disrupting the cabinetry flow? Design Solutions - We had to keep the wing wall, but decided to continue the tile on the sides of the cabinets and maintain the height of the tile to line up with the rest of the backsplash. This actually presented a very nice and cohesive look, especially since the opposite side has a wing wall to the left of the refrigerator. - We used “L-shaped” corner sinks instead of the rectangular ones set on an angle. This gave us more of the legs of the triangles versus the hypotenuse, which allowed for the two dishwashers, and the pullout utensil canisters and spice pullouts while still keeping the 3-drawer cabinets on either side of the range (by the sinks). The old island had the recess for stools which the family never used. By extending the width of the island 6” and utilizing this leg space, we were able to fit 18”-deep cabinets on this side – adding lots of accessible storage. The family can now work simultaneously on the dairy side (the side with the fridge) and the meat side (opposite) without getting in each other’s way. We separated the cooking by using the range oven for the meat and a built-in microwave in the base cabinet. The wall oven with built-in microwave on top is for dairy. - Corner sinks opened up the middle area for a wider range – we went from a 30” to a 36”. Removing all the wall cabinets (on the range wall) made a big difference. That opened up the entire space while adding some visual impact. (Not pictured: We also made the cabinets directly opposite the range wall tall and removed the countertop, resulting in more room for rollouts and even more storage!) The kitchen now has more storage than it did before. - We ended up painting the ceiling of the kitchen into the hallway that leads to the foyer. The living and dining rooms were separated by a soffit, so that became a natural boundary. We kept the tile in the kitchen by stopping it short of the hallway and lining it up with the pantry wall. This creates a border between the breakfast area and family room. The rest of the existing wood floors were refinished to refresh and make the hue darker. We also painted a dark accent wall and carried it into the breakfast area to make the rooms look deeper. - The in-the-way column housed plumbing and couldn’t be moved. We still built cabinets in that spot – we just had to build a chase inside it to conceal the pipes. There was still plenty of room for new storage. We also took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. The continuous tall cabinets added a functional elegance to the space. THE RENEWED SPACE The client’s long-awaited dream of a better kosher kitchen has finally been achieved, beautifully combining enhanced storage solutions with adherence to the family’s orthodox dietary laws. The kitchen’s standout feature, an expanded island, now offers a spacious and efficient workspace. This allows several family members to cook together comfortably, without the inconvenience of bumping into each other, ensuring a harmonious and productive cooking environment.

design: Studio TOOP, 2008 location: Amersfoort, NL status: built in 2010, Vaate Hoveniers and DIY photos: Jolanthe Lalkens, 2012 This design is based on a series of concentric circles in alternating benches and walls. This makes the garden graphically interesting from above and allows for a large amount of integrated seating (both important criteria for the design). Contrasting with this clean graphic element is the rough texture of the broken cement pavers and the organic lines of the planting beds. The existing field maple is used as a focal point and gives the garden an intimate, mature quality. Despite that there is only one tree, the garden feels somehow like the woods.