They always loved their house – its shape and size, and the piece of land it sits on; but the interior left a lot to be desired. In fact, they hated it. They wanted it to be aesthetically more pleasing and to have much more function and flow. These homeowners challenged Lagois to make it the home of their dreams, and that’s exactly what happened. One of the homeowners loves to cook, but the kitchen was dark. The space was difficult and frustrating. The new kitchen is bigger, brighter, and more functional. It now has all the prep space he needs and the task lighting he always wanted. They also love their new spa bathroom, which is beautiful and warm and exactly what they had in mind. One of the homeowners describes himself as fussy and impatient, and at first he had been anxious about the whole prospect of renovation. He said afterwards that the team made him feel comfortable, listened to, and unconcerned. One factor that made them so at ease with choosing Lagois was the “in house” aspect of their services. The person who designed their home, the one who did the drawings, and the person who managed the construction are all Lagois employees. The homeowners liked knowing those critical functions weren’t outsourced. Another thing they love about their home is the finishes that are exactly to their taste. The homeowners are delighted with the new interior of their home. It is now something they love – both outside and inside.

They always loved their house – its shape and size, and the piece of land it sits on; but the interior left a lot to be desired. In fact, they hated it. They wanted it to be aesthetically more pleasing and to have much more function and flow. These homeowners challenged Lagois to make it the home of their dreams, and that’s exactly what happened. One of the homeowners loves to cook, but the kitchen was dark. The space was difficult and frustrating. The new kitchen is bigger, brighter, and more functional. It now has all the prep space he needs and the task lighting he always wanted. They also love their new spa bathroom, which is beautiful and warm and exactly what they had in mind. One of the homeowners describes himself as fussy and impatient, and at first he had been anxious about the whole prospect of renovation. He said afterwards that the team made him feel comfortable, listened to, and unconcerned. One factor that made them so at ease with choosing Lagois was the “in house” aspect of their services. The person who designed their home, the one who did the drawings, and the person who managed the construction are all Lagois employees. The homeowners liked knowing those critical functions weren’t outsourced. Another thing they love about their home is the finishes that are exactly to their taste. The homeowners are delighted with the new interior of their home. It is now something they love – both outside and inside.

This rounded, mortared flagstone patio feels organic and tranquil, giving these homeowners a relaxing space to enjoy the outdoors.
Large transitional patio photo in DC Metro

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

The Science of Light and Learning To understand the relationship between lighting and learning, it’s critical to grasp the concept of correlated colour temperature (CCT). CCT refers to the warmth or coolness of light, measured in Kelvin (K). Lower CCTs (around 3000K) provide a warm, cosy atmosphere, while higher CCTs (5000K or above) emit a cool, daylight-like glow. Studies have shown that cool white light, which mimics natural daylight, can increase alertness and mood, contributing to improved cognitive performance. LED lighting, with its ability to produce this desired CCT, makes an ideal choice for educational settings. LED Lighting: Brightening the Future of Education Energy Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness One of the main advantages of LED lighting is its energy efficiency. Traditional lighting solutions like fluorescent and incandescent bulbs consume much more energy to produce the same amount of light as LEDs, which is not only environmentally harmful but also financially costly. Switching to LED lights can result in substantial cost savings for schools, enabling them to redirect funds to other critical areas of education. Durability and Longevity LED lights are renowned for their durability and longevity. They have a significantly longer lifespan compared to conventional lights, which means less frequent replacement and reduced maintenance costs. This durability also minimises disruptions caused by light failure, providing a consistent, well-lit learning environment. Improved Visibility and Reduced Eye Strain With their superior colour rendering index (CRI), LED lights render colours more accurately, leading to improved visibility. This is particularly beneficial in educational settings, where activities often require distinguishing fine details and colours. LED lights also emit less glare than traditional lighting solutions, reducing eye strain and fatigue. This can lead to better concentration and increased comfort for both students and teachers. Incorporating LED Lighting in Classrooms: Practical Considerations When transitioning to LED lighting in classrooms, a few key factors need to be taken into account. Firstly, the lighting design should ensure an even distribution of light, preventing shadowy or overly bright spots that could distract or discomfort students. Secondly, the integration of dimming capabilities can provide flexibility, allowing educators to adjust the lighting level based on the task at hand. Finally, lighting controls can be used to take advantage of natural light, automatically dimming or turning off the LEDs when sufficient daylight is present. Conclusion: The Bright Promise of LED Lighting in Education As education systems continue to evolve, it’s imperative to keep sight of the physical factors that significantly impact learning, one of which is lighting. LED technology, with its myriad benefits, offers an innovative and effective way to enhance the quality of lighting in classrooms. By prioritising investments in such improvements, we can take a significant step towards creating an optimised learning environment that nurtures the educational success of future generations.

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

Shou sugi ban, weathered mesquite wood and white walls around found throughout this modern home, including in the stairway.
Staircase - modern wooden straight metal railing staircase idea in Austin

When it comes to small spaces every inch counts! The key to making them work is to think of traffic flow, and how you’re going to arrange furniture for ease of access and comfort. This gives credence to the form over function motto! For this project we knew we were expanding the indoor outdoor flow by removing a wall of the house, creating a pocket door, so the interior living room was going to merge perfectly with the new exterior living room. The first element of the design we worked out was a built-in Banco seating around a central fire pit, with cushions and exterior fabrics, that even has a one piece cover that can snap in place. This will protect the fabrics in place while the couple travels, without having to drag them through the house to the garage for storage. The second critical factor of the design was implementing an outdoor kitchen just off camera, built-in to a patio Column, so that it becomes a serving bar and the appliances are behind the bar not out in the public space. Across the water, the vanishing edge spa was the visual draw, reflecting a fruitless olive tree, all enjoyed from the fire pit seating area. The back edge of the pool features a knife edge tile to granite interface without a coping, to minimize the line between water and landscape. Last but not least, the sweeping arc curvature of the pools leading edge was done so as to ease traffic flow from the entertaining and fire seating area to the spa, and to soften the otherwise rectangular lines of the yard.

Rick Frank
Example of a transitional pool design in Houston

Jennifer Hughes Photography
Staircase - mediterranean wooden wood railing staircase idea in Baltimore with wooden risers

Kitchen Remodeling Maple Cream Glaze kitchen cabinets, Custom Granite Fabrication Netuno Bordeaux
Kitchen - kitchen idea in Sacramento

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

Engineered cedar siding creates beautiful gray-blue tones at the exterior of the home, while adding a textural element to activate the simple exterior design.

Set in Montana's tranquil Shields River Valley, the Shilo Ranch Compound is a collection of structures that were specifically built on a relatively smaller scale, to maximize efficiency. The main house has two bedrooms, a living area, dining and kitchen, bath and adjacent greenhouse, while two guest homes within the compound can sleep a total of 12 friends and family. There's also a common gathering hall, for dinners, games, and time together. The overall feel here is of sophisticated simplicity, with plaster walls, concrete and wood floors, and weathered boards for exteriors. The placement of each building was considered closely when envisioning how people would move through the property, based on anticipated needs and interests. Sustainability and consumption was also taken into consideration, as evidenced by the photovoltaic panels on roof of the garage, and the capability to shut down any of the compound's buildings when not in use.

Collaboration with Canonbury Homes and Frank Neely Design Associates.
Inspiration for a timeless open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets and two islands