In a beautiful suburb on the north side of Houston, Texas, Joe and Kristen discovered their dream home—a property with a great lot, situated in a fantastic neighborhood with a thoughtfully designed floor plan. They had been drawn to the house for its charm and had admired the kitchen, which had been tastefully remodeled a few years earlier by a contractor who, despite doing excellent work, was no longer in business. However, upon moving in, they quickly realized that their master bathroom was woefully inadequate and in dire need of immediate repair. Determined to turn their bathroom into a luxurious retreat, Joe and Kristen sought out Houston Bath & Kitchen, a reputable design-build firm renowned for their meticulous process and outstanding results. They were impressed from the outset with the efficiency and expertise. In just 90 minutes, their design team presented a complete concept plan and provided a detailed estimate—a promising start to what would become an inspiring collaboration. Guided by Houston Bath & Kitchen's comprehensive approach, Joe and Kristen embarked on a thorough "design tour." The team expertly navigated them through the selection process, ensuring every choice aligned perfectly with their aesthetic preferences and practical needs. Together, they crafted a vision that included an oversized shower for two, creatively integrating a freestanding tub within the shower area—an innovative solution that maximized space and luxury. As the project progressed, The Houston Bath & Kitchen production team conducted a thorough "trade walk," meticulously inspecting the jobsite to uncover potential complexities and ensure no detail was overlooked. This step was crucial in setting reliable expectations and eliminating surprises. Detailing the scope of work was another pivotal phase, emphasizing transparency and clarity. Joe and Kristen felt reassured knowing exactly what to expect at each stage of the remodel. Houston Bath & Kitchen then moved into the "master planning phase," coordinating materials, surveys, and permits with precision. Trades were scheduled, and critical paths were identified—laying a solid foundation for a seamless execution. Throughout the process, communication remained robust, and the meticulous planning ensured the project stayed on track both in terms of time and budget. One of the standout features of the design was the intricate tile work that adorned the walls and floors, fulfilling Joe and Kristen's desire for a design with variation and detail. Natural light was ingeniously incorporated through strategically placed windows and skylights, providing a serene ambiance without sacrificing privacy—a testament to Houston Bath & Kitchen's expertise in balancing functionality with aesthetics. The final touch of luxury came in the form of a heated floor, adding warmth and comfort to the space—a detail that epitomized Houston Bath & Kitchen's commitment to fulfilling every customer priority. Less than a year after the project was complete, Joe and Kristen made a decision to sell their home. Remarkably, the property went on the market and sold for $75,000 over asking price—a testament to the transformative impact of their newly remodeled master bathroom. While the exact influence of the bathroom on the bidding war remains speculative, it undoubtedly played a significant role in the home's appeal and ultimate sale price. The success of their home sale not only underscored the value of their investment but also highlighted the expertise and dedication of Houston Bath & Kitchen in delivering a space that not only met but exceeded their expectations. Joe and Kristen stepped into their newly remodeled master bathroom with hearts full of joy. The space surpassed their dreams, reflecting their style and enhancing their daily lives—a sanctuary that would be cherished for years to come, thanks to Houston Bath & Kitchen's skillful guidance and commitment to excellence.

Alair Homes is committed to quality throughout every stage of the building process and in every detail of your new custom home or home renovation. We guarantee superior work because we perform quality assurance checks at every stage of the building process. Before anything is covered up – even before city building inspectors come to your home – we critically examine our work to ensure that it lives up to our extraordinarily high standards. We are proud of our extraordinary high building standards as well as our renowned customer service. Every Alair Homes custom home comes with a two year national home warranty as well as an Alair Homes guarantee and includes complimentary 3, 6 and 12 month inspections after completion. During our proprietary construction process every detail is accessible to Alair Homes clients online 24 hours a day to view project details, schedules, sub trade quotes, pricing in order to give Alair Homes clients 100% control over every single item regardless how small.

As Sheila Gibson Stoodley writes in an article about this project in Robb Report, “Brian Hemingway is sensitive to light in the best way possible.” “The Vancouver, British Columbia-based architect wanted this 22,000-square-foot home near Boston to glow like a lantern at night, and he attained that goal on behalf of the homeowners.” The wood and stone that Hemingway favored for the home informed the space’s color palette. So critical were these materials that settling on a shade of stain for the Douglas fir and the finishes to be used on the Virginia Mist granite took months of consultation. Walker Zanger, the stone supplier, worked with the owner and with Colin Flavin, a Boston-based architect who partnered with Hemingway, to choose, detail, and fabricate the granite. The stone is used indoors and out, heightening the boundary-blurring effect that the design team desired. Though the owners are ardent art collectors, they did not build their home to showcase specific works; the real artists here are the architects, Hemingway and Flavin. So deft were they at inviting nature into their creation that, from certain angles, it can be hard to tell where the outdoors stops and starts. “There are deliberately no window treatments so that Mother Nature weaves the most beautiful textural backgrounds,” said interior designer Andrew Sheinman, of New York’s Pembrooke & Ives. He oversaw the interiors, working alongside his colleague Michael Lewis. “The seasons change the look and aspect of the house,” said Sheinman, “and we wanted to play on this.” Bleu de Savoie marble, from France, is used in the baths, to contrast with the Virginia Mist granite and soften the palette and give the baths a spa-like serenity. Hand-chiseled Oxford Black granite is used on exterior landscape walls, to tie the Virginia Mist seamlessly to the natural stone outcroppings.

Alair Homes is committed to quality throughout every stage of the building process and in every detail of your new custom home or home renovation. We guarantee superior work because we perform quality assurance checks at every stage of the building process. Before anything is covered up – even before city building inspectors come to your home – we critically examine our work to ensure that it lives up to our extraordinarily high standards. We are proud of our extraordinary high building standards as well as our renowned customer service. Every Alair Homes custom home comes with a two year national home warranty as well as an Alair Homes guarantee and includes complimentary 3, 6 and 12 month inspections after completion. During our proprietary construction process every detail is accessible to Alair Homes clients online 24 hours a day to view project details, schedules, sub trade quotes, pricing in order to give Alair Homes clients 100% control over every single item regardless how small.

As a high-end custom home architect the single most important marketing feature I can have is happy clients with beautifully constructed homes who go out of the way, to refer me to everyone. The most successful projects are those that have what I call the perfect triad. A triad of Participation. Owner, Architect, Builder. An Owner needs to have confidence in both Architect and Builder. The Architect and Builder each need to give that confidence back to the Owner. Schafer and Edgewood are experts at creating confidence. When they design their own projects they create wonderful designs and execute them brilliantly. When they construct one of my designs the end product Is better than the design I created. The architect knows about quality finish but the seasoned Tradesman knows far more than the Architect. Schafer is an expert at bringing out the best results. The Architect/Builder relationship is the most critical requirement for achieving a “Better Than Designed” end-product. In my opinion......It is the ONLY way!"

Retaining walls are critical in most gardens. They maintain the shape of the landscape and provide an opportunity to plan your gardens drainage.
This is an example of a side yard retaining wall landscape in Kansas City.

Wooden Classicism Nesbitt House – Seaside, Florida Architect: Robert A. M. Stern Builder: O.B. Laurent Construction E. F. San Juan produced all of the interior and exterior millwork for this elegantly designed residence in the influential New Urban town of Seaside, Florida. Challenges: The beachfront residence required adherence to the area’s strict building code requirements, creating a unique profile for the compact layout of each room. Each room was also designed with all-wood walls and ceilings, which meant there was a lot of custom millwork! Solution: Unlike many homes where the same molding and paneling profiles are repeated throughout each room, this home featured a unique profile for each space. The effort was laborious—our team at E. F. San Juan created tools for each of these specific jobs. “The project required over four hundred man-hours of knife-grinding just to produce the tools,” says Edward San Juan. “Organization and scheduling were critical in this project because so many parts were required to complete each room.” The long hours and hard work allowed us to take the compacted plan and create the feel of an open, airy American beach house with the influence of 1930s Swedish classicism. The ceiling and walls in each room are paneled, giving them an elongated look to open up the space. The enticing, simplified wooden classicism style seamlessly complements the sweeping vistas and surrounding natural beauty along the Gulf of Mexico. --- Photography by Steven Mangum – STM Photography

The family purchased the 1950s ranch on Mullet Lake because their daughter dreamed of being married on its shores. The home would be used for the wedding venue and then as a wedding gift to the young couple. We were originally hired in August 2014 to help with a simple renovation of the home that was to be completed well in advance of the August 2015 wedding date. However, thorough investigation revealed significant issues with the original foundation, floor framing and other critical elements of the home’s structure that made that impossible. Based on this information, the family decided to tear down and build again. So now we were tasked with designing a new home that would embody their daughter’s vision of a storybook home – a vision inspired by another one of our projects that she had toured. To capture this aesthetic, traditional cottage materials such as stone and cedar shakes are accentuated by more materials such as reclaimed barn wood siding and corrugated CORTEN steel accent roofs. Inside, interior finishes include hand-hewn timber accents that frame openings and highlight features like the entrance reading nook. Natural materials shine against white walls and simply furnished rooms. While the house has nods to vintage style throughout, the open-plan kitchen and living area allows for both contemporary living and entertaining. We were able to capture their daughter’s vision and the home was completed on time for her big day. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Inspiration for a coastal bedroom remodel in Grand Rapids

Curb appeal is critical for a luxury home, and landscaping is the perfect invitation to encourage visitors. This gorgeous home blends naturally with the graceful landscaping with an amazing 360-degree flow.

Guidelines for Choosing an Outdoor Firepit Designs When going over possible Outdoor Firepit Ideas in Kansas City MO, one of the main considerations is the decor and design of your home as it stands now. This is because it is important for the firepit to blend with and complement your home as opposed to standing out and looking out of place. Alternatively, if you are looking to redecorate your home, you can select an outdoor firepit that complements not your current decor, but the target. Most outdoor design ideas incorporate either metal or copper as the main material. The design itself depends on individual preference. For instance, you may choose an ornate design, in addition to providing you with the option of choosing from different shapes such as a square or a rectangle. A major consideration when selecting a design is the number of people who would potentially be warming themselves around the fire. For an outdoor pit around which many people are likely to gather, an open design is recommended. The professionals and designers in UMKC Masonry are in the business of enhancing spaces and creating a final product that is both functional and aesthetic. These experts prioritize high quality and first-rate service for every client. Kansas City Landscape & Design is Kansas city’s only certified Real stone veneer/siding contractor, BRICK PATIO CONTRACTOR..Stone veneer, STONE PATIO, FIRE PIT, KANSAS CITY’S BRICK,STONE WALLS CONTRACTOR,,Stone siding or cladding, is used for homes, offices, hardscapes, landscaping or any other architectural construction project that demands the finest surface covering.

At Simply Clean we specialize in Fabric Upholstery Cleaning. We offer several unique cleaning methods developed by our cutting edge team to ensure the BEST possible results on a multitude of delicate natural fibers and woven fabrics. Attention to detail, patience, and expertise are critical when working with these delicate upholstery fabrics. Upholstery cleaning services in Houston, Texas.

Alair Homes is committed to quality throughout every stage of the building process and in every detail of your new custom home or home renovation. We guarantee superior work because we perform quality assurance checks at every stage of the building process. Before anything is covered up – even before city building inspectors come to your home – we critically examine our work to ensure that it lives up to our extraordinarily high standards. We are proud of our extraordinary high building standards as well as our renowned customer service. Every Alair Homes custom home comes with a two year national home warranty as well as an Alair Homes guarantee and includes complimentary 3, 6 and 12 month inspections after completion. During our proprietary construction process every detail is accessible to Alair Homes clients online 24 hours a day to view project details, schedules, sub trade quotes, pricing in order to give Alair Homes clients 100% control over every single item regardless how small.

Historical Renovation Objective: The homeowners asked us to join the project after partial demo and construction was in full swing. Their desire was to significantly enlarge and update the charming mid-century modern home to meet the needs of their joined families and frequent social gatherings. It was critical though that the expansion be seamless between old and new, where one feels as if the home “has always been this way”. Solution: We created spaces within rooms that allowed family to gather and socialize freely or allow for private conversations. As constant entertainers, the couple wanted easier access to their favorite wines than having to go to the basement cellar. A custom glass and stainless steel wine cellar was created where bottles seem to float in the space between the dining room and kitchen area. A nineteen foot long island dominates the great room as well as any social gathering where it is generally spread from end to end with food and surrounded by friends and family. Aside of the master suite, three oversized bedrooms each with a large en suite bath provide plenty of space for kids returning from college and frequent visits from friends and family. A neutral color palette was chosen throughout to bring warmth into the space but not fight with the clients’ collections of art, antique rugs and furnishings. Soaring ceiling, windows and huge sliding doors bring the naturalness of the large wooded lot inside while lots of natural wood and stone was used to further complement the outdoors and their love of nature. Outside, a large ground level fire-pit surrounded by comfortable chairs is another favorite gathering spot.

Mike Schwartz
Powder room - traditional powder room idea in Chicago

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant and full sun hillside brick retaining wall landscape in Seattle for spring.

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 project was born out of the owner’s passion for cooking. A personal chef to a local family, the kitchen was going to not only be her office, but a training space for students learning her trade. The most important change was to remove a wall and expand the work space by 2 feet. Adding a prep sink, counter seating and a custom pantry were critical appointments. The materials selected are modern, clean and fresh. The expansive island combines a warm grey painted cabinet and is topped by waterfall white veined quartz countertops. The matte black plumbing fixtures and hardware create drama and contrast against the white countertops and modern shaker cabinetry. The oversized black dome pendants lend a restaurant vibe to the peninsula seating. The stacked stone backsplash lends texture and dimension, and it’s lines are echoed in the fireplace façade. Being averse to countertop outlets, a power strip was tucked underneath the wall cabinetry to keep the backsplash unobstructed. A picket shaped tile was featured as an accent over the client’s BlueStar range. The client’s original ventilation hood was also repurposed. A hospitality station was included and features a beverage cooler, glass display cabinetry and set apart with corbel brackets. The fireplace was refaced with new natural stacked stone in warm greys and touches of spice and features a dark stain wood mantel beam. The recessed niche was fitted with matching lighted floating shelves for display.

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