Duplex Pent house apartment NYC
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern wooden spiral open staircase remodel in New York

Trendy bedroom photo in New York

Inspiration for a coastal living room remodel in Hawaii

MagnumStone precast modular block (PMB) retaining wall system ... BoulderFace units ... Texas Brown color by Midwest Block ... visit www.magnumstone.com for more information. Installation and photos by Carma Construction ... www.carmaconst.com

Patrick Marlinski
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard formal garden in New York.

The property is pastoral in character with rolling, gentle hills and mountain views. Large scale planting design and installation had to bridge the gap between formal / natural and cultivated / wild. This was done by creating an illusion of effortlessness in the garden with balance of structure and softness as well as formality and naturalized forms that are always present yet change throughout the year. Plant material contributes a visual interest through foliage, stems, blooms and fruit. A large pond was built and in order to improve the water quality a bio-filter was installed. Hardworking emergent plants and edge species filter the water as well as integrate the pond into the landscape. Plant material was selected for aesthetic qualities as well as wildlife food and habitat, particularly for songbirds and pollinators.

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the building was erected on a shallow commercial lot between two 120 year old masonry buildings and a new residential rental building. 330 Grand Street is a mix of 725 SF 1BRs and 1050 SF 2BR apartments. It also contains a 1100 SF two story duplex as well as private and public rooftop space, large private balconies for most units and two large private terraces for the ground floor units. 330 Grand Street was originally designed and approved at the NYC DOB as a prefabricated modular building. During the pandemic, as shipping costs skyrocketed putting the project at risk, we suggested redesigning the building as a reinforced cast-in-place concrete structure. Concrete was readily available and prices had not been affected by the demand increase that many other materials suffered in the pandemic. We took this opportunity to raise floor to ceiling heights, enlarge high performance windows and redistribute the buildings MEPFS and Structural Systems to create very open floor plans. The challenge was to create a luxurious sensorial living experience with very limited means. In a city with very high construction costs, low cost residential buildings in the area are usually devoid of good quality, design and character. Our approach was to aim high for the end user, prioritizing natural light, open space with long visual perspectives, high ceilings and as always, rejecting the use of predefined building templates. Our biggest challenge was to ensure that the small spaces feel as clean cut, large and bright as possible. Several unique design decisions were made to ensure low cost and high quality; Floor plans were laid out so that spaces were wide open and free of clutter from mechanical or structural interruptions. Therefore all infrastructure was placed in lateral demising walls, which in turn act as the unit’s storage and kitchen. The apartments feel wide open, are super quiet and have more storage space than any other comparable apartment in the city. To solve the problem of the site’s shallow commercial lot which is typically prone to dark interior spaces we focused our attention on the building’s envelope. Instead of the usual small punched window openings, oversized high performance windows were designed to ensure that light penetrated as far as possible into the units. In the smaller 1BR units, the full 50’ depth of the lot is perceived by partitioning spaces with sliding pocket doors that can be retracted to allow deep visual perspectives, making the sight lines in the space feel longer, larger, more ample than normal. In addition to the full height glazing, each unit above the 2nd floor receives a 7 foot covered balcony, adding 120 to 240 sf to each apartment, something unusual in New York City buildings. The space is large enough for a full size dining table, when the weather permits being outside. We also worked hard to ensure modularity. For example, all kitchen units are all identical throughout the building. The idea of modularity and the economy of the repetitive unit is exercised to the maximum through the building. Hardware, appliances, flooring, wall coverings and material finishes are all carefully selected to feel bespoke, high quality and unique. It was important to KURV that the result of this work manifest into something that would deeply connect with the end user and sustain relationships with the consumers of this space. All images by KURV Architecture ©

Beautiful modern pool and spa with water feature in Orlando, Florida. Featuring Pebbletec Caribbean Blue interior and Artistic pavers.
Example of a mid-sized minimalist backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped lap pool fountain design in Orlando

This home is nestled back into a nice woodsy setting. The homeowner didn't like how pitch black the place was once the sun set and she wanted to add an elegant look to place as you come up the driveway. We added a combination of up lighting on the brick architecture as well as some thoughtfully placed down lighting from the large trees that will accentuate her perennial beds come spring and summer. This home has nice limestone window arches and coins that reflect that light well and and call attention to these specific details that sometimes get lost during the day. The light colored gables reelect the light as well, outlining the tall roof detail and making the home feel taller overall.

Pool - pool idea in Orange County

exterior shot of the facade and sky
Danish black two-story brick exterior home photo in Toronto

Bathroom - modern bathroom idea in Atlanta

Door handles, thi is what we call recessed, and come without a handle, but instead with a finger groove of opening...it streamlines, kid friendly for them to run around safely and is soft two the eye....