Custom Chinoiserie handpainted wall mural with distressed effects, birds, wisteria, magnolia, vines, loquat.
Living room - asian living room idea in Austin

Designed by Black + Vernooy, built by Schatz Homes Designed to accommodate the clients' desire for a house that "sits beautifully and confidently" on its dramatic ridge-top site, the Mirador Residence takes full advantage of the site's natural terracing and sweeping Hill Country views by providing seamless transitions to its generous outdoor living spaces. The plan expresses the owner’s casual lifestyle and need for a variety of spaces strongly connected to the outdoors. Central Texas materials, such as native limestone and aromatic cedar, are chosen for their regional appropriateness and are deployed and detailed in ways designed to further integrate the house with its natural surroundings. The house comprises approximately 5900 square feet of living space wrapped around a hillside courtyard, and was completed in 2005.

The 'Multi-Comfort Home' Energy Demonstration Structure, located at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia, utilizes industry-leading construction techniques and an innovative strategy for energy generation, management and coordination within the host microgrid. The Apollo II photovoltaic roofing system, as well as fiberglass and spray foam insulation, foundation drainage and waterproofing systems, insulated vinyl siding and gypsum board, were provided by CertainTeed Corporation. Spearheaded by Penn State with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), the GridSTAR Net Zero Energy Demonstration Structure is the first phase of the GridSTAR Center and will serve as a valuable hub for workforce training, building performance testing, energy management research and “smart” microgrid modernization deployments. Read more about the GridStar Center at www.certainteed.com/pressroom/pressRelease.aspx?id=676

Scalable Design Solutions for Enterprise: Customizable Commercial Shade Systems Built to Last Maximize ROI for your commercial clients with ​Scalable Shade Structures, engineered for multi-location deployments and high-traffic environments. Our ​heavy-duty commercial awnings feature ​modular fabric panels (up to 20ft widths) and ​military-grade aluminum frames (50mph wind resistance) to withstand harsh climates. Offering ​customizable branding options (vinyl lettering, logos) and ​low-maintenance coatings (anti-graffiti, mold-resistant), these awnings reduce operational costs by up to 35% through ​energy-efficient UV filtering (UPF 50+) and ​smart climate adaptation (auto-tensioning systems). Certified to ​ETL and ​CUL safety standards, the solutions include ​nationwide service networks for rapid repairs and ​bulk order discounts for chains. Designed for ​hospitality sector uniformity and ​corporate campus branding, they integrate ​ADA-compliant mounting systems and ​24/7 technical support.

Designed by Black + Vernooy, built by Schatz Homes Designed to accommodate the clients' desire for a house that "sits beautifully and confidently" on its dramatic ridge-top site, the Mirador Residence takes full advantage of the site's natural terracing and sweeping Hill Country views by providing seamless transitions to its generous outdoor living spaces. The plan expresses the owner’s casual lifestyle and need for a variety of spaces strongly connected to the outdoors. Central Texas materials, such as native limestone and aromatic cedar, are chosen for their regional appropriateness and are deployed and detailed in ways designed to further integrate the house with its natural surroundings. The house comprises approximately 5900 square feet of living space wrapped around a hillside courtyard, and was completed in 2005.

Roll-down hurricane screens fully deployed and closed on a Palm Bay FL home. Roll-down screens provide impact-rated storm protection and can be easily raised or lowered as needed. Licensed storm protection installers serving Palm Bay and all of Brevard County FL.

Designed by Black + Vernooy, built by Schatz Homes Designed to accommodate the clients' desire for a house that "sits beautifully and confidently" on its dramatic ridge-top site, the Mirador Residence takes full advantage of the site's natural terracing and sweeping Hill Country views by providing seamless transitions to its generous outdoor living spaces. The plan expresses the owner’s casual lifestyle and need for a variety of spaces strongly connected to the outdoors. Central Texas materials, such as native limestone and aromatic cedar, are chosen for their regional appropriateness and are deployed and detailed in ways designed to further integrate the house with its natural surroundings. The house comprises approximately 5900 square feet of living space wrapped around a hillside courtyard, and was completed in 2005.

Located in the San Francisco’s South of Market District, Four Seasons is a 43-story skyscraper consisting of more than 140 luxury private residences. AVDG deployed an array of audiovisual and automation systems in several residences and shared spaces throughout the tower. Integrated systems, designed and installed by AVDG, included distributed audio solutions, video, data & voice systems, lighting, window treatments and control systems.

Kitchen remodeling project where the homeowners elected to upgrade their kitchen to a more contemporary look by installing new custom cabinets. For this project it was crucial to find more working space in such a limited kitchen size. To accommodate this, we designed a full Naxo extension table for them. This practical system consists of a tabletop peninsula that fits in the space normally provided by the drawer. Simply open the front panel to deploy the extension table. For the cabinets, the homeowners went with an Elegante door in white supermat by Northern Contours. We then installed a new quartz countertop and backsplash both done in Carrara extra. To complete the new look a new subzero fridge, Wolf induction cooktop, microwave drawer and oven were installed.

Create instant privacy, block insects and control shade with our motorized retractable screen systems. At the touch of a button our screens deploy smoothly to enclose your patio or porch, then disappear completely into their house when not needed. Our clean-track system eliminates the flutter and drift of traditional screens, maintaining a tight, uniform appearance at all times. Multiple screen materials include solar mesh, privacy screen, and insect mesh options. Perfect for transforming open patios into semi-enclosed outdoor rooms. Commercial applications include restaurants, hotels, event venues where flexible enclosure is essential.

The Most "Instagrammable" Penthouse Ever Unveiled in Hollywood. Hollywood's newest luxury residential building, The Line Lofts, located just steps from famed Hollywood Boulevard, has partnered with notable Los Angeles-based designer Gulla Jonsdottir to curate the most "Instagrammable" Penthouse ever. Titled "Sense of Wonder"the two-story penthouse is a nod to the celebrated Instagram Museums in Los Angeles, New York and other major cities across the nation, and offers an experiential creative space where art, expression and interior design intersect. Available exclusively to influencers, content curators and artists, the never-before-seen penthouse design is a symbol of how creativity and inspiration can begin at home. Against the dazzling backdrop of organic images, Jonsdottir has deployed a limited assemblage of striking furnishings, where Audrey sofa in scarlet velvet is the focal point.

MERGE is prefabricated deployable dwellings in a modular system where people experiencing homelessness can create a dynamic colony with community spaces.

A stunning combination of surfaces and fluid lines is at the heart of Rialto, whose unique structure allows it to fulfil two roles within the domestic setting. It can either be deployed as a stand-alone piece, something unexpected and brilliant, or as a subtle complement to soft furniture, pouffes or even beds.

Bluestone bench hand carved on site. Design uses elements of The Travis Manion Foundation Logo. THE TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION (TMF) EMPOWERS VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN HEROES TO DEVELOP CHARACTER IN FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN 2007, 1ST LT TRAVIS MANION (USMC) WAS KILLED IN IRAQ WHILE SAVING HIS WOUNDED TEAMMATES. TODAY, TRAVIS’ LEGACY LIVES ON IN THE WORDS HE SPOKE BEFORE LEAVING FOR HIS FINAL DEPLOYMENT, “IF NOT ME, THEN WHO…” Learn more here: http://www.travismanion.org/ In collaboration with Landscape Design Group Inc. Landscape Design by Landscape Design Group, Inc.

m.o.r.e. Cabin The paradigmatic North American cottage is romanticized as a wilderness log cabin. Nonetheless, typical cottages are “woodsy” versions of suburban homes with every modern convenience. These buildings sustain the myth that appearing to be one with the land equates to a reduced impact on the environment. The m.o.r.e. Cabin inverts this idea through a separation from the landscape that is more sustainably constructed than other cottages. This unravelling of eco-fictions is not cynical, but optimistic: while organic environments are being degraded, what remains can be engaged more responsibly. To this end, m.o.r.e. Cabin touches the land lightly through: - Interpreting the law creatively to uphold its principles. - Reducing foundation size through a steel mast. - Low-waste cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure. - Achieving greater tensile strength through a “folded” structure. - Off-grid power and high-efficiency heating. - Creating a home for endangered bats. Interpreting the Law with Finesse Zoning rules required a 100-foot (30-metre) setback from the lake. A cliff face at that 100-foot mark was incorporated into the design, whereas conventional construction approaches would entail blasting. To minimize harm to the hillside and forest, a zoning variance was obtained to allow the front of m.o.r.e. Cabin to hover above, rather than sit on, the 100-foot (30-metre) mark. The Mast The technical solution to the environmental issue involved a single concrete footing and a steel “mast” placed within the required setback. Avoiding a conventional large foundation preserved the watershed and prevented erosion, as did elevating the construction zone. Use of carbon-intensive concrete was also reduced for a lower carbon footprint. m.o.r.e. Than One Way to Skin a Home m.o.r.e. Cabin is built with suitably-sourced CLT panels and glulam beams. The CLT was milled offsite then hoisted into place, avoiding damage to the landscape by the maneuvering of construction machinery. Cabin-as-Beam m.o.r.e. Cabin’s environmental considerations yielded structural innovation. Our challenge became to develop a structural strategy using cantilevered CLT panels as a response to the zoning variance that we obtained; CLT is fundamentally deployed in vertical/compressive sections, not horizontally in tension. Conventional 5-ply CLT is too heavy to support itself over longer spans. The solution used thinner 3-ply CLT, with structural capacity ensured through “folding” (just like paper gains strength when folded). Off-Grid The home is solar-powered. The elevated cottage catches more breezes and has excellent cross-ventilation. Heat is provided by a high-efficiency “green carbon” wood stove. Good R-value and thermal comfort are provided by CLT’s mass, and precise joinery provides air-tightness. Inviting Over the Neighbours One goal of the home was to create extensive lodging for endangered brown bats. Bat pods were integrated into the mast to provide safety from climbing predators and a clear flight path to the lake. *“m.o.r.e.” stands for the clients’ grandmothers’ names; all of whom did more with less — and gracefully so.

After a consultation with a ShadeFX Product Specialist, the Gibsons elected to go with a “Kissing Canopy” deployment, a technique that places two shade units on the same track. Installing two 12’x16’ manual retractable shades, the homeowners have the flexibility to cover the dining and lounging area independent of each other, without compromising full coverage, if desired.

Scandi-crafted Home Interiors in Dynasty Court Tucked away atop of the Victoria Peak behind Hong Kong's unrelenting hustle and bustle, the residences found along Old Peak Road have been known to offer an oasis just within reach of the city. Set at the western point of Hong Kong Island, this panoramic neighbourhood boasts beautiful views over the town, hiking trails galore, and some of the city's priciest homes. Given its regarded status, it's of little surprise that those who live atop of The Peak chose to renovate rather than relocate as the years go by. Having worked with Clifton, ten years prior, the homeowner of the Dynasty Court Residence believed it to be time for his 1,794sq.ft three-bedroom apartment to be given a complete and total facelift. Built back in the '90s, the residence had been updated once before through Clifton's services, but with a new chapter of retirement drawing nearer, the desire for a modern touch presented itself once again – this time with inspiration from Scandinavian interiors. Given the instructions to keep the prior design of architectural and office feel but update everything, CLDW took on the role of refurbisher to their repeat client, this time however with a more curved and coloured approach than the boxey one before it. With the brief of out with the old, in with the new underway, Clifton and his team set out to deploy a modern feel to the apartment with updates to everything from the floors, walls, doors and even the appliances – prioritizing functionality and simplicity. As the kitchen had been left out of the past retouch, this time around with retirement underway in was more important to give the couple a contemporary space to explore their culinary skills. Rounded chairs and tables complement the more square-like feel of the room, with washed grey tiles and soft tan cabinets. Meanwhile, the living room and dining room were under the instructions to be void of paintings and wall decorations – with the exception of the past CD changer – as the focal point of the rooms was to remain the spectacular view which looks down upon Hong Kong's Central district all the way to the Kowloon harbourside. Again, curvey furniture can be seen among the interiors, with rounded sofas, chairs and even the coffee table. The furniture – much like the interiors – remains minimalist, as the homeowners require little to no storage space, a rare thing indeed for Hong Kong. Inside the master bedroom, the updated lighting remains concealed within the walls as another finely executed play on curves from Clifton, which ensures minimalism. Over to the guest bedroom/study, more brown tones can be seen for an Earthy feel for guests, and the Mrs of the house to do her exercises. With Scandinavian design and minimalism being one of the most popular trends of modern interior design, it takes a true professional to understand its principals of warm and natural palettes, while not too overpowering and bright. Ever present in the Dynasty Court home is the maximization of natural light, which gives it an airy environment a house at the Peak most certainly deserves.

Erika Mayer
Tuscan exterior home photo in Madrid

This 2,000 square foot modern residential home is designed to optimize living space for a family of four within the modest confines of inner suburban Calgary. Deploying a structural beam and post framed design, this home creates the feeling of space through an open-plan layout and high vaulted ceilings. Large windows on both floors accentuate the open, spacious feeling. The extensive use of standing seam metal cladding in Steelscape’s Slate Gray adds texture and distinct shadow lines while contributing to the modern aesthetic. This versatile color enables the unique integration between roof and siding surfaces. The muted hue also complements and accentuates the use of natural stained wood leading to a cohesive, memorable design.