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 design of this four bedroom Upper West Side apartment involved the complete renovation of one half of the unit and the remodeling of the other half. The main living space includes a foyer, lounge, library, kitchen and island. The library can be converted into the fourth bedroom by deploying a series of sliding/folding glass doors together with a pivoting wall panel to separate it from the rest of the living area. The kitchen is delineated as a special space within the open floor plan by virtue of a folded wooden volume around the island - inviting casual congregation and dining. All three bathrooms were designed with a common language of modern finishes and fixtures, with functional variations depending on their location within the apartment. New closets serve each bedroom as well as the foyer and lounge spaces. Materials are kept to a limited palette of dark stained wood flooring, American Walnut for bathroom vanities and the kitchen island, white gloss and lacquer finish cabinetry, and translucent glass door panelling with natural anodized aluminum trim. Lightly veined carrara marble lines the bathroom floors and walls. www.archphoto.com

These Retractable Screens are top of the line luxury with built in, full enclosed, pulley systems designed to give two finger control. These screens may stop anywhere within the travel path and are not operated by a full tension spring. Most retractable screens of this size have large "full tension springs" that are under heavy loads while the screen is deployed. These springs will often pull out of the user's hands as they try to open the screen to pass through. The retractable screen you see in this photo will go up to 10' tall x 24' wide, with a completely clear opening. The screens are also available in insect screen, solar screen, privacy screen, and combination screens. They are completely incased and have billet aluminum frames. This Retractable Screen is the perfect solution to the Custom Builder or Architect needing a large span screen solution. These are also great for noise abatement within open floor plan homes and structures. Knock down echoes, close off TV or office spaces, or create sections within a large space for a more intimate setting in seconds. Our Product Specialists are always available to speak with at 800-522-1599 if you would like more information.

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.

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.

This image performs an act of deliberate spatial framing: we are positioned as intruders in a threshold, the photograph's foreground bracketed by two monumental slabs of mahogany-toned door leaf and jamb that compress the visual field into a portal roughly one-third the width of the frame. The composition is therefore a study in *enfilade* logic — a controlled, telescoping sightline that draws the eye through a narrow aperture into a recessed alcove, a purpose-built writing niche carved from what appears to be a corridor or dressing-room vestibule. The niche itself is architecturally modest in footprint but generous in vertical proportion; the ceiling reads as a plain plastered plane, unadorned save for a surface-mounted linear picture light on a slender drop stem, and the wall is treated as a full-height field for a single dominant object. The joinery is the true architecture here: a continuous run of casework establishes a horizontal datum at desk height, with a cantilevered writing surface returning perpendicular to the left-hand wall and a lower bank of drawers and a shallow ledge running right. That ledge functions as a *cimaise* or picture shelf, resolving the base of the framed nautical chart and giving the composition a plinth. Above, an integrated soffit or upper cabinet with concealed under-lighting terminates the left elevation, reinforcing the sense of an inhabited, tailored recess rather than a room. The herringbone parquet in the foreground introduces a diagonal geometry that runs counter to the orthogonal grid of doors, casework and picture frame, and this friction — chevron against rectilinear — animates what would otherwise be a static, axial composition. The single chair, canted slightly off-axis and pulled away from the desk, is the compositional pivot: it breaks the symmetry, occupies the exact center of the aperture, and converts an architectural vignette into a narrative one. The palette is a disciplined exercise in the warm end of the spectrum, essentially monochromatic in hue and differentiated almost entirely by value, sheen and grain. The dominant material is timber, deployed in at least three distinct registers: the foreground door and jamb in a deeply saturated, red-brown mahogany or sapele with a high-build lacquer or French-polish sheen that catches light in long vertical highlights; the desk and casework in a lighter, honeyed figured wood — quartered cherry or anigre — finished to a satin rather than gloss, so that the eye reads it as a working surface rather than a ceremonial one; and finally the pale, blond oak of the herringbone floor, cerused or naturally oxidized to a straw tonality that lifts the lower register of the frame. Against this timber triad, the walls provide a chalky, low-saturation ground: a limewashed or flat-emulsion cream with a distinctly yellow-warm undertone that absorbs rather than reflects. The upholstery is the room's chromatic keynote — a saddle-tan or cognac leather, semi-aniline, already developing patina and slight slouch at the seat, its edge articulated by a close-set brass or antique-nickel nailhead trim that reads as a stitched seam of tiny metallic points. Metals are used sparingly and with historical precision: the polished chrome rosette and knob of the door with its heavy escutcheon and mortise strike plate, the slim brushed housing of the picture light. Texturally, the room stages a dialogue between the hard, reflective and the soft, absorbent: lacquer against limewash, taut leather against the friable, foxed paper of the antique chart. That chart — a hydrographic survey rendered in ochre, sepia and faded aqua, its ebonized frame supplying the composition's only true black — is the material anchor, its aged paper introducing a granular, time-worn texture that no new surface in the room could supply. The terrier, coincidentally or not, participates in this material scheme: a wiry tan-and-black coat that reads as a textile in its own right, tonally identical to the leather beneath it. The lighting design is layered, warm-Kelvin and almost entirely artificial in its narrative effect, though the scene depends on a critical unseen source. A shaft of low, raking daylight enters from the right — presumably a window outside the frame — and lands as a hard-edged parallelogram across the parquet and the chair's front rail, creating the image's strongest contrast and lending the floor a sense of temporal specificity: late afternoon, low sun. Against this, three artificial layers operate. The surface-mounted picture light washes the nautical chart in an even, slightly amber flood, functioning as accent lighting that establishes the chart as the room's hierarchical focus. Concealed strip lighting beneath the upper casework grazes the left-hand desk return, providing task illumination and articulating the millwork's shadow line. Ambient fill is minimal and deliberately so; the corners of the niche fall into soft, unresolved shadow, and the whole tableau is rendered in a narrow tonal band of amber and umber that suppresses cool light almost entirely. The resulting atmosphere is one of burnished interiority — hushed, crepuscular, protective. Stylistically, the room resists easy categorization but sits most comfortably within a contemporary *Warm Traditionalism* or refined **Anglo-American Modern Classic** idiom: the vocabulary is unmistakably tailored-traditional (nailhead-trimmed leather, mortise hardware, framed cartography, a Deco-inflected barrel-back desk chair), yet the detailing is stripped of ornament — no cornice, no panel molding, no applied millwork profile — and the casework is resolved with the flush, planar minimalism of a mid-century yacht interior. It is, in essence, a *cabinet de travail* reimagined through the discipline of modern joinery: a room that borrows the emotional register of the club library while adopting the reductive geometry of contemporary architecture. The dog, unhurried and centrally enthroned, is the final aesthetic argument — evidence that the space is not a set piece but a lived, occupied, and evidently affectionate interior.

These Retractable Screens are top of the line luxury with built in, full enclosed, pulley systems designed to give two finger control. These screens may stop anywhere within the travel path and are not operated by a full tension spring. Most retractable screens of this size have large "full tension springs" that are under heavy loads while the screen is deployed. These springs will often pull out of the user's hands as they try to open the screen to pass through. The retractable screen you see in this photo will go up to 10' tall x 24' wide, with a completely clear opening. The screens are also available in insect screen, solar screen, privacy screen, and combination screens. They are completely incased and have billet aluminum frames. This Retractable Screen is the perfect solution to the Custom Builder or Architect needing a large span screen solution. These are also great for noise abatement within open floor plan homes and structures. Knock down echoes, close off TV or office spaces, or create sections within a large space for a more intimate setting in seconds. Our Product Specialists are always available to speak with at 800-522-1599 if you would like more information.

Learn more about the benefits of easy-to-hang storm panels: Lightweight, easier to handle than plywood Corrugated design adds strength Mounting hardware pre-installed for quick deployment Small storage requirement, corrugated panels stack together Can be reused unlike plywood Storm panels will not attract termites Available in Steel, Aluminum or Clear Lexan Protects openings from wind-driven rain

These Retractable Screens are top of the line luxury with built in, full enclosed, pulley systems designed to give two finger control. These screens may stop anywhere within the travel path and are not operated by a full tension spring. Most retractable screens of this size have large "full tension springs" that are under heavy loads while the screen is deployed. These springs will often pull out of the user's hands as they try to open the screen to pass through. The retractable screen you see in this photo will go up to 10' tall x 24' wide, with a completely clear opening. The screens are also available in insect screen, solar screen, privacy screen, and combination screens. They are completely incased and have billet aluminum frames. This Retractable Screen is the perfect solution to the Custom Builder or Architect needing a large span screen solution. These are also great for noise abatement within open floor plan homes and structures. Knock down echoes, close off TV or office spaces, or create sections within a large space for a more intimate setting in seconds. Our Product Specialists are always available to speak with at 800-522-1599 if you would like more information.

Olson Family remodel "after" in Verde Butterfly granite. Just in time for this family of 8 before deployment to Kuwait, so proud to be a part of this one!

These Retractable Screens are top of the line luxury with built in, full enclosed, pulley systems designed to give two finger control. These screens may stop anywhere within the travel path and are not operated by a full tension spring. Most retractable screens of this size have large "full tension springs" that are under heavy loads while the screen is deployed. These springs will often pull out of the user's hands as they try to open the screen to pass through. The retractable screen you see in this photo will go up to 10' tall x 24' wide, with a completely clear opening. The screens are also available in insect screen, solar screen, privacy screen, and combination screens. They are completely incased and have billet aluminum frames. This Retractable Screen is the perfect solution to the Custom Builder or Architect needing a large span screen solution. These are also great for noise abatement within open floor plan homes and structures. Knock down echoes, close off TV or office spaces, or create sections within a large space for a more intimate setting in seconds. Our Product Specialists are always available to speak with at 800-522-1599 if you would like more information.

View looking out from the interior of a carport with hurricane screen deployed.

This recent installation features Somfy electric blackout roller shades custom-designed by Master Blinds for a Sunland homeowner. Our client, Wanda W. Harper, wanted complete privacy and effective sun control in her open-layout living and dining rooms. We installed automated roller shades powered by Somfy’s advanced motorized system for easy remote access and smooth operation. These motorized window treatments are not only highly functional but also add a sleek, modern aesthetic to the home’s interior. When not in use, the shades tuck away cleanly; when deployed, they offer complete blackout performance, making them ideal for both comfort and energy efficiency.

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.

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.

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.

Erika Mayer
Inspiration for a mediterranean pool remodel 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.

Erika Mayer
Inspiration for a mediterranean exterior home remodel in Madrid