Example of a minimalist home design design in Austin

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

Crestron-controlled motorized roller shades, motorized drapes, recessed lighting, and wall-mounted TV in a guest bedroom of this Brickell Key penthouse. Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline visible through floor-to-ceiling windows - shades deploy at any transparency level from the Crestron keypad or app.

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.

Deck - deck idea in Houston

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

Does your iron fence look like Chicago winters have been winning the battle for years? That slow orange spread across pickets and rails is not just an eyesore - it is active corrosion undermining the structural integrity of metalwork that frames some of Chicago's most architecturally significant residential properties. Windy City Painters addresses iron fence rust at the source, using professional-grade rust conversion chemistry and direct-to-metal coatings engineered for the specific abuse Chicago's climate delivers. PROJECT OVERVIEW This project involved a heavily rusted ornamental iron fence on a Chicago North Side residential property. Rust had progressed beyond surface oxidation into moderate pitting on lower rails, a pattern Windy City Painters sees frequently on properties within blocks of treated roadways where salt drift accelerates corrosion. The scope included mechanical descaling, chemical rust conversion, DTM priming, and a durable gloss topcoat matched to the original fence color. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS Ospho Rust Converter: A phosphoric acid-based treatment that chemically reacts with iron oxide, converting it to iron phosphate - a stable, paintable compound. Corroseal Water-Based Rust Converter is an alternative for situations requiring lower VOC handling. Rust-Oleum Professional DTM Primer and Sherwin-Williams DTM Acrylic Coating serve as the primary coating system, formulated for direct metal adhesion with built-in rust inhibitors. For structurally compromised sections, welding is coordinated before any chemical or coating work begins. THE PROCESS Step 1 - Mechanical Preparation: Wire wheel grinding on an angle grinder removes loose rust scale, mill scale, and flaking paint. For advanced pitting, Windy City Painters deploys a needle gun descaler, which impacts the metal surface thousands of times per minute to drive scale from deep cavities. This step determines whether the fence can be coated or needs welding first. Step 2 - Chemical Rust Conversion: Ospho or Corroseal is brushed onto all remaining rust surface. These products do not simply seal rust - they react with it. The conversion process takes 24 hours to fully cure before topcoating. Skipping this step is the single most common reason iron fence paint jobs fail prematurely. Step 3 - DTM Priming: Sherwin-Williams DTM or Rust-Oleum DTM primer is applied by brush to ensure full penetration around decorative elements, picket tips, and weld joints. Spray application is used on open sections for even film build. DTM formulations bond directly to prepared metal without a separate shop primer. Step 4 - Finish Coating: A DTM topcoat in gloss or semi-gloss provides the final weather barrier. Gloss is preferred for iron fencing because the harder surface sheds water more effectively and resists dirt adhesion between maintenance cycles. Windy City Painters applies two finish coats for maximum film thickness. CHICAGO-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES Chicago's freeze-thaw cycle is the primary enemy of iron fence coatings. Water infiltrates micro-cracks in paint film, freezes, expands, and delaminate coating from beneath. Properties on the North Side and Near West Side also contend with lake-effect humidity that keeps metal surfaces damp for extended periods, slowing cure times and promoting under-film corrosion if preparation is inadequate. Greystones and Victorian brownstones typically feature ornate cast iron or wrought iron fencing with complex geometries that trap moisture and demand hand-brush application to fully coat recesses. WHAT TO EXPECT LONG-TERM A properly prepared and coated iron fence in Chicago should hold 5-8 years before requiring recoating. Annual inspection of weld joints, picket tips, and base rails closest to grade will identify early rust return. Addressing small spots with touch-up converter and primer extends service life significantly between full recoats. PRO TIPS Tip 1: Never pressure wash a rusted iron fence immediately before painting. Water drives moisture into pits and delays the surface drying needed for chemical converter adhesion. Allow 48 hours of dry weather before prep begins. Tip 2: Picket tips and rail ends are the first failure points. These end-grain equivalent areas on metal concentrate corrosion. Ask your painter to apply an extra brush coat to every tip and terminus. Tip 3: Black is the traditional and most durable color choice for iron fencing. Dark pigments absorb UV rather than reflecting it, reducing thermal cycling stress on the paint film at color change boundaries. FAQ Q: What does iron fence painting cost in Chicago? A: Most residential iron fence painting in Chicago ranges from $400 to $1,200 depending on linear footage, rust severity, prep method required, and whether structural welding is needed before Windy City Painters can coat the surface. Q: How do I know if my fence needs a welder before painting? A: If you can press a screwdriver through a rail or picket, the metal wall has failed. Windy City Painters inspects all fencing before quoting and identifies weld-required sections so repairs happen before any coating investment. Q: Is Ospho or Corroseal better for my fence? A: Both convert rust effectively. Ospho is solvent-based and fast-acting, preferred for heavy rust. Corroseal is water-based with lower odor, preferred in enclosed or residential settings where off-gassing is a concern. Windy City Painters selects based on site conditions. Q: Can iron fence painting be done in winter in Chicago? A: Application requires temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for DTM coatings to cure properly. Most iron fence painting in Chicago runs April through October, with scheduling flexibility based on extended warm stretches. Q: How do I maintain my fence between professional recoats? A: Inspect annually in spring. Sand any rust spots to bare metal with 80-grit paper, apply Ospho, let cure 24 hours, then spot-prime with DTM primer and touch up with finish coat. Windy City Painters offers maintenance inspections. Q: Do you paint courtyard building fences and coach house gates? A: Yes. Multi-unit courtyard buildings and coach houses are common in the North Side neighborhoods Windy City Painters serves. We coordinate with property managers and HOAs for larger perimeter fence projects. Q: How long after painting can I touch the fence? A: DTM coatings are typically dry to touch in 2-4 hours and hard dry in 24 hours. Full cure for maximum hardness takes 7 days. Windy City Painters advises against pressure washing or heavy contact during that cure window. Visit windypainters.com to request your free iron fence assessment and project quote.

Modern 20ft/40ft Expandable Container House - The Ultimate Modular ADU Experience the future of flexible living with our Expandable Container House. Designed for rapid deployment and maximum comfort, this unit expands from a standard container size into a spacious, fully functional living area in just minutes. Key Features: Quick-Build Technology: Precision-engineered in our Tianjin facility for easy setup on-site without heavy machinery. Durable Steel Structure: Built with a high-quality galvanized steel frame to withstand extreme weather conditions. Energy Efficient: Integrated with high-density insulation and double-pane glass doors for superior thermal performance. Versatile Use Cases: Perfect as a backyard ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), a remote home office, a luxury glamping pod, or disaster relief housing. Customization & Pricing: At ContainerHomeWorld, we prioritize transparency and quality. This model supports custom interior layouts, including kitchenettes, full bathrooms, and multi-bedroom configurations. ? Want to see the cost for your specific location? Use our Custom Quotation Calculator for an instant estimate.

Carport with hurricane screen viewed from the exterior as deployed before storm.

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.