This project expands the footprint of a 1,200 sf home to accommodate the needs of a young family. We added a 500 sf contemporary master suite and transformed the existing galley kitchen into a spacious and communal gathering place. Clad in hardwood, the addition is in contemporary dialogue with the original 1940s house.

Immersed in the challenge of refining a builder-grade master bathroom, my focus on minimalism and serenity became paramount. Every design decision was a brushstroke, aimed at elevating the space into a spa-like retreat that transcends the ordinary. With meticulous attention, neutral tones, clean lines, and purposeful design choices converged to redefine the essence of this intimate haven. The project unfolded as a dialogue between the serene waterfront surroundings and the nuances of minimalist aesthetics. The result is a harmonious union, where the bathroom embodies the ethos of a spa-like sanctuary. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful design choices, turning a builder-grade space into a canvas of tranquility on the waterfront.

In dialogue with history The gently curving figures create a whimsical play resembling an asymmetrical arabesque. Flirting with the traditional motif of the carpet's ornament is a meta-message addressed to cultural memory. The canvas of the rug is divided into segments by light lines, which look three-dimensional thanks to the yellow reflex. The framed spaces are colored as if isolated from the others. The color varies both through the effect of inhomogeneous coloring of the threads and weaving of two or three close colors next to each other, forming a background of a complex color gradient of shades of gray and blue. The virtue of centuries-old traditions of hand knotting The rug is made in the traditional hand weaving workshop of Nepal. Masters of this art have been preserving the technology for hundreds of years, and in collaboration with modern European designers create unique rugs at the junction of tradition and modernity. Natural raw materials are used in the creation of this rug, which reflects the idea of authentic aesthetics and modern requirements for ecological comfort. The density of the rug is 100 knots per inch.

This design captures the spirit of eclectic modernity—boldly combining texture, form, and soulful detail. It embraces both clean contemporary lines and layered, curated elements, resulting in a space that feels thoughtfully collected, not predictable. Textural richness is at the forefront—soft upholstery pairs with sleek surfaces, and mixed finishes (polished metals, matte woods, and plush textiles) create a tactile and visual dialogue. The contrast between refined and cozy elements builds warmth and sophistication. The layout balances openness with intimacy. Thoughtfully placed furniture and visual rhythms guide movement through the space, allowing each area to feel both connected and distinct. Lighting is composed with subtlety and intention—ambient fixtures and layered lighting gently sculpt the environment. Shadows and highlights enhance the ambiance without overpowering the architectural interplay. This space tells a story of modern living infused with personality. It’s dynamic yet grounded—inviting curiosity, conversation, and comfort in equal measure.

Immersed in the challenge of refining a builder-grade master bathroom, my focus on minimalism and serenity became paramount. Every design decision was a brushstroke, aimed at elevating the space into a spa-like retreat that transcends the ordinary. With meticulous attention, neutral tones, clean lines, and purposeful design choices converged to redefine the essence of this intimate haven. The project unfolded as a dialogue between the serene waterfront surroundings and the nuances of minimalist aesthetics. The result is a harmonious union, where the bathroom embodies the ethos of a spa-like sanctuary. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful design choices, turning a builder-grade space into a canvas of tranquility on the waterfront.

The project involved a large program that would yield a massive home on a limited and restricted site. The design strategy involved deconstructing the volume into pavilions that could generate a dialogue between built form and landscape and create intimate connections between the golf course and the living spaces. Robin Hill

Set on 88th Street in Manhattan's Upper East Side, this four-bedroom residence was created by merging two separate condominium units into a single, cohesive luxury home. The result is a sprawling, artful space defined by confidence, color, and a deeply personal design vocabulary. The project represents a full-service interior design engagement: spatial planning, material selection, furniture sourcing, artwork curation, and complete project coordination. Nearly every element was specified and placed by Mazen Designs, with furnishings sourced largely through Roche Bobois. The home unfolds from a striking cross-shaped hallway anchored by a custom T-shaped rug that guides movement through the space. To one side, the primary bedroom suite. To the other, a flexible home office that doubles as a guest suite, and a tranquil secondary bedroom. Straight ahead, a streamlined kitchen opens to a formal dining area and beyond that, a dedicated media and Mah Jong room designed for relaxed gathering. The palette balances jewel tones with crisp whites and greys. Bold in intention but disciplined in execution. A Maya Romanoff wall covering and curated artwork complete the layering of texture, light, and silhouette throughout. The clients arrived hesitant toward color. Through open dialogue and a shared trust in design as storytelling, they left with a home that reflects genuine courage and clarity. Photography by Vincent Dale of Vincent Dale Designs.

This 4,800 square-foot guesthouse is a three-story residence consisting of a main-level master suite, upper-level guest suite, and a large bunkroom. The exterior finishes were selected for their durability and low-maintenance characteristics, as well as to provide a unique, complementary element to the site. Locally quarried granite and a sleek slate roof have been united with cement fiberboard shingles, board-and-batten siding, and rustic brackets along the eaves. The public spaces are located on the north side of the site in order to communicate with the public spaces of a future main house. With interior details picking up on the picturesque cottage style of architecture, this space becomes ideal for both large and small gatherings. Through a similar material dialogue, an exceptional boathouse is formed along the water’s edge, extending the outdoor recreational space to encompass the lake. Photographer: Bob Manley

This elegant living space embodies the essence of transitional interior design, merging timeless sophistication with light coastal ease. Muted wall tones, golden accents, and framed artwork complement the natural wood flooring, creating a serene and balanced atmosphere. A sculptural chandelier and classic furnishings anchor the space, while airy curtains and glass doors invite in Clearwater’s soft coastal light. The room moves gracefully from formal sitting area to open family room, uniting comfort and refinement through proportion and texture. Every detail—from tailored upholstery to understated millwork—reflects contemporary classic décor, offering a subtle dialogue between tradition and modern sensibility.

Old meets new: 2024 addition to a 1940 house. In this marriage of old and new, the whole emphasizes a harmony of materials and visual connections throughout. Cleanly detailed cabinets, floor-to-ceiling glazing, high ceilings, and views back to the 1940 structure keep the dialogue between old and new going. | 2024 AIA Central Virginia Award of Merit in Residential Design | Photography: Lincoln Barbour Photo

Immersed in the challenge of refining a builder-grade master bathroom, my focus on minimalism and serenity became paramount. Every design decision was a brushstroke, aimed at elevating the space into a spa-like retreat that transcends the ordinary. With meticulous attention, neutral tones, clean lines, and purposeful design choices converged to redefine the essence of this intimate haven. The project unfolded as a dialogue between the serene waterfront surroundings and the nuances of minimalist aesthetics. The result is a harmonious union, where the bathroom embodies the ethos of a spa-like sanctuary. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful design choices, turning a builder-grade space into a canvas of tranquility on the waterfront.

This design captures the spirit of eclectic modernity—boldly combining texture, form, and soulful detail. It embraces both clean contemporary lines and layered, curated elements, resulting in a space that feels thoughtfully collected, not predictable. Textural richness is at the forefront—soft upholstery pairs with sleek surfaces, and mixed finishes (polished metals, matte woods, and plush textiles) create a tactile and visual dialogue. The contrast between refined and cozy elements builds warmth and sophistication. The layout balances openness with intimacy. Thoughtfully placed furniture and visual rhythms guide movement through the space, allowing each area to feel both connected and distinct. Lighting is composed with subtlety and intention—ambient fixtures and layered lighting gently sculpt the environment. Shadows and highlights enhance the ambiance without overpowering the architectural interplay. This space tells a story of modern living infused with personality. It’s dynamic yet grounded—inviting curiosity, conversation, and comfort in equal measure.

In dialogue with history The gently curving figures create a whimsical play resembling an asymmetrical arabesque. Flirting with the traditional motif of the carpet's ornament is a meta-message addressed to cultural memory. The canvas of the rug is divided into segments by light lines, which look three-dimensional thanks to the yellow reflex. The framed spaces are colored as if isolated from the others. The color varies both through the effect of inhomogeneous coloring of the threads and weaving of two or three close colors next to each other, forming a background of a complex color gradient of shades of gray and blue. The virtue of centuries-old traditions of hand knotting The rug is made in the traditional hand weaving workshop of Nepal. Masters of this art have been preserving the technology for hundreds of years, and in collaboration with modern European designers create unique rugs at the junction of tradition and modernity. Natural raw materials are used in the creation of this rug, which reflects the idea of authentic aesthetics and modern requirements for ecological comfort. The density of the rug is 100 knots per inch.

A transformation inspired by the owner’s love of modern architecture, art and color (and the adjacent sand, rock, water, and the northwest landscape), the Indianola House sought to bring the soul of a home to a colorless muted box. The original house was a drab 1990’s-era box with no personality or presence sited on a beautiful secluded bay, facing water and island views, northwest of the City of Seattle. The existing mono-colored stucco-clad exterior and pyramidal glass-block openings had led the neighborhood to dub the structure, unflatteringly, “The Miami Vice House”. Rhodes Architecture’s Residential Architects careful use of natural light, rich, collaged finishes and ability to open the house to gardens, beach, and outdoor gathering was critical to the design. The house soon became “The Gallery”. The original home’s grey stucco exterior made the house seem both large and featureless; the introduction of no-maintenance exterior materials that collage and complement each other was a goal of the homeowner and the Seattle Architects who teamed up for this residential design. The bloated scale of the house cried out for the establishment and definition of the parts of the structure, a breaking down of the home’s form and its apparent bland size. Living, sleeping, and bathing areas that started as staid spaces were in need of opening to the natural environment with additions of large doors, folding glass walls and useable balconies were crucial to each space having a dialogue with the outdoors. The owner’s extensive art collection was highlighted and became the focus of interior places, well-lit naturally and through a new lighting system. Energy use and sustainable systems were a key component of the design which used high-efficacy lighting, better cladding on a rain-screen system, high-efficiency doors and windows, new insulation and weather barriers, and which added a photovoltaic-generated electrical system. The contemporary design sought to integrate all of these systems, materials, and finishes into a seamless whole that lent interest and drama to a residence which was previously lusterless. How radically this house was transformed is evident in the exteriors, gardens and the natural spaces the house now opens to, as well as the gallery-like interiors. This home is a stunning testament to what is possible “before-and-after” when remade by Rhodes Architecture + Light. The clients are an older couple with long professional and political careers, a love of art and a clear desire to connect with the Northwest environment and enliven their daily lives with spaces full of color and natural light. Rhodes Architecture + Light was hired in 2019 to add new exteriors and interiors, natural light, larger openings to beach and bay, seismic and foundation upgrades to the home, and to infuse life into the house through the re-use of existing space and varied materials, color, textures, and lighting. The only actual change to the exterior “shell” of the house was the introduction of a low “gull-wing” roof with wood soffits above the central atrium space, to add drama and bring natural light into the entry gallery space. Interior spaces, including bedrooms and bathrooms, were re-planned and opened to each other, to greater natural light, to roof decks, and to the incredible views and sea-side environment. The Builder, Fairbank Construction Company of Bainbridge Island, Washington, met the challenge of the design, first completely deconstructing the finishes inside and out, then precisely interlocking new claddings, windows and doors, cabinetry, finishes and a new gull-wing central roof in a beautiful transformation. The construction was total, thorough, and very detailed, resulting a house that, far from seeming a “remodeling”, is far more present and fitting to the owner’s lives and the natural environment than the house we started with.

Dialogue Design
Example of a trendy home office design in Toronto

In a corner of the Family Room, we creates a lively dialogue between 1950s furniture--including Eero Saarinen's famous 'Womb' chair and ottoman, a crisp white "Akari" floor lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi, later works of contemporary fine art, and a suite of boldly calligraphic works on paper by Richard Serra. The platform bench is by George Nelson. Photo: Groaa & Daley

This exquisite kitchen is a symphony of contrasting elements that come together to create a space that's at once warm, contemporary, and inviting. Embracing a chic palette of rich walnut and pristine white gloss, the kitchen embodies modernity while paying homage to the traditional. Stepping into the room, the eye is immediately drawn to the sumptuous walnut cabinetry. These units are notable for their stunning depth of color and unique, intricate grain patterns that lend a sense of natural charm to the room. The robust walnut undertones are the embodiment of sophistication and warmth, imbuing the space with a comforting, homely aura. Complementing the wood's organic allure, the glossy white surfaces provide a sleek, modern counterpoint. The white gloss kitchen island and countertops are crafted with meticulous precision, their surfaces reflecting light to illuminate the room and enhance its spacious feel. The high gloss finish is incredibly smooth to the touch, adding a layer of tactile luxury to the overall aesthetic. Where the walnut provides the soul, the white gloss provides the contemporary spirit. The cabinets, outfitted in glossy white, are not only visually striking but also serve as a practical design solution, resisting stains and spills while reflecting light to make the space appear larger and brighter. The balance between the rich walnut and the crisp white gloss is expertly maintained throughout, creating a harmonious dialogue between the two. Brushed steel hardware provides a touch of industrial chic, while state-of-the-art appliances integrate seamlessly into the design. Accent features such as a walnut-topped island or a white gloss splashback continue this dynamic interplay, providing not just functionality, but a visual spectacle. The result is a kitchen space that is as breathtaking to behold as it is to function within. This walnut and white gloss kitchen effortlessly blends the traditional with the contemporary, the natural with the synthetic, the comforting with the clean. It is a testament to the power of design to create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and thoroughly practical, creating a kitchen that's not just a place for cooking, but a hub for home life.

Dialogue Design
Example of a trendy entryway design in Toronto