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.

Join me... on a tour of inspiring AquaTekture by Paragon Pools, Las Vegas. AquaTekture™ is the discipline of designing, engineering and erecting of water environments and ancillary components, in a harmonious nature with consideration to function, space and aesthetics. The term was coined in 2008 by Pool Expert, Author and Paragon Pools’ President, Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP, to define the architecture of water themed structures. Custom freeform pool with a raised spa, wet deck , natural rock, a sheer decent and fire pit to fit a small backyard space.

On first glance, this staircase reads as restrained. White oak treads rise with natural warmth, metal balusters hold their disciplined rhythm, and the painted black railing traces a clean, straight path upward. Then you notice the elliptical stringer wrap, and the whole composition shifts. Unlike a circular curve drawn with a compass, an ellipse requires mathematical calculation and a craftsman who knows how to make that complexity disappear. Here, it does exactly that. Natural light finishes the story. Moving through the space across the day, it deepens the oak grain, catches the metal, and lets the black railing guide the eye along the handrail's elliptical path from start to finish. Restraint brought the design this far. One well-executed curve made it memorable. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Attanasio Landscape Architecture, A Nevada Professional Corporation, (ALA) has a single goal on all projects: To collaborate with quality clients and other consultants contributing talent, skills and discipline directed into a cohesive project vision. ALA take's great pride in providing our clients with projects which create a sense of place, engage and enrich the experiences of the people who use them, and are responsive to the environment.

In this composition, restraint becomes the defining characteristic. The clean geometry of the horizontal black rod railing pairs effortlessly with warm wood elements, allowing the staircase to integrate with quiet confidence rather than overt display. The treads, newels, and handrail are finished in a refined taupe-brown stain that adds depth and softness, while crisp white risers introduce a subtle luminosity that enhances the surrounding architecture. The result is a staircase that feels effortless at first glance yet reveals itself as a carefully considered study in proportion, material balance, and disciplined design. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Photo: Bjorg Magnea www.bjorgmagnea.com Architects: Spatial Discipline
Inspiration for a modern exterior home remodel in New York

In this composition, restraint becomes the defining characteristic. The clean geometry of the horizontal black rod railing pairs effortlessly with warm wood elements, allowing the staircase to integrate with quiet confidence rather than overt display. The treads, newels, and handrail are finished in a refined taupe-brown stain that adds depth and softness, while crisp white risers introduce a subtle luminosity that enhances the surrounding architecture. The result is a staircase that feels effortless at first glance yet reveals itself as a carefully considered study in proportion, material balance, and disciplined design. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Attanasio Landscape Architecture, A Nevada Professional Corporation, (ALA) has a single goal on all projects: To collaborate with quality clients and other consultants contributing talent, skills and discipline directed into a cohesive project vision. ALA take's great pride in providing our clients with projects which create a sense of place, engage and enrich the experiences of the people who use them, and are responsive to the environment.

The String Light F6481030 LED Cone Pendant from FLOS features a black die-cast aluminum body with a clear soft-touch varnish finish and an opal polycarbonate diffuser. The String Light Cone Pendant was inspired by the designer traveling on trains and seeing the electrical wires that connect the pylons. As the train moves at high speed the parallel electrical strings begin to stand out and form these disciplined lines that not only connect the pylons but also divide the landscape. Anastassiades translated this vision into lights that are like linear drawings where you can demarcate and divide your space however you want. In addition to creating beautiful lines, the lengthy cords serve a more practical purpose of being able to reach electrical points and leave plenty of room for you to move the light where you want it to be.

Matthew Ross: Illuminating Design Excellence Matthew Ross, Director of Lighting and Design, is a rare talent who seamlessly blends creative vision with technical mastery. His award-worthy expertise has shaped projects across the nation, delivering turnkey, world-class lighting design, precise specification, and the supply of cutting-edge equipment and controls. Known for his ability to integrate complex project components, Ross brings together the diverse yet interconnected disciplines of controls design, theatrical systems, and media display systems. This unique hybrid of skills allows him to craft bespoke solutions that transform ambitious concepts into breathtaking realities. From architectural landmarks to community spaces, his work proves that exterior lighting is far more than illumination—it’s an art form. By balancing aesthetics, budgets, maintenance, and safety, Ross creates environments that are not only safe and inviting but also visually iconic. His designs shape vibrant landscapes, define signature skylines, and elevate the way we experience spaces after dark.

In this composition, restraint becomes the defining characteristic. The clean geometry of the horizontal black rod railing pairs effortlessly with warm wood elements, allowing the staircase to integrate with quiet confidence rather than overt display. The treads, newels, and handrail are finished in a refined taupe-brown stain that adds depth and softness, while crisp white risers introduce a subtle luminosity that enhances the surrounding architecture. The result is a staircase that feels effortless at first glance yet reveals itself as a carefully considered study in proportion, material balance, and disciplined design. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

In this composition, restraint becomes the defining characteristic. The clean geometry of the horizontal black rod railing pairs effortlessly with warm wood elements, allowing the staircase to integrate with quiet confidence rather than overt display. The treads, newels, and handrail are finished in a refined taupe-brown stain that adds depth and softness, while crisp white risers introduce a subtle luminosity that enhances the surrounding architecture. The result is a staircase that feels effortless at first glance yet reveals itself as a carefully considered study in proportion, material balance, and disciplined design. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

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.

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Attanasio Landscape Architecture, A Nevada Professional Corporation, (ALA) has a single goal on all projects: To collaborate with quality clients and other consultants contributing talent, skills and discipline directed into a cohesive project vision. ALA take's great pride in providing our clients with projects which create a sense of place, engage and enrich the experiences of the people who use them, and are responsive to the environment.

Demeter Apartment is an exploration of refined minimalism with a subtle eclectic edge. The design focuses on clarity and balance, creating a space that feels calm, deliberate, and highly livable. Clean architectural lines and a restrained palette set the foundation, while carefully chosen accents add individuality without overwhelming the sense of order. Every detail—from the flow of light to the textures of surfaces—was designed with precision, giving the interior a timeless, intelligent character. This project proves that minimalism doesn’t have to feel cold: it can be warm, layered, and deeply personal when executed with discipline and vision.

On first glance, this staircase reads as restrained. White oak treads rise with natural warmth, metal balusters hold their disciplined rhythm, and the painted black railing traces a clean, straight path upward. Then you notice the elliptical stringer wrap, and the whole composition shifts. Unlike a circular curve drawn with a compass, an ellipse requires mathematical calculation and a craftsman who knows how to make that complexity disappear. Here, it does exactly that. Natural light finishes the story. Moving through the space across the day, it deepens the oak grain, catches the metal, and lets the black railing guide the eye along the handrail's elliptical path from start to finish. Restraint brought the design this far. One well-executed curve made it memorable. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Join me... on a tour of inspiring AquaTekture by Paragon Pools, Las Vegas. AquaTekture™ is the discipline of designing, engineering and erecting of water environments and ancillary components, in a harmonious nature with consideration to function, space and aesthetics. The term was coined in 2008 by Pool Expert, Author and Paragon Pools’ President, Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP, to define the architecture of water themed structures. Custom gunite pool with a perimeter overflow spa, large wet deck, fire bowls and large sheer decent.

In this composition, restraint becomes the defining characteristic. The clean geometry of the horizontal black rod railing pairs effortlessly with warm wood elements, allowing the staircase to integrate with quiet confidence rather than overt display. The treads, newels, and handrail are finished in a refined taupe-brown stain that adds depth and softness, while crisp white risers introduce a subtle luminosity that enhances the surrounding architecture. The result is a staircase that feels effortless at first glance yet reveals itself as a carefully considered study in proportion, material balance, and disciplined design. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company