The duo's primary consideration during the design phase was to create a fully-functioning family home. "We are always thinking about our kids", Novogratz explains. "They needed a place to run around in the city, so putting the gym in was a pretty obvious solution. It may be out of the ordinary, but it is better than having your children skateboarding through the kitchen!" The couple's oldest son, Wolfgang, is a champion basketball player. While the court provides him with a place to hone his skills, it doubles as an entertaining space. "We knew we needed to use the space efficiently so it could work for everything", says the designer. From watching movies on a retractable screen, to hosting a 40-guest Thanksgiving dinner, the gym has proved itself as a good move. It has even been a haunted house! Adrienne DeRosa Photography

This Houston outdoor kitchen and entertaining area offers a modern take on Mediterranean style. Designed and built by Outdoor Homescapes of Houston, this fully loaded family and entertaining space echoes the stucco, travertine tile patio and Mediterranean style of the existing home while exuding a more modern, transitional style. “This was a high-profile client – both VPs of different oil and gas companies who entertain affluent guests on a regular basis – so they wanted to make sure they had high-end appliances and all the latest amenities they could order,” says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. “They also have two kids, ages 7 and 10, and wanted a family gathering space that better accompanied their new, luxurious pool.” What really sets apart this outside kitchen design idea, however, is the way the elements are used throughout the space. “Usually, outdoor kitchen designs for a backyard are grouped into one island or cabinet,” explains Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. “But here, the patio, roof and fireplace were all in place, separated by stucco columns, and the outdoor kitchen elements had to work around them.” A 14-foot-long cooking island houses a built-in Fire Magic grill with a Magic View Window (allows the chef to check on food without lifting the lid and losing valuable heat). The island, the countertop of which is "Carnaval" granite from Lackstone, also features a Fire Magic power burner, warming drawer and trash drawer. On one side of the fireplace, forming an “L” with the cooking island, sits a built-in Primo ceramic grill. On the other side of the fireplace is a 3-foot-long cabinet housing a bar with a wine cooler, ice maker and upper cabinet. And finally, just outside the patio door is a 7-foot-long cabinet with a modern Kohler sink with a high-arc Moen faucet (sink and faucet from Faucets Direct), a trash drawer and another upper cabinet. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston, by the way, outfitted both cabinets with glass inserts, custom pulls and three-way sensor lighting. “At the beginning, this was basically a blank space with a fireplace in the middle,” says Maxey. So Outdoor Homescapes upgraded the fireplace with Austin Stack Stone in white (No. 401) from Colorstonescreenshot vickers mosaic tile rectangle. "The stone added that pop,” notes Maxey. The fireplace’s espresso-colored, distressed wood mantel (from Mantels.com) and upper wood cabinets were both stained with the Minwax color Jacobean. The ceiling fans were also updated with ones featuring similarly espresso-colored, wooden fan blades, to match. The table in the middle - a cast-iron, Mediterranean style gem with hand-forged scrollwork designs from Patio 1 in Houston – seats 10. “We wanted this kind of Mediterranean feel,” says Maxey. “We wanted rustic, but the appliance package was so new, with all its stainless steel, so we kept a the cabinets and the columns stucco instead of stone for a more clean, modern look and then did the custom tile backsplash and mosaic in more of a rustic, Mediterranean look." The backsplash is a 1-inch travertine tile background with 4-inch square metallic insets, both from Floor & Decor. The tile for the 18-by-24-inch rectangle mosaic came from Great Britain Tile Co. and included a Dianno Reale tumbled border and background. The bronze, diamond-shaped insets are tumbled Dark Emperdor tile and the scrolls are tumbled Noce tile. The client, who admits they have high standards, was more than pleased with the project – especially browsing through Outdoor Homescapes’ vast library of patio kitchen design ideas, the 3D virtual video tour that let them preview the project from every angle before construction. They also liked the personalized design consultation. "OH provides a very neat service where one of their designers will either shop/buy for you or shop with you for the more detailed pieces that will finish your home," reads the client's review on Houzz. "This was a very positive, personalized feature ... Lisha helped narrow down an enormous marketplace of materials and finishes to a few we could choose from."

A Gilmans Kitchens and Baths - Design Build Project (NKBA Award winning Guest Bath) All three bathrooms in this home were remodeled to match the updated, more contemporary furnishings of the other areas of the home. It was important to the clients that all of the spaces felt clean, spacious and that they were all functional. The master bathroom and daughter's bathroom feature shades of gray an white with textured and glossy cabinets. The smallest bathroom was given a functional sink drawer base for storage and a simple aesthetic. Treve Johnson Photography

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This beautiful white kitchen is bright and timeless. The homeowners did an excellent job of creating an elegant yet casual atmosphere where they can cook and entertain. They were also very practical in their material selection. By choosing Compac Perlino (an engineered quartz stone) countertops, they were able to achieve the look of marble without the maintenance. This countertop is very easy to care for, and it will look brand new for years to come.

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Homeowners desire outdoor rooms for a variety of both fun and practical reasons. Outdoor dining is a big motivation in Southern California. San Diego and Orange County homeowners enjoy mild, sunny weather year-round, so with the right outdoor living scenario outdoor dining can be just as, if not more, comfortable as indoor dining! Western Outdoor Design & Build will sit down with you and establish what features your outdoor room needs to suit your lifestyle. Some owners swoon at the idea of an outdoor home theatre, fully equipped with a flat screen television and surround sound speakers. Other homeowners want an outdoor bar setting, a Hawaiian themed cabana that transforms their backyard into an exotic resort. Many homeowners have trouble deciding between a cabana, bungalow, pergola, sunroom or pool house. Our knowledgeable and experienced team of landscape design professionals and outdoor living specialists will sit down with you and explain the features and benefits of each structure. Whatever your dreams may be, Western Outdoor Design & Build can turn them into reality. (800) 789-7510!

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz Although the original plan was to refurbish the existing mantelpieces in the living and dining rooms, the Williamsons opted for a complete change of perspective. “One thing led to another, and they came out,” Catherine explains. “First, we removed them to check if the pest problem that had hit the rest of the house had hit the mantels, and it did.” After removing the original pieces, the couple fell in love with the brick arches underneath. Flexing their skills as DIYers, the couple designed and built a floating mantel to highlight the fireplace. Its modern lines play against rich grain and warm tones to embody the marriage of Bryan and Catherine’s diverse styles. “Our style is unique because we tend to mix elements of different design styles,” Catherine says. “We love mixing old and new, masculine and feminine, and so on…. He tends to gravitate toward contemporary, sleek designs, where I gravitate toward more eclectic, feminine elements.” Instructions for creating a mantlepice like this one can be found on the Williamson's blog: www.beginninginthemiddle.net/2014/12/30/i-just-want-brick/

Photo: Bonnie McCarthy © 2015 Houzz
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"There are only three walls in the house that are not white, and two of them were painted that way when we moved in," explains Bobbie. She chose a very dark blue for the wall in the dining room to set off the warmth of wooden furnishings. Whereas two other walls are essentially glass, the darkness of the paint envelops occupants and creates a sense of intimacy. The 1960's Lane dining table was an auction win. "Ninety percent of our home décor is vintage from the 1950s and 1960s, and we use everything," Bobbie says. "Other than electronics, kitchen items, towels and bed linens, I rarely buy anything that is brand new anymore!" Wall Color: Mysterious, Benjamin Moore Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2013 Houzz

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Architect: Charlie & Co. | Builder: Detail Homes | Photographer: Spacecrafting
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