Our client commissioned us to remodel her home. She wanted an open plan concept and for the kitchen to be integrated with the living room and dining room. She also needed a space in which she could work. So we decided to remove the walls that separated the kitchen from the living room and the dining room. We expanded the kitchen space on both sides and made an "L" layout with cabinets on both walls. To complement and establish a virtual limit of space, we placed a large island 10 feet long by 4 feet wide with drawers on the kitchen side and storage cabinets on the sitting side. The cabinets are all prefinished plywood with acrylic doors, white for the cabinets on the walls and gray for the center island. All base cabinets have soft close pullouts. The drawers were complemented with accessories to organize all the kitchen utensils. The corner cabinet was custom made extra long to accommodate a large swing-out and spice rack next to it. At the extreme end of the kitchen cabinets, we placed a "coffee station" with dark gray floating shelves on top, their respective pullouts on the base cabinets. Under the wall and base cabinets we place LED lights that enhance and highlight the kitchen day and night. All ceiling lights were also replaced with recessed LED lights. Over the island and the dining table hanging lights were placed along them. Power strip outlets with USB ports were also placed under the wall cabinets and in the headboards of the island, these are hidden giving a clean aesthetic to the backsplash and very functional on a day-to-day basis. The countertops of the cabinets on the walls were done in gray porcelain as well as the full backsplash that also covers the central area of the hood. The central island countertop was made in Quarzite. The floors were replaced with 48" by 48" rectified porcelain tile. Now this homeowner has the kitchen of their dreams.

- PEANUT B SECTIONAL. The ability to create the perfect composition: Peanut B., thanks to the host of different modules available, is an extremely versatile sofa, which blends in seamlessly with any space and style. The white feather and polyurethane foam padding make it especially comfortable; the composition can also include certain modules fitted with a sliding mechanism to extend the length of the seat, for further comfort. The fully removable upholstery covers are available in fabric or leather. Sectional available in different modules and compositions. https://cassoni.com/Peanut_b_sectional-03 - EXELL COFFEE TABLE. The Exell coffee table stands out for its chromed steel feet and engraved table top which forms an original and stylish chessboard pattern. The table top is available in black acid-treated glass, white acid-treated extra light glass, or in the anthracite grey brushed oak version. Two sizes available. https://cassoni.com/Exell-coffee-table

This was a large job with many challenges. The space was large and the items in it are as well. The space is used for private parties and has all the accomodations any group would ever need. We created nearly 200 square feet of countertops in a black wash stain with areas of exposed aggregate. The curved lower bartop is over 21 feet long with an apron front farm sink and 2 ice basins to keep beverages cool. The back bar holds the double tap for the drafts. The galley kitchen consists of over 10 linear feet of top with a cook top and a 10 foot long counter with an oversized farm sink with an apron front and drain boards flanking either side. The drainboards are designed to hold cutting boards for extra work space. We also created a 22 foot long curved fireplace hearth that matches the counters, tying the pieces together and adding additional seating during large gatherings. Everyone’s favorite pieces are the two vanity sinks. These sinks were cast into live edge walnut vanity tops. The shape of the sinks follow the grain of the wood creating a natural flow. We hand formed the sink molds to be as organic as the wood they sat in. The most interesting of the sinks is the vanity that contains a knot. We couldn’t bring ourselves to eliminate the beautiful knot, so we created the sink to drop underneath it. If you were to peer into the knot you will see all of the water disappear into the drain. This job had challenges of an extremely tight deadline, the creation of 6 custom sinks, the large pieces, intricate shapes and the installation in and around the custom woodwork and large wooden posts. Definitely a one of a kind project!

This recent Artscape garden design project was for a family home near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and included pool landscaping, a large patio area for lounging and dining, pathways and extensive planting. Pool landscaping with porcelain surround The main feature of the garden design is the outdoor swimming pool, installed with the luxurious poolside surround we created using porcelain paving. Porcelain pavers are extremely hardwearing, water-resistant and provides a stunning, high-end, consistent finish. The pathway linking the pool to the house uses a durable, modern dark black clay pavers by Vande Moortal which makes a striking contrast to the light toned porcelain which also complimented the modern extension. Another feature of the pool landscaping is the premium, venetian-style trellis. This attractive design allows light and air to pass through while maintaining privacy. Contemporary garden pool house Artscape designed the contemporary garden pool house which was custom-built to enhance the use of the swimming pool. It features a made-to-measure changing room and plenty of dedicated storage space for towels and play equipment. Barbecue area Just behind the changing room is a new barbecue area which has been screened with a Corten steel trellis. Also know as weathering steel, over time this will form an attractive raw, rusty-orange, textured appearance, blending naturally with the surrounding landscape. Corten panels are very long lasting and require minimal maintenance. Poolside planting Pleached hornbeam trees have been planted in front of the venetian-style trellis to add extra privacy and style to the poolside setting. Hornbeam has bright green foliage in spring and summer and crisp, copper leaves in autumn. Pleaching is a sophisticated, centuries-old method of training trees to produce a narrow, formal-style hedge. The planting scheme surrounding the pool consists mainly of soft ornamental grasses, bearded iris and purple salvias. We made sure there was an interesting combination of colour, height and texture. The borders running from the house down to the pool area have been planted with a mixture of Alliums, bright orange flowered Geum, Acers and grasses with a palette ranging from hot to cool greens.

Reference: BB512AS-US Model: TAHITI MOON Color: Gray Shape: rectangular Finish: matted and honed inside US Dimensions: 17-3/4" x 13-3/4 "x 4-1/3" Weight: 48 lbs US Drain size: standard hole size (1.5") Material: Andesite grade A ( basalt family) Our TAHITI MOON model is a rectangular single vessel sink stone - 18"x13"x4" made in genuine interior decoration gray andesite ( basalt). The "Exceptional" cut in the block without any comparison with plastic and other chemical resin market often unaffordable. The outstanding opportunity to make your world unique! Add great value to your home by installing LivingRoc Creations and tell your stone story through the years of conception. Could you imagine one day installing a single vessel sink made from gray basalt, sought after by specialists around the world? We put the extra into the extraordinary by using this noble material. You will definitely not let anyone feel indifferent with this 100% natural stone unique in the US and exclusively available on Living'ROC.net. This creation will give your bathroom a stunning look. Its gray color and its irresistible look ( trendy concrete look) make it one of the most incredible bathroom sink of the moment. It is a superb design vanity vessel sink with beautiful, pure and elegant lines. TAHITI MOON will add class to your bathroom. Our talented masons work shows TAHITI MOON perfect curves, its Asian-style look and the quality of handcrafted work. TAHITI MOON's generous perfect proportion will bring you great comfort. It is double waterproofed so the maintenance is easy. We have selected only the most beautiful stones for an exceptional quality. This vessel sink is ready to use, sitting on a vanity counter top and Highly resistant to chipping and scratching, Withstands hot temperatures, Tolerant to very high temperature changes. All exposed parts of the stone have been double waterproofed. At LivingRoc we have chosen the most beautiful stones. All our basins are made from high quality, pure genuine materials that will last for years to come. Granite, Basalt, Marble are materials perfectly adapted to bathroom use. Our creation is delivered without an overflow drain (not included) - every US drains models you can find on the market will fit perfectly on Living'ROC vessel sink. This model is ready to use over the countertop. The photos you see online have been taken with extreme care by our Founder CEO - Florent LEPVREAU, because without them we would not be one of the natural stone business key player of the online European continent. Once you have encountered the product in your home you will always have pure happiness for the love of the materials. It will be beyond your expectations because what you see online at livingroc.net is what you will receive. This is why we always guarantee a degree of quality (Grade A) and impeccable finish as can attest with the reviews filed by our customers. We also draw your attention to the fact that veining, flames, small variations of colors and various stone particularities make all the charm of the stone and distinguish it from non-natural materials! Simply our living'ROC style.

The owner of this historic and landmarked town-home renovation in Hudson Square, originally built in 1826, hired Gallery Kitchen and Bath to fully gut-renovate this 3-unit row-home. The scope of work included a full-scale renovation of the owners unit, including the renovation of the kitchen, one 4-piece master ensuite bathroom, one 3-piece bathroom with a walk-in steam shower, and a beautiful powder room. Additional work in the owners unit also included flooring, electrical upgrade, major plumbing work, new HVAC system, restoration of a fireplace, installation of a fully integrated smart home system and landmarked approved windows. CELLAR RENOVATION IN NYC LANDMARKED TOWN-HOME Rounding out the owners unit we renovated the cellar, which was converted into an entertainment space and featured a custom glass curtain wall, along with a custom staircase with an exposed brick wall. During the demolition phase of the cellar, our team discovered 56 wine jugs filled with wine from the prohibition era, leading us to name this project the prohibition house. For the two tenant units, Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the renovation of 2 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, new hardwood flooring throughout, along with detailed carpentry work in the entire home. WHY GALLERY KITCHEN AND BATH After interviewing multiple contractors, our client decided on Gallery Kitchen and Bath primarily because of our turnkey design, selection, and build process. In a renovation of this magnitude it is crucial to have a centralized full service contractor under one roof to handle all of the aspects and simultaneous moving parts of the project. Decentralizing the entire process by having multiple unaffiliated vendors handle various parts of the process can easily become chaotic, time consuming, and costly. Because Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the entire process, from the design of the entire space to the selection and procurement of all finishes and fixtures, down to the procurement of all permits and LPC filings, it made a seemingly chaotic project a’lot more manageable. PHASE 1: DESIGN, SELECTION, PROCUREMENT Our client wanted the renovation to incorporate a fully modern design into his Hudson Square town-house. Being that this is a landmarked property, the exterior facade had to be restored and kept with the original aesthetic, the interior of the home however was a whole different story. In keeping up with the modern aesthetic, our designers went to work to design a custom kitchen that included fully custom flat panel base cabinets in a white high gloss finish and an absolute matte black appliance/pantry wall. The kitchen design also included a white quartz countertop and backsplash with a waterfall edge island. To bring warmth to the modern kitchen, our designers incorporated a rifted and quartered select oak wood floor in a herringbone pattern, and custom blended stain with matte polyurethane finish. For continuity, the wood floor was also extended throughout the entire owners unit. In the ensuite bathroom we created a “wet area” which houses a standalone soaking tub as well as a beautiful rainfall shower, completely leveled with the rest of the floor in the bathroom. Some highlights within this space include a tiled square drain, large niche cutouts with a carrera marble accents. Once again, to bring warmth to this modern bathroom, our designers incorporated a floating rustic oak vanity and carrera marble mosaic floor tile. Last on the list on the owners unit floor was the cellar, which our client wanted to utilize as an entertainment space for his friends and family. During the design phase, we incorporated an open concept layout, wedding the indoor and outdoor space with a custom glass curtain wall. The design also included custom walnut built-ins that serve as a custom wet bar and storage piece. With the design approved and selections made our office liaisons moved to procure all of the material selections and finishes. PHASE 2: DEMO Because this home is almost two centuries old, we had to take extra precaution during the interior demolition phase of the project. One specific area that we had to pay special attention to was the existing brick. Over time the mortar in old brick homes deteriorates and turns into dust – for this reason it was extremely important that a thorough and ongoing inspection of the exteriors and interior walls took place during the demolition of the space. After 14 30-yard debris containers and 56 wine filled jugs from the prohibition era later , the demolition of this historic Hudson Square town-home came to an end. If you are wondering whether we tried the wine? After notifying the owner we agreed to open one of the jugs and try them together – nothing but vinegar. PHASE 3: BUILD One of the challenges in a renovation project of this scope is nailing down the logistics and delivery of fixtures and finish material. Adding to this challenge was a narrow entry door that required us to use a boom truck in order to deliver some of the larger materials on site. To ensure a succinct time schedule, we boomed all of the materials through the 3rd floor for the entire project and worked our renovation work from top floor to cellar. This technique also insured that any unexpected water issues during the renovation process would not damage a finished floor. With all roughing and framing complete, the Gallery KBNY team proceeded to execute on the design plan. THE REVEAL From what was once a dilapidated town-home with nothing but potential, to a glamorous and luxurious modern interior space – the prohibition house was complete. Ready to speak with us about your renovation project? Contact us to schedule your free consultation and let Gallery KBNY show you why our all-inclusive approach to your renovation is the smartest way to renovating in NYC.

Here is the pivoting unit in open position. Since houzz does not have video yet, you can go to my Facebook page and watch it there. The pivoting hardware was custom made for us by a machine shop that are specialists in marine and aeronautical work. It is made up of a bottom and top bearing system with steel extension supports and 3/4" thick stainless steel pins. The bookshelf is 300lbs, but can be swiveled by a 5 year old child with no effort. There are rubber wives casters that add extra support on the end, but they are barely touching the hardwood flooring. Client is extremely happy. I had several sleepless nights wondering if this would work..

This exquisite design is overflowing with exciting extras. Blending stone with stucco and siding, this attractive exterior features a covered porch, stone pillars, alluring angles, decorative windows, and a metal shed roof. Inside every room and living space was given very careful thought and functions extremely well for perfect livability. The secondary bedrooms are provided with a jack and jill bathroom and the master suite is arranged for plenty of privacy from the secondary bedrooms.

This modern freestanding pool house is a little over 500 square feet. We created this space to allow for entertaining outdoors and relaxing by the pool, as well as giving this homeowner a great backyard view. There is plenty of room for the kitchen and hang out area. We poured a concrete base that we then covered with light walnut travertine. We also added travertine pavers to transition from the pool to the new space. The structure includes smooth stucco finish on the walls, stone based columns and an outdoor shower. The space couldn’t be complete without the 2 TVs with built-in overhead speakers. The kitchen area includes an 18 foot counter area with leathered colonial cream granite and stone that matches the columns. There is a FireMagic Diamond 660i 30 inch grill, fridge, side burner and a sink with hot water. There is plenty of storage and a great pull-out trash drawer. The raised bar top area gives plenty of seating for that snack after swimming. The bathroom is a clean and bright area with a walk-in shower that has frameless glass doors. The vanity is custom built with the same granite as the kitchen area. The floor and wall tile is from Floor and Décor. The door is a Pella door. And, for those extremely hot summer days, it is a great place to go because it is air conditioned! To complete the space, the customer chose Haiku fans from Big Ass Fans – clean lines, 7 speeds, and so very super quiet you can’t even really hear them running. The homeowner hung some shades to pull down at that certain time of day when you need a little extra shade! Photo Credit: TK Images

This modern freestanding pool house is a little over 500 square feet. We created this space to allow for entertaining outdoors and relaxing by the pool, as well as giving this homeowner a great backyard view. There is plenty of room for the kitchen and hang out area. We poured a concrete base that we then covered with light walnut travertine. We also added travertine pavers to transition from the pool to the new space. The structure includes smooth stucco finish on the walls, stone based columns and an outdoor shower. The space couldn’t be complete without the 2 TVs with built-in overhead speakers. The kitchen area includes an 18 foot counter area with leathered colonial cream granite and stone that matches the columns. There is a FireMagic Diamond 660i 30 inch grill, fridge, side burner and a sink with hot water. There is plenty of storage and a great pull-out trash drawer. The raised bar top area gives plenty of seating for that snack after swimming. The bathroom is a clean and bright area with a walk-in shower that has frameless glass doors. The vanity is custom built with the same granite as the kitchen area. The floor and wall tile is from Floor and Décor. The door is a Pella door. And, for those extremely hot summer days, it is a great place to go because it is air conditioned! To complete the space, the customer chose Haiku fans from Big Ass Fans – clean lines, 7 speeds, and so very super quiet you can’t even really hear them running. The homeowner hung some shades to pull down at that certain time of day when you need a little extra shade! Photo Credit: TK Images

Chiara Rose Anti-slip Armless Sofa Cover Furniture Protector Chair Size Diamond Dimensions: 29 Inch X 70 Inch BEST SOFA PROTECTOR - This Slipcover is Extremely Sturdy, as well as an Instant, Magical Solution to Renew your Old Furniture with an Elegant Look! Ultrasonically welded seams prevent ripping apart and unraveling. The Edges are Laser-Cut to give a Chenille Trim Effect. Its Velvety Texture is Soft and also functions like a Warm Pet Bed giving a Sense of Security while your Pet is Resting. Our Covers are absolutely Pet-Friendly. PROTECTIVE! Best Protection for ANIMAL SCRATCHES FUR SHED-HAIR DIRT FOOD SPILLS WEAR TEAR! STAIN PROOF! Perfect Guard against Cats Dogs Kids Children! DECORATIVE! Great Stylish Coverage and Luxury Decoration in Living, Sitting Room with Full Solid Colors and Beautiful Printed, Patterned Designs, Extra Deluxe Décor, Nice Plush Texture! New Modern Look! CUSTOM-FIT! Relaxed fitted in Wing-back, Club, Rocker, Single Chair and a Half, one two three Pillow Coach, 1 2 Seaters, Box, T cushion, L, U shape Seaters! Big Large Long Wide Couches! Leather Velour Denim Twill Linen Sofas! NON SLIDE! Slid-Resistant with PLASTIC DROP BACKING! No More Slipping Off / Sliding Over! Plastic Dots firmly Grip Upholstery! Stays in Place! No Zipper, Mat, Elastic Strap! No Pads under! EASY CARE & WASH, DURABLE, DETERRENT! Machine Washable! Easily Removable Ready Made Furniture Throws! Cheap and Inexpensive! Heavy Duty Fabric! Stretch Enough to Cloth up Perfectly and Look Form Fit! NO ARMS! Slipcovers with Armrests DON’T properly FIT IN the Armrests and always create Fitting Problems. You know, they also have an Ugly Look. But with Chiara Rose no Need to Worry about Armrests anymore! • PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ DETAILED PRODUCT INFORMATION BELOW! ________________________________________ Product Description WHY CHIARA ROSE SOFA COVERS? Kids and Pets; We love them but we also love our furniture. Cleaning furniture is one of the most difficult chores and that’s why you need to protect it from dirt. The easiest and economical way of preserving your furniture is Chiara Rose Sofa Protector. Just put the sofa protector on your sofas (futon or couch) and stop worrying about stains and spills. It is perfect for homes with kids and pets. Pets love to scratch upholstery of the furniture. The enduring 220 gsm polyester fabric of Chiara Rose Sofa Protectors prevents tears and any kind of debris on your sofas. Its sturdy texture doesn’t let any spill and dirt penetrate the upholstery. Besides being durable, Chiara Rose Sofa Cover is suitable to all types of decoration. To express your own personal style, you can choose from a variety of color and design options that fit perfectly to your home décor. With brilliant colors and attractive patterns, Chiara Rose Sofa Covers will give your room a completely new outlook. Unlike other covers, you don’t need to remove Chiara Rose Sofa Protector when you have guests. It will both protect your furniture and become a part of your home decoration. WHY CHIARA ROSE SOFA PROTECTOR IS DURABLE? The most common problem with traditional sofa covers is that after a short time of use the stitches come apart. The edges of Chiara Rose Sofa Cover are manufactured with ultrasonic laser cut technology. This technology prevents the edges from unraveling. What’s more, the 220 gsm polyester knitted fabric is the most long lasting fabric used in furniture protectors. While being durable, this fabric gives a warm sense of touch and pleasure to sit upon. WHY CHIARA ROSE IS THE BEST ANTI-SLIP SOFA PROTECTOR? We always use the most contemporary technology to develop our products. That’s why we decided to use the patented plastic drop design on the back side of our covers to create the anti slip effect. These plastic drops firmly grip the upholstery of furniture so that the cover doesn’t slip off the seat easily. Even after your kids and pets jump on the sofa, Chiara Rose Sofa Cover holds on to your furniture. A quick adjustment is all it takes to get it back to look smooth. Chiara Rose Sofa Cover is the only sofa protector that uses this new technology. WHY IT IS EASY TO USE CHIARA ROSE SOFA PROTECTORS? No zippers, no elastic straps, no metal hooks!!! The anti-slip drops will take care of everything! , As shown on the image, just lay Chiara Rose Sofa Cover on your sofa, and tuck it between the cushion and the arms of the sofa. That’s all you need to do to put it on. Chiara Rose Sofa Protector doesn’t allow everyday dirt, pet hair and food spills reach your sofa. The pattern of the fabric prevents accumulation of dirt on it. You can easily take off this dirt. In order to get best results, use a vacuum cleaner or shake your cover off before machine wash. Chiara Rose Sofa Protector is easy care. It can be machine washed on max. 30°C or 85°F water temperature. Don’t use bleacher. Machine dryer can be used on low heat setting. To avoid wrinkles, use gentle cycle on washing machine and hang from a line while drying. If necessary, iron at low temperature.

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with new, white contemporary cabinetry, quartz countertops mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

Houston Interior Designer Lisha Maxey took this Museum District condo from the dated, mirrored walls of the 1980s to Mid Century Modern with a gallery look featuring the client's art collection. "The place was covered with glued-down, floor-to-ceiling mirrors," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer for Homescapes of Houston and principal at LGH Design Services in Houston. "When we took them off the walls, the walls came apart. We ended up taking them down to the studs." The makeover took six months to complete, primarily because of strict condo association rules that only gave the Houston interior designers very limited access to the elevator - through which all materials and team members had to go. "Monday through Friday, we could only be noisy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if we had to do something extra loud, like sawing or drilling, we had to schedule it with the management and they had to communicate that to the condo owners. So it was just a lot of coordination. But a lot of Inner City Loopers live in these kinds of buildings, so we're used to handling that kind of thing." The client, a child psychiatrist in her 60s, recently moved to Houston from northeast Texas to be with friends. After being widowed three years ago, she decided it was time to let go of the traditionally styled estate that wasn't really her style anyway. An avid diver who has traveled around the world to pursue her passion, she has amassed a large collection of art from her travels. Downsizing to 1,600 feet and wanting to go more contemporary, she wanted the display - and the look - more streamlined. "She wanted clean lines and muted colors, with the main focus being her artwork," says Maxey. "So we made the space a palette for that." Enter the white, gallery-grade paint she chose for the walls: "It's halfway between satin and flat," explains Maxey. "It's not glossy and it's not chalky - just very smooth and clean." Adding to the gallery theme is the satin nickel track lighting with lamps aimed to highlight pieces of art. "This lighting has no wires," notes Maxey. "It's powered by a positive and negative conduit." The new flooring throughout is a blended-grey porcelain tile that looks like wood planks. "It's gorgeous, natural-looking and combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of tile," says Maxey. "We used it throughout the condo to unify the space." After Maxey started looking at the client's bright, vibrant, colorful artwork, she felt the palette couldn't stay as muted anymore. Hence the Mid Century Modern orange leather sofas from West Elm and bright green chairs from Joybird, plus the throw pillows in different textures, patterns and shades of gold, orange and green. The concave lines of the Danish-inspired chairs, she notes, help them look beautiful from all the way around - a key to designing spaces for loft living. "The table in the living room is very interesting," notes Maxey. "It was handmade for the client in 1974 and has a signature on it from the artist. She was adamant about including the piece, which has all these hand-painted black-and-white art tiles on the top. I took one look at it and said 'It's not really going to go.'" However, after cutting 6 inches off the bottom and making it look a little distressed, the table ended up being the perfect complement to the sofas. The dining room table - from Design Within Reach - is a solid piece of mahogany, the chair upholstery a mix of grey velvet and leather and the legs a shiny brass. "The side chairs are leather and the end ones are velvet," says Maxey. "It's a nice textural mix that lends depth and texture." The galley kitchen, meanwhile, has been lightened and brightened, with white quartz countertops and backsplashes mimicking the look of Carrara marble, stainless steel appliances and a velvet green bench seat for a punch of color. The cabinets are painted a cool grey color called "Silverplate." The two bathrooms have been updated with contemporary white vanities and vessel sinks and the master bath now features a walk-in shower tiled in Dolomite white marble (the floor is Bianco Carrara marble mosaic, done in a herringbone pattern. In the master bedroom, Homescapes of Houston knocked down a wall between two smaller closets with swing doors to make one large walk-in closet with pocket doors. The closet in the guest bedroom also came out 13 more inches. The client's artwork throughout personalizes the space and tells the story of a life. There's a huge bowl of shells from the client's diving adventures, framed art from her child psychiatry patients and a 16th century wood carving from a monastery that's been in her family forever. "Her collection is quite impressive," says Maxey. "There's even a framed piece of autographed songs written by John Lennon." (You can see this black-framed piece of art on the wall in the photo above of two green chairs). "We're extremely happy with how the project turned out, and so is the client," says Maxey. "No expense was spared for her. It was a labor of love and we were excited to do it."

The Nantucket wicker love seat glider by Lloyd Flanders is defined by classic, timeless, New England design. This love seat glider features plush, deep seating cushions, and extra wide seating that eludes a casual elegance reminiscent of Massachusetts Nantucket island. This piece is constructed of a Lloyd loom 3 X 3 weave wrapped around welded all-aluminum frames that are corrosion-resistant and extremely durable. A unique feature of Lloyd Loom is the use of aluminum stakes encased in loom fiber. These stakes are inserted into the fabric for enhanced stability and durability. You can rest assured that this wicker love seat glider will bring many years of high quality entertainment and comfort.

Top Tips for Selling a Home in 2016 Want to sell your house in 2016? It’s a great year to sell your home and if you go about it the right way you’ll get what it’s worth and maybe more. Now I could write this post and do the usual “do this, “do that” type stuff but I wouldn’t be doing you any favors. Because unless you know your numbers and the value of your home, you could wind up leaving money on the table or even losing it. So here you go. If you want tips for selling your house in 2016, listen to me - a guy who has bought and sold hundreds of properties as a full-time professional Real Estate Investor. Before you repair anything or call a real estate agent… ...you have to know your numbers. Tip #1: Know the After Repair Value (ARV) of Your Home If you’re going to get the right amount of money for your house, you have to know the After Repair Value (ARV). Essentially this means that you should know what your home can sell for after it’s is 100% rehabbed. If you have a house that you can sell for $120,000, you need to know that. If it will sell for $350,000, you need to know what you need to do to your house to get it there. At the same time, you don’t want to overdo it. If you have a house that’s currently worth $100,000 as is and it can sell for $115,000 when it’s all fixed up, you may or may not want to put the money into a rehab job. If you put $10,000 in just to make an extra $5,000, it might not be worth the hassle. So whatever you do, know what it’s worth now (as -is) and know what it’ll sell for afterward. If you want to find out how much your house is worth, there are plenty of agents out there who will give you comps (Comps is a term that is short for “Comparisons” that lets you determine an appraisal value for your home by comparing it to recently sold homes in your area that are similar to yours) or advice for free, so ask them. So don’t over do it, but don’t be hesitant to put money into your house if it’ll yield a big payoff when you sell it. TIP #2: Make Your Agent Work For You After you determine your ARV and enlist a good agent to help you sell your home, It might be worthwhile to hop in their Escalade to drive around town and look at some high end houses in your area to see what kind of upgrades they have. And when you see a common theme, you’ll have a good idea as to what kind of upgrades you might want to do to be able to sell your house. Granite? Concrete? Tile? Carpet? Wood floors? It depends. I don’t know your area or market so you have to do the research, ask your agent questions, and exercise wisdom. Every market is different and you don’t want to put money into an upgrade or rehab if it’s not the type of thing people in your area are looking for. So talk to a competent agent, and even offer to pay them a bit more in commissions if they can sell your home for a higher price. This is not a waste of money. A good agent with a proven track record is worth every penny because they know exactly what needs to be done to sell your home for the most money. Tip #3: Interior Improvements So once you have an idea about what your home is worth, have a good agent, and have toured homes in your area to see what kind of upgrades homes in your area typically have, it's time to look at your interior to decide what you should and shouldn’t do to sell your house in 2016. No matter what you do, you need to be wise about it. Maybe you live in non-traditional or funky house. That’s fine. Just go through 2 or 3 times with a notepad, write down the frustrations you have with it, and do what you need to do to make it functional, warm, beautiful, and inviting. Interior must-haves: 1. Make sure your kitchen is functional. 2. Always have (or add) a 2nd bathroom: If you don’t have a second bathroom, build one. Sure it could cost you $5-$6k, but it could net you an additional $20k when you sell. No matter what you do, make sure there is a second bathroom. It’s a must. 1. Open floor plans are huge in 2016: If you don’t have one, first- make sure it’s right for your area, and if it is, create one. This might mean building or breaking down a wall, but it’ll pay off in the end. 2. Stage your house: Just do it. Staging your home means that you hire a home stager and/or an interior design consultant (like the lady on Love It or List It) to set up your home in the most inviting way possible and tell you everything you need to do to make it sell. You’ll pay some cash up front but staged homes are shown to sell for 6% to 10% higher according to realtor.org. Tip #4: Exterior Improvements Just like the interior, you have to make sure the exterior of your house looks appealing if you want to get the most value of your house in 2016. Exterior must haves: 1. Add curb appeal: When people pull up to your house, most won’t even want to go inside or look at it unless it looks good from the curb. So make sure it looks gorgeous. Rake the leaves, plant some flowers, mow the lawn - make it inviting. 2. Make sure the picture on the MLS listing matches what your house currently looks like: People don’t want to look at a picture and pull up to your house, only to be disappointed. 3. Hire a professional photographer: This is crucial. It could mean the difference between someone viewing your house, or someone skipping it because the pictures look like a child took them. Hire a pro - it’s worth it. Ask me how I know. 4. Don’t paint your house diarrhea green or brown: This is just common sense. If you’re going to paint, use a neutral color. You don’t want to make your house unsellable because you chose an odd color or made a bad decision elsewhere. Tip #5: Common Sense, Common Sense, Common Sense No matter what you do or do not do, don’t make any hasty decisions. Ask your agent questions, look around, be observant, and don't do anything extreme. If you need to fix up your house to see a big profit, do it. If you have a modest budget and improvements won’t raise the value or your house (the ARV) anyways, don’t go crazy. 2016 is a great year to sell your house. Do it right and do it wisely. Cheers, Nate --- Nate Pyles is a long term Real Estate Investor who made it through the crash in 2008 and spends his week buying and selling houses for profit in the Boise, ID area. He runs House Flip Mentor, has 4 kids, a gorgeous wife, loves to fly, and even built his own Irish pub on his property.

This property hasn't been updated since the 199o's and was very out-of-date. The client's wish was to keep the rooms light and bright, with a Mid Century, modern twist. This was accomplished with 2 months of prep work and 5 months total for completion. The drab blue carpeting was removed and porcelain hickory honey floors laid throughout, pulling each detail together. The basic bedroom was updated with Twine Blush Grass Weave Wallpaper and exquisite luxe, rattan, drop lighting fixtures to provide an extra design feature instead of an ordinary table lamps on the side tables. The client was extremely satisfied with the interior design project.

This lovely landscape sports a poured in place concrete slab patio with drought tolerant sedum plants between the slabs. This sedum mix is sold in sheets then cut to fit but it’s actually grown for green-roof application. It works perfectly in this hot environment too as it is extremely drought tolerant and can go a month without water. Because the water runoff is absorbed between the slabs the patio drainage works perfectly and there are no need for drains.The swimming pool is of the fiberglass variety. Though the initial investment is greater than that of vinyl pools the ROI is greater over a 10 year period. Fiberglass pools retains more heat as the pool shell is all one piece and they don’t ever require a new liner.. This fiberglass pool has cool built-in benching and steps. And there is even a swim jet built into one side great for those cardio blasting swims. The pool interior colour is grey though it shows a soft blue/grey when water is added due to the reflection of the sky and other surroundings. The pool coping is natural stone with rock face edge. The steel arbour was custom made. Metal (steel) was chosen for it’s slim strength as wood placed here would have been too chunky. The best rooms (indoors or our) have a subtle layering of textural elements. To me this landscape needed a structure here to define the “rooms” It will look even better in a few years when the vines reach the top and the Miscanthus on either side reaches its 7′ height!The 12′ x 16′ pavilion is also made of steel and houses an alfresco dining table and sofa set. The pavilions built in cupola makes the warm breezes comfortably pass through with no need for a fan. It’s also sunken 2′ from the pool/patio height and nestled nicely in the corner. I must also mention the large slim planters with “Red Shades” Canna lily within. They are the perfect boldness/balance!Step through the arbor and a linear pond with “floating” natural stone step is revealed! Two smooth flow scuppers are responsible for the quiet waterfalls either side. A wood deck overhangs the pond adding softness to the setting. A modern retaining wall with natural stone cap runs the full width of the pond and pool adding interest and dimension. In the covered outdoor living area this wall is the perfect seat wall - adding lots of extra party seating! The lesson to be learned here is that good design can be applied to any space. This backyard is only 50′ x 45′ and look what can be achieved! Landscape design and photography by Melanie Rekola

MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola with mobile blades results from the adjustable and remote-controlled opening. Through their opening action, the portable blades make it easier for air to circulate and heat to escape. As a result, a fresher air flow dynamic is established beneath the MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola, providing comfort despite the outdoor heat. This significant benefit of the MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola keeps the space from turning into an oven in high summer or mid-season, as is typical of a veranda or conservatory. This means that you can continue to take advantage of your terrace even when it’s extremely hot outside. MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola is an extra living space, modular and usable all year long. It provides comfort, a place to entertain, and a boost to the value of your home. The roof of a MERZOUGA BioClimatic, composed of mobile blades, can be closed hermetically to protect it from the rain. MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola can be customized with equipment such as infrared heating and practical or ambient lighting modules.As they are realized with recyclable materials at 98%, which offer a natural circulation and avoid the greenhouse effect, the MERZOUGA BioClimatic pergola aim to limit the impact on the environment the most possible. Aluminum is a sustainable and recyclable component.

This is a charming white and grey bathroom. The white shaker panel cabinetry has straight edged silver handles that make this extremely functional and appealing to the eye. The grey and white counter top are a soft mixture of the 2 colors used in this bathroom and carry the brushed chrome to the modern faucet. Wall mirrors are a great way to make a room appear larger than it may be and can brighten a room by reflecting the light. The thin tile white with grey tones is an amazingly simple way to give that extra snap your looking for in your bathroom design. This bathroom also brings the dark grey tile up, by adding the same color tile for the baseboard. The darker color floor tiles are a great departure from a stark white floors that may show every mark or speck of sand from the beach just outside.