Among the art-deco modernist architecture of the relaxed Penha de França neighborhood, just beyond the tourist path, an actor has acquired a home for peaceful retreat with family and friends. Extensive collaboration with the client rendered a space instilled with wrought-metal accents, vintage woods, and tropical plants, recalling the instruments of cinema’s southern California golden age and the natural landscape of southern Portugal. A modest hand-crafted bed is the backdrop of the master bedroom, flanked by modern Portugese wall lamps and nightstands with vintage flair. Generous apertures show changing seasonal foliage, while an adjacent contemporary reading chair relishes rays of afternoon sunlight throughout the year. In the guest room, extant closets were modified into a nook, accommodating a larger bed and slender nightstands. The majority of the wall between the hallway and living room was removed to establish a viewing axis through the apartment, accentuating and linking the cooking and dining spaces. Convivial meals are set on a custom-cut Estremoz marble slab atop a fabricated metal structure, supported by mid-century dining chairs, and illuminated by an enamel factory lamp. The living room doubles as a projection room; a floating bench topped with terracotta tiles conceals home electronics. A raw steel center table is surrounded by an inviting couch, a reupholstered armchair, and a classic Portuguese shelving system. The pantry was merged into a spacious galley kitchen with integrated appliances, allowing ample space for social cooking. Upper cabinets are eschewed in favor of floating shelves for openness, including dish drying and cookware hanging. Just beyond, a balcony tiled with Algarve terracotta creates a gardenesque hideaway to unwind and enjoy the summer breeze through windows open wide. PHOTOGRAPHY: © ALEXANDER BOGORODSKIY

For those that favor European styles!
Inspiration for a modern bathroom remodel in Charlotte

In the modern world, the demand for technology is growing very fast. Rendering is the most important step to bringing to you a photorealistic visualization. We can help you to have an accurate presentation of their ideas in the most favourable way possible. That's exactly what we did for this Kitchen Renovation. The client tried a few colours on her cabinets until she decided which one was the best for her. Project: Nikki Chodos 3D Visualization: Gananca Design

Facts About ButterfliesDifferent Types Of Butterflies And Butterfly Facts Natural butterfly habitats have been destroyed or affected by construction of housing and shopping developments, as well as by the use of pesticides and other chemicals. You can provide a suitable butterfly habitat that will help fortify the butterfly population, and as an added bonus, the habitat will bring you enjoyment in watching beautiful butterflies in your yard. The butterfly habitat should be relatively sunny (5-6 hours per day) and out of the wind. Butterflies can get their required nutrients and minerals from a mud puddle in a sunny area. A successful butterfly habitat will contain the plants favored by both caterpillars and butterflies. This means that you should include plants like Queen Anne’s Lace, violets, marigolds, and maybe even milkweed for the caterpillars to eat, since they are able to chew their food. In particular, monarch caterpillars eat milkweed because it makes them an unpleasant-tasting meal to predators. For the butterflies, which are able to suck and are unable to chew, you should include nectar plants with different colors of flowers, such as zinnias, lilacs, and the butterfly bush. Butterfly habitats should last all summer, meaning that you should select plants that bloom at different times so that something is always blooming. You might be able to take inspiration in your planting selections from a butterfly garden or inside a butterfly house if you are lucky to live close enough to one of these carefully planned attractions. Often, landscapers and nursery employees will be able to advise you as to what possible additions to your butterfly habitat will grow well in your area. Copyright © Facts About Butterflies | All Rights Reserved. Content provided and copywritten by http://factsaboutbutterflies.net

Entryway in Traditional style custom home. Vaulted ceilings. Typical entryway closet excluded in design in favour of built-in wardrobe and bench.
Inspiration for a timeless light wood floor, brown floor and vaulted ceiling entryway remodel in Vancouver with gray walls and a white front door

This kitchen is all about shape. An oval island for dining, an angled wall of windows, and pastel tiled walls all inspire the kitchen's avant-garde beauty. Stainless steel fixtures and appliances suggest modern inspiration without distracting from the room's oceanic color scheme. Like a work of modern art, this kitchen favors articulate lines, functionality, and bold style. Photos by: Jeff Roberts Project by: Maine Coast Kitchen Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Charlotte with shaker cabinets, wood countertops, an island, a farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances

Due to the energy-saving and environmentally friendly characteristics of LED downlights, their application in home lighting is receiving increasing attention. They have become essential lighting fixtures in modern interior decoration, and are widely recognized and favored by more and more people.

Escape to your private oasis in this exclusive, gated lakefront community. With its custom design and open concept layout, this 3-bed, 3.5-bath home embodies luxury and style. Enjoy breathtaking lake views from every corner and indulge in boating adventures with the covered boat dock. From the serene surroundings to the spacious living areas, this property is the epitome of a tranquil retreat. Embrace the favored lake life and experience unparalleled relaxation in this exquisite, custom-built haven.

Overhaul Converts Classic Rambler to A Modern Yet Classic Family Home in Fairfax This 1970 rambler in middle of old town in Fairfax City has been home to a growing family of five. Ready for a massive overhaul, the family reached out to Michael Nash Design Build & Homes for assistance. Eligible for a special Fairfax City Renaissance program, this project was awarded special attention and favorable financing. We removed the entire roof and added a bump up, second story three-bedroom, two bathroom and loft addition. The main level was reformatted to eliminate the smallest bedroom and split the space among adjacent bedroom and the main living room. The partition walls between the living room and dining room and the partition wall between dining room and kitchen were eliminated, making space for a new enlarged kitchen. The outside brick chimney was rebuilt and extended to pass into the new second floor roof lines. Flu lines for heater and furnace were eliminated. A furnace was added in the new attic space for second floor heating and cooling, while a new hot water heater and furnace was re-positioned and installed in the basement. Second floor was furnished with its own laundry room. A new stairway to the second floor was designed and built were furnace chase used to be, opening up into a loft area for a kids study or gaming area. The master bedroom suite includes a large walk-in closet, large stoned shower, slip-free standing tub, separate commode area, double vanities and more amenities. A kid’s bathroom was built in the middle of upstairs hallway. The exterior of this home was wrapped around with cement board siding, maintenance free trims and gutters, and life time architectural shingles. Added to a new front porch were Trex boards and stone and tapered style columns. Double staircase entrance from front and side yard made this residence a stand out home of the community. This remodeled two-story colonial home with its country style front porch, five bedrooms, four and half bathrooms and second floor laundry room, will be this family’s home for many years to come. Happier than before, this family moved back into this Extreme Makeover Home to love every inch of their new home.

The dream is couple had was to remove the wall between the living room and the kitchen. This extensive remodel to this couple's upscale home in Carlsbad. We are always in favor in going beyond the basic shaker style cabinetry. We used Bellmont cabinetry lineage cabinetry door style, an upscale shaker is how we describe it to our client. We used quartz countertops with a waterfall end. Beach inspired kitchen design with stainless steel kitchen appliances and large expansive counter tops. Multi windows throughout this home give this kitchen a very open feeling. The kitchen has 2 sinks, one farm sink on the island. The island houses a wine cooler, microwave drawer and of course the basic sink essentials.

Heritage homes essay a sense of gravitas. An architectural pause that reminds, even in the time of Wi-Fi, something quieter remains. This client’s wish was to revamp the previous homeowner’s landscaping while amplifying the traditional character of the property – the Old Washington feel. More structure was desired, restraint favored over excess, function preferred over flair. Above all, the design was to create more space for gathering and family time. A stone retaining wall replaced a slope in the rear yard to create a large terrace at the main rear doors of the house. Stone steps offer a natural transition to a lower level, large open lawn, featuring an intimate patio for grilling and watching the kids play. Evergreens lend shape and structure while tall hornbeams grant the privacy of a garden sanctuary. In the language of Pennsylvania flagstone and long-blooming perennials, the redesign speaks of sturdiness and sincerity; languages known in the body before the mind.

A couple took ownership of their new residence on a top floor of a quiet street in central Lisbon. Our studio’s brief was to transform the duplex into a hideaway to detach from daily life and spend quality time with visiting relatives. The design manifests family-focused features: upon entry, there is plentiful storage for shoes and coats; in the main living room, a custom island crafted in solid surface extends the compact kitchen into the social area, seamlessly bridging cooking and convivial gatherings. A buffet supports more elaborate meals. Sculptural pendants and niches that accentuate horizontal continuity favor interaction between the dining and flexible lounge areas. Reimagined with durable materials, the bathrooms embrace efficiency and elegance. Cabinetry is integrated around the planes of countertops and insets carried across the room. Dark wood and textured accents punctuate the white surfaces, grounding the spaces in tactile warmth. The bedrooms, designed for adaptability, offer separable sleeping arrangements, peaceful workspaces, and versatile wardrobe solutions. The light-toned furniture and organic elements are tailored to the interior, softening the contrasting architectural palette and rectilinear forms. Soothing accent lighting is interwoven throughout, offering an adaptable, serene atmosphere.

This home resides in the covert worthy neighborhood of Garthwick. Surrounded by one of Portland’s most prestigious country clubs, beautifully classic homes, and oak trees that tell the stories of generations; it was a dream to breathe new life into this traditional cottage. The clients truly enjoyed the design process from start to finish, commenting regularly at how much fun it was to work through all of the details with the APD team! Awkwardly located stairs to the basement were reconfigured and an unused chimney was removed adding significant square footage of space and linear footage of storage & countertop to the kitchen. An original window at the back of the kitchen was removed in favor of French doors out to the client’s new terrace making perfect access for alfresco dining with family and friends. Within an existing nook, we created a multi-purpose zone with convenient coffee prep space, wine decanting and buffet serving surface, and even custom storage for baking sheets and trays … perfect for baking cookies with the grandchildren! Custom push-out casement windows behind the sink speak to the home’s original architecture while bringing in an abundance of natural light. Clean lined and elegant fixtures and a custom plaster hood make the space shine! The new kitchen is at once classic, casual, traditional, and in-keeping with the home’s original character while infused with the modern amenities including custom cabinets, storage accessories, professional appliances, & easily maintained surfaces.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards For years, Jeff and Ellen Miller spent their vacations sailing in Northern Michigan—so they had plenty of time to check out which small harbor town they might like to retire to someday. When that time arrived several years ago, they looked at properties up and down the coast and along inland lakes. When they discovered a sweet piece on the outskirts of Boyne City that included waterfront and a buildable lot, with a garage on it, across the street, they knew they’d found home. The couple figured they could find plans for their dream lake cottage online. After all, they weren’t looking to build anything grandiose. Just a small-to-medium sized contemporary Craftsman. But after an unfruitful online search they gave up, frustrated. Every plan they found had the back of the house facing the water—they needed a blueprint for a home that fronted on the water. The Millers first met the woman, Stephanie Baldwin, Owner & President of Edgewater Design Group, who solved that issue and a number of others on the 2015 Northern Home & Cottage Petoskey Area Home Tour. Baldwin’s home that year was a smart, 2000-square cottage on Crooked Lake with simple lines and a Craftsman sensibility. That home proved to the couple that Edgewater Design Group is as proficient at small homes as the larger ones they are often known for. Edgewater Design Group did indeed come up with the perfect plan for the Millers. At 2400 square feet, the simple Craftsman with its 3 bedrooms, vaulted ceiling in the great room and upstairs deck is everything the Millers wanted—including the fact that construction stayed within their budget. An extra courtesy of working with the talented design team is a screened in porch facing the lake (“She told us, of course you have to have a screened in porch,” Ellen says. “And we love it!’) Edgewater’s other touches are more subtle. The Millers wanted to keep the garage, but the home needed to be sited on a small knoll some feet away in order to capture the views of Lake Charlevoix across the street. The solution is a covered walkway and steps that are so artful they enhance the home. Another favor Baldwin did for them was to connect them with Legacy Construction, a firm known for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Miller home, outfitted with touches including custom molding, cherry cabinetry, a stunning custom range hood, built in shelving and custom vanities. A warm hickory floor and lovely earth-toned Craftsman-style color palette pull it all together, while a fireplace mantel hewn from a tree taken on the property rounds out this gracious lake cottage.

Palatine, IL Master Bathroom Remodel, completed in 2021.These homeowners moved into a new home that had an outdated master bathroom. They wanted to remove the whirlpool jetted tub in favor of a standing shower only. Their vanity was also old and outdated, along with the tiled floor.

Among the art-deco modernist architecture of the relaxed Penha de França neighborhood, just beyond the tourist path, an actor has acquired a home for peaceful retreat with family and friends. Extensive collaboration with the client rendered a space instilled with wrought-metal accents, vintage woods, and tropical plants, recalling the instruments of cinema’s southern California golden age and the natural landscape of southern Portugal. A modest hand-crafted bed is the backdrop of the master bedroom, flanked by modern Portugese wall lamps and nightstands with vintage flair. Generous apertures show changing seasonal foliage, while an adjacent contemporary reading chair relishes rays of afternoon sunlight throughout the year. In the guest room, extant closets were modified into a nook, accommodating a larger bed and slender nightstands. The majority of the wall between the hallway and living room was removed to establish a viewing axis through the apartment, accentuating and linking the cooking and dining spaces. Convivial meals are set on a custom-cut Estremoz marble slab atop a fabricated metal structure, supported by mid-century dining chairs, and illuminated by an enamel factory lamp. The living room doubles as a projection room; a floating bench topped with terracotta tiles conceals home electronics. A raw steel center table is surrounded by an inviting couch, a reupholstered armchair, and a classic Portuguese shelving system. The pantry was merged into a spacious galley kitchen with integrated appliances, allowing ample space for social cooking. Upper cabinets are eschewed in favor of floating shelves for openness, including dish drying and cookware hanging. Just beyond, a balcony tiled with Algarve terracotta creates a gardenesque hideaway to unwind and enjoy the summer breeze through windows open wide. PHOTOGRAPHY: © ALEXANDER BOGORODSKIY

In the Llubí garden, our landscape design focuses on creating an aesthetic, functional, and sustainable space. We have prioritized water conservation by avoiding lawns and meadows in favor of a large gravel area. Next to the house wall, we have installed gravel stabilizers to create an ideal space for placing tables for breakfast or snacks. This area features an umbrella situated at the highest point of the garden, offering a panoramic view and allowing for full enjoyment of the surroundings. To break the monotony of the gravel, we have introduced islands of rosemary and lavender, alternating these plants in five long and narrow islands, approximately 7 meters by 2 meters each. These plants will grow, partially covering the gravel and providing a contrasting color with the sea gravel. Additionally, we have created five islands of various wildflowers that will grow and cover the ground, serving as points of flowering. In the center of the garden, we have incorporated a fireplace, creating a perfect space for extraordinary moments with family and friends. Around this central area, we have planted three jacarandas, providing points of shade in the garden. The garden’s design aims to be low maintenance, highlighting wildflowers and creating areas with a high density of these plants, which gives the space a wild and natural character. This approach allows for the enjoyment of a garden that reflects natural beauty with minimal intervention.

Customer wanted to ditch their grass yard in favor of colorful native plants that would create a charming scene for friends and neighbors alike. They dreamed of a gathering space in their front yard that looked out over their native plantings, so we added a seating area with cafe lights and raised steel planters so that the plantings could be enjoyed while seated. Black star gravel was added for furniture and plant contrast, making them pop against the home and landscaping.