Tucker Design Awards celebrate the innovation and vision that designers bring to their projects through the specification and use of natural stone materials. For members of the Natural Stone Institute, acknowledgment as a contributor to a Tucker Design Awards winning project is a genuine tribute to their traditional values, physicality of work, and dedication to precise specifications required in the realization of such accomplished architectural design. Landscape Architect Design Workshop, Aspen, CO Landscape Contractor/ Installer Landscape Workshop, Carbondale, CO Stone Installer JD Masonry, Arvada, CO Stone Suppliers Coldspring, Cold Spring, MN Gallegos Corporation, Vail, CO Through a collective dialogue between landscape, architecture and interior design, a new vision reimagines the disturbed site into a livable landscape, emblematic of our American West. The residence – an ensemble of structures designed in a modern ranch vernacular – is effortlessly unified through layered, interconnected outdoor gathering spaces and regional materials that elaborates upon the experience of moving between structures, heightening and renewing one’s sense of place. Upon entering the courtyard, one is immediately aware of seamless and unfolding relationships between architecture and landscape through a sophisticated, regional palette of natural stone, water, and plants. Set upon architectural focal points, two perpendicular sandstone paths descend into the space and converge upon a monolithic, hand-carved granite fountain. The design of the fountain is purposefully quiet, both in its detailing and operation. The feature includes a recessed interior, allowing water to become still before it reaches the surface, with lightly cleft sides, allowing the water to delicately bounce as it descends into the geometric lower granite basin. The landscape architect’s selection of various stone material extends the tones of the home’s granite walls and contextual surroundings into the garden, but also be detailed in a manner that balances rural and modern qualities. The majority of the paving is constructed of rectilinear gray sandstone with a natural finish and snapped edges, laid in a staggered running bond organization. Throughout the garden, thoughtful attention was also given to the configuration and layout of terraces, pathways, and steps. In doing so, this ensured that the edges of the terrace and its interface to other elements were designed so that no “leftover” stone paver pieces would be found. Within the central courtyard, split-faced stone stairs descend into a rectilinear plinth of lawn, punctuated by a carved granite fire pit. Leveraging the property’s existing topographic relief, a shallow infinity-edge dipping pool abstracts the transparent and cavity-like pools found throughout the Rocky Mountains. The design purposefully achieves the illusion of a larger water feature with the distant pond and offers a refreshing recreational element. Containing the infinity edge, a designed granite escarpment emerges from the meadow, juxtaposing the geometric water feature and providing informal seating ledges. The site’s prior use required the landscape architect to incorporate a highly technical and complex sub-surface structural system. The initial geotechnical report identified the building envelopes rested on 12 feet of man-placed fill. Assuming a 1 percent settlement, the team faced concerns that the terraces would settle up to 12 inches. In response, a grid of structural micro-piles provides the necessary foundation for the construction of terraces immediately outside of the architecture, under the water features and site walls. The solution enabled the crisp detailing and design resolution of the architectural structures to seamlessly connect with the horizontal stone terraces.

Vessel sinks rest on creamy granite and are trimmed with crystal knobs and chandeliers. The drop in tub is surrounded with a custom curved cabinetry featuring hard carved trim. Photo Credit: Mike Heywood

Kitchen - traditional u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

A custom life edge dining table gives the room accentuated sophistication.
Dining room - contemporary dark wood floor dining room idea in New York with beige walls

Our clients wanted to replace an existing suburban home with a modern house at the same Lexington address where they had lived for years. The structure the clients envisioned would complement their lives and integrate the interior of the home with the natural environment of their generous property. The sleek, angular home is still a respectful neighbor, especially in the evening, when warm light emanates from the expansive transparencies used to open the house to its surroundings. The home re-envisions the suburban neighborhood in which it stands, balancing relationship to the neighborhood with an updated aesthetic. The floor plan is arranged in a “T” shape which includes a two-story wing consisting of individual studies and bedrooms and a single-story common area. The two-story section is arranged with great fluidity between interior and exterior spaces and features generous exterior balconies. A staircase beautifully encased in glass stands as the linchpin between the two areas. The spacious, single-story common area extends from the stairwell and includes a living room and kitchen. A recessed wooden ceiling defines the living room area within the open plan space. Separating common from private spaces has served our clients well. As luck would have it, construction on the house was just finishing up as we entered the Covid lockdown of 2020. Since the studies in the two-story wing were physically and acoustically separate, zoom calls for work could carry on uninterrupted while life happened in the kitchen and living room spaces. The expansive panes of glass, outdoor balconies, and a broad deck along the living room provided our clients with a structured sense of continuity in their lives without compromising their commitment to aesthetically smart and beautiful design.

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Peggy Fuller, ASID - By Design Interiors, Inc. Photo Credit: Brad Carr - B-Rad Studios
Large elegant master beige tile and stone tile marble floor, single-sink and exposed beam bathroom photo in Other with a drop-in sink, furniture-like cabinets, beige cabinets, marble countertops and white walls

The original bathroom on the main floor had an odd Jack-and-Jill layout with two toilets, two vanities and only a single tub/shower (in vintage mint green, no less). With some creative modifications to existing walls and the removal of a small linen closet, we were able to divide the space into two functional and totally separate bathrooms. In the guest bathroom, we opted for a clean black and white palette and chose a stained wood vanity to add warmth. The bold hexagon tiles add a huge wow factor to the small bathroom and the vertical tile layout draws the eye upward. We made the most out of every inch of space by including a tall niche for towels and toiletries and still managed to carve out a full size linen closet in the hall.

This kitchen had the old laundry room in the corner and there was no pantry. We converted the old laundry into a pantry/laundry combination. The hand carved travertine farm sink is the focal point of this beautiful new kitchen. Notice the clean backsplash with no electrical outlets. All of the electrical outlets, switches and lights are under the cabinets leaving the uninterrupted backslash. The rope lighting on top of the cabinets adds a nice ambiance or night light. Photography: Buxton Photography

COld World European, Country Cottage. Three separate cottages make up this secluded village over looking a private lake in an old German, English, and French stone villa style. Hand scraped arched trusses, wide width random walnut plank flooring, distressed dark stained raised panel cabinetry, and hand carved moldings make these traditional buildings look like they have been here for 100s of years. Newly built of old materials, and old traditional building methods, including arched planked doors, leathered stone counter tops, stone entry, wrought iron straps, and metal beam straps. The Lake House is the first, a Tudor style cottage with a slate roof, 2 bedrooms, view filled living room open to the dining area, all overlooking the lake. European fantasy cottage with hand hewn beams, exposed curved trusses and scraped walnut floors, carved moldings, steel straps, wrought iron lighting and real stone arched fireplace. Dining area next to kitchen in the English Country Cottage. Handscraped walnut random width floors, curved exposed trusses. Wrought iron hardware. The Carriage Home fills in when the kids come home to visit, and holds the garage for the whole idyllic village. This cottage features 2 bedrooms with on suite baths, a large open kitchen, and an warm, comfortable and inviting great room. All overlooking the lake. The third structure is the Wheel House, running a real wonderful old water wheel, and features a private suite upstairs, and a work space downstairs. All homes are slightly different in materials and color, including a few with old terra cotta roofing. Project Location: Ojai, California. Project designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu and Calabasas, across the tri-county area of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills. Christopher Painter, contractor

A sleek and polished elmwood platform bed and bedroom set built in the traditional Asian style with a dark cherry finish to bring out the natural beauty of the wood grains. Each piece features hand carvings of grape vines. Photo by: Tri Ngo

A Tuscan style villa on East Valley Road with a carved limestone fireplace, burgandy, copper and blue rugs shares a feeling of warmth and comfort. Old Antique furniture, along with new fine bench made old world furniture, soft comfortable upholstered chairs complete this very inviting home in Santa Barbara that feels like the old Italian Countryside. In a dining area with a groin vault for the ceiling, the walls are copper colored venetian plaster. A separate library for the book loving clients, in blues and reds. The living great room area features open hand scraped beams, the floors have imestone laid in a Versaille pattern. Project Location: Montecito, Santa Barbara, CA. Designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

Michael Petitto Photography
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Cleveland.

Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for a southwestern living room remodel in Nashville

This Mediterranean Style home features beautiful Natural Stone elements. The Macedonia Limestone grand entryway with entablature is detailed with two pilasters flanking an arched opening topped with a decorative hand carved detail across the top. It is twelve feet in height, nine feet wide, with a depth of two feet of natural stone encasing the arched entry leading into the main hallway of the home. The façade is topped with crown molding at the eave. The first and second story French doors are flanked with Macedonia Limestone molding with keys. The central arched window above the entablature of the front door entry is also flanked with Macedonia Limestone molding and a key at the center of the arch. There is a belt course wrapping around the top of the first story in line with the detailing of the Grand Entry Front Door. Photography by Darvis

This 6,000sf luxurious custom new construction 5-bedroom, 4-bath home combines elements of open-concept design with traditional, formal spaces, as well. Tall windows, large openings to the back yard, and clear views from room to room are abundant throughout. The 2-story entry boasts a gently curving stair, and a full view through openings to the glass-clad family room. The back stair is continuous from the basement to the finished 3rd floor / attic recreation room. The interior is finished with the finest materials and detailing, with crown molding, coffered, tray and barrel vault ceilings, chair rail, arched openings, rounded corners, built-in niches and coves, wide halls, and 12' first floor ceilings with 10' second floor ceilings. It sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in a wooded neighborhood, surrounded by old growth trees. The homeowners, who hail from Texas, believe that bigger is better, and this house was built to match their dreams. The brick - with stone and cast concrete accent elements - runs the full 3-stories of the home, on all sides. A paver driveway and covered patio are included, along with paver retaining wall carved into the hill, creating a secluded back yard play space for their young children. Project photography by Kmieick Imagery.

Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Cleveland.

Eclectic exterior home photo in Orlando

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Cleveland.