Photo of a large traditional drought-tolerant and full sun side yard mulch and metal fence flower bed in Austin for summer.

You are walking quietly through the tall grass next to a wide river, brown and fast moving from fresh floods. The hot sun setting slowly overhead. Just as the sun begins to touch the horizon, the whole sky is brushed in a rich orange hue. You emerge from the grass to be greeted by your first sight of African lions in their natural habitat and a Serengeti sunset that will stay with you for the rest of your life. This was the moment that began this project, inspiring the client to recreate that moment for their sport hunting trophy room in their home. The goal was to be able to recreate that experience as closely as possible, while also ensuring that every mount in the collection had the ideal amount and type of light directed at it. Nature exhibits an infinite amount of unique color and light environments. From rich color in every hue and temperature, to light of all different intensities and quality. In order to deliver the client’s expectations, we needed a solution that can reflect the diverse lighting environments the client was looking to recreate. Using a Ketra lighting system, controlled through a Lutron HomeWorks QS system, tied in seamlessly to an existing Lutron HomeWorks Illumination system, we were able to meet all of these challenges. Tying into the existing system meant that we could achieve these results in the space that the client was focused on without having to replace the whole system. In that focused space, creating dynamic lighting environments was central to several elements of the design, and Ketra’s color temperature settings enabled us to be extremely flexible while still providing high quality light in all circumstances. Using a large track system consisting of 30 S30 lamps, each individually addressed, we were able to create the ideal lighting settings for each mount. Additionally, we designed the system so that it can be set to match the unique warm standard Edison-style bulbs in the main chandelier, it can be set to a “Natural” mode that replicates the outdoor conditions throughout the day, or it can simulate the exact color temperature progression of that unforgettable Serengeti sunset. Control of the lighting environment and a smooth transition to the lighting systems in the rest of the home was also a priority. As a result, we installed 3 Lutron motorized shades in the space to account for ambient light, and 6 A20 lamps in an adjacent bar area to create a natural transition to the rest of the lighting system. This ensures that all of the lighting transitions, whether from the rest of the home to the trophy room or the trophy room to the outside, are continuous and smooth. The end result is an impressive and flexible display space with an added “wow factor” that is out of this hemisphere!

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea

Cindy Kelleher Photo

The kitchen showcases sleek Conestoga Blanco 619 panel cabinets, constructed from robust 3/4 domestic plywood. These upper cabinets are 42 inches tall, maximizing storage space and enhancing the modern aesthetic. Lower cabinets are designed exclusively with drawers, increasing accessibility and efficiency in kitchen organization. A unique hidden cabinet in the last right upper unit offers discrete storage, and an absence of a light valance ensures a sleek, seamless installation. The cabinet above the refrigerator features an upward-opening mechanism for ease of access. A custom hood over the stove and a convenient pot filler faucet further enhance the kitchen’s functionality. The inclusion of tunable white under-cabinet lighting from Hafele Loox 5 allows for adjustable color temperatures, catering to different activities and times of day, thus melding practicality with custom ambiance. Equipped with LG's Signature series stove and refrigerator, this kitchen embodies modern functionality and style.

Photo Credits: Andre Mortatti
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in New York

Nicole Harkin
Example of a trendy kitchen design in DC Metro

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the building was erected on a shallow commercial lot between two 120 year old masonry buildings and a new residential rental building. 330 Grand Street is a mix of 725 SF 1BRs and 1050 SF 2BR apartments. It also contains a 1100 SF two story duplex as well as private and public rooftop space, large private balconies for most units and two large private terraces for the ground floor units. 330 Grand Street was originally designed and approved at the NYC DOB as a prefabricated modular building. During the pandemic, as shipping costs skyrocketed putting the project at risk, we suggested redesigning the building as a reinforced cast-in-place concrete structure. Concrete was readily available and prices had not been affected by the demand increase that many other materials suffered in the pandemic. We took this opportunity to raise floor to ceiling heights, enlarge high performance windows and redistribute the buildings MEPFS and Structural Systems to create very open floor plans. The challenge was to create a luxurious sensorial living experience with very limited means. In a city with very high construction costs, low cost residential buildings in the area are usually devoid of good quality, design and character. Our approach was to aim high for the end user, prioritizing natural light, open space with long visual perspectives, high ceilings and as always, rejecting the use of predefined building templates. Our biggest challenge was to ensure that the small spaces feel as clean cut, large and bright as possible. Several unique design decisions were made to ensure low cost and high quality; Floor plans were laid out so that spaces were wide open and free of clutter from mechanical or structural interruptions. Therefore all infrastructure was placed in lateral demising walls, which in turn act as the unit’s storage and kitchen. The apartments feel wide open, are super quiet and have more storage space than any other comparable apartment in the city. To solve the problem of the site’s shallow commercial lot which is typically prone to dark interior spaces we focused our attention on the building’s envelope. Instead of the usual small punched window openings, oversized high performance windows were designed to ensure that light penetrated as far as possible into the units. In the smaller 1BR units, the full 50’ depth of the lot is perceived by partitioning spaces with sliding pocket doors that can be retracted to allow deep visual perspectives, making the sight lines in the space feel longer, larger, more ample than normal. In addition to the full height glazing, each unit above the 2nd floor receives a 7 foot covered balcony, adding 120 to 240 sf to each apartment, something unusual in New York City buildings. The space is large enough for a full size dining table, when the weather permits being outside. We also worked hard to ensure modularity. For example, all kitchen units are all identical throughout the building. The idea of modularity and the economy of the repetitive unit is exercised to the maximum through the building. Hardware, appliances, flooring, wall coverings and material finishes are all carefully selected to feel bespoke, high quality and unique. It was important to KURV that the result of this work manifest into something that would deeply connect with the end user and sustain relationships with the consumers of this space. All images by KURV Architecture ©

Embark on an Ozarks excursion with a modest 1,300 square-foot design called The Flatlands. It’s a basic human drive to want to surround oneself with beautiful, traditional, or even timeless landscapes like those witnessed in the Ozark region of Missouri and Arkansas. Believe it or not, this secluded and remote landscape edges ever closer to easily achievable reality thanks to innovations in technology never before seen. This design features a large living space, ample master suite, and an efficient kitchen/dining arrangement with adjacent screened porch. In addition, this design incorporates a second-level loft space with clerestory views and a generous wrap-around exterior deck. Image by REspace Design

Home design - modern home design idea in Miami

This is an example of a large transitional full sun backyard formal garden.

In this exterior home renovation SAGIWALL REF #12 Titanium Coalwood was installed vertically to replace old aluminum siding.
Home design - modern home design idea in Edmonton

Elegant living room photo in New York

Minimalist staircase photo in New York

A playful kids bedroom
Example of a large transitional loft-style concrete floor, gray floor, wood ceiling and brick wall bedroom design in Chicago with beige walls, a two-sided fireplace and a wood fireplace surround