Joel Lassiter
Mid-sized traditional gray two-story mixed siding house exterior idea in Charlotte with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard brick patio remodel in Philadelphia with a gazebo

Inspiration for a contemporary backyard outdoor shower deck remodel in Boston with a roof extension

Shoot2Sell Photography, Inc.
Traditional two-story brick exterior home idea in Dallas with a hip roof

Chipper Hatter
Inspiration for a large transitional courtyard rectangular pool remodel in San Diego

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary indoor rectangular pool fountain remodel in Cleveland with decking

DESIGN: Eric Richmond, Flat Rock Productions; BUILDER: Miller Custom Construction; PHOTO: Stadler Studio
Example of a small beach style one-story wood exterior home design in Seattle with a hip roof

A tiny waterfront house in Kennebunkport, Maine. Photos by James R. Salomon
Example of a small beach style blue one-story wood tiny house design in Portland Maine with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Photo: Read McKendree
Inspiration for a coastal galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Linda Oyama Brian
This is an example of a traditional front yard landscaping in Chicago.

Photo by Grey Crawford
Small beach style beige one-story exterior home photo in Orange County with a hip roof

Matthew Millman Photography http://www.matthewmillman.com/
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard tile patio remodel in San Francisco with a roof extension and a fireplace

Example of a transitional backyard l-shaped pool design in Miami

Example of a tuscan backyard rectangular lap hot tub design in Los Angeles

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

This is an example of a large contemporary partial sun front yard brick landscaping in New York for spring.

Hot tub - coastal backyard custom-shaped and tile lap hot tub idea in Other

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard stone patio kitchen remodel in Philadelphia with a gazebo

Gene Pollux Photography
Mediterranean white one-story exterior home idea in Tampa with a hip roof