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.

Warm grey tones create the backdrop for this cozy living room with a palette of blue and green accents. The painting anchors the room setting a quiet, peaceful mood. John Granen Photography

Dana Middleton Photography
Living room - mid-sized modern open concept ceramic tile living room idea with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

This home brew pub invites friends to gather around and taste the latest concoction. I happily tried Pumpkin when there last. The homeowners wanted warm and friendly finishes, and loved the more industrial style.

The homeowners of this mid century modern home created a nursery for their new born son which encompasses the ambiance of their home. Alise O'Brien Photography

This Livingston, New Jersey homeowner contacted CLC Landscape Design looking for a backyard that would function as a space for their young family to relax and play while also being a space to entertain family and friends. Luckily for us, their backyard was a blank slate with little more than overgrown grass and some trees occupying the backyard. To meet both of the client's needs, a space that's functional for the family and for entertaining, we designed a backyard with multiple spaces. First, we designed a deck off the back of the house. The composite deck contains an outdoor gas firepit as well as a built-in outdoor BBQ. As you descend from the deck onto the patio, there is a hot tub near the pool. Techo-Bloc Blu 60 Smooth in shale grey was chosen for the pool patio. To go along with the architectural aesthetic of the home, we designed a rectangular vinyl-liner swimming pool with a pavilion aligned to the center axis of the pool. The pavilion includes a ceiling fan, ceiling lights, an outdoor television, and a bar. At 20' x 14', the pavilion is spacious enough for multiple chairs, outdoor sofas, and a small table. To finish off the pool area, we selected a variety of plants to provide multiple seasons of interest. Some clients are indifferent when it comes to the plant palette. Others, like this client, share our passion for plants. As such, we worked closely with the homeowner on selecting the plants. As you leave the pool area, there is a lawn area behind and next to it. We selected a spot near the pool area for a playset for the homeowner's children. It is close enough to the pool area that the parents can keep an eye on their children, but also far enough away so the adults can relax while their children play. We'd be remiss if we failed to acknowledge the exquisite taste of the homeowner in selecting all the patio and deck furniture. We love everything the homeowner selected and think it all perfectly compliments our landscape design.

Inspiration for a large timeless beige backyard and two-story concrete paver gable roof remodel in Boston with a fire pit, a roof extension and a shingle roof

Farmhouse kitchen photo in Seattle

Transitional exterior home photo in Dallas

Andy Frame Photography
Bedroom - tropical bedroom idea in Miami with blue walls

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Exterior colors and furniture selection by Julie McMahon. Photos by Daniel Bosler Photos by Daniel Bosler

Round custom made steel planter with Angelina sedum surrounded with acanthus and acorus. photo: grant wilds
Design ideas for a modern landscaping in Seattle.

The spacious great room in this home, completed in 2017, is open to the kitchen and features a linear fireplace on a floating honed limestone hearth, supported by hidden steel brackets, extending the full width between the two floor to ceiling windows. The custom oak shelving forms a display case with individual lights for each section allowing the homeowners to showcase favorite art objects. The ceiling features a step and hidden LED cove lighting to provide a visual separation for this area from the adjacent kitchen and informal dining areas. The rug and furniture were selected by the homeowners for everyday comfort as this is the main TV watching and hangout room in the home. A casual dining area provides seating for 6 or more and can also function as a game table. In the background is the 3 seasons room accessed by a floor-to-ceiling sliding door that opens 2/3 to provide easy flow for entertaining.

This gray and transitional kitchen remodel bridges the gap between contemporary style and traditional style. The dark gray cabinetry, light gray walls, and white subway tile backsplash make for a beautiful, neutral canvas for the bold teal blue and yellow décor accented throughout the design. Designer Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair did a fabulous job at using grays to create a neutral backdrop to bring out the bright, vibrant colors that the homeowners love so much. This Milwaukee, WI kitchen is the perfect example of Dura Supreme's recent launch of gray paint finishes, it has been interesting to see these new cabinetry colors suddenly flowing across our manufacturing floor, destined for homes around the country. We've already seen an enthusiastic acceptance of these new colors as homeowners started immediately selecting our various shades of gray paints, like this example of “Storm Gray”, for their new homes and remodeling projects! Dura Supreme’s “Storm Gray” is the darkest of our new gray painted finishes (although our current “Graphite” paint finish is a charcoal gray that is almost black). For those that like the popular contrast between light and dark finishes, Storm Gray pairs beautifully with lighter painted and stained finishes. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

white house, two story house,
Inspiration for a large mediterranean beige two-story stucco gable roof remodel in Dallas with a shingle roof

Valerie Wilcox
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Jacob Snavely
Transitional 3/4 gray tile multicolored floor alcove shower photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

Re Pixs
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design in Portland with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, an island and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a contemporary patio remodel in Phoenix