This gorgeous summer retreat was in need of a complete overhaul! After SuperStorm Sandy renovations to the lower level, my clients were ready to tackle the 3 upper floors. The home is chock full of original beauty with its custom bead board and moldings. Walnut banisters and solid five panels interior doors - adorned with crystal knobs. We took advantage of the amazing exposed ceiling beams in living and dining rooms. Incredible wavy leaded glass doors are found in both the foyer and bar rooms. Imposing interior walls were removed to make way for this dream kitchen! A classic 9" subway tile sets the tone for the white shaker front cabinets and quartz counter top. While the contrasting soft gray island carries an almost black dropped miter edge quartz top. For that old world charm, we added a pair of open shelves to showcase the dinnerware and glasses. Custom furnishings and window treatments are found through the home. Our goal was to create an amazingly cozy home that our clients could enjoy for generations to come!!

Home design - eclectic home design idea in Austin

This modern home, originally used as a corner-lot butcher’s shop, is centered around a self-standing, poured concrete fireplace that greets you upon entering the property. Incorporated into the building’s design as part of the owner’s major remodeling project, this detail creates an imposing yet elegant feature within the old commercial space. The use of concrete is intentional; it speaks to the industrial character of the home, while its modeled form reflects the level of precision and refinement present throughout the home's interior. A Grand ARDA for Design Details goes to Dixon Projects Designer: Dixon Projects From: New York, New York

Considering the stone in the imposing turret and nearby fireplace, and wanting to continue bringing the aesthetics of the outdoors in, a stunning natural granite was chosen not only as countertop, but also as backsplash and hood. It sets the tone for the space and gives it a harmonious feeling.

Our clients requested an energy-efficient escape home on a 16-acre site in rural Elgin that would be maintenance friendly, age-in-place adaptable, and whose sculptural quality could harbor for their expressive family. With its dominant east-west axis, the maximizes control of solar gain control; its placement was carefully adjusted to allow all of the nearby trees to thrive. The standing seam roof’s pitch and azimuth provide optimal solar PV and fills a 20,000-gallon rainwater cistern. The age-in-place, step-less interior provides an expansive view at the south terrace. The cantilever of the board-formed foundation is a structurally expressive solution resolving an otherwise imposing mass. The curved prow of the north-pointing entry is a nod to local Elgin brick. A bowed and formally jubilant thermal chimney faces south for efficient passive ventilation. Photo credit: Chris Diaz General Contractor: Native (buildnative.com)

Sometimes the unique challenges of a site dictate almost everything about the end design. This European-inspired mountain retreat is one classic example. Perched atop a ridge, the buildable area was long but very narrow. A single axial line connects from the initial approach straight through the house and shoots to the view of mountains at the far end. The architecture of the home was envisioned to feel like an old French monastery-turned-family-home which has been restored and added to over several centuries. It is a place of solace and introspection, where the repetition of stone in house and landscape feels imposing, yet safe. Lush plantings line the sun-soaked parking court and dot the back terrace areas, creating delicate play of light and movement. A stepped water rill between terrace levels completes the atmosphere with its soothing babble.

Our clients requested an energy-efficient escape home on a 16-acre site in rural Elgin that would be maintenance friendly, age-in-place adaptable, and whose sculptural quality could harbor for their expressive family. With its dominant east-west axis, the maximizes control of solar gain control; its placement was carefully adjusted to allow all of the nearby trees to thrive. The standing seam roof’s pitch and azimuth provide optimal solar PV and fills a 20,000-gallon rainwater cistern. The age-in-place, step-less interior provides an expansive view at the south terrace. The cantilever of the board-formed foundation is a structurally expressive solution resolving an otherwise imposing mass. The curved prow of the north-pointing entry is a nod to local Elgin brick. A bowed and formally jubilant thermal chimney faces south for efficient passive ventilation. Photo credit: Chris Diaz General Contractor: Native (buildnative.com)

Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget. The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project. The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower. Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks. Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work. Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed. The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel. Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan Contractor: Keycon Construction Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Photography: Sabrina Huang Year Completed: 2020

All that additional quality time at home imposed during the pandemic, it became clear that there was a need for increased bedrooms and home office spaces. While the existing single-story sunroom was the obvious place to expand at the first floor, there were a few complexities at the second floor. First, the width of the existing sunroom did not align with the front or rear elevation of the home. These offsets would make creating a seamless interior space a challenge. Second, the existing home had several non-conforming site conditions including lot coverage and floor area ratio. Careful attention paid to the home’s scale and the neighborhood fabric, as well as authentic historical details, gained the Owners the variance relief necessary to execute the work as well as recognition from the City of Summit Historic Preservation Commission in 2023.

A close up of distressed cabinet doors with a black hardware pull and raised panel cabinet doors and drawer front. This kitchen design is a beautiful example of Mountain Resort styling. Soaring mountain peaks, rugged terrain, and old pine forests appeal to a large audience of outdoor adventures. Regardless of whether your mountain experience includes skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, or lounging by the fireplace, the majestic grandeur and awe of the mountains have inspired a unique, architectural style. Rustic woods and equally rustic finishes are a notable feature of “Mountain” architecture. A massive, stone fireplace is another definitive focal point. Furnishings are imposing and luxurious, design elements are grand scale, and natural textures and surfaces (stone, wood, burnished, metals, etc.) are expertly blended. Rustic woods and distressed finishes are a perfect complement to “Mountain Resort” styling. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Designed and built by Otogawa-Anschel Design+Build. The shower tile has a recess that contains the essential items. This functional compartment inspired the cubby motif we repeated in the shower stall and throughout the room. The bold color blocks break up the monotony of a single-tile theme, while avoiding the heaviness a border or accent stripe can impose. The frosted French windows add to the playful aesthetic, and stay water tight courtesy the neoprene gasket. Even the toilet paper has its own recess. The pedestal sink maximizes floor space, and the extra-long medicine cabinet mirror accommodates the entire family.

Grand Interior Elevation: Custom Masonry and Seamless Architectural Transitions This perspective highlights the verticality and structural flow of the estate. By balancing heavy natural stone with warm wood accents, the design achieves a "mountain modern" luxury aesthetic that is both imposing and inviting. Full-Height Stone Fireplace: A massive, floor-to-ceiling fireplace serves as the room’s primary focal point. The stone features a dynamic natural grain and is finished with a custom decorative iron hearth gate, echoing the scrollwork found throughout the home. Italian Porcelain Foundations: The large-format Italian porcelain plank tiles continue through this high-traffic transition zone, demonstrating the material's versatility and the precision of the layout across multiple structural planes. Integrated Woodworking: The custom timber door frames and cabinetry are hand-selected to match the vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling, creating a cohesive wood-toned "envelope" for the upper half of the room. Spatial Connectivity: The decorative wrought iron and timber railing provides a visual bridge to the lower levels, ensuring the open-concept layout maintains a sense of safety and defined boundaries without sacrificing the airy feel. Strategic Lighting: Recessed LED pot lights are precision-mounted within the cedar ceiling to provide even illumination while highlighting the textures of the stone and soapstone alcove.

Example of a large minimalist garage design in Austin

A plate rack on the end of a kitchen island creates a beautiful design element and an easy to access space to display your dishware collection. Our “Graphite” gray paint is becoming a popular color for accent areas like kitchen islands and wood hoods. This kitchen island is a beautiful example of Mountain Resort styling. Soaring mountain peaks, rugged terrain, and old pine forests appeal to a large audience of outdoor adventures. Regardless of whether your mountain experience includes skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, or lounging by the fireplace, the majestic grandeur and awe of the mountains have inspired a unique, architectural style. Rustic woods and equally rustic finishes are a notable feature of “Mountain” architecture. A massive, stone fireplace is another definitive focal point. Furnishings are imposing and luxurious, design elements are grand scale, and natural textures and surfaces (stone, wood, burnished, metals, etc.) are expertly blended. Rustic woods and distressed finishes are a perfect complement to “Mountain Resort” styling. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Staircase - traditional medium tone wood floor, brown floor and exposed beam staircase idea in Hertfordshire with gray walls

This is no ordinary fireplace. Housed in a custom-built wall unit, this fireplace not only acts as a dramatic, but fluid, way of dividing two living spaces (kitchen and living room), but it is two-sided! It opens up on both sides of the wall (with a TV above it on each side), to provide entertainment, warmth, and a sense of luxury to those in either room. The custom millwork on this design gives a traditional look that could be imposing due to the thickness of the unit, but the choice of white painted wood, a white mantle, and a white and grey quartz fireplace casing keeps the whole unit fresh and uplifting, with the eye focusing on the fire first, then following the curves of the pillars all the way up to the TV and ceiling. A clever and stunning way to both tie together and clearly divide two rooms. PC: Fred Huntsberger

Nestled in a home in Thrapston, this stunning kitchen was the result of a chance connection over golf, and it turned into something simply perfect for a lovely family. There’s a great story behind this kitchen. It might never have happened if not for a few golf lessons with a brilliant local pro, who, as it turned out, needed a kitchen. The result is a beautiful room that we’re proud to have delivered from start to finish. We used Crown Imperial’s Midsomer range for this project, painted in Sage and Blush. The Royal Calacatta Gold Quartz worktops bring a soft, luxurious feel to the space, and the Karndean herringbone floor adds warmth and texture underfoot. Bosch appliances and a standout gold Quooker tap bring both function and flair. That Quooker, especially, was a decision that took a bit of bravery, but it paid off. There are a few design details that really make this kitchen special to us. The tall units in Blush add a soft accent, with matching tiles at the opposite end of the room to tie the whole space together. A curved pilaster helps soften the corner, making the tall units feel less imposing. And the centralised hob with integrated canopy hood gives the room a far cleaner, more balanced finish, even if it did require a bit of head scratching during the design stage. We handled the entire project, from removing the old kitchen to the final finishing touches. That included plumbing, electrics, plastering, and the new flooring—every step was taken care of by our team. This kitchen is more than just a pretty space – it’s full of considered design choices and lovely touches that really suit the family who lives here. We adore how it turned out. A truly lovely room for a lovely family.

Inca slabs from Techo-Bloc impart your landscape with the beauty and mystery of ancient South America. An eye-catching stone ideal for the creation of imposing walkways, side paths, patios, and poolsides. From Mediterranean to contemporary, Inca blends well with any landscape design.

Posh, Sharp, Glamourous – this is how we could describe the stylish and fresh interior design creation by Katerina Lashmanova, a residential apartment for a young family. The refined work of Katerina Lashmanova, through an attentive dedication to details, reaches its apogee within this contemporary project, flowing into an inspiring bold apartment in the imposing city of Moscow, Russia.