Cottage detached barn photo in Portland

Transitional 3/4 white tile multicolored floor and single-sink walk-in shower photo in Dallas with gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, a hinged shower door, multicolored countertops, a niche and a freestanding vanity

Mid-sized elegant u-shaped ceramic tile open concept kitchen photo in Houston with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink, beige backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Completed in the summer of 2013, this modern garden is located in Highland Park, Texas just north of Dallas. This garden features a modern edge with a swimming pool, concrete terraces, Ipe wood decks, a unique wood fence an outdoor shade structure with fireplace. The garden also includes and outdoor cooking area with Kalamazoo appliances.

Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Austin.

Casey Dunn
Example of a trendy exterior home design in Houston

The Laurel was a project that required a rigorous lesson in southern architectural vernacular. The site being located in the hot climate of the Carolina shoreline, the client was eager to capture cross breezes and utilize outdoor entertainment spaces. The home was designed with three covered porches, one partially covered courtyard, and one screened porch, all accessed by way of French doors and extra tall double-hung windows. The open main level floor plan centers on common livings spaces, while still leaving room for a luxurious master suite. The upstairs loft includes two individual bed and bath suites, providing ample room for guests. Native materials were used in construction, including a metal roof and local timber.

Farmhouse kitchen photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, an island, a drop-in sink, blue cabinets and window backsplash

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

Location: Austin, Texas, United States Renovation and addition to existing house built in 1920's. The front entry room is the original house - renovated - and we added 1600 sf to bring the total up to 2100 sf. The house features an open floor plan, large windows and plenty of natural light considering this is a dense, urban neighborhood.

Our clients wanted to create a backyard that would grow with their young family as well as with their extended family and friends. Entertaining was a huge priority! This family-focused backyard was designed to equally accommodate play and outdoor living/entertaining. The outdoor living spaces needed to accommodate a large number of people – adults and kids. Urban Oasis designed a deck off the back door so that the kitchen could be 36” height, with a bar along the outside edge at 42” for overflow seating. The interior space is approximate 600 sf and accommodates both a large dining table and a comfortable couch and chair set. The fire pit patio includes a seat wall for overflow seating around the fire feature (which doubles as a retaining wall) with ample room for chairs. The artificial turf lawn is spacious enough to accommodate a trampoline and other childhood favorites. Down the road, this area could be used for bocce or other lawn games. The concept is to leave all spaces large enough to be programmed in different ways as the family’s needs change. A steep slope presents itself to the yard and is a focal point. Planting a variety of colors and textures mixed among a few key existing trees changed this eyesore into a beautifully planted amenity for the property. Jimmy White Photography

This growing family of six embarked on a first floor remodel of a 1910 farmhouse in Lewisville, Texas. Kim Bailey Interiors designed the space to include a family-sized entertaining kitchen. Custom gray cabinets, quartz counter tops, white arabesque back splash, under-cabinet lighting, and upgraded appliances were just a few of the incredible additions to this space. Original features that were kept included the original hardwood flooring, the original windows, and the original pantry door that was reused for a new walk-in pantry behind the refrigerator. The over-sized custom designed island is flanked on one side with a custom built-in display cabinet to house family china and the other side has open shelving, a serving bar, and additional storage. Michael Hunter Photography

Inspiration for a transitional master porcelain tile and white floor freestanding bathtub remodel in Austin with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

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 private residence and backyard retreat in Dallas, Texas features an expansive natural pool and water feature with the addition of a new outdoor pool pavilion for outdoor entertaining. This new pavilion features detailed wood columns, a slate roof, stone fireplace, Big Ass fan, built-in seat benches and an outdoor shower on the backside. Lush landscaping and a personal putting green are also additional amenities provided to this outdoor space.

Photo of a traditional landscaping in Austin.

This Texas Treasure began as a simple kitchen remodel, then expanded to include the entire home! What was a tired, dark, cramped space has now become an open, light, bright space fit for a serious cook! She yearned for natural and organic elements that harken to the outdoors. Stone, antique, rough, hand-hewn beams fit the bill perfectly!

Casey Dunn
Single front door - farmhouse limestone floor single front door idea in Austin with a medium wood front door

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.