Internal Developments - Photos & Ideas

The tightly constrained footprint of the affectionately named “Box on the Rock” is a response to a limited budget and difficult site. Shallow underground hillside waterways run across the site often daylighting in unexpected and unwanted locations. These necessitated relatively expensive pier footings thus motivating an extremely efficient 2,000 sq ft footprint. With no initial resources to develop the wild scrub and rock landscape of the 3-acre property, the home becomes a lone outpost settling the higher ground of the larger natural site --a literal box on a rock. Given these limitations, the architecture of this outpost needs to provide for all indoor and outdoor functions within its area. With the extremes of the wine country microclimate on the exposed site, this becomes an even more critical requirement for year-round comfort. The central courtyard and the cantilevered deck are strategically carved out of the diagrammatic box to ensure that over the course of the day, temperate options for both sun and shade are always available. In particular, the geometry of the overhang at the front cantilevered deck and the inward angle of its exterior glass walls are carefully calibrated to capture morning sun and winter warming while shielding the internal space from the harshest summer glare. Later in the day the central courtyard comes alive as the sunniest developed outdoor space, yet one that is naturally cooled by capturing the valley cross breezes. With an economy of means, this simple form morphs to amplify the experience of the dramatic site and create an expansive feeling home that belies its small footprint. Each adjustment to the diagrammatic box negotiates the functional and environmental needs to foster self-contained and site-specific living with a minimal environmental impact. Photo by Bruce Damonte

ADU: Accessory Dwelling Unit

Fidelity General Contractors Inc.

What is an ADU: Accessory Dwelling Units: An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. The term “accessory dwelling unit” is a institutional-sounding name, but it’s the most commonly-used term across the country to describe this type of housing. While the full name is a mouthful, the shorthand “ADU” is better. ADUs vary in their physical form quite a bit, as there are detached ADU, attached ADU, second story ADU (above garage or work shop), addition ADU, internal ADU. IMPORTANT: There’s simply too few permitted ADUs to make a real difference in the housing stock. But, even if they aren’t going to solve all a city’s problems, they may help homeowners solve some of their problems. The most common motivation for ADU development is rental income potential, followed by the prospect of flexible living space for multigenerational households. We at FIDELITY GENERAL CONTRACTORS, providing a single point of contact to homeowners interested in this product, from conceptual stage including plans, city legwork, project managing of the construction stage including assistance with material purchase and other coordination, all the way to completion. (this project showcases a detached ADU, 400 SQ.)

From Traditional to Modern: A Before & After Home Remodel

Milgard Windows & Doors

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.

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Modern Retreat - Informal Dining

Drewett Works

Modern Retreat is one of a four home collection located in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The site, formerly home to the abandoned Kachina Elementary School, offered remarkable views of Camelback Mountain. Nestled into an acre-sized, pie shaped cul-de-sac, the site’s unique challenges came in the form of lot geometry, western primary views, and limited southern exposure. While the lot’s shape had a heavy influence on the home organization, the western views and the need for western solar protection created the general massing hierarchy. The undulating split-faced travertine stone walls both protect and give a vivid textural display and seamlessly pass from exterior to interior. The tone-on-tone exterior material palate was married with an effective amount of contrast internally. This created a very dynamic exchange between objects in space and the juxtaposition to the more simple and elegant architecture. Maximizing the 5,652 sq ft, a seamless connection of interior and exterior spaces through pocketing glass doors extends public spaces to the outdoors and highlights the fantastic Camelback Mountain views. Project Details // Modern Retreat Architecture: Drewett Works Builder/Developer: Bedbrock Developers, LLC Interior Design: Ownby Design Photographer: Thompson Photographic

Aquatica's Mini Bathtubs for Small Bathrooms

Aquatica Plumbing Group

The True Ofuro Mini came about as the direct result of your requests. It too is inspired by the ancient traditions of Japanese bathing that led to the development of our incredibly popular True Ofuro. It too draws on the best ergonomic principles to sculpt a bath with internal seating and built-in headrest, made available in a very compact footprint to fit into even the smallest bathrooms. In fact, Aquatica’s clever designers have managed to create this ‘small and tall’ tub, deep enough for full body soaking in a footprint of just 43”.

From Traditional to Modern: A Before & After Home Remodel

Milgard Windows & Doors

Traditional Home Office

Study room - large traditional freestanding desk dark wood floor study room idea in Atlanta with beige walls and a standard fireplace

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Columbus, OH

We Design, Build and Renovate

CHC & Family Developments5 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, Ohio

Downtown Penthouse Loft

S&K Interiors LLC

Builder: Tim McGowan – McGowan Brothers Development - Architect: Amy Scherer – M2 Architecture Studio - Tom Steck - Beck-Allen Cabinetry Electrician: Rick Marshall & Matt Ellison – Marshall Electric, Inc.- Photographer: Matt Harrer-

Finishing a Park Avenue Apartment

Rusk Renovations

This lovely apartment in a new Toll Brothers development needed lighting, AV and paint—the finishing touches to make it home for an international client. New York, New York Interior Design: Catherine Schweber Interiors Photography: Gindi Photography

River Homes Milwaukee Condos in the Beerline Neighborhood

Vetter Architects

River Homes Civic, Pedestrian, and Personal Scale Our urban design strategy to create a modern, traditional neighborhood centered around three distinct yet connected levels of scale – civic, pedestrian, and personal. The civic connection with the city, the Milwaukee River and the adjacent Kilbourn Park was addressed via the main thoroughfare, street extensions and the River Walk. The relationship to pedestrian scale was achieved by fronting each building to its corresponding street or river edge. Utilizing elevated entries and main living levels provides a non-intimidating distinction between public and private. The open, loft-like qualities of each individual living unit, coupled with the historical context of the tract supports the personal scale of the design. The Beerline “mini-block” – patterned after a typical city block - is configured to allow for each individual building to address its respective street or river edge while creating an internal alley or “auto court”. The river-facing units, each with four levels of living space, incorporate rooftop garden terraces which serve as natural, sunlit pavilions in an urban setting. In an effort to integrate our typical urban neighborhood with the context of an industrial corridor, we relied upon thoughtful connections to materials such as brick, stucco, and fine woods, thus creating a feeling of refined elegance in balance with the “sculpture” of the historic warehouses across the Milwaukee River. Urban Diversity The Beerline River Homes provide a walkable connection to the city, the beautiful Milwaukee River, and the surrounding environs. The diversity of these custom homes is evident not only in the unique association of the units to the specific “edges” each one addresses, but also in the diverse range of pricing from the accessible to the high-end. This project has elevated a typically developer-driven market into a striking urban design product.

A D90

Houss Expo Italy

The project includes turnkey construction of the entire architectural space, where the large open space is divided into functional areas – dining and living – by an impressive composition with a T layout that includes the kitchen with island, the living room furniture, and the equipped wall. On linear composition, the kitchen with central island, developed on T45 model, is entirely in Gres Laminam Noir Desir, upon request of the customer. The material continuously covers the sides, the T45 drawer fronts, bins, and storage compartments, and the worktop incorporating a filo top hob and a built-in Gres sink. The painted structure in metal effect creates a linear contrast design that frames the doors and fronts. The composition of columns, designed on model D90, has a natural Birch structure and front elements in Noce Canaletto with an inside handle. The set-up is punctuated by the alternation between storage compartments and appliances supplied such as a fridge column, thermo-regulated cellar with glass door, and ovens columns. The backlit glass cabinet on the bronze structure adds particular charm to the composition, while the retractable doors give access to the auxiliary work area. The cabinets above the ovens are in continuity with the columns and their opening is facilitated by a push & pull mechanism. To delimit the functional space of the two rooms, a central wall has been created with doors in bronzed glass on both sides. Developed on model D90, it has structure and paneling in Noce Canaletto, while internal shelves, equipped with LED lighting, are made of glass. The large open module features asymmetric composition compared to the central module in gres which houses the wood fireplace and home entertainment. The alternation between drawers, storage compartments with flap doors, and open compartments of various heights create a compositional elegance. In continuity with the kitchen furniture, in the living room, a built-in area cabinet has been realized with lower doors in the T45 model, an intermediate suspended unit with flap doors and LED lighting and an upper bookcase unit.