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.

These young hip professional clients love to travel and wanted a home where they could showcase the items that they've collected abroad. Their fun and vibrant personalities are expressed in every inch of the space, which was personalized down to the smallest details. Just like they are up for adventure in life, they were up for for adventure in the design and the outcome was truly one-of-kind. Photos by Chipper Hatter

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Kyle Hunt & Partners, Builder | Troy Thies, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

4 bed / 5 bath | 3,250 square feet | $1,045,000 OPEN HOUSES: Saturday May 22nd 1-4pm & Sunday May 23rd 1-3pm. Flawless Modern Infinity Alto 4 home offers an open concept main floor living with gourmet kitchen, upgraded cabinets, upgraded appliances, upgraded design features throughout including mudroom area, walk-in pantry, soaring ceilings and an abundance of natural light. Entertain with family and friends in the generous great room with 4 panel doors that completely open to the outdoors with beautiful landscaping including a front deck for dinner with the neighbors. A brand new trex deck and landscaping recently added to the backyard space in perfect timing to enjoy the summer weather. The second floor offers a beautiful master suite with a large shower, stand along tub, and custom walk-in closet. Both additional bedrooms have an ensuite and a custom laundry room create a functional floor plan. Entertain in the finished basement, Wine Cellar made from recycled wood from local Denver restaurants and bars. A gorgeous bathroom and guest suite and with plenty of storage completes this space! Make sure you look at downtown and the sunsets from the oversized roof deck, is not to be missed. Conveniently located near the best Central Park has to offer with neighborhood parks, playgrounds, trails, pool, shopping and dining. Enjoy easy access to I70, Downtown Denver, Denver International Airport and Light Rail.

Holger Obenaus
Example of a transitional living room design in Charleston with a standard fireplace

Architect: Becker Henson Niksto General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography
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  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Our clients came to us looking to do some updates to their new condo unit primarily in the kitchen and living room. The couple has a lifelong love of Arts and Crafts and Modernism, and are the co-founders of PrairieMod, an online retailer that offers timeless modern lifestyle through American made, handcrafted, and exclusively designed products. So, having such a design savvy client was super exciting for us, especially since the couple had many unique pieces of pottery and furniture to provide inspiration for the design. The condo is a large, sunny top floor unit, with a large open feel. The existing kitchen was a peninsula which housed the sink, and they wanted to change that out to an island, relocating the new sink there as well. This can sometimes be tricky with all the plumbing for the building potentially running up through one stack. After consulting with our contractor team, it was determined that our plan would likely work and after confirmation at demo, we pushed on. The new kitchen is a simple L-shaped space, featuring several storage devices for trash, trays dividers and roll out shelving. To keep the budget in check, we used semi-custom cabinetry, but added custom details including a shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the oak “X” endcaps at the island, as well as some of the couple’s existing white oak furniture. We also mixed metals with gold hardware and plumbing and matte black lighting that plays well with the unique black herringbone backsplash and metal barstools. New weathered oak flooring throughout the unit provides a nice soft backdrop for all the updates. We wanted to take the cabinets to the ceiling to obtain as much storage as possible, but an angled soffit on two of the walls provided a bit of a challenge. We asked our carpenter to field modify a few of the wall cabinets where necessary and now the space is truly custom. Part of the project also included a new fireplace design including a custom mantle that houses a built-in sound bar and a Panasonic Frame TV, that doubles as hanging artwork when not in use. The TV is mounted flush to the wall, and there are different finishes for the frame available. The TV can display works of art or family photos while not in use. We repeated the black herringbone tile for the fireplace surround here and installed bookshelves on either side for storage and media components. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Alan Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This exterior courtyard serves as both a residential entertainment space and work place for the resident artist/sculptor. Applying Zen design principles, this space is minimalist in form, color and texture and seamlessly transitions from the home studio interior. A series of stepped walls provide vertical "planes" which visually extend the depth of the space. A subtle fountain provides audio interest that masks urban noise while providing visual movement. Photos by John Dunham

Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

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Photo credit: www.parkscreative.com
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Seattle with a fire pit

www.27diamonds.com
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen design in Orange County with gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops, a farmhouse sink and recessed-panel cabinets

Remodel and addition to classic California bungalow.
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Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
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Jason Miller, Pixelate LTD
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Photo: Morgan Howarth (shots 1-8, 11)
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Luxurious Poolside Retreat with Colombian Flair Indulge in the ultimate relaxation at this luxurious poolside retreat, showcasing Colombian Flair with its elegant stonework, comfortable lounge chairs, and shaded sitting areas. Designed and installed by our expert team, this outdoor oasis is perfect for enjoying sunny days and cozy evenings in style.

This whole house remodel updated and expanded a 1950’s contemporary. Redwood siding from the original home was used on this accent wall in the new powder room. Architect: Harrison Design; Landscape Design/Construction: Grace Design Associates; Photography: Jake Cryan Photography