The Goldenwood Guest House is the first phase of a larger estate multi-phase project with the clients are moving into the renovated guest house as we start construction on the main house renovation and addition soon. This is a whole-house renovation to an existing 750sf guest cottage settled near the existing main residence. The property is located West of Austin in Driftwood, TX and the cottage strives to capture a sense of refined roughness. The layout maximizes efficiency in the small space with built-in cabinet storage and shelving in the living room and kitchen. Each space is softly day lit and the open floor plan of the Living, Dining, and Kitchen allows the spaces to feel expansive without sacrificing privacy to the bedroom and restroom. Photo by April Clark. See our video walk-through: http://youtu.be/lx9wTAm7J-8

The lifestyle of living on Lake Washington is naturally inclined towards entertaining and outdoor living. However, the homeowners of this Kirkland residence found that occupying the exterior space was difficult in part because there were few spaces that were protected from the harsh western exposure. They longed for a covered patio and more. for larger gatherings. Durable yet elegant surfaces were required for this high use area. Cabinetry incorporates Parklex wood panels that are sustainably sourced and finished for long-term durability. Countertops and backsplash were comprised of an exterior-grade porcelain slab. Stainless steel appliances complete a low maintenance workspace. Energy efficient products were mindful components of this project. New and dimmable LED recessed and indirect lighting provides illumination for entertaining late into the night. Tread lighting provides a beacon of light for returning boaters coming in from the lake. The homeowner shared their pleasure with their new spaces commenting that the design seamlessly integrates with the existing house. They find themselves enjoying and using their outdoor spaces more thoroughly and on a daily basis. The surprise for them was the unintended additional space resulting from the expanded deck above.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Located in Argyle, Texas, this comprehensive whole-home renovation was conceived by USI Design & Remodeling who reimagined the home's interior architecture, transforming a collection of compartmentalized rooms into a cohesive environment designed for modern living, entertaining, and daily comfort. The project encompassed the kitchen, family room, dining room, lounge, office, primary bathroom, and supporting circulation spaces, creating a unified experience that feels both expansive and intentional. Throughout the home, refined materials, custom millwork, and carefully curated finishes establish a sense of understated luxury while maintaining warmth and livability. At the heart of the renovation is a completely reconfigured kitchen and gathering space designed around functionality, hospitality, and visual connection. Architectural barriers were removed to improve sightlines and circulation, allowing the kitchen, dining, and family spaces to function as a single integrated living environment. A dramatic five-foot workstation sink anchors the kitchen, while custom cabinetry and furniture-inspired details elevate the space beyond conventional residential design. Adjacent to the kitchen, the former pantry, laundry, and service corridor were reimagined as a hybrid scullery and utility suite, creating a highly functional support space that discreetly accommodates food preparation, storage, organization, and household operations without compromising the elegance of the primary living areas. The renovation extends beyond aesthetics to create a home tailored to the family's evolving needs. The primary bathroom was transformed into a spa-inspired retreat, while the lounge, office, and dining spaces were redesigned to support both everyday living and entertaining. Consistent architectural detailing, layered textures, and thoughtful proportions establish continuity throughout the residence, allowing each room to feel connected to the larger design narrative. The result is a sophisticated yet approachable home that balances practical performance with timeless design, delivering a renewed living experience that is both highly functional and distinctly luxurious.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

For the Two Sizes used in this bank of cabinets, there were: 2 panels @ 11-3/16" x 31-1/2 for the larger panels on the left, and for the two smaller panels on the right, there were: 2 panels @ 9-1/16" x 25-1/2"..... There is also an identical set of cabinets just to the right of the doorway opening. As you can see, with this design, very different sizes are usually easy to adjust to and still look terrific. The glass used by our Customer was Spectrum Glass-100SEEDY - Clear Seedy Glass, which was run Vertically for a classic look. The panels were finished off using our Antique Lead Came..... A stunning and classic result.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.

This 4,600 square foot duplex replaced a tiny old house on a tiny lot. Whereas zoning codes allowed us to build big, the constraints of the small lot made the design hugely challenging and therefore especially fun. We were able to design 2 beautiful and private residences, one with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, the other with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and a huge roof-top deck. The smaller unit was designed with a sand and white color palette contrasting with the more dramatic black frames of the windows and stairway railings. The larger unit uses slightly bolder hues, with a large brick wall adding drama and warmth to the main living space. The 800 square foot roof-deck is divided into a large wood lounge area and an open artificial grass area to make up for the lack of yard space. Both units have a covered patio off the open concept living area, true to our love of every day indoor-outdoor living. Generous use of windows and skylights were used throughout to allow for plenty of natural light and to create architectural interest on the otherwise monotonous long and tall exterior walls.

This secondary living area was designed as a more intimate counterpart to the home’s larger gathering spaces. Vertical wood paneling establishes architectural warmth while soft drapery and layered textiles temper the geometry of the walls. Furnishings were selected with low profiles and generous proportions to maintain comfort without competing with the architectural envelope. A sculptural cocktail table anchors the seating arrangement, introducing material contrast through stone and wood forms. Darker upholstery and muted tonal layering create a grounded atmosphere that reads refined rather than formal. Lighting remains restrained and directional, allowing texture and material variation to carry the visual interest. The result is a living area that functions as a quieter retreat within the home — cohesive with the overall architecture yet intentionally more enveloping in tone and scale.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

This residence is a 2,400 SF 3-story townhouse located in the Bucktown development originally designed by Brininstool and Lynch in Chicago. The uniquely wide floorplan creates larger open spaces that wrap around an interior courtyard and feels more horizontal than vertical in organization. 12’-0” ceilings on the first floor and large floor to ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the interior. A spacious roof deck extends the connection to the outdoors with sweeping city views. The renovation project removed walls, opened up the kitchen to the family room space and unified flooring with charcoal grey wood flooring throughout. Built-in bookcases in the entry replace a console and mirror creating a casual welcome to the home’s interiors. Classic and contemporary furniture profiles rendered in light textured fabrics contrast with metal and wood tone accents. Walls and ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove.

2011 NATIONAL NARI COTY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL AWARD Baby boomers residing in single family colonial in Mclean were tired of their old ragged wood deck and wanted major changes to their outdoor facilities. The backyard was consist of big hill from left neighboring yard that took most of their backyard and create a huge run off and were never able to grow any lawn or plant. They also never got to enjoy their backyard and letting their grand kids and dog out. We Excavate the entire yard to a flat level, Designed and built a 5’x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone between their yards and neighbor yard. Put in place underground drain system to get all most water runoff away from patio Install new shrubbery, plants and lawn tastefully in parameter of new patio. Poured in concrete slab and covered with Flagstone patio in backyard and under deck installed all new Synthetic material deck system with matching railing with larger footsteps than old deck. Connection stairway to back patio. Installed a 12’x18’ screen porch with maintenance free materials, cedar beaded ceiling panels and connection French doors into dining room All siding has been changes along with gutters and down spouts.