Aaron Leitz
Hallway - light wood floor hallway idea in Hawaii with beige walls

Come, relax, and enjoy a cold drink while swaying in the breeze. A solid teak freestanding hammock stand resembles the hull of a boat. Its heavy cushioned hammock is the perfect compliment. In the background is the meditation pad. Curved teak benches and chairs in steel and teak surround a teak cocktail table. Navy pillows abound for comfort and luxury. Photography By: Grey Crawford

This meditation bench brings the outside in by featuring a stone as one of the legs to hold up the top, creating a great place to be alone with your thoughts and meditate. This bench is balanced with a hollowed granite leg, ground out by hand with the aid of a diamond drill bit and an angle grinder to provide a more manageable weight. I hand-carved a peek-a-boo opening in the mahogany seat to expose the granite for aesthetic interest while supporting the seat with a custom-fabricated metal bracket underneath for stability. The wooden leg is mortised securely through the top and wedged in place with walnut wedges. The supporting walnut arch spanning from one leg to the underside of the seat is one piece. The arch passes through a mortise in each of the cross braces, which are precisely spaced to provide artistic interest and balance. Each mortise was cut by hand with a mallet and chisel. This silky-smooth bench was built without nails or screws and made from high-quality hardwood, richly-grained African mahogany that begs to be touched. The seat and one leg are African mahogany, and the wedges, arch, and cross braces are walnut. The beautifully placed granite leg is local Colorado granite with natural lichen. The rich reddish-brown mahogany against the subtle soft green color of the lichen provides a sense of stability and harmony. The design inspiration for having the rock poke through the bench top came from an architect friend, who had a granite boulder craned in through the roof of a house and carved into a gas fireplace. The architect’s stories about how challenging the project was to integrate such an organic piece in an otherwise modern home got me thinking about how I could incorporate organic shapes into my furniture. The arch design came from one of my favorite hiking places in the Cascades, a bridge that spans across Multnomah Falls. Since publishing this work, I have been told that the design is stupid as only one person can sit on the bench at a time. Those opinions are the beauty of art, as everyone interprets it differently, and not everyone will get its purpose. However, subconsciously, I think the design spoke well for itself, as its purpose is for one person to be alone and meditate. Its deeper meaning may not be obvious or understood by everyone. However, its design has at least set the stage as only one person can comfortably sit on it at a time. This level of detail is indicative of my work. I try to create a single focal point to catch the viewer’s eye and draw them in. Then, once they get up close to a piece and start interacting with it, they will start to see all the additional details. I like how the bench top is carefully carved so it sits around the stone and how the weight of the stone helps balance the piece. They start to understand how it was built as they see the joinery detail, of how the tenon comes through the top and is wedged in place.

Design ideas for a small asian shade backyard stone landscaping in Atlanta.

James Crabb
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary shade backyard gravel formal garden in Los Angeles with a fire pit.

Large and modern master bathroom primary bathroom. Grey and white marble paired with warm wood flooring and door. Expansive curbless shower and freestanding tub sit on raised platform with LED light strip. Modern glass pendants and small black side table add depth to the white grey and wood bathroom. Large skylights act as modern coffered ceiling flooding the room with natural light.

The client already had the bed and bench at the end of the bed. We wanted to add a focal point to this room so we added a beautiful large format wallpaper with an elegant iridescent leaf pattern with a light gray grasscloth style background. This provides a backdrop for a lovely upholstered bed which we topped with luxury bedding and a custom oversized lumbar. We added contemporary nightstands and dressers for a transitional approach to the overall design. We added a fun patterned upholstered chair for visual interest and a place to nestle with a good book. The art-inspired gold mirrors and the beautiful gold statement lighting finish off this luxurious space. And we love the splashes of blues and brick oranges we added in the accents and accessories, such as the pillows and rug.

Creating a meditation garden Creating a personal meditation garden within your home landscape provides the perfect sanctuary to unwind and de-stress. To establish a personal and secluded place take some time to find a site in your larger landscape that feels “right” Perhaps, a tucked away corner under a large shade tree. Once selected, watch how the sun patterns fall on this site. Avoid an area that is too sunny — an eastern spot provides morning sun and will transition to cooling shade in the afternoon. If privacy is needed, consider adding a flowering hedge or fence. This will add a feeling of enclosure and privacy. A nicely placed bench surrounded by greenery has a grounding effect that is always soothing. Flowering perennials and ground covers will provide texture, color and fragrance. The elements of water, devotional statues and well placed stones adds to the cohesiveness of this personal garden. These elements blend together making it very favorable to relaxation and meditation. Simplicity is the key in creating a meditation garden—offering a place to reflect, pray and recharge all within your own home landscape.

Let’s make a patio meditation/sacred space that is storable, multi-taskable (doesn’t have to always act as a meditation space) and very inexpensive. This is what I came up with. Kmart for $83.63! (prices vary in different areas, and this of course does not include the view, deck or railing!). Similar items from an import or meditation store would cost close to $300!

Cozy reading nook / meditation area with custom built-ins and secret closet. For more info, call us at 844.770.ROBY or visit us online at www.AndrewRoby.com.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in Columbus with an undermount sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island, open cabinets and light wood cabinets

Innisfree Garden, Millbrook, NY. Photo by Jay Sifford.
Photo of an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

Home design - contemporary home design idea in Denver

Designed for rest and rejuvenation, the wellness room takes advantage of sweeping ocean views and ample natural lighting. Adjustable lighting with custom linen shades can easily accommodate a variety of uses and lighting needs for the space. A wooden bench made by a local artisan displays fresh flowers, favorite books, and art by Karen Sikie for a calming, nature-inspired backdrop for yoga or meditation.

Aaron Leitz
Deck - huge deck idea in Hawaii with a roof extension

deReus Architects David Duncan Livingston Photography Underwood Construction Company
Photo of an asian full sun backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

MGilardoni Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master carpeted bedroom remodel in San Francisco with blue walls and no fireplace

Designed for rest and rejuvenation, the wellness room takes advantage of sweeping ocean views and ample natural lighting. Adjustable lighting with custom linen shades can easily accommodate a variety of uses and lighting needs for the space. A wooden bench made by a local artisan displays fresh flowers, favorite books, and art by Karen Sikie for a calming, nature-inspired backdrop for yoga or meditation.

Bedroom - contemporary master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Los Angeles with gray walls