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 infinity pool lights up beautifully at night. Add a few firebowls, dramatic garden beds and an outdoor kitchen and the three tiered paver patio comes to life.

Example of a beach style carpeted bedroom design in New York with blue walls

Architecture by Horst Architects www.horst-architects.com John Ellis Photography
Example of a trendy medium tone wood floor bedroom design in Orange County

View of living room with open patio. (Photo: Erhard Pfieffer)
Large trendy open concept concrete floor living room photo in Los Angeles with beige walls

Dan Cutrona
Inspiration for a coastal exterior home remodel in Boston

Scott Hutchinson & Spacecrafting
Example of a large classic l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances and limestone backsplash

A glass-top table adds a airy sense of space in this tiny gem of an eat-in kitchen. It rests several steps above the living area, with extra peninsula seating that overlooks the living space below. Candlelight Cabinetry "Avenue" with American Vintage Cherry finish is dressed in Sienne Bordeaux granite countertops with demi-bullnose edge. Kohler Forte faucet in brushed nickel enhances the stainless undermount sink, perfectly understated for the scale of the space. Underfoot, this cook enjoys the comfort of Krauss Sorrento Hickory Palazzo engineered hardwood.

Photographer: Greg Premru
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary partial sun backyard stone landscaping in Boston with a fire pit.

This classic white, small but spacious, galley kitchen was created by Bilotta designer, Tom Vecchio featuring Rutt Classic cabinetry in a shaker style door in white paint. The apartment overlooks Central Park so in order to take advantage of the breathtaking views Tom eliminated the cabinetry above the sink, as the original kitchen had been designed. The decorative shallow shelves mimic the custom curved mullion glass doors. The hardware is a mix of crystal knobs for the wall cabinets and polished chrome knobs and pulls for the bases and appliances, all by Top Knobs. Another great feature of this small kitchen is the Carrara marble countertop that extends beyond the sink to create a sitting area near the kitchen complete with Klismo-style chairs. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Chateau Danse Mosaic Blanc in Thassos and Calcatta Gold. Appliances are by Miele except for the refrigerator which is Subzero. The stainless steel undermount sink is by Franke and the faucet is the Julia collection by Waterworks in polished chrome.

Photo by Gillean Proctor
Trendy open concept living room photo in Vancouver with a standard fireplace

Larry Falke
Large trendy open concept and formal light wood floor living room photo in Orange County with gray walls and no fireplace

Kitchen - mid-sized coastal l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in Providence with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and shaker cabinets

Tom Zikas Photography
Kitchen - mid-sized contemporary u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and limestone backsplash

Marina Storm
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray floor and carpeted indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court remodel in Chicago with gray walls

Bernard Andre'
Inspiration for a huge contemporary indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court remodel in San Francisco with white walls

Inspiration for a southwestern backyard stone patio remodel in Phoenix with a fire pit and no cover

Example of a minimalist single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash and subway tile backsplash

This Ranch Hacienda hillside estate boasts well over 13,000 square feet under roof. A loggia serves as the backbone for the design. Each space, both interior and exterior, has a direct response to the linear expression of outdoor space. The exterior materials and detailing are rustic and simple in nature. The mass and scale create drama and correspond to the vast desert skyline and adjacent majestic McDowell mountain views. Features of the house include a motor court with dual garages, a separate guest quarters, and a walk-in cooler. Silverleaf is known for its embodiment of traditional architectural styles, and this house expresses the essence of a hacienda with its communal courtyard spaces and quiet luxury. This was the first project of many designed by Architect C.P. Drewett for construction in Silverleaf, located in north Scottsdale. Project Details: Architecture | C.P. Drewett, AIA, DrewettWorks, Scottsdale, AZ Builder | Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photography | Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ