The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Living room - contemporary living room idea in Boston

Outdoor Living Space with hang out area, dining space, built-in grill, and pizza oven
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Example of a minimalist exterior home design in Los Angeles

This project was a complete renovation of the back half of the home - kitchen, dining and family room. The kitchen was oddly shaped with an awkward wall breaking up the space. We turned the wall into a column, moved the sink and dishwasher to a much larger island, and created a beverage center plus a focal piece to display the clients' fun objects. We took inspiration from the clients' heritage and appreciation of Scandi design and combined it with their love of color and quirk. New stone on the fireplace, layered custom window treatments, a restored mid-century dining set, and fresh lighting with a backdrop of colorful wallpaper and their collected art made the space complete. FUN FACT : The back half of the home originally had three different ceiling heights! We were able to eliminate the unnecessary soffits to create one level plane. Photography: Ryan McDonald / Styling: Kimberly Swedelius

Example of a beach style kids' white tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor, white floor and single-sink bathroom design in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Part mirage, part miracle - this masterful modern evocation is in the best Louisiana vernacular tradition. It was conceived by architect Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects Lafayette, Louisiana) for an unusual piece of property in Metairie whose cheated landscape gives the illusion of open country spaces. He has created a “cottage” that already looks as if it might be a survivor from a couple of centuries ago. Using reclaimed building materials, magnificent beams, beautiful old flooring with classically scaled rooms, it was a perfect project for Decorations Lucullus. Both architect and interior designers admit the real magic rested with the client whose highly developed aesthetic and extensive experience in design gave the process amazing vitality. Conceived as a “résidence secondaire” to be near grandchildren, she wanted something more snug than her large primary house out of town but without sacrificing the qualities of charm or elegance. While the project is still evolving, she can’t repress a smile when some passer-by stops to chat over the rose-heavy iron fence, perhaps peering into the gracious side hall, asking how this old house has managed to survive all the changes in the neighborhood. Photography by Sara Essex Bradly

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A head to toe reconstruction of a 1930's Denver Tudor resulting in a clean, fresh, and light-filled home. Replete with custom, but child-friendly furnishings for a young family. The mostly neutral palette is enhanced by pops of color sprinkled throughout the residence. The charming Tudor with an expansive airiness and a crisp color story emits a welcoming and cozy feel.

Example of an eclectic staircase design in San Francisco

Le jardinet
Design ideas for a traditional landscaping in Seattle.

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Kitchen Cabinets follow slope of vaulted ceiling with lights.
Inspiration for a small transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, black countertops and medium tone wood cabinets

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Orange County

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Kathryn Suellentrop
Example of an eclectic staircase design in New York

The sun can be overwhelming at times with the brightness and high temperatures. Shades are also a great way to block harmful ultra-violet rays to protect your hardwood flooring, furniture and artwork from fading. There are different types of shades that were engineered to solve a specific dilemma. We work with clients in the Central Indiana Area. Contact us today to get started on your project. 317-273-8343

Transitional light wood floor and beige floor dining room photo in San Francisco with white walls

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