Search results for "Principles apply" in Home Design Ideas

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle.
The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley.
To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer.
The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century.
The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet.
Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years!
Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING KITCHEN. 2019 Westchester Home Design Awards Best Traditional Kitchen. Another 2019 Award Soon to be Announced. Houzz Kitchen of the Week January 2019. Kitchen design and cabinetry – Studio Dearborn. This historic colonial in Edgemont NY was home in the 1930s and 40s to the world famous Walter Winchell, gossip commentator. The home underwent a 2 year gut renovation with an addition and relocation of the kitchen, along with other extensive renovations. Cabinetry by Studio Dearborn/Schrocks of Walnut Creek in Rockport Gray; Bluestar range; custom hood; Quartzmaster engineered quartz countertops; Rejuvenation Pendants; Waterstone faucet; Equipe subway tile; Foundryman hardware. Photos, Adam Kane Macchia.
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Example of a large trendy master beige tile ceramic tile and beige floor bathroom design in DC Metro with black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls, granite countertops, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight.
Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement.
During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down.
The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact.
Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics
The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer.
A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density.
Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays.
Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening.
Challenges of Front Door Installations
Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed.
The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar.
How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC
Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night.
We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut.
To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door.
Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips
Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project.
Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Charlotte with beige walls and no fireplace

Example of a mid-sized medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in DC Metro with white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and multicolored countertops

This photo: Interior designer Claire Ownby, who crafted furniture for the great room's living area, took her cues for the palette from the architecture. The sofa's Roma fabric mimics the Cantera Negra stone columns, chairs sport a Pindler granite hue, and the Innovations Rodeo faux leather on the coffee table resembles the floor tiles. Nearby, Shakuff's Tube chandelier hangs over a dining table surrounded by chairs in a charcoal Pindler fabric.
Positioned near the base of iconic Camelback Mountain, “Outside In” is a modernist home celebrating the love of outdoor living Arizonans crave. The design inspiration was honoring early territorial architecture while applying modernist design principles.
Dressed with undulating negra cantera stone, the massing elements of “Outside In” bring an artistic stature to the project’s design hierarchy. This home boasts a first (never seen before feature) — a re-entrant pocketing door which unveils virtually the entire home’s living space to the exterior pool and view terrace.
A timeless chocolate and white palette makes this home both elegant and refined. Oriented south, the spectacular interior natural light illuminates what promises to become another timeless piece of architecture for the Paradise Valley landscape.
Project Details | Outside In
Architect: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works
Builder: Bedbrock Developers
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Werner Segarra
Publications:
Luxe Interiors & Design, Jan/Feb 2018, "Outside In: Optimized for Entertaining, a Paradise Valley Home Connects with its Desert Surrounds"
Awards:
Gold Nugget Awards - 2018
Award of Merit – Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home – Custom
The Nationals - 2017
Silver Award -- Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
http://www.drewettworks.com/outside-in/

This photo: For a couple's house in Paradise Valley, architect C.P. Drewett created a sleek modern kitchen with Caesarstone counters and tile backsplashes from Art Stone LLC. Porcelain-tile floors from Villagio Tile & Stone provide contrast to the dark-stained vertical-grain white-oak cabinetry fabricated by Reliance Custom Cabinets.
Positioned near the base of iconic Camelback Mountain, “Outside In” is a modernist home celebrating the love of outdoor living Arizonans crave. The design inspiration was honoring early territorial architecture while applying modernist design principles.
Dressed with undulating negra cantera stone, the massing elements of “Outside In” bring an artistic stature to the project’s design hierarchy. This home boasts a first (never seen before feature) — a re-entrant pocketing door which unveils virtually the entire home’s living space to the exterior pool and view terrace.
A timeless chocolate and white palette makes this home both elegant and refined. Oriented south, the spectacular interior natural light illuminates what promises to become another timeless piece of architecture for the Paradise Valley landscape.
Project Details | Outside In
Architect: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works
Builder: Bedbrock Developers
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Werner Segarra
Publications:
Luxe Interiors & Design, Jan/Feb 2018, "Outside In: Optimized for Entertaining, a Paradise Valley Home Connects with its Desert Surrounds"
Awards:
Gold Nugget Awards - 2018
Award of Merit – Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home – Custom
The Nationals - 2017
Silver Award -- Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
http://www.drewettworks.com/outside-in/

This photo: For a couple's house in Paradise Valley, architect C.P. Drewett created a sleek modern kitchen with Caesarstone counters and tile backsplashes from Art Stone LLC. Porcelain-tile floors from Villagio Tile & Stone provide contrast to the dark-stained vertical-grain white-oak cabinetry fabricated by Reliance Custom Cabinets.
Positioned near the base of iconic Camelback Mountain, “Outside In” is a modernist home celebrating the love of outdoor living Arizonans crave. The design inspiration was honoring early territorial architecture while applying modernist design principles.
Dressed with undulating negra cantera stone, the massing elements of “Outside In” bring an artistic stature to the project’s design hierarchy. This home boasts a first (never seen before feature) — a re-entrant pocketing door which unveils virtually the entire home’s living space to the exterior pool and view terrace.
A timeless chocolate and white palette makes this home both elegant and refined. Oriented south, the spectacular interior natural light illuminates what promises to become another timeless piece of architecture for the Paradise Valley landscape.
Project Details | Outside In
Architect: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works
Builder: Bedbrock Developers
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Werner Segarra
Publications:
Luxe Interiors & Design, Jan/Feb 2018, "Outside In: Optimized for Entertaining, a Paradise Valley Home Connects with its Desert Surrounds"
Awards:
Gold Nugget Awards - 2018
Award of Merit – Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home – Custom
The Nationals - 2017
Silver Award -- Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
http://www.drewettworks.com/outside-in/

A motorized sliding unit creates several distinct spaces within a compact 390 sf apartment. Fully closed, space for a living room and home office, with custom cantilevered steel library and display shelving are revealed

Modern Transitional residence blending a tall white stucco gable with a slim vertical slot window and large format two story black steel frame glazing on the left against a lower hipped roof volume with grey stone panel base, dark asphalt shingle roof, shed dormers, and black bracket corbels on the right. A dark wood two-car garage door sits flush in the stone base beside a black steel frame glass entry door under a flat canopy.

Jim Bartsch Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Los Angeles with a wall-mount sink, gray walls, a hinged shower door and a niche
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile mosaic tile floor and gray floor bathroom idea in Los Angeles with a wall-mount sink, gray walls, a hinged shower door and a niche

This photo: Irregularly stacked Cantera Negra stone frames the fireplace in the master bedroom, where a pair of custom chairs and a petrified-wood side table from Organic Findings sit atop a Cowboy Mustang rug from The Floor Collection Design. The custom bed is swathed in a Kravet fabric. Outside, Camelback Mountain rises to the right.
Positioned near the base of iconic Camelback Mountain, “Outside In” is a modernist home celebrating the love of outdoor living Arizonans crave. The design inspiration was honoring early territorial architecture while applying modernist design principles.
Dressed with undulating negra cantera stone, the massing elements of “Outside In” bring an artistic stature to the project’s design hierarchy. This home boasts a first (never seen before feature) — a re-entrant pocketing door which unveils virtually the entire home’s living space to the exterior pool and view terrace.
A timeless chocolate and white palette makes this home both elegant and refined. Oriented south, the spectacular interior natural light illuminates what promises to become another timeless piece of architecture for the Paradise Valley landscape.
Project Details | Outside In
Architect: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works
Builder: Bedbrock Developers
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Werner Segarra
Publications:
Luxe Interiors & Design, Jan/Feb 2018, "Outside In: Optimized for Entertaining, a Paradise Valley Home Connects with its Desert Surrounds"
Awards:
Gold Nugget Awards - 2018
Award of Merit – Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home – Custom
The Nationals - 2017
Silver Award -- Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
http://www.drewettworks.com/outside-in/

Positioned near the base of iconic Camelback Mountain, “Outside In” is a modernist home celebrating the love of outdoor living Arizonans crave. The design inspiration was honoring early territorial architecture while applying modernist design principles.
Dressed with undulating negra cantera stone, the massing elements of “Outside In” bring an artistic stature to the project’s design hierarchy. This home boasts a first (never seen before feature) — a re-entrant pocketing door which unveils virtually the entire home’s living space to the exterior pool and view terrace.
A timeless chocolate and white palette makes this home both elegant and refined. Oriented south, the spectacular interior natural light illuminates what promises to become another timeless piece of architecture for the Paradise Valley landscape.
Project Details | Outside In
Architect: CP Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works
Builder: Bedbrock Developers
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Werner Segarra
Publications:
Luxe Interiors & Design, Jan/Feb 2018, "Outside In: Optimized for Entertaining, a Paradise Valley Home Connects with its Desert Surrounds"
Awards:
Gold Nugget Awards - 2018
Award of Merit – Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home – Custom
The Nationals - 2017
Silver Award -- Best Architectural Design of a One of a Kind Home - Custom or Spec
http://www.drewettworks.com/outside-in/

Trend Collection from BAU-Closets
Inspiration for a large contemporary gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor walk-in closet remodel in Boston with open cabinets
Inspiration for a large contemporary gender-neutral dark wood floor and brown floor walk-in closet remodel in Boston with open cabinets

Roger Wade Studio
Example of a mountain style patio design in Other with a fire pit and a roof extension
Example of a mountain style patio design in Other with a fire pit and a roof extension

Balance, contrast, symmetry, and harmony were the four main principles we applied to every room in this house. The bold contrast of the black, white, and natural wood tones illustrate how beautifully the three colors can work so harmoniously if they are balanced in a space. The waterfall countertops added elegance and class while the striking oversized pendants added the perfect touch of brass to tie in with the modern brass chandelier in the adjoining living room.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master gray tile ceramic tile and gray floor freestanding bathtub remodel in DC Metro with black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, a vessel sink, granite countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops
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