What was originally supposed to be an addition, turned into a teardown with a completely new, contemporary home as the final product. Now filled with large windows, vibrant colours and well-traveled, unique décor, this space blew away the client's original expectations. With both owners working as professors, the home needed to spark inspiration and exude a peaceful ambiance, despite being set in the busy downtown of Waterloo. The well-planned floor plan design featured everything they needed: kitchen and living spaces, a main floor study, a second floor office, a guest bedroom and master bedroom and ensuite. The contemporary kitchen features flat panel doors and modern pull handles and is designed to focus on the view of the backyard. A mix of neutral brown tones and a crisp white palette can be seen throughout the house and the customers' personal touches are found in the selection of interior furnishings and exterior, lime green door. The main concept of the house's architecture grasps black forms and flat lines, while surrounded by greenery.

Most homes are like patients in a hospital, hooked up to wires and tubes for nourishment and air. If the wires and tubes fail, then so does the patient. Imagine for a moment that those wires and tubes can be unhooked. This is the idea we came to design for Steve and Andi Irwin when they asked FISHER ARCHitecture to design a guesthouse for a backyard lot adjacent to their Squirrel Hill home. She wants to paint. He wants to exercise. They are both utility-bill-hating environmentalists. The net-zero concept came to seem like a natural project direction. We designed in SIPS walls, radiant floors, a solar hot water system, and PV panels, along with a revolutionary new radiant glass system by Blairsville based Greenheat. The radiant glass, which Frank Dlubak, the company owner, calls transparent insulation, may make it possible for the studio to become the world's first zero energy prototype with 60% glazing! Ongoing monitoring by CMU professor, Nina Baird, will provide info on the effectiveness of these strategies.

What was originally supposed to be an addition, turned into a teardown with a completely new, contemporary home as the final product. Now filled with large windows, vibrant colours and well-traveled, unique décor, this space blew away the client's original expectations. With both owners working as professors, the home needed to spark inspiration and exude a peaceful ambiance, despite being set in the busy downtown of Waterloo. The well-planned floor plan design featured everything they needed: kitchen and living spaces, a main floor study, a second floor office, a guest bedroom and master bedroom and ensuite. The contemporary kitchen features flat panel doors and modern pull handles and is designed to focus on the view of the backyard. A mix of neutral brown tones and a crisp white palette can be seen throughout the house and the customers' personal touches are found in the selection of interior furnishings and exterior, lime green door. The main concept of the house's architecture grasps black forms and flat lines, while surrounded by greenery.

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

What was originally supposed to be an addition, turned into a teardown with a completely new, contemporary home as the final product. Now filled with large windows, vibrant colours and well-traveled, unique décor, this space blew away the client's original expectations. With both owners working as professors, the home needed to spark inspiration and exude a peaceful ambiance, despite being set in the busy downtown of Waterloo. The well-planned floor plan design featured everything they needed: kitchen and living spaces, a main floor study, a second floor office, a guest bedroom and master bedroom and ensuite. The contemporary kitchen features flat panel doors and modern pull handles and is designed to focus on the view of the backyard. A mix of neutral brown tones and a crisp white palette can be seen throughout the house and the customers' personal touches are found in the selection of interior furnishings and exterior, lime green door. The main concept of the house's architecture grasps black forms and flat lines, while surrounded by greenery.

Example of a beach style patio design in Los Angeles

Meet Marta Herbert Marta comes to Star Furniture from the mountains and valleys of the West where she specialized in turning apartments into lofts, cabins into lodges and houses into estates. From cozy, to chic, to expansive, Marta's fluency with color, texture, and lighting in perfect balance is a gift first noted by professors at The American River College in Sacramento, and has evolved over the past three decades into the ability to translate the desires of her clients into classic statements of style. As an avid student of design and proponent of continuing education, Marta has remained at the forefront of her profession gathering broad knowledge about exotic woods, fabrics, fine carpets, and the vast assortment of leathers. She understands the elements needed to create personal spaces that welcome use. "Let me bring your vision of your room to life...it's not just a room, it's the place you want to live." Contact Marta and let her know that you found her on Houzz.com. Webpage: https://www.starfurniture.com/marta-herbert Address: Star Furniture, 18107 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77090 Phone: 281-440-3330 Email: mherbert@starfurniture.com

Arne Petter Eggen is a Norwegian Architect and Professor at the Oslo School of Architecture. He is famous in the Nordic region for his beautiful public buildings and bridges. In the 1970s he designed the AE Pendant Light for Denmark schools. This pendant is now reintroduced to the global market crafted with the same high quality materials. The AE Pendant Light has been re-engineered with LEDs which provide efficient and beautiful light well beyond the incandescent lamps from the 70's. City of Oslo Award of Arts and Architecture: 1988 European Award of Steel Structures 2009 Norwegian Award of Architecture 2009 Norwegian Award of Steel Structures Ships from Denmark. Spec: 12.5W | 120V | E26(medium base) | A19 LED| 3000K | 800 lumens | 90-92 CRI (included) | CETL, ETL, UL Item Number: ILO-AE Model(s): PCAEPF-01

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2016 Houzz
Example of an eclectic living room design in New Orleans

Large country u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Milwaukee with white cabinets and a peninsula

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

Kevin Keim
Minimalist home design photo in Austin

Minimalist dark wood floor kitchen photo in San Francisco

In this monochromatic primary suite, a blend of warmth and depth in the color palette sets a beautiful tone for the space. The custom tufted headboard, contemporary artwork and chandelier add an extra layer of beauty.

I designed and assisted the homeowners with the materials, and finish choices for this project while working at Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths. Our client (and my former professor at OSU) wanted to have her basement finished. CCKB had competed a basement guest suite a few years prior and now it was time to finish the remaining space. She wanted an organized area with lots of storage for her fabrics and sewing supplies, as well as a large area to set up a table for cutting fabric and laying out patterns. The basement also needed to house all of their camping and seasonal gear, as well as a workshop area for her husband. The basement needed to have flooring that was not going to be damaged during the winters when the basement can become moist from rainfall. Out clients chose to have the cement floor painted with an epoxy material that would be easy to clean and impervious to water. An update to the laundry area included replacing the window and re-routing the piping. Additional shelving was added for more storage. Finally a walk-in closet was created to house our homeowners incredible vintage clothing collection away from any moisture. LED lighting was installed in the ceiling and used for the scones. Our drywall team did an amazing job boxing in and finishing the ceiling which had numerous obstacles hanging from it and kept the ceiling to a height that was comfortable for all who come into the basement. Our client is thrilled with the final project and has been enjoying her new sewing area.

Wood-look tile floor using porcelain plank tiles in a herringbone pattern.
Living room - traditional porcelain tile living room idea in Sacramento

ELITE DESIGN AWARD WINNER 2016: This academic professor works from home, and decided to come up from the basement to take advantage of the natural light on the main floor. We turned this playroom into a fully functioning multi-person office space that allows customization and flexibility no matter the task. His research is far from square and boring – so we came up with a unique curvilinear countertop design using Maple desktops from Décor Cabinets, which truly add a touch of whimsy to the everyday. Against his wife’s preference, his creative process requires access to many types of material at once, so solutions like bi-fold cabinets and the large aluminum tambour doors allow him to organize loose papers, but shut away the mess when the day is done. Mixing a few different finishes creates enough interest so that staying in the same room for long periods is far from boring, and the acid etch mirror inserts give a frosted glass look without showing any of the mess inside. With this design, the move upstairs was a benefit for everyone.