Ceiling fan in master bedroom provides lighting in addition to wall sconces above night stands. A sliding glass door with a transom window leads to the backyard. The vaulted ceiling is painted wood with beams.

This is an example of a mediterranean shade water fountain landscape in Los Angeles.

Example of a tuscan pool design in Dallas

Example of a beach style single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets and brown backsplash

Example of a huge classic gray three-story stone gable roof design in New York

Landmark Photography
Staircase - contemporary wooden u-shaped metal railing staircase idea with wooden risers

Pool fountain - large transitional backyard stone and custom-shaped natural pool fountain idea in New York

Inspiration for a large transitional attached two-car garage remodel in Louisville

Robert Hawkins, Be A Deer
Inspiration for a mid-sized country medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway remodel with white walls

The clients imagined a rock house with cut stone accents and a steep roof with French and English influences; an asymmetrical house that spread out to fit their broad building site. We designed the house with a shallow, but rambling footprint to allow lots of natural light into the rooms. The interior is anchored by the dramatic but cozy family room that features a cathedral ceiling and timber trusses. A breakfast nook with a banquette is built-in along one wall and is lined with windows on two sides overlooking the flower garden.

Century Communities
Elegant l-shaped kitchen photo in Denver with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, beige backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Alek Lisefski / tiny-project.com
Inspiration for a contemporary living room remodel in San Francisco

Eichler in Marinwood - In conjunction to the porous programmatic kitchen block as a connective element, the walls along the main corridor add to the sense of bringing outside in. The fin wall adjacent to the entry has been detailed to have the siding slip past the glass, while the living, kitchen and dining room are all connected by a walnut veneer feature wall running the length of the house. This wall also echoes the lush surroundings of lucas valley as well as the original mahogany plywood panels used within eichlers. photo: scott hargis

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.

Laura Moss Photography
Elegant gray tile and subway tile multicolored floor walk-in shower photo in Boston with white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, gray countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Cottage chic dining room photo in New York with green walls

Adrian Ozimek / Ozimek Photography Architectural Designer: Fine Lines Design Builder: Day Custom Homes

Family room - mid-sized transitional open concept dark wood floor and brown floor family room idea in Portland with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a media wall