Created from a former breezeway this laundry room and mudroom is bright and cheery, Photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage single-wall porcelain tile laundry room remodel in Minneapolis with an utility sink, a side-by-side washer/dryer, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and quartz countertops

Jeremy Fukunaga
Great room - contemporary medium tone wood floor great room idea in San Francisco

It was important to isARK establish a welcoming approach to the home. The grand terraced steps lead you to the unmistakable new front entry and into the foyer.

Jenn Baker
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard concrete paver patio remodel in Dallas with a roof extension

The classic style covered cabana sits poolside and houses an impressive, outdoor, stacked stone, wood burning fireplace with wood storage, mounted tv, a vaulted tongue and groove ceiling and an outdoor living room perfect for hosting family and friends.

Sarah Reynolds
Minimalist home office photo in Dublin

Inspiration for a rustic brown one-story wood gable roof remodel in Seattle

Transforming this small bathroom into a wheelchair accessible retreat was no easy task. Incorporating unattractive grab bars and making them look seamless was the goal. A floating vanity / countertop allows for roll up accessibility and the live edge of the granite countertops make if feel luxurious. Double sinks for his and hers sides plus medicine cabinet storage helped for this minimal feel of neutrals and breathability. The barn door opens for wheelchair movement but can be closed for the perfect amount of privacy.

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.

From the beach to the shower is the way to live. Here is a custom built wood outdoor shower with a bench on a solid concrete slab that is properly drained. It even has a lower faucet for washing the dog after a play on the beach.

Bret Gum for Romantic Homes
Example of a small cottage chic open concept family room design in Los Angeles with white walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic home office photo in New York

Example of a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room design in New York with beige walls and no fireplace

Designed by architect Alexandru Cristian, Accoya was recommended by distributor Tecade for use in the construction of the building, which needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the country’s extreme climate. Tecade recommended the use of Accoya to ensure that the building would sit sympathetically within its natural surroundings, while also maintaining its structural integrity against the harsh environment. Originally Accoya was specified solely to construct the windows and the terrace. However, due to its aesthetic appeal, both the owner and the architect decided to use Accoya for all applications throughout the home including the façade, interior doors, indoor and outdoor furniture, terrace, garage door and railings. The architect specified 28mm by 150mm of Accoya for the outdoor terrace and constructed the terrace furniture using around 1 cubic meters of Accoya to build 3 tables and 36 chairs for external use. Tecade also crafted kitchen furniture, a TV stand, office desk and multiple bathroom cabinets from Accoya. Photo Credit: Tecade

Designed by architect Alexandru Cristian, Accoya was recommended by distributor Tecade for use in the construction of the building, which needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the country’s extreme climate. Tecade recommended the use of Accoya to ensure that the building would sit sympathetically within its natural surroundings, while also maintaining its structural integrity against the harsh environment. Originally Accoya was specified solely to construct the windows and the terrace. However, due to its aesthetic appeal, both the owner and the architect decided to use Accoya for all applications throughout the home including the façade, interior doors, indoor and outdoor furniture, terrace, garage door and railings. The architect specified 28mm by 150mm of Accoya for the outdoor terrace and constructed the terrace furniture using around 1 cubic meters of Accoya to build 3 tables and 36 chairs for external use. Tecade also crafted kitchen furniture, a TV stand, office desk and multiple bathroom cabinets from Accoya. Photo Credit: Tecade

Designed by architect Alexandru Cristian, Accoya was recommended by distributor Tecade for use in the construction of the building, which needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the country’s extreme climate. Tecade recommended the use of Accoya to ensure that the building would sit sympathetically within its natural surroundings, while also maintaining its structural integrity against the harsh environment. Originally Accoya was specified solely to construct the windows and the terrace. However, due to its aesthetic appeal, both the owner and the architect decided to use Accoya for all applications throughout the home including the façade, interior doors, indoor and outdoor furniture, terrace, garage door and railings. The architect specified 28mm by 150mm of Accoya for the outdoor terrace and constructed the terrace furniture using around 1 cubic meters of Accoya to build 3 tables and 36 chairs for external use. Tecade also crafted kitchen furniture, a TV stand, office desk and multiple bathroom cabinets from Accoya. Photo Credit: Tecade

Designed by architect Alexandru Cristian, Accoya was recommended by distributor Tecade for use in the construction of the building, which needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the country’s extreme climate. Tecade recommended the use of Accoya to ensure that the building would sit sympathetically within its natural surroundings, while also maintaining its structural integrity against the harsh environment. Originally Accoya was specified solely to construct the windows and the terrace. However, due to its aesthetic appeal, both the owner and the architect decided to use Accoya for all applications throughout the home including the façade, interior doors, indoor and outdoor furniture, terrace, garage door and railings. The architect specified 28mm by 150mm of Accoya for the outdoor terrace and constructed the terrace furniture using around 1 cubic meters of Accoya to build 3 tables and 36 chairs for external use. Tecade also crafted kitchen furniture, a TV stand, office desk and multiple bathroom cabinets from Accoya. Photo Credit: Tecade

Designed by architect Alexandru Cristian, Accoya was recommended by distributor Tecade for use in the construction of the building, which needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the country’s extreme climate. Tecade recommended the use of Accoya to ensure that the building would sit sympathetically within its natural surroundings, while also maintaining its structural integrity against the harsh environment. Originally Accoya was specified solely to construct the windows and the terrace. However, due to its aesthetic appeal, both the owner and the architect decided to use Accoya for all applications throughout the home including the façade, interior doors, indoor and outdoor furniture, terrace, garage door and railings. The architect specified 28mm by 150mm of Accoya for the outdoor terrace and constructed the terrace furniture using around 1 cubic meters of Accoya to build 3 tables and 36 chairs for external use. Tecade also crafted kitchen furniture, a TV stand, office desk and multiple bathroom cabinets from Accoya. Photo Credit: Tecade