Search results for "Reduce utility" in Home Design Ideas

Eichler X-100 Kitchen: A Futuristic Vision of Function and Design
The kitchen of the Eichler X-100 is not just a place to cook—it is a designed system, a forward-thinking experiment in how everyday living could be streamlined, modernized, and elevated through architecture. Envisioned by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons for Joseph Eichler, the space reflects a bold reimagining of the American kitchen in the mid-20th century.
A Central Hub of the Home
Positioned within the home’s central utility core, the kitchen is strategically located to connect all major living zones. Rather than being tucked away, it becomes a functional anchor, allowing for seamless interaction between cooking, dining, and gathering spaces.
This layout reinforces Eichler’s philosophy:
the kitchen is not separate—it’s part of everyday life.
Innovation Built In
What sets the X-100 kitchen apart is its integration of experimental, built-in features that were far ahead of their time.
Highlights include:
A sliding dining table with integrated electric burners, blending cooking and dining into one continuous experience
Built-in appliances and systems, designed to reduce clutter and maximize efficiency
Thoughtful ergonomic planning that simplifies daily routines
These elements reflect a larger idea:
that the home should work for you—not the other way around.
Material as Modern Expression
The kitchen showcases extensive use of laminate surfaces (Formica)—a material that, in the 1950s, symbolized innovation, durability, and modern living. Clean, smooth, and easy to maintain, these surfaces reinforce the home’s futuristic identity.
Paired with steel structure and clean lines, the material palette creates a space that feels both industrial and approachable.
Open, Light-Filled Design
True to the X-100’s overall concept, the kitchen is fully integrated into the open-plan layout. Sightlines extend outward to living areas, glass walls, and even interior gardens, ensuring the space never feels enclosed.
Natural light filters in from multiple directions, enhanced by skylights and reflective surfaces, giving the kitchen a bright, uplifting atmosphere throughout the day.
A Prototype for Modern Living
In many ways, the X-100 kitchen anticipated how we live today:
Open-concept layouts
Multi-functional islands and dining spaces
Integrated appliances
Clean, minimal design
What feels standard now was radical in 1956.
Where Design Meets Daily Life
The kitchen of the Eichler X-100 is a perfect example of how architecture can elevate the everyday. It transforms routine into experience—where cooking, gathering, and living all happen within a single, beautifully orchestrated space.
It’s not just a kitchen.
It’s a glimpse into the future—designed decades ahead of its time.

One of the hottest trends in bath design is open, clean-line spaces. This serene look is accomplished by reducing distractions caused by too many ornate details. This client approached Renovisions to remodel her outdated master bath and create a clean and uncluttered space with a contemporary flair. The bathtub and tile floor remains in the new design adding a small challenge to coordinate the right color selection for shower and tub surround tile. The existing bath’s fiberglass shower was cramped, under utilized and under styled, so Renovisions first enlarged the depth of the shower with a complete water proof system, hand-held shower and soap dish, corner shelf and safety grab bar.
A teak veneer vanity was designed to compliment the client’s master bedroom teak furniture. A beautiful combination of sleek grey quartz countertop, rectangular under-mount sink, modern plumbing fixtures, stylish hardware and a simple yet elegant tilt mirror completed the contemporary look.
This renewed master bath combines functionality and aesthetics in perfect harmony.

Losing large specimen trees is never desirable. But when the unimaginable happens, we are presented with an opportunity to rethink and refresh, even in traditional residential settings.
We replaced the lawn area beneath the remaining London plane with a fine fescue seed mix. Our design strategy was to hold space and create immediate impact while reducing maintenance needs as the landscape matured. Into this base, we planted evergreen basal foliage, long bloomers and early spring/late fall color to create an immersive all-season groundcover that will slowly intermingle. Annually, this low mow is cut no lower than 4” (thereby safeguarding habitat) while the tidily trimmed perimeter utilizes remnant turf grass as visible cues to care.
Dissecting the rectilinear green space, permeable hardscaping offers a gently curved path towards the front entryway; an invitation to pause and observe the landscape’s diverse textures and activity up close. Within which, a legacy planting of new specimen trees.
Traditional shrub heavy foundation plantings are often static and rigid; this perennial rich redesign is structured yet airy to retain design cohesion with the naturalistic stylized meadow and offer vibrant textural all-season interest.
This project blends different landscape styles to create a biodiverse habitat that is ecologically beneficial, beautiful and resilient. In high summer, a doe finds refuge for her fawn while the family’s children delight in the buzzing activity of smaller inhabitants, native bees and assorted pollinators, that now call this habitat home.
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This French Provincial inspired home on Lake Conroe has a completely integrated automation system.
The system utilizes centralized lighting, HVAC, and A/V equipment to greatly reduce the amount of wall clutter throughout the home.
Architecture by MW Todd of the Woodlands
Photography by Tracy Eason

Our clients’ recently purchase home is set in a picturesque location in Golden, Colorado. With idyllic square footage for raising a family, it was almost just what they wanted. However, the 90’s interior furnishings and dated layout didn’t feel like home. So, they reached out to TVL Creative to help them get the place move-in ready and feeling more 'them.' The scope of work included an overhaul of the master bathroom, full-home paint scheme, lighting updates, and new staircase railings. The most profound transformation within our scope was the master bathroom renovation. This luxurious space, built by TVL’s own Team Angel, is a calming retreat with gorgeous detailing throughout. Every part of this bathroom was gutted and we worked to establish a new concept and functional layout that would better serve our clients. As part of the transformative design, a calming symmetry was created by marrying the new vanity design with the existing architecture of the room. A feature tile accentuates the symmetrical composition of vanity and vaulted ceiling: large beveled mirrors and linear sconces bring the eye upward. Custom built-ins flanking the master bathroom sinks were designed to provide ample organized storage for linens and toiletries. A make-up vanity accented by a full height mirror and coordinating pendant rounds out the custom built-ins. Opposite the vanity wall is the commode room, bathtub, and a large shower. In the bathtub nook, the sculptural form of the Elise tub by MTI Baths compliments the arc of the picture window above. The Kohler Archer tub filler adds transitional and classy styling to the area. A quartz-topped bench running the length of the back wall provides a perfect spot for a glass of wine near the bath, while doubling as a gorgeous and functional seat in the shower. The bench was also utilized to move the bathtub off of the exterior wall and reduce the amount of awkward-to-clean floor space. In the shower, the upgrades feel limitless. We relocated the valve controls to the entry half wall for easy on/off access. We also created functionals shower niches that are tucked out of view for handy storage without aesthetic compromise. The shower features a lovely three-dimensional diamond accent tile and is wrapped in frameless glass for added light entry. In general, the space is outfitted with other stunning features including Kohler Archer fixtures throughout, Feiss decorative lighting, Amerock hardware on all built-ins, and cabinetry from Waypoint Living Spaces. From bachelor pad to first family home, it's been a pleasure to work with our client over the years! We will especially cherish our time working with them this time around to make their new house feel more like home.

Welcome to your new favorite spot in the house! With this showpiece Custom Wine Cellar, why would you ever have a party anywhere else? Complete with an adjacent room with a large tasting table and space to entertain, this homeowner thought of it all!
This unique Custom wine room in a gorgeous neighborhood in the La Jolla and Del Mar region in sunny San Diego, California is an art piece in itself surrounded by even more art pieces.
The Wine Room Construction entailed unique custom fitted racking, tiering down from about ten feet on one end of the room to just below eight feet on the other. Producing high quality wine racking for a cellar like this is no easy feat, but that is exactly what the wine cellar builders and team at vintage cellars do best!
The glass front and custom wine cellar door, highlighted with metal framing in an interesting checkered pattern throughout, also posed a unique challenge within this wine cellar space. Glass walls, although absolutely stunning, can reduce the cooling capabilities within the wine room itself- simply due to the non insulating properties of glass. Whenever glass is utilized within a custom wine cellar, we always make sure to install dual paned thermal insulated glass.
Within the wine cellar itself, The racking is made of all heart redwood with a clear finish, with single deep individual bottle storage above a high reveal display row and double deep bottle storage below.
The amount of custom and unique features in this gorgeous custom wine cellar in La Jolla are almost too numerous to count! Take a closer peek and you will notice that the walls are covered with a custom redwood paneling with custom moldings throughout. The interestingly shaped island also has room for large format bottle storage and a small chilled wine refrigerator specifically for whites ready to be served. Diamond bins are also in a hidden back corner not pictured.
Custom wine cellar with a glass fronts have become fixtures in gorgeous homes throughout California. Some areas we notice them often include San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, or Pebble Beach
Vintage Cellars has built gorgeous custom wine cellars and wine storage rooms across the United States and World for over 25 years. We are your go-to business for anything wine cellar and wine storage related! Whether you're interested in a wine closet, wine racking, custom wine racks, a custom wine cellar door, or a cooling system for your existing space, Vintage Cellars has you covered!
We carry all kinds of wine cellar cooling and refrigeration systems, incuding: Breezaire, CellarCool, WhisperKool, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and Commercial systems.
We also carry many types of Wine Refrigerators, Wine Cabinets, and wine racking types, including La Cache, Marvel, N'Finity, Transtherm, Vinotheque, Vintage Series, Credenza, Walk in wine rooms, Climadiff, Riedel, Fontenay, and VintageView.
Vintage Cellars also does work in many styles, including Contemporary and Modern, Rustic, Farmhouse, Traditional, Craftsman, Industrial, Mediterranean, Mid-Century, Industrial and Eclectic.
Some locations we cover often include: San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Corona Del Mar, Del Mar, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Orange County, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Los Angeles, Encinitas, Cardiff, Coronado, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, San Marino, Ladera Heights, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood, Hancock Park, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Laguna Niguel, Torrey Pines, Thousand Oaks, Coto De Caza, Coronado Island, San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek, Marin, Tiburon, Hillsborough, Berkeley, Oakland, Napa, Sonoma, Agoura Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Piedmont, Paso Robles, Carmel, Pebble Beach
Contact Vintage Cellars today with any of your Wine Cellar needs!
(800) 876-8789
Vintage Cellars
904 Rancheros Drive
San Marcos, California 92069
(800) 876-8789

Losing large specimen trees is never desirable. But when the unimaginable happens, we are presented with an opportunity to rethink and refresh, even in traditional residential settings.
We replaced the lawn area beneath the remaining London plane with a fine fescue seed mix. Our design strategy was to hold space and create immediate impact while reducing maintenance needs as the landscape matured. Into this base, we planted evergreen basal foliage, long bloomers and early spring/late fall color to create an immersive all-season groundcover that will slowly intermingle. Annually, this low mow is cut no lower than 4” (thereby safeguarding habitat) while the tidily trimmed perimeter utilizes remnant turf grass as visible cues to care.
Dissecting the rectilinear green space, permeable hardscaping offers a gently curved path towards the front entryway; an invitation to pause and observe the landscape’s diverse textures and activity up close. Within which, a legacy planting of new specimen trees.
Traditional shrub heavy foundation plantings are often static and rigid; this perennial rich redesign is structured yet airy to retain design cohesion with the naturalistic stylized meadow and offer vibrant textural all-season interest.
This project blends different landscape styles to create a biodiverse habitat that is ecologically beneficial, beautiful and resilient. In high summer, a doe finds refuge for her fawn while the family’s children delight in the buzzing activity of smaller inhabitants, native bees and assorted pollinators, that now call this habitat home.

Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

This energy efficient home, designed for a modern family, includes a private office near the kitchen, ground floor guest bedroom suite, and spacious kitchen. The house contains nearly 5,000 square feet of living space on four levels. The outward scale is reduced by the detached garage’s varying roofline and shingle siding texture. A geothermal HVAC system along with in-flow radiant heating is utilized.

The Setup
For this primary bathroom project, the homeowners sought to transform their outdated, beige-toned space into a bright, functional sanctuary. The existing bathroom felt cramped and lifeless, with a small shower and limited storage options. The goal was to create a fresh, updated bathroom that maximizes the existing footprint while addressing specific desires for a more open, organized space with timeless materials.
Design objectives:
Brighten the bathroom and eliminate the dated beige color scheme
Install a freestanding tub in a compact space
Create a larger, more open shower without encroaching on the existing foot print too much
Incorporate hidden storage solutions
Maintain the existing bathroom layout while improving functionality
Update lighting and fixtures to create a contemporary feel
The Remodel
Design challenges to be solved:
- Compact Space Utilization – The small bathroom required careful planning to accommodate a freestanding tub while maintaining functionality and avoiding overcrowding.
- Hidden Storage Integration – The clients wanted a discreet hamper solution that wouldn’t clutter the limited floor space.
- Shower Niche Placement – With plumbing limitations and the clients’ desire to preserve their wavy accent tile wall, finding the perfect niche spot became a creative puzzle.
- Tile and Finish Coordination – Selecting complementary white tile and floor materials that worked harmoniously together.
- Larger Shower Space – Make the shower feel more open and brighter
The Renewed Space
Design solutions:
- Strategic Tub Placement – The freestanding tub was carefully positioned to maximize space, with its faucet strategically placed to allow easy access while preserving walking room. We reduced the counter depth just a bit by the tub, allowing more room for hamper cabinet and window access.
- Concealed Hamper Storage – A custom pull-out hamper was integrated into the vanity (right side, by tub), providing discreet storage within an 18-inch depth constraint.
- Shower Plumbing Wall Niche – We shifted the niche left, just enough to work around the plumbing infrastructure and still score a roomy storage spot that looks intentional.
- Sophisticated Selections – Porcelanosa curvy white tile, Kohler brushed gold fixtures, and a neutral grey tile floor created a simple, timeless aesthetic that will be loved years to come.
- Open Shower – Replacing the side wall with a clear glass surround, continuing the tile on the ceiling and extending the footprint opened up this area to the room while allowing more natural lighting into the shower space.
This bathroom transformation shows how thoughtful design turns challenges into opportunities. Brushed gold fixtures add warmth to the fresh white palette, while the perfectly balanced floor tile brings just the right depth. A partially glass-fronted vanity introduces subtle charm, giving the space a unique edge. Once cramped and outdated, this bathroom now feels bright, spacious, and serene—a testament to how every design detail makes a difference.

Considering the flashy nature and the innovative designs that rustic contemporary houses are sporting of late, it really is not easy to fabricate a home that can showcase a mountain rustic look with just the right touch of contemporary.
Yet, this bold design, is really something ‘different' and the moment you lay your eyes on it, you cannot but help fall in love with its well-defined plan, sleek look, amazing use of natural stone and integration of BC fir and raw metal into the structure. This house is a direct design response to site, form and utility of building material, which combine to create a solid, robust structure. Disclosure of the stone work, expansive art glass windows and timber frame accents creates a visual impact. The front entry and facade is aligned with the midday sun. The long side of the triple garage act as a retaining wall.
Inside this house, rooms slide into each other, dissolving the problem of further enclosure. The plan is unrestricted by the geometry and a sense of infinite space is achieved. Materials are reduced to a palette of metal, concrete, glass and timber, underpinning the desire for a rustic but still contemporary home to be basic and creating an embedded modesty.

The Setup
For this primary bathroom project, the homeowners sought to transform their outdated, beige-toned space into a bright, functional sanctuary. The existing bathroom felt cramped and lifeless, with a small shower and limited storage options. The goal was to create a fresh, updated bathroom that maximizes the existing footprint while addressing specific desires for a more open, organized space with timeless materials.
Design objectives:
Brighten the bathroom and eliminate the dated beige color scheme
Install a freestanding tub in a compact space
Create a larger, more open shower without encroaching on the existing foot print too much
Incorporate hidden storage solutions
Maintain the existing bathroom layout while improving functionality
Update lighting and fixtures to create a contemporary feel
The Remodel
Design challenges to be solved:
- Compact Space Utilization – The small bathroom required careful planning to accommodate a freestanding tub while maintaining functionality and avoiding overcrowding.
- Hidden Storage Integration – The clients wanted a discreet hamper solution that wouldn’t clutter the limited floor space.
- Shower Niche Placement – With plumbing limitations and the clients’ desire to preserve their wavy accent tile wall, finding the perfect niche spot became a creative puzzle.
- Tile and Finish Coordination – Selecting complementary white tile and floor materials that worked harmoniously together.
- Larger Shower Space – Make the shower feel more open and brighter
The Renewed Space
Design solutions:
- Strategic Tub Placement – The freestanding tub was carefully positioned to maximize space, with its faucet strategically placed to allow easy access while preserving walking room. We reduced the counter depth just a bit by the tub, allowing more room for hamper cabinet and window access.
- Concealed Hamper Storage – A custom pull-out hamper was integrated into the vanity (right side, by tub), providing discreet storage within an 18-inch depth constraint.
- Shower Plumbing Wall Niche – We shifted the niche left, just enough to work around the plumbing infrastructure and still score a roomy storage spot that looks intentional.
- Sophisticated Selections – Porcelanosa curvy white tile, Kohler brushed gold fixtures, and a neutral grey tile floor created a simple, timeless aesthetic that will be loved years to come.
- Open Shower – Replacing the side wall with a clear glass surround, continuing the tile on the ceiling and extending the footprint opened up this area to the room while allowing more natural lighting into the shower space.
This bathroom transformation shows how thoughtful design turns challenges into opportunities. Brushed gold fixtures add warmth to the fresh white palette, while the perfectly balanced floor tile brings just the right depth. A partially glass-fronted vanity introduces subtle charm, giving the space a unique edge. Once cramped and outdated, this bathroom now feels bright, spacious, and serene—a testament to how every design detail makes a difference.

This lakefront diamond in the rough lot was waiting to be discovered by someone with a modern naturalistic vision and passion. Maintaining an eco-friendly, and sustainable build was at the top of the client priority list. Designed and situated to benefit from passive and active solar as well as through breezes from the lake, this indoor/outdoor living space truly establishes a symbiotic relationship with its natural surroundings. The pie-shaped lot provided significant challenges with a street width of 50ft, a steep shoreline buffer of 50ft, as well as a powerline easement reducing the buildable area. The client desired a smaller home of approximately 2500sf that juxtaposed modern lines with the free form of the natural setting. The 250ft of lakefront afforded 180-degree views which guided the design to maximize this vantage point while supporting the adjacent environment through preservation of heritage trees. Prior to construction the shoreline buffer had been rewilded with wildflowers, perennials, utilization of clover and meadow grasses to support healthy animal and insect re-population. The inclusion of solar panels as well as hydroponic heated floors and wood stove supported the owner’s desire to be self-sufficient. Core ten steel was selected as the predominant material to allow it to “rust” as it weathers thus blending into the natural environment.

Our client wanted a SIP built home and we incorporated this and many other energy and sustainability features into this home which was in the Sheboygan County Parade of Homes.
Named "The Green Balanced Home", this project was all about creating practical and stunning living spaces that combined with sound environmental building materials and methods. By showcasing an assortment of leading-edge- green technologies, the Green Balanced Home was the talk of the Parade that year. In cooperation with our client, our methodology was:
Start with the site:
1. Protected tree lines
2. Drought resistant vegetation
3. High proportion of natural, plantings versus higher maintenance lawn
4. Optimal home placement on lot for solar exposure
5. Narrower streets
Build a high thermal envelope:
1. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam under basement, garage, and patio.
2. R-10 Gold Guard laminated EPS foam around exterior foundation walls.
3. R-10 ESP foam "shirt" around foundation
4. R-24 Structural Insulated panels (SIPs) for exterior walls, including garage
5. Sprayed foam in basement box sills and attic separation walls
6. R-15 garage door
7. R-60 blown cellulose attic insulation
Add efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, and electric utilization elements:
1. High efficiency fireplace with auxiliary ducting
2. Pull-out exterior wood-loading drawer
3. Air-to-air heat pump
4. 95% efficient, ultra-quiet variable capacity furnace
5. 19 SEER air conditioner
6. Five zones with programmable thermostats
7. Heat reclamation from hot water usage
8. LED lighting
9. Skylights
10. Energy Star appliances
11. Prep for in-floor heating system
12. Prep for photovoltaic (PV) solar
13. Prep for solar hot water
Incorporate water conservation:
1. Rain water recapture for toilet flushing and irrigation
2. Motion activated hot water circulation system
3. Power flush toilets
4. Dual flush toilets
Create high indoor air quality:
1. HEPA and UV filters
2. Air-to-air exchanger
3. Ultra-quiet bathroom fans with moisture sensor activation
Integrate sustainable, efficient materials:
* Expanded polystyrene (ESP) foam that does not emit HCFC "greenhouse" gases
* Oriented strand board (OSB) based siding, trim, and shutters
* SIPs panels that contain ESP an OSB
* Carpeting pads made from recycled materials
* Stewardship-certified cabinet manufacturing
* Job site recycling and reduce waste with SIPs

Sponsored
Sunbury, OH
J.Holderby - Renovations
Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

Losing large specimen trees is never desirable. But when the unimaginable happens, we are presented with an opportunity to rethink and refresh, even in traditional residential settings.
We replaced the lawn area beneath the remaining London plane with a fine fescue seed mix. Our design strategy was to hold space and create immediate impact while reducing maintenance needs as the landscape matured. Into this base, we planted evergreen basal foliage, long bloomers and early spring/late fall color to create an immersive all-season groundcover that will slowly intermingle. Annually, this low mow is cut no lower than 4” (thereby safeguarding habitat) while the tidily trimmed perimeter utilizes remnant turf grass as visible cues to care.
Dissecting the rectilinear green space, permeable hardscaping offers a gently curved path towards the front entryway; an invitation to pause and observe the landscape’s diverse textures and activity up close. Within which, a legacy planting of new specimen trees.
Traditional shrub heavy foundation plantings are often static and rigid; this perennial rich redesign is structured yet airy to retain design cohesion with the naturalistic stylized meadow and offer vibrant textural all-season interest.
This project blends different landscape styles to create a biodiverse habitat that is ecologically beneficial, beautiful and resilient. In high summer, a doe finds refuge for her fawn while the family’s children delight in the buzzing activity of smaller inhabitants, native bees and assorted pollinators, that now call this habitat home.

The Setup
For this primary bathroom project, the homeowners sought to transform their outdated, beige-toned space into a bright, functional sanctuary. The existing bathroom felt cramped and lifeless, with a small shower and limited storage options. The goal was to create a fresh, updated bathroom that maximizes the existing footprint while addressing specific desires for a more open, organized space with timeless materials.
Design objectives:
Brighten the bathroom and eliminate the dated beige color scheme
Install a freestanding tub in a compact space
Create a larger, more open shower without encroaching on the existing foot print too much
Incorporate hidden storage solutions
Maintain the existing bathroom layout while improving functionality
Update lighting and fixtures to create a contemporary feel
The Remodel
Design challenges to be solved:
- Compact Space Utilization – The small bathroom required careful planning to accommodate a freestanding tub while maintaining functionality and avoiding overcrowding.
- Hidden Storage Integration – The clients wanted a discreet hamper solution that wouldn’t clutter the limited floor space.
- Shower Niche Placement – With plumbing limitations and the clients’ desire to preserve their wavy accent tile wall, finding the perfect niche spot became a creative puzzle.
- Tile and Finish Coordination – Selecting complementary white tile and floor materials that worked harmoniously together.
- Larger Shower Space – Make the shower feel more open and brighter
The Renewed Space
Design solutions:
- Strategic Tub Placement – The freestanding tub was carefully positioned to maximize space, with its faucet strategically placed to allow easy access while preserving walking room. We reduced the counter depth just a bit by the tub, allowing more room for hamper cabinet and window access.
- Concealed Hamper Storage – A custom pull-out hamper was integrated into the vanity (right side, by tub), providing discreet storage within an 18-inch depth constraint.
- Shower Plumbing Wall Niche – We shifted the niche left, just enough to work around the plumbing infrastructure and still score a roomy storage spot that looks intentional.
- Sophisticated Selections – Porcelanosa curvy white tile, Kohler brushed gold fixtures, and a neutral grey tile floor created a simple, timeless aesthetic that will be loved years to come.
- Open Shower – Replacing the side wall with a clear glass surround, continuing the tile on the ceiling and extending the footprint opened up this area to the room while allowing more natural lighting into the shower space.
This bathroom transformation shows how thoughtful design turns challenges into opportunities. Brushed gold fixtures add warmth to the fresh white palette, while the perfectly balanced floor tile brings just the right depth. A partially glass-fronted vanity introduces subtle charm, giving the space a unique edge. Once cramped and outdated, this bathroom now feels bright, spacious, and serene—a testament to how every design detail makes a difference.

Block the sun and maintain your view!
Our large selection of interior solar screens is the ideal solution to your indoor natural lighting needs. Allow the proper amount of sunlight in while creating the perfect environment in your home. Utilize the interior solar screens to reduce the sun’s glare while saving money by blocking the heat from entering the room. Choose from a variety of fabrics that can blend with their surroundings or feature them as a design aspect in the room. Our interior solar screens are best for windows, glass doors, and sunrooms. Maintain your view while blocking harmful UV rays.

M-S Pro Architects announce the completion of an indoor swimming pool in a state-of-the-art, single storey family home set in a picturesque location on the outskirts of Bratislava - one of Europe’s youngest capital cities. Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was chosen to craft the ceiling of the swimming pool, which is designed to emulate rippling waves as well as for the terrace deck and structural beams.
Sustainability and a desire to recreate the close proximity often seen between wood and water in the natural environment were primary focuses in the design of this project. This led a requirement for a low maintenance wood, compatible humidity and with advanced durability, for the swimming pool ceiling. In addition, a high level of precision when cutting the wood was required in order to achieve the desired appearance of waves.
Supplied by Leading Market, Kebony was carefully selected for the pool ceiling, which consists of 490 lamellae of timber, due to its versatility, durability and environmental credentials. Kebony was also installed throughout the exterior of this property, both for the spacious outdoor terrace and the exterior and interior beams. One of the reasons to choose Kebony was the unified look of wood in all these different applications.
Developed in Norway, the patented Kebony technology uses an environmentally friendly process, which permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall with furfuryl alcohol, the wood gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability, giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. In creating a wood with comparable properties to tropical hardwood that can be grown in a FSC certified, sustainably managed forest, the demand for tropical woods is reduced, allowing timber to once again be an important part of sustainable construction.
Tomáš Hubinský, Lead Architect at M-S Pro, commented: “From conception through to completion, the creation of this ceiling has been a real feat. Despite the challenges faced by such an intricate design, Kebony was the perfect material to convey our desired effect of waves rippling along the ceiling. We will continue to incorporate Kebony into our interior and exterior designs, with wood fast becoming the first choice material for all architects.”
Mette Valen, Sales Manager Norway at Kebony, explained: “The distinctive nature of this design cleverly portrays the capability of Kebony, demonstrating both the aesthetic and performance qualities of the product. We would be honoured to work with M-S Pro in the future and look forward to seeing how they utilise Kebony in their future projects.”

PROJECT | Duplicate-Duplex
TYPE | private residence / home-studio
LOCATION | Phayathai Rd., Bangkok, Thailand
OWNER | Ms. Najaree Ratanajiajaroen / Chanon Treenet
ARCHITECT | TOUCH Architect Co.,Ltd.
FLOOR AREA | 64 sq.m.
FLOOR AREA (by proposing) | 75 sq.m.
COMPLETION | 2018
PHOTOGRAPHER | Chalermwat Wongchompoo
CONTRACTOR | Legend Construction Group
A major pain point of staying in 64 sq.m. of duplex condominium unit, which is used for a home-studio for an animator and an artist, is that there is not enough space for dwelling. Moreover, a double-volume space of living area with a huge glass curtain wall, faces West. High temperature occurs all day long, since it allows direct sunlight to come inside.
In order to solve both mentioned problems, three addition items are proposed which are, GRID PARTITION, EXTENSION DECK, and STEPPING SPACE.
A glass partition not only dividing space between kitchen and living, but also helps reduce electricity charge from air-condition. Grid-like of double glass frame is for stuff and stationery hanging, as to serve the owners’ activities.
Extension deck would help filtrating heat from direct sunlight, since an existing high glass facade facing West.
An existing staircase for going up to the second-floor bedroom, is added by a proposed space above, since this condominium unit has no enough space for dwelling or storage. In order to utilize the space in a small condominium, creating another staircase above the existing one helps increase the space.
The grid partition and the extension deck help ‘decrease’ the electricity charge, while the extension deck and the stepping space help ‘increase’ the space for 11 sq.m.

Block the sun and maintain your view!
Our large selection of interior solar screens is the ideal solution to your indoor natural lighting needs. Allow the proper amount of sunlight in while creating the perfect environment in your home. Utilize the interior solar screens to reduce the sun’s glare while saving money by blocking the heat from entering the room. Choose from a variety of fabrics that can blend with their surroundings or feature them as a design aspect in the room. Our interior solar screens are best for windows, glass doors, and sunrooms. Maintain your view while blocking harmful UV rays.

Kris Windmueller. Automatic Pool cover helps to keep heated pool utilities down. Helping, also, to reduce water evaporation and chemical use. Green accessory for your backyard pool.
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