Three floating-curved flights play a spectacular effect in this recently built home; soft wooden oak treads and oak rails blend beautifully with the hardwood flooring, while its balustrade is an architectural decorative confection of black wrought-iron in clean geometrical patterns. CSC 1976-2022 © Century Stair Company ® All rights reserved.

Photographer: Tom Crane
Large elegant medium tone wood floor hallway photo in Philadelphia with blue walls

Modern Master Bathroom with floating bench and illuminated shower niche Architect: Tom Cole Interior Designer: Robyn Scott www.rsidesigns.com Photographer: Teri Fotheringham Keywords: Lighting, Lighting Design, Master Bath, Master Bath Lighting, Shower Light, Shower Lights, Shower Lighting, Bath Lighting, Lighting Designer, Shower, modern shower, contemporary shower, modern shower bench, LED lighting, lighting design, modern shower, modern shower, modern shower, modern shower, modern shower lighting, modern sower, modern shower, modern shower lighting, contemporary shower, contemporary shower lighting., modern shower lighting, modern shower, modern shower light, MODERN SHOWER LIGHTING, modern shower, modern shower.

The custom height single ovens were placed side by side to allow for easy use and the large island provided plenty of work space. The combination of clean sleek lines with a variety of finishes and textures keeps this “beach house cottage look” current and comfortable.

Transitional Design Condo Update in San Francisco, California Pacific Heights Neighborhood The owners of this condo in Pacific Heights wanted to update their 60’s style kitchen and bathrooms yet strike a balance between ultra modern and conservative. To achieve this, we combined clean modern lines and contemporary fittings with warm natural stone and rich woods. In the kitchen, a distinctive effect is achieved by using quarter sawn cherry veneer on the shaker style cabinet doors with parallel grain run horizontally. Beautiful brown granite and custom stain compliment the oak floors we selected to provide continuity with the rest of the house. The master bath features a vanity designed with a wrap-over counter of thick granite, wenge wood veneers, Venetian plaster and a carefully coordinated variety of glass and stone tiles. In the guest bath a similar material palette is enlivened by inclusion of a wall hung toilet and an art niche.

Rick Lee Photo
Inspiration for a rustic living room remodel in Charleston with a stone fireplace

Example of an eclectic living room library design in Other

This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy. The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves. These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree. At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike. The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover. Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight. The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway. The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it. A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed. To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.

While it's not large the kitchen is remarkably effective. The island and breakfast table offer a variety of seating options, and the work surfaces are bright and spacious, helping family meals come together with ease.

Foley Fiore Architecture
Example of a classic kitchen design in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, a farmhouse sink, wood countertops, beige cabinets and brown countertops

Photographer: Tom Crane
Example of a large classic formal and open concept carpeted living room design in Philadelphia with beige walls, no tv, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photographer: Tom Crane Made of 300, 10-foot steel blades set upright 8 inches apart, the award winning Cor-Ten Cattails Sculptural fence was designed for a home in Berwyn, Pennsylvania as a yard sculpture that also keeps deer out. Made of COR-TEN, a steel alloy that eliminates the need for painting and maintains a rich, dark rust color without corroding, the fence stanchions were cut with a plasma cutter from sheets of the alloy. Each blade stands 8 feet above grade, set in concrete 3 feet below, weighs 80-90 pounds and is 5/8 inch thick. The profile of the blades is an irregular trapezoid with no horizontal connections or supports. Only the gate has two horizontal bars, and each leaf weighs 1200 pounds.

Transitional foyer expresses hints of traditional design mixed with the look of contemporary design.
Foyer - contemporary marble floor foyer idea in Chicago with white walls

Bergen County, NJ - Traditional - Kitchen Designed by Bart Lidsky of The Hammer & Nail Inc. Photography by: Steve Rossi This classic white kitchen creamy white Rutt Handcrafted Cabinetry and espresso Stained Rift White Oak Base Cabinetry. The highly articulated storage is a functional hidden feature of this kitchen. The countertops are 2" Thick Danby Marble with a mosaic marble backsplash. Pendant lights are built into the cabinetry above the sink. http://thehammerandnail.com #BartLidsky #HNdesigns #KitchenDesign

Photo Credit: Jay Brousseau
Urban eat-in kitchen photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets

5,400 Heated Square Foot home in St. Simons Island, GA
Tuscan living room photo in Atlanta with white walls and a standard fireplace

Juliana Rauch
This is an example of an eclectic shade backyard landscaping in San Francisco for fall.

Minimalist beige floor kitchen photo in Other with stainless steel appliances

This is an example of a southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun hillside concrete paver landscaping in Austin.