This recent transformation focused on maximizing beauty and function while keeping maintenance to a minimum—perfect for Arizona living. Here's what we upgraded: - Removed the existing grass border + old granite in the patio area - Installed 80 oz premium artificial turf for lush, realistic greenery year-round - Added travertine borders to define turf and patio spaces with clean, elegant lines - Installed low-voltage LED lighting for subtle, stylish nighttime ambiance Simple, refined, and ready to enjoy—this yard now feels bigger, brighter, and built for modern outdoor living.

This Rock Island Illinois home got a whole new first level once our remodel team was finished. We removed a wall dividing the kitchen from the front room and widened another doorway to open up into the dining room. A new home bar area was installed as well as a dream custom bench drop zone in the breezeway of the home. Featuring cabinetry from our Koch Classic line in the Easton door with Ivory Paint. Breezeway drop zone is the Hastings door with Capri Drift and Rub Through finish and Birch Frontier finish bench seat. Homerwood Hickory wirebrushed Sequoia hardwood flooring and Cambria Quartz also featured. Complete kitchen remodel and project management by Village Home Stores from start to finish.

Like many condominiums, when it came the kitchen, the galley layout was not going anywhere. But, with cleaver tweaks, and a tightly focused pallet, this previously poky space was transformed into a showstopper. To accomplish this, we began by removing a large portion of wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the living areas. In its place, we placed a sleek waterfall peninsula where the wall once stood. With this simple move, we provided needed definition for the kitchen area, and created a casual eating area—or, a place to rest your champagne glass. Finally, we ran the new dove-gray wide-plank flooring into the kitchen, eliminating the visual stop that had been there with bright white ceramic floor circa 1982. When looking for inspiration in the material selections, I needed to look no further than my client—her chic wardrobe was the perfect pallet upon which to build the kitchen’s silver gray and bright white color scheme. Soft grays also are repeated in the wide-plank hardwood flooring and run through the granite counter top. The resulting kitchen, its glossy-white cabinetry, the mod illuminated range hood, gourmet appliances, statement-making tile and monorail gallery lighting, flows effortlessly into the adjoining living area, blending perfectly with the clients’ furniture and artwork.

Contractor Jim Schmitt made these 48" wide doors himself!
Mountain style living room photo in DC Metro with yellow walls

This Rock Island Illinois home got a whole new first level once our remodel team was finished. We removed a wall dividing the kitchen from the front room and widened another doorway to open up into the dining room. A new home bar area was installed as well as a dream custom bench drop zone in the breezeway of the home. Featuring cabinetry from our Koch Classic line in the Easton door with Ivory Paint. Breezeway drop zone is the Hastings door with Capri Drift and Rub Through finish and Birch Frontier finish bench seat. Homerwood Hickory wirebrushed Sequoia hardwood flooring and Cambria Quartz also featured. Complete kitchen remodel and project management by Village Home Stores from start to finish.

Beautiful Transformation! Removing a portion of the Kitchen wall, opened this small dark kitchen up to include a Peninsula island. This offers more storage opportunities, allows the kitchen to be open to the Living area, as well as provides an ideal space for the children to enjoy their morning cereal.

The goal of this project was to create a better flowing space for entertaining and to maximize the beautiful view of their lakefront property. We achieved this goal by removing walls the kitchen and living room, installing panoramic patio doors, and creating one continuous floor that makes it easier to walk from one area of the home to another. The living room bar acts as an entertaining hub for cocktails and beer on tap, with custom TV’s that can be extended for an ideal game day experience. The design for this project was focused on highlighting the newly opened spaces in the home. This was accomplished by painting the exposed wood ceiling, installing several different lighting options, and adding new full-height windows that helped to brighten the space. An urban farmhouse look was achieved with a neutral color palette, brick and stone interior facades, wood flooring, exposed beams, wooden shelving, and black window frames.

Our clients were persistent with keeping the original feel, style, color, and design as when the home was originally built. We still increased the size of this kitchen by removing load bearing walls and moving windows around. Finally we achieved this classic design keeping all the original features of the cabinetry, flooring, and marble backsplash, but using modern construction techniques for a lasting product.

The goal of this project was to create a better flowing space for entertaining and to maximize the beautiful view of their lakefront property. We achieved this goal by removing walls the kitchen and living room, installing panoramic patio doors, and creating one continuous floor that makes it easier to walk from one area of the home to another. The living room bar acts as an entertaining hub for cocktails and beer on tap, with custom TV’s that can be extended for an ideal game day experience. The design for this project was focused on highlighting the newly opened spaces in the home. This was accomplished by painting the exposed wood ceiling, installing several different lighting options, and adding new full-height windows that helped to brighten the space. An urban farmhouse look was achieved with a neutral color palette, brick and stone interior facades, wood flooring, exposed beams, wooden shelving, and black window frames.

The goal of this project was to create a better flowing space for entertaining and to maximize the beautiful view of their lakefront property. We achieved this goal by removing walls the kitchen and living room, installing panoramic patio doors, and creating one continuous floor that makes it easier to walk from one area of the home to another. The living room bar acts as an entertaining hub for cocktails and beer on tap, with custom TV’s that can be extended for an ideal game day experience. The design for this project was focused on highlighting the newly opened spaces in the home. This was accomplished by painting the exposed wood ceiling, installing several different lighting options, and adding new full-height windows that helped to brighten the space. An urban farmhouse look was achieved with a neutral color palette, brick and stone interior facades, wood flooring, exposed beams, wooden shelving, and black window frames.

AFTER: the new stair replaces the breakfast table. Existing brick veneer remained inside the stairwell, and most of the wall at the dining room was removed to open up the spaces. The short hallway to the foyer is just to the left, so the new 12" deep counter and cabinets provide a nice place to drop your cell phone or keys when coming home.

The floor of the new Sitting Room to the rear of the original master suite was designed to be supported on a beam with large columns at each end, instead of over a basement foundation, in order to preserve the view from the original basement. It was also a cost-cutting measure. The shallower roof pitch was planned to meet up with the original bedroom wing roof ridge.

The goal of this project was to create a better flowing space for entertaining and to maximize the beautiful view of their lakefront property. We achieved this goal by removing walls the kitchen and living room, installing panoramic patio doors, and creating one continuous floor that makes it easier to walk from one area of the home to another. The living room bar acts as an entertaining hub for cocktails and beer on tap, with custom TV’s that can be extended for an ideal game day experience. The design for this project was focused on highlighting the newly opened spaces in the home. This was accomplished by painting the exposed wood ceiling, installing several different lighting options, and adding new full-height windows that helped to brighten the space. An urban farmhouse look was achieved with a neutral color palette, brick and stone interior facades, wood flooring, exposed beams, wooden shelving, and black window frames.

Danish Modern is one of the several types of Modern design style. Popularized in Denmark from the 1940s-1970s, Danish modern furniture design was a collaboration between the principles of modern architecture and the high-quality cabinetmaking for which the Danes were known. Simple, elegant, airy, and featuring clean, sweeping lines, the furnishings are inherently warm and beautiful. This open dining room is a collection of vintage Danish modern furniture dating from the early 1970s. The authentic pieces were located at different auction houses and specialty consigners around the country to create a cohesive look the homeowners were seeking. The solid teak sideboard features a lighted upper display cabinet (removable) showcasing the homeowners’ collection of art including Nambé, Murano, Vietri sul Mare, and Blenko. The lower cabinet consists of two sliding doors on either end offering plentiful storage. In between are a bank of five felt-lined drawers for items such as silverware, trays and linens. With graceful rounded corners and rich, warm teak woodgrain, the dining room table is a perfect match to the sideboard. Two leaves tightly drop in and enable expansion with seating capacity for 14 people. Mixing up dining chairs adds interest and variety. The curvaceous and timeless Arne Jacobsen (the Danish designer) Series 7 chair in black is the perfect pairing for this dynamic design. Crowning the space is the airy, translucent classic Nelson bubble lamp, keeping in line with the Modernist theme.

photos by Pedro Marti The main goal of this renovation was to improve the overall flow of this one bedroom. The existing layout consisted of too much unusable circulation space and poorly laid out storage located at the entry of the apartment. The existing kitchen was an antiquated, small enclosed space. The main design solution was to remove the long entry hall by opening the kitchen to create one large open space that interacted with the main living room. A new focal point was created in the space by adding a long linear element of floating shelves with a workspace below opposite the kitchen running from the entry to the living space. Visually the apartment is tied together by using the same material for various elements throughout. Grey oak is used for the custom kitchen cabinetry, the floating shelves and desk, and to clad the entry walls. Custom light grey acid etched glass is used for the upper kitchen cabinets, the drawer fronts below the desk, and the tall closet doors at the entry. In the kitchen black granite countertops wrap around terminating with a raised dining surface open to the living room. The black counters are mirrored with a soft black acid etched backsplash that helps the kitchen feel larger as they create the illusion of receding. The existing floors of the apartment were stained a dark ebony and complimented by the new dark metallic porcelain tiled kitchen floor. In the bathroom the tub was replaced with an open shower. Brown limestone floors flow straight from the bathroom into the shower with out a curb, European style. The walls are tiled with a large format light blue glass.

Inspired by their years in Japan and California and their Scandinavian heritage, we updated this 1938 home with a earthy palette and clean lines. Rift-cut white oak cabinetry, white quartz counters and a soft green tile backsplash are balanced with details that reference the home's history. Classic light fixtures soften the modern elements. We created a new arched opening to the living room and removed the trim around other doorways to enlarge them and mimic original arched openings. Removing an entry closet and breakfast nook opened up the overall footprint and allowed for a functional work zone that includes great counter space on either side of the range, when they had none before.

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.

Complete Gut renovation that included removal and relocating of laundry room to basement. The existing kitchen layout and size was not adequate for this home. We opened up the space removed closets, walls and added windows. we gave this kitchen the ultimate appliance package two Bosch dishwashers, Fisher & Paykel Single Drawer Multi-Temperature Refrigerator/Freezer , 36" Thermador Range top, Sharpe Built In microwave. The plumbing Finish was done in Polished Nickel to match the hardware and light fixtures. The floor was done with European Oak with All Natural Hard-Wax Oil. This beautiful wood texture is coarse and characterized by open pores. The Counter tops from Caesarstone and to bring out the color in the wood floor we used a 4" X 12 " Marble Subway tile from Walker Zanger.

The renovation of this Wallingford craftsman-style bungalow is a thoughtful mix of contemporary ideals within the traditional language of the existing home. Overall, the house was in good shape, but there were unique changes the owner wanted to promote socializing and cooking, relatable to the craftsman style, setting an eclectic balance. Natural light transforms the space. The vaulted ceiling and five over-sized skylights, plus glass doors allow sunlight to pour through and fill the kitchen and social space with tons of daylight. To extend the kitchen, the busiest room in the home, a NanaWall opens to a tiered deck with a connection to the backyard and intimate garden views. There is an in-kitchen Wood Stone pizza oven. An 18-foot long island runs the length of the kitchen where homemade pizzas are made, plus it conceals a shuffleboard table. A black metal wall holds eight beer taps and a surface for creativity. The tatami room serves as an adaptive space – for eating, sleeping, playing games, and socializing.