Want a natural flooring material that performs like a champ? The cellular nature of cork allows it to absorb and maintain warmth, making it one of the warmer flooring surfaces next to carpet. It’s this same honeycomb structure that also allows it to act as a sound insulator, so areas that are exposed to high levels of noise can be restricted. If you’re looking for a eco-friendly alternative that brings great quality at reasonable pricing then look to floating cork flooring.

Restricted by a compact but spectacular waterfront site, this home was designed to accommodate a large family and take full advantage of summer living on Cape Cod. The open, first floor living space connects to a series of decks and patios leading to the pool, spa, dock and fire pit beyond. The name of the home was inspired by the family’s love of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. The black pearl resides on the cap of the main stair newel post.

Our latest project, Fish Camp, on Longboat Key, FL. This home was designed around tight zoning restrictions while meeting the FEMA V-zone requirement. It is registered with LEED and is expected to be Platinum certified. It is rated EnergyStar v. 3.1 with a HERS index of 50. The design is a modern take on the Key West vernacular so as to keep with the neighboring historic homes in the area. Ryan Gamma Photography

This 3,850-square-foot single-family home in New Jersey exemplifies modern design and architectural ingenuity. Built on a tight lot with stringent zoning regulations, the project posed unique challenges that were met with innovative solutions to deliver a truly remarkable residence tailored for modern home enthusiasts. The home’s design embraces open spaces filled with natural light, creating a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor living. A thoughtful combination of materials—concrete, stucco, wood, and glass—come together to craft a sleek yet inviting aesthetic. Each material was carefully selected and positioned to enhance the overall structure and functionality of the house while contributing to its contemporary appeal. One of the standout architectural features includes impressive cantilevers that not only enhance the home’s visual impact but also address complex structural challenges with sophistication. These bold design choices create a feeling of weightlessness and add to the dynamic character of the residence. Despite the tight lot constraints, the layout maximizes every corner of the space without compromising comfort or style. A practical yet elegant floor plan ensures a sense of openness and fluidity throughout, providing ample areas for family living, entertaining, and relaxation. This project demonstrates that thoughtful design and strategic engineering can overcome restrictive site limitations and zoning challenges to deliver a home that is both functional and stunningly modern. It is a testament to the possibilities of modern architecture and a celebration of creativity, engineering, and craftsmanship.

Deck - traditional backyard deck idea in Chicago with a pergola

This full property landscape design and build presented Pro-Land with the opportunity to creatively work with existing grades, while considering the restrictions of an abutting conservation authority. Keeping this in mind we were able to optimize the views of the greenery around the property, while creating a functional outdoor entertainment area. The client wanted a classic design for the front; flagstone walkways to tie in with the colors from the house and an entry wall frames the front door. The goal in the backyard was to create various areas for entertaining, without sacrificing play spaces for their children – the size of the property made accommodating their wishes fairly easy. A sports court, pool with water feature, cabana, and outdoor kitchen ensure these homeowners don’t have to go far for their next vacation.

A large, less restrictive space can sometimes be a challenge to remodel as the possibilities are truly unlimited. The goal was to create a functional and warm space that still felt open, clean and utilized the large space well. Custom glass panel cabinetry with sliding doors and a central drawer bank features ample storage and even multiple standard outlets inside. Vessel sinks sit atop the custom quartz counters that compliment the stone resin free standing bath. On the back side of the central wall is a walk in, from both sides, his and hers shower. Custom tile through out ties both sides of this large bath together. The shower features multiple niches.

This gorgeous Mediterranean/Tuscan style home is perched on a hillside overlooking thousands of acres of Texas Hill Country. Everything about the home captures your interest and draws you in. The home was built with every room taking advantage of the incredible views. As you enter, the handmade brick ceiling entices you into the magnificent great room. Your eyes continue through the great room and are drawn to the huge picture window that looks out forever. The great room has a see through fireplace to the master bedroom, Saltillo tile floors, and a full bar with wine frig and icemaker. To the right of the foyer is a study with wooden floors, a half bath and also includes a nice size closet. To the left of the foyer is an open dining room with a cathedral ceiling and windows at the top allowing ample light to flow in. The dining room has wooden floors with a built-in buffet. The master bedroom has plush carpet, French doors that open out onto the veranda, fireplace, his/hers closets with built ins and a huge master bath complete with laundry room. The master bath has his/hers sinks with generous counter space, Jacuzzi tub and a walk- through shower with double heads. The enormous kitchen is open to the den area and also has incredible views. A large granite island houses the sink and leaves more than enough room for friends to visit while your chef is preparing the meal. Stainless steel double ovens, five burner gas stove, terracotta tile countertops with backsplash, and thermador frig and freezer. The den has a native stone fireplace and a large wall of built-ins for your T.V. and plenty of books and other décor. Saltillo tile floors cover the kitchen and den area. Next to the kitchen is a custom butler’s pantry with wood floors, terracotta tile counters, copper sink, a compact dishwasher plus a cutout into the wet bar area for ease of service. Two additional bedrooms with private baths are in the main home, with a separate 900 SF guest quarters that has a nice size living area, kitchenette, two bedrooms and a full bath. This incredible 4574+-SF estate is in a gated subdivision just minutes out of Kerrville and a stone’s throw from the eclectic Camp Verde General Store and Post Office. The home was custom built in 2004 with such attention to detail that it will stand the test of time and changing décor. The home sits on 30 acres in an area that is all wildlife exempt with superb restrictions to protect the homeowner’s investment.

The Cloud Villa is so named because of the grand central stair which connects the three floors of this 800m2 villa in Shanghai. It’s abstract cloud-like form celebrates fluid movement through space, while dividing the main entry from the main living space. As the main focal point of the villa, it optimistically reinforces domesticity as an act of unencumbered weightless living; in contrast to the restrictive bulk of the typical sprawling megalopolis in China. The cloud is an intimate form that only the occupants of the villa have the luxury of using on a daily basis. The main living space with its overscaled, nearly 8m high vaulted ceiling, gives the villa a sacrosanct quality. Contemporary in form, construction and materiality, the Cloud Villa’s stair is classical statement about the theater and intimacy of private and domestic life.

A&E Construction. This stunning Pennington, NJ kitchen renovation combines elegance and functionality, blending quartz countertops and walnut finished hardwood flooring with stainless steel appliances and a large eat-in island with seating. The new open space encourages casual interaction into the living area not restricted by old ceiling-mounted cabinets closing off the kitchen. The larger island counter design allows for continuous hidden electrical outlet plug-moulding in the apron detailing, for easy laptop computer charging, and/or appliance usage.

Words cannot describe the level of transformation this beautiful 60’s ranch has undergone. The home was blessed with a ton of natural light, however the sectioned rooms made for large awkward spaces without much functionality. By removing the dividing walls and reworking a few key functioning walls, this home is ready to entertain friends and family for all occasions. The large island has dual ovens for serious bake-off competitions accompanied with an inset induction cooktop equipped with a pop-up ventilation system. Plenty of storage surrounds the cooking stations providing large countertop space and seating nook for two. The beautiful natural quartzite is a show stopper throughout with it’s honed finish and serene blue/green hue providing a touch of color. Mother-of-Pearl backsplash tiles compliment the quartzite countertops and soft linen cabinets. The level of functionality has been elevated by moving the washer & dryer to a newly created closet situated behind the refrigerator and keeps hidden by a ceiling mounted barn-door. The new laundry room and storage closet opposite provide a functional solution for maintaining easy access to both areas without door swings restricting the path to the family room. Full height pantry cabinet make up the rest of the wall providing plenty of storage space and a natural division between casual dining to formal dining. Built-in cabinetry with glass doors provides the opportunity to showcase family dishes and heirlooms accented with in-cabinet lighting. With the wall partitions removed, the dining room easily flows into the rest of the home while maintaining its special moment. A large peninsula divides the kitchen space from the seating room providing plentiful storage including countertop cabinets for hidden storage, a charging nook, and a custom doggy station for the beloved dog with an elevated bowl deck and shallow drawer for leashes and treats! Beautiful large format tiles with a touch of modern flair bring all these spaces together providing a texture and color unlike any other with spots of iridescence, brushed concrete, and hues of blue and green. The original master bath and closet was divided into two parts separated by a hallway and door leading to the outside. This created an itty-bitty bathroom and plenty of untapped floor space with potential! By removing the interior walls and bringing the new bathroom space into the bedroom, we created a functional bathroom and walk-in closet space. By reconfiguration the bathroom layout to accommodate a walk-in shower and dual vanity, we took advantage of every square inch and made it functional and beautiful! A pocket door leads into the bathroom suite and a large full-length mirror on a mosaic accent wall greets you upon entering. To the left is a pocket door leading into the walk-in closet, and to the right is the new master bath. A natural marble floor mosaic in a basket weave pattern is warm to the touch thanks to the heating system underneath. Large format white wall tiles with glass mosaic accent in the shower and continues as a wainscot throughout the bathroom providing a modern touch and compliment the classic marble floor. A crisp white double vanity furniture piece completes the space. The journey of the Yosemite project is one we will never forget. Not only were we given the opportunity to transform this beautiful home into a more functional and beautiful space, we were blessed with such amazing clients who were endlessly appreciative of TVL – and for that we are grateful!

The clients purchased the home about 15 years ago and never knew what to do with the porch addition off the back of the home. In addition to being a general eye sore and cutting off a large portion of their small back yard, it was always a little damp, smelly, and not very well arranged. This also impeded access to the back yard by forcing passage through a secondary space. The size of the porch restricted light into the home which they did not like. The at-grade cedar deck was a maintenance nightmare and a terrible misuse of space.

2012 NARI CAPITAL COTY, MERIT AWARD WINNER, ENTIRE HOUSE UNDER $250,000 After 20 years of living in this split foyer home in Vienna, VA this couple were ready to have to total overhaul of their residence. Given that this house was built in late 70’s, windows were small, partition walls separating Foyer to Living room and kitchen, light was limited. The old kitchen was separated by walls from dining room and covered in gold vinyl floor and dark oak cabinetry. The wanted all to disappear. The back yard was pretty and with a touch of landscaper had a lot of potential. The house is located on a corner lot and had set back restrictions to expand from left and back sides. She owned a large grand piano and loves to play it for company. Having it in a conservatory was her dream. We met with this couple and after bouncing few ideas back and forth, we all agreed on the following course of action. Build out a 12’x33’ angular side addition that is open to both adjacent living and dining room. This space will be surrounded with tall windows on all walls and vaulted ceiling with embedded lighting. The opening to Living room was created by removing a big portion of bearing wall and decorated with couple of paneled columns. This area is now occupied by her grand piano . The back portion of this addition was converted to new Long Dining room under a beautiful chandelier. There is a set of pocketed French doors implemented into bearing wall connects the dining room to old dining room. By installing wide plank hardwood floors thorough out entire first floor this house has open floor plan and looks spacious. The back wall of old dining room was removed and a new 12’x14’ sunroom addition with vaulted ceiling and large transom windows invited the view of beautiful backyard inside. A new French door in sunroom will leads into new patio and backyard. The wall between Living room and old dining room was widened and furnished with a new pocketed French doors creates privacy from busy kitchen while letting natural light in. The foyer was widened by taking partition walls and new French doors were placed into kitchen. The wall between Kitchen and old dining room was removed. This made it possible to expand the kitchen into old dining room and have a breakfast area. A large triple window was installed over the sink bringing lots of natural light into this kitchen. A set of glass front hutches were placed on both side of new dining room entrance. All plumbing and gas line, as well as duct work were relocated for new appliances location. The east wall this kitchen has been occupied with a 60” Viking stove and wood mantel Hood making it the focal point and prizing wining attraction. He wanted this huge stove for long time and now it was time to deliver. New plumbing was added for Island prep. sink making it possible for couple to spend their times cooking together. The south wall of the kitchen now taken over with a large 48” built in Fridge and couple of floor to ceiling pantries for added storage space. Burgundy finish cherry cabinetry covered over by unique marble and matching full backsplash makes this project outstanding. The entire house windows were replaced with higher efficiency double paned windows. Some were widened by the way of cutting and redoing old brick. The entire house siding, fascia and gutters were redone. A matching brick skirting was installed to create a seamless connection with existing structure. Challenges such as cutting through lot of bearing walls and creating large openings, tie old and new structure on the different ends, and keep a seamless interior connection made this project more interesting than others. Now this couple are more willing than ever to entertain, cook and have friends gather around the piano. The total transformation of this home has been the talk of neighborhood.

The "Corner Villa" design principles are meticulously crafted to create communal spaces for celebrations and gatherings while catering to the owner's need for private sanctuaries and privacy. One unique feature of the villa is the courtyard at the back of the building, separated from the main facade and parking area. This placement ensures that the courtyard and private areas of the villa remain secluded and at the center of the structure. In addition, the desire for a peaceful space away from the main reception and party hall led to more secluded private spaces and bedrooms on a single floor. These spaces are connected by a deep balcony, allowing for different activities to take place simultaneously, making the villa more energy-efficient during periods of lower occupancy and contributing to reduced energy consumption. The villa's shape features broken lines and geometric lozenges that create corners. This design not only allows for expansive balconies but also provides captivating views. The broken lines also serve the purpose of shading areas that receive intense sunlight, ensuring thermal comfort. Addressing the client's crucial need for a serene and tranquil space detached from the main reception and party hall led to the creation of more secluded private spaces and bedrooms on a single floor due to building restrictions. A deep balcony was introduced as a connecting point between these spaces. This arrangement enables various activities, such as parties and relaxation, to occur simultaneously, contributing to energy-efficient practices during periods of lower occupancy, thus aiding in reduced energy consumption.

Located in the well-established community of Northwood, close to Grande Dunes, this superior quality craftsman styled 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom energy efficient home designed by CRG Companies will feature a Hardie board exterior, Trex decking, vinyl railings and wood beadboard ceilings on porches, a screened-in porch with outdoor fireplace and carport. The interior features include 9’ ceilings, thick crown molding and wood trim, wood-look tile floors in main living areas, ceramic tile in baths, carpeting in bedrooms, recessed lights, upgraded 42” kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a huge tile shower and free standing soaker tub in the master bathroom. The home will also be pre-wired for home audio and security systems. Detached garage can be an added option. No HOA fee or restrictions, 98' X 155' lot is huge for this area, room for a pool.

The "Corner Villa" design principles are meticulously crafted to create communal spaces for celebrations and gatherings while catering to the owner's need for private sanctuaries and privacy. One unique feature of the villa is the courtyard at the back of the building, separated from the main facade and parking area. This placement ensures that the courtyard and private areas of the villa remain secluded and at the center of the structure. In addition, the desire for a peaceful space away from the main reception and party hall led to more secluded private spaces and bedrooms on a single floor. These spaces are connected by a deep balcony, allowing for different activities to take place simultaneously, making the villa more energy-efficient during periods of lower occupancy and contributing to reduced energy consumption. The villa's shape features broken lines and geometric lozenges that create corners. This design not only allows for expansive balconies but also provides captivating views. The broken lines also serve the purpose of shading areas that receive intense sunlight, ensuring thermal comfort. Addressing the client's crucial need for a serene and tranquil space detached from the main reception and party hall led to the creation of more secluded private spaces and bedrooms on a single floor due to building restrictions. A deep balcony was introduced as a connecting point between these spaces. This arrangement enables various activities, such as parties and relaxation, to occur simultaneously, contributing to energy-efficient practices during periods of lower occupancy, thus aiding in reduced energy consumption.

2016. "African Room" Interior Design Project by #OxaKovalli. The most exotic of all existing styles is the African style. A passion for the unfamiliar is so human. Decorating the interior in the African style excites the imagination and creates a sense of touching a mystery, something special. Maximum exotic and grotesque, it breaks the clichéd notions of how the interior should be. To give your home an African flavor, a global rearrangement of the apartment to arrange not necessarily. This style - is the very embodiment of dynamics, expression, and pounding vital energy. A neatly chosen game of contrasts can achieve an interesting visual effect in this interior. For example, for decorating the room, you can choose warm, soft, muted colors: sandy, terracotta, pale, the color of melted milk, ochre, or wood bark. Against this background, the items of decor, curtains, and drapery of saturated hues will look very impressive: scarlet or lemon-yellow finishing cloth of upholstered furniture, orange fixtures, and motley carpets with characteristic ornaments. In terms of colors, the African style imposes the only restriction: you should not use synthetic, fluorescent colors.

If you were to look up “classic summer cottage” in the dictionary, there should be a picture of this house. Located in a densely populated community of historic summer cottages, this new gambrel-style home was designed to maintain the beach cottage feel of its predecessor. Due to strict zoning and easement restrictions the new construction had to be designed within the same footprint and volume of its former self. The new design allows for a more open floor plan, more living space, and an almost 180-degree view of the ocean. Filled with natural light and a palette of colors and materials reminiscent of seashells, this four-bedroom home is the quintessential summer retreat. Glass foldaway doors extend the main living area to a covered porch with gas fireplace. A fully finished basement suite, with walk-out access to a gas grilling patio and the beach, is perfect for guests. The interiors are an artful blend of modern fixtures along with some slightly more traditional materials that are in keeping with the cottage vibe. © Eric Roth Photography

This kitchen remodel was designed by Phil Rudick, Architect of Urban Kitchens + Baths, Austin, Texas. The original kitchen was built with a boomerang shaped peninsula which severely restricted traffic flow and only allowed for a small island. one long wall was totally underutilized, and no thought was given to storage and accessibility. We wanted to redesign the space to maximize it's potential. The redesigned kitchen space features a proper work triangle where the areas at the triangle points were fully developed for food prep, cooking and cleanup. The new large island offers seating thanks to a graceful granite counter top overhang, and the bank of tall pantry cabinets is outfitted with mobile full extension self/soft close shelves.