Barton Creek Residence - Custom Design - Jim Nix - AIA - Austin Architect - Nix Group Architects – Residential and Commercial Architecture Firm - Austin Texas – 78701. The Genkan styled entry foyer allows for greeting guests and removal of shoes. For this, it incorporates a slightly raised floor and seating bench, both popular features in Japanese homes. Its honed stone flooring is the Texas Aquaverde and Yorkshire stone used at the approaching exterior entry porch and walkway to connect it to the exterior. As well, the interior accent wall behind the bench continues the Texas Lueders stone coursing used outside, with additional interspersed accent banding featuring darker-colored polished Texas Yorkshire stone. Beyond the ante is a pottery collection display wall, main hall and family room beyond.The wood ceiling is supported by exposed wood beams. The custom patterned entry doors have a combination of clear and opaque glass panels, in a similar motif to that of the custom exterior walkway gates. Opposite the entry door is a wood latticed opening which allows for views through and into the Washitsu and Nakaniwa beyond. The opening is framing with painted accent areas, segmented with aluminum reveals. The entry foyer stairs integrates glass with wood handrails, guardrails, treads and stainless steel fittings. The wood inlays include Fir, Wenge, Mesquite, Beech and Cherry. The custom designed bench has many of the same woods as the staircase.

This true radius, hand forged, wrought iron double door set with 3/4 lites is a show stopper! It replaced a sidelite/door/sidelite sequence that had an average looking, true radius transom over the entry. The added value to this home is huge! Traditional. Glass opens for fresh air.

This 1950's home was chopped up with the segmented rooms of the period. The front of the house had two living spaces, separated by a wall with a door opening, and the long-skinny hearth area was difficult to arrange. The kitchen had been remodeled at some point, but was still dated. The homeowners wanted more space, more light, and more MODERN. So we delivered. We knocked out the walls and added a beam to open up the three spaces. Luxury vinyl tile in a warm, matte black set the base for the space, with light grey walls and a mid-grey ceiling. The fireplace was totally revamped and clad in cut-face black stone. Cabinetry and built-ins in clear-coated maple add the mid-century vibe, as does the furnishings. And the geometric backsplash was the starting inspiration for everything. We'll let you just peruse the photos, with before photos at the end, to see just how dramatic the results were!

This main floor renovation was completed over the course of a year and focused on creating a more open, connected layout for a busy Kleinburg family of four and their two dogs, who love to entertain. The previous floor plan made gatherings feel segmented, so improving flow and functionality was key. The renovation included a new staircase, reconfigured walls, a custom kitchen, and a striking new fireplace feature wall. The clients wanted to transition from their traditional aesthetic to a timeless, transitional design that feels fresh yet classic. Natural materials and soft, earthy tones were incorporated throughout, including in the redesigned bathrooms, to maintain a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. The result is a warm, functional home that brings everyone together—just as our clients envisioned.

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

The paver walk is bordered by a dune grass planting on one side.
Photo of a coastal landscaping in Chicago.

Lauren Bloom
This is an example of a small tropical partial sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in Denver.

Waterwise conversion of lawn areas to work seamlessly with surroundings. Hillside transformation included a segmented pondless waterfall and path to upper seating area.

This is an example of a large contemporary full sun front yard brick landscaping in Minneapolis.

This is an example of a large transitional partial sun backyard landscaping in Sacramento.

Mid-sized mountain style entryway photo in Tampa

This Kitchen and Mudroom renovation in Chantilly, VA featured plenty of kitchen counter space with a unique kitchen island, beautiful white cabinetry and kitchen backsplash and modern appliances that turned this dark and segmented kitchen into a bright open space.

What once felt dark, segmented, and inefficient is now a bright, connected, and highly functional first floor designed for real family living. Our clients, Terry and Lou, came to us with a home that simply wasn’t keeping up with their growing family. The kitchen was cramped, with tight working lanes and limited light. The laundry room doubled as a powder room—yet functioned poorly as both. Sightlines between spaces were cut off, making it difficult to stay connected to their young children throughout the day. Across the board, the home felt dated and disconnected. Through thoughtful planning and strategic structural changes, we reimagined the entire first floor to better support how this family truly lives. We began by redefining the entry experience—creating a true foyer complete with a dedicated drop zone and custom cubby storage. This space now acts as a natural landing point, bringing order and intention to everyday comings and goings. Adjacent to the new entry, we relocated and redesigned the laundry room. Now positioned exactly where it needs to be, it functions as a hardworking utility space with countertops for folding, a utility sink for immediate stain treatment, and the ability to be closed off—keeping daily life contained when needed. Separating the previous shared function allowed us to carve out a distinct, personality-filled powder room. Wrapped in a bold wave-patterned wallpaper and grounded by a custom reeded oak vanity with warm brass accents, this space delivers a moment of delight and individuality within the home. The kitchen transformation is where the impact is felt most deeply. What was once a dark, restrictive layout has been opened into a spacious, highly efficient U-shaped kitchen with generous clearances and an oversized island for gathering. A thoughtful mix of painted cabinetry and rift white oak introduces warmth and balance, while the custom reeded hood becomes a sculptural focal point. Open shelving, integrated pantry storage, and layered lighting ensure the space is as functional as it is beautiful. Beyond aesthetics, the redesign prioritizes flow—both in movement and in connection. Sightlines between the kitchen, dining, and living areas were intentionally opened, allowing for ease of interaction and visibility throughout the main living spaces. To unify the home, existing hardwood floors were refinished and extended, creating continuity and a seamless visual experience from one space to the next. The result is a home that feels lighter, more open, and deeply aligned with how this family lives day to day—designed not just to look beautiful, but to support everything from busy mornings to slow, shared evenings.

Warmly contemporary, airy, and above all welcoming, this single-family home in the heart of the city blends family-friendly living – and playing – space with rooms designed for large-scale entertaining. As at ease hosting a team’s worth of basketball-dribbling youngsters as it is gathering hundreds of philanthropy-minded guests for worthy causes, it transitions between the two without care or concern. An open floor plan is thoughtfully segmented by custom millwork designed to define spaces, provide storage, and cozy large expanses of space. Sleek, yet never cold, its gallery-like ambiance accommodates an art collection that ranges from the ethnic and organic to the textural, streamlined furniture silhouettes, quietly dynamic fabrics, and an arms-wide-open policy toward the two young boys who call this house home. Of course, like any family home, the kitchen is its heart. Here, linear forms – think wall upon wall of concealed cabinets, hugely paned windows, and an elongated island that seats eight even as it provides generous prep and serving space – define the ultimate in contemporary urban living. Photo Credit: Werner Straube

The client wanted a backyard that all the family could enjoy. The Rear project included: a new patio using EP Henry Devonstone in Pennsylvania Bluestone color with matching border; Segmental retaining wall for fireplace, hot tub area and outdoor kitchen / bar using Outdoor Living by Belgard Antique wall in silex blend; thermal flagstone countertop for bar; lighting; water feature - Aquascape Inc. pondless waterfall; outdoor fireplace with Ledgestone Breckenridge veneer; and landscaping. The front project included plantings and a new walkway using Pennsylvania variegated natural cleft flagstone with clay brick to match house. Stay tuned for professional After photos and video.

Sam S.
Patio - mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver patio idea in Other with a pergola

Warmly contemporary, airy, and above all welcoming, this single-family home in the heart of the city blends family-friendly living – and playing – space with rooms designed for large-scale entertaining. As at ease hosting a team’s worth of basketball-dribbling youngsters as it is gathering hundreds of philanthropy-minded guests for worthy causes, it transitions between the two without care or concern. An open floor plan is thoughtfully segmented by custom millwork designed to define spaces, provide storage, and cozy large expanses of space. Sleek, yet never cold, its gallery-like ambiance accommodates an art collection that ranges from the ethnic and organic to the textural, streamlined furniture silhouettes, quietly dynamic fabrics, and an arms-wide-open policy toward the two young boys who call this house home. Of course, like any family home, the kitchen is its heart. Here, linear forms – think wall upon wall of concealed cabinets, hugely paned windows, and an elongated island that seats eight even as it provides generous prep and serving space – define the ultimate in contemporary urban living. Photo Credit: Werner Straube