This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

This is an example of a mid-sized southwestern full sun and desert front yard gravel landscaping in San Diego.

This Ranch Hacienda hillside estate boasts well over 13,000 square feet under roof. A loggia serves as the backbone for the design. Each space, both interior and exterior, has a direct response to the linear expression of outdoor space. The exterior materials and detailing are rustic and simple in nature. The mass and scale create drama and correspond to the vast desert skyline and adjacent majestic McDowell mountain views. Features of the house include a motor court with dual garages, a separate guest quarters, and a walk-in cooler. Silverleaf is known for its embodiment of traditional architectural styles, and this house expresses the essence of a hacienda with its communal courtyard spaces and quiet luxury. This was the first project of many designed by Architect C.P. Drewett for construction in Silverleaf, located in north Scottsdale, AZ. Project Details: Architecture | C.P. Drewett, AIA, DrewettWorks, Scottsdale, AZ Builder | Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photography | Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ

Troy Thies Photography

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

Master bathroom with walk in shower, glass mosaic tile accent piece, and porcelain tile walls/flooring. Tile and hardware provided and installed by Natural Selections.

These South Shore of Boston Homeowners approached the Team at Renovisions to power-up their powder room. Their half bath, located on the first floor, is used by several guests particularly over the holidays. When considering the heavy traffic and the daily use from two toddlers in the household, it was smart to go with a stylish, yet practical design. Wainscot made a nice change to this room, adding an architectural interest and an overall classic feel to this cape-style traditional home. Installing custom wainscoting may be a challenge for most DIY’s, however in this case the homeowners knew they needed a professional and felt they were in great hands with Renovisions. Details certainly made a difference in this project; adding crown molding, careful attention to baseboards and trims had a big hand in creating a finished look. The painted wood vanity in color, sage reflects the trend toward using furniture-like pieces for cabinets. The smart configuration of drawers and door, allows for plenty of storage, a true luxury for a powder room. The quartz countertop was a stunning choice with veining of sage, black and white creating a Wow response when you enter the room. The dark stained wood trims and wainscoting were painted a bright white finish and allowed the selected green/beige hue to pop. Decorative black framed family pictures produced a dramatic statement and were appealing to all guests. The attractive glass mirror is outfitted with sconce light fixtures on either side, ensuring minimal shadows. The homeowners are thrilled with their new look and proud to boast what was once a simple bathroom into a showcase of their personal style and taste. "We are very happy with our new bathroom. We received many compliments on it from guests that have come to visit recently. Thanks for all of your hard work on this project!" - Doug & Lisa M. (Hanover)

Example of a transitional formal medium tone wood floor living room design with gray walls

Stephani Buchman Photography
Inspiration for a transitional gender-neutral carpeted and beige floor nursery remodel in Toronto with black walls

Balancing modern architectural elements with traditional Edwardian features was a key component of the complete renovation of this San Francisco residence. All new finishes were selected to brighten and enliven the spaces, and the home was filled with a mix of furnishings that convey a modern twist on traditional elements. The re-imagined layout of the home supports activities that range from a cozy family game night to al fresco entertaining. Architect: AT6 Architecture Builder: Citidev Photographer: Ken Gutmaker Photography

Our goal on this project was to make the main floor of this lovely early 20th century home in a popular Vancouver neighborhood work for a growing family of four. We opened up the space, both literally and aesthetically, with windows and skylights, an efficient layout, some carefully selected furniture pieces and a soft colour palette that lends a light and playful feel to the space. Our clients can hardly believe that their once small, dark, uncomfortable main floor has become a bright, functional and beautiful space where they can now comfortably host friends and hang out as a family. Interior Design by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating Inc. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography.

Inspiration for a large contemporary marble floor powder room remodel in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls and multicolored countertops

Inspiration for a farmhouse patio remodel in New York

Staying true to the historic age of the building while updating the elements in the space. Small bathrooms require essential storage. Photo Credit : John Ellis

When we imagine the homes of our favorite actors, we often think of picturesque kitchens, artwork hanging on the walls, luxurious furniture, and pristine conditions 24/7. But for celebrities with children, sometimes that last one isn’t always accurate! Kids will be kids – which means there may be messy bedrooms, toys strewn across their play area, and maybe even some crayon marks or finger-paints on walls or floors. Lucy Liu recently partnered with One Kings Lane and Paintzen to redesign her son Rockwell’s playroom in their Manhattan apartment for that reason. Previously, Lucy had decided not to focus too much on the layout or color of the space – it was simply a room to hold all of Rockwell’s toys. There wasn’t much of a design element to it and very little storage. Lucy was ready to change that – and transform the room into something more sophisticated and tranquil for both Rockwell and for guests (especially those with kids!). And to really bring that transformation to life, one of the things that needed to change was the lack of color and texture on the walls. When selecting the color palette, Lucy and One Kings Lane designer Nicole Fisher decided on a more neutral, contemporary style. They chose to avoid the primary colors, which are too often utilized in children’s rooms and playrooms. Instead, they chose to have Paintzen paint the walls in a cozy gray with warm beige undertones. (Try PPG ‘Slate Pebble’ for a similar look!) It created a perfect backdrop for the decor selected for the room, which included a tepee for Rockwell, some Tribal-inspired artwork, Moroccan woven baskets, and some framed artwork. To add texture to the space, Paintzen also installed wallpaper on two of the walls. The wallpaper pattern involved muted blues and grays to add subtle color and a slight contrast to the rest of the walls. Take a closer look at this smartly designed space, featuring a beautiful neutral color palette and lots of exciting textures!

Mid-sized transitional enclosed and formal dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in St Louis with a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, white walls and no tv

Example of a tuscan freestanding bathtub design in Austin

This San Francisco pied-a-tier was a complete redesign and remodel in a prestigious Nob Hill hi-rise overlooking Huntington Park. With stunning views of the bay and a more impressive art collection taking center stage, the architecture takes a minimalist approach, with gallery-white walls receding to the background. The mix of custom-designed built-in furniture and furnishings selected by Hulburd Design read themselves as pieces of art against parquet wood flooring.

Mid-sized trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in San Francisco with beige walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv