The combination den-office is a cozy place to take care of business, play a game of chess, read or chat. Though the overall home is transitional, this space leans more toward the traditional, anchored by the client's ornately carved desk.

Off the front foyer, we opened up the game room by adding eccentric marble columns to the entrance. This bright room has all new windows encased with beautiful moldings to add to the dramatic look. To highlight the shape of the client’s pool table, we added a multi-colored tray ceiling. Photos: Peter Rymwid Photography

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photographer: Sam Angel Photography Design Challenge: This 8 year-old boy and girl were outgrowing their existing setup and needed to update their rooms with a plan that would carry them forward into middle school and beyond. In addition to gaining storage and study areas, could these twins show off their big personalities? Absolutely, we said! MOTIV Interiors tackled the rooms of these youngsters living in Nashville's 12th South Neighborhood and created an environment where the dynamic duo can learn, create, and grow together for years to come. Design Solution: In her room, we wanted to create a fun-filled space that supports softball, sleepovers, science, and anything else a girl might want to get into. The star of the show is a beautiful hand-printed wallpaper by Brooklyn designer Aimee Wilder, whose FSC-certified papers contain no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). That means that in addition to packing a powerful visual punch, they meet our standard for excellent indoor air quality. We also love this wallpaper because it is composed of so many different neutral colors - this room can organically evolve over time without necessarily replacing the paper (which was installed with a no-VOC adhesive). We refreshed the remaining walls with a scrubbable no-VOC paint from Sherwin Williams (7008 Alabaster) and gave the carpets in both of the twins’ rooms a good cleaning and simple stretch as opposed to replacing them. In order to provide more functional light in her room, we incorporated a corner floor lamp for reading, a telescoping desk lamp for studying, and an eye-catching LED flower pendant on a dimmer switch sourced from Lightology. Custom window treatments in a linen/cotton blend emphasize the height of the room and bring in a little “bling” with antiqued gold hardware. Before we even thought about aesthetics, however, MOTIV Interiors got to work right away on increasing functionality. We added a spacious storage unit with plenty of baskets for all of our young client’s animal friends, and we made sure to include ample shelf space for books and hobbies as she finds new passions to explore down the road. We always prefer eco-friendly furnishings that are manufactured responsibly, made with sustainably harvested wood (FSC Certified), and use no glue or non-toxic glues and paints. The bedding in this project is 100% cotton and contains no synthetic fibers. When purchasing bedding, check for the GOTS Certification (Global Organic Textile Standard). The introduction of a desk and drawer unit created a calming space to study and reflect, or write a letter to a friend. Gold accents add a bit of warmth to the workspace, where she can display her memories, goals, and game plans for a bright future. We hope you enjoyed this project as much as we did! Each design challenge is an opportunity to push the envelope, by creating a new and exciting aesthetic or finding creative ways to incorporate sustainable design principles.

48'x35' game court featuring SnapSports athletic tiles in Maple Tuffshield with a Sky Blue Revolution Lane, 72" Gladiator adjustable basketball hoop, white basketball lines, silver pickleball lines, custom wall pad, Gladiator ball rack, and black cove base.

Example of a classic game room design in Other

48'x35' game court featuring SnapSports athletic tiles in Maple Tuffshield with a Sky Blue Revolution Lane, 72" Gladiator adjustable basketball hoop, white basketball lines, silver pickleball lines, custom wall pad, Gladiator ball rack, and black cove base.

SnapSports athletic tiles in Light and Dark Maple Pro 36, Gladiator 72" and 60" adjustable basketball hoops with 3' overhang, basketball and pickleball game lines, black wall pads, black cove base

Sport Court St. Louis built this multi use court for a growing family. Sport Court Powergame in Green and Dark Blue with White Basketball Lines and Black Multi-Sport Game Lines

48'x35' game court featuring SnapSports athletic tiles in Maple Tuffshield with a Sky Blue Revolution Lane, 72" Gladiator adjustable basketball hoop, white basketball lines, silver pickleball lines, custom wall pad, Gladiator ball rack, and black cove base.

48'x35' game court featuring SnapSports athletic tiles in Maple Tuffshield with a Sky Blue Revolution Lane, 72" Gladiator adjustable basketball hoop, white basketball lines, silver pickleball lines, custom wall pad, Gladiator ball rack, and black cove base.

The lower level transformed into a Gaming and Lounge area, Media Room, Powder Room, and Exercise Room. A Scrabble board surrounded by swivel chairs provides a unique way to host game night. New ceiling beams and arched cased openings separate the Lounge from the Game area. The custom Banquette’s faux window anchors the space and illuminates the room.

Check out one of our latest courts located in Minnetrista and featured in the 2017 Fall Parade of Homes (#218). This lucky customer will enjoy years of active play and family time on this multi-sport indoor game court featuring maple Tuffshield and red Revolution SnapSports athletic tiles! Can you say WIN WIN?!

Trendy gender-neutral dark wood floor playroom photo in San Diego with multicolored walls

Be the hangout house and build memories. This is about more than just getting off of the couch. This is about building a place where your family can play, train, and bond. •Know where your kids are and get to know their friends. •Build a multi-sport game court designed for maximum versatility or a dedicated basketball court or tennis court to take your little athlete to the next level. •Let us design a court to fit your family and your budget. •Tell us which sports you play; we’ll find the right surface for you. •Spend time playing on a low-maintenance court instead of landscaping. •Watch the kids grow up at your house.

This room is the Media Room in the 2016 Junior League Shophouse. This space is intended for a family meeting space where a multi generation family could gather. The idea is that the kids could be playing video games while their grandparents are relaxing and reading the paper by the fire and their parents could be enjoying a cup of coffee while skimming their emails. This is a shot of the wall mounted tv screen, a ceiling mounted projector is connected to the internet and can stream anything online. Photo by Jared Kuzia.

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Inspiration for a large contemporary enclosed game room remodel in Sacramento with a wall-mounted tv

Photo by Scott Frances. The furnishings in this custom-designed luxury vacation house are from high-end design trade showrooms and antiques dealers. The game room features a bronze and anodized steel billiards table from Sutherland. The lighting fixture above the table is from Satori Light Sculptures. Published in Luxe magazine Winter 2010.

Basement game room and home bar. Cutaway ceiling reveals rustic wood ceiling with contemporary light fixture. Photography by Spacecrafting
Large transitional carpeted family room photo in Minneapolis with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv