Search results for "Skeleton" in Home Design Ideas

Turn the skeleton key, step through the fur coats, and take in the magic that is Narnia. This hidden children’s playroom is simply magical and one of the coolest things we’ve worked on!

This custom-fabricated industrial bar cart is engineered for both mobility and high-capacity storage, featuring a striking design that merges heavy-duty metalwork with rich wood accents. The cart is anchored by a robust dark steel skeleton, topped with a thick, beautifully finished solid wood butcher-block-style countertop.
The centerpiece of the cart is a deep, steel-encased drawer designed specifically for secure, upright bottle storage, fitted with a heavy-duty custom steel bar pull. Below, a secondary wood-lined tray offers additional open storage, ideal for glassware or bar tools. The cart’s industrial aesthetic is highlighted by its unique, oversized spoked wheel on one side and heavy-duty locking casters on the other, allowing for both easy movement and stable placement. Every connection is reinforced with structural steel plates and exposed hardware, emphasizing the cart’s bespoke, architectural craftsmanship.

The client was looking for a better way to utilize the small backyard of their Baltimore rowhome. The project included a patio using Outdoor Living by Belgard Aquaroc (permeable paver); a water feature using a natural Basalt column with LED light rings and mexican beach gravel; a workbench and storage cabinet with a Flagstone thermal cap and cedar trim; a wrought iron fence and pergola skeleton for plants to grow; wood fence on top of solid painted block; perennial plants in planter boxes; and landscape lighting.
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It’s rare when a client comes to me with a brief for a complete home from scratch, but that is exactly what happened here. My client, a professional musician and singer, was having a luxury three-story condo built and wanted help choosing not only all the hardscape materials like tile, flooring, carpet, and cabinetry, but also all furniture and furnishings. I even outfitted his new home with plates, flatware, pots and pans, towels, sheets, and window coverings. Like I said, this was from scratch!
We defined his style direction for the new home including dark colors, minimalistic furniture, and a modern industrial sensibility, and I set about creating a fluid expression of that style. The tone is set at the entry where a custom laser-cut industrial steel sign requests visitors be shoeless. We deliberately limited the color palette for the entire house to black, grey, and deep blue, with grey-washed or dark stained neutral woods.
The navy zellige tiles on the backsplash in the kitchen add depth between the cement-textured quartz counters and cerused cabinetry. The island is painted in a coordinating navy and features hand-forged iron stools. In the dining room, horizontal and vertical lines play with each other in the form of an angular linear chandelier, lighted acrylic light columns, and a dining table with a special faceted wave edge. Chair backs echo the shape of the art maps on the wall.
We chose a unique, three dimensional wall treatment for the living room where a plush sectional and LED tunable lights set the stage for comfy movie nights. Walls with a repeating whimsical black and white whale skeleton named Bruce adorn the walls of the powder room. The adjacent patio boasts a resort-like feeling with a cozy fire table, a wall of up-lit boxwoods, and a black sofa and chairs for star gazing.
A gallery wall featuring a roster of some of my client’s favorite rock, punk, and jazz musicians adorns the stairwell. On the third floor, the primary and guest bathrooms continue with the cement-textured quartz counters and same cerused cabinetry.
We completed this well-appointed home with a serene guest room in the established limited color palette and a lounge/office/recording room.
All photos by Bernardo Grijalva

GAIA ENGINEERED SOLID POLYMER CORE
COMPOSITE (eSPC) - BLACK SERIES
Multi-ply eSPC features the best quality of embossing with depth and definition that is state of the art. The level of definition and quality in the texture and laser aligned film makes this the most realistic luxury synthetic floor to date and it's proprietary composition is industry leading. Gaia Engineered Multi-ply Solid Polymer Core Composite (eSPC) combines advantages of both SPC and new engineered Multi-ply luxury With IXPE cushioned backing, Gaia eSPC provides: a quieter, warmer vinyl flooring and, surpasses luxury standards for multilevel estates. Waterproof and guaranteed in all rooms in your home and all regular commercial environments.
UV Cured Ceramic Bead Finish With Stain Resistance
This protective finish is a UV cured ceramic bead finish that is scratch resistant and stain resistant.
Wear Layer at 0.5mm/20mil Thickness
This wear layer is 20 mil to ensure longevity and residential and commercial environments.
Laser-Aligned High Definition Film With Realistic Texture
The decorative film has multi-layer depth in color to provide a similar realism to real wood.
Stabilizing eSPC Layer
This SPC component layer is a proprietary composition to maintain the benefits of an SPC but provide stability necessary on a thick plank.
High Density Skeleton Core
This core provides luxury thermal and luxury sound insulation with a high tensile strength. The bone structure keeps insulating pockets strong and light.
Balancing Solid Polymer Layer
This is a proprietary composition layer that combined with the SPC component layer provides leading waterproof stability for a 10mm product.
High Density IXPE Antimicrobial Underlayment
The underlayment is a high density antimicrobial virgin vinyl padding to provide warmth and a luxury feel.

Photo from the Blue Sky Archives
Entryway - contemporary entryway idea in Vancouver
Entryway - contemporary entryway idea in Vancouver

Designing an object was accompanied by certain difficulties. The owners bought a plot on which there was already a house. Its quality and appearance did not suit customers in any way. Moreover, the construction of a house from scratch was not even discussed, so the architects Vitaly Dorokhov and Tatyana Dmitrenko had to take the existing skeleton as a basis. During the reconstruction, the protruding glass volume was demolished, some structural elements of the facade were simplified. The number of storeys was increased and the height of the roof was increased. As a result, the building took the form of a real English home, as customers wanted.
The planning decision was dictated by the terms of reference. And the number of people living in the house. Therefore, in terms of the house acquired 400 m \ 2 extra.
The entire engineering structure and heating system were completely redone. Heating of the house comes from wells and the Ecokolt system.
The climate system of the house itself is integrated into the relay control system that constantly maintains the climate and humidity in the house.

This custom-fabricated industrial bar showcases a sophisticated blend of raw, welded dark steel and the natural, warm grain of vertical wood paneling. The structure is built on a heavy-duty steel skeleton frame that provides both industrial character and structural durability, topped with a substantial wood countertop ideal for serving.
Designed for authentic pub comfort, the bar features a full-length, heavy-duty steel footrest securely mounted to the front frame via sturdy, custom-welded brackets. The vertical wood panels are inset within the steel framework, creating a clean, architectural silhouette that highlights the premium craftsmanship of this bespoke, large-scale custom build.

The client was looking for a better way to utilize the small backyard of their Baltimore rowhome. The project included a patio using Outdoor Living by Belgard Aquaroc (permeable paver); a water feature using a natural Basalt column with LED light rings and mexican beach gravel; a workbench and storage cabinet with a Flagstone thermal cap and cedar trim; a wrought iron fence and pergola skeleton for plants to grow; wood fence on top of solid painted block; perennial plants in planter boxes; and landscape lighting.

Studio IAAD | Hines Conscient Elevate, Gurugram
A tranquil retreat from city-life
Located in the plush suburbs of Gurugram in NCR, Elevate is a co-venture housing project marking the collaboration of Hines and Conscient, two major league developers in the Indian real estate sector. Spread across an area of about 10,000 sq.ft., the design scope comprised architecture, interiors, landscaping and FFE, skillfully realized by Studio IAAD.
The holistic design brief allowed for a versatile and flexible intervention; the idea was to 'elevate' the person entering the condominiums from the chaos of the noisy world's frantic pace to a quieter, peaceful space where they can relax and take a breath of fresh air. The biophilic approach, a signature of Studio IAAD's brand, nurtures an intimate connection of the user with nature without foregoing modern comforts, whilst employing greenery as a buffer to mute the clangour of the cosmopolitan city, enabling well-being.
Nestled in a forest-like setting, the approach to the house evokes tranquility. The visitor is greeted with a narrow pathway on entry, wrapped in an enclosing thicket of overarching trees. It trails up to a circular courtyard with a sculpture at its nucleus, that embodies the aesthetics of grace, harmony and serenity. This courtyard connects to the building through a dynamic walkway peppered with abundant tropical trees and blossoming petunia flower beds on either side, activating the pedestrian experience and crafting a blissful forest-like environment. Encompassed within green canopies, the building seems to emerge from the verdant landscape, akin to the trees that surround it.
Steeped in a contemporary theme, the design also nods to rustic simplicity and examples of European aesthetics in the interiors. The structure metaphorically manifests itself as a glass box at the ground level, wrapped in transparent ribbons of glazing and holding up the levitating opaque mass that houses the private enclosed spaces on top. The expansive glass walls offer unhindered views of the scenic splendour around, enriching the visual experience. A sleek metal skeleton supports the structure, framing the glass facade and giving it a modern edge, thereby reducing the need for boxy columns. An open courtyard that forms the nexus of the project creates a niche in the building mass, dividing it into two distinct parts that remain visually connected. A conscious intervention places multiple human-form sculptures by Mukul Goyal to adorn the courtyard space with their faces directed towards the sky, representing the notion of being liberated and 'elevated'.
Within the main dwelling, the ground floor accommodates the experience centre, a lounge, a café and the audio-visual room leading up to the show apartment, kids’ room, a lounge and meeting rooms at the top level. The seating spaces of the reception, outdoor deck, café and lounge are stitched together around the central courtyard in an unceasing dialogue with each other and the infinite open sky. The spaces flow into one another and unfold as one moves along, enabling a gradual unwinding of the sensory experience instead of making a colossal impact instantly. Careful planning allows the optimization of spaces and an easy concourse of commodious rooms. The audio-visual room is a theatrical experience that allows the visitors to watch a movie when the screen is down and reveals the model room as the screen lifts, unravelling an added dimension. For experience centres, it is imperative to hold the visitor's attention, so the spaces have been designed cohesively in tandem with this intent. A specially designed kids’ room allows young families to explore the building in uninterrupted peace while their kids indulge in recreational activities. The staircase is designed using opulent chandeliers to usher the visitors from the lifts towards the stairs in order to make the ascent a part of the enchanting experience.
The three-bedroom show apartment is finished in inconspicuous, neutral tones and materials, allowing potential home-buyers to layer their personalities onto the house. Each user can relate to their own space, making it a unique selling point for the apartment. Taking a cue from the natural surroundings, a soothing play of textures by ribbed wooden cladding and mirror panelling in subdued browns forms the highlight of the living room, accentuated by flooring and furniture in pristine white. A wrap-around balcony ties two bedrooms and a corner of the living room, creating a sizable spill-out space for relaxation and recreation, enabling transcendence into the enveloping quietude. A juxtaposition of course, with the fine, awe-inspiring artworks adorn the walls of the house, leaving a solid and lingering impression on the minds of the visitor with a recall factor long after they have left. The artistry conjoined with carpets and lighting accessories in fresh and vibrant hues comes together and serenades the space with a warm, welcoming vibe- constituting a harmonious whole that exceeds the sum of its parts. A view gallery outside the apartment frames the sylvan panoramic vistas beneath the blue banner of the sky, acting as the epitome of the experience of 'Elevate' housing.
Many accessories, including lighting fixtures and furniture, have been reused from a previous project, facilitating a sustainable approach to waste management. The sculptures will also become a part of the landscape in the housing project. Concentric cut-outs in the ceiling are designed to achieve a minimal yet elegant look, integrating both HVAC and lighting services into one. The structure is designed with metal, glass and wood as principal materials for quick construction, deconstruction and reuse.
The design corroborates a dialogue between the experience centre and the show apartments through a similar theme and vocabulary. Envisioned as a boutique hotel, the building is averse to the prevailing treatment of experience centres as an afterthought to housing developments. The ethereal slow-burn experience compels the visitor to sit and ponder, escaping in the forest's therapeutic solitude, away from the outer world, becoming a placid haven that people want to connect to, engage with and inhabit.

Central El Paso Backyard Renovation:
Fifteen years is a long time for a backyard to quietly wait.
At first, it was full of intention—a pool that promised summers, laughter, and long evenings. But time has a way of settling in. The water turned still, then green. Edges cracked. The space became less of a destination and more of something you looked past. Life moved forward, but the backyard stayed behind.
Then came the decision: it was time.
Not a patch job. Not a quick fix. A complete reset.
The transformation didn’t begin beautifully—it began with demolition. The old pool was drained, exposing years of neglect etched into its surface. Crews stepped in, breaking, clearing, reshaping. What once held stagnant water became an open cavity of possibility. Steel rebar formed a new skeleton, precise and intentional. Every line measured. Every elevation reconsidered.
This wasn’t just construction—it was rethinking how the space should live.
The shell was rebuilt. Surfaces were refined. Plumbing, structure, and flow were corrected at their core. What had once been outdated and failing was now engineered to last.
Then the shift happened.
Hardscape came in—clean, warm-toned concrete replacing worn decking. Stone walls, once just boundaries, were elevated into features. Subtle textures, intentional lines. A visual language that matched the architecture of the home instead of competing with it.
The pool returned—but not as it was.
Now it was sharp, modern, and inviting. A long, clean body of water with a shallow tanning ledge that catches the sun just right. Stainless steel scuppers arc water into the pool—movement, sound, life. Steps are crisp, geometry is balanced, and the water reflects clarity instead of neglect.
Around it, the yard found purpose.
Artificial turf introduced contrast—green, controlled, low-maintenance. A pergola structure rose in the corner, creating a destination within the destination. Beneath it, a built-in outdoor kitchen turned the backyard into a place to gather, not just pass through. Lighting stitched everything together, making the space just as alive at dusk as it is under the midday sun.
By the end, nothing felt accidental.
What was once forgotten is now deliberate. What was once avoided is now the center of attention.
Fifteen years later, the backyard didn’t just come back—it finally became what it was always supposed to be.

It’s rare when a client comes to me with a brief for a complete home from scratch, but that is exactly what happened here. My client, a professional musician and singer, was having a luxury three-story condo built and wanted help choosing not only all the hardscape materials like tile, flooring, carpet, and cabinetry, but also all furniture and furnishings. I even outfitted his new home with plates, flatware, pots and pans, towels, sheets, and window coverings. Like I said, this was from scratch!
We defined his style direction for the new home including dark colors, minimalistic furniture, and a modern industrial sensibility, and I set about creating a fluid expression of that style. The tone is set at the entry where a custom laser-cut industrial steel sign requests visitors be shoeless. We deliberately limited the color palette for the entire house to black, grey, and deep blue, with grey-washed or dark stained neutral woods.
The navy zellige tiles on the backsplash in the kitchen add depth between the cement-textured quartz counters and cerused cabinetry. The island is painted in a coordinating navy and features hand-forged iron stools. In the dining room, horizontal and vertical lines play with each other in the form of an angular linear chandelier, lighted acrylic light columns, and a dining table with a special faceted wave edge. Chair backs echo the shape of the art maps on the wall.
We chose a unique, three dimensional wall treatment for the living room where a plush sectional and LED tunable lights set the stage for comfy movie nights. Walls with a repeating whimsical black and white whale skeleton named Bruce adorn the walls of the powder room. The adjacent patio boasts a resort-like feeling with a cozy fire table, a wall of up-lit boxwoods, and a black sofa and chairs for star gazing.
A gallery wall featuring a roster of some of my client’s favorite rock, punk, and jazz musicians adorns the stairwell. On the third floor, the primary and guest bathrooms continue with the cement-textured quartz counters and same cerused cabinetry.
We completed this well-appointed home with a serene guest room in the established limited color palette and a lounge/office/recording room.
All photos by Bernardo Grijalva

This loft is part of a revitalization of a historic commercial building in the Pacific Northwest. The original concrete and masonry were preserved, giving the space so much character! The modernity of the cabinetry is the perfect complement to the industrial skeleton. The waterfall edge of the quartz counters keep the ultra-modern feeling going, and ring-side seating allows guests to comfortably enjoy the show.
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