Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photography: Laura Rockett Photography Design Challenge: MOTIV Interiors created this colorful yet relaxing retreat - a space for guests to unwind and recharge after a long day of exploring Nashville! Luxury, comfort, and functionality merge in this AirBNB project we completed in just 2 short weeks. Navigating a tight budget, we supplemented the homeowner’s existing personal items and local artwork with great finds from facebook marketplace, vintage + antique shops, and the local salvage yard. The result: a collected look that’s true to Nashville and vacation ready!

Water loving plants were placed closest to the house to provided needed shade and limit the amount of supplemental water due to evaporation.
Small arts and crafts blue one-story wood house exterior photo in San Francisco

Austin Street Buils A Custom Urban Residence by Seven Rivers Design + Build Highlight The defining feature of the Austin St. Build is the use of natural plaster walls throughout the interior. Plaster brings a quiet richness—subtle texture, visual depth, and a sense of solidity that makes the home feel both timeless and grounded. This material choice reinforces Seven Rivers Design + Build’s focus on craftsmanship and tactile, human-centered design. Detail Efficient Two-Story Living This 1,500-square-foot, two-story custom home is thoughtfully organized for comfort and flow. The main level includes a bedroom and full bathroom, along with an open kitchen and living area and a conveniently placed powder room. A light-filled, open stairwell leads to the second floor, which houses an additional bedroom and bathroom, creating a balanced and flexible layout well suited for urban living. High-Performance Building Envelope The exterior walls are constructed using Hebel Block (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete)—a high-performance building system that combines structural strength with excellent insulation. By incorporating air into the concrete matrix, Hebel Block delivers superior thermal performance while remaining lightweight and durable, contributing to the home’s overall energy efficiency. Energy-Efficient Comfort Systems Heating and cooling loads are intentionally minimized through envelope performance and system design. The home features in-floor radiant heating as the primary heat source, complemented by mini-split systems for supplemental heating and cooling. The result is a comfortable, efficient living environment with low operational demands. Durable, Timeless Finishes Windows: Andersen E-Series (aluminum-clad) Flooring: Natural slate on the main level Exterior Cladding: Traditional stucco Roof: Standing-seam metal Each material was selected for longevity, performance, and aesthetic restraint—supporting a home that will age gracefully over decades. The Seven Rivers Design + Build Approach The Austin St. Build exemplifies Seven Rivers Design + Build’s design/build philosophy: integrating architecture, materials, and systems into a cohesive whole. By pairing traditional finishes with modern building science, this project delivers a refined, efficient custom home that feels both contemporary and enduring.

This wonderful Contemporary Metal and Glass 50" Media Console - Coaster Co will be a nice supplement to your home space, and will be perfect for your living room or family room. Sleek Black metal construction creates a sturdy frame with gentle curves and shaped legs. The top made from black glass with a metal bracket will elevate your mounted television for comfortable viewing. Two more tempered glass shelves below for media items, gaming consoles and other electronics components is useful addition. Bring this console to your home for an instant decor update. Dimensions: Width: 50" x Depth: 27" x Height: 54" Free shipping US www.thewallunits.com/listing/modern-tv-stands

This small house was designed as a retreat for an artist and photographer couple. To blend into the beautiful rugged setting the materials were selected to be basic and durable. Thick walls are finished with white interior plaster and black exterior stucco. Natural wood is layered at the ceilings and extend southward to shade the large windows. The floors are of radiantly heated concrete. Supplemental heat is provided by a Danish wood stove. The roof extends east covering a flagstone terrace for exterior gatherings and dining.

The IdealMow lawn alternative handles more than rain. It thrives in the high, dry heat of Sierra Madre summers and needs little supplemental water. The bridge traversing this bioswale divides a native edible garden with Catalina Cherry hedge from a wildlife garden with San Miguel Island Buckwheat.

Many recent renovations had already taken place at this phenomenal old Tudor home. The kitchen redo was saved for last. Our mission, imposed by our client, was to create a jaw-dropping, ultra-functional space for family and friends to gather in for years to come. Naturally, the new kitchen would have to reflect the style of the home seamlessly. One challenge was to incorporate very large professional style appliances into the space while keeping the feel of a stately, yet warm home. Custom wood panels were designed for the refrigerator units to give a furniture feel. A copper hood was designed to bring in an old world element. Wood panels were applied to all other appliances – two dishwashers, a wine refrigerator, and a beverage refrigerator. An iron I-beam that separated the original kitchen from the butler’s pantry and back entry was covered in wood with chamfers to match the other ceiling beams in the home by a local woodworker. Due to the age of the home, the outside walls are concrete block. This necessitated chiseling troughs into the concrete for electrical wiring. Ceilings were studded randomly, so finding openings for recessed lighting was hit or miss. A large cluster of wiring and plumbing to the second floor had to be hidden behind cabinetry to the left of and above the refrigerators. HVAC wasn’t straight forward either. Toe kick heaters from the old kitchen had to be replaced with other sources. A propane tank had to be added to fuel the large dual fuel, double oven range. The homeowner wanted to add a walk-in pantry for extra storage, so space was taken from an existing exterior space. This created the need for extra insulation, supplemental heat and added lighting. Needless to say, mechanicals were a big challenge. Natural stone was added in backsplash areas to the ceiling to mimic the rectangular stone on the exterior of the home. Wood panels fill the backsplash areas under wall cabinets. Large chandeliers light the space. Open shelves at the wet bar/prep area offer convenient storage for grab and go service items. A built-in pantry with antique mirrored mullion doors hides a microwave, several other small appliances as well as dishes and food items. This pantry was tucked into an alcove for an added architectural element. Herringbone wood floors are classic and timeless. Wrought iron hardware and shelf brackets fit right in. Large Barley twist legs ground the island giving a nod to the Tudor style. Mission accomplished. Matt Villano Photography

Kitchen sink is separated from center hall and living space by low wall. Skylight provides additional light to supplement LED track lights. LIght toned wood beam on vaulted ceiling is locally sourced Southern Yellow Pine. Ceiling treatment is warelayer boards salvaged from deconstructed cotton mill, provided by Old American Lumber, Union, SC.

This bright and light kitchen project required us extending the kitchen into the dinette area and removing a window to get a better flow. Luckily there were 3 large windows, so we decided removing one wouldn't significantly decrease the amount of natural light. It was a good trade for form and function. We were able to increase the work surfaces to create a much more useable kitchen that fit all the necessities and even had room for extra. We added pull outs and functional accessories to make it an easy to use space. We supplemented the natural light with a solar tube and plenty of installed light with 2 sizes of adjustable output and temperature LED ceiling cans for layers of light.

This 900 square foot NYC residence features a wealth of fold-out furniture, hidden storage, and other space-saving features. What really makes it feel expansive, though, is the use of specially-coated front-surface mirrors in strategic locations. These mirrors are placed above eye level to make the ceiling appear to extend far beyond the perimeter walls. Front-surface mirrors are also located directly adjacent to windows to multiply the views and increase the light brought into the space. It is a new take on an old idea, and one that subtly and invisibly reinforces the architecture. The loft is mainly one big open space that includes a kitchen and living room supplemented with a multi-use area that can serve as an office, guest bedroom, or 10-person dining room depending on the configuration of the retractable furniture.The bathroom and main bedroom are designed as small ͞cabinets͟ that flow from this space. White epoxy floors and gloss lacquered surfaces continue the sense of reflectivity, and contrast sharply with dark walnut cabinetry and panels at the perimeter. Dimmable concealed lighting at the perimeter combined with small point sources at art locations allow for a wide variety of moods depending on the light levels.The overall effect is minimal, yet warm and inviting. Architect: Specht Architects Contractor: TCM Photographer: Dror Baldinger

Revamped casual Oakland garden. Supplemented existing Napa Basalt walls and stairs to reduce slope and add gravel patio, replaced traditional sod lawn with synthetic turf, added new planting and low-voltage lighting throughout.

Jeff River Law Elevated pier avoids mud, dog refuse, underground power lines , and irrigation lines. Dry creek bed serves to supplement and direct drainage to the exterior of the yard. and onto the street. Fencing will be hidden by plants as the mature creating a private retreat from neighbors.

Transplanted New Yorkers, one a modernist and the other a classicist, needed to combine their households and adapt their collections to a Southwest aesthetic. Supplementing their pieces with locally crafted furnishings a sophisticated, eclectic environment was created. Winner 2019 Luxe Magazine Gold List Award.

This Gulf facing property is nestled among a native Cabbage Palm hammock, supplemented with new palms and native grasses, sea grapes and other salt-tolerant native vegetation. The view from the home gives the user a true native beachfront experience.

Between the studs storage helps to contain pantry items and health supplements.
Inspiration for a small timeless built-in desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in Sacramento with gray walls

This photo was taken when it finally rained. The swale will catch the water and slow it down to be absorbed into the water table. This garden has little supplemental irrigation.

Most of the effort in this small flat for a couple in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood was characterized by the removal of walls and finishes to reveal the space that was hidden behind multiple renovations. The exposed brick and concrete were supplemented with wood and steel to create a raw but elegant palette. Built-in and custom storage make clever use of valuable Brooklyn real estate, where mere inches count for everything. Full architectural design services, regulatory approvals, HOA approvals, construction administration.

The rooms in this charming 1920’s Burns Park home were completely compartmentalized (typical for homes built in this period). The homeowners wanted a more open space with sightlines into the dining and living spaces, and a kitchen that could accommodate more than one cook! We removed a wall and replaced it with a beautiful Butternut beam and countertop seating, a more casual eating area to supplement their dining room. Bringing this home into 2018 while paying respect to its historic neighborhood was an important part of this project. The personality, cabinetry and contemporary finishes in this kitchen better mirror this cheerful and vibrant family.