This kitchen in Elgin came together in engineered quartz, Calacatta Viraldi, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room without shouting about it. The white background stays clean and bright, and the veining moves through it in soft grays and golds. For a kitchen that gets used every day, that's the whole point. Quartz is engineered stone, ground quartz mixed with resin under pressure, so it comes out of the plant with a consistent pattern from slab to slab. That consistency matters when you're templating a kitchen. We can match the veining across a seam or carry it around a corner without hunting for the right spot on the slab, because the pattern's already built in that way. Calacatta Viraldi reads soft and bright in a kitchen, which is exactly why it gets picked for spaces where people actually cook. Getting a countertop like this in is still a craft even with a manufactured material. We template the kitchen precisely, cut the slabs to fit the cabinets and the sink cutout, and dress the edges by hand. Here we kept the edge eased, a clean, simple detail that lets the stone itself stay the focus instead of the profile. Seams get set tight and leveled so your eye reads the counter as one continuous surface, not pieced-together sections. Day to day, this is a low-maintenance surface. Quartz doesn't need sealing, since the resin already closes it off from stains, and it resists scratches and everyday acids from cooking better than a lot of other surfaces. It handles the daily bumps of a real kitchen without much fuss. Heat's the one thing to watch, a hot pan straight off the stove can shock the resin, so a trivet's a smart habit, but that's a small price for a counter that otherwise shrugs off wine, coffee, and citrus without a second thought. It's a good look for Elgin and for the kind of Midlands kitchens we build these for, bright, durable, and built to actually get used instead of just looked at.

This is our house in NH and we love to show it off! High and dry in Center Harbor, NH, our view captures an almost panoramic view of Squam Lake, Red Hill, The Sandwich Mountain Range and even glimpses of Waterville Valley off in the distance. The Goshen stone for the walkway and patio was sourced in Goshen, Ma. Each piece of stone was hand selected, then templated and fit together by chiseling each stone. The resulting patchwork of curves on the ground plane is reminiscent of the mountain tops above. The muted colors of the stone shimmer and play off the sky and hills. Abundant perennial gardens flourish and become a haven for birds and pollinators throughout the growing season. Under a blanket NH snow, perennials sleep in anticipation of a reawakening each spring.

This is our house in NH and we love to show it off! High and dry in Center Harbor, NH, our view captures an almost panoramic view of Squam Lake, Red Hill, The Sandwich Mountain Range and even glimpses of Waterville Valley off in the distance. The Goshen stone for the walkway and patio was sourced in Goshen, Ma. Each piece of stone was hand selected, then templated and fit together by chiseling each stone. The resulting patchwork of curves on the ground plane is reminiscent of the mountain tops above. The muted colors of the stone shimmer and play off the sky and hills. Abundant perennial gardens flourish and become a haven for birds and pollinators throughout the growing season. Under a blanket NH snow, perennials sleep in anticipation of a reawakening each spring.

This is our house in NH and we love to show it off! High and dry in Center Harbor, NH, our view captures an almost panoramic view of Squam Lake, Red Hill, The Sandwich Mountain Range and even glimpses of Waterville Valley off in the distance. The Goshen stone for the walkway and patio was sourced in Goshen, Ma. Each piece of stone was hand selected, then templated and fit together by chiseling each stone. The resulting patchwork of curves on the ground plane is reminiscent of the mountain tops above. The muted colors of the stone shimmer and play off the sky and hills. Abundant perennial gardens flourish and become a haven for birds and pollinators throughout the growing season. Under a blanket NH snow, perennials sleep in anticipation of a reawakening each spring.

A pair of eyebrow-arched windows with operable radius tops — the louvers follow the curve and the whole arch tilts and closes. The frames are the point here: a stepped, moulded casing and a full sill stool milled to match the home's existing trim, rather than a plain flat frame pushed into the opening. That is only possible when you make the frame yourself. Real hardwood, templated and installed by our own team.

For a family that loves hosting large gatherings, this expansive home is a dream; boasting two unique entertaining spaces, each expanding onto outdoor-living areas, that capture its magnificent views. The sheer size of the home allows for various ‘experiences’; from a rec room perfect for hosting game day and an eat-in wine room escape on the lower-level, to a calming 2-story family greatroom on the main. Floors are connected by freestanding stairs, framing a custom cascading-pendant light, backed by a stone accent wall, and facing a 3-story waterfall. A custom metal art installation, templated from a cherished tree on the property, both brings nature inside and showcases the immense vertical volume of the house. Photography: Paul Grdina

We fabricated and installed the white quartz counters and matching full-height slab backsplash in this light-oak kitchen. The same slab movement runs across the L-shaped run, the island/bar, and up the wall so the veining doesn’t get chopped into a tile grid. Edges are eased, the undermount sink is set clean, and the stone wraps the arched pass-through so it reads as one surface from the kitchen into the deck. Templated and installed by our own crew out of Santa Paula/Ventura

The steel wall pool itself was installed by a pool company, but D'Urso Landscaping templated and custom cut the beautiful bluestone coping to perfectly fit the Double Roman Pool shape.

This custom kitchen in Bellingham features XTONE Porcelanosa Bottega Antracita porcelain slabs, expertly fabricated and installed by Absolute GM. The project showcases a seamless waterfall island, precision-mitered edges, and large-format porcelain surfaces that create a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The rich charcoal tones and natural stone-inspired texture add depth and sophistication while providing exceptional durability for everyday living. XTONE porcelain is highly resistant to scratches, stains, heat, and UV exposure, making it an ideal choice for luxury kitchens that combine beauty with long-term performance. Every detail was digitally templated, custom fabricated, and professionally installed to ensure a flawless fit and finish. If you're planning a custom kitchen in Washington, Absolute GM specializes in premium porcelain slab fabrication and installation for countertops, waterfall islands, backsplashes, fireplaces, and other architectural stone features.

The land is situated in a spacious, green landscape. The pond at the front of the property provides an additional source for views and relaxation. Our design template customizes it by adding some of the client's own personal touches. The design team works together, adding their custom features: a large kitchen for their cooking passions of hers; an expansive garage area. Features: • Ground Area: 1900 sqft • Windows: 3 Large glass sliding doors • 3 Bathrooms: two of them includes a bathtub • Kitchen: Eat-in Kitchen with Pantry room • Accommodates 6 to 12 people • Laundry: Laundry closet in the hallway • Heating: Mini-split/ radiant floor heat/ Air sourced heat pump • Foundation: Slab on grade The upstairs attic space includes a small bathroom and a flexible open room that can be figured into a bedroom, studio, or office space. The coolest part! The plan includes a large screen porch, where you can host your favorite outdoor summer dinner without bugs and rain.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

JB Turner & Sons along with LMK Interiors selecting materials in this Coronado Beach Kitchen
Open concept kitchen - small coastal l-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in San Diego with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, green backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Small utility closet with washer/dryer shoes rack, Renovation of 2-bedroom apt. app. 1000SF. Complete remodel of bathroom. Painting and floor sanding/stain throughout. Prime and paint with Benjamin Moore one color walls, one color ceilings, semi gloss doors and moldings, Replace all windows, Install new porcelain floor tile straight pattern 115SF over existing subfloor, Install 2 matching stone saddles, Template and install silestone or granite C-top, Install ceramic or porcelain backsplash tile in straight pattern on sink and stove wall

We always say that a powder room is the “gift” you give to the guests in your home; a special detail here and there, a touch of color added, and the space becomes a delight! This custom beauty, completed in January 2020, was carefully crafted through many construction drawings and meetings. We intentionally created a shallower depth along both sides of the sink area in order to accommodate the location of the door openings. (The right side of the image leads to the foyer, while the left leads to a closet water closet room.) We even had the casing/trim applied after the countertop was installed in order to bring the marble in one piece! Setting the height of the wall faucet and wall outlet for the exposed P-Trap meant careful calculation and precise templating along the way, with plenty of interior construction drawings. But for such detail, it was well worth it. From the book-matched miter on our black and white marble, to the wall mounted faucet in matte black, each design element is chosen to play off of the stacked metallic wall tile and scones. Our homeowners were thrilled with the results, and we think their guests are too!

Large minimalist freestanding desk carpeted home studio photo in New York with white walls and no fireplace

HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Custom Home of the Year HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Project of the Year HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Custom Home 6,000-7,000 SF HOBI Award 2013 - Winner - Best Remodeled Home $2 Million - $3 Million Brick Industry Associates 2013 Brick in Architecture Awards 2013 - Best in Class - Residential- Single Family AIA Connecticut 2014 Alice Washburn Awards 2014 - Honorable Mention - New Construction athome alist Award 2014 - Finalist - Residential Architecture Charles Hilton Architects Woodruff/Brown Architectural Photography

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

We worked with a corporation and their out-of-town architect on this residential condominium construction in Washington D.C. The company uses the apartment for executive housing and meetings. Its goal was to create a flexible space to be used for both purposes. We renovated the kitchen, two bathrooms, and one bedroom. The central focus is the sleek new open kitchen, though we worked on the entire 1200 square foot apartment. The client provided the architectural design for the kitchen and the rest of the apartment. The biggest layout changes were: *Removing the walls of the existing kitchen to create a dramatic open kitchen that runs all the way to the window on one side and an island with a waterfall countertop on the other side. *A layout that provided space for a large conference table *Closing off one door of the bedroom and creating a larger opening from the living room side and installing pocket doors These changes required extensive systems work throughout the apartment, including redoing all the ductwork, modifying the sprinkler system and relocating sprinkler heads to meet fire code. We didn’t run into any surprises with the systems because our team had investigated the structure in the pre-construction stage and cut holes in the drywall to locate the plumbing pipes, columns, and wiring. We had to turn and move the existing HVAC system so we could hide it in one of the kitchen cabinets. We built the structure that anchors one end of the kitchen. It hides a refrigerator (with flush panel doors), electrical panel, and writing for the flat screen television. A soffit above the kitchen hides all the ductwork, and is fitted with recessed lights and LED cove lighting above. The client supplied the kitchen cabinetry. The countertops are quartz by Caesarstone in Haze. We installed the flooring material on the base of one side of the island. Backsplash. The dramatic backsplash is made of thin sheets of porcelain. The 5 mm thick material by Fiandre comes in 5-foot by 10-foot sheets that comes in a continuous pattern or can be book-matched. A fabricator measured the layout and cuts for the wall outlets, cut the material and installed it. Our team delivered three sheets of the material up the stairwell of the building. Though they created a template of the material out of wood to make sure it would fit, the actual material was more rigid and it took them a while to maneuver it. The new wide opening at the end of the living room has pocket doors. We closed off the original hallway door to the bedroom. Michael K. Wilkinson

Large farmhouse white two-story wood gable roof photo in Atlanta