Updated Spec Home: Foyer and Great Room In our last post, we introduced you to my mom and sister’s Updated Spec Home; the Foyer and Great Room will be featured in this post. Foyer As you enter their home, to the right is a hall closet and a french door which leads to the Basement. To the left is a long wall which was perfect for an extra long console table in a rustic finish that served as a sofa table in their previous home. I love repositioning furniture, and by using this table in the entry, it makes it feel new. Additionally, we placed a vibrant piece of art previously used in my sister’s Bedroom above the table. This piece not only sets the tone for our color palette, it also makes the kind of statement you want in your Foyer – Wow! We added accessories and an unique lamp to complete the space. Great Room In the Great Room which is open to the Foyer, we installed our inspiration artwork in the place of honor over the mantel. Since the piece was vertical, it did not take up enough space. I do not like a “fussy” mantel with lots of accessories so we found these two vases in a silver leaf finish. They were perfect because they were large enough, but not too deep. Accessorizing mantels can be tricky because the majority of them are not deep. We went to Jan’s Floral Design to add vibrant color and interesting textures to the vases. The original mantel was too small and uninspired. Therefore, we had our contractor Brad Anderson built a new one based on a photo of a mantel we liked. The new mantel has lots of great detail and is the appropriate proportion for the fireplace. We replaced beige 12×12 ceramic tiles with gorgeous large pieces of smoked carrara marble for a striking fireplace surround. Check out this other mantel that we updated. For furniture, we purchased a shorter sofa in a gray tweed fabric. Typically, two throw pillows come with a sofa.We added a fun fringe to the pillows that came with the sofa. I recommend ordering pillows that match your sofa fabric and layering with custom pillows that support your color palette. We added a patterned custom pillow and a striped throw. Next, we got a small scale recliner in a yummy gray leather for my mom and a chair and ottoman in a small scale mint and gray geometric pattern for my sister. We added an accent chair in a fun small scale stripe to fill a corner and add additional seating – which is always a good thing. Remember that this was a Spec Home so there were no built-ins. As a result, we needed a media cabinet for the television and some bookcases to display my mom’s decorative box collection and my sister’s collection of blown colored glass. This set from Ballard Designs fit the bill perfectly. The back is open and airy with nice detail. The wood finish also adds a richness to the space. My mom needed a space for her computer, and this small writing desk fit the space perfectly. Finally, for finishing touches, we added a patterned rug, cornice boards in a mint leaf fabric, and great lamps for ambient lighting. These two rooms are stunning, vibrant and livable. Can’t wait to show you more in our next post! Enjoy!

This project blends warm wood with industrial style concepts for a result that transcends typical modern minimalism. Created with a visionary architect and builder, the four-level structure features thick solid oak treads with extended noses that float against finished poplar stringers. Open risers preserve light flow from the adjacent wall of windows. A horizontal stainless steel rod balustrade system flows from the lower-level recreation room to the fourth-level rooftop deck, creating visual continuity across the home's entire vertical span. The geometric design echoes custom millwork throughout the residence and connects the chef's kitchen and family room while celebrating natural light at every level. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Lowcountry Custom Built Homes
Minimalist back porch photo in Atlanta

Updated Spec Home: Foyer and Great Room In our last post, we introduced you to my mom and sister’s Updated Spec Home; the Foyer and Great Room will be featured in this post. Foyer As you enter their home, to the right is a hall closet and a french door which leads to the Basement. To the left is a long wall which was perfect for an extra long console table in a rustic finish that served as a sofa table in their previous home. I love repositioning furniture, and by using this table in the entry, it makes it feel new. Additionally, we placed a vibrant piece of art previously used in my sister’s Bedroom above the table. This piece not only sets the tone for our color palette, it also makes the kind of statement you want in your Foyer – Wow! We added accessories and an unique lamp to complete the space. Great Room In the Great Room which is open to the Foyer, we installed our inspiration artwork in the place of honor over the mantel. Since the piece was vertical, it did not take up enough space. I do not like a “fussy” mantel with lots of accessories so we found these two vases in a silver leaf finish. They were perfect because they were large enough, but not too deep. Accessorizing mantels can be tricky because the majority of them are not deep. We went to Jan’s Floral Design to add vibrant color and interesting textures to the vases. The original mantel was too small and uninspired. Therefore, we had our contractor Brad Anderson built a new one based on a photo of a mantel we liked. The new mantel has lots of great detail and is the appropriate proportion for the fireplace. We replaced beige 12×12 ceramic tiles with gorgeous large pieces of smoked carrara marble for a striking fireplace surround. Check out this other mantel that we updated. For furniture, we purchased a shorter sofa in a gray tweed fabric. Typically, two throw pillows come with a sofa.We added a fun fringe to the pillows that came with the sofa. I recommend ordering pillows that match your sofa fabric and layering with custom pillows that support your color palette. We added a patterned custom pillow and a striped throw. Next, we got a small scale recliner in a yummy gray leather for my mom and a chair and ottoman in a small scale mint and gray geometric pattern for my sister. We added an accent chair in a fun small scale stripe to fill a corner and add additional seating – which is always a good thing. Remember that this was a Spec Home so there were no built-ins. As a result, we needed a media cabinet for the television and some bookcases to display my mom’s decorative box collection and my sister’s collection of blown colored glass. This set from Ballard Designs fit the bill perfectly. The back is open and airy with nice detail. The wood finish also adds a richness to the space. My mom needed a space for her computer, and this small writing desk fit the space perfectly. Finally, for finishing touches, we added a patterned rug, cornice boards in a mint leaf fabric, and great lamps for ambient lighting. These two rooms are stunning, vibrant and livable. Can’t wait to show you more in our next post! Enjoy!

The building was formed by the connection of 3 shop-houses. Typically shop-houses are designed vertically with a set of half story floor levels connected by a central staircase. The connection of the 3 shop-houses created a set of 3 staircases opened to a large central open space topped by a skylight glass roof. The stiar steps and risers are paved witha a light color limestone which provides the link connecting the set of stairs and corridors. The lightness of the liemstone participated in creating luminosity in the large stairwell. The hand-rail molded in the same limestone, underlines the graphic layout of the staircases. Each level is designed as a living area with bedrooms and adjacent bathrooms. The bathrooms are paved and cladded with 2 stones of contrasting colors: dark grey basalt and white limestone. The alternative use of these 2 colors throughout the set of bathrooms and the similarity in the stone pattern and details provides a sense of unity through all the levels. The detailed design, selection and arrangement of bathroom hardware, association of the contrasting textures create a contemporary and distinctive atmosphere.

Remodeling a home to include modern styling. Kitchen cabinets to a 10 foot + ceiling using a wood-grain high pressure laminate by Egger -- custom cabinets by Wood-Mode -- in Gladstone Oak. Doulbe island provide plenty of prep space while tall pantries with pocket doors allow small appliances and typical kitchen clutter to be hidden away from view. Two bathrooms and the laundry were included in the remodel -- these in a simple Shaker doorstyle with a dark finish on oak. Dramatic & beautiful! Photos by Dan Brannon

New york plantings green rooftop garden design nyc with custom built planters and landscape lights by newyorkplantings. Greenroof is still in its infancy even though the concept has been around for a long time, even a hundred years or more. NY plantings has the concept and business model to service the trade by providing expert contracting services, experienced professional staff and project management that effectively and efficiently gets the job done. Who would be interested in working with nyp garden designers and landsp...nyc? Landscape architects, designers, garden designers, landscape design professionals, general contractors, property owners, property management companies, project managers and anyone who requires a company that first is a master garden and NY landscaping company. Tree planting, garden installation and complete plantings installations including personalized design touches such as specimen shrubs, flowering trees, dwarf conifers and trees, landscape boulders and moss rock, flowers and climbers. NY Plantings can work from a design concept only without requiring a detailed landscape drawing or garden plan. True enthusiasm and years of hands on experience mean that you don’t even need a detailed planting plan; in most cases lead designer, Todd Nappi makes suggestions or improvements to the typical NYC landscape Designer provided garden design plan that both achieve highly desirable results and can possibly even save money vs. the cost of the original rooftop garden design or traditional landscape. A high technical aptitude with experience in building rooftop and terrace gardens from scratch, solving challenging issues onsite and the ability to make the right decisions prove that NY Plantings is a resource as a landscape or rooftop garden contractor to the Landscape Design trade. Besides Gardening, Drip irrigation and landscape lighting NY Plantings has been also specializing in hard capes, outdoor construction such as decks, pergolas, custom built planter boxes, custom fence, lattice, trellis and living walls (vertical gardening) Nyc terrace garden and custom built planter design by newyorkplantings. Greenroof design and construction is the new frontier for any urban epicenter and NY Plantings green roofing installers are up to the task. As the green roof industry becomes more mature so will NY Plantings remain a resource as a contractor for providing and installing greenroof systems in Manhattan and the NY Metro areas. #newyorkplantings New York Plantings Garden Designers and Landscape contracting 432 E 14st New York, NY 10009 Call: 347-558-7051 site url: http://www.newyorkplantings.com/ info@newyorkplantings.com

This project is typical of many late nineties built houses in the Houston area, the home was built with Hardie siding before Hardie trim was widely available so they used wood trim that rots. We replaced the vertical and window trim with Hardie, repainted the entire house with Sherwin Williams Latitude and installed a new mahogany front door.

The challenge lay with a ceiling at 84" h. Although we typically may run the shower tile vertical to give the appearance the area was higher, we chose to run horizontally. By choosing this application we accepted the lowe ceiling and went for a look of an expanded showing area. The area still required a freshly updated presentation Design by Sandra Costa Construction by Sandra Costa Development Photography by Angelo Costa

This project blends warm wood with industrial style concepts for a result that transcends typical modern minimalism. Created with a visionary architect and builder, the four-level structure features thick solid oak treads with extended noses that float against finished poplar stringers. Open risers preserve light flow from the adjacent wall of windows. A horizontal stainless steel rod balustrade system flows from the lower-level recreation room to the fourth-level rooftop deck, creating visual continuity across the home's entire vertical span. The geometric design echoes custom millwork throughout the residence and connects the chef's kitchen and family room while celebrating natural light at every level. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

It’s a fascinating evolution of one of the best seller collection, now even more stylish and really haute couture. It now proposed with palm wood, combined with white mother pearl color. The contrast between colors and grains becomes “the game of opposite” between the kitchen area and dining area with wine cellar column as ideal partition of spaces. Design of pillars is now more essential and clean and matches perfectly with the well-known design of vertical lines typical of Diamond style.

Silhouette Shades for the horizontal and angle windows and Luminette Privacy Sheers on the doors. Silhouette and Luminette compliment each other and is a great option when you want a vertical application typically for doors and horizontal on the windows.

Made in Spain Looking for a fresh spin on traditional ceramic subway tiles? Luna Arc Celadon takes a traditional stoneware color and adds a raised pattern for an artisan look. The variation in glaze gives them the look of handmade tile. Whether you prefer the clean edges of a vertical stack on your kitchen backsplash, a herringbone layout in your walk-in shower, or the traditional running bond on your fireplace facing, you can personalize your tile choices in their layout. Take customization a step further by pairing these 3D tiles with the Luna smooth collection! Give your coastal kitchen a fresh new look with the shifting hues in this green tile. We recommend installing your ceramic tiles with Laticrete 254 Platinum Multipurpose Thinset in White, and using unsanded grout, such as Laticrete Permacolor Select. Our tiles are typically shown with Bright White grout color. They’re easy to wipe clean with a soft cloth and either water or a ceramic tile cleaner.

Interior Design by Juliana Linssen Photographed by Mitchell Shenker
Example of a mid-sized trendy kids' brown tile and stone tile limestone floor bathroom design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, a one-piece toilet and beige walls

A Geranium Andrena (Andrena geranii) visits Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum). This mining bee is a specialist of Hydrophyllum spp.

Remodeling a home to include modern styling. Kitchen cabinets to a 10 foot + ceiling using a wood-grain high pressure laminate by Egger -- custom cabinets by Wood-Mode -- in Gladstone Oak. Doulbe island provide plenty of prep space while tall pantries with pocket doors allow small appliances and typical kitchen clutter to be hidden away from view. Two bathrooms and the laundry were included in the remodel -- these in a simple Shaker doorstyle with a dark finish on oak. Dramatic & beautiful! Photos by Dan Brannon

On average, a Proto Home™ can be constructed within four months, thanks to our new building methods that save time and money, while increasing accuracy. Proto Homes™ are built through a hybrid construction system: factory produced + site built elements. By prefabricating the shell and core features of the home off-site, construction can essentially begin before permitting has, thus saving you time and money. Foundation/Slab Detailing: The foundation is detailed to serve two primary purposes. The foundation curb is formed in such a way that it acts as a measuring "rubric" for the house, first in providing a horizontal registration point for finish floors inside the house, and grading and landscape for outside. Secondly, it serves as a vertical indexing margin for all exterior finishes including panel systems and metal cladding. In addition, the delineation provided by the curb provides a clean aesthetic for the foundation itself and waterproofs the home. Roofing construction is made more efficient in a Proto Home™. By doing away with the traditional attic, we've utilized every last square inch – which in this case provides higher ceilings. Every Proto Home™ features a "zero-penetration" roof that is uninterrupted by plumbing vents or ducts thanks to the Proto Core™ design, which moves traditional roof vents to the side wall of the core. The all-steel roof assembly provides structural stability and resists damage from weather and pests, giving it longevity not typical in today's roofs. With Proto Home's™, it's all about the details. From the garage to the bathrooms, the amenities we use everyday have been slightly adjusted to make our lives easier. The Proto Home™ garage is carefully designed to function as efficiently as the rest of the home. The floor is perfectly level, and outfitted with the same concrete as the rest of the first floor, which makes fitting the space with shelves and furniture much easier. Bathtubs are reworked into "Soak In Showers," which are easy to enter and exit, yet deep enough to bathe in. In keeping with sleek lines and uninterrupted design, we have developed "Zero Jam," a patented interior door jam made of solid aluminum. When closed, the door blends with the adjoining wall to create the appearance of one continuous unit. Proto Home's™ also work with the seasons to compensate for changes in weather. The climate control can be adjusted so that during the summer air-conditioned cold air flows in from the top and descends to cool the space below. During the winter, the hot air is forced in from the ground level and ascends heating the entire house. Photo Credit: Lisa Romerein, Proto Homes, LLC

Michael Hunter
Inspiration for a large farmhouse open concept ceramic tile living room remodel in Houston

This project blends warm wood with industrial style concepts for a result that transcends typical modern minimalism. Created with a visionary architect and builder, the four-level structure features thick solid oak treads with extended noses that float against finished poplar stringers. Open risers preserve light flow from the adjacent wall of windows. A horizontal stainless steel rod balustrade system flows from the lower-level recreation room to the fourth-level rooftop deck, creating visual continuity across the home's entire vertical span. The geometric design echoes custom millwork throughout the residence and connects the chef's kitchen and family room while celebrating natural light at every level. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company