The geometry of the stair handrail is a nod to art deco forms; made in black powder coated steel, and capped with a walnut handrail. The stair is flooded with light from a skylight above, illuminating a subtly textured wall covering, that evokes a soft, plaster finish.

Please see this Award Winning project in the October 2014 issue of New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine: NYC&G http://www.cottages-gardens.com/New-York-Cottages-Gardens/October-2014/NYCG-Innovation-in-Design-Winners-Kitchen-Design/ It was also featured in a Houzz Tour: Houzz Tour: Loving the Old and New in an 1880s Brooklyn Row House http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29691278/list/houzz-tour-loving-the-old-and-new-in-an-1880s-brooklyn-row-house Photo Credit: Hulya Kolabas

This home was featured in the July 2011 issue of “Log Cabin Homes.” It proves efficiency doesn’t have to be sacrificed when designing grand elegance. Even with its cathedral ceilings and many windows it earned a 5 Star Plus Energy Star® rating. http://www.coventryloghomes.com/ourDesigns/craftsmanSeries/BearRock/model.html Roger Wade

Example of a large mountain style brown two-story wood gable roof design in Sacramento with a shingle roof

"Brandon Stengel - www.farmkidstudios.com”
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, solid surface countertops and subway tile backsplash

The owners had been battling gophers, deer, drainage issues, drought, and hard, rocky soil for years. They decided to eliminate their entire front lawn & add a pond-less water fountain as a focal point. I strove to provide year-round interest by adding evergreen trees and shrubs to their mostly deciduous & perennial existing plants & a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year. We terraced the yard to address the drainage issues and separated the levels with a dry-stacked fieldstone wall. Low-water, erosion control plants at the top of the hill & plants that tolerate more water at the bottom will help with the longevity of their landscape. A cool palette of purple, blue, and pink helps sooth and unify the design. The spiral of gravel & Dymondia ground-cover (will fill in the area in a couple of months) draws the eye towards the fountain & provides a large area to rest the eyes that won’t need to be watered. It was a challenge to choose plants that the deer & gophers would be less likely to destroy, that can grow under a large Oak tree, and that attract beneficial insects to help the garden last!

Photo: Benjamin Benschneider
Example of a beach style orange floor home gym design in Seattle

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink and an island

Basement - traditional basement idea in Chicago

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

The convenience of an in drawer spice rack makes for easy access and organization.
Example of a mid-sized classic ceramic tile kitchen design in New York with medium tone wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash and an island

With adjacent neighbors within a fairly dense section of Paradise Valley, Arizona, C.P. Drewett sought to provide a tranquil retreat for a new-to-the-Valley surgeon and his family who were seeking the modernism they loved though had never lived in. With a goal of consuming all possible site lines and views while maintaining autonomy, a portion of the house — including the entry, office, and master bedroom wing — is subterranean. This subterranean nature of the home provides interior grandeur for guests but offers a welcoming and humble approach, fully satisfying the clients requests. While the lot has an east-west orientation, the home was designed to capture mainly north and south light which is more desirable and soothing. The architecture’s interior loftiness is created with overlapping, undulating planes of plaster, glass, and steel. The woven nature of horizontal planes throughout the living spaces provides an uplifting sense, inviting a symphony of light to enter the space. The more voluminous public spaces are comprised of stone-clad massing elements which convert into a desert pavilion embracing the outdoor spaces. Every room opens to exterior spaces providing a dramatic embrace of home to natural environment. Grand Award winner for Best Interior Design of a Custom Home The material palette began with a rich, tonal, large-format Quartzite stone cladding. The stone’s tones gaveforth the rest of the material palette including a champagne-colored metal fascia, a tonal stucco system, and ceilings clad with hemlock, a tight-grained but softer wood that was tonally perfect with the rest of the materials. The interior case goods and wood-wrapped openings further contribute to the tonal harmony of architecture and materials. Grand Award Winner for Best Indoor Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home This award-winning project was recognized at the 2020 Gold Nugget Awards with two Grand Awards, one for Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home, and another for Best Interior Design of a One of a Kind or Custom Home. At the 2020 Design Excellence Awards and Gala presented by ASID AZ North, Ownby Design received five awards for Tonal Harmony. The project was recognized for 1st place – Bathroom; 3rd place – Furniture; 1st place – Kitchen; 1st place – Outdoor Living; and 2nd place – Residence over 6,000 square ft. Congratulations to Claire Ownby, Kalysha Manzo, and the entire Ownby Design team. Tonal Harmony was also featured on the cover of the July/August 2020 issue of Luxe Interiors + Design and received a 14-page editorial feature entitled “A Place in the Sun” within the magazine.

Glossy Antique White HPL with Glossy Antique White and Sonic Blue thermal foil fronts. Double wall bed with integrated fold-down table. Photo credit - Rorer 2014

Matthew Niemann

Clay Jones
Inspiration for a craftsman exterior home remodel in Louisville

Alcove shower - large tropical master white tile and stone slab medium tone wood floor and brown floor alcove shower idea in Hawaii with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount tub, white walls, quartz countertops, a two-piece toilet, an integrated sink and a hinged shower door

Photography: Tiffany Ringwald Builder: Ekren Construction
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped brown floor and medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, an island, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and white countertops

Jessica Delaney
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This very hot Campbell home needed some cooling off so we added this tall, soothing-colored urn overflowing with water that can be seen from all points in the yard, even inside the glass doors in the family room. It is lit up at night. There is a swing under the shade-producing arbor to sit and enjoy the fountain and watch the people playing golf on the mini-golf course. The water is stored underground, eliminating any issues with evaporation, bugs, or algae.