Ivan Gomez - Client
Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Miami with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

David Duncan Livingston
Kitchen - transitional u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and quartzite countertops

Inspiration for a coastal one-car garage remodel in Charlotte

Example of a large transitional open concept dark wood floor and black floor family room design in New York with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace and a tv stand

Troy Thies Photography
Arts and crafts u-shaped terra-cotta tile kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, white walls, an island and green countertops

Southwest formal light wood floor living room photo in Denver with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic u-shaped light wood floor kitchen pantry remodel in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, brown cabinets, quartz countertops, ceramic backsplash, no island, shaker cabinets, multicolored backsplash and white countertops

Kids' room - small contemporary kids' room idea in Moscow

Example of a mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile and double-sink freestanding bathtub design in Seattle with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

Playroom - large contemporary gender-neutral carpeted and multicolored floor playroom idea in Chicago with yellow walls

2010 A-List Award for Best Home Remodel Best represents the marriage of textures in a grand space. Illuminated by a giant fiberglass sphere the reharvested cathedral ceiling ties into an impressive dry stacked stone wall with stainless steel niche over the wood burning fireplace . The ruby red sofa is the only color needed to complete this comfortable gathering spot. Sofa is Swaim, table, Holly Hunt and map table BoBo Intriguing Objects. Carpet from Ligne roset. Lighting by Moooi. Large family and entertainment area with steel sliding doors allowing privacy from kitchen, dining area.

Example of a danish kids' room design in Dallas

www.veronicamartindesignstudio.com Photo credit: Scott Norsworthy
Large trendy single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, black backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

To spotlight the owners’ worldly decor, this remodel quietly complements the furniture and art textures, colors, and patterns abundant in this beautiful home. The original master bath had a 1980s style in dire need of change. By stealing an adjacent bedroom for the new master closet, the bath transformed into an artistic and spacious space. The jet-black herringbone-patterned floor adds visual interest to highlight the freestanding soaking tub. Schoolhouse-style shell white sconces flank the matching his and her vanities. The new generous master shower features polished nickel dual shower heads and hand shower and is wrapped in Bedrosian Porcelain Manifica Series in Luxe White with satin finish. The kitchen started as dated and isolated. To add flow and more natural light, the wall between the bar and the kitchen was removed, along with exterior windows, which allowed for a complete redesign. The result is a streamlined, open, and light-filled kitchen that flows into the adjacent family room and bar areas – perfect for quiet family nights or entertaining with friends. Crystal Cabinets in white matte sheen with satin brass pulls, and the white matte ceramic backsplash provides a sleek and neutral palette. The newly-designed island features Calacutta Royal Leather Finish quartz and Kohler sink and fixtures. The island cabinets are finished in black sheen to anchor this seating and prep area, featuring round brass pendant fixtures. One end of the island provides the perfect prep and cut area with maple finish butcher block to match the stove hood accents. French White Oak flooring warms the entire area. The Miele 48” Dual Fuel Range with Griddle offers the perfect features for simple or gourmet meal preparation. A new dining nook makes for picture-perfect seating for night or day dining. Welcome to artful living in Worldly Heritage style. Photographer: Andrew - OpenHouse VC

Outdoor kitchen complete with grill, refrigerators, sink, and ceiling heaters. Wood soffits add to a warm feel. Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Built by: Crescent Builds Photos by: Julie Mannell Photography

This is the guest bedroom in a small vacation home in South Beach. I wanted to maintain a feeling of casualness, so I infused it with some quirky touches and humor —like the art piece above the bed—, along with a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. For the primary “artwork”, I created the shelves of outward facing books that not only adds a striking visual to the space, but also gives guests a range of books to enjoy. I especially love the brown vintage Martz table lamp on the bed side table; it adds more soul and an unexpected element to the space. Photography by Diego Alejandro Design, LLC

We gave this rather dated farmhouse some dramatic upgrades that brought together the feminine with the masculine, combining rustic wood with softer elements. In terms of style her tastes leaned toward traditional and elegant and his toward the rustic and outdoorsy. The result was the perfect fit for this family of 4 plus 2 dogs and their very special farmhouse in Ipswich, MA. Character details create a visual statement, showcasing the melding of both rustic and traditional elements without too much formality. The new master suite is one of the most potent examples of the blending of styles. The bath, with white carrara honed marble countertops and backsplash, beaded wainscoting, matching pale green vanities with make-up table offset by the black center cabinet expand function of the space exquisitely while the salvaged rustic beams create an eye-catching contrast that picks up on the earthy tones of the wood. The luxurious walk-in shower drenched in white carrara floor and wall tile replaced the obsolete Jacuzzi tub. Wardrobe care and organization is a joy in the massive walk-in closet complete with custom gliding library ladder to access the additional storage above. The space serves double duty as a peaceful laundry room complete with roll-out ironing center. The cozy reading nook now graces the bay-window-with-a-view and storage abounds with a surplus of built-ins including bookcases and in-home entertainment center. You can’t help but feel pampered the moment you step into this ensuite. The pantry, with its painted barn door, slate floor, custom shelving and black walnut countertop provide much needed storage designed to fit the family’s needs precisely, including a pull out bin for dog food. During this phase of the project, the powder room was relocated and treated to a reclaimed wood vanity with reclaimed white oak countertop along with custom vessel soapstone sink and wide board paneling. Design elements effectively married rustic and traditional styles and the home now has the character to match the country setting and the improved layout and storage the family so desperately needed. And did you see the barn? Photo credit: Eric Roth