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NS Chan StudioA retrofit to an existing semi-detached bungalow that strives to bring tranquillity to the living space with humble blends of materials and textures.
The interior concept is to bring out luxurious and executive vibe while keeping the palette light and making the space generous and uncluttered.
Each bedroom and bathroom is designed to match individual’s character and lifestyle needs. They are resting sanctuaries for one to indulge and relax; to immerse into one’s comfort, or to reflect and meditate. Master bedroom and bathroom reflect the executive lifestyle of the harmonious couple, while the daughter’s take on a playful vibe to mirror her skilful ballet movements.
The dining area is also one of the anchoring spaces for the family of 3 generations. It is a communal space to eat and communicate, and to reflect and contemplate. The use of rich timber colour is complemented by light creams and gold finishes, which is then elevated with the play of lighting.
A tranquil environment is important for the mind, which provides a meditative and sensory experience for the daily well-being. Each day is greeted by the rippling sound of water that resonates with the dancing light and shadows strummed against the texture of interior surfaces. The flapping of curtains is accompanied by the sound of gentle breeze and foliage, which breaks the barrier between interior and exterior space. These elements play their part in the symphony of a typical afternoon for anyone in the house.
A big thank you to the wonderful owners for trusting and believing in the design team.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignWe were contacted by a family named Pesek who lived near Memorial Drive on the West side of Houston. They lived in a stately home built in the late 1950’s. Many years back, they had contracted a local pool company to install an old lagoon-style pool, which they had since grown tired of. When they initially called us, they wanted to know if we could build them an outdoor room at the far end of the swimming pool. We scheduled a free consultation at a time convenient to them, and we drove out to their residence to take a look at the property.
After a quick survey of the back yard, rear of the home, and the swimming pool, we determined that building an outdoor room as an addition to their existing landscaping design would not bring them the results they expected. The pool was visibly dated with an early “70’s” look, which not only clashed with the late 50’s style of home architecture, but guaranteed an even greater clash with any modern-style outdoor room we constructed. Luckily for the Peseks, we offered an even better landscaping plan than the one they had hoped for.
We proposed the construction of a new outdoor room and an entirely new swimming pool. Both of these new structures would be built around the classical geometry of proportional right angles. This would allow a very modern design to compliment an older home, because basic geometric patterns are universal in many architectural designs used throughout history. In this case, both the swimming pool and the outdoor rooms were designed as interrelated quadrilateral forms with proportional right angles that created the illusion of lengthened distance and a sense of Classical elegance. This proved a perfect complement to a house that had originally been built as a symbolic emblem of a simpler, more rugged and absolute era.
Though reminiscent of classical design and complimentary to the conservative design of the home, the interior of the outdoor room was ultra-modern in its array of comfort and convenience. The Peseks felt this would be a great place to hold birthday parties for their child. With this new outdoor room, the Peseks could take the party outside at any time of day or night, and at any time of year. We also built the structure to be fully functional as an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor entertainment area. There was a smoker, a refrigerator, an ice maker, and a water heater—all intended to eliminate any need to return to the house once the party began. Seating and entertainment systems were also added to provide state of the art fun for adults and children alike. We installed a flat-screen plasma TV, and we wired it for cable.
The swimming pool was built between the outdoor room and the rear entrance to the house. We got rid of the old lagoon-pool design which geometrically clashed with the right angles of the house and outdoor room. We then had a completely new pool built, in the shape of a rectangle, with a rather innovative coping design.
We showcased the pool with a coping that rose perpendicular to the ground out of the stone patio surface. This reinforced our blend of contemporary look with classical right angles. We saved the client an enormous amount of money on travertine by setting the coping so that it does not overhang with the tile. Because the ground between the house and the outdoor room gradually dropped in grade, we used the natural slope of the ground to create another perpendicular right angle at the end of the pool. Here, we installed a waterfall which spilled over into a heated spa. Although the spa was fed from within itself, it was built to look as though water was coming from within the pool.
The ultimate result of all of this is a new sense of visual “ebb and flow,” so to speak. When Mr. Pesek sits in his couch facing his house, the earth appears to rise up first into an illuminated pool which leads the way up the steps to his home. When he sits in his spa facing the other direction, the earth rises up like a doorway to his outdoor room, where he can comfortably relax in the water while he watches TV. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.
Drewett WorksWith 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.
Simpson & VoyleThis kitchen showcases a harmonious blend of contemporary design and classic architecture. The room is well-lit, with natural light streaming in from a large window on the left. The ceiling features intricate crown molding, indicative of the building's Grade 2 listing and historical significance. Three elegant pendant lights with a brass finish and frosted glass shades hang above the central island, which is topped with a pristine white countertop. The island also incorporates a built-in sink and a cooktop, offering functionality within its streamlined form.
Two modern bar stools with curved silhouettes and dark wooden legs are positioned at the island, providing casual seating. The kitchen cabinetry is minimalistic, with handleless doors painted in a muted off-white tone that complements the overall neutral palette. A splashback of white marble adds a touch of luxury and ties in with the countertop. The flooring is laid in a herringbone pattern, adding texture and a classic touch to the space. A small selection of books and a vase with eucalyptus branches introduce a personal and lived-in feel to the otherwise minimalist kitchen.
Simpson & VoyleWe chose a micro cement floor for this space, choosing a warm neutral that sat perfectly with the wall colour. This entire extension space was intended to feel like a bright and sunny contrast to the pattern and colour of the rest of the house. A sense of calm, space, and comfort exudes from the space. We chose linen and boucle fabrics for the furniture, continuing the restrained palette. The bookcase is a simple and clever way of dividing the space, whilst giving a place to display sentimental objects. The picture window allows light to flood into this corner of the room as does the roof light. We designed bespoke fluted cabinetry to create some clever storage under the TV.
Courtney Thomas DesignWe planned a thoughtful redesign of this beautiful home while retaining many of the existing features. We wanted this house to feel the immediacy of its environment. So we carried the exterior front entry style into the interiors, too, as a way to bring the beautiful outdoors in. In addition, we added patios to all the bedrooms to make them feel much bigger. Luckily for us, our temperate California climate makes it possible for the patios to be used consistently throughout the year.
The original kitchen design did not have exposed beams, but we decided to replicate the motif of the 30" living room beams in the kitchen as well, making it one of our favorite details of the house. To make the kitchen more functional, we added a second island allowing us to separate kitchen tasks. The sink island works as a food prep area, and the bar island is for mail, crafts, and quick snacks.
We designed the primary bedroom as a relaxation sanctuary – something we highly recommend to all parents. It features some of our favorite things: a cognac leather reading chair next to a fireplace, Scottish plaid fabrics, a vegetable dye rug, art from our favorite cities, and goofy portraits of the kids.
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Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena.
For more about Courtney Thomas Design, see here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/
To learn more about this project, see here:
https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/portfolio/functional-ranch-house-design/
5,370,048 Contemporary Home Design Photos
Drewett WorksNot many mudrooms have the ambience of an art gallery, but this cleverly designed area has white oak cubbies and cabinets for storage and a custom wall frame at right that features rotating artwork. The flooring is European oak.
Project Details // Now and Zen
Renovation, Paradise Valley, Arizona
Architecture: Drewett Works
Builder: Brimley Development
Interior Designer: Ownby Design
Photographer: Dino Tonn
Millwork: Rysso Peters
Limestone (Demitasse) flooring and walls: Solstice Stone
Windows (Arcadia): Elevation Window & Door
https://www.drewettworks.com/now-and-zen/
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