Coastal Style

Humor Lightens Up Midcentury Design in Dallas

Wayne and Lisa Moore love the clutter-free appearance of midcentury modern design. Nevertheless, when it came to decorating their Dallas house, there was one challenge. OK, make that three challenges. With three active young children, achieving a clean aesthetic with a youthful vibe took extra attention. The solution? A tiny bit of comedy. They repurposed cat scratchers as sculptural artwork, used Pac-Man decals on the stairwell and wrapped framed pieces of space-patterned wallpaper, all adjacent to pieces by Saarinen, Knoll and van der Rohe. “The purpose of home is to create family and friends happy and comfortable,” Lisa says.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa Moore, a clothes designer; her husband, Wayne, an equity investor; and their 3 children
Location: Park Cities, Dallas
Size: 4,800 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms

Hilary Walker

Saarinen tulip chairs surround a vintage Florence Knoll rosewood dining table with a brass base, one of Wayne and Lisa’s favorite midcentury pieces. “I really like the juxtaposition of a gorgeous wood grain against blank white vinyl,” Lisa says.

Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box serves as a fun centerpiece.

Table: Rosewood Dining Table by Florence Knoll, Sputnik Modern; chairs: Saarinen Tulip Armchair, Design Within Reach; pendant: Random Light by Bertjan Pot, Moooi; painting: by Leslie Wilkes, Barry Whistler Gallery

Hilary Walker

The classic chinoiserie cupboard in the living space, from Nick Brock Antiques in Dallas, was Lisa’s first major furniture purchase. A vintage artwork piece styled in a contemporary acrylic shadow box hangs above.

Sofa: Bantam Studio Sofa (Broad Weave, Red), Design Within Reach; java table: Maya Lin Stones (gloomy), Design Within Reach

Hilary Walker

The majority of the rooms centre around a bit of modern art. From the living room, a cobalt blue figurative bit by British modern artist Christopher Bucklow sets the tone.

Lisa hung corrugated cardboard cat scratchers on the wall as sculptural artwork. They match a Frank Gehry–designed corrugated cardboard side dining table that sits between two Saarinen womb chairs.

Chairs: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen, Design Within Reach; Low Table Set by Frank Gehry, Scott+Cooner; cat scratchers: Cat Scratcher Lounge, Pet Fusion

Hilary Walker

Lisa considers the term “yes” has enormous favorable energy and placed a neon sign of this word in the base of the staircase. Pac-Man decals decorate the wall above, anchoring the space together with playful appeal.

Decals: Pac-Man Ghost, Blik, Fab; “YES” Neon Letters, Nest Dallas

Hilary Walker

A huge oil painting by Scott McDermott, Lisa’s first art purchase while at school, dominates the children’s downstairs playroom. The children use the space for artwork, practicing piano or playing video games. The vintage arcade game was a gift from Lisa’s daddy. “He likes nostalgic bits such as jukeboxes and arcades,” she says. Her mother found the green Panton mini-chairs that tie in perfectly with the portrait painting.

The tiger head above the arcade game symbolizes the funny layout style. “I love blow-up creatures for the swimming pool and rubber Halloween masks,” Lisa says. “The tiger head lands somewhere in the center. I’m not into creature mounts or taxidermy, so that I thought that this was a fun substitute.”

Blue seat: PS Lömsk Swivel Chair, Ikea

Hilary Walker

Artwork and self-portraits for every one of the 3 children frame a cupboard door.

Hilary Walker

Lisa purchased both blue bits in the family room on Craigslist for about $ 200. “I enjoy midcentury modern design, but always throw in some bright happy colours and artwork that’s simple not crafty,” she says.

Chairs: Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, Design Within Reach

Hilary Walker

A portrait of Roy Lichtenstein by Chuck Close is Lisa’s most prized artwork purchase.

Hilary Walker

The Moores gave their spacious kitchen and dining room a facelift after they transferred in. They painted the yellow walls white, refinished the hardwood flooring and furnished the space with easy-to-clean furniture.

Coat stand: Splash Coat Rack, Blu Dot; framed paper cut-out artwork piece: Jim Hodges

Hilary Walker

From the kitchen, they included new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and painted their traditional wood cabinets.

Hilary Walker

Lisa decorated the upstairs bonus room by framing space-patterned wrapping paper designed by Rodarte because of the Target collaboration.

Shelving: Cubitec Shelving (orange), Design With Attain; ottoman: Pentagonal Pouf, Missoni for Goal

Hilary Walker

The main bedroom epitomizes simplicity along with a clutter-free decorating philosophy. Lisa and Wayne maintained the colour palette accessories and colours as minimum as you can.

A DIY sculpture from the Nasher Sculpture Center hangs above the headboard. It’s made of interlocking ornamental plastic bits that can be rearranged.

Wall sculpture DIY kit: Algue, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Nasher Sculpture Center Store

Hilary Walker

Lisa designed this acrylic desk a local plastic company then made.

Ottomans: Missoni for Goal; lamp: We Are 1976

Hilary Walker

They transformed the main bathroom with marble countertops and flooring and a modern bathtub.

Hilary Walker

Lisa painted a striped accent wall in every kid’s room for a fun and dynamic approach to have a consistent theme. Each child selected a bold colour to anchor their area’s design. This really is their son’s space.

Hilary Walker

Hilary Walker

Their older daughter went for hot pink, deep red and vibrant orange inside her bedroom. An aluminum desk, equal to Lisa’s, keeps things clean and simple.

Art printing: Brain Gibb from The Public Trust

Watch Brian Gibb and Misty Keasler’s midcentury house

Hilary Walker

The youngest daughter went with a periwinkle blue accent colour. White frilly bedding along with an antique carousel horse at the corner soften the space as well.

Hilary Walker

Lisa is pictured here with her youngest daughter.

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Coastal Style

Character, Color and Artistry at San Francisco

As a long-distance couple moving in together for the first time, Kelli Ryder and Timothy Lamb were confronted with the challenge of combining their fashions to reflect both of their characters. The solution? Humor and undermine. “We could mesh our styles together and compromise as it came to decorating,” says Ryder, a editor. “We like to have a sense of humor in our decorating; we do not take things too seriously.”

To maintain their apartment from becoming too gender biased, “we would call out each other when there were too many black and metallic items, or too many pink and sparkly things,” says Lamb, an artist. The result is a cozy, comfortable home that successfully blends their individual personalities and contains particulars worth a grin.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelli Ryder, Timothy Lamb and their cats, Roxanne and Leonard
Location: Panhandle area of San Francisco
Size: About 650 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Shannon Malone

Ryder and Lamb already had a few basic pieces of furniture, like their couch, dining table and coffee table; they shopped at places like Ikea, Overstock.com, Target and West Elm for the remainder. “I love finding a good deal,” she says. The side table was a present from a friend.

Shannon Malone

Among the biggest design dilemmas the couple confronted was the positioning of the large JJ Villard painting in the dining area. “Our apartment is big by San Francisco standards, however it is still a very large painting for a flat,” Ryder says.

They moved the piece from room to room, however it was not quite right before the couple tried it at the dining area, where it stayed.

Rug: Revival Turquoise Rug, Joy & Revelry; candleholders: Jonathan Adler

Shannon Malone

“Tim really wanted a pendant light, and I wanted a chandelier” says Ryder, “This light is both, and it’s shiny!”

Quark Ceiling Lamp: Overstock.com

Shannon Malone

Among the unique features of the apartment is this multi-functional built in unit at the dining area; there’s also an abundance of closet space in the home. The few painted the dining area charcoal grey to specify it and give it character. “We love the stunning neutral grey; it really makes the built-in pop,” says Lamb.

A faux saber-tooth-tiger skull stays along with the device. “We got tired of our buddies asking if it was real, so we decided to spray paint it gold,” Lamb says. “I would paint everything gold when I could,” adds Ryder.

Wall Paint: Gunmetal, Benjamin Moore; “R/R” printing: McBess; skull: Saber Tooth Tiger Skull, Z Gallerie

Shannon Malone

A small animal figurine rests within a terrarium on the table. “It’s our cat Leo,” Ryder says.

Shannon Malone

Artist Jason Laferrera made this fox printing. “The print was Tim’s before I moved in, but I love it,” says Ryder. “My family has a cottage in the mountains near McCall, Idaho, and there’s always little foxes running around. This print will always be a staple in our home.”

Shannon Malone

Lamb picked each of the artwork from the apartment. “But it’s evenly divided on his tastes and mine,” says Ryder. The Barbary sheep trophy on the wall has been bought at Paxton Gate and was once employed as part of an installment at one of Lamb’s art shows in Los Angeles.

The coffee table characterizes their combined decorating fashions. “We love to mix rustic pieces with more contemporary, clean layouts,” Ryder says. “The dining table is rustic, but can be contemporary or feminine based on how we style it.”

Coffee table: Seguro Rectangular Table, Crate & Barrel; carpeting: Threshold Criss-Cross Shag, Goal; rockers: Vinnie White Cradle, Overstock.com; terrarium: Turning Triangles, Urban Outfitters

Shannon Malone

“After we moved to the apartment, everything was beige,” says Ryder. “Among the first things we did was pick out paint colours and paint the living room and dining area.” They envisioned this glowing blue on a whim whilst out to brunch on a Sunday. “We stopped at the hardware shop on the way home and painted it that night,” says Ryder. The color is a custom mix from Benjamin Moore.

“We love our living room as it’s comfy yet stylish,” says Ryder. “We did not want it to look like a showroom; we wish to have the ability to enjoy our home without worrying we’re going to mess it up.”

Shannon Malone

Ryder functions in the home for Rue magazine also writes for her blog, Leopard and Lavender, at this desk underneath bay windows. “It’s nice to have different nooks from the house to use,” Ryder says. “It keeps me from getting cabin fever.”

Desk: Parsons, West Elm; sheepskin: Rens, Ikea

Shannon Malone

Lamb spotted this rustic corner piece onto the side of a street and immediately grabbed his car and brought it home. “I love mixing in older pieces,” he says.

Shannon Malone

Large bay windows soften the bedroom, even though they left furniture positioning tricky.

Bedding: Alyssa Matelassé, Peacock Alley; mattress framework: Piper, Room & Board; drapes: Ikea; seat: Lina, Lulu & Georgia; table: Sculpted Geo Console, West Elm; pillow: Posh Polka Dot Charcoal, Society Social

Shannon Malone

“We’re really lucky with the design of our apartment,” Ryder says. “We can be at home without being in one another’s space.”

Kilim rug: eBay; desk: Go-Cart Console, CB2; bookcase: Expedit, Ikea

Shannon Malone

Ryder, shown here on the left, is glad that her long-distance connection between San Francisco and Boise, Idaho, is finished. “Tim [at right] had been going to tons of open homes, coping with the horrendous S.F. program process and competition, but I wasn’t able to help or provide any inputsignal,” she recalls. “We were really nervous that I’d need to move to a location and neighborhood I had never noticed before.”

With important luck, they scored this apartment when Ryder was in town to get a quick stay. “We came over and knew immediately it was the perfect place for us,” she says. “We filled out an application and a check immediately, and crossed our fingers.” Ryder got the good news while waiting in the airport security line on her way back to Boise.

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A DIY Gold Mine at the Heart of Texas

French teacher, blogger and designer Camille Dickson is a DIY convert of the maximum order. There is barely a surface at the 1950s ranch home she shares with husband Kyle which they have not painted, scraped, re-surfaced or gutted themselves. “I guess if someone else could get it done for hire, we could do it for free,” she says. The home is a gold mine of home improvement inspiration, with jobs which range from a fully renovated kitchen and bath to an accent wall completely coated with book pages from a French study guide.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Camille and Kyle Dickson, their two kids and Boston terrier Rufus
Location: Abilene, Texas
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, two baths

Sarah Greenman

A gallery wall consisting of nine frames showcases a map of Paris. Camille saw a large map costing over $1,000 at a favorite catalogue and produced a similar style for approximately $150 in her own living space using frames from Target.

Paint: Old Country Tan, Lowe’s

Sarah Greenman

A striking wall covered with book leaves greets visitors as they enter the home. “The pages are from books I had around the house,” Camille says. “Two were old French study guides; another two novels I have at Goodwill for about 50 cents each. I simply used my stapler from school to tack up the pages there.”

The piano, a present from Camille’s grandfather, is one of her precious possessions. “He gave it to our family when I was in third grade, and I took classes all of the way through high school,” she says. “I have lots of happy memories connected with it.”

Sarah Greenman

A gallery wall sets off a curated set of mementos and travel treasures in the foyer. “My personal style seems to be dictated by what I like at this time, and I feel that the things in your home should tell you and your family’s story,” Camille says. “Almost everything that’s on screen has some sort of significance behind it, if it be out of our journeys, a family heirloom or something that one of us has left. That’s in the root of the design philosophy.”

Table: Cost Plus World Market; side chairs: Thomasville

Sarah Greenman

The living room is a heavily textured and layered area achieved with time and patience. “We have lived here for almost 10 decades, and the home has slowly evolved to what you see now,” Camille says.

The dog mattress under the piano is from Holly Mathis Interiors. Mathis is a longtime friend of Camille’s, and also the design is named for Rufus, the Dicksons’ dog.

Coffee table: Overstock.com; place rug: Joss and Main

Sarah Greenman

A Boston terrier–print throw pillow onto a cornered slipper chair can also be a nod to Rufus. The table lamp is one of Camille’s DIY jobs; she gave the foundation an upgrade with silver spray paint.

Slipper seat: Overstock.com

Sarah Greenman

The French-inspired dining room is awash in light blue, softened with wheat-colored curtain panels and organic linen cushions embroidered with French words.

The table is from a regional antiques store and has been what Camille calls “a Marsha Brady yellow.” She gave the rounded ends a fast buzz using a circular saw, then stripped off the table and then stained it with Rust-Oleum Sunbleached Wood Stain. She subsequently painted the legs and apron white and sanded them down. Her cheap secret weapon for aging furniture: black and brown wax shoe polish.

Paint: Milk Pail, Home Depot; drapes: Ballard Designs; chandelier: Quoizel, Lighting Universe; place carpeting: 1 Kings Lane; chairs: Kmart

Sarah Greenman

Camille repurposed a timber plank out of her in-laws’ old fence and attached it to two antique corbels found at a store in Fort Worth to create this shelf.

Sarah Greenman

The tan and blue colour scheme continues in the primary suite, where a wooden sleigh bed takes center stage. “I mowed the footboard about 12 inches along with my reciprocating saw, because I had been frustrated by how it made the space look tight,” Camille says. “Now it’s like a panel mattress. Kyle thought I’d lost my head if he saw me sawing away, but he believes it works better today, also.”

Wall paint: Woodlawn Blue; ceiling paint: Manchester Tan, both by Benjamin Moore; quilt, duvet: Pottery Barn

Sarah Greenman

A little assortment of glass cloches found at Goodwill and Hobby Lobby adorns a dresser at the primary bedroom. “The one with ‘Gateaux‘ piled on the front was a recent buy during a visit to NYC, from the Morgan Library and Museum,” Camille says. “I lugged that thing around the Garment District while fabric shopping, then in my carry-on bag on the way home.”

Sarah Greenman

The couple completely renovated their previously pink-tiled, glittery-Formica-clad principal bathroom. “Everything in there was first and needed replacement,” Camille says. ” I love having two sinks instead of simply one. It makes mornings much more civilized.”

She created the dual vanity from an antique buffet found at a consignment store for $200. After painting it white, the few topped it with a Carrara marble remnant from a local stone lawn.

Paint: Wedgewood Gray, Benjamin Moore; knobs, pulls: Anthropologie

Sarah Greenman

Camille keeps clutter to a minimum with DIY business jobs like this framed jewelry corkboard in her bedroom. “I really don’t like a great deal of stuff in the home,” she says. “In actuality, I am known for cleaning up using a trash can in hand.”

Sarah Greenman

Camille renovated the kids’ hall toilet on a1,200 budget. She converted their tub to a dual tub and shower, painted the cabinetry, replaced the glitter-specked Formica counter with granite counter tops, tiled the ground and installed new lighting. “I learned a lot about constructing walls, carpentry and electrical, as I did it all myself,” she says. “However, I left the plumbing to the specialists.”

Camille discovered to tile by viewing her father and studying up on techniques and supplies. “It is not difficult but does take patience, especially in the event that you decide to learn using little bitty tiles, such as I did. Maybe not my smartest move. I utilized a manual tile for your toilet, then afterward a wet saw for my kitchen backsplash, and there is no wonder that the tile saw is much simpler to use.”

Wall paint: Rosemary, Walmart; tile: Lowe’s

Sarah Greenman

A 1970s-era credenza, purchased at Goodwill for $30, has been painted black and today serves as a buffet in the kitchen. “I added panels to the drawer fronts to add a little bit of detail and hide the recessed drawer pulls,” Camille says. “I added turned legs to the floor and an MDF top, then flashed the edge to give it a finished-countertop appearance.”

Buffet hardware: Hobby Lobby

Sarah Greenman

Two-toned cabinetry, subway tile and marble countertops give the kitchen a dressed-up vibe. Kyle reconfigured the kitchen by yanking out the first wall mount and retrofitting a slide-in range. He also replaced the cabinets, upper cupboard doors and countertops. “After those things were done, it really begun to feel like home,” Camille says.

The most recent upgrade to the home involved replacing the dining and kitchen flooring with hand-scraped walnut. “We had a major escape while we had been on vacation and were made to replace the flooring,” she says. “While we were in it, I chose to replace the carpeting in the living room and hallway with timber too. I think the biggest splurge so far is the wood floor we picked, but it had been worth every penny.”

The couple purchased the stainless apron-front sink on clearance. It sat patiently at the garage for a while before the renovation began. “I highly recommend large single-bowl sinks,” Camille says. “They could hide a good deal of dirty dishes.”

Upper-cabinet paint: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore; sink: Overstock.com

Sarah Greenman

Camille made excellent use of the area over and around the cooking range. A hanging rack keeps pans and pots in the ready; it shares space with an open wall-mounted spice rack out of Ikea.

Wall paint: Rosemary, Walmart

Sarah Greenman

The back of an antique oven serves as a magnet board attached to a kitchen wall. “It had such a beautiful patina,” Camille says. “I needed to save it and turn it into something practical.”

Sarah Greenman

A large living room teeming with cushy seating and including an entertainment center is opposite the kitchen and enjoys views of the garden. “Truthfully, there are a great deal of things about our home that I would change if I had carte blanche, but we live here. Like, really live here,” Camille says. “I want for your kids and people who come around to become comfortable. So the ivory linen couch can wait. For now, we’ll watch films and put a little additional butter on our popcorn as we hit the sofa, which also doubles as a giant napkin.”

Curtains: Lowe’s; couches: Ashley Furniture; wall paint: Rosemary, Walmart

Sarah Greenman

A door, potted greenery plus a little Boston terrier sculpture create a welcoming vignette in the front entry. The doorway mat reads “Bonjour,” giving visitors a little taste of what’s inside.

Sarah Greenman

Kyle’s brother, who resides across the street, alerted him if the home went on the market a decade back. Then, about four years when they moved in, the house next door was purchased by their parents. “We’d like to call our neighborhood ‘the compound,'” Camille says.

Sarah Greenman

“There are many things to appreciate about Abilene,” says Camille, revealed here with Rufus. “True, there aren’t a great deal of trees and it’s quite hot and dry in the summer, but we do have a thriving arts community, including numerous museums and galleries, ballet, a symphony and lots and lots of great places to eat.”

Your turn: Show us your creative home!

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Coastal Style

10 Ways to Receive Your Living Room in the Summer Spirit

Summer trying to get a more relaxed approach to decorating — chill out from an indoor hammock, substitute a door with airy mosquito netting, and worry less about feet on the sofa (hint: use slipcovers). Get 11 methods to update your living room for easy summer living beneath.

Kate Jackson Design

Place just a couple beach-inspired accents. A few carefully chosen bits are all you want to change the appearance of your living room for summertime.

Try placing a giant real or faux clamshell on the coffee table, either vacant as shown here or filled with fresh lemons. The rope-covered glass buoy tucked under the table here is sculptural, and the contemporary sea-inspired art print keeps the space feeling present rather than overly theme-y.

Get loads of ideas for creating your own coastal design

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

Insert a daybed. Encourage idle afternoon naps by replacing your usual pair of armchairs or sofa with a daybed. Topped with a couple white and blue cushions, it may just as easily serve as a seat for 2 or lounging spot for one.

White curtains and creamy white painted floors create a relaxing background for eclectic finds in this living room. A live-edge wooden dining table, rope and iron mirror, and drum table insert into the earthy coastal aesthetic.

Holly Marder

String up a hammock indoors. There is absolutely not any reason to maintain the pleasure of a hammock relegated to the yard. Hanging one indoors will instantly transform your space into a relaxation zone.

Geoff Associates & Chick

Craft an artsy sand set. Decked out a whole bunch of identical little glass bottles with cork tops and fill them as the summer goes on with handfuls of sand from each shore you go to. Label each bottle with the date and place, and place each one of the bottles on a plate against a map background.

Terracotta Design Build

Go for woven accessories and stained wood. Natural materials and intriguing textures telegraph a laidback vibe. A large woven basket is amazingly versatile — use it to carry papers, firewood, additional cushions, or kids’ toys, or even as a cachepot to get an indoor tree.

Penguin Random House

Swap out your light to get a capiz pendant. Capiz shells have a slightly iridescent quality that gives them a lavish but nevertheless beachy feel. Capiz bracelets and pendants reflect the light in a gorgeous way.

See more about capiz shell lighting

Adrianna Beech

Set up a self-serve beverage tray. On hot days why not maintain a big dispenser filled with ice water at hand on a bar cart or console desk? Perk up plain water with pieces of lemon or another fresh fruit, cucumber or mint.

See trendy drink dispensers and holders

Adrianna Beech

Cover your furniture with white slipcovers. Washable white slipcovers made from a solid cloth like duck or denim seem fresh and summery, and they clean up with ease (along with a little bleach).

Notice how white slipcovers can be sensible

Mykonos Panormos Villas

Go doorless. Keep things breezy by eliminating a door or 2. Hang mosquito netting or sheer drape panels rather for a tropical appearance.

Corynne Pless

Keep a happy mess of summery accessories on screen. Straw hats and colorful totes spilling out of the entrance? Hang them on a simple row of hooks in your living room to get a cheerful, practical screen.

Tell us : What’s in your summer decorating to-do list?

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A Austin Home Has Something

Following 20 years of developing his family and social circle, lawyer Lanny Vickery felt the pressing need for a more elastic house than the one he’d lived in for so long. But the house was close to excellent restaurants, vibrant downtown Austin and the University of Texas, so leaving did not feel right. Instead Vickery maintained the overall floor plan nearly the same but enlarged the downstairs back wall 3 feet outward, which added around 90 square feet. “Not much area,” he says, “but a huge difference in livability.” Now, thanks also to a big sliding door on the rear addition, the house can reshape itself need to adapt a date night to your Vickerys — or even a party for 100.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Lanny and Kim Vickery and their 2 young children
Location: French Location area of Austin, Texas
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
Remodel price: Around $300,000

Kara Mosher

Kara Mosher

Structural steel and glass designed and built by East Austin artist Todd Campbell forms the geometrical front doorway. “The doorway was a standard door flanked by two cheap-looking sidelights,” says the homeowner. “We wanted something newer and much more enjoyable.”

The Vickerys painted the exterior Tupelo Tree green and added a metal roof in 2009.

Kara Mosher

With the help of architect Francois Levy and contractor Terry Stewart, they concentrated on the ground floor, first stripping it down into its skeleton. “We actually moved into a tiny village in Spain for two months,” Vickery says.

The upstairs was minimally affected throughout the home improvement remodel. “We eliminated walls, floors and ceilings down to the studs,” he says. “There was no subfloor, so the floor was open into the ground below. We took out the stairs.”

Anywhere the homeowners’ feet land now, there is a good chance it touches down on hot and rich tigerwood, a Brazilian hardwood.

Kara Mosher

The wall is adorned by the family art collection. “We now have a personal connection with nearly all our artwork and have been blessed to have great personal encounters with such artists like Fernando Casas, Dan Allison, Sue Mayer and Bert Long,” says Vickery.

Torso artwork: Craig LaRotunda, Revelation Studios, Brooklyn, New York

Kara Mosher

The metal staircase beam turned into a creative spot for displaying family photos with magnets. The backs of the floating stair treads are intended to resemble zebra stripes.

Kara Mosher

A painting by Sue Mayer titled “The Catch” in their downstairs space serves as a daily reminder to think outside the box. “It depicts the bounty of bass the disciples captured when encouraged to cast their net on the other side of the ship,” clarifies Vickery.

Table, chairs: Four Hands

Kara Mosher

Vickery worked with Chuck Wheelock to redesign and redesign kitchen. “As it turned out, Chuck was my college roommate, but we’d lost touch for nearly three years. When we were considering remodeling our kitchen two years ago, Chuck contacted me from the blue. He spent a weekend in our house, seeing us how we used the distance,” Vickery says.

This round cherrywood drum with a butcher block top in the corner of this island is Vickery’s favorite spot in the house. The remaining cabinets are walnut frames with bird’s eye walnut insets.

Cabinets: Bill Johnson Cabinets; pendant lights: Lights Fantastic

Kara Mosher

The fireplace was a group effort. Wheelock did the design, contractor Terry Stewart built the cement board and metal frame construction, and Sloan Montgomery plastered the surface. John Rodriguez then rebuilt the whole chimney, firebox and hearth from the brick.

Fire grate and screen: built by Todd Campbell; bar stools: Rustic Bar Stool, West Elm; mantel: Southwest Trading Post

Kara Mosher

Wheelock’s unique design let room for four stools. “Kim desired eight, because everyone always hangs out in the kitchen, but we compromised about six and it has worked out beautifully,” Vickery says.

The couple worked with local designer Ed Martens to select out the downstairs light fixtures the granite in the kitchen along with the ceiling and wall colours, as well as the purple painted cupboard under the bar.

Wall dish rack: Johnny Grey; cupboards: Bill Johnson Cabinets; stainless steel counter tops and sink: Dave’s Metal Works

Kara Mosher

The living area includes a glass NanaWall that opens entirely to fuse the distance into your backyard. “When it’s open, this gives the feeling of one big space, part of that just happens to be outside,” Vickery says.

Chair: Louis Shank; purple built-in cabinets: made and designed by Bill Johnson Cabinets

Kara Mosher

Vickery had the backyard altitude raised so the living area flooring and outside space were on one seamless level.

Paint: Tupelo Tree, Sherwin-Williams

Kara Mosher

“Sunny, vibrant and yellowish” refers to the upstairs master bedroom. Artist Suzanne Kfoury painted the off-the-floor Levitz mattress. “She took that old mattress and made it seem like something from an Egyptian pharaoh’s palace. It was pretty incredible,” says Vickery.

Kara Mosher

Nicknamed the “shower tower,” the master bathroom shower features handmade glass tiles out of Architerra studios in Austin, set up by Fausto Hernandez. “The first mix did not have the blue tiles so we requested them to mix from the blues with their existing design. We love how it turned out,” Vickery says.

Todd Campbell made and built the stone sink, metal counter tops and bedside table. “He poured the concrete sink counter on site, which allowed us to embed things inside as it dried,” Vickery notes.

Kara Mosher

A cherry and vegetable garden resides in the conclusion of this shady backyard.

Kara Mosher

Vickery stands in his newly remodeled kitchen.

Share your remodeled home with us!

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About Trend: Up-and-Coming Minimalist Swedish Accessories

Sometimes contemporary designs look very crude, making it hard for some of us to want to add them to our houses. Let’s be honest — I need my home to be inviting and comfortable, and minimalism seldom focuses on that objective.

But have no fear. Adding minimalist accessories is an effortless way to bring a few modernity into the mix. These Swedish designs have both ends covered: They’re both modern and inviting. Take a look at how each product uses the simple notion of outstretched arms to bring some humanity to their simple forms. I find these designs uplifting and comforting, too.

Notice: Asplund and Röshults goods are available for purchase directly from their sites. Contact Offecct, Källemo and Klong for buying information about their goods.

ASPLUND

Cookie Tray – $151.88

This three-tier tray’s name, Cookie, is simply perfect, because that is exactly what I’d need to use it to get: lots and lots of scrumptious biscuits.

ASPLUND

Stella Candelabra

These easy arms are so minimalist; the only thing they need to do is hold a candle up. This is utility at its very best.

kallemo.se

Babe Coatrack

A brand new takes on a classic set of hitting arms, this coatrack keeps the old-school details but upgrades the colors and curves for a contemporary look.

kallemo.se

Darjeeling Cart

The hitting arms are somewhat subtle in this contemporary cart, but the curves supporting the push handle have the identical upward slope.

www.klong.se

FANNY VAS

This exceptional vase showcases each flower with its individual arm encircling the stem.

klong.se

Kit Candlesticks

The very simple and absolutely balanced set of arms on this candlestick showcases slim candles.

Röshults

Log-Wood Basket – EUR 149

Even your fireplace deserves a few inspiration that is Swedish. This log basket depends on a set of arms to keep your firewood carefully cradled.

offecct.se

Forest Room Divider

An extremely playful room divider, this set of arched arms would be loads of fun in a large loft space or on an outdoor patio.

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Coastal Style

New Classics: the Coral Pendant Light of David Trubridge

The complex construction of Down Under coral reefs inspired this spherical pendant light. Produced by New Zealander David Trubridge, the Coral Pendant begins with the natural kinds of coral, gives them a more streamlined geometric shape and reassembles them in a spherical lamp. Concern for the environment also influenced Trubridge’s layout; the light fixture is made of bamboo plywood that’s sustainably forested, and it is flat packed to decrease the carbon footprint of shipping.

The light is a terrific pick for transitional, contemporary and contemporary rooms. See how well it mingles with cowhide, networks with stripes, flirts with Ikea throw cushions and loosens up preppy plaids.

Mid Mod Mom

Because the light is flat packed, you will have to do a little bit of work to put it together once it arrives. The good thing is, there is an easy-to-follow video that teaches you how to build it, available online.

HORNE

David Trubridge Coral Pendant, Aqua – $360

If you’d like to bring some bright yet subtle color, the pendant can be obtained with the interior paint rendered in cheerful hues like aqua, orange, lime, yellow, salmon and green (shown here).

Three Legged Pig Design

While a single orb is certainly sufficient to stand by itself, two seem striking together, especially when they’re different sizes. The ring is available in five sizes: 15 1/2, 23 1/2, 31 1/2, 39 1/2 and a whopping 63 inches in diameter.

Hint: You can highlight a room-dividing component with lighting.These pendants have been hung directly over the bookshelves that separate the stairs from the main living area.

Rachel Reider Interiors

Within this breakfast space, the ring navigates the distance between the large wood ceiling and the crisp white table.

We’ve also noted these seat as New Classics. Learn more about these

Dyna Contracting

The Coral Pendant looks excellent from a large window; its own form is architectural and organic, so it ties into the buildings and trees in the space.

YLighting

David Trubridge Coral Pendant, Natural – $290

My favourite aspect of this pendant is the honeycomb of shadows it casts all around a space.

Thom Filicia Inc..

You needn’t limit use of the ring into a living room or above a dining table; it looks fantastic in a bedroom, out of a nursery into a master suite.

Hint: Remember that you don’t have to hang a pendant light at the middle of a space. It is possible to bring an otherwise dull corner to life using a pendant light or two, because you see here.

More:
The Ikea Maskros Light

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Coastal Style

10 Inground Pools Which Go Above and Beyond

Beating the summertime can be as simple as hanging out in an air-conditioned room, but the lure of a pool may frequently be too strong for all of us to stay indoors. For those looking to spend in building an inground pool, the job can be daunting in terms of all of the factors: the pool’s location, its dimensions, its configuration and the way it is related to the home, not to mention its own surfaces, either inside and around the pool. This ideabook presents some modern yet varied pools, highlighting some of the numerous elements to look at when designing a pool.

Amitzi Architects

Finding a pool near to a home can have numerous advantages. This example illustrates a few: Sunshading attached the home can serve the pool and the adjacent deck; along with the deck itself may serve both the home and the pool.

Amitzi Architects

Looking toward the house with the pool in lower right, note the way the glass walls are sliders, letting the inside and out to merge. This creates a lot of sense together with the pool just steps away from the home.

Amitzi Architects

From in the home another quality is evident: The light reflecting off the water creates a dappled pattern, here hitting on the pulled curtains.

Balfoort Architecture, Inc..

This pool in Florida is placed in the courtyard of a U-shape plan. This produces the pool the focus of the outside area, but also an impediment. The stepping stones deal with the latter.

Balfoort Architecture, Inc..

The stepping stones align with the split between two pools. The smaller pool on the left is a hot bath, while the longer one on the right is a lap pool.

Balfoort Architecture, Inc..

The entrance of the pool with the outdoor and indoor spaces of the home is extraordinary. It is hard to think of the home without the pool. Covered terraces are oriented to the water, along with glass walls slide open to link inside and out.

Bradford Products

This above-ground lap pool in Malibu, California, is a tight squeeze, inserted into a gap between a circular drum (at right) and a catwalk.

Bradford Products

Still another view of the pool demonstrates how it relates to the drum (that has a spa atop it) and also the beach below.

Bradford Products

An additional view, from the catwalk, reveals that the strange distance where the pool is inserted. Its location provides a view of the sea beyond, through the opening under the catwalk, but it also lends the pool an awareness of enclosure and privacy.

Vinci | Hamp Architects

Here is a guesthouse and a swimming pool with a monitoring tower situated on a historic dairy farm. The pool is terraced down from the home and enclosed by hedges to give it some privacy as well.

Vinci | Hamp Architects

The pool is aligned with a pool home, an important factor when siting the pool away from the main home.

Architects, taC studios

This again is a pool situated fairly close to the home. A few of things to note here would be the second-floor overhang, which shades the terrace, and also how the deck comes close to the pool, with steps down to the pool cut into the deck. (Compare this with another project.)

Neptune Swimming Pools

Unlike the previous example, this deck is above water’s level. A few areas are tacked on the rectangular shape of the pool, one providing a place for repose (right) and one integrating the measures to the deck (left). The pool’s place between the two-story home and a solid fence give it plenty of privacy.

Lewis Aquatech

Occasionally an outside pool is an extension of an indoor pool — not literally, in terms of water, but in terms of strategy place. This home in Washington, D.C., has an indoor pool just beyond the glass wall, aligned with all the outdoor lap pool noticed here. Warm days invite a dip outside, while chilly days may keep one inside the light-filled area.

A few striking pools end this ideabook. This is one having a “window” on one side to show the swimmers submerged.

John Onken Architects

And what could an ideabook on outside pools be with no zero-edge infinity pool? As the architects explain the pool, “it had been cautious fit into the existing rocky landscape for total scenery immersion.”

The building zone, ltd..

Last is this spa in Arizona, since summer is relative in certain parts of the USA. Hot and arid Arizona can become quite cool at night, so a hot place to soak is called for. This layout immerses bathers in the desert surroundings.

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Coastal Style

Houston Architects' Modern Live-Work Studio

Aside from the fact that this live-work studio exists in the midst of Houston’s sprawl, a couple things are noteworthy: Even the architects, of Intexure Architects, really inhabit the project, and four of the residential jobs overlook it, making this portion of Houston’s Inner Loop that an Intexure compound of types. The four houses, which are charged as Southmoor Terrace, are LEED certified and are at exactly the same modernist vein as the live-work studio. These include the Tallichet residence the Bhutani residence and also the Waldrum residence. This article concentrates on the live-work studio, because it offers a different typology because of its context.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Rame and Russell Hruska
Location: Houston, Texas
Size:
3,000 square feet
That is intriguing:
Adjacent houses are part of Museum Park Modern, a growth also by Intexure Architects.

Intexure Architects

The building’s long facade faces an internal court with parking, a requirement not only for Houston but also for owning a company in the construction. The garage is visible on the right; this may be the farthest from the street, but it helps to create more agreeable street frontages (without hulking garage doors) and sets a precedent for another residences.

The architects described it to me “We had been required by code to have a garage to satisfy our parking requirements — we’ve got a company occupancy stairs and residential occupancy over — but we really don’t park at the garage. Instead we use it as a woodshop/model-making zone and staging for our building jobs.” Further, “it’s two garage doors in 90 degrees on adjoining walls, which it also can be opened as a covered area for outside events, which we want to have in the gravel area when we transfer away the cars — parking by day and collecting space during nonwork hours.”

Intexure Architects

To the left of the garage is the stair tower, and outside that the vast majority of the live-work spaces. This stair tower is particularly significant, as the architects suggest: “As a structure, the stair tower divides the space. Downstairs is pure studio, over the garage is pure living, while the upstairs over the studio has dual functions.”

The extended facade faces south west and east, so the trees are useful in shading these spaces.

Intexure Architects

Ultimately we see the street facade, in addition to a glimpse of a few the LEED-certified residences at the space. The water feature and planting in front of the live-work studio really are a wonderful touch that sets the building apart from the residential context.

Intexure Architects

The entry to the building is adjacent to and set back in the glazed stair tower. From inside, the light coming in the latter is evident, illuminating the wood and steel steps.

Intexure Architects

Turning left after coming in the front door attracts you to the work space. Signage makes this clear, as does the look of the reception area and the seminar room outside.

Intexure Architects

Here is another view of the reception space, almost comfortable enough for a living area.

Intexure Architects

The workspace, that overlooks the parking area and another residences, is a double-height space. It looks like the project really works to obscure the distinctions between working and living, both spatially and in style and furnishings. “Boundaries are blurred in the sense that the royal studio is open to over,” say the architects, “with the idea of creating connections and the fact that flexible spaces can adapt to change.”

They include, “With developments to our household — a 4-year-old plus a 3-month-old — in the six years we’ve been in the space, we’ve sharpened the boundaries a little with the addition of a sliding door in the pure living zone. It has worked great, and allowing for change was a part of the strategy. Architecture is a lifestyle. Rather than commuting or separating our own lives, we live that which we work and love what we do.”

Intexure Architects

Intexure says that in the live-work studio, “regions are designed with flexibility and dual functions in your mind.” This is evident in the second-floor dining room area that could easily double as a work/conference area.

Intexure Architects

The living room proper is fairly casual, very open and full of light, because of generous glazing.

The architects amount up the job and their job nicely: “Having a construction that we made as our workspace is a great way to practice what we preach. The construction includes many sustainable features and serves as an illustration of our philosophy — buildings that reflect to their own time and place, react to the website, and honesty in the use of substances.”

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Coastal Style

German Prefab Home in the Colorado Mountains

It Required seven semi-trailer cartons to ship Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno’s prefabricated home from Bad Saulgau,Germany, to the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. Truckers hauled the cartons over dirt roads to eventually reach their plot of land. Meier says, “Ninety-five percentage of the home came from my native state of Germany.” Bruno adds, “The only items we had to purchase were the flooring, appliances, lighting and bathroom fixtures. … And cabinets. I let Ralf choose the programs, forgetting that Europeans use wardrobes rather than cabinets!” The few ordered their home from Platz. Just six months from planning to completion took.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno and their two dogs, Teddy and Kona
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 4,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 office, 2.5 baths
That is interesting: The home arrived in seven semi-trailer cartons.

Leslie Bentson

The two Meier and Bruno like to entertain and discuss their “German home in a box” with friends and loved ones. Meier says, “Hands down, the built-in Miele espresso maker was the ideal purchase in kitchen. It’s made thousands of cups of happiness.”

Leslie Bentson

Light lotion and tan-strained granite countertops contrast with the dark cabinetry. Meier set up the stone tile which runs the whole height of the back wall. Above the cabinets is a collection of clay, wood and metal art picked up during the couple’s travels.

Leslie Bentson

All the kitchen cabinetry came as a portion of the home package from Germany. Stainless steel appliances complete the modern kitchen layout and comprise a GE refrigerator, Thermador stovetop, Bosch oven, Miele dishwasher and built in coffee maker. Glass fronts on the decrease hanging cabinets and island cabinets balance the heaviness of this black.

Leslie Bentson

Light beech wood beams and plank ceilings warm the spacious living space and contrast with the Patagonia Rosewood flooring. The same stone tile backsplash seen in the kitchen outlines the wall behind the Skantherm fireplace.

Leslie Bentson

Big windows frame views of the mountains, complementing the minimalist decoration throughout the home.

Leslie Bentson

The heating process is located in the walls. Copper pipes were installed and framed out, and thick particleboard is connected to the frame and Sheetrock at the final layer. An on-demand hot-water unit provides the entire home with heat and warm water. The utility bill has never surpassed $90.

Leslie Bentson

From the main entrance door, porcelain tile contributes to a sofa in the mudroom and laundry room area to the left, and solid beech-wood staircase on the right lead to the cellar.

Leslie Bentson

The surrounding hillsides reflect off the European glass shower wall at the spacious master bath.

Leslie Bentson

The master bath has a Japanese soaking tub with a stone facade, gray slate tiling and a wall-mounted Toto toilet. The walls are an inviting pumpkin colour with a hand-applied Venetian marble finish.

Leslie Bentson

The basement includes a minibar and lounge area on one side, and a guest bed on the other. Guests enjoy views of wandering wildlife along with a tree-covered ravine.

Leslie Bentson

All the windows came with big outdoor metal blinds that open and close via remote control. In the summertime, closing the blinds is sufficient to keep the interior cool; the home doesn’t have air conditioning.

Leslie Bentson

The home features lots of decks made of durable German metal grates. In the winter, snow falls through the pockets and eliminates the need to shovel. The metal doesn’t require painting, staining or sealing, making it a really appealing substance to survive Colorado’s severe climates.

Leslie Bentson

Just off the kitchen, a balcony seating area offers relaxing views of the Colorado mountains. Ever eager to start new projects, Meier and Bruno state they intend to grapple together with their next home in a box, which will comprise American additions like dormers in the bedroom and office locations.

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