Black, White and Red all over - Heights Modern Loft

This pair of empty nesters migrated south from Colorado to Texas and settled in the lovely historic Heights of Houston. With their human kids grown up and gone away (they still have two feline fur babies), they decided to downsize to a loft and upgrade to a more modern look. Lofts present some spacial challenges because they are small and relatively unstructured. In order to visually and functionally expand the space, design must be streamlined and free of clutter, with pieces strategically placed to add shape and form to the free flowing nature of many lofts. Ceilings that cap at fourteen feet definitely aid in opening up the area, and provide sufficient wall space for this couple's extensive art collection, but this tremendous downsize was still a challenge. See how we put their art on display, complemented by some old and new pieces of furniture, and gave their new home a modern, yet traditional and homey look. 

Concrete floors and exposed brick can feel a bit cold and industrial, especially paired with the contrasting color combo of red, black, and white. In order to bring in some unifying warmth, we featured several walnut pieces throughout that blended the red-brown of the brick with the black pieces that accessorize their home. 

 

Finding a place to sit in this living room is a nonissue. You can choose between the modern sofa bench, the pair of matching chairs, or the four red hot bar stools. To keep themselves and their fur babies happy, the couple needed to use comfy yet sturdy materials that they kitties could climb on and relax.

Speaking of seating, this modern sofa bench not only opens up the space by providing visual flow, but it also opens up the options of where to sit. The removable seat backs provide guests with endless possibilities to maximize (or even minimize!) their social interactions. 

This may seem like a simple coffee table, but it is so, SO smart-- especially for this space. Though a unique shape, the triangular with rounded corners is perfectly positioned between the living room's available seating. The base faces the sofa and the other two sides face the matching chairs that seated at nearly the same angle. Still nothing can get in the way of guests chatting and gliding from space to space.

Just beyond the sofa is the dining area. Again, the sofa allows the living and dining 'rooms' to be brought together perfectly so guests can feel free to glide from space to space. Here is a great example how to blend traditional with modern: a refinished antique dining table and chairs offsets the cool edge of the modern pieces.

Perfect for parties, we equipped the dining area with a full bar cabinet to the left, and a sideboard storage to the right that can easily serve a buffet. This loft was designed for entertaining! However, the large windows may make some nosy neighbors jealous they weren't invited... Maybe next time, neighbors!

Enough talk about the furniture- let's move on to the art and accessories! When space is limited, its crucial that displayed items are always kept organized in a way that looks deliberate. Board games, books, religious symbols, family photos, and vases can all coexist on these floating shelves in a visually appealing manner because they're grouped by color and complemented by other items to be equal in height.

You can bet that I needed a ladder to install the artwork here. Tall ceilings are lovely, elegant, and elongating especially when the walls are adorned with art. This couple had a fairly extensive collection of pieces dear to them that they wanted to put on display. Even though they downsized, there was plenty of wall space to accommodate. 

The paintings were continuous with the classic color scheme of red, black, and white featured in the furnishings, textiles, and other accessories. Fresh paintings subtly bring in more color to a space to make it overall more interesting. 

Just to brag about these ceilings one more time, we had enough height to add not just one but TWO chandeliers! In a loft, this is a big deal. One in the living space and one in the dining area bring in just enough light to the rest of the room. 

What a wonderful, fresh start for a new chapter in this couple's life together: a cool loft in a hip part of town, modern, and designed with entertaining in mind. They may be empty nesters, but their kids are sure to stop in for a visit (or maybe just a drink or two!). 

If you have a project in mind but just don't know where to start, we can help! Contact us! 

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City Home Fit for a New Family!

This family with a newborn was in the market for a new home: their very first house, in fact! Since taking care of a brand new human is task enough, this family didn't want to totally start from scratch. With a few ideas in mind of what they wanted, we didn't need to gut the whole place- just update it a bit. The kitchen was the focal point of the design update, and the rest of the home flowed from there. We were even able to incorporate a lot of their existing furniture into this mid-century modern home. The family wanted to start living in their new home right away with an updated, modern style they always wanted. Take a look at how we achieved a budget-friendly home face lift!

Where light is sparse, it's imperative that you amplify the available light by using colors and sleek appliances that allow sunlight to dance around. This kitchen has a decent-sized window at the sink area as well as a glass double-door that lets enough light in. To keep the light growing, the back splash was finished with limestone tiles.

A great cost-saving measure is to keep your cabinetry and just change the doors and hardware. Here, we just replaced the plain cabinet doors with new textured glass doors. We painted the cabinets light gray to modernize it from the old oak that aged and darkened the kitchen before. The cabinets also got brand new brushed steel hardware to complete this new, modern look.

I know it's hard, but please stop staring at this gorgeous counter top. Look up! We installed a new pot rack that fits perfectly over the enormous island. No need to hide your pots, pans, spatulas, or ladles- put your tools on display! This makes for very easy access and increases your amount of storage.

One of the most fabulous upgrades to this kitchen is the sparkling quartz counter top! This shiny surface looks especially amazing on the brand-new extended peninsula. This is like going from being stranded on a desolate Florida Key isle to partying on the mainland peninsula: it's not a far or difficult trip, and it's definitely well worth it.

 

"Seeing red" doesn't always mean getting angry. Rather, it often just means getting energized! This couple wanted to use red as an accent color throughout their home, which otherwise maintains a soothing, calming palette. The red accent rugs in the kitchen and beneath the dining room set give warm, joyful pops of color that can be found throughout the house.

This beautiful dining room set was seamlessly transplanted into this upgraded mid-century modern home. Pro tip: chairs with larger, higher backs sometimes section off a space. To keep a 'flowing feeling,' set a bench at the side of the table adjacent to a walkway. That way, nothing 'visually blocks' a pathway to another room, which even makes the dining area even more inviting.

A home with kids doesn't have to be void of all 'adult' forms of entertainment. This four-tiered wine rack and minibar flushed against the wall is incredibly convenient when entertaining guests. Just out of reach of children, but perfectly placed for adults to open a bottle of wine, relax and easily spend time with their friends.

The living room features a gray scale color palette with pops of red in textiles. The art above the couch brings in a bit more color while keeping in line with the streamlined, modern look of the house. 

For mid-century modern houses, bringing outside elements inside the home is quintessential. For example, natural brick is generally associated with the facade of a house, but here it is featured in the family room.

 

The 'cozy' is strong with this one. A genuine fire place nestled inside a brick cladding makes you just want to cuddle up, doesn't it?! Here, photos of this loving family are displayed on the wooden mantle in sleek white frames.

This reading nook for two is modern yet cozy, flowing naturally from the living room. The shelving in this home library is perfect for putting books on display, or whatever else you'd like. I love the woven ottoman here! It is modern, playful, and functional (and fairly reminiscent of a giant hacky sack, which is probably the real reason I love it so much).

 

And last (though usually first) is the entry way! This first impression of your home is an important one. Organized and minimalist, the first few steps you take through the door are sure to give you a good idea of what else is in store. In this case, you're sure to find a blend of modernity and comfort in a neutral color scheme with pops of energizing color, fit for a new family's home.

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The Heights Oasis

When two people live under one roof for the first time, compromise is key. Thankfully for this couple of young professionals, there was little compromising to be had. Their home in the Heights was designed with the bigger picture in mind: achieving harmony and balance. From living room, dining room, to bed room, a continuity runs through much like a serene river delivering peace and calm to each space. Deep, rich walnut offers structure to the neutral hues of gray and blue, with accented silver like reflections of sunrays off water.

 

 The living room serves as the center of the home, complete with fireplace and piano to make it a truly warm and inviting space. Because the fireplace is tucked away in a corner, it can’t exactly serve as a focal point in this living room despite matching the color and textures of the flooring and furniture. This presented an interesting design challenge, but strategic placement of furnishings, artwork, and other important pieces is crucial to overcoming this obstacle. For example, L-shaped sectional helps to close off a space where guests can enjoy the warmth from the fire in the comfort of the low, streamlined sofa that opens up the entire room. 

 

Two living room must-haves: pooch-proof furniture and a piano. Imagine snuggling up with your pup, humming along to a sweet melody played by your significant other. This couple wanted just that: furniture that was comfortable, durable, and stylish where they could relax with their dog and guests alike.

This living room lends a relaxed mid-century modern feel with geometric patters accenting the neutral colors and natural woods. The furnishings feature crisp lines that offer straightforward functionality and organization to the room.

Old fashionistas may tell you that black and brown can simply never, ever go together- but that rule is simply outdated! While we can’t escape the black plastic of today’s entertainment technology necessities, we can definitely embrace it. No need to hide these sleekly engineered gadgets: placing an equally sleek, black leather seat does the job to incorporate all these tech items nicely into the rich array of browns featured in the natural wood floor and cabinets. 

Flowing from the living room is the dining area. The deep wood and subtle curves of the chairs complement the straight cuts of the table. Notice the angle of the chair and table legs: about 30 degrees off center, rather than jutting at a harsh 90 degree angle. This seemingly minute detail vastly changes the room and creates a much more open, inviting atmosphere that is typical of the mid-century modern design. 

 

White lacquer: so sleek, so chic! This ‘dry bar’ table is one of the most beautiful, simple, and sophisticated pieces added to the house. Though small enough to flush against a wall, this narrow two-tiered table is incredibly functional and streamlined, just as mid-century modern designers intended. Setting rich, polished wooden dishes on this white lacquer table catches the eye: an intriguing juxtaposition.

 

Think this home could get any more serene? Enter: the master bedroom. This room was designed to achieve ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. White bed linens symbolize purity that allow you to begin and end each day with a clean slate. The white bedding and walls also serve to keep the room looking fresh and clean, while the subtle blues and grays in geometric patterns give shape and interest to the room.

As we’ve explained before, part of the mid-century modern look was bringing the outside, in. The decorations featured above the headboard are custom-made driftwood art, reminiscent of birds’ nests or even sea urchins! Up for interpretation, these beautifully unique pieces are meant to remind the inside onlooker of the wonderful world outside.

This home in the Heights serves as an urban oasis for this young, professional couple to escape from bustling city life with their beloved dog. Incorporating natural elements and hazy gray-blue tones with clean, crisp lines and white lacquer achieve the mid-century modern look with sophistication, ease, and simplicity. 

 

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The Color Red: Happy Valentine's Day 2013!

Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with passion, desire, and love. Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure, also, makes striking interiors in a home! In a bedroom it can be for love or a dining room it can be for romance. Where ever you have red it stands out and give you a feeling of passion for sure! This Valentine's Day think about the color red and how it makes you feel! Today we share with you some interiors that focus on the color red, reflect on them and how they make you feel! Enjoy!

Hope you guys enjoyed today's inspiration! Fell free to leave a comment.  Tell us what you liked and if you are in need of inspiration and its not here.....we will find you some!

 

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Baby, It's Cold Outside!

No more excuses to leave: there is nothing cozier than admiring the beauty of snowcapped mountains and powdery snow on the ground from the comfort of your own home. Whether it's your winter holiday home or a getaway cabin in the woods, be sure to appreciate your place. Wherever you are in this winter season, remember to bring the beauty of the outside in, while keeping out the cold and taking in the warmth! Enjoy!

 If eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows are eyes to the outside: where the extension of your home is. Bring more of the outside in by lining your walls with rich wood as seen in this stairwell. I love the cascading string of light-orbs: it's like stars in the night sky!

 This children's bedroom is complete with the rich wood and large windows like we have shown before, but notice the plush white rug: it's just like snow on the ground! Perfect for kids play!

 Gotta love these earthy tones! The beige, natural wood, and accents of fall colors offer the perfect interior to admire the exquisite environment just outside your home. The brown carpet is even reminiscent of soil in the winter softly speckled with snowflakes.

 Not much else is really needed with a breathtaking view like that! This kitchen's best asset is the large, open windows displaying the majestic range. However, accents like the natural wooden cabinets and the glacier-like marble countertops lend an arctic feel to this streamlined kitchen.

Dining in December: bright white snow and darker tones of winter nights. A perfect combination for your winter holiday dinners!

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Red and Green: Not just your Christmas-time Couple!

Red, meet Green. Green, meet Red.

When Christmas décor introduced these two colors, it was love at first sight, a match made in color heaven. However, this absolutely adorable couple wasn’t meant to be just a holiday fling- Green and Red are serious: they’re staying together year round, forever. That’s right; they’re in it for the long haul. Their story starts here: they sat across from each other on the basic color wheel, as what we learned in elementary art to be ‘complementary colors.’  But that was so long ago. Let’s fast forward to how Red and Green are hittin’ it off today in home décor in their many shades and variations. Enjoy!

Dare to fall deeply in love: The true green and deep red make a stark contrast against the white walls and floors of this dining area, but the charcoal grey table offsets these daring colors. Don’t be afraid to get deep!

 The apple of my eye: this adorable combination of greens and reds is perfect for a child’s room! Play with different shades of green from the lightest to the brightest and from the shyest pinks to the boldest reds!

 An earth-bound romance: Evergreen trees, poppies, green grass, red clay… the earth provides so many variations of red and green existing naturally in harmony: bring that natural balance into your home by displaying various greens and reds.

 A modern love: Calming green paired with popping red offers lively energy to this modern living room. These colors set with bright white and streamlined designs create a clean, fresh, and fun environment in your home.

 An eclectic embrace: This bohemian-style bedroom brings together many diverse shades, textures, and patterns that allows for green and red to stay together despite their differences.

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