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This house was created with the aim of expressing different themes on each floor. The ground floor offers the flavor of Japan, with its stone garden and forest scenery on three sides; the upper floor presents a Western European appeal and allows for comfortable relaxation year round; and the rooftop is a mini resort, with its sparkling pool and a 360-degree view punctuated by the iconic peak of Mount Fuji. More on Houzz How Frank Lloyd Wright Influenced Japanese Architecture Read more stories about homes around the world Browse photos of Asian-style homes Find an architect Shop for home products
When the homeowner asked Saruta to design the house, he provided a drawing he had made of his preferred layout. He says they would often meet and discuss the design for as many as 13 hours a day. The architect convinced the artist that the layout could be organized better. The result is a plan that places the entrance hall at the center, with the main building on the right done in a Western tradition and the left wing in a Japanese style.
Photos by Kōichi Torimura House at a Glance Who lives here: A couple Location: Kamakura, on the east coast of Japan, just south of Tokyo Size: 5,468 square feet (508 square meters) Designer: CUBO Design Architect Builder: Daido Kogyo Co. The living-dining room on the second floor presents a view of the coastline and Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji. Other rooms offer additional views.
Deep Cleanings Life happens, however, and when it does, things like daily maintenance can take a backseat. For glass shower enclosures, this means buildup, grime and the bath time blues. Sadly, it also means it will take more than a simple squeegee to get back to clean. Make your bathroom feel like new by hiring a local house cleaner
Storage Solutions Bathroom Remodel Transitional Bathroom, Atlanta Hidden storage is the perfect solution in a small bathroom space. Tucked behind the beautiful wainscoting adds a ton of space to store things! Inspiration for a small transitional white tile and subway tile cement tile floor and white floor walk-in shower remodel in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops - Houzz
1. Craft Artisan Wood Flooring How it’s made. Craft Artisan Wood Floors in Burnaby, British Columbia, combines an artisanal approach to flooring with sustainable manufacturing. During the manufacturing process, the wood is hand sanded and hand stained to enhance its natural qualities. Craft’s manufacturing reflects sustainable practices, as its certifications indicate. The brand has a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody certification, which means a third-party verifies that each step of the manufacturing process is legal, responsible and sustainable. Wood used by this brand can be traced back to its originating certified sustainable forest. Further, Craft products have Greenguard Gold Certification, indicating they emit very low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This reduces indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure in a home. Unlike other companies that have sustainable flooring lines, all Craft collections are sustainable. This means you avoid the lengthy wait times associated with special orders.
Durability. Craft flooring is engineered to be durable. The core layer, or structural material, is Canadian Spruce-pine-fir (SPF) harvested from certified sustainable forests. SPF is solid-sawn, which means it is sawn from logs, as opposed to sliced or peeled to make plywood. The solid SPF structural component requires less glue than typical plywood to adhere to the flooring’s top wear, or surface, layer. As a result, the finished flooring is highly stable and much less likely than flooring made with typical plywood to experience board distortion or separation caused by fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Where you can use it. Craft flooring can be used in most rooms, since it can withstand heavy traffic and the challenges that may come with pets. As with most wood flooring, bathroom applications are not ideal, however. Water is incompatible with any real wood floor because it seeps into the grooves of the wood and between the individual planks to cause irreparable damage. Look and feel. Craft flooring comes in a range of finishes, from hickory to oak and black walnut, and offers aesthetics ranging from “modern zen” to “naturally aged” wood look. For an active household, ...
Clinton Place II Transitional Kitchen, Chicago Example of a transitional kitchen pantry design in Chicago with gray cabinets - Houzz TransitionalChicagoWebsite
Soulful Home Contemporary Bedroom, San Francisco R. Brad Knipstein Photography Trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with white walls - Houzz ContemporarySan FranciscoWebsite
After: Architect Brenda Izen of Izen Architecture rethought the room and gave it a series of built-ins. A custom white oak platform bed contains six drawers in which the couple can store off-season clothes. Shelves above the bed house their beloved books. Custom bed: Izen Architecture
Work in a hutch. This piece of freestanding kitchen storage has found new popularity in many countries, gracing the kitchens of many a cottage and farmhouse. In this home, though, it’s obvious how a much-loved hutch can find a place in more contemporary settings too. Painted a bold shade and sitting in a neutral modern scheme, it looks right at home. Smart Storage: Make the Most of Your Hutch
9. Book Yourself a Reading Nook A warm and welcoming home isn’t just about welcoming family and friends — it’s about creating spaces that make you feel completely at home and at ease too. And what could be better for solo comfort than a cozy corner filled with cushions and a shelf full of good books within reach? Perk up your favorite reading corner with a comfortable chair or daybed (in case your reading turns to napping), good lighting and a snuggly blanket. Then pile on the books and tuck in. 15 Cozy Book Nooks and What They Want You to Read
3. Strike a Warm Note at the Threshold The entry is the first part of your home visitors see. Set a warm and welcoming tone by making sure the entry is well-lit and clutter-free. Supplement an overhead fixture with a table lamp for more even lighting, and provide a seat for setting down bags or taking off shoes. If clutter tends to build up in this area and you don’t have a closet, consider adding a chest of drawers where you can stash mail, papers and other get-out-the-door essentials. Finally, add a personal touch — a framed photo, vase of flowers or small painting — to give visitors a taste of your decorating style. Find an interior designer on Houzz
Crystal Kitchen + Bath Email Save The windows shown here were originally exterior windows. The homeowners didn’t want the dining room on the other side to lose too much natural light through them, so Maney dropped the mudroom down about 7 inches from the kitchen to keep the windows and still tuck a shelf beneath some of them. The drawer below the bench stores leashes and other things for the family dog. A framed bulletin board hangs nearby, acting as a place for posting schedules and important school papers.
Crystal Kitchen + Bath Email Save Maney used slate-colored tile in the mudroom to complement the soapstone countertops in the home’s kitchen. The walnut bench complements the walnut-top dining table.
“After” photos by Spacecrafting Photography Mudroom at a Glance Who lives here: A couple with two girls, ages 10 and 13, and a dog Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Size: 66 square feet (6.1 square meters); 6 by 11 feet Designer: Mary Maney of Crystal Kitchen + Bath The new mudroom addition features white shiplap walls (covered in the appropriately named Snowfall White paint by Benjamin Moore) and slate-colored parallelogram-shape porcelain tiles on the floor. “The owners wanted some fun tile, not just generic 12-by-24-inch tile or whatever,” designer Mary Maney says. “These have a unique shape and pattern.” Hooks corral hats, coats and backpacks, while space beneath a walnut bench offers room for kicking off shoes and boots. A tall cabinet at the far end offers more storage for things like gloves and large coats. Beadboard on the ceiling adds charm and character. Find an interior designer in your area
The project wasn’t without its “uh-oh” moment. Through some miscommunication, the tile got over-installed, leaving just a small hole for the bathtub connection. After some head-scratching on how to install the tub without damaging or ripping up the tile, a plumber cut a hole in the ceiling below this second-floor bathroom and created enough room to connect the tub. The homeowners luckily were repainting the downstairs ceilings anyway, but they had to pay for the drywall repair. “ It was pretty intense, but what I have learned from my years of remodels is there is almost always a way to work around a problem,” Crow says. “You just need to stop and take time to think about it and work through it and it all works out in the end.” A gray ottoman with a silver tray adds a finishing touch to round out the spa-like feel.
Honed Carrara marble tile wraps the shower walls and curb and extends to the lower walls surrounding a new standalone bathtub. To mix things up, Crow added honed marble set in a herringbone pattern on the shower floor. The toilet sits inside a water closet to the left of the shower.
After: Whites and grays played a major role in brightening the bathroom, while playing with pattern, texture and finishes kept it from looking too sterile.
Cat Mountain Contemporary Deck, Austin ContemporaryAustinWebsite Strong modern lines lead visitors toward the front door in a visual invitation to enter, and lush, sprawling foliage spills into the clean contours of concrete and steel, creating a striking juxtaposition between natural and built elements. This photo was taken by Ryann Ford.
Porada 'Zues’ by M. Marconato and T. Zappa Contemporary Closet, Amsterdam ContemporaryAmsterdamWebsite Holly Marder © 2013 Houzz
Sunset Hill Addition Contemporary Hall, Seattle ContemporarySeattleWebsite This Seattle home remodel in the Ballard neighborhood of Sunset Hill includes a 1200 SF second story addition complete with master bedroom suite, tatami room, and Juliet balcony. H&H used red oak throughout the home for the flooring and new stair banister and treads. This addition also includes sustainable finishes, airtight high performance Atrium windows, and near-Passivhaus-level wall systems. Photo by Jeffrey Tan.
The structure of the guest room is reinforced concrete, which provides good soundproofing.
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