Sebastian Zachariah & Ira Gosalia ( Photographix)

Tony Avenger

Upon entering the penthouse the light and dark contrast continues. The exposed ceiling structure is stained to mimic the 1st floor's "tarred" ceiling. The reclaimed fir plank floor is painted a light vanilla cream. And, the hand plastered concrete fireplace is the visual anchor that all the rooms radiate off of. Tucked behind the fireplace is an intimate library space. Photo by Lincoln Barber

The 16-foot high living-dining area opens up on three sides: to the lap pool on the west with sliding glass doors; to the north courtyard with pocketing glass doors; and to the garden and guest house to the south through pivoting glass doors. (Photo: Grey Crawford)

This is the model unit for modern live-work lofts. The loft features 23 foot high ceilings, a spiral staircase, and an open bedroom mezzanine.

Interiorista: Desirée García Paredes Fotógrafa: Yanina Mazzei Constructora: Carmarefor s.l.

Resource Room into Dining & Kitchen

Eric Straudmeier

Photography-Hedrich Blessing Glass House: The design objective was to build a house for my wife and three kids, looking forward in terms of how people live today. To experiment with transparency and reflectivity, removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. To construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. To tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with the nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the concrete beams support the steel beams; and in terms of how the entire house is enveloped in glass as if it was poured over the bones to make it skin tight. To engineer the house to be a smart house that not only looks modern, but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades/blinds, HVAC, communication/audio/video, or security. To develop a planning module based on a 16 foot square room size and a 8 foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The base of the interstitial spaces also become skylights for the basement gallery. This house is all about flexibility; the family room, was a nursery when the kids were infants, is a craft and media room now, and will be a family room when the time is right. Our rooms are all based on a 16’x16’ (4.8mx4.8m) module, so a bedroom, a kitchen, and a dining room are the same size and functions can easily change; only the furniture and the attitude needs to change. The house is 5,500 SF (550 SM)of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 8200 SF (820 SM). The mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hardscapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot.

Shown: Kährs Lux Sky wood flooring Kährs have launched two new ultra-matt wood flooring collections, Lux and Lumen. Recently winning Gold for 'Best Flooring' at the 2017 House Beautiful Awards, Kährs' Lux collection includes nine one-strip plank format designs in an array of natural colours, which are mirrored in Lumen's three-strip designs. The new surface treatment applied to the designs is non reflective; enhancing the colour and beauty of real wood, whilst giving a silky, yet strong shield against wear and tear. Emanuel Lidberg, Head of Design at Kährs Group, says, “Lux and Lumen have been developed for design-led interiors, with abundant natural light, for example with floor-to-ceiling glazing. Traditional lacquer finishes reflect light which distracts from the floor’s appearance. Our new, ultra-matt finish minimizes reflections so that the wood’s natural grain and tone can be appreciated to the full." The contemporary Lux Collection features nine floors spanning from the milky white "Ash Air" to the earthy, deep-smoked "Oak Terra". Kährs' Lumen Collection offers mirrored three strip and two-strip designs to complement Lux, or offer an alternative interior look. All designs feature a brushed effect, accentuating the natural grain of the wood. All floors feature Kährs' multi-layered construction, with a surface layer of oak or ash. This engineered format is eco-friendly, whilst also making the floors more stable, and ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. Matching accessories, including mouldings, skirting and handmade stairnosing are also available for the new designs.

Varying the pattern of the wall installation and the texture of the wood itself provides a counterpoint to the cabinetry on the other side of the room and creates a beautiful backdrop for the client’s displayed artwork. Alyssa Lee Photography

The 16-foot high living-dining area opens up on three sides: to the lap pool on the west with sliding glass doors; to the north courtyard with pocketing glass doors; and to the garden and guest house to the south through pivoting glass doors. When open to the elements, the living area is transformed into an airy pavilion. (Photo: Erhard Pfeiffer)

Photo by Peter Molick