The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

The Living Room also received new white-oak hardwood flooring. We re-finished the existing built-in cabinets in a darker, richer stain to ground the space. The sofas from Italy are upholstered in leather and a linen-cotton blend, the coffee table from LA is topped with a unique green marble slab, and for the corner table, we designed a custom-made walnut waterfall table with a local craftsman.

Living room with built-in entertainment cabinet, large sliding doors.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary loft-style living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, beige floor, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Living: pavimento originale in quadrotti di rovere massello; arredo vintage unito ad arredi disegnati su misura (panca e mobile bar) Tavolo in vetro con gambe anni 50; sedie da regista; divano anni 50 con nuovo tessuto blu/verde in armonia con il colore blu/verde delle pareti. Poltroncine anni 50 danesi; camino originale. Lampada tavolo originale Albini.

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Phoenix with a music area, blue walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

This is an example of a traditional formal enclosed living room in London with orange walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Beach style enclosed living room in Charleston with blue walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Imagine stepping into a bold and bright new home interior where detail exudes personality and vibrancy. The living room furniture, crafted bespoke, serves as the centerpiece of this eclectic space, showcasing unique shapes, textures and colours that reflect the homeowner's distinctive style. A striking mix of vivid hues such as deep blues and vibrant orange infuses the room with energy and warmth, while statement pieces like a custom-designed sofa or a bespoke coffee table add a touch of artistic flair. Large windows flood the room with natural light, enhancing the cheerful atmosphere and illuminating the bespoke furniture's exquisite craftsmanship. Bold wallpaper is daring creating a dynamic and inviting ambiance that is totally delightful. This bold and bright new home interior embodies a sense of creativity and individuality, where bespoke furniture takes centre stage in a space that is as unique and captivating as the homeowner themselves.

Design ideas for a transitional formal living room in Los Angeles with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Design ideas for a small eclectic open concept living room in San Francisco with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

This holistic project involved the design of a completely new space layout, as well as searching for perfect materials, furniture, decorations and tableware to match the already existing elements of the house. The key challenge concerning this project was to improve the layout, which was not functional and proportional. Balance on the interior between contemporary and retro was the key to achieve the effect of a coherent and welcoming space. Passionate about vintage, the client possessed a vast selection of old trinkets and furniture. The main focus of the project was how to include the sideboard,(from the 1850’s) which belonged to the client’s grandmother, and how to place harmoniously within the aerial space. To create this harmony, the tones represented on the sideboard’s vitrine were used as the colour mood for the house. The sideboard was placed in the central part of the space in order to be visible from the hall, kitchen, dining room and living room. The kitchen fittings are aligned with the worktop and top part of the chest of drawers. Green-grey glazing colour is a common element of all of the living spaces. In the the living room, the stage feeling is given by it’s main actor, the grand piano and the cabinets of curiosities, which were rearranged around it to create that effect. A neutral background consisting of the combination of soft walls and minimalist furniture in order to exhibit retro elements of the interior. Long live the vintage!

by andy
Contemporary formal enclosed living room in Berlin with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Eclectic living room in Stockholm with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and a wall-mounted tv.

We created a botanical-inspired scheme for this Victorian terrace living room updating the wall colour to Inchyra Blue on the walls and including a pop a colour in the lamp shades. We redesigned the floorplan to make the room practical and comfortable. Built-in storage in a complementary blue was introduced to keep the tv area tidy. We included two matching side tables in an aged bronze finish with a bevelled glass top and mirrored bottom shelves to maximise the light. We sourced and supplied the furniture and accessories including the Made to Measure Olive Green Sofa and soft furnishings.

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Saint-Etienne with green walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and wallpaper.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

This is an example of a contemporary formal enclosed living room in Moscow with white walls, carpet and beige floor.

A stylish pink and teal living room and the stylish office are finished off with beautiful brass accents, creating the perfect space to relax in.
Photo of a large eclectic living room in Berkshire with beige floor.

Shoootin
Inspiration for an eclectic living room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.