Cabo

A classic villa with fresh style and a subtle contemporary flair. This little nugget is in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. You can also check this out over at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare.

They had no problem capturing the spirit an essence of these natural surroundings. Check the sitting area. Fire on water. Are you kidding? The details and the planning of this entire place are just so well done.

Don't forget the grotto.

The open air master suite Jacuzzi.

Flat out, badass. This is how you do an infinity/negative edge pool.

via Ike Kligerman Barkley Architects

Community Collaboration

A sweet example of community collaboration in the design and overall feel of this hip little San Francisco tavern. It's Bar Agricole. The architect, Aidlin Darling Design, worked closely with local artists and craftsmen to bring this place together.

Design inspiration was drawn upon by some of the establishments sustainable agricultural characteristics. They have a small garden housing citrus fruit trees and herbs.

A fresh and hip mix of reclaimed white oak (salvaged from old whiskey barrels), steel and board formed concrete.

These booths are genius. They're a custom mold fabricated in concrete. Once again, displaying more local love.

photos via Remodelista

Unlikely Interior Styles

A few interior shots from a reno of a 1950's Seattle home that had a ton of decor from a previous 70's makeover. The new owner had a vision for the transformation and with the help of a local architect, the collaboration began. The essence of the design was drawn upon by inspiration from travel to Palm Springs and Bali. They called on the cool, modern vibe of Palm Springs and the calm, relaxing feel of Bali. An unlikely mix the came together so well.

A great blend of the two different styles. I like the mixed use of all the various woods from the plywood wall in the kitchen to the split beam and wavy edge headboard in the master suite.

via Seattle Home & Lifestyles

Ceiling Character

A unique and creative touch on the ceiling of this bar-restaurant. It's crazy and very artistic. This is Longman & Eagle in Chicago. A cool mix of reclaimed flooring and siding. The designers wanted to take an old idea that they felt had disappeared and bring it back in a modern way.

via Longman & Eagle

Gregor Affleck House

A Frank Lloyd Wright gem I drive by almost everyday. Built in the 1940's and located in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

via Michigan Modern

Out of Control Office

If you're looking to blow out and create some crazy badass office space, then check out this place. Lively, colorful and just bold. It starts with this 3-wing chalk board clad conference room that can be opened up into one large meeting room.

This is the shot from inside the conference room all opened up. The smaller rooms can be closed off with the folding acoustical doors.

Fresh with some sweet stadium seating too. The perfect place for gathering the crew and having that quick little informal meeting.

This I thought was hilarious and totally creative. It's your basic everyday green carpet phone booth. You've got to be able to have some fun, right? Relax and take that conference call. You can also find me at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare.

Jensen Architects/Jensen & Macy Architects via ArchDaily

Industrial Style Overhead Door

The industrial style or overhead garage door (however you like to refer to it) has resurfaced as we are in the process of transforming a garage space into a recreational/gathering room. The idea is very cool. It's going to come down to if and how you can incorporate it into the design of the space on the exterior as well as the interior. The application and design in the photo above is pretty sweet with the added custom designed slatted sliding screen.

A crisp and overall clean feel here with the bright white and polished concrete floors.

by Birdseye Design via Remodelista

Divided In Half

Two custom residences on one corner lot divided by a concrete wall. It's located in Aspen and the work is by Studio B Architects.

Crisp craftsmanship and quality on the exterior. The materials are the same (cedar and stone) on both residences with subtle variations in placement. They also varied the color of the cladding on the windows to differentiate the two.

Here's a shot of the courtyard. That's the sweet concrete dividing wall. It's not your typical wall detail either. They routed a portion of it out to incorporate the fire.

Studio B Architects via ArchDaily

Loft Kitchen

I like working with loft spaces and finding ways to incorporate various materials and design ideas. This was one of my favorites from a sweet little NYC loft. The photo above is from Poteet Architects based in San Antonio, TX. Their work focuses around adaptive reuse of existing buildings and the approach they take to cutting edge interior modern design. A cool unique feature highlighted here is the use of stone countertop. The tops are basically encasing the cabinets as they return down the sides and blend right into the concrete floor.

via Poteet Architects

Architectural Photography

So I get this email earlier in the week from my sister and she's reminding me to check out one of our favorites in the architecture world. It's Balthazar Korab. He's this local badass architectural photographer here in the suburbs of Detroit, and his reputation and work is known all over the world. The photo above is actually the cover shot to his book entitled Archabet. That's basically architecture, A to Z. It's this creative journey of finding letters in, on or around buildings across America. It's one of the coolest most cherished books I own.

Crazy Green Kitchen

I have been researching all kinds of different kitchen lately for various ideas and inspiration and it is literally ironic that this came up on St. Patrick's Day, however I just couldn't pass it up. Call it acid green, fluorescent green or just crazy green. I'd say it's a love/hate for most people but I think it just works in this design and setting. What do you think? They didn't stop with the cabinets either. How about a pale blue counter and backsplash? You can also find me at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare.

via Bruce Bolander Architect

A Little Kitchen Detail

A smaller kitchen making the most out of the overall space. The footprint was limited however they had a ton of height in the space so they took advantage and put in taller upper cabinets. The details are definitely there they just came up with some creative and unique ways to display them and sometimes that can make all the difference. For example, I like the lighted display cubbies just below the uppers. Another subtle element are the beaded inset panels in the doors and the exposed hinges. They immediately catch your eye and also bring a little character to the overall design.

via Architectural Digest

Site Perfection

There are times when you find yourself with a ton of land and for one reason or another, only a portion of the piece is suitable for building. It can get even trickier when you're site involves waterfront. Here's a little example I found on the Connecticut shoreline.

The architect was faced with a limited envelope and the challenges of maximizing amazing views and allowing for as much natural light as possible. A unique characteristic to the design here extending out two stories and resting on a post foundation. They make the most out of the space and capitalize on those highlighted ideas.

Great exterior details from the dry-set, local stone to the exposed rafter tails.

A well planned layout to showcase the views. The two structures above are linked together by an all glass breezeway.

via New England Home

Remote Retreat

A sweet contrast against the rolling hills and amazing countryside. It's a private residence/studio in Idaho by Olson Kundig Architects.

The setting is just so serene. The large open windows make you feel like you are one with nature. The materials are simple yet refined, fabricated and detailed with such craft and precision.

The feel of an industrial warehouse both inside and out with exposed concrete block, steel and raw pine.

via Stuck in Studio

Loft Renovation

A few shots from a sweet loft renovation in the warehouse district overlooking downtown Minneapolis. An intermix of existing industrial elements along with some fresh reclaimed articles. Check out more here.

via Albertsson Hansen Architecture

Oh So Sweet In St. Croix

This place, in St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, just kicks-ass. It's all about understanding your surroundings, embracing the site and respecting good old mother nature. The design was driven by the clients passion for sailing and the ever changing climate conditions.

The building is literally carved into the earth to help fight against a storm as well as heat and cool more efficiently.

They're basically challenging the weather to try and take it down. Since the area can get hit by some pretty nasty storms the place was designed not only to withstand hurricane force winds but to also be self sufficient. It comes complete with potable water storage and back-up power production. You can also check this out over at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare.

Lindsay Brown Studio via ArchDaily

Custom Kitchen Finishes

The kitchen can be so unique to work with no matter how much space is available. I like the balance and layout here along with some of these sweet finishes and details. The contrast and mixing of materials between base cabinets and island cabinets is very cool from the reclaimed oak to the custom built stainless-steel clad units surrounding the range.

The tops are matte black honed granite with a very small reveal on the overhang. Another subtle detail I really like and don't see very often. It gives more attention to the cabinet and helps define the shape.

A little more of a modern feel in the breakfast nook. A stained concrete table top to compliment the polished concrete floors.

via Remodelista