By day two we were ready to apply the reactive stain. The homeowners selected a combination of Cola, Coffee Brown and Black. This combo created a lot of movement and warmth to the floor. A unique aspect to this particular job was cutting a tile pattern into the concrete floor. This creates the look of tile with the longevity and durability of a concrete floor. The tile pattern was cut along with a 10″ border around the room. The cuts were only 1/16″ deep since it took place after staining. The final polish brought the floor up to a level one, 400-grit shine.

Ofer Wolberger

Darius Kuzmickas- KuDa Photography

Anchored by the homeowner’s 42-foot-long painting, the interiors of this Palm Springs residence were designed to showcase the owner’s art collection, and create functional spaces for daily living that can be easily adapted for large social gatherings. Referencing the environment and architecture in both form and material, the finishes and custom furnishings bring the interior to life. Alluding to the roofs that suspend over the building, the sofas seem to hover above the carpets while the knife-edge table top appears to float above a metal base. Bleached and cerused wood mimic the “desert effect” that would naturally occur in this environment, while the textiles on the sofa are the same shade as the rocks of the landscape. Monolithic concrete floors connect all of the spaces while concealing mechanical systems, and stone thresholds signal vertical level changes and exterior transitions. Large wall masses provide the optimal backdrop for the homeowner’s oversized art. The wall structures ground the interior, while the opposing expanses of glass frame the desert views. The location and use of operable doors and windows allows the house to naturally ventilate, reducing cooling loads. The furnishings create spaces in an architectural fashion. Designed and fabricated for flexibility, the pieces easily accommodate the owners’ large social gatherings. The dining table can be split into two and the sofas can be pushed out along the walls, opening the center of the space to entertain. The design of the interior spaces and furnishings seamlessly integrates the setting, architecture, artwork and spaces into a cohesive whole.

Timothy Hursley Modern recreational lakeside retreat. Located in the South Main Arts District of Downtown Memphis, John Harrison Jones Architect is a full-service professional architectural firm serving the Southeast. The firm produces award-winning architecture that is artful, distinctive, sustainable, and uniquely tailored to our clients' needs. Please call, email, or visit our website for more information. We are happy to have a conversation about your design goals and how we might assist you with your project.

After photo of Living Room with new clerestory window that perfectly frames mountains in the background. Architecturally idyllic concrete floors work perfectly in the mid-century homes in Palm Springs! Peak Photog

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography

© JC Buck

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Red Pants Studios

When Hurricane Sandy hit, it flooded this basement with nearly 6 feet of water, so we started with a complete gut renovation. We added polished concrete floors and powder-coated stairs to withstand the test of time. A small kitchen area with chevron tile backsplash, glass shelving, and a custom hidden island/wine glass table provides prep room without sacrificing space. The living room features a cozy couch and ample seating, with the television set into the wall to minimize its footprint. A small bathroom offers convenience without getting in the way. Nestled between the living room and kitchen is a custom-built repurposed wine barrel turned into a wine bar - the perfect place for friends and family to visit. Photo by Chris Amaral.

Jose Hevia