This compact family room packs in a lot of warmth and texture. Antiques are nestled among new furnishings to create an inviting space to relax.

Comfortable and elegant, this living room has several conversation areas. The various textures include stacked stone columns, copper-clad beams exotic wood veneers, metal and glass. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/

In this beautiful Houston remodel, we took on the exterior AND interior - with a new outdoor kitchen, patio cover and balcony outside and a Mid-Century Modern redesign on the inside: "This project was really unique, not only in the extensive scope of it, but in the number of different elements needing to be coordinated with each other," says Outdoor Homescapes of Houston owner Wayne Franks. "Our entire team really rose to the challenge." OUTSIDE The new outdoor living space includes a 14 x 20-foot patio addition with an outdoor kitchen and balcony. We also extended the roof over the patio between the house and the breezeway (the new section is 26 x 14 feet). On the patio and balcony, we laid about 1,100-square foot of new hardscaping in the place of pea gravel. The new material is a gorgeous, honed-and-filled Nysa travertine tile in a Versailles pattern. We used the same tile for the new pool coping, too. We also added French doors leading to the patio and balcony from a lower bedroom and upper game room, respectively: The outdoor kitchen above features Southern Cream cobblestone facing and a Titanium granite countertop and raised bar. The 8 x 12-foot, L-shaped kitchen island houses an RCS 27-inch grill, plus an RCS ice maker, lowered power burner, fridge and sink. The outdoor ceiling is tongue-and-groove pine boards, done in the Minwax stain "Jacobean." INSIDE Inside, we repainted the entire house from top to bottom, including baseboards, doors, crown molding and cabinets. We also updated the lighting throughout. "Their style before was really non-existent," says Lisha Maxey, senior designer with Outdoor Homescapes and owner of LGH Design Services in Houston. "They did what most families do - got items when they needed them, worrying less about creating a unified style for the home." Other than a new travertine tile floor the client had put in 6 months earlier, the space had never been updated. The drapery had been there for 15 years. And the living room had an enormous leather sectional couch that virtually filled the entire room. In its place, we put all new, Mid-Century Modern furniture from World Market. The drapery fabric and chandelier came from High Fashion Home. All the other new sconces and chandeliers throughout the house came from Pottery Barn and all décor accents from World Market. The couple and their two teenaged sons got bedroom makeovers as well. One of the sons, for instance, started with childish bunk beds and piles of books everywhere. "We gave him a grown-up space he could enjoy well into his high school years," says Lisha. The new bed is also from World Market. We also updated the kitchen by removing all the old wallpaper and window blinds and adding new paint and knobs and pulls for the cabinets. (The family plans to update the backsplash later.) The top handrail on the stairs got a coat of black paint, and we added a console table (from Kirkland's) in the downstairs hallway. In the dining room, we painted the cabinet and mirror frames black and added new drapes, but kept the existing furniture and flooring. "I'm just so pleased with how it turned out - especially Lisha's coordination of all the materials and finishes," says Wayne. "But as a full-service outdoor design team, this is what we do, and our all our great reviews are telling us we're doing it well."

This Hill Country home welcomes a new Mr. and Mrs. in Texas. Fresh paint coats the walls for a beautiful view with surrounding windows allowing an abundant amount of natural light into the space. For a little texture and interest, custom drapery panels can function for privacy when necessary.

Custom blue velvet swivel lounges and drapery on electric rods.

Manny Sanchez

Photo by Meghan Beierle.

Live anywhere, build anything. The iconic Golden Eagle name is recognized the world over – forever tied to the freedom of customizing log homes around the world.

High Res Media

Imagine stepping out of your elevator into this vestibule that immediately puts you in the perfect romantic mood. Matte black. Hints of the beautiful feminine form uplit by candlelight and framed by mysterious, “peek-through” bamboo slats. Wait for your guests in this sensual black leather chair. Need we say more? Design by MaRae Simone, Photography by Terrell Clark

A great room for a GREAT family! Many of the furnishings were moved from their former residence- What is new was quickly added by some to the trade resources - I like to custom make pieces but sometimes you just don't have the time to do so- We can quickly outfit your home as well as add the one of a kind pieces we are known for! Notice the walls and ceilings- all gently faux washed with a subtle glaze- it makes a HUGE difference over static flat paint! and Window Treatments really compliment this space- they add that sense of completion

Ralf Hansen