Robert G McArthur Blog

Design in the Details

Robert — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:27 +0000

You can see this charming remodel in the post below. One of the things I love about remodeling a home is the chance to re-imagine it. Here are a few of the details that people have mentioned they love about this home.
Instead of using a typical downspout for the rain gutter I choose to use a ‘rain chain’ to add character.

I wanted not only the shape of the porch roof to be charming but I wanted the soffit to be nicely finished as well.

For a bit of charm I added a transom window above the master bedroom as well as the laundry room.

And of course removing the drop ceilings and updating the lighting throughout the home made quite an impact!

If you are thinking about remodeling your home, I would love to help you re-imagine your space and create design in the details!

Charming Cottage Remodel

Robert — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:00:41 +0000

I had the opportunity to work on this remodel a little over a year ago for a dear client. I wanted to keep the original cottage style from the 1940’s when it was built. The basic concept of architecture and design when it was originally built was a basic 4 square design with a kitchen, living room and 2 small bedrooms. Coming from a large home my client wanted to maintain the sense of a big house feel but keep the size more manageable as her children were growing up and moving out of the house.
The goal was to modernize the home and also have it feel more open. To do this I combined the kitchen, living and dining room to create a great room and removed the drop ceiling to add cathedral ceilings to the great room and master bedroom. For the exterior I added a front and back porch and change the siding to complement the cottage feel.

This home is currently for sale. If you are interested or have more questions please contact Kelly Blosch at the B & B Real Estate Group #801-560-5184.

Philharmonic House of Design 2013

Robert — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:58:27 +0000

A couple weeks ago I was in California for my annual visit to the Venice Home & Garden Tour as well as the Philharmonic House of Design. Although the pictures don’t do the house justice it is always fun for me to share a few of my favorite rooms from these incredible houses!

I was impressed with the detail of the stone and brick combination. Notice how the mortar detail is hand filled with no troweling. There are also small pieces of brick inserted as “filler”.
Numerous designers from LA and Orange County have designed different areas of this home. It is a unique chance to see many different styles in one house. Here you can see the style variations between the formal and informal dining rooms.

The beautiful ceiling detail on the left sits above the informal dining room. The fantastic architectural ceiling detail on the right is incredibly creative made from Grass Paper cut into a pattern and then wall papered to the ceiling! Also observe the way it was installed so that the sheen takes advantage of the design and orientation.

I loved this iron fire grate with beautiful inset agate.

The kitchen and great room also had beautiful ceiling detail. You can see more of this beautiful space in this video.

Even the laundry room was over the top!

A Bit of History- DuMc Place

Robert — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:00:46 +0000

Those of you who know me well know I love to preserve history and create meaning in design. In the post below you can see that the charming yellow house has to be removed in order for the new triplex to be built. I have salvaged a few of the charming elements of this old home to incorporate into the new structure. This original hardware will create a unique connection between the past and the future!

DuMc Place

Robert — Tue, 28 May 2013 19:08:42 +0000

Downtown living has its perks being central to commerce as well as historic areas. I am currently working on plans to be developed in downtown Bountiful. The concept was to build three town homes each with a unique and individual style, similar to European style living. The lot size creates a narrow and deep living space for each home, also typical to downtown living. I designed the homes keeping the fit and scale of the neighborhood in mind so as not to have the roof heights taller than the original homes.

The home on the lot below will be removed and we hope to see this project completed in Spring of 2014.

FRONT & RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION

REAR & LEFT SIDE ELEVATION

An Artist’s Home

Robert — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:25:50 +0000

When designing a home it is always exciting to work with someone who appreciates the details. I had originally designed this home as a model home to be featured in the Parade of homes and met the Peterson’s as we were staging the home. Judith is an artist herself and was drawn to the amount of color and texture I had used in the home as well as its unique style. I was fortunate to then design the lower level of the home for them. Judith has furnished her home beautifully using much of her own art work. You can see more of the home and Judith’s art work here.

MAIN LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Outdoor Kids Play Places

Robert — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:06:29 +0000

One of the homes in this years Venice Garden & Home Tour featured an amazing outdoor kids play place. This takes the typical tree house to the next level. Note the shading device on the “tepee” framework. I also love the horse swing with a gunny sack saddle and bicycle tires as its frame work!

Notice how unique even the climbing ladder is.

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Fence Detail

Robert — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:03:37 +0000

The exteriors and landscaping of the homes on the Venice Garden & Home Tour are just as impressive as the interiors. The fence detail at each of the homes was unique and inventive. Here are a few of my favorites:
This metal panel fence with an open spaced metal garden gate creates an industrial feel.

For a unique and organic fence, recycled stacked branches trimmed from trees and shrubs are stacked with re-bar supports on two sides spaced 10″ apart by 36″.

Notice how this fence detail utilizes a sliding gate on rollers so as not to break up the uniformity.

Recycled overhead garage door hardware and 1/8″ round rods in a grid pattern make up this one of a kind entry gate.

This privacy wall has been created using sonar tubes bundled together.

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Stair Detail

Robert — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:06:10 +0000

I was impressed with the stair detail in many of the homes on the Venice Garden & Home Tour.

Here you can see the interior stair case detail reflects the exterior of the home as seen in the photo below.

The wood and iron in this stair case are a great combination of organic materials. The design gives fluidity to a typically rigid wrought iron frame.

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Interiors

Robert — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:48:11 +0000

I am enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery of California. I spent the weekend at the Venice Garden & Home Tour. Here is a sample of the beautiful interiors. The designers are always thinking outside the proverbial box… I love this tour!!

The window centered above this bookcase creates a “painting” to the outside.

This home had a nice balance of colors with white walls, white floors,white counters, white upholstery and natural finished woods in the furniture, frames and cabinets.

In this room note the combination of bright colors contrasting with white traditional arts and crafts panels.
The bright accent color is also used in the skylight above the shower.

There are so many creative and inventive ideas throughout this tour. The lighting coming through this interior space creates a fantastic collection of spots.

I love the use of indoor outdoor spaces in so many of the homes.

This breakfast room has a glass floor and glass walls that flow into a private garden courtyard!