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The living area is anchored by a new stair leading to the second level, which is screened by slats of the same red oak used in the flooring. The side chair was sourced and reupholstered by Seattle-based Madsen Modern.

“We created intentional sightlines from the most private areas of the home that face the most densely wooded areas of the property,” explains Ramirez.

The sprawling 5,200-square-foot residence by The Up Studio is sited in a fairly secluded and densely-wooded area of Old Westbury, New York, surrounded by mature oak and maple trees. The home’s front facade—with undulating gables and long, winding entry—is undeniably cinematic. In contrast to the traditionally-influenced front, the rear of the home embraces a more modern design sensibility. Rotated perpendicularly, the L-shaped configuration and wall of windows from Marvin maximizes natural light flowing into the home, and encourages unobstructed sightlines from the interior to the lush landscape outside.

Natalie and Lauren wanted to replicate the feel of a Zen garden with their home’s central courtyard. The garden features a Japanese maple that pops against the charred timber cladding, while structurally, the U-shape design ushers light right through to the back of the house.

“The pitched ceilings and ribbon of clerestory windows make the interior feel more spacious than it is,” notes Gooden.

"It's not close to highways,

The three arms of the Apfel House stretch out to catch the best views of Ranco Lake and the Andes Mountains.

The oak cabinet in the living room was another secondhand find. “It had the exact measurements of the wall,” says Annemie. “We just needed to hang it.” The throw blanket is from La Femme Garniture while the pillows and pendants are custom.

This shaded outdoor dining area, which uses Techo-Bloc’s Borealis slab in Smoked Pine, creates a sophisticated herringbone pattern that extends the elegance of hardwood flooring outside. The timber effect of the concrete slabs is so convincing it’s been called “trompe-l’oeil” by industry professionals. While it has the look and feel of timber, it’s maintenance free—so no staining, rot, or fading.

Outdoor spaces don’t get much more spectacular than this sprawling patio adjoining a palatial country home. A natural country chic vibe was achieved using Techo-Bloc’s Borealis slab in Smoked Pine—an innovative and durable concrete product that replicates the look of timber. This is complemented by Blu Grande slab in Shale Grey, which has also been used to create stone-look pathways that connect the patio to the rest of the garden.

The illuminated diamond pattern (created by double-ended wall lights) is mirrored with alternating Techo-Bloc Industria Triangle pavers in Smooth and Granitex finishes. The resulting walkway—which is also illuminated with minimalist garden lights at its edge—is not only visually stunning, but also highly slip-resistant thanks to the granular texture of the Granitex pavers.

Get creative with how you use materials in outdoor spaces. Techo-Bloc’s Graphix wall cap is typically used for decorative garden walls, but here it’s been applied in monochrome Greyed Nickel and Onyx Black to the base of this table, which can serve as dining table, kitchen island, or casual bar setting. With the simple addition of a net, it could even be turned into a ping pong table transforming the area into a fun family play zone.

Techo-Bloc’s Blu Grande slab in Greyed Nickel creates a sophisticated backdrop for this epic outdoor kitchen and dining setting with a quartet of playful timber swings—not only is it practical, but the large size of the pavers reduces the need for joints that can collect crumbs and create unlevel surfaces for furniture. The covered kitchen and dining area is defined at the ground level with Borealis slab in Smoked Pine—an elegant wood imitation patio slab that retains the warmth of wood but features innovative Klean-Bloc technology that eliminates the need for maintenance.

At night, a sunken fire pit at one end of the pool—defined by Techo-Bloc Industria Triangle pavers in Greyed Nickel, Shale Grey, and Onyx Black—creates a relaxed gathering space. The dividing wall between the pool and fire pit has been cleverly designed to be used as a swim-up bar during the day, and a fireside bar at night. Strategically placed lighting around the pool area and the edges of the fire pit further bring the space to life at night, making it dance with light and fire.

During the day, this home takes poolside relaxation to the next level, with sun loungers spread out across the patio, which is paved in a large Para slab in Greyed Nickel. The pool’s ornate edge pattern was created with the linear Westmount paver in Shale Grey and Onyx Black, and is finished with the brand’s elegant Raffinato wall cap and steps in Greyed Nickel.