Houston is growing as a city, not only in size but also because of its restaurants, architecture, and corporate business opportunities. If we focus on the architecture, we see a pleasant mixture of modern, art deco, and green practices being used on traditional homes and buildings. As always, it is a good sign when a city’s landscape brings together the best of old with the best of the new. Below is an example of a Houston modern home.

The Salazar House by Stern and Bucek Architects

Located in a modest 1940′s subdivision south of the UNiversity of Houston, the twi bedroom Salazar was built in a neighborhood of single story frame houses. Designed to be compatible with the scale of the surrounding dwellings, the house is organized around a landscapes courtyard with all rooms facing the courtyard. Using green technology of a rain screen, exterior walls facing east and west are clad with stained marine grade plywood, contained with brick walls on the north and south sides. An enclosed passageway clad in standing seam galvalume, matching the roof material connects the two wings of the house.

Portland, OR is growing at a rapid pace. And for good reason. The city is a beacon of creative and sustainable living. It focus on community projects, public transportation and modern architecture make it a destination for many people. the population boom means more people in need of houses and more architects designing projects. The modern Portland home below is a private residence designed by architect Keith Hoelscher.

Hoelscher Architects

From the Web site:

Keith Hoelscher Architect is an award winning, full-service design firm located in Portland, Oregon. His studio is dedicated to providing the highest level of quality in Architecture, Master Planning, Interior Design and Environmental Design. With over 30 years of design experience, Mr. Hoelscher has designed a wide variety of projects throughout the Western United States, including work ranging from commercial office, corporate headquarters, retail and mixed use projects, multi-family and single family residences.

Miami is known for its lavish lifestyle, tropical climate, and modern architecture. Oppenheim Architects are at the forefront of the pack, designing projects that reflect the gloss and aplomb of the Miami aesthetic while continuously pushing the envelope with creative and sustainable architecture. Below is a prime example of a contemporary real estate in Miami.

Villa Allegra

scope: 9,000 SF private residence. Architecture/ Interior Design

date: Project completed 2004

location: Miami Beach, Florida

Multiple rooms, both interior and exterior, have been added to a non-descript, one-story homes transforming it into a receiver of Miami’s tropical climate. While the effect is striking, minimal alterations were made to the existing structure.

Does your room fancy a makeover? Has spring fever motivated you to purge your old furniture and pick out some fancy new interiors? Well, Sell Modern’s rummaging through today’s best modern interior design companies has yielded terrific results.

We present Blu Dot.

Modu-licious Queen Bed

Minimalist aesthetic, maximum storage. 6 full extension drawers sit underneath this sleek maple bed. Maple veneer headboard and footboard. Powder-coated steel drawer fronts in six colors.

Modu-licious Bedside Table

A great complement to your Modulicious Bed. A drawer to hide your personal stuff and an open nook for your bedtime reading. Maple veneer with powder-coated steel drawer front available in six colors.

Chicago 3 Box

3 section cherry, maple veneer, or graphite on oak shelving unit with tubular steel legs.

Buttercup Chair

Let the bent ply of the Buttercup cradle you in a wonderful, swiveling recline. Seat made of bent plywood and base in satin plated steel.

In an economy flat-lined by a slumping real estate market, it is refreshing to look at modern architecture in Atlanta. Atlanta has been hit hard by the recession, but judging by the number of contemporary homes in the Atlanta area, when the recession ends, the capital of Georgia will once again be the crown jewel of the southeast.

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects designed the Bailey House Studio in 2003.

About the Baily House Studio:

Building area:  2,200 square feet (house), 2,000 square feet (studio)

The site is a seven and one half acre hillside in southwest Atlanta. It is heavily wooded, except for a single 50í wide clearing dividing the lot into two halves. There are also several remnants from the Civil War, most notably an overgrown roadbed that led to Willis Mill. The new buildings are situated between these parallel linear cuts.

Just as the kitchen is the center of the modern home, the bedroom, and, by extension, the bed on which you sleep, is the center — the source — of your productivity and happiness.

Modern interior design continues to develop new, stylish beds, with superior comfort and structure as their headline. This is one from Niels Bendtsen. We’re getting sleepy, very, very sleepy.

The Frame Lo Queen Bed

About the Frame bed:

Frame is a wood bed of balanced proportions that is comfortable and inviting. It comes with an all-wood Frame or optional upholstered headboard. The beauty of Frame is found in its details. Precision mitered corners provide an exact fit while also emphasizing the grain of the wood. The bed sits close to the ground and has inset legs; creating an impression of floating, at the same time the position of the legs prevent tripping. A European wood slat system fits neatly into rail slots for stability and aesthetic appeal. The upholstered headboard has an easily removable cover, for cleaning or replacement. Fabrics come in a variety of colors to match any interior.

Santa Barbara is one of California’s most coveted zip codes. With beaches and a temperate climate, it attracts affluent people intent on living in homes that are representative of their lifestyle and means.

The architects behind the residential work here display the best of Santa Barbara’s modern homes.

The Quinta Isabella Residence

About Edwards-Pitman Architects:

Over the last 6 decades Edwards-Pitman has produced a significant number of distinctive Santa Barbara landmarks. The firm has been sought after by some of the city’s most “Client Testimonials” respected residents and celebrities alike for their professional guidance as well as to capture their individual architectural visions. Edwards-Pitman has an in-depth background in Santa Barbara’s Mediterranean and Spanish style architecture and given its long history, the firm fully understands the complex city and county policies which can be one of the most arduous aspects of getting a job completed.

Denver is the quintessential American city. It was a rugged western city, a pioneer vacation retreat, and now it has refashioned itself as a major 21st century metropolis. Denver’s contemporary homes and the city’s modern architecture reflect an appreciation for the environment and making use of sustainable materials. It also exposes the world to the many creative minds designing and building some of the most appealing modern architecture in Denver.

The Ozowa Residence:

This phased remodel transformed a typical 1950s suburban ranch house into a contemporary neighborhood icon. Definition was added to the low ranch by adding two tall “book end” volumes to each side. The project focused on defining form through materials that both compliment and juxtapose with the existing.

Phase I construction included a garage extension, exercise loft above a new 2 story family room and a 2nd level deck.

Phase II expand the master bedroom into a new master suite; a 2 story volume that captures day light from three directions while providing vistas of the distant lake and the private backyard.

About Roth Sheppard Architects:

Our collaborative design process stimulates exploration of the known and unknown to uncover opportunities. Through rigorous analysis, these opportunities provide the framework for transforming conventional problems into inventive solutions.

While problem solving addresses the pragmatic, innovation allows for discovery of the unknown. From regional police facilities to specialized residential, retail and restaurant environments, each solution ultimately creates unique experiences, strives for excellence and emotes the spirit of place.

The strain of climbing a steep hill is rewarded when you reach the top; the effort is recognized and the relief is appreciated. Imagine, then, climbing a hill in Boston, in Chestnut Hill, toward a home that is uniquely modern, structurally designed to caress the contours of a long hill, and environmentally sound.

You’d have the Chestnut Hill Residence, designed by Jonathan Levi Architects, and a testament to contemporary Boston homes.

From the Web site:

Occupying a wooded site in a suburban location, the maintenance of a number of large tress was a priority of the owners. This led to the formation of a narrow plan, which wraps and incorporates the largest specimen tree – a 42” maple located near the center of the site.

The form of the main building stretches diagonally both in plan and section, conforming to the sloped terrain and stepping back to allow each room a unique relationship to the south facing views. Careful placements of the detached garage and court provide privacy from the abutters as well as an intimate outdoor living space.

Spending countless hours at a desk can be painful or pleasant. It depends on where your style is. Judging from these images of the new BaObab desk, designed by Phillipe Stark, modern interior design — whether for leisure or work — is enjoying a period of growth and innovation.

About the BaObab Desk:

The BaObab desk, designed by Philippe Starck for Vitra, provides a refreshing approach to office furniture. It’s curved shape, created as a single piece, shields the user and provides a pleasant feeling of security. As a sculptural element, BaObab embraces the user, supports them in an unconventional manner in their work and ultimately gives the office a new feel. Its warm colors are inviting and its organic form challenges the conventional world of right angles and allows it to be positioned freely.

As a desk for the modern office, BaObab offers integrated cable management and the requisite storage space. It is ideally suited to businesses, retail outlets and home offices, as well as to established organizations that wish to create a fresh image.