Best of 2023

Best of 2023

A Look Back on This Year's Spotlights

Crazy and interesting things tend to happen annually, and 2023 met those expectations through and through. In the world of architecture, amazing feats were completed. Malaysia’s 118 Merdeka became the second tallest building in the world, shorter in stature only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. In Las Vegas, “The Sphere” opened its doors, merging arts and technology into a globular events venue and new staple of the Las Vegas Strip. Closer to home, in residential design and construction, we too witnessed many changes and revelations. This year, we noticed a rise in clients enlisting Studio21 Architects to turn their existing homes into domiciliary paradises. Many clients still opt to start from scratch with new builds, of course, but no matter the method, we are always in the business of dream homes.

​Dream homes can come from any starting point, and a mindset we have noticed more over recent years is a phrase you are likely already familiar with (as we have been known to scream it from the rooftops!): Define Your Own Sense of Home. A growing number of our clients start the process with the intention of traveling earnestly down the road of individuality, realizing that for a dream home, you must go all in. Our team undoubtedly loves this resurgence, perhaps selfishly so, because individuality when applied to design makes for more captivating work! Beyond our work, however, this mindset is an integral part of the Studio21 Architects process; when you decide to embark on a home design project, it becomes so much more meaningful, both during the project and for the rest of your time in the home, to embrace your uniqueness and create the home that suits you seamlessly.
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"it’s called a dream home for a reason—it should be the truest reflection of what YOU want in a home!"

In the reinstatement of bimonthly issues of the Studio Pages newsletter, we made a point to showcase a project that would be interesting and educational to read about. The reasons behind spotlighting these projects differ, just

as the projects themselves do. Looking back, one of the shared threads between each of the Project Spotlights from 2023 is that each of these homes embodies the Define Your Own Sense of Home philosophy. This year, all our spotlighted projects channeled their styles and worked with the Studio21 Architects team to design for their respective needs. The other similarity, you ask? Well, they all are also such wonderful clients to collaborate with, of course!
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A common bond may link these stories together, but we find that the draw comes from the differences. Some of these spotlights just completed their design project this year, while others have had the opportunity to reap the rewards for decades. So, to celebrate the new year and recap on the past one, let’s shine the spotlight once more on these fantastic clients and projects!
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Our first issue of 2023 came out in March, in which we began to detail the saga of our resident architect, Gregg, and the design of his own home. Ending up as a two-part series, we got to see the story unfold from start to finish as well as hear about what it’s like being one’s own architect. Ultimately, we learned that there is not much difference between the experience of an architect and a non-architect when it comes to commencing a home design project. Everyone faces the same types of 

challenges and stressors, they are inundated with the same copious number of choices, and the joy of seeing the project finally come together feels just as sweet. Seeing the finished home with all our readers was a perfect bookend for the last issue of 2023. Gregg designed a home that functioned well for his family, while still incorporating the stylistic touches that are naturally crucial to an architect.

​This year, Studio Pages also looked back even further with the Designs that Stood the Test of Time series. We interviewed two past clients of Studio21 Architects, so they could look back on their projects after years of living in them. The Murrays have been living in their custom modern farmhouse for almost ten years, and we got to hear from them about how their choices and selections remained timeless by following their personal style preferences, as well as thinking about how they would use their home in the years to come. In our July issue, we spoke with the Radostits to learn more about their Northwoods home, built on a property treasured by their family. They stayed true to their love of the area’s aesthetic when working with Bill during the Design Phase, while at the same time personalizing the functionality of the space with rooms that fit their daily habits and hobbies. In both the Murray and Radostits homes, we saw some of the individualized touches that have served them so well over the years, like the Murray’s one-level living and the Radostits’ sunroom and fishing center.
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"[we] have always said that there’s nothing we would change. It took us two years [...] and to this day, we believe we did it just right."
—kathy radostits
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We also got to hear about one of the firm’s most recent designs, the Cross home, and the story behind it, which sprang from the need for spaces that functioned for their family. The Crosses loved much about their original house: the neighborhood, the community—it was the place where all three of their kids were growing up! Instead of searching for a new home, they decided to make their current one work better with an addition and renovation. With Studio21 Architects, they took stock of the family’s needs so that our team could revitalize the floor plan and add more functional space, without even increasing the home’s footprint! The design brought added flow to their home, allowed for more entertaining space, 

and maintained a sanctuary space upstairs for relaxation. The Crosses wanted a forever home, one that could accommodate their family and guests for years to come.
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​There is so much to look forward to and so many stories to tell in this new year. We could not be more excited to share them with you, so stay tuned for the next issues of Studio Pages in 2024!

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written by: emma h.

Emma H. works as the Marketing Coordinator at Studio21 Architects. For each of our newsletters, Emma conducts interviews, writes articles, and formats the pages to make sure they reflect the great design we value so strongly at this firm. She may not be an architect, but she certainly makes sure that the marketing materials have architect-worthy design as well!