CMI Construction completed this large scale remodel of a mid-century home. Kitchen, bedrooms, baths, dining room and great room received updated fixtures, paint, flooring and lighting.

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

The detailed plans for this bathroom can be purchased here: https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/felicitous-flora-bathroom-plans/ The original layout of this bathroom underutilized the spacious floor plan and had an entryway out into the living room as well as a poorly placed entry between the toilet and the shower into the master suite. The new floor plan offered more privacy for the water closet and cozier area for the round tub. A more spacious shower was created by shrinking the floor plan - by bringing the wall of the former living room entry into the bathroom it created a deeper shower space and the additional depth behind the wall offered deep towel storage. A living plant wall thrives and enjoys the humidity each time the shower is used. An oak wood wall gives a natural ambiance for a relaxing, nature inspired bathroom experience.

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

Photos by Liz Daly http://www.lizdaly.com/
Example of a classic dark wood floor entryway design in San Francisco with beige walls

Elegant black and silver metallic newly-scaled damask wallpaper updates and creates the backdrop for drama in the Entry. The front doors were painted black, new marble floor tile installed and a contemporary version of a traditional style silver-leafed chandelier completed the stage for the mirrored, black and silver furnishings. Photos by Michael Hunter

LED recess lights, large scale pendent lights, indirect and direct lighting spruced us this kitchen that has large scale appliances, such as a large fridge, charging station, ice maker fridge and lots of glass break front cabinetry, big serving islands, such as a large L-shape parameter island with seating capacity of eight with yet a large middle island with big counter, prep sink, microwave and steps away from the massive professional stove. A large scale decorative hood over the gorgeously laid stone tile back-splash and pot filler have created the main focal point for this kitchen.

The master bedroom is a symphony of textures and patterns with its horizontal banded walls, hexagonal ceiling design, and furnishings that include a sunburst inlaid bone chest, star bamboo silk rug and quatrefoil sheers. A Bonisolli Photography

An antique Trumeau mirror from France and a vase of cotton boll branches greet guests in the front entry; setting the scene for the home's signature blend of formal and comfortable. Featured in Charleston Style + Design, Winter 2013 Holger Photography

This West University Master Bathroom remodel was quite the challenge. Our design team rework the walls in the space along with a structural engineer to create a more even flow. In the begging you had to walk through the study off master to get to the wet room. We recreated the space to have a unique modern look. The custom vanity is made from Tree Frog Veneers with countertops featuring a waterfall edge. We suspended overlapping circular mirrors with a tiled modular frame. The tile is from our beloved Porcelanosa right here in Houston. The large wall tiles completely cover the walls from floor to ceiling . The freestanding shower/bathtub combination features a curbless shower floor along with a linear drain. We cut the wood tile down into smaller strips to give it a teak mat affect. The wet room has a wall-mount toilet with washlet. The bathroom also has other favorable features, we turned the small study off the space into a wine / coffee bar with a pull out refrigerator drawer.

Carmel Valley Cottage in Carmel, CA Photography: David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in San Francisco

Budget demanded keeping the whirlpool tub and existing plumbing locations while transforming the space to a serene environment in keeping with the house. All drawers are functional on the floating vanity not allowing the plumbing trap to take away storage space. Mirrors conceal storage and have contemporary styling and LED lighting. The undulating limestone backsplash adds textural interest with a minimal design. Sleek large-scale brick patterned flooring creates a more tranquil space than the previous black and white checkerboard environment. The clients desired a ‘his and her’ arrangement in this closet that required more organization. Faux wenge melamine doors, instead of wood veneer, met budget requirements. Lucite hardware up the style and frosted glass door panels lighten up the dark finishes and provide neatness and functionality by allowing an orderly way to glimpse what is hidden inside. Designed by KBK Interior Design KBKInteriorDesign.com Photo by Wing Wong

Brantley Photography
Example of a trendy double front door design in Miami with a dark wood front door

A view of the living room and foyer beyond. The bold orange entry door is a pleasant surprise one only sees after winding around a tall brick wall. Within the entry is a wall of walnut paneling with a hidden door leading to a large closet. The stairs lead up to a second floor landing with a glass railing that opens onto a double height space capped with a series of five over-scaled skylights.

large bathroom mirrors, dark vanity, granite, Grohe, Kohler sink, marble floor, master bathroom, Porcelanosa tiles, triple vanity light, wall hung vanity

Trendy master porcelain tile bedroom photo in Miami with white walls

Photo by JH Jackson Photography; Design by Hugh Randolph Architects; Trinity Mirror by Electric Mirror. For more info about purchasing our mirrors, visit www.electricmirror.com.

Entry Hall, Lee Manning Photography
Example of a transitional light wood floor hallway design in Los Angeles with white walls

The front of the house features an open porch, a common feature in the neighborhood. Stairs leading up to it are tucked behind one of a pair of brick walls. The brick was installed with raked (recessed) horizontal joints which soften the overall scale of the walls. The clerestory windows topping the taller of the brick walls bring light into the foyer and a large closet without sacrificing privacy. The living room windows feature a slight tint which provides a greater sense of privacy during the day without having to draw the drapes. An overhang lined on its underside in stained cedar leads to the entry door which again is hidden by one of the brick walls.