The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

design by beth keim, owner lucy and company, photo by mekenzie france

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

design by beth keim, owner lucy and company, photo by mekenzie france
Inspiration for a transitional dining room remodel in Charlotte

Most design showhouses are properties for sale, and each designer creates a space for viewing. It’s a great way to market the property and the designer. However, the Kingston Design Showhouse in the Fall of 2019 was at Historic Wiltyck House in Kingston, New York, that's partially used as an Airbnb and home for the owners. The room I designed is the homeowner's private dining room; therefore, we took their taste and needs into account, especially on architectural decisions. The overall style is a mixture of modern and traditional, feminine and masculine, and moody and bright, lots of depth but not overwhelming. The architecture serves as a canvas for the furniture showcased during the exhibit and then the homeowner's furniture that will occupy the space afterward. Small details such as replacing or refinishing the doorknobs, replacing the switches and outlets were not forgotten. Then more significant details such as the wallpapered ceiling, new ceiling medallion, and light fixture make a tremendous impact on the space. The wall paint is neutral enough but adds depth with its medium tone gray. Then we added a white border and mauve painted trim as an interpretation of the crown molding that's missing. During the exhibit, we had local makers from the Hudson Valley well represented through furniture, accessories, art, and floral arrangements. All are makers that I love and want to share with you; without them, the room wouldn’t be as lovely as it is.

Located at a prominent corner on one of the few undeveloped residential sites left in Solana Beach, this project is important not only for the homeowner, but for the community as well. A rigorous site analysis laid the groundwork for a design response which took into account the homeowner’s program, input from the neighbors, and the scale of the project and the character of the neighborhood. The end result is a design that is well set into the existing grade, a move which preserves adjacent views and reduces the visual impact of the structure from the street; all while graciously meeting the desires of the owner. The plan is broken into six unique floor plates. The bottom four of which tie together along the gradually sloping site. An intentionally long southern exposure implements the basics of passive solar design: large amounts of glass bring in abundant light and warmth in the winter, while deep overhangs protect from unwanted summer heat gain. Ocean views to the west are selectively framed throughout the house without compromising privacy from the busy street corner. Public functions within the house flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces. JLC Architecture was responsible for a full architecture and interior package as well as exterior hardscape design.

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

I was asked to design a new family home, for a lot that is third row back from the beach. As you can see the lot had numerous trees, all leaning in various directions, had to be accounted for. Besides the neighborhood restrictions the town, imposes even tighter guidelines on the mass and size of the building. The collaberation with my client has ended up with thise lovely new home, just waiting for memories to be made. Hee we can see the covered front porch with an open air second porch above. To help with the efficiency of the floor plan, due to site limitation, that fromt entry door is tucked around on the left side of the home. We wanted a the home to have a "beachy" vibe to the architecture style. I incorporated a number of "low country architectural" design elements to provide the beach cottage feel. We used NuCedar shingle siding for ease of maintance and Hardie trim, for the some reason. The home owner choose a bronze standing seam metal roof to compliment the soft grey shingle color.

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

The outcome of the basement remodel turned out exceptionally well. The homeowner converted the unused 4’-high crawlspace into a daylight basement with skip trowel ceiling, Tuscan walls, concrete counter-tops and new bathroom with Jacuzzi tub. We took the uneven foundation and turned it into a shelf that goes around the perimeter. I was able to do the concrete counter-tops and they turned out really well. The shelf stands out in the room. We chose a light yellow hue for the cement to brighten up the area. The ceiling turned out to be a bit of a challenge, as we had to go around the newly installed furnace system, account to for all the angles and still allow adequate head room, especially in the bathroom. We utilized the low ceiling to put in mood lighting. The kitchen got several bright can lights in addition to mood lights. I normally prefer to use colored plaster, but on the request of the home owner, used the special Miller paint that reflects sunlight to make the daylight basement look brighter. Used the same paint on the ceiling, just ½ diluted with white. What we have done, is taken a crawl space and converted it into a lovely beautiful daylight basement with tones of room and a lot of personality.

Sara and Barry's backyard cottage is located on an arterial in the heart of ballard's brewery district. The design takes into account the setting with industrial siding and limited windows facing the street. The cottage opens up to the south to take advantage of natural lighting and territorial views. The design was intended for and is being used as a short term rental providing income for the owners. It contains two floors with separate entrances. One of which serves as the home office for Barry who is a general contractor and who built the cottage. bruce parker, microhouse

Located at a prominent corner on one of the few undeveloped residential sites left in Solana Beach, this project is important not only for the homeowner, but for the community as well. A rigorous site analysis laid the groundwork for a design response which took into account the homeowner’s program, input from the neighbors, and the scale of the project and the character of the neighborhood. The end result is a design that is well set into the existing grade, a move which preserves adjacent views and reduces the visual impact of the structure from the street; all while graciously meeting the desires of the owner. The plan is broken into six unique floor plates. The bottom four of which tie together along the gradually sloping site. An intentionally long southern exposure implements the basics of passive solar design: large amounts of glass bring in abundant light and warmth in the winter, while deep overhangs protect from unwanted summer heat gain. Ocean views to the west are selectively framed throughout the house without compromising privacy from the busy street corner. Public functions within the house flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces. JLC Architecture was responsible for a full architecture and interior package as well as exterior hardscape design.

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

We were contracted by a local couple who owns an accounting practice locally that wanted to build their retirement home in a desired neighborhood close to their offices. They had already bought their lot, and purchased their home plans online. The owners of this beautiful home had many of their selections, colors, and other desires already picked prior to beginning the project. One unique feature that was requested was to incorporate a toe ledge into the master shower so that the lady of the house would have an easier time when shaving her legs. Now that is a true customized item that not many ladies would think about when building the home of her dreams. Connie McCoy

Located at a prominent corner on one of the few undeveloped residential sites left in Solana Beach, this project is important not only for the homeowner, but for the community as well. A rigorous site analysis laid the groundwork for a design response which took into account the homeowner’s program, input from the neighbors, and the scale of the project and the character of the neighborhood. The end result is a design that is well set into the existing grade, a move which preserves adjacent views and reduces the visual impact of the structure from the street; all while graciously meeting the desires of the owner. The plan is broken into six unique floor plates. The bottom four of which tie together along the gradually sloping site. An intentionally long southern exposure implements the basics of passive solar design: large amounts of glass bring in abundant light and warmth in the winter, while deep overhangs protect from unwanted summer heat gain. Ocean views to the west are selectively framed throughout the house without compromising privacy from the busy street corner. Public functions within the house flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces. JLC Architecture was responsible for a full architecture and interior package as well as exterior hardscape design.

Seating for 6, coming right up! A total reconfiguration of this space afforded the clients to realize their dream kitchen! An entertainer's delight and also perfect for the day to day. So easy, so fun and such a statement! "We couldn't be happier; our new kitchen is beyond our wildest dreams and certainly more than we expected!" exclaimed the clients. "We created such a beautiful kitchen in harmony with the client's vision- making sure that every detail was accounted for, and every wish list item was checked." stated Bruce Roth, Sycamore Kitchens & More owner. Roth added, "All kitchens, even small ones, have thousands of details that have to be attended to- this one had what seemed like a million!"

We were contracted by a local couple who owns an accounting practice locally that wanted to build their retirement home in a desired neighborhood close to their offices. They had already bought their lot, and purchased their home plans online. The owners of this beautiful home had many of their selections, colors, and other desires already picked prior to beginning the project. One unique feature that was requested was to incorporate a toe ledge into the master shower so that the lady of the house would have an easier time when shaving her legs. Now that is a true customized item that not many ladies would think about when building the home of her dreams. Connie McCoy

Seating for 6, coming right up! A total reconfiguration of this space afforded the clients to realize their dream kitchen! An entertainer's delight and also perfect for the day to day. So easy, so fun and such a statement! "We couldn't be happier; our new kitchen is beyond our wildest dreams and certainly more than we expected!" exclaimed the clients. "We created such a beautiful kitchen in harmony with the client's vision- making sure that every detail was accounted for, and every wish list item was checked." stated Bruce Roth, Sycamore Kitchens & More owner. Roth added, "All kitchens, even small ones, have thousands of details that have to be attended to- this one had what seemed like a million!"

Located at a prominent corner on one of the few undeveloped residential sites left in Solana Beach, this project is important not only for the homeowner, but for the community as well. A rigorous site analysis laid the groundwork for a design response which took into account the homeowner’s program, input from the neighbors, and the scale of the project and the character of the neighborhood. The end result is a design that is well set into the existing grade, a move which preserves adjacent views and reduces the visual impact of the structure from the street; all while graciously meeting the desires of the owner. The plan is broken into six unique floor plates. The bottom four of which tie together along the gradually sloping site. An intentionally long southern exposure implements the basics of passive solar design: large amounts of glass bring in abundant light and warmth in the winter, while deep overhangs protect from unwanted summer heat gain. Ocean views to the west are selectively framed throughout the house without compromising privacy from the busy street corner. Public functions within the house flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces. JLC Architecture was responsible for a full architecture and interior package as well as exterior hardscape design.