Inspiration for a coastal carpeted living room remodel in Atlanta

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Example of a large classic sunroom design in Boston with no fireplace and a standard ceiling

Freestanding bathtub - mid-sized transitional master white tile and subway tile dark wood floor and brown floor freestanding bathtub idea in Portland with gray walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops

Inspiration for a small contemporary one-story brick exterior home remodel in DC Metro

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Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall medium tone wood floor and gray floor open concept kitchen remodel in Calgary with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

zoon media
Example of a mid-sized trendy master gray tile and glass tile porcelain tile and white floor corner shower design in Calgary with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Design and photo: Clever Home Design LLC Contractor: Slachta Home Improvement (www.slachtahomeimprovement.com)
Example of a small trendy formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor family room design in New York with gray walls and a tv stand

Photo © Bruce Damonte
Inspiration for a 1960s galley kitchen remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, glass sheet backsplash and paneled appliances

Modern Farmhouse is a contemporary take on a tradition building type, the Connecticut farmhouse. Our clients were interested in a house that fit in with the landscape while providing plenty of daylight with views to the surrounding property. The design uses simple gables arranged in a picturesque manner. It balances clean modern lines, traditional forms, and rustic textures. The new house is bright and light while also feeling personal and unique. There was interest early on to compress the construction time and to design a building that would not take a lot of energy to run. To achieve these goals, the design of the main house used modular construction and a high performance envelope. To articulate the surfaces of the spaces, the owner assembled a group of designers and artisans. Natural textures and tones were layered over the volumes to give a sense of place and time. The modular units of the house are produced by Huntington Homes in East Montpelier, Vermont. In addition to the main house, there is a pool house that sits symmetrically on the main axis of a long swimming pool. A glass enclosed living room fits between two concrete volumes that house a bathroom and storage spaces. An outdoor shower faces south, with an oculus that lets light in when the door is closed. The simple forms of the pool house sit below a green roof, which protects the glassy room from the summer sun and integrates the building into the hilly landscape.

Living room - mid-sized modern medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Houston with brown walls, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace

Rob Karosis
Photo of an asian shade stone water fountain landscape in Boston.

This is a remodel of small home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, just off Sunset Blvd. The goals of this project are to reconfigure the floor plan and to meet current homeowner's needs and update its aesthetics to current tastes suitable in that area. To achieve these goals, the interior of the house was completely gutted and reconfigured and the exterior was removed and wrapped with new siding. Since the house is close to ocean and surrounded by celebrities' mansions, the interior design is slightly eclectic with a mix of coastal casual with a hint of modern Hollywood glam.

Lagoon-side property in the Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA. Entertaining and enjoying the views were a primary design goal for this project along with replacing the lawn with CA native and low water plants and a total renovation. The project includes a large camaru deck with built-in seating. The concrete steps and pavers lead down to the water's edge. I included a sunken patio on one side and a beautiful Buddha statue on the other, surrounded by succulents and other low-water, contemporary plantings. I also used Dymondia ground cover to create a natural pathways within the garden. Plants shown: Bush Germander (Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum'), Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii, and Blue Oat Grass. Photo: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. Design Eileen Kelly

Gibeon Photography
Country master black floor bathroom photo with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, a drop-in sink and gray countertops

Achieving proper ceiling heights were achieved using strategically located skylight chutes! For more information and additional photos of this project, which we both designed and built, go to http://a1builders.ws/2011/08/a-small-space-bath-undergoes-complete-transformation/

Renovating a kitchen in an old house the challenge is always space. This was solved in this case by adding an addition for a bay window and recessed the clean up sink into the space. The window was raised by 10” over the standard height in order to increase natural light. The refrigerator wall was pushed 24” into the adjacent space which created the proper spacing for island and walkways, as well as centering the island on the adjacent dining room. Ample space and symmetry were achieved through this renovation. Richly hued traditional kitchen achieved through warm wood custom cabinetry and multiple levels of light. Under cabinet down lighting as well as recessed task lighting and stepped up ceiling with up lighting all combine to give warm and vibrancy to this historic home. A large center island provides prep space and seating while a bank of natural windows at the sink wall gives ample natural light.

Completed in 2017, this project features midcentury modern interiors with copper, geometric, and moody accents. The design was driven by the client's attraction to a grey, copper, brass, and navy palette, which is featured in three different wallpapers throughout the home. As such, the townhouse incorporates the homeowner's love of angular lines, copper, and marble finishes. The builder-specified kitchen underwent a makeover to incorporate copper lighting fixtures, reclaimed wood island, and modern hardware. In the master bedroom, the wallpaper behind the bed achieves a moody and masculine atmosphere in this elegant "boutique-hotel-like" room. The children's room is a combination of midcentury modern furniture with repetitive robot motifs that the entire family loves. Like in children's space, our goal was to make the home both fun, modern, and timeless for the family to grow into. This project has been featured in Austin Home Magazine, Resource 2018 Issue.

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.