Example of a large country open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Austin with gray walls and a concealed tv

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint.

A huge wall of windows faces the bed and billowy parachute curtains soften the space. The room was left simple and intimate to create restfulness. Photo by Lincoln Barber

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Example of a trendy formal light wood floor living room design in New York with a standard fireplace

Stephen Karlisch // This lakeside home was completely refurbished inside and out to accommodate 16 guests in a stylish, hotel-like setting. Owned by a long-time client of Pulp, this home reflects the owner's personal style -- well-traveled and eclectic -- while also serving as a landing pad for her large family. With spa-like guest bathrooms equipped with robes and lotions, guest bedrooms with multiple beds and high-quality comforters, and a party deck with a bar/entertaining area, this is the ultimate getaway.

Kitchen with concrete countertop island and pendant lighting.
Inspiration for a large cottage u-shaped dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and shiplap ceiling kitchen remodel in New York with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, concrete countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, black countertops and shiplap backsplash

Wet bar - rustic single-wall wet bar idea in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets and brown countertops

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

This traditional kitchen was inspired by memories of the owners farmhouse kitchen, Photos by Susan Gilmore
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and an island

This Coastal Inspired Farmhouse with bay views puts a casual and sophisticated twist on beach living. Interior Design by Blackband Design and Home Build by Arbor Real Estate.

Christian Garibaldi
Mid-sized trendy gender-neutral dark wood floor nursery photo in New York with multicolored walls

Farmhouse bathroom photo in Austin

Joe Cotitta Epic Photography joecotitta@cox.net: Builder: Eagle Luxury Property
Huge elegant marble floor and beige floor hallway photo in Phoenix with white walls

Example of a danish light wood floor living room design in San Francisco with white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Jane Beiles
Inspiration for a transitional formal and enclosed carpeted living room remodel in New York with blue walls

Sofia Joelsson Design Movie Theatre Home theatre
Example of a large trendy enclosed carpeted and gray floor home theater design in New York with gray walls and a projector screen

Inspiration for a small contemporary l-shaped kitchen remodel in Moscow with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Example of a mid-sized classic light wood floor foyer design in Boston with yellow walls

Marc Fowler
Large transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Ottawa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island