Large Cedar trees shade a private garden. Rhododendrons bloom in the foreground against a horizontal Cedar slat fence. Photo Credit: annacaitlinphotography.com

Inspiration for a mid-century modern home design remodel in Seattle

Scott Mehaffey, landscape architect
Inspiration for a mid-sized mid-century modern partial sun courtyard stone garden path in Chicago for spring.

Ornamental metal , hand welded handrail system.
Trendy straight staircase photo in Atlanta

Photo of a transitional landscaping in Phoenix.

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Cypress Point with Light Gray mortar

Mimi Erickson
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Traditional Black Fir Shou Sugi Ban siding offers a unique texture for interior and exterior applications.
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Mater bath during picture with Carrara Marble mosaic floor tile and Carrara marble 2x2 showr pan.
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Christopher Lee
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The upper level, steel grated stairs, have suspension wire railing, and are made of salvaged materials from the trade. This upper level bedroom will eventually be a children's playroom, but for the time being they are too little for this location. Industrial Loft Home, Seattle, WA. Belltown Design. Photography by Paula McHugh

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Leah Verwey
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Portland

Casey Woods
Mid-sized contemporary exterior home idea in Austin

Wallpaper Jannelli & Volpi in vinyl foam on tnt , washable. The rolls are 10:05 mt x 53cm . You can see all the samples on the site under the heading www.lostudiodelcolore.com Parati>Modern Shipping costs are calculated extra . Contact the Company by email at: info@lostudiodelcolore.com

Photo Cred: Ralph Cole Photography. Landscaping: Alaback Design Associates. Contractor: Rogers and Associates.

This modern, contemporary, glossy, underwater resin on wood panel is layered with aqua, aquamarine, Aruba blue pigments, white epoxy paste, and hints of sparkle. A cool toned color palette was used to create this multi-layered dimensional seascape.