Built for the Bluff, A Sea Ranch Home is Remade from the Inside Out The house had always been grounded, on an ocean bluff at The Sea Ranch. It sits unencumbered, adjacent to one of the most dramatic stretches of the Sonoma coast with protected commons meadow to the east, uninterrupted Pacific views to the west, and a bluff trail running alongside. What it lacked was the feeling of home, one that could hold up its own against the natural landscape. The owners are entrepreneurs with deep involvement across tech, real estate, and development and they know how things are built. The Sea Ranch house had been in their lives for years, a second residence and a place for family to gather. Built for a different time, it felt more compromising than comfortable. Sitting in a closed off nook, the kitchen fit one cook at a time and turned its back on the rest of the house. The entry was dim and compressed, divided by a structural column that presented itself at exactly the wrong moment. The primary suite was small relative to the view outside it. A large rear bedroom sat behind a lowered ceiling with a bathroom that had never been added. The house was certainly worth the trouble of doing it right. What followed was not one project but four, each with its own design challenge, each addressed over a period of time. Where the House Meets the Ocean The most complex piece of the project, in both structural and spatial terms, was the kitchen expansion. The existing room was a single-person galley squeezed in as an afterthought with no meaningful connection to the dining room, the living space, or the deck outside. To make it useful for a family that cooks and gathers, it needed to grow outward into an existing patio and flow into the rooms around it. A big challenge was the roofline. Several planes at different pitches and angles converged directly where additional volume was needed. A new form had to join that geometry without reading as a correction. The solution found the simplest possible connection between the existing angles, a roofline that from outside the structure, appears entirely original. From the bluff trail where the addition is visible, there is no discernible seam. Inside, the kitchen is now open to the living and dining rooms without interruption. A large sliding glass door connects the space onto the rear deck. The deck itself was expanded and oriented so that the body of the house shields it from the coastal wind which is a common consideration that determines whether outdoor space at The Sea Ranch actually gets used. The result is a room that works for large family gatherings where no one feels cutoff, and one that makes the boundary between being inside and outside easy to ignore. Welcoming Light A structural column stood at the convergence of eight distinct roof planes in the entry. It was load-bearing, but it was also the reason the entry had always felt like a hallway rather than a welcoming arrival. With the structural engineer, a custom steel connector was designed to receive beams from six separate directions, redistributing the load through a single new continuous beam. The column was surgically removed. Three triangular skylights were then cut into the roof above, their shapes drawn from the existing geometry of the planes around them. The entry is now bright and open. The skylights feel native to the structure because they follow the logic already present in the roof. Two Suites, Two Views At opposite ends of the house, the two bedroom suites were each reconfigured, and each found a different way to introduce more of the landscape into the room. An addition to the primary suite extended the structure outward to create a wraparound plan with a loop from the bedroom through bath and closet that had not been possible before. The expansion opened a slot view from the tub and shower toward the ocean. The view is precise and private. The ocean view is present and deliberate. The rear bedroom absorbed an adjacent storage room to transform it into a full second suite with a vaulted ceiling, a large bathroom with a tub, a shower, and a sauna. A private fenced garden courtyard sits just beyond the glass bringing the outdoors inside. The tub was placed so that, looking past the courtyard and through the bedroom beyond, the ocean is visible at the far end. It is a long view and it makes the room feel larger and more settled than its footprint would suggest. Glass on Four Sides, Fire at the Center The main living and gathering room had always been caught between two competing facts: glass on four sides meant exceptional views but at The Sea Ranch, it also meant a cold room. A 360-degree cylindrical fireplace was added at the center on a raised stone base, providing radiant heat in every direction and giving the room a focal point around which a group naturally orients itself, whether that means two people at the end of the day or the whole family after dinner. Owners Who Picked Up the Tools The owner was not a passive client. they came with construction knowledge, specific ideas, and the desire to be an active part of the process, a dynamic that other architects may had found difficult, which Klopf Architecture accepted as an asset. They took it upon themselves to complete some of the work during construction, including the installation of a new radiant heating system beneath the floors. The radiant system added to the older and less-desirable forced-air setup. At The Sea Ranch, that change matters as the house sits close enough to the ocean and moving air competes with the sound of it, where radiant heat does not. Solar panels were added to the roof as part of the new system. Insulation was upgraded throughout the walls, roof, and crawl space. The house that had always had the right setting now holds warmth the way a house on the bluff should. They were also deeply involved in the design and selections throughout, and the finished house reflects both of them in ways that are specific rather than generic. The process took longer and moved through more iterations than a more arms-length relationship might have allowed. The result is more defined and personal because of it. The Landscape Holds Priority Every exterior decision was shaped by The Sea Ranch Design Standards, which require that buildings defer to the landscape around them rather than compete with it. Because this house sits on the bluff and is visible from the public trail, the additions faced a close review. Existing materials were matched. Geometries were resolved. The additions had to become indistinguishable from the original building. From the trail, the house reads exactly as it always has — low, cedar-clad, secondary to the meadow and the water. The setting holds priority. Inside, the house has been remade. Klopf Architecture Project Team: Geoff Campen and Trenton Jewett
Contractor: Shawn Bettega Construction
Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2023
Location: The Sea Ranch, CA

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This home, built in 1920, is a quintessential Virginia Highland craftsman bungalow in intown Atlanta. The home underwent an extensive renovaton that included the addition of a screened porch and deck off the back, dormers on the second story in the front, and finishing out the basement level. Most interior spaces were updated including the kitchen, multiple bathrooms, a mudroom and laundry room.

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Grand Rapids

Welcome to your dream kitchen project! This full remodel will bring to life an all-white kitchen design that embodies contemporary elegance and functionality. Imagine sleek cabinets reaching up to the ceiling, complemented by a stunning counter-to-ceiling tile backsplash. The modern electric cooktop and stacked ovens promise efficient and stylish cooking, while the glass shelf display cabinet and open shelving ideas provide both practical storage and a touch of sophistication. Our design features long bar pulls and square knob pulls for a streamlined look, paired with low-profile cabinets that keep the space airy and uncluttered. The waterfall edge island serves as a bold focal point, perfect for casual dining and entertaining. Additionally, a wine fridge adds a touch of luxury and convenience to your kitchen. Based in Clearwater, FL, and serving the Tampa area, including the 33756 zip code, we offer comprehensive remodeling services that turn innovative ideas into reality. Our expertise in general contracting, custom homes, and home additions ensures a seamless and exceptional transformation. Let us bring our remodeling and interior design ideas to your home, creating a kitchen that's both beautiful and functional.

Welcome to your exciting kitchen transformation project! We’re thrilled to bring your vision to life with a stunning all-white kitchen remodel. Our design will feature cabinets extending to the ceiling, creating a sleek and seamless look that maximizes both storage and style. We’ll incorporate contemporary kitchen design ideas, including a striking counter-to-ceiling tile backsplash that adds a touch of modern elegance. The electric cooktop will seamlessly integrate into your countertop, while glass-front upper cabinets and a glass shelf display cabinet offer both functionality and a stylish display for your favorite kitchen essentials. We’ll also include open shelving ideas to keep your space organized and visually appealing. To complete the look, we'll use long bar pulls for a touch of sophistication and low-profile cabinets that contribute to a clean and uncluttered aesthetic. A modern range hood will provide both form and function, and a wine fridge will be a perfect addition for entertaining. Based in Clearwater, FL, and serving the Tampa area, including the 33756 zip code, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional remodeling results. Whether you're exploring general contracting services, custom homes, or home additions, we are here to offer innovative remodeling and interior design ideas that perfectly align with your vision. Let’s create a kitchen that’s not only beautiful but also a joy to cook and gather in!

This amazing, U-shaped Memorial (Houston, TX 77024) custom kitchen design was influenced by the "The Great Gatsby" era with its custom zinc flared vent hood with nickel plated laminate straps. This terrific hood flares in on the front and the sides. The contrasting finishes help to add texture and character to this fully remodeled kitchen. This hood is considerably wider than the cooktop below. It's actually 60" wide with an open back splash and no cabinets on either side. We love to showcase vent hoods in most of our designs because it serves as a great conversation piece when entertaining family and friends. A good design tip is to always make the vent hood larger than the stove. It makes an incredible statement! The antiqued, mirror glass cabinets feature a faux finish with a furniture like feel. The large back splash features a zig zag design, often called "chevron pattern." The french sconces with nickel plated shades are beautifully displayed on each side of the gorgeous "La Cornue" stove adding bling to the kitchen's magnificence and giving an overall elegant look with easy clean up. Additionally, there are two (2) highbrow chandeliers by Curry & Company, gives the kitchen the love needed to be a step above the norm. The island bar has a farmhouse sink and a full slab of "Fantasy Brown" marble with seating for five. There is tons of storage throughout the kitchen with plenty of drawer and cabinet space on both sides of the island. The sub-zero refrigerator is totally integrated with cupboards and drawers to match. Another advantage of this variety of refrigeration is that you create furniture-style cabinetry. This is a truly great idea for a dateless design transformation in Houston with raised-panel cupboards and paneled appliances. Polished nickel handles, drawer pulls and faucet hardware complete the design.

A second bedroom in the second-story addition.

Bathroom in the second story addition.

Bedroom in the second-story addition.

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The client had several requirements for this Seattle kids bathroom remodel. They wanted to keep the existing bathtub, toilet and flooring; they wanted to fit two sinks into the space for their two teenage children; they wanted to integrate a niche into the shower area; lastly, they wanted a fun but sophisticated look that incorporated the theme of African wildlife into the design. Ellen Weiss Design accomplished all of these goals, surpassing the client's expectations. The client particularly loved the idea of opening up what had been a large unused (and smelly) built-in medicine cabinet to create an open and accessible space which now provides much-needed additional counter space and which has become a design focal point.

Lissa Gotwals Photography
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When our Clients in NW Harris County desired to transform their existing Home into a Show Piece, they turned to the dedicated Professionals at Xtreme Renovations, LLC to make their dream come true. From the initial planning, design concept, demolition and construction, the Xtreme Team delivered. Throughout this amazing transformation, additional ideas of our clients were implemented to deliver the Dream Home our client’s desired and deserved. Many details were completed in the transformation from removing load bearing columns and replacing them with load bearing beams to provide an open, inviting ambiance that is great for entertaining and family gatherings. This renovation included all new custom built cabinetry from the Living Room, Fire Place Surround, Kitchen and Breakfast Room. Additional custom details were added in the Dining Room vaulted ceiling and windows. A Bedroom was converted to a Lounge Area where Custom Pocket Doors were install in place of the original walled Foyer. All wall and ceiling drywall and painting finishes were meticulously brought to Level 5 for a totally smooth finish throughout the renovated areas. Numerous electrical and plumbing upgrades added to the renovation. All lighting is LED on Dimmers to add a touch of glass and ambiance. Shaker Style Cabinetry was made from Maple Wood and painted, including, Kitchen Island, Crown, Base and Doorway Moldings. The Cooks Kitchen is inviting with shiplap Backsplashes throughout. A custom built Butler’s Pantry with in cabinet LED lighting on dimmers add to the renovation. Quartz countertops were honed to create the desired finishing touches of this conversion. Many additional features were added to functionality and to deliver the “Wow Factor” Xtreme Renovations, LLC is known for and our clients deserve. Contact Xtreme Renovations, LLC and let our team of Professionals transform your house into Your Dream Home!

Indoor-outdoor living in an addition to a traditional Lake Austin waterfront house, set in well maintained traditional landscaped gardens, perched high on a bluff above the water.

Mid-sized eclectic painted wood floor and white floor sunroom photo in Raleigh with a standard ceiling