A close up view of the custom copper farmhouse sink as well as the reclaimed wood in the herringbone pattern located on the smaller of the two kitchen islands. Here you can see the oak custom-made cabinets in the background as well as the back-painted glass backsplash. The copper sink and iron countertop face was hand crafted by a local metal artist. Stillwater Woodworking crafted the custom cabinets and island, which was made with wood tile from E & S Tile applied in a herringbone pattern. Thanks to Idaho Granite Works for finishing it off with beautiful Silestone quartz. Photography by Marie-Dominique Verdier

Back to back bathroom vanities make quite a unique statement in this main bathroom. Add a luxury soaker tub, walk-in shower and white shiplap walls, and you have a retreat spa like no where else in the house!

Nestled in the surrounding hillside of Telluride Ski Resort, this mountain home was born from the idea of integrating a home in to it’s site and having it interact with the natural vegetation and impressive circling views. This did not come without design challenges, but the result was a rustic modern structure clad in steel, glass, wood, and stone. Floor to ceiling glass walls lend to breathtaking views of Mount Emma, Dallas, and Iron Mountain. Transparency through the structure was very important to the clients as it allowed them to feel apart of the natural environment. You can see through the formal entry through the great room and out the back of the house. This created a spacious feel to the already open floor plan of the great room, dining room, and kitchen. http://www.centresky.com/telluride-mountain-home-video-tour Photos by Whit Richardson

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

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

Bringing the outdoors in and letting ample light flood the room, this window back splash was the perfect opportunity to do so. Stainless Steel undermounted sinks allow a clean look next to the white easy to clean quartz counter top. A built up flamed black absolute granite adds texture and creates an informal eat-in kitchen space.

When these homeowners first approached me to help them update their kitchen, the first thing that came to mind was to open it up. The house was over 70 years old and the kitchen was a small boxed in area, that did not connect well to the large addition on the back of the house. Removing the former exterior, load bearinig, wall opened the space up dramatically. Then, I relocated the sink to the new peninsula and the range to the outside wall. New windows were added to flank the range. The homeowner is an architect and designed the stunning hood that is truly the focal point of the room. The shiplap island is a complex work that hides 3 drawers and spice storage. The original slate floors have radiant heat under them and needed to remain. The new greige cabinet color, with the accent of the dark grayish green on the custom furnuture piece and hutch, truly compiment the floor tones. Added features such as the wood beam that hides the support over the peninsula and doorway helped warm up the space. There is also a feature wall of stained shiplap that ties in the wood beam and ship lap details on the island.

Product Information From its sleek linear design to the amazing choice of contemporary fireplace medias, Napoleon’s Vector 50 Gas Fireplace provides you with a luxurious fireplace experience. Enjoy the radiant glow from the standard Topaz CRYSTALINE™ ember bed or choose the option of river rocks or coloured glass. Available as a one-sided or See Thru model. PRODUCT FEATURES Up to 30,000 BTU’s Fuel saving electronic ignition with battery back-up Available as a See Thru (two-sided) or a one-sided unit Heat radiating ceramic glass Linear burner creates a uniform flame pattern Exclusive Topaz CRYSTALINE™ ember bed Standard CRYSTALITES™ (lights that accent from underneath the ember bed) MIRRO-FLAME™ Porcelain Reflective Radiant Panels and remote control comes standard Designer fire art available in a nickel stix design and driftwood that adds a unique fireplace element Curved, prism shaped MIRROR-FLAME™ Porcelain Reflective Radiant Panels with porcelain white arched firebox accent inlays are available for the one-sided unit Contemporary designer surrounds are available in white, black or diamond dust pewter finishes Perfect for residential or commercial use Backed by President’s Limited Lifetime Warranty

The goal of this project was to upgrade the builder grade finishes and create an ergonomic space that had a contemporary feel. This bathroom transformed from a standard, builder grade bathroom to a contemporary urban oasis. This was one of my favorite projects, I know I say that about most of my projects but this one really took an amazing transformation. By removing the walls surrounding the shower and relocating the toilet it visually opened up the space. Creating a deeper shower allowed for the tub to be incorporated into the wet area. Adding a LED panel in the back of the shower gave the illusion of a depth and created a unique storage ledge. A custom vanity keeps a clean front with different storage options and linear limestone draws the eye towards the stacked stone accent wall. Houzz Write Up: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/inside-houzz-a-chopped-up-bathroom-goes-streamlined-and-swank-stsetivw-vs~27263720 The layout of this bathroom was opened up to get rid of the hallway effect, being only 7 foot wide, this bathroom needed all the width it could muster. Using light flooring in the form of natural lime stone 12x24 tiles with a linear pattern, it really draws the eye down the length of the room which is what we needed. Then, breaking up the space a little with the stone pebble flooring in the shower, this client enjoyed his time living in Japan and wanted to incorporate some of the elements that he appreciated while living there. The dark stacked stone feature wall behind the tub is the perfect backdrop for the LED panel, giving the illusion of a window and also creates a cool storage shelf for the tub. A narrow, but tasteful, oval freestanding tub fit effortlessly in the back of the shower. With a sloped floor, ensuring no standing water either in the shower floor or behind the tub, every thought went into engineering this Atlanta bathroom to last the test of time. With now adequate space in the shower, there was space for adjacent shower heads controlled by Kohler digital valves. A hand wand was added for use and convenience of cleaning as well. On the vanity are semi-vessel sinks which give the appearance of vessel sinks, but with the added benefit of a deeper, rounded basin to avoid splashing. Wall mounted faucets add sophistication as well as less cleaning maintenance over time. The custom vanity is streamlined with drawers, doors and a pull out for a can or hamper. A wonderful project and equally wonderful client. I really enjoyed working with this client and the creative direction of this project. Brushed nickel shower head with digital shower valve, freestanding bathtub, curbless shower with hidden shower drain, flat pebble shower floor, shelf over tub with LED lighting, gray vanity with drawer fronts, white square ceramic sinks, wall mount faucets and lighting under vanity. Hidden Drain shower system. Atlanta Bathroom.

Don't let Hudson's delicate design fool you - it's built to be rock solid. This modern media cabinet is handcrafted in West Virginia by skilled artisans, who share their pride by signing the back of each Hudson piece they create. The natural grain pattern of U.S.-sourced solid wood is the perfect backdrop for the sleek, timeless design of this media cabinet. From a distance you'll appreciate how seamlessly this minimalist design incorporates into any space. Up close, you'll love the smooth feel of the hand-sanded wood, the precise alignment of the mitered top and side panels and durability that comes from exceptional attention to every detail. A variety of sizes and configurations makes it easy to choose the perfect Hudson media cabinet for your space.

This is a unique multi-purpose space, designed to be both a TV Room and an office for him. We designed a custom modular sofa in the center of the room with movable suede back pillows that support someone facing the TV and can be adjusted to support them if they rotate to face the view across the room above the desk. It can also convert to a chaise lounge and has two pillow backs that can be placed to suite the tall man of the home and another to fit well as his petite wife comfortably when watching TV. The leather arm chair at the corner windows is a unique ergonomic swivel reclining chair and positioned for TV viewing and easily rotated to take full advantage of the private view at the windows. The original fine art in this room was created by Tess Muth, San Antonio, TX.

Luxury resort-inspired styling has never been more elegant than in this British West Indies style double dresser. Polynesian influences like woven raffia drawer-fronts and leather-wrapped rattan pilasters enrich this dresser and media chest for a laid back, tropical appeal. Add storage to your master or guest bedroom with the nine-drawer chest, equipped with a drop-front center drawer for storing your media components close to your flatscreen TV. Or use it with this braided mirror to make a make-up and morning prep area for the bedroom.

This Houston kitchen remodel turned an outdated bachelor pad into a contemporary dream fit for newlyweds. The client wanted a contemporary, somewhat commercial look, but also something homey with a comfy, family feel. And they couldn't go too contemporary, since the style of the home is so traditional. The clean, contemporary, white-black-and-grey color scheme is just the beginning of this transformation from the previous kitchen, The revamped 20-by-15-foot kitchen and adjoining dining area also features new stainless steel appliances by Maytag, lighting and furnishings by Restoration Hardware and countertops in white Carrara marble and Absolute Black honed granite. The paneled oak cabinets are now painted a crisp, bright white and finished off with polished nickel pulls. The center island is now a cool grey a few shades darker than the warm grey on the walls. On top of the grey on the new sheetrock, previously covered in a camel-colored textured paint, is Sherwin Williams' Faux Impressions sparkly "Striae Quartz Stone." Ho-hum 12-inch ceramic floor tiles with a western motif border have been replaced with grey tile "planks" resembling distressed wood. An oak-paneled flush-mount light fixture has given way to recessed lights and barn pendant lamps in oil rubbed bronze from Restoration Hardware. And the section housing clunky upper and lower banks of cabinets between the kitchen an dining area now has a sleek counter-turned-table with custom-milled legs. At first, the client wanted to open up that section altogether, but then realized they needed more counter space. The table - a continuation of the granite countertop - was the perfect solution. Plus, it offered space for extra seating. The black, high-back and low-back bar stools are also from Restoration Hardware - as is the new round chandelier and the dining table over which it hangs. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston also took out a wall between the kitchen and living room and remodeled the adjoining living room as well. A decorative cedar beam stained Minwax Jacobean now spans the ceiling where the wall once stood. The oak paneling and stairway railings in the living room, meanwhile, also got a coat of white paint and new window treatments and light fixtures from Restoration Hardware. Staining the top handrailing with the same Jacobean dark stain, however, boosted the new contemporary look even more. The outdoor living space also got a revamp, with a new patio ceiling also stained Jacobean and new outdoor furniture and outdoor area rug from Restoration Hardware. The furniture is from the Klismos collection, in weathered zinc, with Sunbrella fabric in the color "Smoke."

Part of an extensive home remodel, this kitchen design was born of one man’s love of all things Harley Davidson. Color inspiration came from the client’s own cherished bike which was a stunning combination of matte black and brushed steel. The client’s wish was to have a large open area in which he could “be one with his guests” when hosting large gatherings. Cabinets, hardware and appliances all in black allow the focus to be on the beauty of the larger architectural elements as a whole. Included along the main storage wall is a hidden 42” refrigerator, dual pull-out pantries, and extra wide drawers below a pair of upper cabinets with matte black glass fold-up doors that open & close automatically via servo-drive technology. The new island - which measures just shy of 16 ½ feet! - is a true central point around which all action revolves. Wide walkways on either side provide ease of flow for multiple sous chefs and guests alike. A textured cypress soffit above the island was designed to house the modern hood and also create a feeling of unity as it is the same size as the island below. Textured cypress wood also wraps matte black cabinetry and lines the main wall, changing grain direction to provide visual interest. The 5’ Galley Workstation is a multi-functional marvel, easily transitioning from prep station to serving surface to clean-up with the addition of its built-in accessories. Placing an undercounter wine refrigerator on the back side of the island makes it easy for guests at the bar to help themselves. Close to the bar seating area, a 42” flat screen tv fits perfectly flush in the wall, practically disappearing when not in use. Unique details include a large display cabinet with a metal framed front & side crafted out of steel by a local artisan. The glass is 2-way mirror so when the interior light is off, the treasure is concealed inside. The interior is painted in the trademark Harley orange. Above a modern dining table, a one-of-a-kind chandelier was created from 3 bike helmets, painted in Harley orange by a local automobile detail shop. The interiors are finished in metallic silver for extra glow. Adjacent to the Kitchen, and initially deceiving in its simplicity, the main tv wall was quite complex and challenging to realize. It has a convex curve from left to right and slopes back from floor to ceiling. The interior hollow space created room for a shallow tv niche on top and partially recessed deep media storage cabinets below. The planning and framing involved to create the proper compound miter connections required extra diligence from the designers and builder, but the finished product was worth the effort! Photo credit: Fred Donham of Photographerlink

The new family room addition was designed adjacent to the public park that backs up to the house. Photo by Erik Kvalsvik
Example of a large transitional enclosed dark wood floor family room design in DC Metro with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a concealed tv

Dimension: 55" L x 20" D x 26" H With its handsome style and purposeful design, the Kokanee Rustic Solid Wood TV Stand & Media Cabinet With Storage brings fine aesthetics and high function to the family room, living room, media room, or bedroom. This rustic solid wood TV media console provides all the essential storage elements and features you require to set up a high tech media and music station. It features 3 roomy cabinets; 2 single door cabinets, 1 double door cabinet, and 1 open shelf. The open shelf can hold everything from cable boxes to gaming consoles so you can access easily with remote and handheld controllers. The cabinet is already outfitted with cutouts for electronic device wires. Made from solid wood with an expressive grain and hand-applied matte finish, this rustic solid wood TV stand is handcrafted to last. It features hand joinery, hand-wrought hardware, picture frame molding, and hand-turned bun feet. The style is rustic to transitional to fit with your décor. Bring style and function to your social spaces with this purposeful media unit. Combine with the rest of our Kokanee pieces including a coffee table trunk, end tables and a console hall table for a coordinated look. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Hand-finished • Made of solid wood • Picture frame molding • Hand wrought hardware • 2 Single door cabinets • 1 Double door cabinet • 1 Open shelf with cut-out at the back • Rustic styling melds with many decors • 1-year warranty • Easy care & maintenance Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Situated on a double-lot of beach front property, this 5600 SF home is a beautiful example of seaside architectural detailing and luxury. The home is actually more than 15,000 SF when including all of the outdoor spaces and balconies. Spread across its 4 levels are 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, his and her office, gym, living, dining, & family rooms. It is all topped off with a large deck with wet bar on the top floor for watching the sunsets. It also includes garage space for 6 vehicles, a beach access garage for water sports equipment, and over 1000 SF of additional storage space. The home is equipped with integrated smart-home technology to control lighting, air conditioning, security systems, entertainment and multimedia, and is backed up by a whole house generator.

Mathew and his team at Cummings Architects have a knack for being able to see the perfect vision for a property. They specialize in identifying a building’s missing elements and crafting designs that simultaneously encompass the large scale, master plan and the myriad details that make a home special. For this Winchester home, the vision included a variety of complementary projects that all came together into a single architectural composition. Starting with the exterior, the single-lane driveway was extended and a new carriage garage that was designed to blend with the overall context of the existing home. In addition to covered parking, this building also provides valuable new storage areas accessible via large, double doors that lead into a connected work area. For the interior of the house, new moldings on bay windows, window seats, and two paneled fireplaces with mantles dress up previously nondescript rooms. The family room was extended to the rear of the house and opened up with the addition of generously sized, wall-to-wall windows that served to brighten the space and blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The family room, with its intimate sitting area, cozy fireplace, and charming breakfast table (the best spot to enjoy a sunlit start to the day) has become one of the family’s favorite rooms, offering comfort and light throughout the day. In the kitchen, the layout was simplified and changes were made to allow more light into the rear of the home via a connected deck with elongated steps that lead to the yard and a blue-stone patio that’s perfect for entertaining smaller, more intimate groups. From driveway to family room and back out into the yard, each detail in this beautiful design complements all the other concepts and details so that the entire plan comes together into a unified vision for a spectacular home. Photos By: Eric Roth

The original Living Room was slightly longer, with a closed in rear porch off of the back of it and a covered side porch. We kept the original mantle, but added a new marble surround, added new plaster and trim, new flooring and opened up the room to the new sitting room beyond. Additionally, we enclosed the side porch.