Exterior shot of screened porch overlooking the swimming pond
Exterior home idea in Boston

Inspiration for a small transitional light wood floor and shiplap ceiling breakfast nook remodel in Phoenix with white walls

Huge rustic brown two-story wood house exterior idea in Other

Example of a mid-sized transitional master carpeted and gray floor bedroom design in Dallas with blue walls

Mid-century-modern dining area with burgundy dining table and built-in bench. Floor to ceiling windows, exposed wood beam ceiling and redwood paneled walls in Berkeley, California. - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Transitional kitchen photo in Other

Kitchen photo in New York

Kitchen - kitchen idea in Vancouver

Santa's sleigh balance toy. Functioning sky hook replica of 18 C. classic seasonal accessories
Example of a classic home design design in Miami

Skiing Santa balance toy. Functioning skyhook replica of 18 C. classic seasonal accessories.
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Miami

Black and white Balance deco tiles make a bold statement when paired with the our Balance floor tiles
Example of a mid-sized minimalist master porcelain tile and white floor bathroom design in Miami with white walls

Inspiration for a contemporary laundry room remodel in Vancouver

Example of a kitchen design in Vancouver

Fisherman Balance Toy. Dimensions: 12.6"L x 4.3"W x 21.3"H

Steve Keating
Large trendy backyard tile patio photo in Seattle with a fire pit and an awning