Rustic-Modern Finnish Kitchen Our client was inclined to transform this kitchen into a functional, Finnish inspired space. Finnish interior design can simply be described in 3 words: simplicity, innovation, and functionalism. Finnish design addresses the tough climate, unique nature, and limited sunlight, which inspired designers to create solutions, that would meet the everyday life challenges. The combination of the knotty, blue-gray alder base cabinets combined with the clean white wall cabinets reveal mixing these rustic Finnish touches with the modern. The leaded glass on the upper cabinetry was selected so our client can display their personal collection from Finland. Mixing black modern hardware and fixtures with the handmade, light, and bright backsplash tile make this kitchen a timeless show stopper. This project was done in collaboration with Susan O'Brian from EcoLux Interiors.

Dennis Carkonen
Home design - contemporary home design idea in Seattle

These 'Golden Dorsett' apples are planted near the 'Anna' apples int his garden. They cross polinate and produce better yields. Both are early ripening varieties with low chill requirements. Perfect for out Southern California climate.

Large transitional open concept concrete floor and brown floor family room photo in Houston with a bar and brown walls

Mountain style gray two-story mixed siding exterior home photo in Denver with a metal roof

Sophie McPhail
Living room - contemporary painted wood floor and white floor living room idea in San Diego with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

This outdoor living environment with gardens, pool and social areas overlooks the surrounding vineyard, serving as a center for family gatherings and entertaining. The new pool house blends with the existing residence and features changing and bathing rooms, an outdoor kitchen and fire place. Terraced retaining walls contain planter beds for edible gardens. Furniture was selected for climate, comfort and outdoor leisure; adding to the feel of a resort spa. Photography by Christopher Lagos / Lagos Photography

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Large mountain style deck photo in Christchurch

The Glo A5 window series was selected for the home for the high-performance values offered in clean, minimal frame profiles. Excellent energy efficiency and the durability to last the lifetime of the building are imperceptible bonuses for the expansive floor-to ceiling windows, large sliding glass and swing doors. A larger continuous thermal break and multiple air seals reduce both condensation and heat convection while ensuring noteworthy comfort in a climate that swings from sweltering heat in the summer to frigid weather in the winter. The A5 series ensures continual coziness and contentment without sacrificing the posh design of the home.

This Tuscan-style wine cellar in Blue Bell, PA is centered around the rustic bricks and fireplace façade, with enough climate-controlled storage space for thousands of bottles that are inventoried via computer. Design and Construction by Meridian.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Inspiration for a large rustic backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

Mountain style wine cellar photo in Other

Gut-remodel of an existing single family home. In keeping with the coastal climate, large multi-slide doors connect indoor and outdoor spaces. Porcelain tile, stucco and metal trim work completed the exterior palette. Photos: Roberto Zeballos

Under Stair wine room with custom glass featuring the PEG System wine racking on glossy black finish backings. The cut out panels form a mosaic pattern with halo lighting for added dramatic effect. Note: this is a show home that opted for no climate control however it can be engineered to include this if requested.

Design build AV System: Savant control system, Lutron Homeworks lighting and shading system. Ruckus Wireless access points. Surgex power protection. In-wall iPads control points. Remote cameras. Climate control: temperature and humidity.

Trendy dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in New York with gray walls

These gates are side gates to the house with the copper front gate and columns. These are a metal frame design with copper panels. We forge the horizontal members which the copper panels are riveted to. Both the copper and steel are left natural. The steel will rust and the copper will patina over time. Since we are in a dry climate in Arizona we can afford to leave the steel unfinished. If this project was in another climate, a finish would be required on the steel for it to last.