A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography

- ANSEL SECTIONAL. Ansel is a luxury Italian furniture collection characterized by its high-end leather or fabric upholstery, finished with manually visible and individually placed buttons, in the following finishes: polished chrome, matte black, light gold matt antique gold or covered in leather and when is possible in velvet. Versatile modularity allows for various compositions: open corners can be used both in the angular composition of chaise longue and individual, with the possibility of having, on one side, a utility shelf made of onyx stone with adjustable internal lighting. The sophisticated Italian piece structure is made of wood with high strength elastic straps and high density polyurethane foam cover. The seat cushions are made of sterilized goose feather, with polyurethane foam insert at different heights. Feet made of painted aluminum in bronze. Taking into account the complexity of the structure the upholstery is not removable, while the seat cushion in leather or fabric is removable. Ansel follows perfectly the Glamour concepts. Made in Italy. https://cassoni.com/Luxury-Italian-Design-Ansel-Sectional-01

The ShopBoxes grew from a homeowner’s wish to craft a small complex of living spaces on a large wooded lot. Smash designed two structures for living and working, each built by the crafty, hands-on homeowner. Balancing a need for modern quality with a human touch, the sharp geometry of the structures contrasts with warmer and handmade materials and finishes, applied directly by the homeowner/builder. The result blends two aesthetics into very dynamic spaces, staked out as individual sculptures in a private park.⁠ Design by Smash Design Build and Owner (private) Construction by Owner (private)

Penza Bailey Architects designed this extensive renovation and addition of a two-story penthouse in an iconic Beaux Arts condominium in Baltimore for clients they have been working with for over 3 decades. The project was highly complex as it not only involved complete demolition of the interior spaces, but considerable demolition and new construction on the exterior of the building. A two-story addition was designed to contrast the existing symmetrical brick building, yet used materials sympathetic to the original structure. The design takes full advantage of views of downtown Baltimore from grand living spaces and four new private terraces carved into the additions. The firm worked closely with the condominium management, contractors and sub-contractors due to the highly technical and complex requirements of adding onto the 12th and 13th stories of an existing building.

A contemporary cabin on Lake Tahoe is designed for all-seasons outdoor living. It was a sign. Quite literally. Our clients, avid outdoor lovers, had always dreamed of owning a vacation home on Lake Tahoe. While paddleboarding during a visit, they caught a glimpse of a “for sale” sign on the shore and a tired and outdated cabin sited unusually close to the lake. The Bay Area residents were captivated by the property and by the notion of summers spent on the lake and winter weekends on the slopes. FGA was enlisted to design a new structure on this special, but steep plot of land. Its hillside location presented some major challenges and considerations. FGA's extensive experience with complex siting proved critical to the success of this project, especially since the clients hoped to preserve as much of the flat land as possible for a lawn, lounge, and hot tub. On the exterior, richly stained Redwood board and batten siding, dark green trim, and Montana stone base boast a more refined ‘Old Tahoe feel’ than the typical mountain cabin. On the lake side, stacked bay windows afford panoramic views from the kitchen and living room with an indoor dining area nestled between them. Glass accordion doors lead from the dining room to the true heart of the home – a covered, all-seasons porch made for lounging in front of the fire pit and enjoying unobstructed lake views while remaining fully-protected from the elements. Beneath the main living level, lake-facing bedrooms and a recreation room are accessible by stairs and a elevator. In addition to the newly constructed main residence, FGA was tasked with remodeling the preexisting boat house on the property. For continuity, the board and batten siding is swathed in the same rich stain and green paint as the new structure, but the interior floorplan is reorganized to allow for a large, open living space with bi-fold doors. Project completion: Estimated end of 2024. More images coming soon...

A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography

Located on the south side of Dune Road, facing the beach and the Atlantic Ocean, this existing house required a complete exterior re-design in addition to partial interior renovation work. The original structure was a somewhat complex composition of volumes that stepped in and out, vertically and horizontally, combined with sloped glass roofs in several locations. All exterior walls were clad in white composite paneling, which gave the house a massive appearance divorced from its context. It was clear that mere cosmetic improvements would not suffice, so the new design stripped the entire exterior down to the structure. The house was then reshaped and reformed to simplify the overall geometry, while expressing the key volumes in the parti. Within the newly articulated massing, windows are either cut or chiseled into the elevations to create relief. From the street the house is three stories high, including the basement, whereas from the beach it has only two stories. Sapele hardwood siding was selected for it’s durability and weathering characteristics. All the cladding is vertically oriented, with an open slat format for the upper two levels and a closed joint board format for the lower level. The open wood slats allow light to filter through the façade, especially at the large sloped skylight over the double height entry where a slatted screen provides privacy at night and solar control during the day.

Porch and terrace repaired, redesigned, and revived for sunny, year-round space. These homeowners had an existing porch in their home, but it was failing. Both the porch and adjoining terrace were over the garage, which added technical complexity to building this project. The terrace had been redone and the structure was fine, but the porch structure was failing. It needed to be completely repaired. Since the space needed to be completely redone, the homeowners decided to not just recreate the old space, but redesign it and make it the bright year-round space they dreamed of. The final design choices include floor heat, to keep the space warm and cozy year-round, and full windows, to keep the bitter winter winds outside. What the homeowners most love about the room is that while the rest of the house is traditional and a bit darker, this room is always bright and cozy, with lots of light, year-round. The windows can open up during the summer season to let the sounds of the birds and scents of the grills in, or stay closed to enjoy bright sunlight during the winter. Year-round sunlight - without even needing to wear socks!

Penza Bailey Architects designed this extensive renovation and addition of a two-story penthouse in an iconic Beaux Arts condominium in Baltimore for clients they have been working with for over 3 decades. The project was highly complex as it not only involved complete demolition of the interior spaces, but considerable demolition and new construction on the exterior of the building. A two-story addition was designed to contrast the existing symmetrical brick building, yet used materials sympathetic to the original structure. The design takes full advantage of views of downtown Baltimore from grand living spaces and four new private terraces carved into the additions. The firm worked closely with the condominium management, contractors and sub-contractors due to the highly technical and complex requirements of adding onto the 12th and 13th stories of an existing building.

A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography

The ShopBoxes grew from a homeowner’s wish to craft a small complex of living spaces on a large wooded lot. Smash designed two structures for living and working, each built by the crafty, hands-on homeowner. Balancing a need for modern quality with a human touch, the sharp geometry of the structures contrasts with warmer and handmade materials and finishes, applied directly by the homeowner/builder. The result blends two aesthetics into very dynamic spaces, staked out as individual sculptures in a private park.⁠ Design by Smash Design Build and Owner (private) Construction by Owner (private)

A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography

Penza Bailey Architects designed this extensive renovation and addition of a two-story penthouse in an iconic Beaux Arts condominium in Baltimore for clients they have been working with for over 3 decades. The project was highly complex as it not only involved complete demolition of the interior spaces, but considerable demolition and new construction on the exterior of the building. A two-story addition was designed to contrast the existing symmetrical brick building, yet used materials sympathetic to the original structure. The design takes full advantage of views of downtown Baltimore from grand living spaces and four new private terraces carved into the additions. The firm worked closely with the condominium management, contractors and sub-contractors due to the highly technical and complex requirements of adding onto the 12th and 13th stories of an existing building.

Renovating an open kitchen can be an exciting project that can improve the functionality, aesthetics, and value of your home. Here are some steps to guide you through the process: Planning and Design: Define your goals and budget for the renovation. Determine the layout of your open kitchen. Consider factors like the work triangle (the relationship between the stove, sink, and refrigerator) and the flow of traffic. Choose a design style and color scheme that suits your preferences and complements the rest of your home. Research and Inspiration: Collect inspiration from magazines, websites, and social media platforms to get ideas for your open kitchen design. Create a mood board or vision board to help you visualize the final look. Hiring Professionals: Depending on the scale of your renovation, you may need to hire professionals, such as architects, interior designers, contractors, and electricians. Make sure to check references and get multiple quotes. Demolition and Structural Work: If your renovation involves structural changes, like removing walls, this is the time to do it. Ensure that the necessary permits are obtained. Plumbing and Electrical Work: Update or reconfigure plumbing and electrical systems as needed. This may include adding or moving outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures. Cabinetry and Countertops: Choose and install new kitchen cabinets and countertops. This is a significant part of your renovation and will greatly influence the kitchen's appearance and functionality. Appliances: Update or install new kitchen appliances, including the refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Flooring: Select and install flooring that is suitable for a kitchen, such as hardwood, tile, laminate, or vinyl. Ensure it complements the overall design. Backsplash and Wall Finishes: Install a backsplash that matches your design and protects your walls. Consider materials like tile, glass, or stainless steel. Lighting: Choose and install various types of lighting, including ambient, task, and accent lighting. Pendant lights above an island or breakfast bar can add style and functionality. Paint and Finishing Touches: Paint the walls and ceiling in the colors you've selected. Add finishing touches like hardware, window treatments, and decorative elements. Furniture and Accessories: Bring in furniture, such as a dining table and chairs, barstools, and any other pieces you need to complete the space. Decorate with accessories like artwork, plants, and decorative items. Final Inspection and Cleanup: Ensure that all work meets safety and building code requirements. Clean the entire area thoroughly. Enjoy Your New Kitchen: Once the renovation is complete and everything is in its place, enjoy your beautiful, functional open kitchen. Remember that open kitchen renovations can be complex and may require careful planning. It's essential to stay within your budget, communicate with your contractors and designers, and be flexible as unexpected issues may arise during the process. Ultimately, a well-executed open kitchen renovation can enhance the heart of your home and improve your overall living space.

The ShopBoxes grew from a homeowner’s wish to craft a small complex of living spaces on a large wooded lot. Smash designed two structures for living and working, each built by the crafty, hands-on homeowner. Balancing a need for modern quality with a human touch, the sharp geometry of the structures contrasts with warmer and handmade materials and finishes, applied directly by the homeowner/builder. The result blends two aesthetics into very dynamic spaces, staked out as individual sculptures in a private park.⁠ Design by Smash Design Build and Owner (private) Construction by Owner (private)

This staircase is a truly special project to come out of the MW Design Workshop. We worked extensively with the clients, architect, interior designer, builder, and other trades to achieve this fully integrated feature in the home. The challenge we had was to create a stunning, aesthetically pleasing stair using MPP – a structural mass timber product developed locally here in Oregon. We used 3D modelling to incorporate the complex interactions between the CNC-milled MPP treads, water-jet cut and LED lit bookcase, and rolled steel handrail with the rest of the built structure. Photographer - Justin Krug

The project’s starting point was to understand the building’s original post and beam structure and to use that internal logic to formulate a sympathetic remodel. With an emphasis on the upper back unit, the owner’s private residence within this recently purchased Edward Killingsworth triplex, the first order of business was to strip the excess out and to return the complex to something that resembled the original. With a limited budget, the tact was to restore where possible, and to insert where needed, but always with a sympathetic eye. The kitchen quickly became the primary focus and it was soon realized that by removing the division between the existing galley and family room that the essence of the structural system could be revealed. Once opened the datum of the layered beams was adhered to with the kitchen reinforcing this overhead water line. The primary internal wall was then highlighted with a new wood veneer with the refrigerator recessed (borrowing a bit of space from the master closet) and the existing heater chromed.

Porch and terrace repaired, redesigned, and revived for sunny, year-round space. These homeowners had an existing porch in their home, but it was failing. Both the porch and adjoining terrace were over the garage, which added technical complexity to building this project. The terrace had been redone and the structure was fine, but the porch structure was failing. It needed to be completely repaired. Since the space needed to be completely redone, the homeowners decided to not just recreate the old space, but redesign it and make it the bright year-round space they dreamed of. The final design choices include floor heat, to keep the space warm and cozy year-round, and full windows, to keep the bitter winter winds outside. What the homeowners most love about the room is that while the rest of the house is traditional and a bit darker, this room is always bright and cozy, with lots of light, year-round. The windows can open up during the summer season to let the sounds of the birds and scents of the grills in, or stay closed to enjoy bright sunlight during the winter. Year-round sunlight - without even needing to wear socks!

A 6,000 square foot 2-story new home complex in Milpitas was designed to facilitate the owners’ large business parties and gatherings, to have rooms for the kids to come back to upstairs, and a ground floor master suite with a huge walk-in closet. Several separate structures make up the dwelling: The main house, 3-car garage with carport for overflow parking, and a separate entertainment and recreation building separated by a courtyard from the main house. The business activities include gatherings in the hundreds of people, so parking was maximized and guests can flow in through a separate gate to party in the courtyard and recreation building. Inside this structure is a wet bar, billiard room, workout gym and home theater. The main house ground floor has formal and informal living rooms, open kitchen and master suite with views and expansive windows in every direction. The house is sited on the crestline of a hill with views of the San Francisco Bay and private golf course below. The indoor-outdoor aspect of the house is further accentuated with outside living and dining areas. High ceilings and expansive glass walls dissolve the sense of enclosure taking advantage of the site’s openness and privacy. The owner’s suite is downstairs in anticipation of aging-in-place, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a sitting area lounge and casual TV loft area. The house sits on one acre at the top of a low hill range overlooking Milpitas. The city was very cognizant of the importance of keeping a low profile at this crestline and required extensive story poles and photo evidence of the proper height and siting so as not to be seen from certain selected vantage points. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: JCD Builders Inc. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Morf Chang Landscape Architecture / ODS Architecture PHOTOGRAPHS: Paul Dyer Photography