This project features the Viking Pro XL 60″ Tall Vertical Cedar Cold Plunge, constructed from solid Western Red Cedar and installed on a finished patio surface. The plunge is built using thick, full-length cedar staves secured with stainless steel compression bands, creating a strong and watertight structure without synthetic liners or plastic shells. The vertical design maximizes immersion depth while maintaining a compact footprint. Western Red Cedar was selected for its natural resistance to moisture, mold, and decay. Its dimensional stability allows the structure to perform reliably through seasonal temperature changes, making it well suited for year-round outdoor use. The unit includes a dedicated equipment compartment housing the circulation and temperature control system, designed for easy access and straightforward maintenance. With proper care, solid cedar construction is built to last 15–20+ years outdoors, offering a durable and fully natural alternative to acrylic or plastic cold plunge tubs.

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped staircase remodel in Detroit

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

This Parker home was built in 1970 with the original owners still living there. This impressive ranch home had been maintained over the years. But any home will need new siding after 50 years. The home had T1-11 siding which was in need of replacement. For those of you who don’t know, T1-11 is a compressed engineered wood, like plywood, that is installed vertically in sheets. The homeowner trusted Colorado Siding Repair with this extensive exterior renovation. We included Rigid Foam Insulation Board in areas that needed it and we installed HardiePlank in the courtyard to make the whole exterior remodel complete. Colorado Siding Repair installed James Hardie Color Plus lap siding in Khaki Brown with trim in Timber Bark. The homeowner also had us replace all their gutters and downspouts in this upgrade. What do you think of the new look?

Design ideas for a landscaping in New York.

Endless Movement presents a vertical column of intertwined red human forms compressed between two tall white structures. The rigid white sides create a narrow channel, framing the figures as they twist, climb, and fold into one another. Individual bodies are visible, yet they merge into a continuous flow, forming a single upward motion. The vivid red color contrasts sharply with the calm, architectural white surfaces, emphasizing the energy and tension within the confined space. The figures appear caught in an ongoing cycle—struggling, rising, and transforming—without a clear beginning or end. This vertical movement suggests persistence and the constant effort of human existence. Despite limitation and pressure from the surrounding structure, the bodies continue to shift and ascend. The sculpture reflects the idea that life is a continuous process of movement, adaptation, and endurance, where individual actions blend into an unending collective rhythm. Bronze, Steel 75 cm x 25 cm x 10 cm

Solid Mahogany Exterior doors with two sidelights- Craftman- Mission Style Entry Door Model: AC401 & AC201 Sidelight Door width size: 36” sidelight size: From 11” sidelights threw 16” sidelights Door Height: 6'8" Tall door 7'0" tall door & 8'0" Tall Door Glass type: Obscured Rain Glass Rough opening- Custom door size - Built to suit Wood Species: 100% Solid Brazilian Mahogany (no veneers) Door Thickness: 1 3/4" Jamb size: Custom jamb size. Call- 219-663-2279 for inquiries System is Pre-hung with Solid Mahogany Jambs, 2" Brick-molding, Adjustable Continuous Bronze Threshold, Our Pre-Hung Door Systems are "NOT" Kits! Shipped truly and completely pre-hung with hinges mortised to door and pre-installed in the Jamb for the easiest installation possible. This will save you Time and Money. No extra work needed for the carpenter. Ready to install into the doorway. Your Choice of Commercial Grade Ball-Bearing Hinge Color, Q-Lon compression Weather-stripping and Rubber Door Sweep. Lock Prep included. Left or Right Hand Door Swing. Single or Double Bored. 2 1/8" diameter hole(s), w/ 2 3/4" backset, 5 1/2" spread.

Another turn, one advances into … Photographer: Beton Brut

Color: Luminaries-Naturals-Altea
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped cork floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Chicago with raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets and an island

Perfect for modern and contemporary homes, the Harlequin Bodega Stone rug features a striking abstract-geometric pattern in harmonious shades of grey. Perfectly suited for a living room, dining room or even a study, the neutral colours and striking design will add a touch of interest without overpowering your original decor. Handtufted from pure wool, this area rug boasts a luxuriously soft and voluminous pile that quickly recovers its height after furniture compression. Wool rugs are durable, naturally flame retardant and have good stain resistant, making them the perfect choice for busy homes.

"Golden Tree" is Douglas Coupland's latest public art piece, celebrating the 800-year old Stanley Park Hollow Tree. Romex Rompox DEKO was used to provide a WATER-PERMEABLE, INCREDIBLY DURABLE and LONG-LASTING solution; successfully overcoming the challenging site conditions of undulating grades, lighting fixtures, and intricate detail of the sculpture itself - on an extremely compressed timeline before the ribbon cutting ceremony deadline.

Solid Mahogany Exterior doors with two sidelights- Model: N-250 & N-100 Sidelight .Full glass door with sidelights Door size: 36” Sidelight size: From 11” sidelights threw 16” sidelights Glass type: Iron Classic - Iron is sandwiched between glass for easy clean Rough opening- Custom door size - Built to suit Wood Species: 100% Solid Brazilian Mahogany (no veneers) Door Thickness: 1 3/4" Jamb size: Custom jamb size. Call- 219-663-2279 for inquiries System is Pre-hung with Solid Mahogany Jambs, 2" Brick-molding, Adjustable Continuous Bronze Threshold, Our Pre-Hung Door Systems are "NOT" Kits! Shipped truly and completely pre-hung with hinges mortised to door and pre-installed in the Jamb for the easiest installation possible. This will save you Time and Money. No extra work needed for the carpenter. Ready to install into the doorway. Your Choice of Commercial Grade Ball-Bearing Hinge Color, Q-Lon compression Weather-stripping and Rubber Door Sweep. Lock Prep included. Left or Right Hand Door Swing. Single or Double Bored. 2 1/8" diameter hole(s), w/ 2 3/4" backset, 5 1/2" spread. Real wood doors can be stained to be any color

Solid Mahogany Exterior doors with two sidelights- Model: N-200 & N-75 Sidelight Door size: 36” sidelight size: From 11” sidelights threw 16” sidelights Glass type: Majestic Patins Came Rough opening- Built to suit Wood Species: 100% Solid Brazilian Mahogany (no veneers) Door Thickness: 1 3/4" System is Pre-hung with Solid Mahogany Jambs, 2" Brick-molding, Adjustable Continuous Bronze Threshold, Our Pre-Hung Door Systems are "NOT" Kits! Shipped truly and completely pre-hung with hinges mortised to door and pre-installed in the Jamb for the easiest installation possible. This will save you Time and Money. No extra work needed for the carpenter. Ready to install into the doorway. Your Choice of Commercial Grade Ball-Bearing Hinge Color, Q-Lon compression Weather-stripping and Rubber Door Sweep. Lock Prep included. Left or Right Hand Door Swing. Single or Double Bored. 2 1/8" diameter hole(s), w/ 2 3/4" backset, 5 1/2" spread. Price is for Unfinished - Optional Exterior Grade UV Stain and UV Sealer Finishing Available call- 219-663-2279

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

Sarah McGovern
Mid-sized trendy light wood floor entryway photo in Seattle with brown walls and a dark wood front door

Install our faux-wood 2.5" horizontal blinds in minutes with our Secure Fit technology. Our technology combines compression, adhesion, and friction to allow homeowners to snap their MySmartBlinds into place in their window frame, no tools or installers needed.

We worked with GR Plume Company for the trellis woodwork and specifically chose the durable yet extraordinarily beautiful African sapele tropical hardwood for the exterior roof structure and trellis. From the firm’s website: “Sawn from solid, air dried sapele, GRPC sliced and glued the arch members of the dome structure along with the larger compression ring and the smaller tension ring. All rafters, both curved and straight, received an elegant, sawn ogee end detail. The entire roof structure as pre-assembled in our shop and then disassembled, labeled and shipped to jobsite.”

Color: Naturals-Creme-Pazzo
Bedroom - mid-sized tropical master bedroom idea in Chicago with beige walls

The slanted walls direct occupants towards the main entrance. These walls also make the space between buildings feel less compressed. Photo by Paul Hester.