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.

We’ve specially curated our dining tables and chairs, so you can team up winning pairs. Whether you take a page out of Jeff’s book and assemble a mid-century set like this, or fashion a look that’s fun and eclectic, there are countless opportunities for experimenting.

Photographed by Jeff Herr
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor study room remodel in Atlanta with black walls

A charming 1920s Los Angeles home serves as a place of business, and the guest room doubles as a work studio. The elfa shelving system from The Container Store, maximizes the vertical space and celebrates the high ceilings in the vintage home.

Melani Lust Photograhpy
Large transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor craft room photo in New York with beige walls

This table set melds precision mathematics and procedural computation with the appearance of organic form. When put together, the 6 unique components form a simple rectangular low coffee table. When separated, the odd shapes of the components are evident and they can be used as end tables, benches, or sculptural objects. We developed the forms as a 3-dimensional Voronoi tessellation, an algorithm that permits nuanced formal variations. The basic components are made with precision CNC-cut sheets of Baltic Birch, laminated horizontally with exposed plywood edges, but the edges are shaped by hand to create subtle variations and unique features to each set.

Example of a large cottage single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Mid-sized transitional formal and enclosed light wood floor living room photo in Boston with white walls

New natural red birch craftsman storage cabinet connects well to the painted kitchen cabinets. The red birch cabinet opens to reveal workspace for computer/homework.

This midcentury/art deco living room with custom cabinetry is a great use of space. Walnut used in the center frames the TV and gas fireplace nicely. A custom desk uses the same materials and appears to be floating again the wall. Stillovo vintage sconces become a nice focal point. The custom coffee table made of walnut, lucite, glass and brass continues the use of rounded shapes in the room.

Inspiration for a small transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor craft room remodel in New Orleans with white walls

Dura Supreme Silverton inset door. White paint for perimeter and outer island. Pearl paint for glass cabinets and pantry. Heritage "E" finish for cooktop island. Kate Benjamin Photographer, Lindsey Markel Kitchen & Bath Designer, Shana Smith Interior Designer and Don Henderson Custom Installer.

Custom floating desks inspired by midcentury classics provide ample workspace for two. Warm colors and terrazzo floors complete this serene basement home office. Photos by Geoffrey Hodgdon

Inspiration for a large country home office remodel in Los Angeles

Family room with built in window seating and a joining kitchen. Stanley Wai Photography.
Example of a mid-sized farmhouse formal and open concept carpeted living room design in Minneapolis with green walls and a media wall

We are a full service, residential design/build company specializing in large remodels and whole house renovations. Our way of doing business is dynamic, interactive and fully transparent. It's your house, and it's your money. Recognition of this fact is seen in every facet of our business because we respect our clients enough to be honest about the numbers. In exchange, they trust us to do the right thing. Pretty simple when you think about it.

This once traditional bedroom received a modern update by the team at Perceptions. Transforming this space into a corporate hub was no small feat! Sliding glass doors create a work out nook to house the family's bulky treadmill. A multi-function media wall helps the homeowners keep up with world events, while a sleek walnut table serves as a conference center for meetings. When hosting visitors cozy seating and a comfy sleeper sofa instantly transform the space into a visitors retreat.

Since sitting all day is not good for you, a seated desk was not ideal. But going with a standing desk meant standing all the time, which would get tiring. My solution was to get an adjustable desk for my computer. I can change the position when needed so I stand to work on drawings just like a drafting table. For other work, the desk lowers to lie flush with the conference table area. It remembers the heights you use, which makes it easy to change from sitting to standing. Karine Weiller

Home studio - mid-sized traditional built-in desk carpeted and beige floor home studio idea in Jacksonville with beige walls