A separate wing houses a gym area and an office for the owner’s business. A square fountain conceived as an 18”-high monolithic volume of water is visible from the entry and doubles as a spa… © Matthew Millman

Reimagining an Urban Classic Perched high above San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, this meticulously reimagined residence represents a thoughtful transformation of a classic urban home into a contemporary, light-filled sanctuary. The project involved a comprehensive renovation paired with both vertical and horizontal expansion, dramatically increasing the home’s footprint while enhancing its relationship to sweeping views of the Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the surrounding hillside neighborhoods. The design strategy focused on opening the home to light, air, and vistas—elements often constrained in the dense urban fabric of San Francisco. By extending the structure upward and outward, the architects created a dynamic four-level residence that unfolds gradually, culminating in expansive living spaces and rooftop terraces oriented toward panoramic city and water views. Architecture that Frames the View At the heart of the design is a careful orchestration of sightlines and natural light. Large black-framed windows punctuate the façade and interior spaces, deliberately positioned to capture iconic San Francisco vistas while flooding the home with daylight. The architecture prioritizes openness, allowing rooms to flow seamlessly while maintaining a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape. A dramatic skylight above the central stairwell anchors the vertical circulation of the home. This architectural gesture not only brings daylight deep into the interior but also reinforces the sense of spatial continuity between floors. Warm Modern Interiors Inside, the home balances architectural clarity with warm materiality. Wide-plank oak floors run throughout the residence, creating visual cohesion and grounding the interiors with natural warmth. Custom walnut millwork—integrated shelving, cabinetry, and wall panels—introduces depth and texture while complementing the clean lines of the architecture. The interiors are intentionally restrained yet richly layered. Contemporary furnishings, sculptural lighting, and curated artwork add personality while maintaining the calm, sophisticated palette that defines the home. The Social Heart of the Home The main living level serves as the social centerpiece of the residence. An open-plan kitchen, dining area, and lounge space unfold toward the view, creating an environment that feels both expansive and intimate. A sculptural marble island anchors the kitchen, functioning as both workspace and gathering hub. Surrounded by walnut cabinetry and professional-grade appliances, the kitchen merges elegance with functionality. Above, a cascading chandelier introduces a sense of vertical movement, reflecting the home’s emphasis on light and architectural rhythm. Living areas are arranged to encourage conversation and connection. Generous seating, layered rugs, and thoughtful lighting define distinct zones within the open plan while maintaining uninterrupted sightlines toward the cityscape beyond. Private Retreats Above the City Upper levels of the home are dedicated to quieter, more intimate spaces. The primary suite is conceived as a private retreat, where expansive windows frame treetop views and invite natural light throughout the day. The accompanying bathroom continues the home’s refined material palette. Marble surfaces, warm wood cabinetry, and brushed brass fixtures create a spa-like environment that balances luxury with tranquility. Additional bedrooms and flexible living spaces offer comfort for family and guests, each designed with the same attention to light, proportion, and material richness. Spaces for Entertaining Lower levels provide additional areas for gathering and entertaining. A lounge and bar area offer a relaxed setting for hosting, while custom wine storage adds a sophisticated touch for collectors and enthusiasts. These spaces transition easily to outdoor areas, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. A Rooftop Above the Neighborhood The transformation extends beyond the interior to include thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. A landscaped rear yard introduces greenery and privacy at ground level, offering a serene urban escape. Above it all, the rooftop terrace becomes the crown jewel of the residence. Elevated above the neighborhood, it provides sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the Palace of Fine Arts. Comfortable seating areas, lush planters, and open sky create an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining, sunset gatherings, or quiet moments overlooking the city. A Contemporary Urban Sanctuary The completed residence demonstrates the power of thoughtful renovation and expansion within a historic urban neighborhood. By combining contemporary architecture, warm materiality, and an intentional relationship to the surrounding landscape, the project transforms a traditional San Francisco home into a modern sanctuary above the city.

GUT-6: Custom den area with Grand Piano and home-work area featuring a custom (GVD originals) floating wall unit with desk, display & storage in matt white lacquer, hand carved Japanese wood panel and Corian desk. This piece was commissioned and is uniquely conceived / designed for this space and client by GVD. Custom abstract, ethereal featured rug.

CARRIAGE HOUSE ​ Designed as a multi-functional structure, the carriage house design was conceived from the connections of mankind and nature. Designed to preserve the local, historically rich heritage of the Canadian rocky mountains frontier. Paying homage to the local historical traditions, whilst maintaining all modern luxuries. Designer & Photography: Kalem Phillips

Refined Continuity: Bridging Classical Architecture and Modern Living This comprehensive remodel of a grand Cow Hollow residence reimagines a historically expressive envelope through a lens of contemporary livability, precision detailing, and material restraint. The design approach carefully balances the home’s classical proportions and ornamental heritage with a refined, modern sensibility—evident in the disciplined palette of warm neutrals, soft plasters, pale oak flooring, and tailored millwork. Circulation has been clarified and subtly expanded to enhance spatial flow, while openings are leveraged to capture light, garden outlooks, and distant water views. Throughout, architectural interventions are executed with a high level of craft, ensuring that new insertions—whether cabinetry, railings, or apertures—read as seamless continuations of the original structure rather than applied elements. The kitchen serves as the operational and visual anchor of the home, conceived as a sculptural yet highly functional environment. Custom rift-cut cabinetry, softened through a desaturated finish, is paired with honed stone surfaces and integrated brass hardware to create a quiet, tactile richness. A monolithic island establishes a central gathering point, while perimeter work zones are carefully layered with concealed storage, integrated appliances, and open, backlit shelving that elevates everyday objects into curated displays. The adjacent bar and entertaining areas extend this language, reinforcing a cohesive hospitality-driven program. In parallel, the primary bathroom is designed as a serene, spa-like retreat, where bookmatched stone, frameless glass enclosures, and finely detailed metalwork converge. The composition prioritizes symmetry, clarity, and light—balancing generous volumes with intimate moments through integrated lighting, custom vanities, and a restrained material hierarchy. The library and ancillary living spaces introduce a more intimate scale, anchored by bespoke built-ins that combine closed storage with illuminated display niches, creating depth and rhythm along the walls. Here, material transitions and furniture integration are handled with particular nuance, allowing the architecture to support both quiet retreat and social gathering. A continuous language of custom railings—executed in refined metal profiles—threads through the interior and extends outward, where the exterior gate and garden elements have been reinterpreted to align with the home’s renewed identity. The entry sequence is now defined by a calibrated interplay of solidity and transparency, with sculptural metalwork and landscape integration establishing a sense of arrival that is both secure and elegant. Collectively, the project reflects a holistic transformation—one that elevates performance, livability, and aesthetic clarity while preserving the inherent dignity of the original architecture.

In the late 1950s, the Alcoa aluminum company embarked on an effort to develop and mass-produce mid-century aluminum ranch-style houses designed by Charles Goodman. This home in Alexandria is one of only a handful remaining of the original 24 built nationwide. Our client tasked us with conceiving a solution that was as much a restoration as a renovation. In addition to a complete renovation of the original 2,100 sq ft home, we added a 150 sq ft primary bathroom within the existing footprint and a 1,000 sq ft open porch to double the open living space. This project was a finalist for the 2023 NAHB Remodelers Awards in the Entire Home Renovation under $500,000 category.

St. Andrews Project — Custom Kitchen & Sculptural Island This York Mills kitchen is conceived as a highly tailored architectural composition where traditional cabinetry is reinterpreted through contemporary detailing, creating a space that feels refined, functional, and distinctly custom. The design is built around a restrained palette of warm white, natural oak, charcoal, and aged-brass accents. The cabinetry establishes a calm architectural envelope, while finely fluted detailing introduces texture and repetition across the island, upper cabinetry, and selected architectural surfaces. This creates a cohesive visual rhythm without relying on excessive ornament. The island is the defining element of the kitchen. Its generous sculptural curve softens the strong linear geometry of the surrounding cabinetry and creates a more fluid transition through the space. The deep charcoal finish gives the island visual weight, while the slender brass accent beneath the countertop introduces a precise, jewelry-like detail that elevates the composition. The fluted surface catches light subtly, adding depth and movement as the viewer moves through the room. The range wall is intentionally quieter, allowing the architectural detailing to frame the cooking zone rather than compete with it. Integrated cabinetry, concealed appliances, tailored hardware, and a softly illuminated backsplash maintain a sense of visual order. The combination of panelled doors and vertical fluting creates a sophisticated dialogue between classic cabinetry proportions and contemporary surface treatment. Natural oak flooring introduces warmth and grounds the predominantly light palette. Its honeyed tone provides an important counterbalance to the cooler whites and dark island, while visually connecting the kitchen to the home's other warm wood elements. Large black-framed windows bring natural light deep into the kitchen and establish a direct relationship with the exterior. The contrast of the dark window frames against the white architectural envelope reinforces the home's broader black-and-white design language. Overall, the kitchen is designed around contrast, repetition, and proportion. Traditional cabinetry gives the space its timeless foundation, while sculptural geometry, fluted textures, dark finishes, and restrained brass detailing bring a contemporary edge. The result is a sophisticated luxury kitchen that feels designed as part of the architecture rather than inserted into it.

Reimagining an Urban Classic Perched high above San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, this meticulously reimagined residence represents a thoughtful transformation of a classic urban home into a contemporary, light-filled sanctuary. The project involved a comprehensive renovation paired with both vertical and horizontal expansion, dramatically increasing the home’s footprint while enhancing its relationship to sweeping views of the Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the surrounding hillside neighborhoods. The design strategy focused on opening the home to light, air, and vistas—elements often constrained in the dense urban fabric of San Francisco. By extending the structure upward and outward, the architects created a dynamic four-level residence that unfolds gradually, culminating in expansive living spaces and rooftop terraces oriented toward panoramic city and water views. Architecture that Frames the View At the heart of the design is a careful orchestration of sightlines and natural light. Large black-framed windows punctuate the façade and interior spaces, deliberately positioned to capture iconic San Francisco vistas while flooding the home with daylight. The architecture prioritizes openness, allowing rooms to flow seamlessly while maintaining a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape. A dramatic skylight above the central stairwell anchors the vertical circulation of the home. This architectural gesture not only brings daylight deep into the interior but also reinforces the sense of spatial continuity between floors. Warm Modern Interiors Inside, the home balances architectural clarity with warm materiality. Wide-plank oak floors run throughout the residence, creating visual cohesion and grounding the interiors with natural warmth. Custom walnut millwork—integrated shelving, cabinetry, and wall panels—introduces depth and texture while complementing the clean lines of the architecture. The interiors are intentionally restrained yet richly layered. Contemporary furnishings, sculptural lighting, and curated artwork add personality while maintaining the calm, sophisticated palette that defines the home. The Social Heart of the Home The main living level serves as the social centerpiece of the residence. An open-plan kitchen, dining area, and lounge space unfold toward the view, creating an environment that feels both expansive and intimate. A sculptural marble island anchors the kitchen, functioning as both workspace and gathering hub. Surrounded by walnut cabinetry and professional-grade appliances, the kitchen merges elegance with functionality. Above, a cascading chandelier introduces a sense of vertical movement, reflecting the home’s emphasis on light and architectural rhythm. Living areas are arranged to encourage conversation and connection. Generous seating, layered rugs, and thoughtful lighting define distinct zones within the open plan while maintaining uninterrupted sightlines toward the cityscape beyond. Private Retreats Above the City Upper levels of the home are dedicated to quieter, more intimate spaces. The primary suite is conceived as a private retreat, where expansive windows frame treetop views and invite natural light throughout the day. The accompanying bathroom continues the home’s refined material palette. Marble surfaces, warm wood cabinetry, and brushed brass fixtures create a spa-like environment that balances luxury with tranquility. Additional bedrooms and flexible living spaces offer comfort for family and guests, each designed with the same attention to light, proportion, and material richness. Spaces for Entertaining Lower levels provide additional areas for gathering and entertaining. A lounge and bar area offer a relaxed setting for hosting, while custom wine storage adds a sophisticated touch for collectors and enthusiasts. These spaces transition easily to outdoor areas, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. A Rooftop Above the Neighborhood The transformation extends beyond the interior to include thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. A landscaped rear yard introduces greenery and privacy at ground level, offering a serene urban escape. Above it all, the rooftop terrace becomes the crown jewel of the residence. Elevated above the neighborhood, it provides sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the Palace of Fine Arts. Comfortable seating areas, lush planters, and open sky create an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining, sunset gatherings, or quiet moments overlooking the city. A Contemporary Urban Sanctuary The completed residence demonstrates the power of thoughtful renovation and expansion within a historic urban neighborhood. By combining contemporary architecture, warm materiality, and an intentional relationship to the surrounding landscape, the project transforms a traditional San Francisco home into a modern sanctuary above the city.

Upper Valley Estate Curb Appeal – El Paso, Texas This curb appeal transformation was conceived as a deliberate sequence—an arrival experience where architecture, landscape, and lighting work together as one. Every element was designed to honor the home’s stone construction, turreted forms, and Old World character while responding precisely to the Upper Valley climate and lifestyle. By day, the experience is grounded and composed. Brick-edged concrete drives establish order and permanence, guiding movement through the property with clarity and intention. Natural stone walls and columns anchor the architecture, while layered gravel beds, drought-tolerant plantings, and manicured turf soften transitions and connect the home to its desert setting. Mature trees were preserved and carefully integrated, providing scale, shade, and a sense of continuity. As afternoon shifts toward sunset, the materials begin to speak differently. Stone warms, textures deepen, and sightlines subtly draw the eye toward the front entry. The landscape narrows the focus, creating a moment of pause before arrival—calm, quiet, and refined. At night, the design reveals its final layer. Low-voltage lighting is integrated with precision, washing stone surfaces, tracing architectural curves, and uplighting specimen trees to create depth without glare. The drive, walkways, and entry feel safe, legible, and inviting, while the home itself glows with a restrained elegance. Coming home after dark feels intentional—protected, welcoming, and unmistakably yours. What was created is more than curb appeal. It is a cohesive design-build solution where nothing is ornamental without purpose and nothing is built without intention. A daily experience of arrival that reflects craftsmanship, care, and the enduring character of the Upper Valley.

For the Cottages & Bungalows Magazine‘s 2019 Project House partnership with Yankee Barn Homes, we conceived our “Great NH Escape” Great Room for an active family from a suburban/Metro area who crave the quiet and rugged outdoors of New Hampshire for their getaway weekends, both winter and summer. Though a second home, we felt that the parents truly saw Yankee Barn Homes’ spectacular post-and-beam Springfield Barn House as a “Forever Home-Away-from-Home” – the long-term backdrop for their family’s North Woods memories and a refuge to return to time and again from the noise of the more congested town where they live. As such, we furnished it with the same well-crafted, American-made décor that would stand the test of time in any investment home and a fresh classic style that would reflect the fun vitality of their family.

This 3 BR, 3 1/2 bath home allows the owners to live on one level most of the time. The Master Suite is on the main level along with the Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, pantries, Sun Room and service areas. The upper level houses two ample bedrooms while the lower level supports a rec center, media room, wine cellar, shop and full wet bar. Conceived as a Great Room house, the main level is designed as one seamless space that flows onto an ample deck overlooking the rear yard. We also incorporated a variety of green building techniques - photo-voltaic shingles on the roof of the garage to generate a portion of the home's energy, a super insulated building envelope, rain water harvesting, high performance windows and doors, a high efficiency heat pump, low flow bath & kitchen fixtures, Energy Star appliances and LED lighting - that greatly reduced this structure's carbon footprint. All of the strategies amounted to a 30% reduction in the energy consumption in this home relative to comparable structures.

At times, the most remarkable spaces emerge when we begin with a clean slate. In this particular project, we had the privilege to design a completely custom home, starting from scratch for our client. They simply entrusted us with a piece of land, and from that point forward, we handled everything. Our primary objective for this project was to craft an exceptional, contemporary, and practical dream home for a family of four. By creatively manipulating height variations at the front of the house, we conceived the standout element of the home: the impressive windows that showcase the bespoke steel spinal staircase.

This Salem, Mass. renovation to a condominium within an historic sea-captain’s house, converted a small, ill-conceived 1980’s kitchen into an affordable, semi-custom kitchen that provides today’s conveniences in an antique context. The wall treatment, colors, and wide pine flooring used in the circa 1768 dining room, which is open to the kitchen, inspired the newly renovated space. A combination of open, upper, wood shelves and dividers topped with short cabinets instead of full-height overheads creates an intimate, furniture-like feel. Relocating the dishwasher, refrigerator, and stacked washer/dryer greatly improved flow and function as did re-purposing space. A corner window area that had housed a plant stand became a window seat; a broom closet became storage for spices, cooking oils, and vinegars. The photo collage that once cluttered the old, rusting refrigerator found a new home on a magnetic panel inside the laundry closet door. What had been a disjointed, unsightly kitchen has been reshaped into an integral extension of the home’s charm. photo by Katie Hutchison

A rare and secluded paradise, the Woodvale Estate is a true modern masterpiece perfect to impress even the most discerning of clientele. At the pinnacle of luxury, this one-of-a-kind new construction features all the modern amenities that one could ever dream of. Situated on an expansive and lush over 35,000 square foot lot with truly unparalleled privacy, this modern estate boasts over 21,000 square feet of meticulously crafted and designer done living space. Behind the hedged, walled, and gated entry find a large motor court leading into the jaw-dropping entryway to this majestic modern marvel. Superlative features include chef's prep kitchen, home theater, professional gym, full spa, hair salon, elevator, temperature-controlled wine storage, 14 car garage that doubles as an event space, outdoor basketball court, and fabulous detached two-story guesthouse. The primary bedroom suite offers a perfectly picturesque escape complete with massive dual walk-in closets, dual spa-like baths, massive outdoor patio, romantic fireplace, and separate private balcony with hot tub. With a truly optimal layout for enjoying the best modern amenities and embracing the California lifestyle, the open floor plan provides spacious living, dining, and family rooms and open entertainer's kitchen with large chef's island, breakfast bar, state-of-the-art appliances, and motorized sliding glass doors for the ultimate enjoyment with ease, class, and sophistication. Enjoy every conceivable amenity and luxury afforded in this truly magnificent and awe-inspiring property that simply put, stands in a class all its own.

Reimagining an Urban Classic Perched high above San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, this meticulously reimagined residence represents a thoughtful transformation of a classic urban home into a contemporary, light-filled sanctuary. The project involved a comprehensive renovation paired with both vertical and horizontal expansion, dramatically increasing the home’s footprint while enhancing its relationship to sweeping views of the Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the surrounding hillside neighborhoods. The design strategy focused on opening the home to light, air, and vistas—elements often constrained in the dense urban fabric of San Francisco. By extending the structure upward and outward, the architects created a dynamic four-level residence that unfolds gradually, culminating in expansive living spaces and rooftop terraces oriented toward panoramic city and water views. Architecture that Frames the View At the heart of the design is a careful orchestration of sightlines and natural light. Large black-framed windows punctuate the façade and interior spaces, deliberately positioned to capture iconic San Francisco vistas while flooding the home with daylight. The architecture prioritizes openness, allowing rooms to flow seamlessly while maintaining a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape. A dramatic skylight above the central stairwell anchors the vertical circulation of the home. This architectural gesture not only brings daylight deep into the interior but also reinforces the sense of spatial continuity between floors. Warm Modern Interiors Inside, the home balances architectural clarity with warm materiality. Wide-plank oak floors run throughout the residence, creating visual cohesion and grounding the interiors with natural warmth. Custom walnut millwork—integrated shelving, cabinetry, and wall panels—introduces depth and texture while complementing the clean lines of the architecture. The interiors are intentionally restrained yet richly layered. Contemporary furnishings, sculptural lighting, and curated artwork add personality while maintaining the calm, sophisticated palette that defines the home. The Social Heart of the Home The main living level serves as the social centerpiece of the residence. An open-plan kitchen, dining area, and lounge space unfold toward the view, creating an environment that feels both expansive and intimate. A sculptural marble island anchors the kitchen, functioning as both workspace and gathering hub. Surrounded by walnut cabinetry and professional-grade appliances, the kitchen merges elegance with functionality. Above, a cascading chandelier introduces a sense of vertical movement, reflecting the home’s emphasis on light and architectural rhythm. Living areas are arranged to encourage conversation and connection. Generous seating, layered rugs, and thoughtful lighting define distinct zones within the open plan while maintaining uninterrupted sightlines toward the cityscape beyond. Private Retreats Above the City Upper levels of the home are dedicated to quieter, more intimate spaces. The primary suite is conceived as a private retreat, where expansive windows frame treetop views and invite natural light throughout the day. The accompanying bathroom continues the home’s refined material palette. Marble surfaces, warm wood cabinetry, and brushed brass fixtures create a spa-like environment that balances luxury with tranquility. Additional bedrooms and flexible living spaces offer comfort for family and guests, each designed with the same attention to light, proportion, and material richness. Spaces for Entertaining Lower levels provide additional areas for gathering and entertaining. A lounge and bar area offer a relaxed setting for hosting, while custom wine storage adds a sophisticated touch for collectors and enthusiasts. These spaces transition easily to outdoor areas, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. A Rooftop Above the Neighborhood The transformation extends beyond the interior to include thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. A landscaped rear yard introduces greenery and privacy at ground level, offering a serene urban escape. Above it all, the rooftop terrace becomes the crown jewel of the residence. Elevated above the neighborhood, it provides sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the Palace of Fine Arts. Comfortable seating areas, lush planters, and open sky create an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining, sunset gatherings, or quiet moments overlooking the city. A Contemporary Urban Sanctuary The completed residence demonstrates the power of thoughtful renovation and expansion within a historic urban neighborhood. By combining contemporary architecture, warm materiality, and an intentional relationship to the surrounding landscape, the project transforms a traditional San Francisco home into a modern sanctuary above the city.

Blanchard Mountain Farm, a small certified organic vegetable farm, sits in an idyllic location; where the Chuckanut Mountains come down to meet the Samish river basin. The owners found and fell in love with the land, knew it was the right place to start their farm, but realized the existing farmhouse was riddled with water damage, poor energy efficiency, and ill-conceived additions. Our remodel team focused their efforts on returning the farmhouse to its craftsman roots, while addressing the structure’s issues, salvaging building materials, and upgrading the home’s performance. Despite removing the roof and taking the entire home down to the studs, we were able to preserve the original fir floors and repurpose much of the original roof framing as rustic wainscoting and paneling. The indoor air quality and heating efficiency were vastly improved with the additions of a heat recovery ventilator and ductless heat pump. The building envelope was upgraded with focused air-sealing, new insulation, and the installation of a ventilation cavity behind the cedar siding. All of these details work together to create an efficient, highly durable home that preserves all the charms a century old farmhouse. Design by Deborah Todd Building Design Services Photography by C9 Photography

Soaring walls of windows come together with clean finishes, a well-conceived lay-out, and intimate outdoor spaces to produce the ultimate home for full or part-time living. Think town home convenience with freestanding home attributes and you'll see that this three bedroom, two and one-half bath Ketchum home provides the perfect fit.

This cedar-wrapped poolhouse sits within the zoning footprint of an existing, dilapidated garden shed. It was conceived as an indoor/outdoor room, with three large barn doors sliding open to seamlessly connect the interior to an adjacent cedar deck and elevated 25-meter swimming pool. The space contains open showers, a toilet room and kitchenette and functions equally well as a spa in winter, with a Japanese soaking tub and sauna.

The Petronio Residency Center at Crow’s Nest is visionary choreographer and artistic director Stephen Petronio’s latest venture. http://petron.io/prc/ The potager is conceived to feed and engage resident artists who are on site for creative research. The maze-like garden grows organic produce for the artists in an interactive setting that allows them to sit on the raised bed’s built-in benches to socialize, contemplate and commune with nature. -Rustic/Industrial design to complement the residency architecture -Centrally sited feature with access from dancer’s wing residences, dance studio and main courtyard -24 Raised beds with sitting benches and trellises made of locally sourced Hemlock hardwood -Completely organic materials and growing techniques -Log Wall for mushroom cultivation