Previously unusable basement space becomes sophisticated man cave with built-in bar and beer tap where the guys can hang out and play games. photography: Lynsey Culwell

Photography by Joe Dodd
Large trendy backyard concrete paver patio kitchen photo in San Francisco

Looking toward the water closet containing a Mirabelle Bradenton Toilet along with wall mounted storage cabinets from Aristokraft, the galley shape seems very natural in this layout. The Mirabelle vanity lighting placed over the mirror provide ample light for any task, particularly when lit in concert with the Elements ET2 ceiling mounted drum fixtures. The Kohler K-2885 under mounted "man's" lavatory in concert with the Delta Arzo faucet is slick and elegant. All of the cabinets are from Aristokraft. The vanities are the Wentworth Maple in Sarsaparilla finish, while the storage piece in the foreground are the Eastland Maple in Cocoa Glaze finish. The Kashmir Gold stone countertops fabricated by Stone Artisans complete the ensemble.

Photo: Alexandra Crafton © 2016 Houzz Tile: subway, Home Depot; shelving: Ikea; wall and ceiling paint: Moonlight White, Benjamin Moore; floor tile: SomerTile Thirties Vertex, OverStock

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

The Neighbor is an elevated multi-use event space that quickly turns a morning coffee into an afternoon drink. This transformational space can quickly convert to a weekend concert spot or wedding venue | 3D Rendering by Aurora Renderings

A kitchen that moves to the beat, recreating the thrills of a Highway 66 lifestyle: for fans of roaring Harleys, roadhouse concerts, and the rich, velvety sound of electric guitars. Ample, well-designed spaces where every piece of decor follows a very specific scheme, careful to keep the tempo of the stylistic cues that make this kitchen so evocative and unique. Rock’n Roll is inspired by the legends of the past, with pieces that would be right at home on stage, rocking and rolling up their sleeves to help tackle the everyday challenges of life.

Powder room - mid-sized cottage slate floor, gray floor and shiplap wall powder room idea in Chicago with white walls, a trough sink, granite countertops, gray countertops and a floating vanity

The stairs leading up to the game room tell a story as well. These are all signed concert posters that homeowners attended. Reclaimed wood was added to tops of stairs and risers painted black for more of the rustic modern feel. Photos by Kaity

The 5 ½ foot by 22 foot stained glass lay light is the central daylighting feature of the Main Hall, acting in concert with the coved ceiling to distribute natural light to the central circulation space. Photo by Mark Citret

Small spaces need love as well! Small eclectic apartment had lots of personality with framed posters collected over time from many concerts. It was time to tie the rest of the room together with colorful accents and a larger area rug.

Form followed function in this foyer. Deceptively simple forms all work in concert, and are softened by textures of the bench fabric, rug and art above. Photo by: Tria Giovan

Looking down the length of the hearth area and the kitchen area the relationship of the two large areas creates intimate areas within the larger room. The Kalco Rembrandt Pendants in concert with the custom island provide a spectacular centerpiece to the room. The custom woodwork around the fireplace finished to match the kitchen and the lovely furnishing combine to create a most inviting place.

Connected to the garage via sliding barn doors and elevated a few feet above grade, a shaded outdoor sculpture studio doubles as a stage for casual summer concerts hosted 3-4 times a year. During these events, the garage acts as additional “backstage” space. Photo by Paul Finkel | Piston Design

Small spaces need love as well! Small eclectic apartment had lots of personality with framed posters collected over time from many concerts. It was time to tie the rest of the room together with colorful accents and a larger area rug.

Photo: Sergiu Stoian
Inspiration for a large modern gray two-story stone flat roof remodel with a mixed material roof

Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Sacramento.

Small spaces need love as well! Small eclectic apartment had lots of personality with framed posters collected over time from many concerts. It was time to tie the rest of the room together with colorful accents and a larger area rug.