Search results for "Contemplated" in Home Design Ideas

One of the best things about my job is getting to meet new people, and I had so much fun with this Glen Ellyn client who, after many years of contemplation, came in to remodel her kitchen and bath. We planned to tear out her old kitchen and master bath and replace them with new, fresh designs that would feel at home with her cottage style home, take into consideration her love for the outdoors, and tackle some aging-in-place challenges.
The master bath was a very tight space with an awkward vanity, tub and toilet. For ease of use, the client wanted to eliminate the tub and add a shower, so we transformed the tub into a zero threshold shower with a small flip-down bench and hand shower so that she can shower sitting down if needed and there is no risk of tripping on the shower curb.
A small cone shaped vanity provides a unique look and provides storage. A wall hung toilet helps address some clearance issues, and grab bars at shower and toilet address safety concerns. There was even room for a small built in cabinet across from the toilet for towel and toiletry storage. Antique lighting and wallpaper combined with modern plumbing fixtures keep the space looking cottage-y but also up-to-date.
Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD
Photography by: Dawn Jackman
For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A Rosary Path: The Heart of Innovative Landscape Design Ideas
At the core of this inspiring landscape design is a breathtaking custom stone path that brings the sacred rosary to life in your garden. This innovative feature serves as both a spiritual focal point and a functional walkway:
Entrance Cross: A meticulously crafted cross walking stone marks the beginning of your spiritual journey.
Smooth Stone Path: Hand-selected stones flow seamlessly, creating a life-sized rosary that invites contemplation with every step.
Tactile Prayer Experience: Each carefully placed stone represents a prayer, offering a physical connection to this cherished devotion
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Rinekwall-
RINEKWALL designer, Dana Agamalian, passed out twenty-two white pieces of paper and black pens to her son's 3rd grade class. She told them to draw peace signs, anyway they wanted. A barrage of questions ensued. Maybe kids are used to more instructions, but that was it from Dana. "I wanted them to draw from their hearts and enjoy themselves. It was magic! Each and every paper a masterpiece!" A smaller group of neighborhood kids drew the PEOPLE design. Dana's instructions were equally open-ended: draw happy faces. Notice the clock faces, a great example of how original art can be interpreted ad infinitum.
These bold designs bring a smile to your face as you contemplate the hope and unity they embody. Through the innnocence of the children's drawings, the viewer is transported to a place where no dream seems impossible. RINEKWALL hopes that we are showing respect and support to these artists' dreams. In presenting PEACE and PEOPLE, two cutting-edge designs, we are proud to assist in spreading the childrens' message of peace and unity for the world.

On a quiet street just steps from San Francisco’s beloved Dolores Park, a formerly modest urban structure has been transformed into a luminous vertical residence that quietly redefines contemporary city living. Through a comprehensive remodel and both vertical and horizontal expansion, the project turns a constrained urban footprint into a sequence of serene, art-forward living spaces that unfold upward toward expansive city views.
The architecture balances restraint and warmth: crisp contemporary geometry softened by natural materials, artful lighting, and carefully curated interiors. The result is a home that feels simultaneously grounded and elevated—deeply connected to its neighborhood yet remarkably private.
Reimagining the Urban Envelope
The original building has been almost entirely reconceived. The facade now reads as a disciplined composition of plaster volumes and precisely detailed window openings framed by subtle projecting bands. The geometry references San Francisco’s classic rhythm of bayed facades while stripping the language down to a refined modern expression.
Behind this quiet exterior lies a dramatically expanded interior volume. The redesign adds both additional floor area and new vertical circulation, transforming what was once a conventional city house into a multi-level architectural sequence organized around light, art, and views.
At the roofline, planted terraces soften the building’s silhouette and create a green crown visible from surrounding hillsides.
Interiors as a Sequence of Galleries
Inside, the home unfolds as a series of spatial moments connected by a sculptural stair and gallery-like corridors.
Wide plank oak floors run throughout, providing continuity and warmth against a palette of plaster walls, dark steel detailing, and natural stone. The hallways function almost as curated galleries, with layered artworks suspended in front of mesh panels that create depth and subtle shadow.
Light filters through carefully placed windows and stair openings, transforming circulation spaces into contemplative transitions rather than mere passageways.
A Living Room Anchored by Stone and Light
The primary living room occupies one of the home’s central floors, where a quiet interplay of texture and geometry defines the space.
A monumental fireplace wrapped in dark stone forms the room’s anchor, its mass contrasting with a recessed ceiling plane that seems to float above the seating area. Integrated perimeter lighting creates a soft architectural glow that washes the ceiling and walls.
Furniture is sculptural yet understated—rounded lounge chairs in warm ochre velvet, tailored sofas, and a striking marble cocktail table whose expressive veining becomes a focal artwork in itself. Deep blue carpeting grounds the seating arrangement and subtly absorbs light, enhancing the calm atmosphere.
Above the fireplace, a delicate projection artwork introduces a moment of visual poetry—an unexpected cinematic gesture that transforms the wall into a quietly animated canvas.
Kitchen as Architectural Furniture
The kitchen expresses a different register: crisp, tactile, and materially rich.
Custom walnut cabinetry spans the wall in a continuous plane, punctuated only by the sculpted hood and integrated appliances. The wood’s depth and warmth are balanced by expanses of pale marble that flow seamlessly from countertop to backsplash.
Three dome pendants hover above the island like industrial sculptures, casting pools of warm light onto the stone surface.
A row of vivid red stools introduces a controlled burst of color, a small but confident departure from the otherwise restrained palette.
Dining With a Living Backdrop
Adjacent to the kitchen, the dining room opens toward a glass wall overlooking a vertical garden of climbing ivy. The greenery becomes a constantly changing backdrop—lush and shadowy during the day, atmospheric and cinematic after sunset.
A dark wood table anchors the room, surrounded by pale oak chairs whose understated forms echo Scandinavian design traditions. The simplicity of the furniture allows the view and natural light to become the dominant experience.
Intimate Spaces and Material Contrast
Throughout the home, smaller rooms offer moments of intimacy and material experimentation.
The powder room pairs textured wall coverings with a dramatic black marble vanity whose bold veining feels almost geological. A suspended mirror and slender pendant create a sculptural composition against the tactile backdrop.
The primary bedroom, by contrast, feels serene and expansive. Floor-to-ceiling glazing frames sweeping views of the city, while soft textiles and warm wood paneling create a cocooning effect. Slender black columns subtly define a sitting area without interrupting the openness of the space.
Bathing Above the City
In the primary bathroom, a sculptural freestanding tub sits beside a panoramic window overlooking San Francisco’s hills and rooftops.
The room’s palette—light oak, grey stone, and matte metals—reinforces the spa-like atmosphere. Floating cabinetry and integrated lighting maintain a sense of visual lightness despite the richness of the materials.
Entertaining Above the Park
Higher in the house, a lounge and bar area becomes the social heart of the home. Here, dark stone slabs with dramatic veining wrap the bar wall like a piece of monumental art.
Open shelving displays glassware and spirits, while integrated wine storage hints at the home’s entertaining ambitions. A soft leather sectional and low glass table create a relaxed setting for conversation, framed by expansive views of the city skyline.
Cinema and Retreat
The lower level introduces yet another atmosphere: a dedicated media room designed for immersive viewing.
Dark walls, plush seating, and soft lighting create a cinematic environment that contrasts intentionally with the airy upper floors. It’s a retreat within the home—intimate, quiet, and removed from the brightness above.
Architecture That Balances Discipline and Warmth
What makes the project particularly compelling is its balance between architectural discipline and lived warmth.
Every element—from the carefully framed views to the restrained material palette—contributes to a cohesive spatial narrative. Yet the home never feels austere. Natural materials, curated art, and layered lighting create a sense of comfort and depth.
The result is a house that feels both architecturally rigorous and deeply human.
A Contemporary Interpretation of San Francisco Living
In a neighborhood defined by historic homes and iconic park views, this transformation offers a contemporary interpretation of San Francisco living.
It respects the city’s urban density while embracing openness, light, and vertical living. The home rises quietly above its surroundings, culminating in panoramic vistas that stretch across rooftops, hills, and sky.
What began as a conventional structure has become something far more nuanced: a modern urban sanctuary—part gallery, part retreat, and wholly connected to the vibrant city just beyond its walls.

The Portuguese word for garden, Jardim, is a fitting name for this private residential enclave designed by award-winning Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, which overlooks the lush plantings and ephemeral blooms of the world’s favorite elevated park, New York City’s High Line. Tucked discreetly between two elegantly understated towers—Jardim Norte and Jardim Sul—and open to the sun and sky, the lush, tranquil multilevel courtyard gardens are a contemplative focal point for Jardim’s 36 one- to four-bedroom residences. Designed by Weinfeld in collaboration with Future Green Studio, the cutting-edge New York-based landscape architecture firm, Jardim’s private gardens are about more than just views. With broad floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious terraces integrated with indoor living areas, Jardim’s residences embrace both luxury and nature in the heart of West Chelsea.

A new Dekton collection designed by Claudia Afshar
Cosentino has collaborated with the renowned designer to create Ukiyo, a unique exploration of textures and geometric shapes for contemporary spaces. Ukiyo comes from Japanese and means ""living in the present moment, oblivious to life's problems"". By applying this concept to interior design and architecture, you can create spaces that promote serenity, contemplation and appreciation of the ephemeral beauty of everyday life, all in a visually appealing and functional environment.
It has two patterns, each with different surface grooves and different thicknesses. Five colours are available: Bromo, Kreta, Nacre, Rem and Umber.
Ukiyo is sensory experience, geometry and depth, and was born to bring a contemporary vision to interior design projects.

A lush living wall of varied species built outside for interior contemplation from the bathroom
Example of a beach style bathroom design in Miami
Example of a beach style bathroom design in Miami

In this recently completed project in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, a previously underutilized and awkwardly laid-out backyard was reimagined as a sleek, modern outdoor retreat. The garden was thoughtfully divided into three distinct zones: a dining and cooking area anchored by a modern outdoor kitchen, a quiet, contemplative nook designed for one or two people to unwind, and a generous lounge space featuring a custom curved Ipe bench beneath a minimalist pergola.
To complete the transformation, integrated lighting, irrigation, and a fully equipped kitchen were installed. A clean-lined fence was added to screen out negative views, helping to create a private, oasis-like atmosphere in the heart of the city. The result is a sophisticated, highly functional garden that extends the home’s living space and supports year-round enjoyment.

When you love something and you realize after years, you’ve inadvertently put that away, a good designer will help you bring that back out. That was Turnstyle’s responsibility here with this recent client project: bring back the joy of spending time in a home library. This space is precious to me, because I’ve known it for all the many years I’ve been working on this home. It sits proudly in the center of the house, greeting people upon entry, and, in my opinion, was a jewel box ready to receive its shine. We blew through a wall to allow it a more spacious entrance, helping anyone who visits to immediately see the stunning on-the-lake view. I applied custom wall to wall antique glass to each wall, floor to ceiling, to enhance the view, make the walls feel like they fall away, and also reflect all the now beautiful art and furniture pieces as part of its new design. Influences from things gathered, stunning reworked furniture from the 1970s and all around functional hero items, allow for better working. The main push residing in really enabling quality time there. This space is open is now refreshing and full of beautiful objects and memorabilia. An inspiring place to contemplate, one is surrounded, and influenced, by a strong, fully fleshed out space through my extensive love of pattern, color and unusual combinations.

The client had fallen in love with the curvy bath and absolutely had to have it so I created the rest of the design to complement this hero piece. As the client wanted to lean into their feminine side we chose some beautiful dappled hexagon tiles in variegated shades of dusky pink and putty, which matched the vibe of the bath nicely. We chose a deep, rich indigo for the joinery to ground the scheme and to still maintain the overarching elegance of the design, emphasis on feminine - not girly!
The quadrant shower echoes the curves of the bath and its sleek, minimalist design showcase the beauty of the tiles. The flooring is a gloriously pale stone which produces an amazing tactile experience in a subtle way without overshadowing the rest of the scheme.
Joinery is kept simple in a deep, rich indigo to give some warmth to the room and ground the space with clean lines to make sure everything is kept uncluttered.
The result is a gentle, restful sanctuary perfect for whiling hours away contemplating the world.

Welcome to the Garden of Tranquility, a serene retreat where nature and tranquility harmoniously coexist. Nestled within this sanctuary, you will discover a captivating Zen garden, an oasis of serenity and peace. The Zen garden, meticulously designed and carefully curated, immerses you in a realm of simplicity and balance. Smooth gravel ripples like waves, symbolizing tranquility, while meticulously placed stones create a sense of harmony and order. The garden invites you to stroll along meandering pathways, inviting contemplation and mindfulness with every step.

Set in the rolling hills of Calistoga, this Winery Estate is a quiet escape that balances hospitality with intimacy. Interiors layer warmth and texture—from pendant-lit kitchen spaces to a lounge where mirrors and soft fixtures amplify vineyard views. The dining room offers subtle drama with a sculptural chandelier and layered tablescape, while upstairs bedrooms provide serene, understated accommodations. Outdoors, a shaded pergola and inviting pavilion extend living into the landscape, blending reflection with connection. Even the wine cave entrance is quietly expressive, a nook where contemplation meets conviviality. Layered, calm, and purposefully personal, the estate feels modern yet timeless, welcoming without revealing too much.
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