Example of a 1950s dark wood floor and brown floor dining room design in Denver with white walls

Perched on a ridge 20 feet above a private lake in Stillwater, Minnesota, the clients wanted an age-in-place home where strong design influenced by the natural surroundings informed the space and shape of the project. CITYDESKSTUDIO carefully sited the home in one of the many natural clearings within their wooded property alongside a private lake, maximizing connection to the land, while preserving trees and natural topography. The home is distinguished by a light-filled, vaulted living area, a continuous timber loggia forming the entry court and connection to the garage, and a landscape design filled with rain gardens and indigenous rocks and plantings. The home features one-level living with a walk-out lower level which maintains a low profile upon approach, allowing the home to fit gracefully within its context. Sustainable features include landscaping with rain gardens to control rainwater, thermal mass concrete, geothermal in-floor heating, and a 10 kilowatt photovoltaic array with home batteries to allow fully off-grid living. Locally sourced building materials were used where possible for cedar siding and patio paving, including re-used soapstone counters. Select trees were harvested directly off the land for the staircase, interior wall finishes and the 10-foot dining table. Project Team: Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge

Example of a transitional l-shaped brown floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

Aspect 221 is a multi-experiential home designed for a multi-generational family. Set on a sloping corner property in a 1960's Golden Valley neighborhood, this home offers a variety of ways to connect to the immediate landscapes and distant views. The house itself is divided vertically with interaction between families occurring through the centrally located sculptural stair. Horizontal movement in each direction leads to distinct environments provided for the families; multiple habitats offering variety of space, light, and privacy. Expanding towards the west, the property takes advantage of the sweeping views and provides a perfect opportunity for a walk-out lower level and tuck under garage. The young family occupies the middle and upper floors, while the parents occupy the lower level. Each family has their own private entry and dedicated outdoor space. The home has 4 distinct outdoor spaces; a north shade deck and south sun deck, as well as an upper east lawn and lower west lawn. These spaces provide multiple habitats for the families to come together or move apart, offering variety and privacy. We designed Aspect 221 with a nod to the various “aspects” offered by the site and its natural context. The base of the house is a black monolithic plinth anchored into the hillside, containing the garage and older parent’s home. This allows the upper two floors, enclosed in a fractured white and wood box, to remain humanly scaled and to move and gesture freely by twisting the middle floor off axis, and then twisting the upper floor off axis again. Each level offers views in varied directions revealing the site in different ways as you rise in elevation. Location: Golden Valley, MN Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

The renovation of this classic Muskoka cottage, focused around re-designing the living space to make the most of the incredible lake views. This update completely changed the flow of space, aligning the living areas with a more modern & luxurious living context. In collaboration with the client, we envisioned a home in which clean lines, neutral tones, a variety of textures and patterns, and small yet luxurious details created a fresh, engaging space while seamlessly blending into the natural environment. The main floor of this home was completely gutted to reveal the true beauty of the space. Main floor walls were re-engineered with custom windows to expand the client’s majestic view of the lake. The dining area was highlighted with features including ceilings finished with Shadowline MDF, and enhanced with a custom coffered ceiling bringing dimension to the space. Unobtrusive details and contrasting textures add richness and intrigue to the space, creating an energizing yet soothing interior with tactile depth.

Branksome Road Set within a Bournemouth conservation zone; Branksome Woods provided the challenge of designing additional, modern space for a growing family whilst respecting sensitive contextual conditions. Footprint Architects responded by continuing the existing roofline across the property, providing an extra two bedrooms whilst also allowing the proposal to blend seamlessly with the properties existing form, whilst breathing new life into the look of the dated building. On the ground floor, the kitchen and dinning area were re-organised and extended out from the property in a brick form that exhibits views of the garden, with an alternative contrasting timber rear entrance to provide improved access to the house from the drive and garage. The design changes have transformed the quality and functionality of Branksome Woods, providing modern additional space, with a minimal impact on the surrounding context. The project was completed in November 2017.

This Olmos Park Estate is one of several projects for a long-time San Antonio client with whom Mark has collaborated over the years. A classic Spanish style home, this full remodel and redecoration included finishes, layout and furniture selections. Mark drew on the context and proportions of the original architecture to create interiors which reflect the character of this historic home.

This single-family plus ADU project started out as a remodel. Through a very difficult and contentious planning process (over three years), it became a demolition and rebuild to appease neighbors, yielding a three-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom basement ADU. The design responds to the context using a sloped anterior roof that aligns with the neighbor’s to accentuate the dramatic views of downtown San Francisco.

Branksome Road Set within a Bournemouth conservation zone; Branksome Woods provided the challenge of designing additional, modern space for a growing family whilst respecting sensitive contextual conditions. Footprint Architects responded by continuing the existing roofline across the property, providing an extra two bedrooms whilst also allowing the proposal to blend seamlessly with the properties existing form, whilst breathing new life into the look of the dated building. On the ground floor, the kitchen and dinning area were re-organised and extended out from the property in a brick form that exhibits views of the garden, with an alternative contrasting timber rear entrance to provide improved access to the house from the drive and garage. The design changes have transformed the quality and functionality of Branksome Woods, providing modern additional space, with a minimal impact on the surrounding context. The project was completed in November 2017.

Our introduction to the Tahoe site was in late winter, on a clear sunny day with filtered light and long shadows through snow-laden fir and pine bows. It made a strong impression, stored for future consideration but the impetus for the design came soon after the spring snow melt. A powerful sense of horizontal layering of vegetation and various stages of decomposing downed timber on the two-acre site, juxtaposed with pine and fir trees and the dense canopy of the surrounding forest. The site is located near the historic 1960 Olympic Nordic track, situated on the edge of wetlands and seasonal streams. The homeowners were previous clients and dreamt of having a retreat in the Sierras away from their home base in Berkeley, CA. Among skiers, bike riders, hikers, and boaters, they found the ideal central location for their home base near Lake Tahoe. The home is organized as a series of linked spaces, each providing a unique sensory experience and connection to different parts of the site, both vertically and horizontally. The design includes extensive use of glass to create a true indoor/outdoor connection and maximize natural light. At the center of the site are two large fir trees, which the building respectfully wraps around in an L shape to create a focal point in the landscaped courtyard. A refined, context-driven palette of natural materials including cedar, oak, fir, and steel is used to harmoniously blend in among the surroundings. The construction includes advanced details such as thermally broken steel beams supporting layered roof planes engineered to hold snow rather than shed it. Designed to resist significant load, we exposed the steel structure as a recurring element in the interior spaces. The resulting columns and support beams contribute to the familiar design aspects of each room and provide a better understanding of how the building was constructed. The second floor features cantilevered volumes that reach out into the nearby evergreen limbs, likening the experience to being in a tree house. The house incorporates features such as radiant heating, solar panels, and operable windows for passive cooling. Fire safety measures include the use of naturally fire-resistant materials, a Class A roof construction, sprinklers, and drought-tolerant landscaping beyond the defensible space.

A lovely natural woven wallcovering defines this room's architectural features and pulls it together, complementing the client's beloved rose reupholstered sectional and Martha Washington chairs. The rug and dark flooring add a desired historic context since this empty-nester couple moved here from their farmhouse of 45 years. Be sure to check-out the Before photos!

Built by David Weekley Homes Houston
Transitional two-story brick exterior home photo in Houston

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Orange County

The full living room in context — wall-to-wall Gray Owl built-in with open shelving and lower cabinet storage anchors the space beneath the home's original ornate crown moulding. Hillsburgh, ON.

Example of a 1950s living room design in Los Angeles

This single-family plus ADU project started out as a remodel. Through a very difficult and contentious planning process (over three years), it became a demolition and rebuild to appease neighbors, yielding a three-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom basement ADU. The design responds to the context using a sloped anterior roof that aligns with the neighbor’s to accentuate the dramatic views of downtown San Francisco.

This single-family plus ADU project started out as a remodel. Through a very difficult and contentious planning process (over three years), it became a demolition and rebuild to appease neighbors, yielding a three-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom basement ADU. The design responds to the context using a sloped anterior roof that aligns with the neighbor’s to accentuate the dramatic views of downtown San Francisco.

A robust, modern, riverside home with minimalist detailing that blends seamlessly into the surroundings. The home is used as a year-round weekend retreat for a family with children and as such they wanted it to be private and offer a sense of escape and freedom. The clients wanted it to be a low maintenance, energy efficient home making use of natural materials. Clad with innovative treated timber, the house nestles harmoniously into its rural, riverside setting; making the most of its context, orientation and views while minimising any impact on the surrounding area. Two opposing blocks, forming a 'T' shape in plan, taper up in height towards the river to the east and fields to the south and define the internal spaces. The open-plan living, kitchen and dining areas benefit from fully-glazed sliding doors set in a deep reveal to the south which maximises light and provides shelter above. Large windows look out over the river and a raised, cantilevered deck wraps around the east and south elevations, creating an extension to the internal space that bleeds out into the landscape beyond.

Set in the context of stately early 20thcentury houses, this project harkens back to an earlier time. Our design accumulates an ambitious program for a young family with a five-part colonial revival composition in brick and wood. Taking advantage of a generous sloping site the design accommodates three levels of active indoor and outdoor living. All of the principal rooms flank a courtyard embraced by the L-shaped plane using advanced construction methodology. This house is extremely energy efficient and detailed for longevity.