Inspiration for a large transitional wooden curved open staircase remodel in Miami

Ron Hartman
Staircase - victorian staircase idea in Philadelphia

A modern home with traditional forms and straightforward detailing combines painted brick, lap siding and antique wood structural elements to create a one-of-a-kind home on a 2.4 acre relatively flat lot. A circular drive partially screened by low brick walls and strategically placed landscaping brings you onto the site where one can make a stop at the porte-cochère drop off on their way to the garage or continue to a welcoming front porch. This 2-story home has 5 bedrooms and 5 ½ baths with 6,125 sq. ft. of conditioned spaces and a total of 9,731 sq. ft. under roof. As you enter an intimate sized foyer, there’s a dining room to the right that opens to the kitchen and features a large picture window facing the front yard with a ceiling with white oak beams. Straight ahead you’re led to a living room that features a pre-cast stone fireplace mantle and painted coffered ceilings. It is part of a great room with a kitchen and large island that continues with white oak accents in some of the cabinetry. Pairs of arched openings and a pocket door flank each end of the room leading to a scullery kitchen on one end and to guest bedroom and master bedroom suites on the other. The outdoor cooking and living areas are conveniently located thru French doors right off the great room and a game room that is part of the house that extends into the back yard providing great access and views to a pool and a basketball sport court. An outdoor fireplace adds a cozy touch to a seating area that is next to the outdoor cooking and dining area. The master bedroom suite is positioned to take advantage of views to the backyard and also has access to a back porch. Easy access is provided to a well-appointed master bath that leads to his and her closets. Upstairs there are 3 more bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets. An office is also provided which is positioned above the dining room below so that it shares the continuation of the large picture window idea that affords beautiful views of the front yard and a lake across the street. A small common area located off the stair landing provides a place for the kids to hang out.

Just beyond the hallway, the mud room's three-quarter bath blends clean lines with warm gold accents throughout. From the freestanding vanity to the porcelain tile flooring, every detail creates a welcoming space that's both refined and practical.

A U-shaped Staircase Supported by Timber Posts Running Down to the Lower-Level Floor goes up to the Second-Floor landing just off of the Catwalk. The Stairway Also continues down to the Lower-Level. The stone accent wall behind the staircase starts at the Lower level and continues up to the 2nd floor ceiling. Stone wall finishes continue down the hallway with timber door trims and jambs. The staircase railings like the Balcony and Catwalk railings above are comprised of Custom Steel Railing Sections and Brackets with Fir Top Rails. Carpeted Treads and Risers, Fir Timber Skirt Boards and Hickory Flooring at the underside of the stair flights and landings round out the Staircase finishes.

Photo of a landscaping in San Francisco.

Shanghai Green Antiques
Living room - living room idea in Other

Inspiration for a country staircase remodel in Atlanta

Patio photo in San Francisco

Inspiration for a large transitional wooden curved open staircase remodel in Miami

Ron Hartman
Example of an ornate home design design in Philadelphia

ESI Builders is a subsidiary of EnergyWise Solutions, Inc. and was formed by Allan, Bob and Dave to fulfill an important need for quality home builders and remodeling services in the Sacramento region. With a strong and growing referral base, we decided to provide a convenient one-stop option for our clients and focus on combining our key services: quality custom homes and remodels, turnkey client partnering and communication, and energy efficient and environmentally sustainable measures in all we do. Through energy efficient appliances and fixtures, solar power, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, enhanced insulation and sealing, and other construction elements – we go beyond simple code compliance and give you immediate savings and greater sustainability for your new or remodeled home. All of the design work and construction tasks for our clients are done by or supervised by our highly trained, professional staff. This not only saves you money, it provides a peace of mind that all of the details are taken care of and the job is being done right – to Perfection. Our service does not stop after we clean up and drive off. We continue to provide support for any warranty issues that arise and give you administrative support as needed in order to assure you obtain any energy-related tax incentives or rebates. This ‘One call does it all’ philosophy assures that your experience in remodeling or upgrading your home is an enjoyable one. ESI Builders was formed by professionals with varying backgrounds and a common interest to provide you, our clients, with options to live more comfortably, save money, and enjoy quality homes for many years to come. As our company continues to grow and evolve, the expertise has been quickly growing to include several job foreman, tradesmen, and support staff. In response to our growth, we will continue to hire well-qualified staff and we will remain committed to maintaining a level of quality, attention to detail, and pursuit of perfection.

This solid cherry open rise stair is BIG. In this stair design, we opted out of the traditional “stacked” stair layout for an original “scissor” layout normally reserved for straight stairs. The stair design coupled with the continuous handrail offers a completely unique and grand style. Endless curved lines, continuous railing flowing down the stairs, and striking perspectives. Railing: continuous solid cherry blank rail with ¾’’ round stainless steel spindles. Ryan Patrick Kelly Photographs

This house got a complete facelift! All trim and doors were painted white, floors refinished in a new color, opening to the kitchen became larger to create a more cohesive floor plan. The dining room became a "dreamy" Butlers Pantry and the kitchen was completely re-configured to include a 48" range and paneled appliances. Notice that there are no switches or outlets in the backsplashes. Mud room, laundry room re-imagined and the basement ballroom completely redone. Make sure to look at the before pictures!

Photo of a large transitional partial sun backyard brick water fountain landscape in San Francisco.

https://www.houzz.com/pro/rpkphoto/ryan-patrick-kelly-photographs

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in New York

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Patio - small patio idea in Other