Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Example of a mid-sized transitional dining room design in DC Metro with gray walls

In a wooded area of Lafayette, a mid-century home was re-imagined for a graphic designer and kindergarten teacher couple and their three children. A major new design feature is a high ceiling great room that wraps from the front to the back yard, turning a corner at the kitchen and ending at the family room fireplace. This room was designed with a high flat roof to work in conjunction with existing roof forms to create a unified whole, and raise interior ceiling heights from eight to over ten feet. All new lighting and large floor to ceiling Fleetwood aluminum windows expand views of the trees beyond. The existing home was enlarged by 700 square feet with a small exterior addition enlarging the kitchen over an existing deck, and a larger amount by excavating out crawlspace at the garage level to create a new home office with full bath, and separate laundry utility room. The remodeled residence became 3,847 square feet in total area including the garage. Exterior curb appeal was improved with all new Fleetwood windows, stained wood siding and stucco. New steel railing and concrete steps lead up to the front entry. Front and rear yard new landscape design by Huettl Landscape Architecture dramatically alters the site. New planting was added at the front yard with landscape lighting and modern concrete pavers and the rear yard has multiple decks for family gatherings with the focal point a concrete conversation circle with central fire feature. Everything revolves around the corner kitchen, large windows to the backyard, quartz countertops and cabinetry in painted and walnut finishes. The homeowners enjoyed the process of selecting Heath Tile for the kitchen backsplash and white oval tiles at the family room fireplace. Black brick tiles by Fireclay were used on the living room hearth. The kitchen flows into the family room all with views to the beautifully landscaped yards. The primary suite has a built-in window seat with large windows overlooking the garden, walnut cabinetry in a skylit walk-in closet, and a large dramatic skylight bouncing light into the shower. The kid’s bath also has a skylight slot with light angling downward over double sinks. More colorful tile shows up in these spaces, as does a geometric patterned tile in the downstairs office bath shower. The large yard is taken full advantage of with concrete paved walkways, stairs and firepit circle. New retaining walls in the rear yard helped to add more level usable outdoor space, with wood slats to visually blend them into the overall design. The end result is a beautiful transformation of a mid-century home, that both captures the client’s personalities and elevates the house into the modern age.

sectional sofa
Example of a classic open concept living room design in San Francisco

The main living and dining space has sweeping westerly views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The free-form steel custom lighting bars tie together dining and kitchen spaces. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

With sweeping views of the Willamette river and Mt. Hood, this Atwater Place condo was designed with a balance of minimalism and livability in mind. A complete kitchen remodel brought a dark interior kitchen to the light and a full furnishings package welcomed Los Angeles transplants home to their new modern and bright residence. Our clients, a retired camera operator for both feature films and television and a producer/production manager on numerous television series including Weeds and The Middle, relocated from their traditionally-styled LA bungalow to Portland in the Summer of 2014. The couple sought a design departure from their long-term California residence and a fresh start for their new life in the South Waterfront. With only two pieces of sentimental furniture and a handful of artwork included in the plan, we set out to create a comfortable and clean-lined furnishings package complimenting the broad southeast views. Organically shaped upholstery pieces juxtaposed with angular steel and wood tables create a soft balance in the open floor plan. Several custom pieces, including a dining table designed by our studio and a custom hand-blown glass chandelier crafted by Scott Schiesel with Lightlite compliment timeless pieces from Knoll, Herman Miller, and B&B Italia. The kitchen is designed to reflect light and create brilliance in a space that is otherwise naturally dark. A material balance of stainless steel, back painted glass, quartz composite, lacquer, and mirror all play their part in creating a vibrant cooking environment. We collectively decided to forgo the traditional island pendant for a linear commercial fixture that provides tremendous light to the prep surface and creates an unexpected architectural element. The mirrored prep island creates the illusion of open space while concealing casework and wine storage on the working side of the kitchen. It is worth noting that this project was designed and installed almost entirely while our clients were still living in LA and wrapping up professional obligations and selling their home. This afforded us the tremendous opportunity to send our clients to showrooms not available in Portland to view key pieces before final specification. Textiles and finish samples were approved via mail and communication took place over e-mail, telephone, and an occasional office visit. This unique process lead to a successful result and a beautifully balanced living environment. Josh Partee Photography

Transitional l-shaped kitchen photo in Manchester with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and an island

Beach style light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and an island

Custom built-in entertainment center in the same house as the custom built-in window seat project that was posted in 2019. This project is 11-1/2 feet wide x 18 inches deep x 8 feet high. It consists of two 36" wide end base cabinets and a 66" wide center base cabinet with an open component compartment. The base cabinets have soft-close door hinges with 3-way cam adjustments and adjustable shelves. The base cabinet near the doorway includes custom-made ducting to re-route the HVAC air flow from a floor vent out through the toe kick panel. Above the base countertop are side and overhead book/display cases trimmed with crown molding. The TV is mounted on a wall bracket that extends and tilts, and in-wall electrical and HDMI cables connect the TV to power and components via a wall box at the back of the component compartment.

Style and function find their perfect blend in this practical laundry room design. Featuring a blue metallic high gloss finish with white glass inserts, the cabinetry is accented by modern, polished chrome hardware. Everything a laundry room needs has its place in this space saving design. Although it may be small, this laundry room is jam packed with commodities that make it practical and high quality, such as ample counter space for folding clothing and space for a combination washer dryer. Tucked away in a drawer is transFORM’s built-in ironing board which can be pulled out when needed and conveniently stowed away when not in use. The space is maximized with exclusive transFORM features like a folding laundry valet to hang clothing, and an omni wall track inside the feature cabinet which allows you to hang brooms, mops, and dust pans on the inside of the cabinet. This custom modern design transformed a small space into a highly efficient laundry room, made just for our customer to meet their unique needs.

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2013 Houzz
Dining room - eclectic medium tone wood floor dining room idea in Seattle with beige walls

Photography by Stacy Zarin
Living room - huge transitional formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in DC Metro with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

A series of board-formed concrete retaining walls anchor the building into the site and provide opportunities for planting. Large folding glass doors allow the house to completely open to the exterior. Photo: Steve King.

The gray-blue matte glass tile mosaic and soft brown linear-striped porcelain tile of the master bathroom's spacious shower are illuminated by a skylight. The curbless shower includes a linear floor drain. The simple, clean geometric forms of the shower fittings include body spray jets and a handheld shower wand. © Jeffrey Totaro

Benjamin Hill Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard lap pool remodel in Houston

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photo: Susan Gilmore Photography
Living room - coastal enclosed medium tone wood floor living room idea in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and beige walls

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Example of a large beach style master white tile and ceramic tile light wood floor bathroom design in Boston with white cabinets, granite countertops, white walls, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Taylor Photography
Elegant dark wood floor living room photo in Philadelphia with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Tricia Shay Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room design in Milwaukee with a metal fireplace, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Deck - small contemporary backyard deck idea in San Francisco