MDI worked through this client and their architect’s desire for a wine cave within their newly constructed home on Big Cedar Lake. MDI craftsmen fit a brick lined and custom crafted, wood spiral staircase into the cellar from the great room above.

Reclaimed original patina hand hewn © Carolina Timberworks
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized rustic u-shaped concrete floor open concept kitchen idea in Charlotte with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, red cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Falcon House is located on Falcon Ridge Road, which winds along a steeply inclined ridge in a stretch of foothills within Carmel Valley in Monterey County. An old lichen covered barn and split rail, cedar fences characterize this area known as Markham Ranch, and contrast sharply with the preponderance of sprawling, large estate-style homes, many more at-home in the Italian countryside than any landscape of California. Designed for a young family, Falcon House responds to the family’s desire to live a more modest lifestyle, eschewing overt displays of extravagance for an intimate and deferential relation to nature. The 3,200-square-foot residence occupies a difficult portion of the northern slope of a hillside, overlooking a verdant valley and oriented toward Castle Rock in the distance. The steep terrain necessitated a compartmentalized plan capable of negotiating the gentle hillock at the center of the site. A corridor bridge spans two pieces of the house, uniting living and sleeping spaces and allowing an existing watercourse to flow essentially through the house unobstructed. Large panels of glass open the living spaces to the landscape, beneath the deep overhang of a butterfly roof. Operable clerestories placed high on the window-wall allow prevailing breezes to cool the interior spaces. The bedroom wing of the house hugs the hillside as it turns to the west, ensuring privacy from the main living spaces. The sense of seclusion and protection of this wing is reinforced by its lower roofline and its embedment into the hill. Initial resistance by neighboring homeowners has given way to appreciation, having seen the results of careful siting and a material and color palate sympathetic to the surrounding hillsides. The dwelling embodies an attitude of respect for the landscape, and through that perspective Falcon House has become as natural a part of its environment as the hawks flying overhead. 2008 AIA Orange County Chapter Merit Award

t. lamar photography
Staircase - traditional painted l-shaped metal railing staircase idea in Dallas with painted risers

This home is in Noe Valley, a highly desirable and growing neighborhood of San Francisco. As young highly-educated families move into the area, we are remodeling and adding on to the aging homes found there. This project remodeled the entire existing two story house and added a third level, capturing the incredible views toward downtown. The design features integral color stucco, zinc roofing, an International Orange staircase, eco-teak cabinets and concrete counters. A flowing sequence of spaces were choreographed from the entry through to the family room.

This secondary staircase and mud area highlighted with wool carpet by Kane. The bench seating is lined with stained bead board creating a warm entrance from the carriage house.

Large transitional backyard deck photo in Minneapolis with no cover

Large trendy open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room photo in Chicago with white walls, a plaster fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a corner fireplace

Small trendy dark wood floor wine cellar photo in Dallas

Benjamin Benscheinder Gelotte Hommas Architecture Hyde Evans Design
Example of a classic u-shaped kitchen design in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Elegant single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar photo in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets and gray cabinets

Example of a large trendy two-story glass house exterior design in Los Angeles with a shed roof

Greg Hadley
Inspiration for a large industrial medium tone wood floor family room remodel in DC Metro with a tv stand, white walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a coastal staircase remodel in Orange County

library and reading area build into and under stairway.
Example of a farmhouse wooden u-shaped open staircase design in San Francisco

Ken Wyner Photography
Example of a mid-sized asian underground ceramic tile and beige floor basement design in DC Metro with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal wooden curved staircase remodel in Bridgeport with painted risers

Large transitional wooden l-shaped wood railing staircase photo in New York with painted risers

Staircase - large southwestern wooden floating open and glass railing staircase idea in Phoenix