camilleriparismode projects and design team were approached to rethink a previously unused double height room in a wonderful villa. the lower part of the room was planned as a sitting and dining area, the sub level above as a tv den and games room. as the occupants enjoy their time together as a family, as well as their shared love of books, a floor-to-ceiling library was an ideal way of using and linking the large volume. the large library covers one wall of the room spilling into the den area above. it is given a sense of movement by the differing sizes of the verticals and shelves, broken up by randomly placed closed cupboards. the floating marble fireplace at the base of the library unit helps achieve a feeling of lightness despite it being a complex structure, while offering a cosy atmosphere to the family area below. the split-level den is reached via a solid oak staircase, below which is a custom made wine room. the staircase is concealed from the dining area by a high wall, painted in a bold colour on which a collection of paintings is displayed. photos by: brian grech

camilleriparismode projects and design team were approached to rethink a previously unused double height room in a wonderful villa. the lower part of the room was planned as a sitting and dining area, the sub level above as a tv den and games room. as the occupants enjoy their time together as a family, as well as their shared love of books, a floor-to-ceiling library was an ideal way of using and linking the large volume. the large library covers one wall of the room spilling into the den area above. it is given a sense of movement by the differing sizes of the verticals and shelves, broken up by randomly placed closed cupboards. the floating marble fireplace at the base of the library unit helps achieve a feeling of lightness despite it being a complex structure, while offering a cosy atmosphere to the family area below. the split-level den is reached via a solid oak staircase, below which is a custom made wine room. the staircase is concealed from the dining area by a high wall, painted in a bold colour on which a collection of paintings is displayed. photos by: brian grech

Pelican Bay Home Reborn: A Complete Redesign and Rebuild Pelican Bay Home Reborn: A Complete Redesign and Rebuild Blog Introduction: The Pelican Bay community in Naples, Florida has seen many homes come and go, but one house stands out from the rest. Recently, a 3,400 square-foot, four bedroom home underwent a complete renovation that breathed new life into it. With a renewed design and upgraded features, this is the perfect example of what can be done when you take on a full redesign and rebuild of your property. Let’s explore what makes this home so special. The Open Kitchen & Dining Room One of the most striking elements of the home is its open kitchen and dining room. The kitchen area was designed to maximize space by utilizing an island with storage underneath as well as bar seating for entertaining guests. The cabinets are made from solid wood with intricate details that add to the overall aesthetic of the kitchen. Adjacent to this area is a spacious dining room with enough seating for six people comfortably. The unique ceiling feature adds drama to the room while still keeping it light and airy. The Gas Fireplace & Ground Floor Living Room The cozy living room is anchored by a gas fireplace covered in stone tile that gives off a warm ambiance throughout the whole house. This space was designed to be inviting yet comfortable, allowing visitors to relax while still feeling inspired by its modern touches such as built-in shelves and neutral furniture pieces. There are also two sliding doors that lead out onto the back patio which gives even more options for entertaining guests or just enjoying some fresh air on a nice day! The dramatic entryway sets the tone for what's to come throughout this newly renovated Pelican Bay home in Naples, Florida. With its inviting living areas, open kitchen/dining area, gas fireplace centerpiece, ceiling features throughout, outdoor patio space—this home has been completely transformed into something truly special! Whether you're looking for inspiration on how to renovate your own property or just want to admire an amazing work of art—this remodeled Pelican Bay home should definitely be at the top of your list! About Pelican Bay Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida is known for its stunning beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. Its ideal location nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and a vast nature preserve ensures that visitors to the area can experience an array of outdoor activities, from fishing and kayaking, to swimming, golfing or hiking through mangrove swamps. With an abundance of luxurious resorts, fine dining establishments, spa treatments and shopping galore, Pelican Bay is one of the premier destinations on the west coast of Florida. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an action packed getaway full of adventure and excitement, Pelican Bay offers something for everyone. Award-Winning House Builders in Florida If you're looking for a reliable house builder in Florida, look no further! Every project is important to us and each one is completed with the utmost commitment to quality and attention to detail. With years of experience in the field, our team has the expertise and resources necessary to create whatever kind of home you can imagine. Whether you're building from scratch or remodeling an existing structure, we provide friendly and professional service every step of the way, from initial design and permitting all the way through construction and follow up! Let us help make your dream house a reality today.

This proposal is for a new two-story home on the vacant heavily wooded lot with an existing 150-foot-long driveway lined by several beautiful oak trees culminating in a behemoth 43-inch oak tree where the driveway meets the main lot. The far end of the driveway terminates in a grove of three 43/40/43-inch redwoods and at the very center of the vacant lot stands a gargantuan V-twin 59-inch redwood tree paired with a “small” 29-inch redwood tree. The owners want to build a beautiful contemporary-styled home for their family that fully enjoys and embraces the mature trees on their cozy 65-foot by 100-foot lot. As with all small, constrained lots, this project’s site design started first with meeting the relatively large parking and car maneuvering requirements. Menlo Park’s Department of Transportation typically requires side-facing garages to have 24-feet of backup space. So that they could give the largest feature redwood tree on site an added four feet (50%) of clearance outside of its critical root zone, the owners agreed to install a vehicle turntable at the end of their driveway to eliminate the extra four feet of space needed to back up and turnaround. This allowed them to pull their garage forward an additional four feet towards the front property line on the panhandle side, drastically reducing the rest of the home’s impact on the gargantuan V-Twin paired redwood tree at the center of the lot. One of the owners has mobility issues, and accordingly, they first sought to design a one-story floor plan that incorporated all their family’s needs including plenty of covered patio and deck space to enjoy our fantastic California weather. But that single-story footprint spread too far into the critical root zones of several of the redwood trees on site, even despite the use of the vehicle turntable. During my interview process with the owners, they made it clear to me that one of their primary concerns is ensuring that the largest trees on site would thrive and become features of their new home after construction is complete. The single-story designs that removed the grove of three huge redwood trees were non-starters, as was the skimpy 5x10 master bath I designed when trying to squeeze the whole house program into an overly compromised single-story design. It was therefore deemed necessary to go with a two-story design despite the owner’s mobility issues. This two-story design has a much more compact ground floor footprint and has no bedrooms downstairs, other than the detached ADU. The owners must give up the floor area and incur the costs to install a residential elevator to access their upstairs master suite. Our ground floor footprint is smaller due to the two-story design decision, and our foundation is pulled away from the trees thanks to the vehicle turntable. Yet, a tiny portion of the home’s ground floor footprint still encroaches into the critical root zones of the largest 59” redwood tree. Therefore, as outlined in the Arborist Report prepared by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting, the structural engineers are incorporating an array of drilled piers and shallow-grade beams for the main home’s foundation and deck area nearest the redwood’s critical root zone. This drilled piers and grade beam foundation is a type of “bridging” foundation as outlined in Aesculus’ report to preserve the health of these trees that the property was designed around. The rest of the foundation will be constructed as an insulated slab-on-grade foundation to minimize the number of steps and ramps needed for the owners to enjoy their home and patio areas. Despite the owner’s desire to keep as many trees as possible on site, and despite the smaller ground floor footprint and the advantage of the vehicle turntable, the need for a 20x20-foot garage and 20x20/25-foot guest parking space on our panhandle lot requires the removal of two heritage trees in the required driveway, a 16” coast redwood, and a 17” coast redwood. An alternate design, such as swapping the garage and guest parking locations north-to-south, still requires the removal of these two trees for vehicle maneuvering but has the added disadvantage of cutting off the home’s sightlines to the behemoth 43” oak tree just outside the currently proposed front patio space and living room. Jim Redman of Elements Landscape is proposing 13 new trees be planted on site to replace the lost value of these two heritage coast redwood trees. This contemporary architectural design features clean lines, and an abundance of full-height windows and large skylights to best take in the immense trees on site. To blend in with the forest-like setting, the home boasts a mix of rich textures and features a color palette of natural wood tones contrasted with dark blue and black. Once through the new steel gate at the street and down the 150-foot tree-lined driveway, a large covered front patio becomes visible past the neighbor’s detached accessory structure. The covered patio is just across the driveway from the beautiful 43” behemoth coast live oak. The single plane of the covered patio roof is delicately supported by a pair of steel posts in a “V-twin” configuration much like the largest redwood trees that tower over the center of the lot and will still be visible above the new two-story home, even from the front yard. The patio is covered in a dark-colored standing seam roof, with steel C-channel fascias, and tongue-and-groove wood ceiling planks on the underside. Generously sized skylights on the patio roof and inside the living area allow for impressive views of the amazing oak canopy as well as precious natural light. Supporting the sloped covered patio on the other side is the two-car garage with a secondary bedroom suite stacked above the garage. This two-story volume is to be clad in vertical clear-coated redwood siding, to tie in with the grove of three 43-inch redwood trees just beyond. The garage door, and the bank of windows for Bedroom#2 above feature a steel fascia eyebrow header feature to provide shade and overhang protection, as we are not proposing a large overhang at this “redwood trunk”. The garage and bedroom volume are pulled 16 feet away from the side property line, instead of the minimum required setback of 6’-6”, thus leaving plenty of room for the redwood grove and existing mature pear tree to continue to thrive. This existing mature green screen in this 16-foot-wide side yard is a feature worth soaking in, which is why tall windows with low sill heights are proposed for both the stairs and the upstairs hallway. Though it may be infrequent to approve side-facing 2nd floor windows with sill heights as low as what we’re proposing, we are confident that the mature green screen and the over 16-foot-wide side yard are sufficient to provide for the continued privacy of our neighbor’s rear yard space, especially considering theses windows are in walkway zones. The covered patio at the front entry is also bound by the 10-foot-tall living room. The great room is clad in a dark blue brick veneer, which wraps around all three sides of the living room. Upon entering the home from the covered patio, you are immediately greeted with one of the most impressive features of the home’s design: a 10-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide set of sliding glass doors. From the entry, this huge opening gives merely an initial glimpse of the massive trunks of the gargantuan V-twin redwoods sitting at the center of the lot. All three sliding glass panels open directly out into the smaller partially covered deck in the rear. This roof overhang element matches the design of the front patio with a steel C-channel fascia and a large skylight. But the rear deck’s roof element is set flat at a ten-foot ceiling height so that the living room’s ceiling seems to float above and out beyond the expanse of full-height sliding doors, thus creating an indoor-outdoor living space that will feel much larger than the home’s actual footprint. This rear covered deck is smaller than the patio in the front and also has a mix of solid and open-slatted roofing to allow for more solar access for the relatively small amount of open sky available. The downstairs living room is open to the dining and kitchen areas, as well as the stair-and-elevator tower beyond. The stair tower is very open and glassy, and the stairs wind up and around the redwood-clad elevator tower. From certain perspectives in the 16-foot-wide side yard, it will almost seem as if the grove of three redwoods has a fourth tree that the house and the stairs were carefully built around. Other than the 3-foot-wide windows, the exterior walls of the stair tower, downstairs utility spaces, and Bedroom#3 above are finished in cement plaster, painted dark blue and black. The sloped roof over the stair-and-elevator tower continues cleanly over the area of upstairs Bedroom#3. This roof level is set by the side daylight plane and only yields an inside wall height of just under 6 feet in height. The owners are satisfied that the rest of this upstairs room has a nice vaulted ceiling to make up for the one short wall under the daylight plane. The rest of the ground floor adjacent to the stair tower consists of a small utility wing containing a half-bath, laundry, storage area, and an exterior alcove for the electric heat pump HVAC unit. This short wing also gives more accessible access to the rear yard deck, as well as a backdrop for an outdoor kitchen. The bright white stone backsplash for the outdoor kitchen provides contrast to the otherwise consistent use of cement plaster painted dark blue and black for the two-story wing closest to the detached ADU. Though Bedroom#3 is stacked directly above this small wing, it is relatively short to comply with the side daylight plane of this narrow lot. Still, to further help break up the scale of this wall, another steel fascia eyebrow element is set about 8 feet above the rear deck. The master suite sits centered above the ten-foot-tall great room. The master bedroom and its balcony, as well as the master bathtub area, have a commanding view of the central redwood trees and their impressive canopy, though the balcony is mostly recessed and should pose no privacy concerns to the neighbor’s rear yards. The master balcony parapet is clad in the same brick veneer continuing up from the living room below. A dark-painted metal rail makes up the rest of the open guardrail height. The entire length of the master balcony is comprised of 9-foot-tall sliding glass doors, but the area above the doors, as well as the area below the master bathroom windows, is accented with more redwood siding. The remainder of the master suite bathroom and walk-in closet is finished in cement plaster painted dark blue. The master bathroom has one side yard-facing window but will be frosted glass for both the owner’s and the neighbor’s privacy. The 2nd floor is capped under a simple gable roof design with one roof ridge and varying eave and rake overhangs depending on the 2nd-floor layout and solar orientation. Since these roof planes are quite difficult to see in the middle of the heavily wooded panhandle lot, we are proposing a white TPO roofing for these two upper roof planes as a more sustainable choice compared to more dark-colored roofing like the covered patios and detached ADU. The owners also wish to build a detached 292-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an office and guest suite. For the ADU foundation to be situated outside the central redwood tree’s critical root zone, this relatively tiny structure takes advantage of the narrower 4-foot side and rear setbacks allowed for ADUs smaller than 800 square feet. The small L-shaped detached ADU frames a wonderful quasi-courtyard around the gargantuan V-twin redwoods at the center of the lot. The ADU shares a matching material palette consisting of cement plaster painted blue and black, vertical redwood siding and soffits, and thin brick veneer. The ADU also features large full-height windows. The only difference between the main home and the ADU material palette is that the roofing will be a dark composition shingle roofing since it will be quite visible from the master balcony.

Instead of plain solid walls in this cozy bonus room, we created a 'wow' effect with multiple (complimentary) colors, and alternating sizes of horizontal stripes. The color palette is further carried throughout - on decorative pillows, accents, and art!

Let there be light. There will be in this sunny style designed to capture amazing views as well as every ray of sunlight throughout the day. Architectural accents of the past give this modern barn-inspired design a historical look and importance. Custom details enhance both the exterior and interior, giving this home real curb appeal. Decorative brackets and large windows surround the main entrance, welcoming friends and family to the handsome board and batten exterior, which also features a solid stone foundation, varying symmetrical roof lines with interesting pitches, trusses, and a charming cupola over the garage. Once inside, an open floor plan provides both elegance and ease. A central foyer leads into the 2,700-square-foot main floor and directly into a roomy 18 by 19-foot living room with a natural fireplace and soaring ceiling heights open to the second floor where abundant large windows bring the outdoors in. Beyond is an approximately 200 square foot screened porch that looks out over the verdant backyard. To the left is the dining room and open-plan family-style kitchen, which, at 16 by 14-feet, has space to accommodate both everyday family and special occasion gatherings. Abundant counter space, a central island and nearby pantry make it as convenient as it is attractive. Also on this side of the floor plan is the first-floor laundry and a roomy mudroom sure to help you keep your family organized. The plan’s right side includes more private spaces, including a large 12 by 17-foot master bedroom suite with natural fireplace, master bath, sitting area and walk-in closet, and private study/office with a large file room. The 1,100-square foot second level includes two spacious family bedrooms and a cozy 10 by 18-foot loft/sitting area. More fun awaits in the 1,600-square-foot lower level, with an 8 by 12-foot exercise room, a hearth room with fireplace, a billiards and refreshment space and a large home theater.

The open-concept condo could use some visual interest. The goal was to create a moody, modern yet cozy space. Inspired by our travels to Europe, we often referred to this style as Moody Mediterranean. We used warm wood tones, sand-colored tiles, and Dekton countertops, a strong man-made solid surface material that mimics travertine.

Family room - traditional family room idea in Atlanta

The clients desired a vintage ‘farmhouse-style’ bathroom. We enlarged the bathroom by removing the walls around the hallway closet. This added a few more feet to the very tight bathroom. We changed the alcove bath to a more spacious and elegant cast-iron soaker tub with classic bath and shower plumbing fixtures. At the time of this photograph, the white shower curtain had not been installed. We designed the traditional vanity and had our cabinet-maker create this beautiful storage unit and medicine cabinets out of solid wood. We sourced the small hexagon floor tile as well as the elegant Carrera Marble counter top. A calming palette of neutral greys with the bright cabinetry creates a cozy bathroom full of character and charm. Materials used: A traditional custom-made white wood double vanity, custom-made mirrored medicine cabinets, marble counter, top-mounted rectangular traditional sinks, 1 inch marble hexagon floor tile, dark gray 3 x 6 subway wall tiles, traditional claw-foot cast-iron free-standing tub and shower, classic chrome and frosted glass wall sconce, traditional chrome plumbing fixtures, pale grey Sherwin Williams paint.

Basements are not just for kids and teenagers anymore. Susan's client wanted a functional space while still appealing to the adults. Soft blues and greens, plaids and a solid tweed-like fabric play together nicely and offer sophistication and comfort.

This proposal is for a new two-story home on the vacant heavily wooded lot with an existing 150-foot-long driveway lined by several beautiful oak trees culminating in a behemoth 43-inch oak tree where the driveway meets the main lot. The far end of the driveway terminates in a grove of three 43/40/43-inch redwoods and at the very center of the vacant lot stands a gargantuan V-twin 59-inch redwood tree paired with a “small” 29-inch redwood tree. The owners want to build a beautiful contemporary-styled home for their family that fully enjoys and embraces the mature trees on their cozy 65-foot by 100-foot lot. As with all small, constrained lots, this project’s site design started first with meeting the relatively large parking and car maneuvering requirements. Menlo Park’s Department of Transportation typically requires side-facing garages to have 24-feet of backup space. So that they could give the largest feature redwood tree on site an added four feet (50%) of clearance outside of its critical root zone, the owners agreed to install a vehicle turntable at the end of their driveway to eliminate the extra four feet of space needed to back up and turnaround. This allowed them to pull their garage forward an additional four feet towards the front property line on the panhandle side, drastically reducing the rest of the home’s impact on the gargantuan V-Twin paired redwood tree at the center of the lot. One of the owners has mobility issues, and accordingly, they first sought to design a one-story floor plan that incorporated all their family’s needs including plenty of covered patio and deck space to enjoy our fantastic California weather. But that single-story footprint spread too far into the critical root zones of several of the redwood trees on site, even despite the use of the vehicle turntable. During my interview process with the owners, they made it clear to me that one of their primary concerns is ensuring that the largest trees on site would thrive and become features of their new home after construction is complete. The single-story designs that removed the grove of three huge redwood trees were non-starters, as was the skimpy 5x10 master bath I designed when trying to squeeze the whole house program into an overly compromised single-story design. It was therefore deemed necessary to go with a two-story design despite the owner’s mobility issues. This two-story design has a much more compact ground floor footprint and has no bedrooms downstairs, other than the detached ADU. The owners must give up the floor area and incur the costs to install a residential elevator to access their upstairs master suite. Our ground floor footprint is smaller due to the two-story design decision, and our foundation is pulled away from the trees thanks to the vehicle turntable. Yet, a tiny portion of the home’s ground floor footprint still encroaches into the critical root zones of the largest 59” redwood tree. Therefore, as outlined in the Arborist Report prepared by Aesculus Arboricultural Consulting, the structural engineers are incorporating an array of drilled piers and shallow-grade beams for the main home’s foundation and deck area nearest the redwood’s critical root zone. This drilled piers and grade beam foundation is a type of “bridging” foundation as outlined in Aesculus’ report to preserve the health of these trees that the property was designed around. The rest of the foundation will be constructed as an insulated slab-on-grade foundation to minimize the number of steps and ramps needed for the owners to enjoy their home and patio areas. Despite the owner’s desire to keep as many trees as possible on site, and despite the smaller ground floor footprint and the advantage of the vehicle turntable, the need for a 20x20-foot garage and 20x20/25-foot guest parking space on our panhandle lot requires the removal of two heritage trees in the required driveway, a 16” coast redwood, and a 17” coast redwood. An alternate design, such as swapping the garage and guest parking locations north-to-south, still requires the removal of these two trees for vehicle maneuvering but has the added disadvantage of cutting off the home’s sightlines to the behemoth 43” oak tree just outside the currently proposed front patio space and living room. Jim Redman of Elements Landscape is proposing 13 new trees be planted on site to replace the lost value of these two heritage coast redwood trees. This contemporary architectural design features clean lines, and an abundance of full-height windows and large skylights to best take in the immense trees on site. To blend in with the forest-like setting, the home boasts a mix of rich textures and features a color palette of natural wood tones contrasted with dark blue and black. Once through the new steel gate at the street and down the 150-foot tree-lined driveway, a large covered front patio becomes visible past the neighbor’s detached accessory structure. The covered patio is just across the driveway from the beautiful 43” behemoth coast live oak. The single plane of the covered patio roof is delicately supported by a pair of steel posts in a “V-twin” configuration much like the largest redwood trees that tower over the center of the lot and will still be visible above the new two-story home, even from the front yard. The patio is covered in a dark-colored standing seam roof, with steel C-channel fascias, and tongue-and-groove wood ceiling planks on the underside. Generously sized skylights on the patio roof and inside the living area allow for impressive views of the amazing oak canopy as well as precious natural light. Supporting the sloped covered patio on the other side is the two-car garage with a secondary bedroom suite stacked above the garage. This two-story volume is to be clad in vertical clear-coated redwood siding, to tie in with the grove of three 43-inch redwood trees just beyond. The garage door, and the bank of windows for Bedroom#2 above feature a steel fascia eyebrow header feature to provide shade and overhang protection, as we are not proposing a large overhang at this “redwood trunk”. The garage and bedroom volume are pulled 16 feet away from the side property line, instead of the minimum required setback of 6’-6”, thus leaving plenty of room for the redwood grove and existing mature pear tree to continue to thrive. This existing mature green screen in this 16-foot-wide side yard is a feature worth soaking in, which is why tall windows with low sill heights are proposed for both the stairs and the upstairs hallway. Though it may be infrequent to approve side-facing 2nd floor windows with sill heights as low as what we’re proposing, we are confident that the mature green screen and the over 16-foot-wide side yard are sufficient to provide for the continued privacy of our neighbor’s rear yard space, especially considering theses windows are in walkway zones. The covered patio at the front entry is also bound by the 10-foot-tall living room. The great room is clad in a dark blue brick veneer, which wraps around all three sides of the living room. Upon entering the home from the covered patio, you are immediately greeted with one of the most impressive features of the home’s design: a 10-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide set of sliding glass doors. From the entry, this huge opening gives merely an initial glimpse of the massive trunks of the gargantuan V-twin redwoods sitting at the center of the lot. All three sliding glass panels open directly out into the smaller partially covered deck in the rear. This roof overhang element matches the design of the front patio with a steel C-channel fascia and a large skylight. But the rear deck’s roof element is set flat at a ten-foot ceiling height so that the living room’s ceiling seems to float above and out beyond the expanse of full-height sliding doors, thus creating an indoor-outdoor living space that will feel much larger than the home’s actual footprint. This rear covered deck is smaller than the patio in the front and also has a mix of solid and open-slatted roofing to allow for more solar access for the relatively small amount of open sky available. The downstairs living room is open to the dining and kitchen areas, as well as the stair-and-elevator tower beyond. The stair tower is very open and glassy, and the stairs wind up and around the redwood-clad elevator tower. From certain perspectives in the 16-foot-wide side yard, it will almost seem as if the grove of three redwoods has a fourth tree that the house and the stairs were carefully built around. Other than the 3-foot-wide windows, the exterior walls of the stair tower, downstairs utility spaces, and Bedroom#3 above are finished in cement plaster, painted dark blue and black. The sloped roof over the stair-and-elevator tower continues cleanly over the area of upstairs Bedroom#3. This roof level is set by the side daylight plane and only yields an inside wall height of just under 6 feet in height. The owners are satisfied that the rest of this upstairs room has a nice vaulted ceiling to make up for the one short wall under the daylight plane. The rest of the ground floor adjacent to the stair tower consists of a small utility wing containing a half-bath, laundry, storage area, and an exterior alcove for the electric heat pump HVAC unit. This short wing also gives more accessible access to the rear yard deck, as well as a backdrop for an outdoor kitchen. The bright white stone backsplash for the outdoor kitchen provides contrast to the otherwise consistent use of cement plaster painted dark blue and black for the two-story wing closest to the detached ADU. Though Bedroom#3 is stacked directly above this small wing, it is relatively short to comply with the side daylight plane of this narrow lot. Still, to further help break up the scale of this wall, another steel fascia eyebrow element is set about 8 feet above the rear deck. The master suite sits centered above the ten-foot-tall great room. The master bedroom and its balcony, as well as the master bathtub area, have a commanding view of the central redwood trees and their impressive canopy, though the balcony is mostly recessed and should pose no privacy concerns to the neighbor’s rear yards. The master balcony parapet is clad in the same brick veneer continuing up from the living room below. A dark-painted metal rail makes up the rest of the open guardrail height. The entire length of the master balcony is comprised of 9-foot-tall sliding glass doors, but the area above the doors, as well as the area below the master bathroom windows, is accented with more redwood siding. The remainder of the master suite bathroom and walk-in closet is finished in cement plaster painted dark blue. The master bathroom has one side yard-facing window but will be frosted glass for both the owner’s and the neighbor’s privacy. The 2nd floor is capped under a simple gable roof design with one roof ridge and varying eave and rake overhangs depending on the 2nd-floor layout and solar orientation. Since these roof planes are quite difficult to see in the middle of the heavily wooded panhandle lot, we are proposing a white TPO roofing for these two upper roof planes as a more sustainable choice compared to more dark-colored roofing like the covered patios and detached ADU. The owners also wish to build a detached 292-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as an office and guest suite. For the ADU foundation to be situated outside the central redwood tree’s critical root zone, this relatively tiny structure takes advantage of the narrower 4-foot side and rear setbacks allowed for ADUs smaller than 800 square feet. The small L-shaped detached ADU frames a wonderful quasi-courtyard around the gargantuan V-twin redwoods at the center of the lot. The ADU shares a matching material palette consisting of cement plaster painted blue and black, vertical redwood siding and soffits, and thin brick veneer. The ADU also features large full-height windows. The only difference between the main home and the ADU material palette is that the roofing will be a dark composition shingle roofing since it will be quite visible from the master balcony.

This extensive project showcases a remarkable transformation of a 1920s Craftsman home, combining a thoughtfully designed second-story addition with a full custom remodel of the first floor. The new upper level adds a spacious primary suite, complete with a bedroom, walk-in closet, laundry room, and a stunning bathroom with a drop-in tub, custom vanity, Caesarstone quartz countertops, and a walk-in shower wrapped in green subway tile, medallion accents, and natural stone. The first floor was reimagined with a new layout to better suit modern living. The kitchen features custom cabinetry, a seamless Corian countertop with integrated sink, and copper hardware. A cozy built-in banquette and natural stone backsplash with medallion inserts bring both elegance and personality to the space. The formal dining room boasts wraparound custom millwork and hidden LED strip lighting within the crown to create ambient mood lighting. Throughout the home, you’ll find true Craftsman detailing—from solid red oak floors and Marvin wood windows to picture railing trim, cloud corbel detailing, and stained wood baseboards and casings. Skylights with concealed LED strips flood the second floor with natural light while creating atmosphere. The original fireplace was preserved and enhanced with hand-stained brick, a unique custom drywall design, and Zia handmade tile on the hearth. On the exterior, wood shingle siding and custom-built columns enclose the redesigned front porch, which features a pony wall and decorative wood corbels. The original 1920s dormer was meticulously restored, including custom rafter tail and window detailing that ties into the home’s timeless architecture. This project is a true homage to Craftsman design—blending historic charm with modern luxury and handcrafted finishes in every room.

Family Room, Aayers Supreme, Ivory Coast, Bellevue, WA
Example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept medium tone wood floor family room design in Seattle with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

In this white kitchen renovation, we removed the old wooden shaker-style kitchen cabinetry and replaced them with all new white and grey cabinets, and white marble counter tops. Expertly hidden behind some of these cabinets is the family’s new walk-in pantry. The original space had a small, awkward-shaped kitchen island that was so small it was barely functional or convenient for more than one person to sit at. We gave the homeowners a much larger kitchen island, with a beveled edge, that now has more than enough space for eating, socializing, or doing work. With a large overhang counter top on one side, there is now room for several backless bar stools tucked under the island. You’ll also notice glitters of gold inside the two over-sized lighting fixtures suspended over the island. We created the homeowners a small wok kitchen just off of their new white kitchen renovation. In the main kitchen, we added a ceramic flat cook top and subtle white exhaust hood with an elegant rose-gold trim. Behind it, a white/grey mosaic back splash acts as a wall accent to provide some dimension to the otherwise solid white space. Surrounding the range hood are two large wall cabinets with clear doors to provide extra storage without adding bulk to the newly opened room. The adjacent dining room was also updated to include a long, contemporary dining table with comfortable seating for eight (ten if you want to get cozy). We replaced the low-hanging run-of-the-mill chandelier with a higher, more modern style made of gold and glass. Behind it all is a new dark grey accent wall with a paneled design to add dimension and depth to the new brighter room.

Relationship: Client Project Date: March 2014 Project Price Range: more than $100,000 Having purchased our first house in Valley Glen, North Hollywood, we were aware it was in need of serious remodeling. A 1950s Ranch-style home, it came complete with peeling wallpaper, musty carpeting, and even some dilapidated walls. As first-time homeowners we were prepared to spend more money to improve it, but weary when we began meeting contractors. Buyer’s remorse already set in when we interviewed several contractors who were either aloof or unscrupulous. Then we were fortunate enough to find Mike Ross. He immediately allayed our stress with his professional and forthright demeanor and his integrity was as rock solid from the day we met him through the several months it took to complete our large renovation. While we had some specific things we wanted in our house, Mike and his team took our wish list and far exceeded our expectations to help truly realize the vision of our dream. Originally a three-bedroom, fourteen-hundred square foot home, our remodel brought an addition of a thousand square feet as well as an overhaul of the landscape; this prospect was particularly daunting for uninitiated owners such as us, but Mike’s consummate professionalism shone through and made the task exponentially less stressful for us. As well as a new 850 sf Master Bedroom, including a fireplace, and a steam unit in the bath, we added a cozy home theater room, laundry room, and the once forgotten backyard brought a new deck and patio with a trellis. Furthermore, because we went green and made it a smart home, we’re already more energy efficient. In several rooms, as well as the main hallway, for example, Mike installed solar tubes and the amount of natural light that bathes the house is amazing. Even my mom, when she came to visit, was always looking for a light-switch. As our contractor, Mike Ross took the reins to steer the project and keep it on course and he did so exceptionally. Mike and his team were as attentive to the quality of every nook and corner and he always sought our approval and happiness. Consistently communicative, he always kept us in the loop about progress and was always there to answer any questions and concerns. When an unforeseen contingency did arise, Mike assuaged our concerns by taking action ASAP to rectify the problem. Mike’s team, too, all take pleasure in their efforts. An eclectic group of skilled artisans and craftsmen, they are all polite, punctual, and proud of their work. Thank you, Mike Ross, for your outstanding leadership, your impeccable standards, and your commitment to our happiness. Dale & Helen Keis

This extensive project showcases a remarkable transformation of a 1920s Craftsman home, combining a thoughtfully designed second-story addition with a full custom remodel of the first floor. The new upper level adds a spacious primary suite, complete with a bedroom, walk-in closet, laundry room, and a stunning bathroom with a drop-in tub, custom vanity, Caesarstone quartz countertops, and a walk-in shower wrapped in green subway tile, medallion accents, and natural stone. The first floor was reimagined with a new layout to better suit modern living. The kitchen features custom cabinetry, a seamless Corian countertop with integrated sink, and copper hardware. A cozy built-in banquette and natural stone backsplash with medallion inserts bring both elegance and personality to the space. The formal dining room boasts wraparound custom millwork and hidden LED strip lighting within the crown to create ambient mood lighting. Throughout the home, you’ll find true Craftsman detailing—from solid red oak floors and Marvin wood windows to picture railing trim, cloud corbel detailing, and stained wood baseboards and casings. Skylights with concealed LED strips flood the second floor with natural light while creating atmosphere. The original fireplace was preserved and enhanced with hand-stained brick, a unique custom drywall design, and Zia handmade tile on the hearth. On the exterior, wood shingle siding and custom-built columns enclose the redesigned front porch, which features a pony wall and decorative wood corbels. The original 1920s dormer was meticulously restored, including custom rafter tail and window detailing that ties into the home’s timeless architecture. This project is a true homage to Craftsman design—blending historic charm with modern luxury and handcrafted finishes in every room.

In this 1905 Tudor home, the intent of this design was to take advantage of the classic architecture of the home and incorporate modern conveniences. Located in the Joseph Berry Subdivision in Detroit, this stellar home presented several design challenges. The most difficult challenge to overcome was the 11” slope from one end of the kitchen to the other, caused by 110 years of settling. All new floor joists were installed and the floor by the side door was then recessed down one step. This created a cozy nook when you first enter the kitchen. A tiered ceiling with strategically planned cabinetry heights and crown molding concealed the slope of the walls at the ceiling level. The second challenge in this historic home was the awkward foot print of the kitchen. It’s likely that this kitchen had a butler’s pantry originally. However it was remodeled sometime in the 70’s and all original character was erased. Clever pantry storage was added to an awkward corner creating a space that mimicked the essence of a butler’s pantry, while providing storage desired in kitchens today. Keeping the large footprint of the kitchen presented obstacles with the working triangle; the distance from the sink to the cooktop is several feet. The solution was installation of a pot filler over the cooktop that added convenience and elegance (not sure about this word). Not everything in this project was a challenge; the discovery of a brick chimney hiding behind plaster was a welcome surprise and brought character back honoring the historic charm of this beautiful home. Kitchen Designer: Rebekah Tull of Whiski Kitchen Design Studio Remodeling Contractor: Renaissance Restorations, Inc. Counter Top Fabricator: Lakeside Solid Surfaces - Cambria Cabinetry: Legacy Crafted Cabinets Photographer: Shermin Photography

In this white kitchen renovation, we removed the old wooden shaker-style kitchen cabinetry and replaced them with all new white and grey cabinets, and white marble counter tops. Expertly hidden behind some of these cabinets is the family’s new walk-in pantry. The original space had a small, awkward-shaped kitchen island that was so small it was barely functional or convenient for more than one person to sit at. We gave the homeowners a much larger kitchen island, with a beveled edge, that now has more than enough space for eating, socializing, or doing work. With a large overhang counter top on one side, there is now room for several backless bar stools tucked under the island. You’ll also notice glitters of gold inside the two over-sized lighting fixtures suspended over the island. We created the homeowners a small wok kitchen just off of their new white kitchen renovation. In the main kitchen, we added a ceramic flat cook top and subtle white exhaust hood with an elegant rose-gold trim. Behind it, a white/grey mosaic back splash acts as a wall accent to provide some dimension to the otherwise solid white space. Surrounding the range hood are two large wall cabinets with clear doors to provide extra storage without adding bulk to the newly opened room. The adjacent dining room was also updated to include a long, contemporary dining table with comfortable seating for eight (ten if you want to get cozy). We replaced the low-hanging run-of-the-mill chandelier with a higher, more modern style made of gold and glass. Behind it all is a new dark grey accent wall with a paneled design to add dimension and depth to the new brighter room.

Photo: Jesse Young © 2020 Houzz
Inspiration for a bedroom remodel