An historic Spanish Colonial residence built in 1925 being redesigned and furnished for a modern-day Southern California family was the challenge. The interiors of the main house needed the backgrounds set and then a timeless collection created for its furnishings. Lifestyle was always a consideration as well as the interiors relating to the strong architecture of the residence. Natural colors such as terra cotta, tans, blues, greens, old red and soft vintage shades were incorporated throughout. Our goal was to maintain the historic character of the residence combining design elements and materials considered classic in Southern California Spanish Colonial architecture. Natural fiber textiles, leathers and woven linens were the predominated upholstery choices. A 7000 square foot basement was added and furnished to provide a gym, Star Wars theater, game areas, spa area and a simulator for indoor golf and other sports. Antiques were selected throughout the world, fine art from major galleries, custom reproductions fabricated in the old-world style. Collectible carpets were selected for the reclaimed hardwood flooring in all the areas. An estancia and garden over the basement were created and furnished with old world designs and materials as reclaimed woods, terra cotta and French limestone flooring.

The main goals of this project was to make it more usable and enjoyable for the owner, to reduce maintenance and to created a covered area for enjoyment year-round. This design also kept the family's new puppy in mind - fencing it in for safety and planting with careful consideration of plants that are safe for dogs. The winding pathway for humans is reminiscent of a stream bed and there is also a narrow perimeter fence specifically for the pup! Ben Park

The main goals of this project was to make it more usable and enjoyable for the owner, to reduce maintenance and to created a covered area for enjoyment year-round. This design also kept the family's new puppy in mind - fencing it in for safety and planting with careful consideration of plants that are safe for dogs. The winding pathway for humans is reminiscent of a stream bed and there is also a narrow perimeter fence specifically for the pup! Ben Park

Walnut cabinetry paired with our Carre-FS warm white cabinets. This kitchen blends in modern and shaker style perfectly together to create a gorgeous kitchen that takes into consideration of pattern, texture, and contrast. Appliances are seamlessly integrated into the design at a fairly ergonomic height.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   One of my favorite things to work on is older homes with a bit of history because I find it an interesting challenge to marry the historical architectural features of a home with modern design elements that work well for my client’s current lifestyle. This home was particularly fun because it was the second kitchen we had done for this family and was quite a departure from the style of the first kitchen. The before shot of the kitchen shows a view from the family room. See the dropped ceiling? We were curious, was this just part of the design or was the dropped ceiling there to hide mechanicals? Well we soon found out that it was mostly decorative (yay!), and with the exception of a little bit of work to some plumbing from an upstairs bathroom and rerouting of the ventilation system within the original floor joists, we were in the clear, phew! The shot of the completed kitchen from roughly the same vantage point shows how much taller the ceilings are. It makes a huge difference in the feel of the space. Dark and gloomy turned fresh and light! Another serious consideration was what do we do with the skinny transom window above the refrigerator. After much back and forth, we decided to eliminate it and do some open shelving instead. This ended up being one of the nicest areas in the room. I am calling it the “fun zone” because it houses all the barware, wine cubbies and a bar fridge — the perfect little buffet spot for entertaining. It is flanked on either side by pull out pantries that I’m sure will get a ton of use. Since the neighboring room has literally three walls of almost full height windows, the kitchen gets plenty of light. The gold shelving brackets, large pendant fixtures over the island and the tile mural behind the range all pay subtle homage to the home’s prairie style architecture and bring a bit of sparkle to the room. Even though the room is quite large, the work triangle is very tight with the large Subzero fridge, sink and range all nearby for easy maneuvering during meal prep. There is seating for four at the island, and work aisles are generous. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

To see the videos about this project: Part 1: https://youtu.be/LfNAaG1lOEs Part 2: https://youtu.be/fBP-RzFqPTM We have created this new front entry porch as a transitional space and intuitive connection between the private world of the family and the public realm of the sidewalk. For a homeowner the front porch can be one of the best ways to build a sense of neighborhood community. For this front entry porch project we have added a multi pitch hip roof across the front of the home. This roof covers the sitting area and serves to properly define the front entry area of the home. This covered porch allows room for entertaining, as well as considerably improving the homes curb appeal.

Creating a home with reclaimed agricultural timbers can have its own challenges; finding pieces without old mortise pockets or peg holes in the wrong spot; getting long enough lengths to span the necessary widths and more. For this cottage, the larger consideration was the available building area and overall size of the summer home. Situated on a steep bank leading directly to the lake, special planning was used to make the narrow, tall square footage of the space feel open and inviting.

A truly beautiful addition to the Normandy Beach community, this custom home sits overlooking the Barnegat Bay. A summer escape for an ever-growing family, Falcon Industries has had the privelege of building two custom homes for this amazing family. Taking into consideration new building codes and elevations put in place following Hurricane Sandy, this home artfully meets these standards while creating a comfortable and inviting respite from the everyday. Custom furniture, including bedding and dressers hand-built by the Falcon team, are just some of the magical elements of this residence.

Inspired by the modern romanticism, blissful tranquility and harmonious elegance of Bobby McAlpine’s home designs, this custom home designed and built by Anthony Wilder Design/Build perfectly combines all these elements and more. With Southern charm and European flair, this new home was created through careful consideration of the needs of the multi-generational family who lives there.

A truly beautiful addition to the Normandy Beach community, this custom home sits overlooking the Barnegat Bay. A summer escape for an ever-growing family, Falcon Industries has had the privelege of building two custom homes for this amazing family. Taking into consideration new building codes and elevations put in place following Hurricane Sandy, this home artfully meets these standards while creating a comfortable and inviting respite from the everyday. Custom furniture, including bedding and dressers hand-built by the Falcon team, are just some of the magical elements of this residence.

This large estate home incorporates an indoor basketball court, indoor pool, lower level bar and bowling alley. Careful interpretation of turn of the century British architecture and consideration for the equestrian character of the Saratoga region inspired the language used to organize this home’s exterior. The power and mass of stucco and stone are offset by gracefully sweeping rooflines and painted trim to create a balance of form intended to be impressive and yet welcoming. The compound includes the main residence, a 1,200 square foot guest residence, pond, outdoor pool and tennis court.

Creating a home with reclaimed agricultural timbers can have its own challenges; finding pieces without old mortise pockets or peg holes in the wrong spot; getting long enough lengths to span the necessary widths and more. For this cottage, the larger consideration was the available building area and overall size of the summer home. Situated on a steep bank leading directly to the lake, special planning was used to make the narrow, tall square footage of the space feel open and inviting.

Inspired by the modern romanticism, blissful tranquility and harmonious elegance of Bobby McAlpine’s home designs, this custom home designed and built by Anthony Wilder Design/Build perfectly combines all these elements and more. With Southern charm and European flair, this new home was created through careful consideration of the needs of the multi-generational family who lives there.

The main goals of this project was to make it more usable and enjoyable for the owner, to reduce maintenance and to created a covered area for enjoyment year-round. This design also kept the family's new puppy in mind - fencing it in for safety and planting with careful consideration of plants that are safe for dogs. The winding pathway for humans is reminiscent of a stream bed and there is also a narrow perimeter fence specifically for the pup! Ben Park

A truly beautiful addition to the Normandy Beach community, this custom home sits overlooking the Barnegat Bay. A summer escape for an ever-growing family, Falcon Industries has had the privelege of building two custom homes for this amazing family. Taking into consideration new building codes and elevations put in place following Hurricane Sandy, this home artfully meets these standards while creating a comfortable and inviting respite from the everyday. Custom furniture, including bedding and dressers hand-built by the Falcon team, are just some of the magical elements of this residence.

Walnut cabinetry paired with our Carre-FS warm white cabinets. This kitchen blends in modern and shaker style perfectly together to create a gorgeous kitchen that takes into consideration of pattern, texture, and contrast. Appliances are seamlessly integrated into the design at a fairly ergonomic height.

Example of a large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This zero lot line side area was dirt with 2 overgrown, unhealthy fruit trees before I designed the area to be both eye-pleasing and functional. The desert climate demands special consideration, so artificial turf was used as a 'doggy deposit' area, while the pavers lead from the front part of the house to the rear yard with pool, spa & BBQ, with lake and golf course views beyond. A combination of small and larger rocks require no water & create a riverbed effect & contrast against the green succulents. A bench offers quiet respite and view to the lake beyond.

Creating a home with reclaimed agricultural timbers can have its own challenges; finding pieces without old mortise pockets or peg holes in the wrong spot; getting long enough lengths to span the necessary widths and more. For this cottage, the larger consideration was the available building area and overall size of the summer home. Situated on a steep bank leading directly to the lake, special planning was used to make the narrow, tall square footage of the space feel open and inviting.