A steeply sloping site posed considerable challenges for Morpurgo Architects’ expansion and renovation of this front to back split-level house. To provide a gradual transition for the family from their home, situated on a high plateau, to the brook and pool below, we designed numerous patios and decks at multiple levels. The house features large, divided-light arched windows. Throughout the first floor, we created lit vaulted ceilings that give the living areas a spacious, open quality. A wide central hallway forms the spine of the house, opening onto a dining room, with columns that support a curved yoke-shaped header that is repeated in the entrance gate on the grounds. Renovations were scheduled in four precisely planned construction phases that allowed the family to continue living in the house during the building process. This elegant, yet informal home, in its serene setting, is the product of Morpurgo Architects’ seamless union of the house and the site.

This unique 2.75 acre property, located on the Roosevelt Channel on Captiva Island, was transformed from a barren construction site into a tropical garden that would rival some botanical gardens. The homeowners are garden enthusiasts and collaborated closely with Bob Walsh and the landscape team to create a variety of lush landscape gardens including; a Tropical Flowering Tree Garden, Moonlight & Scent Garden, Citrus & Edible Garden, Specimen Palm Gardens, Tropical Shade Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, and Waterfall Gardens with lagoon pools for Koi fish. Outdoor living was of primary consideration as well. The Seminole Indian Chickee Hut overlooks a private Island Beach with hammocks to offer a retreat for entertaining and relaxation while a 42 foot circular Stone Labyrinth is a place for meditation and contemplation. Moon and accent landscape lighting allow the numerous pathways and gardens to be enjoyed well beyond sunset.

This modern-style executive home takes full advantage of the views and rocky terrain. The homeowners are retirees whose goal was to build a home that they could age in place in. Taking their needs into consideration, we created a large open concept design that takes advantage of the natural light and scenery while enabling the owners full accessibility throughout. All the primary rooms are located on the main floor with guest and additional spaces on lower floors. All door widths were increased and a roll thru shower was installed to allow for wheelchair accessibility if required in the future. The entire house is controlled by a state of the art iPad home automation system controlling media, mechanical systems, lighting & security. "Light & Bright" are the items our client wanted us to focus on, with "Light" we wanted to capture as much as natural light from the large windows as possible. As for "Bright" we kept most of the finishes grey and white and clean. Pops of colour and warm hardwood flooring tie the entire space together.

This is a Kitchen Remodel we did on an existing home that another builder had initially built. Before the remodel you can see the kitchen was very closed off and lacking storage. After we remodeled the kitchen not only was the kitchen opened up but we custom made counters, additional cabinetry, bead board ceilings, subway tile, new stainless sink, wired for recessed lighting, painted as well as created a coffee bar and more. We would love to discuss your remodel/addition/or new build of your project. We are committed to Build Beautiful. Thanks for your Consideration. -Joel & Megan Ray.

It doesn’t always require a major reconfiguration to accomplish a major transformation. That was certainly the case with this gorgeous kitchen remodel! Although these homeowners were eager for some significant improvements, there were a few things that were still working for them. Collaborating with their designer, they elected to stick with the original footprint of the kitchen, keep their red oak flooring, and integrate the original quaint brick backsplash. So how did we create such a dramatically different space while preserving such foundational elements? There were a few key revisions that made all the difference… Most notably, we brought the light! What a major impact this made…from floor to ceiling! To start, refinishing the dark hardwood floors restored their brilliance and lightened them considerably. The warm white custom cabinetry and light-toned quartz countertops gave this kitchen an updated look that is transformational. Raising the dropped ceiling, we replaced the florescent lighting with recessed lights and added modern pendant lights over the peninsula. We painted the wood trim and window casings and exchanged the aging wood windows for white vinyl windows. Collectively, these design choices give the impression of a more spacious kitchen, but it remains within the existing footprint. As always, careful consideration was given to the cabinet design to maximize the space and functionality of this kitchen. Raising the ceiling allowed for taller upper cabinets. The full-height pantry now provides generous storage for food and small appliances, and even houses their microwave oven. The island’s built-in bookcase is the ideal spot to keep cookbooks accessible for quick referencing. Although their former cabinetry did have a fixed wine rack, the new design makes this corner a lovely focal feature—a proper wine bar in our opinion. The matte black cabinet hardware is simple and current, contrasting beautifully with the white cabinetry, giving it that updated farmhouse appeal.

This modern-style executive home takes full advantage of the views and rocky terrain. The homeowners are retirees whose goal was to build a home that they could age in place in. Taking their needs into consideration, we created a large open concept design that takes advantage of the natural light and scenery while enabling the owners full accessibility throughout. All the primary rooms are located on the main floor with guest and additional spaces on lower floors. All door widths were increased and a roll thru shower was installed to allow for wheelchair accessibility if required in the future. The entire house is controlled by a state of the art iPad home automation system controlling media, mechanical systems, lighting & security. "Light & Bright" are the items our client wanted us to focus on, with "Light" we wanted to capture as much as natural light from the large windows as possible. As for "Bright" we kept most of the finishes grey and white and clean. Pops of colour and warm hardwood flooring tie the entire space together.

Upgrades to this contemporary west coast home bring simplicity, light and improved movement. Stairs were reconfigured and opened with glass, wood and steel – giving visibility from the entrance through to the living spaces, where windows openings were enlarged to capture the ocean and islands beyond. Custom millwork placed in the kitchen increased function and aesthetic, and created a workspace situated towards the expansive west coast view. All finishes were upgraded and spaces opened considerably. Situated just outside a major city, this home now conveys the sense that it is a place of retreat, perfect for an owner who aspires to study art. KBC Developments www.kbcdevelopments.com Photography by Ema Peter | www.emapeter.com

Upgrades to this contemporary west coast home bring simplicity, light and improved movement. Stairs were reconfigured and opened with glass, wood and steel – giving visibility from the entrance through to the living spaces, where windows openings were enlarged to capture the ocean and islands beyond. Custom millwork placed in the kitchen increased function and aesthetic, and created a workspace situated towards the expansive west coast view. All finishes were upgraded and spaces opened considerably. Situated just outside a major city, this home now conveys the sense that it is a place of retreat, perfect for an owner who aspires to study art. KBC Developments www.kbcdevelopments.com Photography by Ema Peter | www.emapeter.com

Photography: © Anastasia Hockinson
Design ideas for an eclectic landscaping in San Francisco.

Photo Credit: Tagina Ceramica Tile trends are cyclical, and the current trend of "return to rustic" is a natural fit for Tagina. They simply looked to their history and the products that made them famous; then using the latest technology and a contemporary sensibility, they created this new line which represents the pinnacle of their considerable capabilities. Rich colors, wide variation, and slightly chiseled edges are all characteristics of Apogeo. Tileshop 1005 Harrison Street Berkeley, CA 94710 Other California Locations: San Jose and Van Nuys (Los Angeles)

Designed from Start to Finish When this homeowner began the design phase of a new home, the experts at Braen Supply were immediately called. Braen Supply assisted in all phases of the design, after walking the grounds we were able to provide ideas and assist with the driveway and patio layout. Then, taking into consideration how the stone on the driveway, walkway, patio and fireplace would work with one another, the homeowner allowed our experts to pick and choose the materials that would complement the home and best accentuate its features. Customizing the Materials In order to achieve this goal, Braen Supply created custom 3” driveway cobbles, which have become so popular that they are now in stock in our Wanaque location.

Designed from Start to Finish When this homeowner began the design phase of a new home, the experts at Braen Supply were immediately called. Braen Supply assisted in all phases of the design, after walking the grounds we were able to provide ideas and assist with the driveway and patio layout. Then, taking into consideration how the stone on the driveway, walkway, patio and fireplace would work with one another, the homeowner allowed our experts to pick and choose the materials that would complement the home and best accentuate its features. Customizing the Materials In order to achieve this goal, Braen Supply created custom 3” driveway cobbles, which have become so popular that they are now in stock in our Wanaque location.

This modern-style executive home takes full advantage of the views and rocky terrain. The homeowners are retirees whose goal was to build a home that they could age in place in. Taking their needs into consideration, we created a large open concept design that takes advantage of the natural light and scenery while enabling the owners full accessibility throughout. All the primary rooms are located on the main floor with guest and additional spaces on lower floors. All door widths were increased and a roll thru shower was installed to allow for wheelchair accessibility if required in the future. The entire house is controlled by a state of the art iPad home automation system controlling media, mechanical systems, lighting & security. "Light & Bright" are the items our client wanted us to focus on, with "Light" we wanted to capture as much as natural light from the large windows as possible. As for "Bright" we kept most of the finishes grey and white and clean. Pops of colour and warm hardwood flooring tie the entire space together.

Our clients wanted to add an ensuite bathroom to their charming 1950’s Cape Cod, but they were reluctant to sacrifice the only closet in their owner’s suite. The hall bathroom they’d been sharing with their kids was also in need of an update so we took this into consideration during the design phase to come up with a creative new layout that would tick all their boxes. By relocating the hall bathroom, we were able to create an ensuite bathroom with a generous shower, double vanity, and plenty of space left over for a separate walk-in closet. We paired the classic look of marble with matte black fixtures to add a sophisticated, modern edge. The natural wood tones of the vanity and teak bench bring warmth to the space. A frosted glass pocket door to the walk-through closet provides privacy, but still allows light through. We gave our clients additional storage by building drawers into the Cape Cod’s eave space.

This is a Kitchen Remodel we did on an existing home that another builder had initially built. Before the remodel you can see the kitchen was very closed off and lacking storage. After we remodeled the kitchen not only was the kitchen opened up but we custom made counters, additional cabinetry, bead board ceilings, subway tile, new stainless sink, wired for recessed lighting, painted as well as created a coffee bar and more. We would love to discuss your remodel/addition/or new build of your project. We are committed to Build Beautiful. Thanks for your Consideration. -Joel & Megan Ray.

This modern-style executive home takes full advantage of the views and rocky terrain. The homeowners are retirees whose goal was to build a home that they could age in place in. Taking their needs into consideration, we created a large open concept design that takes advantage of the natural light and scenery while enabling the owners full accessibility throughout. All the primary rooms are located on the main floor with guest and additional spaces on lower floors. All door widths were increased and a roll thru shower was installed to allow for wheelchair accessibility if required in the future. The entire house is controlled by a state of the art iPad home automation system controlling media, mechanical systems, lighting & security. "Light & Bright" are the items our client wanted us to focus on, with "Light" we wanted to capture as much as natural light from the large windows as possible. As for "Bright" we kept most of the finishes grey and white and clean. Pops of colour and warm hardwood flooring tie the entire space together.

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

Visions of traditional grandeur unfold in this stunning home in the Daniel Island Park Community. Built with grand design and considerable attention to detail, this remarkable home's windows are framed with raised panel shutters by Armor Building Solutions. Our raised panel shutters are custom manufactured in the United States using only the highest-quality and most durable composite materials available in the industry. We promise that your new moisture-resistant shutters won’t fade, crack, or peel, and will perform flawlessly in any climate. These materials and benefits add up to create a virtually maintenance-free product. Learn more: • Popular architectural style • Custom sizes for any window • Finest quality in the industry • Won’t shrink or crack • Available in any color and many styles

This modern-style executive home takes full advantage of the views and rocky terrain. The homeowners are retirees whose goal was to build a home that they could age in place in. Taking their needs into consideration, we created a large open concept design that takes advantage of the natural light and scenery while enabling the owners full accessibility throughout. All the primary rooms are located on the main floor with guest and additional spaces on lower floors. All door widths were increased and a roll thru shower was installed to allow for wheelchair accessibility if required in the future. The entire house is controlled by a state of the art iPad home automation system controlling media, mechanical systems, lighting & security. "Light & Bright" are the items our client wanted us to focus on, with "Light" we wanted to capture as much as natural light from the large windows as possible. As for "Bright" we kept most of the finishes grey and white and clean. Pops of colour and warm hardwood flooring tie the entire space together.