Benjamin Lasseter
Large trendy backyard rectangular infinity hot tub photo in Austin with decking

Photo by Gordon Beall Interior Design by Tracy Morris Design
Transitional l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Kelly Keul Duer and Merima Hopkins
Example of a transitional eat-in kitchen design in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Minimalist gray tile gray floor and single-sink freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, gray countertops and a floating vanity

Inspiration for a transitional white tile and subway tile bathroom remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, marble countertops, an undermount tub and white walls

Huge transitional l-shaped dark wood floor, brown floor and vaulted ceiling open concept kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

It is sometimes a surprise what beauty can lurk under the surface of a room. A client with a 1970s kitchen and eat-in area cut up by an unwieldy peninsula was desperate for it to reflect her love of all things English-and-French-Manor-Home. Working closely with my client, we removed the peninsula in favor of a lovely free-standing island that we painted a shade of French Blue. This is topped with Old World sink hardware (note the ceramic HOT and COLD medallions on the faucets!) and a gorgeous marble counter with a very special edge profile that evokes an antique French Boulangerie counter from the 1910s. Pendants with patinaed metal shades over the island further the charming Old World feel. Handmade white and blue tiles laid in a quilted diamond pattern cover the backsplash, and the remainder of the cabinetry at the perimeter is in a warm cream tone. The eat-in near the fireplace got a cozy treatment with custom seat cushions and window seat bench cushions in a classic blue-and-white Toile de Jouy matching the island stools. The nearby living room got a similar treatment. We removed dark wood paneling and dark carpeting in favor of a light sky blue wall and lighter wood flooring. A new rug with the appearance of an heirloom, a new grand-scaled sofa, and some of my client’s precious antiques helped take the room from 70s rec room to English Sitting Room. Photo: Bernardo Grijalva

Jonathan Mitchell
Inspiration for a small contemporary l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, no island and white countertops

This beach side pool has an Infinity or Rimless Edge. The inside coping stone is a Black Absolute Granite with a honed finish, the outside coping is a NYS Gray Green Select Bluestone with a thermal finish. The pool is completed with a Forest Gray Slate tile band and Black Galaxy Pebblefina.

This playful children’s bedroom for two grandsons designed by Mary Anne Smiley, was to bridge the small child to adult gap with furnishings that were fun and youthful in look and feel, but that would transition for the boys as they grow, and would be enjoyable now even to adults guests. This would mean simple clean backgrounds, cutting edge furnishings, vibrant art, and soft supple mix of textures from sleek shiny metallic and acrylic to colorful vinyl for upholstery and resin for desk top, furry Tibetan Lamb long and short and classic furniture pieces that always seem fresh at any stage. Photographer: Dan Piassick

Styled with light and bright marble countertops, a custom library ladder, and rich-colored cabinets accompanied with bold finishes, this space is stunning and truly speaks for itself! • Interior Restoration + Renovation, 1840 Built Home Newton, MA

Mirrored bathroom off of the Dressing Room. Reflection of textile art piece in the dressing room. Glass shower door. Carrera Marble. Wall mounted lavatory. Photos by:Jonathan Mitchell

Master bath with mirrored tiles. Floating vanity. Free standing tub. Linen roman shades. Carrera Marble. Photos:Jonathan Mitchell
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master white floor and marble floor bathroom remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and marble countertops

Floor to ceiling fireplace face made from Calacatta Statuario marble with polished finish and mitered edges. Pacific Stoneworks, Inc. Proudly serving Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties since 1994.

Kelly Keul Duer and Merima Hopkins
Inspiration for a transitional eat-in kitchen remodel in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Home Integration by Cutting Edge Systems; Architecture by Adolfo Perez Architect; Photography by John Horner
Minimalist home theater photo in Boston

In the home’s interior, leather-finish Cippolino marble paving was painstakingly end-matched to create the illusion of one continuous piece of stone traveling through the whole level, under a bathtub made from a single block of Cippolino marble, and transitioning into the master bath’s shower walls. On this same level the kitchen is outfitted with a 15 foot long book-matched Lapis Lazuli island countertop shaped at its perimeter with a “knife edge,” adjacent to a countertop and sink clad in book-matched Cippolino marble. Matched vein-cut travertine paving covers the floor and seamlessly continues through the living room and out onto the exterior sundeck, terminating at the swimming pool which is completely bordered by travertine coping containing slots for drainage that allow the top edge of the pool’s water to become perfectly aligned with the top edge of the adjacent travertine paving, thus creating a level surface from the kitchen to the infinity edge of the pool.

Our empty nester clients bought this 1989 house on the Pacific Coast with the goal of remodeling it once they found the right architect. The shed roof house was built with plain finishes, basic front steps, and a raised panel front door with leaded glass sidelights and an arched window over it, but the location was to die for. Our goal was to make the house more consistently modern, more open, and take greater advantage of the views. At the exterior, we replaced the basic wood siding and clunky trim with a palette of more refined siding, sleek minimalist trim, stucco, and stacked stone. We replaced the old windows with better-proportioned black aluminum windows. We replaced the basic front door with a cool contemporary flush door, replaced the garage door with a compatible new one, replaced the dated exterior lighting, and added new downlights in the eaves. We redesigned the exterior wood stairs with an expansive, flowing design made of concrete and stone. We replaced the solid rails at the exterior with glass rails and completely redesigned the entry with sleek tile, new contemporary wood stairs, and frameless glass rails. We designed a new open kitchen and bathrooms using transitional-style cabinets, cutting-edge appliances, and modern fixtures. The most complicated part of the project was replacing a dated curved glass solarium. We replaced it with a better-insulated sunroom with an actual roof and skylights instead of the original kit solarium. It not only better suits the architecture but it is now one of the owners’ favorite rooms.