English Gardens & Landscaping With this construction we were intent on getting away from what I've heard described as "The ubiquitous dog kennel on steroids look" We deliberately did not use lines or levels, to give the stonework a settled with age appearance. The resident garden gnome has his own alcove built into the rear outer wall.English Gardens & Landscaping

A DEANE client returned in 2022 for an update to their kitchen remodel project from 2006. This incredible transformation was driven by the desire to create a glamorous space for both cooking and entertaining. The frameless cabinetry with a mitered door and satin brass hardware is deliberately understated to highlight the marble. Dramatic and bold, the continuous, book-matched Panda White marble was used throughout the open footprint, including the fireplace surround, to give the space a cohesive feel. The custom, tapered hood, also covered in Panda White is a commanding centerpiece. The expansive space allowed for two waterfall-edge islands with mitered countertops - one for cooking with black-stained oak cabinets for storage and a prep sink, and the second to seat 6 for dining, which replaced the original informal eating area. A tray ceiling with wallpaper detailing elegantly frames both together. No detail was overlooked in the design process. A coffee station with retractable doors and beverage drawers was situated to graciously welcome guests. A Wolf 60” range, walnut interiors, customized drawer inserts, unlacquered brass finishes and a Galley Workstation elevate this kitchen into a truly sophisticated space.

Today’s investment landscape in California features a surge in transforming single-family lots into vibrant multi-family residences, facilitated by recent SB9 and ADU laws. This project exemplifies how a modest 6,750-square-foot lot can accommodate a 1,500-square-foot primary home alongside a 2,500-square-foot duplex, seamlessly integrating design, functionality, and neighborhood aesthetics. The primary residence underwent a meticulous interior transformation, evolving from a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath layout into a spacious 4-bedroom, 2-bath home. Strategic reconfigurations centered around creating an expansive great room—an open-concept space adorned with vaulted ceilings—where the kitchen, dining, and living areas converge into a magnificent communal zone. Exterior updates further distinguish the property. The front and side yards are enclosed with fencing and privacy hedges, linked by concrete pathways that enhance outdoor functionality while compensating for backyard space lost during renovations. The exterior façade was refreshed with darker tones, deliberately contrasting with the duplex to emphasize architectural separation. Designed to preserve the suburban charm, the duplex visually mimics a single-family home from the street. Its facade creates an illusion of a two-story residence, maintaining harmony within the neighborhood fabric. The main unit, developed under SB9 guidelines, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a luxurious parents’ suite situated upstairs. Downstairs, two bedrooms share a full bath, creating a balanced family-oriented layout. The duplex’s interior boasts 9-foot ceilings throughout, elevating the sense of space and openness. The design thoughtfully places the kitchen at the front, inviting guests into the home, while stairs on the right lead to the private upstairs bedroom suite. The ADU offers a two bedroom and two & half baths. the unit is accessible via a private side entrance with a dedicated walkway. Its layout includes a ground-floor living room, a galley kitchen, and a discreet powder room beneath the stairs, designed to contain guest traffic and maintain privacy upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms each feature luxurious bathrooms with expansive showers, adding an element of modern elegance. Both units enjoy thoughtfully landscaped outdoor spaces—private patios, backyard areas, and gated front yards—creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike. This project exemplifies innovative urban infill solutions, blending architectural elegance with legal compliance and community harmony—an inspiring blueprint for the future of residential development in California.

An Ohio family in search of a place to enjoy the Portuguese coast acquired a four-bedroom apartment just outside the center of Cascais. Our studio was engaged to turn a compartmented interior into a holiday residence for a household that gathers in numbers: one that could seat everyone at once and still hold the ease and lightness of a home by the beach. The original plan included a kitchen and laundry room sealed off from the living room, floor finishes and levels that changed from threshold to threshold, and bathrooms in varying styles. Work began by redefining the alignments and circulation. The principal transformation was the opening of the kitchen, creating a more generous social setting centered on a bespoke island fitted with storage and seating. The interior takes its cues from the building’s geometric façade, which projects and recedes in volumes and voids. Bespoke joinery in oak and lacquer carries continuity and order through the apartment. Concealed storage runs throughout: at the entrance, in the dining area, along the living area, and beneath built-in benches. The laundry is merged into the kitchen behind perforated doors for ventilation while keeping the service area discreet. Behind the sofa, a console slips a workspace into the living area without conceding its openness. Curved elements answer the rectilinear architecture; artisanal glazed vertical tiles repeat from the backsplashes onto custom side tables. The palette stays deliberately narrow; the muted oak and lacquer are joined by a softened timber floor, Portuguese Lioz stone, and walls painted to the color of bare plaster. Existing doors and baseboards were repainted in a warm light gray that draws the original elements into the language of the new interior. Upholstery and decorative accents hint at the terracotta, sky blue, and yellow of the façade. The bedrooms are set with upholstered headboards on oak frames, bedside tables that extend those outlines, and wardrobes fit for a long stay. Locally made rugs, bedcovers, and throw pillows soften the composition. In the bathrooms, the plans were reorganized and the showers enlarged. Lioz was used for the counters and sinks, shelves, shower bases, and bathtub surround, with microcement bringing a soothing warmth to the walls, and storage in floating cabinets. Deeper in tone than the rest of the apartment yet never dim, they are quietly elegant rooms made for lingering — taking one’s time getting ready, or unwinding at the end of a day. PHOTOGRAPHY: © ALEXANDER BOGORODSKIY

We recently finished this landscape design and installation project in the Tanglewood neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Our client, a Louisiana native who loves entertaining and wanted to stay connected to her NOLA roots, desired a space that could comfortably accommodate 30+ guests on a regular basis. We deliberately designed the outdoor kitchen without a cover to preserve the view of the magnificent oak trees. Our aim was to create a kitchen that is both durable and visually appealing. The countertop is made of leathered granite, a material that can withstand the unpredictable Texas weather. All the appliances, including the grill, refrigerator, sink, and double side burner, were locally sourced and are made of stainless steel. Additionally, we utilized Austin limestone, which was quarried right here in Texas. To infuse a touch of New Orleans charm into the backyard, we incorporated a fountain. The surrounding black star gravel was designed as a versatile space that can be used for additional dining, seating, or even as a meditation area. To ensure privacy and shade as the plants mature, we strategically planted Eaglestone Holly and Japanese Yew along the fence line. Completing the landscape, we selected Amerishade grass for its excellent shade tolerance.

design: Carrie Preston (Studio TOOP) and Jasper Helmantel (Cruydt Hoeck), 2011 location: Appeltern, NL status: built in 2012 by Appeltern Model Garden Complex photos: Olga van Saane, October 2013 Designed as assignment from both the Dutch gardening magazine Groei & Bloei and the television and radio nature program Vara's Vroege Vogels, this garden serves as a model of how homeowners can incorporate lots of plant life and wildlife into the design but without sacrificing practicality or aesthetics. The garden is deliberately contemporary in its style to emphasize that nature-rich gardens need not look a certain way - insects and birds don't care if the lines are straight or curved. At the same time the garden makes use of affordable, simple, no-nonsense materials. The 40x60 cm paving stones are one of the most common and affordable paving options in the Netherlands, available en masse for free on the Internet. Conceptually we imagined a garden completely paved with the tiles (as to many gardens are) and what would happen if took out some of these stones, used them to build benches and structure and added plants where the tiles had been. In the construction of the benches we include other materials such as bamboo sticks and insulation bricks that create habitat for insects such as solitary bees. The plant palette is based on a selection of native and host plants in combination with the 26 plants plan set up by Groei & Boei -- a list of plants aimed at making the use of more plants in gardens accessible and less intimidating. The choice for the number 26 corresponds with the number of letters in the alphabet in line with the famous Dutch garden designer Mien Ruy's comment that if we only need 26 letters to create a whole language, we should be able to combine and mix 26 plants to express far more than we think.

Here we achieved a unified and balanced sense of sophistication throughout this clients home by carefully curating the finishes, fixtures and custom cabinet details. We deliberately carried the colour scheme between each bathroom to showcase consistency throughout. It’s amazing what a few upgrades in selections can do for your space!

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

In collaboration with an excellent architect and a shop of craftsmen working with intent and deliberation, wonderful things happen. This is an example.

Today’s investment landscape in California features a surge in transforming single-family lots into vibrant multi-family residences, facilitated by recent SB9 and ADU laws. This project exemplifies how a modest 6,750-square-foot lot can accommodate a 1,500-square-foot primary home alongside a 2,500-square-foot duplex, seamlessly integrating design, functionality, and neighborhood aesthetics. The primary residence underwent a meticulous interior transformation, evolving from a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath layout into a spacious 4-bedroom, 2-bath home. Strategic reconfigurations centered around creating an expansive great room—an open-concept space adorned with vaulted ceilings—where the kitchen, dining, and living areas converge into a magnificent communal zone. Exterior updates further distinguish the property. The front and side yards are enclosed with fencing and privacy hedges, linked by concrete pathways that enhance outdoor functionality while compensating for backyard space lost during renovations. The exterior façade was refreshed with darker tones, deliberately contrasting with the duplex to emphasize architectural separation. Designed to preserve the suburban charm, the duplex visually mimics a single-family home from the street. Its facade creates an illusion of a two-story residence, maintaining harmony within the neighborhood fabric. The main unit, developed under SB9 guidelines, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a luxurious parents’ suite situated upstairs. Downstairs, two bedrooms share a full bath, creating a balanced family-oriented layout. The duplex’s interior boasts 9-foot ceilings throughout, elevating the sense of space and openness. The design thoughtfully places the kitchen at the front, inviting guests into the home, while stairs on the right lead to the private upstairs bedroom suite. The ADU offers a two bedroom and two & half baths. the unit is accessible via a private side entrance with a dedicated walkway. Its layout includes a ground-floor living room, a galley kitchen, and a discreet powder room beneath the stairs, designed to contain guest traffic and maintain privacy upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms each feature luxurious bathrooms with expansive showers, adding an element of modern elegance. Both units enjoy thoughtfully landscaped outdoor spaces—private patios, backyard areas, and gated front yards—creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike. This project exemplifies innovative urban infill solutions, blending architectural elegance with legal compliance and community harmony—an inspiring blueprint for the future of residential development in California.

Today’s investment landscape in California features a surge in transforming single-family lots into vibrant multi-family residences, facilitated by recent SB9 and ADU laws. This project exemplifies how a modest 6,750-square-foot lot can accommodate a 1,500-square-foot primary home alongside a 2,500-square-foot duplex, seamlessly integrating design, functionality, and neighborhood aesthetics. The primary residence underwent a meticulous interior transformation, evolving from a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath layout into a spacious 4-bedroom, 2-bath home. Strategic reconfigurations centered around creating an expansive great room—an open-concept space adorned with vaulted ceilings—where the kitchen, dining, and living areas converge into a magnificent communal zone. Exterior updates further distinguish the property. The front and side yards are enclosed with fencing and privacy hedges, linked by concrete pathways that enhance outdoor functionality while compensating for backyard space lost during renovations. The exterior façade was refreshed with darker tones, deliberately contrasting with the duplex to emphasize architectural separation. Designed to preserve the suburban charm, the duplex visually mimics a single-family home from the street. Its facade creates an illusion of a two-story residence, maintaining harmony within the neighborhood fabric. The main unit, developed under SB9 guidelines, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a luxurious parents’ suite situated upstairs. Downstairs, two bedrooms share a full bath, creating a balanced family-oriented layout. The duplex’s interior boasts 9-foot ceilings throughout, elevating the sense of space and openness. The design thoughtfully places the kitchen at the front, inviting guests into the home, while stairs on the right lead to the private upstairs bedroom suite. The ADU offers a two bedroom and two & half baths. the unit is accessible via a private side entrance with a dedicated walkway. Its layout includes a ground-floor living room, a galley kitchen, and a discreet powder room beneath the stairs, designed to contain guest traffic and maintain privacy upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms each feature luxurious bathrooms with expansive showers, adding an element of modern elegance. Both units enjoy thoughtfully landscaped outdoor spaces—private patios, backyard areas, and gated front yards—creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike. This project exemplifies innovative urban infill solutions, blending architectural elegance with legal compliance and community harmony—an inspiring blueprint for the future of residential development in California.

Reimagining an Urban Classic Perched high above San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, this meticulously reimagined residence represents a thoughtful transformation of a classic urban home into a contemporary, light-filled sanctuary. The project involved a comprehensive renovation paired with both vertical and horizontal expansion, dramatically increasing the home’s footprint while enhancing its relationship to sweeping views of the Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the surrounding hillside neighborhoods. The design strategy focused on opening the home to light, air, and vistas—elements often constrained in the dense urban fabric of San Francisco. By extending the structure upward and outward, the architects created a dynamic four-level residence that unfolds gradually, culminating in expansive living spaces and rooftop terraces oriented toward panoramic city and water views. Architecture that Frames the View At the heart of the design is a careful orchestration of sightlines and natural light. Large black-framed windows punctuate the façade and interior spaces, deliberately positioned to capture iconic San Francisco vistas while flooding the home with daylight. The architecture prioritizes openness, allowing rooms to flow seamlessly while maintaining a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape. A dramatic skylight above the central stairwell anchors the vertical circulation of the home. This architectural gesture not only brings daylight deep into the interior but also reinforces the sense of spatial continuity between floors. Warm Modern Interiors Inside, the home balances architectural clarity with warm materiality. Wide-plank oak floors run throughout the residence, creating visual cohesion and grounding the interiors with natural warmth. Custom walnut millwork—integrated shelving, cabinetry, and wall panels—introduces depth and texture while complementing the clean lines of the architecture. The interiors are intentionally restrained yet richly layered. Contemporary furnishings, sculptural lighting, and curated artwork add personality while maintaining the calm, sophisticated palette that defines the home. The Social Heart of the Home The main living level serves as the social centerpiece of the residence. An open-plan kitchen, dining area, and lounge space unfold toward the view, creating an environment that feels both expansive and intimate. A sculptural marble island anchors the kitchen, functioning as both workspace and gathering hub. Surrounded by walnut cabinetry and professional-grade appliances, the kitchen merges elegance with functionality. Above, a cascading chandelier introduces a sense of vertical movement, reflecting the home’s emphasis on light and architectural rhythm. Living areas are arranged to encourage conversation and connection. Generous seating, layered rugs, and thoughtful lighting define distinct zones within the open plan while maintaining uninterrupted sightlines toward the cityscape beyond. Private Retreats Above the City Upper levels of the home are dedicated to quieter, more intimate spaces. The primary suite is conceived as a private retreat, where expansive windows frame treetop views and invite natural light throughout the day. The accompanying bathroom continues the home’s refined material palette. Marble surfaces, warm wood cabinetry, and brushed brass fixtures create a spa-like environment that balances luxury with tranquility. Additional bedrooms and flexible living spaces offer comfort for family and guests, each designed with the same attention to light, proportion, and material richness. Spaces for Entertaining Lower levels provide additional areas for gathering and entertaining. A lounge and bar area offer a relaxed setting for hosting, while custom wine storage adds a sophisticated touch for collectors and enthusiasts. These spaces transition easily to outdoor areas, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. A Rooftop Above the Neighborhood The transformation extends beyond the interior to include thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. A landscaped rear yard introduces greenery and privacy at ground level, offering a serene urban escape. Above it all, the rooftop terrace becomes the crown jewel of the residence. Elevated above the neighborhood, it provides sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the Palace of Fine Arts. Comfortable seating areas, lush planters, and open sky create an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining, sunset gatherings, or quiet moments overlooking the city. A Contemporary Urban Sanctuary The completed residence demonstrates the power of thoughtful renovation and expansion within a historic urban neighborhood. By combining contemporary architecture, warm materiality, and an intentional relationship to the surrounding landscape, the project transforms a traditional San Francisco home into a modern sanctuary above the city.

These bathrooms are composed with clean architectural clarity, balancing crisp geometry and warm materiality. Large-format stone tile wraps the walls and sloped ceilings to create a continuous, monolithic envelope, while custom millwork and floating vanities reinforce strong horizontal lines and visual order. The freestanding tub reads as a sculptural element within the space, and warm wood flooring softens the palette and grounds the composition. Brushed brass fixtures provide subtle contrast and refinement, resulting in a calm, well-proportioned interior where detailing and material transitions are deliberately restrained.

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

This mid-century modern Rockford home was updated in stages, and the kitchen needed a complete remodel. The homeowners desired a kitchen that felt current without breaking from the character that defined the rest of the house. That meant we needed to choose materials that fit the home and highlighted the home’s character. Our team sourced pecky cypress and natural slate tile from non-traditional suppliers to get the exact look the home called for. The wood cabinetry was paired with a granite island, providing a gathering space in the kitchen without overpowering it. Because both materials required careful handling during installation, the crew worked more slowly and deliberately through this phase than a standard remodel. The result connected the kitchen directly to the living area, so the two spaces feel like one continuous room built in the same style as the rest of the home.

This Raleigh, NC home was reimagined from the ground up — not room by room, but as a single, cohesive expression of how a family lives, gathers, and rests. The architecture drove every decision. Custom millwork and panel molding were carried through every space, creating a visual language that connects the entry to the living room, the dining room to the primary suite. It's what makes the home feel complete — not like a collection of individually finished rooms. In the kitchen, a full marble slab backsplash reads as one uninterrupted surface — giving the room its presence without competing with the custom white inset cabinetry and brushed nickel hardware. The dining room lives in deliberate contrast: deep-toned oak table, delicate botanical wallpaper, antique mirror. Light and organic, yet entirely considered. The living room was designed around its connection to the outside — French doors that open directly to a substantial outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, anchored on the interior by a cast stone fireplace with an arched surround that commands the room. The entry sets the expectation for everything that follows: a double-height foyer, geometric pendants cascading from above, large-scale original artwork, and a carved console that makes the first impression without overstating it. Designed and executed by Lavish — Raleigh, NC's full-service interior design and remodeling firm.

This expansive Cambridge residence was ready for a new chapter, and Wendel Klein Design Build was honored to lead the transformation. By meticulously remodeling both the interior and exterior, we struck a deliberate balance between modern functionality and historic charm. The result is a home that feels entirely current while honoring its original soul.

Every material is thoughtfully selected, and every juncture between materials is carefully and deliberately considered. The millwork wall is composed of an interlocking combination of white and cold-rolled steel custom wrapped doors with a waxed finish; where they pull apart, the backsplash tile is revealed, thoughtfully illuminated by LED lighting.

This expansive Cambridge residence was ready for a new chapter, and Wendel Klein Design Build was honored to lead the transformation. By meticulously remodeling both the interior and exterior, we struck a deliberate balance between modern functionality and historic charm. The result is a home that feels entirely current while honoring its original soul.