This West Kelowna home was already impressive, but was feeling weighed down by the vast amounts of dark wood. The client was dreaming of a lighter look that had a sophisticated coastal charm. This home demanded high level, refined furnishings. With this in mind and the fact that it would retain the existing hood fan, flooring and backsplash we chose a completely new and complimentary colour palette. We also selected a new dining table and chairs, coffee table, area carpets, occasional tables and chairs and artisan textiles. To top it off we ordered a custom Czech Replublic hand blown glass pendant arrangement for the dining area. Before project completion my client had an unforseen move happen. With this change we concluded the project at West Bay and moved our design focus to her new home. Months later I was excited to find out that the custom glass pendant had arrived and had been carefully installed by the electrician. It was a bittersweet moment as I wasn't able to see the job at completion, but now the project was concluded and I was so happy that the new owners could enjoy our design.

This project showcases a stunning transformation that combines thoughtful design, functional upgrades, and meticulous craftsmanship. At its heart is a fully renovated kitchen featuring custom shaker cabinets with a luxurious, soft green custom paint finish. These cabinets are complemented by an elegant engineered quartz countertop, creating a clean and timeless aesthetic. To further enhance the space, the addition of a skylight brings in natural light, brightening the area and giving it an open, airy feel. The patterned tile flooring adds a bold and stylish touch, tying together traditional and modern elements. The carefully designed bench seating with built-in storage provides practicality and charm, perfect for a cozy and functional corner by the entrance. The renovation went beyond aesthetic improvements. All electrical and mechanical systems were reconfigured to meet the demands of the updated layout, ensuring optimal functionality and safety. Additionally, structural repairs in the floor above were expertly executed to enhance the home’s stability and longevity. Outside, the addition blends seamlessly with the existing structure, featuring durable and stylish siding that adds curb appeal. A thoughtfully constructed deck completes the exterior, offering a versatile space for outdoor enjoyment. This project reflects the seamless integration of thoughtful design, technical expertise, and superior craftsmanship, resulting in a home that is as beautiful as it is functional.

The client wanted a garden that carried the spirit of her homeland — the forms, textures, and quiet drama of a Japanese garden — set down in a subdivision of Western-style homes enclosed by matching aluminum fences. The site itself posed the real challenge: a backyard on a 55% slope, with little natural sense of arrival or destination. The design answers with a meandering gravel pathway that winds down, across, and up the grade through a series of distinct micro-environments, each defined by its own plant grouping. Hairpin turns and boulder retaining walls hold the banks in place, with beds of reddish mulch tying the slope together visually. An arched wooden footbridge, finished with copper post caps, serves as the garden's focal point and carries the design's Japanese sensibility — echoed in the curved, layered railings that continue along the stairways above and below it. A single Japanese maple stands as a deliberate nod to the tradition, set among a bolder planting of agaves, aloes, and other drought-tolerant succulents suited to the Bay Area climate — together transforming a steep, awkward backyard into a serene, immersive retreat. The installation, by Arborist Now, has required the kind of grading, stonework, and structural skill a slope this steep demands — the craft is as much a part of the story as the design.

The client wanted a garden that carried the spirit of her homeland — the forms, textures, and quiet drama of a Japanese garden — set down in a subdivision of Western-style homes enclosed by matching aluminum fences. The site itself posed the real challenge: a backyard on a 55% slope, with little natural sense of arrival or destination. The design answers with a meandering gravel pathway that winds down, across, and up the grade through a series of distinct micro-environments, each defined by its own plant grouping. Hairpin turns and boulder retaining walls hold the banks in place, with beds of reddish mulch tying the slope together visually. An arched wooden footbridge, finished with copper post caps, serves as the garden's focal point and carries the design's Japanese sensibility — echoed in the curved, layered railings that continue along the stairways above and below it. A single Japanese maple stands as a deliberate nod to the tradition, set among a bolder planting of agaves, aloes, and other drought-tolerant succulents suited to the Bay Area climate — together transforming a steep, awkward backyard into a serene, immersive retreat. The installation, by Arborist Now, has required the kind of grading, stonework, and structural skill a slope this steep demands — the craft is as much a part of the story as the design.

This gem of a home was designed by homeowner/architect Eric Vollmer. It is nestled in a traditional neighborhood with a deep yard and views to the east and west. Strategic window placement captures light and frames views while providing privacy from the next door neighbors. The second floor maximizes the volumes created by the roofline in vaulted spaces and loft areas. Four skylights illuminate the ‘Nordic Modern’ finishes and bring daylight deep into the house and the stairwell with interior openings that frame connections between the spaces. The skylights are also operable with remote controls and blinds to control heat, light and air supply. Unique details abound! Metal details in the railings and door jambs, a paneled door flush in a paneled wall, flared openings. Floating shelves and flush transitions. The main bathroom has a ‘wet room’ with the tub tucked under a skylight enclosed with the shower. This is a Structural Insulated Panel home with closed cell foam insulation in the roof cavity. The on-demand water heater does double duty providing hot water as well as heat to the home via a high velocity duct and HRV system.

This gem of a home was designed by homeowner/architect Eric Vollmer. It is nestled in a traditional neighborhood with a deep yard and views to the east and west. Strategic window placement captures light and frames views while providing privacy from the next door neighbors. The second floor maximizes the volumes created by the roofline in vaulted spaces and loft areas. Four skylights illuminate the ‘Nordic Modern’ finishes and bring daylight deep into the house and the stairwell with interior openings that frame connections between the spaces. The skylights are also operable with remote controls and blinds to control heat, light and air supply. Unique details abound! Metal details in the railings and door jambs, a paneled door flush in a paneled wall, flared openings. Floating shelves and flush transitions. The main bathroom has a ‘wet room’ with the tub tucked under a skylight enclosed with the shower. This is a Structural Insulated Panel home with closed cell foam insulation in the roof cavity. The on-demand water heater does double duty providing hot water as well as heat to the home via a high velocity duct and HRV system.

This gem of a home was designed by homeowner/architect Eric Vollmer. It is nestled in a traditional neighborhood with a deep yard and views to the east and west. Strategic window placement captures light and frames views while providing privacy from the next door neighbors. The second floor maximizes the volumes created by the roofline in vaulted spaces and loft areas. Four skylights illuminate the ‘Nordic Modern’ finishes and bring daylight deep into the house and the stairwell with interior openings that frame connections between the spaces. The skylights are also operable with remote controls and blinds to control heat, light and air supply. Unique details abound! Metal details in the railings and door jambs, a paneled door flush in a paneled wall, flared openings. Floating shelves and flush transitions. The main bathroom has a ‘wet room’ with the tub tucked under a skylight enclosed with the shower. This is a Structural Insulated Panel home with closed cell foam insulation in the roof cavity. The on-demand water heater does double duty providing hot water as well as heat to the home via a high velocity duct and HRV system.

The Expansive Bel Air Open-Concept Living Room Transformation is a stunning remodel that seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor spaces to create an airy, inviting atmosphere. The design revolves around a massive sliding glass window that opens up to the patio, allowing natural light to flood the room while offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. This indoor-outdoor feel was exactly what the homeowners envisioned for their Bel Air residence, where entertaining guests and enjoying the California sunshine were top priorities. We complemented the space with wide-plank wood flooring and a sleek, minimalistic fireplace, enhancing the modern yet warm ambiance. By incorporating a neutral color palette and carefully curated furnishings, we maintained a spacious and sophisticated aesthetic that flows effortlessly into the adjoining kitchen area. Throughout the project, we worked closely with the homeowners to select elements that aligned with their vision of a luxurious yet functional living area. Our team sourced high-quality materials locally to ensure a finish that not only looks beautiful but also stands up to the demands of everyday use. The result is an open-concept living room that perfectly embodies the Bel Air lifestyle.

For years we have honed our skills and become one of the most widely regarded suppliers of natural stone kitchen countertops in Raleigh and the surrounding area. We have the massive benefit of being able to store large quantities of our material in our warehouse so we can make your custom countertops on premise and on demand. This allows us to be able to make counters to your specifications, not have to rely on a third party product that might fall short and not meet our standards. Call the team at Geo’s Marble & Granite today to ask about our free estimate for competitive prices. We will also be glad to answer any and all questions you have and address any concerns. We expertly measure your space so we can accurately advise you on the best course of action. Ordering marble, granite and quartz is similar to ordering fabric in that the raw materials come in prefabricated slabs that must be cut down to size. Luckily that’s where we shine, making each countertop to order. We guarantee nothing but the best high-quality materials with competitively low prices because we are able to house our materials rather than ship them in every time we need to fulfill an order.

In its 34th consecutive year hosting the Street of Dreams, the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland decided to do something different. They went urban – into the Pearl District. Each year designers clamor for the opportunity to design and style a home in the Street of Dreams. Apparently the allure of designing in contemporary penthouses with cascading views was irresistible to many, because the HBA experienced record interest from the design community at large in 2009. It was an honor to be one of seven designers selected. “The Luster of the Pearl” combined the allure of clean lines and redefined traditional silhouettes with texture and opulence. The color palette was fashion-inspired with unexpected color combinations like smoky violet and tiger-eye gold backed with metallic and warm neutrals. Our design included cosmetic reconstruction of the fireplace, mosaic tile improvements to the kitchen, artistic custom wall finishes and introduced new materials to the Portland market. The process was a whirlwind of early mornings, late nights and weekends. “With an extremely short timeline with large demands, this Street of Dreams challenged me in extraordinary ways that made me a better project manager, communicator, designer and partner to my vendors.” This project won the People’s Choice Award for Best Master Suite at the Northwest Natural 2009 Street of Dreams. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

This residential building in Sausalito, CA was originally constructed following WWII as a "vertical duplex" with two identical 800 square feet bedroom units stacked one on top of the other over a full height crawl space. We begin with two existing and one potential floor levels. The project's goal was to combine the two units into one single family residence; and to develop the former crawl space as the Owner's study (and future accessory in-law unit). New internal stairs communicate between the three floors; and the interior was reconfigured to meet 21st Century living needs within the existing, limited floor plate. The upslope lot provides views to the San Francisco Bay. Living functions are located on the top floor to capitalize on the vistas from outdoor living on the new exterior, ipe deck. The completely new Kitchen, expanding into borrowed space from a former closet is contiguous with and expands the living area. Each floor's bath is also completely new - providing a spacious feel within the limits of each floor's square footage. Prior to replacing all interior finishes, the structure was upgraded to comply with current seismic demands. Exterior decks running the depth of the residence were reconstructed; the cable rail system between posts increases one's sense of view to the Bay. At the point of transition from street/parking to the Owner's deck, an organic, hand-forged entry gate welcomes one home.

Photography by Natalie Marotta Bungalows are lovable homes, but how can they be better? Along with many of our clients, we find that older (early 20th c.) homes have a lot of character and a comfortable scale, but are leaky, damp (especially in the basement), have fair to poor air quality, and use unconscionable amounts of fossil fuels to heat. The owners of this bungalow were ready to change that, and wanted to do so with minimal upfront carbon emissions as well. The gut renovation included replacing the basement slab and providing capillary breaks and insulation continuously below grade. The brick structure was treated with a fluid-applied air and water barrier from the interior and insulated entirely with cellulose, a carbon-storing insulation. The roof used HFO-blown spray foam to provide sufficient insulation while allowing headroom for bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. One great benefit of a full renovation is the possibility of reconfiguring spaces to suit the family’s lifestyle, and to make the best of indoor-outdoor connections. We opened up the main rooms on the first floor, creating a family gathering spot with a view to the back yard, and a spacious kitchen that supports the family’s commitment to cooking for healthy eating. The stair uses a north-facing skylight to bring light from above into the middle of the home, where it was previously dark. As a decarbonization retrofit, the inefficient furnace was replaced with two small ducted heat pump systems, water heating and clothes drying are powered by air-source heat pumps, and cooking uses an induction cooktop plus electric ovens. Energy recovery ventilation provides filtered fresh air continuous exhaust from the kitchen, baths, and laundry, and supplies fresh, highly filtered air to bedrooms and living spaces. The Better Bungalow now makes sense for the 21st century–it now fits the owners’ life-patterns, is super comfortable, has great air quality, and uses a fraction of the energy it did before, greatly lowering the demand on the utility grid. In the near future, when solar PV is installed, it can achieve net zero or near net zero emissions, and with battery backup, can provide great resilience in the event of power outages.

We are proud to be offering the Chantelle Collection to our line of Living room sofas. There is so much that can be said about this classic charming sofa with new age appeal. One thing is for sure, this is not your grandma's old furniture collection. The Chantelle Collection took a popular classic finish and has totally brought this style up to date. Not only does this sofa bring a romantic wonder to your home but needless to say this will surely be the focus point of your home decor. The French rococo tufted seat back and sides gives this sofa the luxury appeal that it demands. The detail and decorative carving style wood trimmings brings class and sophistication. The fabric cushions match well with the accent pillows to bring a warm and inviting seating area for all your guest. As if that was not enough the sofas can be completed with the matching coffee table, end table and sofa table which also comes in antique platinum finish. 2pc Sofa Set Includes: 1 Sofa Dimensions: 84"L x 37"D x 43"H 1 Loveseat Dimensions: 63"L x 37"D x 43"H Optional Furniture: Chair Dimensions: 40"L x 37"D x 43"H 2 End Tables Dimensions: 26”L x 28”W x 24”H 1 Coffee Table w/granite Top Dimensions: 52”L x 30”W x 20”H 1 Sofa Table: 53"L x 18"W x 30"H

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours St Marlo Country Club Envision Virtual Tours provides professional photography and Full Screen Virtual Tours for St. Marlo Custom Homes. Set on over 900 acres and surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful hardwoods, the St. Marlo Country Club offers luxury living and unparalleled panoramic views from every home. St. Marlo Country Club is in high demand due to its ideal location and award-winning golf course. St Marlo is named one of the Top Ten new golf courses by Golf Digest Magazine and designed by Dennis Griffiths the 200-acre golf course promises a great day for players of all levels. St Marlo is located in South Forsyth County and the newly established area of Johns Creek (though not within the Johns Creek City Limits) an area known for its lower taxes, great healthcare and highly acclaimed public and private schools, St. Marlo Country Club offers elegant European and Traditional style homes from the mid $500s to over $3 million. And every St. Marlo home for sale offers all the benefits of a country club setting including 24-hour gated access and security, Junior Olympic-size pool, cabana with grilling area, 9 lighted tennis courts, soccer field, volleyball, basketball court and a enormous Clubhouse with banquet room used for Father/Daughter Dances, Weddings, and other events. Restaurant, Golf Pro shop and more!

Doing dishes isn't so bad when you have this gorgeous sink to work in. OnSite Studios Jay Groccia
Eat-in kitchen - transitional dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall light wood floor wet bar remodel in San Diego with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and wood countertops

Entertaining friends and family doesn't work well when rooms are small and closed off. So when our clients decided to remodel, they knew they wanted to open up the space to accommodate large gatherings. Also important were ample storage and quality appliances that would hold up to the demands of cooking creative meals several nights a week. As is sometimes the case with remodeling, solving one problem can create another. Opening up the space involved removing a wall, which sacrificed critical square footage for cabinetry and appliances. We knew the wall needed to come down so we were challenged with making sure every available cabinet space in the kitchen was being utilized as thoughtfully and creatively as possible. A tall pantry was added next to the refrigerator to allow for storage of pots and pans, as well as food, while another pantry in the adjacent dining room housed all dishes and silverware. A small bar area was created in an unused section in the back of the home to store coffee and tea accessories and drinkware. Finally, a small island in the center of the kitchen offered the ideal location for the microwave and most-used pots and pans. With the expanded space, smart use of storage options and top-notch appliances, our clients are enjoying working in their new kitchen and have already hosted a ravioli-making class! Matt Villano Photography