This custom home was thoughtfully designed for a young, active family in the heart of wine country. Designed to address the clients’ desire for indoor / outdoor living, the home embraces its surroundings and is sited to take full advantage of the panoramic views and outdoor entertaining spaces. The interior space of the three bedroom, 2.5 bath home is divided into three distinct zones: a public living area; a two bedroom suite; and a separate master suite, which includes an art studio. Casually relaxed, yet startlingly original, the structure gains impact through the sometimes surprising choice of materials, which include field stone, integral concrete floors, glass walls, Honduras mahogany veneers and a copper clad central fireplace. This house showcases the best of modern design while becoming an integral part of its spectacular setting.

As a conceptual urban infill project, the Wexley is designed for a narrow lot in the center of a city block. The 26’x48’ floor plan is divided into thirds from front to back and from left to right. In plan, the left third is reserved for circulation spaces and is reflected in elevation by a monolithic block wall in three shades of gray. Punching through this block wall, in three distinct parts, are the main levels windows for the stair tower, bathroom, and patio. The right two-thirds of the main level are reserved for the living room, kitchen, and dining room. At 16’ long, front to back, these three rooms align perfectly with the three-part block wall façade. It’s this interplay between plan and elevation that creates cohesion between each façade, no matter where it’s viewed. Given that this project would have neighbors on either side, great care was taken in crafting desirable vistas for the living, dining, and master bedroom. Upstairs, with a view to the street, the master bedroom has a pair of closets and a skillfully planned bathroom complete with soaker tub and separate tiled shower. Main level cabinetry and built-ins serve as dividing elements between rooms and framing elements for views outside. Architect: Visbeen Architects Builder: J. Peterson Homes Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

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.

The Clients contacted Cecil Baker + Partners to reconfigure and remodel the top floor of a prominent Philadelphia high-rise into an urban pied-a-terre. The forty-five story apartment building, overlooking Washington Square Park and its surrounding neighborhoods, provided a modern shell for this truly contemporary renovation. Originally configured as three penthouse units, the 8,700 sf interior, as well as 2,500 square feet of terrace space, was to become a single residence with sweeping views of the city in all directions. The Client’s mission was to create a city home for collecting and displaying contemporary glass crafts. Their stated desire was to cast an urban home that was, in itself, a gallery. While they enjoy a very vital family life, this home was targeted to their urban activities - entertainment being a central element. The living areas are designed to be open and to flow into each other, with pockets of secondary functions. At large social events, guests feel free to access all areas of the penthouse, including the master bedroom suite. A main gallery was created in order to house unique, travelling art shows. Stemming from their desire to entertain, the penthouse was built around the need for elaborate food preparation. Cooking would be visible from several entertainment areas with a “show” kitchen, provided for their renowned chef. Secondary preparation and cleaning facilities were tucked away. The architects crafted a distinctive residence that is framed around the gallery experience, while also incorporating softer residential moments. Cecil Baker + Partners embraced every element of the new penthouse design beyond those normally associated with an architect’s sphere, from all material selections, furniture selections, furniture design, and art placement. Barry Halkin and Todd Mason Photography

Example of a trendy kitchen design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, beige backsplash, stone slab backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Aaron Leitz Photography
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, gray cabinets, marble countertops and marble backsplash

Photo of an asian side yard landscaping in Los Angeles.

This custom home was thoughtfully designed for a young, active family in the heart of wine country. Designed to address the clients’ desire for indoor / outdoor living, the home embraces its surroundings and is sited to take full advantage of the panoramic views and outdoor entertaining spaces. The interior space of the three bedroom, 2.5 bath home is divided into three distinct zones: a public living area; a two bedroom suite; and a separate master suite, which includes an art studio. Casually relaxed, yet startlingly original, the structure gains impact through the sometimes surprising choice of materials, which include field stone, integral concrete floors, glass walls, Honduras mahogany veneers and a copper clad central fireplace. This house showcases the best of modern design while becoming an integral part of its spectacular setting.

A growing family and the need for more space brought the homeowners of this Arlington home to Feinmann Design|Build. As was common with Victorian homes, a shared bathroom was located centrally on the second floor. Professionals with a young and growing family, our clients had reached a point where they recognized the need for a Master Bathroom for themselves and a more practical family bath for the children. The design challenge for our team was how to find a way to create both a Master Bath and a Family Bath out of the existing Family Bath, Master Bath and adjacent closet. The solution had to consider how to shrink the Family Bath as small as possible, to allow for more room in the master bath, without compromising functionality. Furthermore, the team needed to create a space that had the sensibility and sophistication to match the contemporary Master Suite with the limited space remaining. Working with the homes original floor plans from 1886, our skilled design team reconfigured the space to achieve the desired solution. The Master Bath design included cabinetry and arched doorways that create the sense of separate and distinct rooms for the toilet, shower and sink area, while maintaining openness to create the feeling of a larger space. The sink cabinetry was designed as a free-standing furniture piece which also enhances the sense of openness and larger scale. In the new Family Bath, painted walls and woodwork keep the space bright while the Anne Sacks marble mosaic tile pattern referenced throughout creates a continuity of color, form, and scale. Design elements such as the vanity and the mirrors give a more contemporary twist to the period style of these elements of the otherwise small basic box-shaped room thus contributing to the visual interest of the space. Photos by John Horner

Example of a trendy living room design in San Diego

Greige tones in the stone subway tile backsplash marry the high-gloss cabinets with the wood veneer lower cabinets. Accessories by West Elm and Nickey-Kehoe. Kitchen and dining room staging by Allison Scheff of Distinctive Kitchens. Photos by Wynne H Earle

Originally built in the 1940’s as an austere three-bedroom partial center-hall neo-colonial with attached garage, this house has assumed an entirely new identity. The transformation to an asymmetrical dormered cottage responded to the architectural character of the surrounding City of Falls Church neighborhood. The family had lived in this house for seven years, but recognized that the plan of the house, with its discreet box-like rooms, was at odds with their desired life-style. The circulation for the house included each room, without a distinct circulation system. The architect was asked to expand the living space on both floors, and create a house that unified family activities. A family room and breakfast room were added to the rear of the first floor, and the existing spaces reconfigured to create an openness and connection among the rooms. An existing garage was integrated into the house volume, becoming the kitchen, powder room and mudroom. Front and back porches were added, allowing an overlap of family life inside the house and outside in the yard. Rather than simply enlarge the rectangular footprint of the house, the architect sought to break down the massing with perpendicular gable roofs and dormers to alleviate the roof line. The Craftsman style provided texture to the fenestration. The broad roof overhangs provided sun screening and rain protection. The challenge of unifying the massing led to the development of the breakfast room. Conceived as a modern element, the one-story massing of the breakfast room with roof terrace above twists the volume 45% to the mass of the main house. Materials and detailing express the distinction. While the main house is clad in the original brick and new horizontal siding with trim and details appropriate to its cottage vocabulary, the breakfast room exterior is clad in vertical wide-board tongue-and-groove siding to minimize the texture. The steel hand railing on the roof terrace above accentuates the clean lines of this special element. Hoachlander Davis Photography

The Peaks View residence is sited near Wilson, Wyoming, in a grassy meadow, adjacent to the Teton mountain range. The design solution for the project had to satisfy two conflicting goals: the finished project must fit seamlessly into a neighborhood with distinctly conservative design guidelines while satisfying the owners desire to create a unique home with roots in the modern idiom.

 Within these constraints, the architect created an assemblage of building volumes to break down the scale of the 6,500 square foot program. A pair of two-story gabled structures present a traditional face to the neighborhood, while the single-story living pavilion, with its expansive shed roof, tilts up to recognize views and capture daylight for the primary living spaces. This trio of buildings wrap around a south-facing courtyard, a warm refuge for outdoor living during the short summer season in Wyoming. Broad overhangs, articulated in wood, taper to thin steel “brim” that protects the buildings from harsh western weather. The roof of the living pavilion extends to create a covered outdoor extension for the main living space. The cast-in-place concrete chimney and site walls anchor the composition of forms to the flat site. The exterior is clad primarily in cedar siding; two types were used to create pattern, texture and depth in the elevations. 
 While the building forms and exterior materials conform to the design guidelines and fit within the context of the neighborhood, the interiors depart to explore a well-lit, refined and warm character. Wood, plaster and a reductive approach to detailing and materials complete the interior expression. Display for a Kimono was deliberately incorporated into the entry sequence. Its influence on the interior can be seen in the delicate stair screen and the language for the millwork which is conceived as simple wood containers within spaces. Ample glazing provides excellent daylight and a connection to the site. Photos: Matthew Millman

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room photo in Dallas with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

The upper deck includes Ipe flooring, an outdoor kitchen with concrete countertops, and a custom decorative metal railing that connects to the lower deck's artificial turf area. The ground level features custom concrete pavers, fire pit, open framed pergola with day bed and under decking system.

The Peaks View residence is sited near Wilson, Wyoming, in a grassy meadow, adjacent to the Teton mountain range. The design solution for the project had to satisfy two conflicting goals: the finished project must fit seamlessly into a neighborhood with distinctly conservative design guidelines while satisfying the owners desire to create a unique home with roots in the modern idiom.

 Within these constraints, the architect created an assemblage of building volumes to break down the scale of the 6,500 square foot program. A pair of two-story gabled structures present a traditional face to the neighborhood, while the single-story living pavilion, with its expansive shed roof, tilts up to recognize views and capture daylight for the primary living spaces. This trio of buildings wrap around a south-facing courtyard, a warm refuge for outdoor living during the short summer season in Wyoming. Broad overhangs, articulated in wood, taper to thin steel “brim” that protects the buildings from harsh western weather. The roof of the living pavilion extends to create a covered outdoor extension for the main living space. The cast-in-place concrete chimney and site walls anchor the composition of forms to the flat site. The exterior is clad primarily in cedar siding; two types were used to create pattern, texture and depth in the elevations. 
 While the building forms and exterior materials conform to the design guidelines and fit within the context of the neighborhood, the interiors depart to explore a well-lit, refined and warm character. Wood, plaster and a reductive approach to detailing and materials complete the interior expression. Display for a Kimono was deliberately incorporated into the entry sequence. Its influence on the interior can be seen in the delicate stair screen and the language for the millwork which is conceived as simple wood containers within spaces. Ample glazing provides excellent daylight and a connection to the site. Photos: Matthew Millman

photos by Everett Fenton Gidley
Bedroom - eclectic bedroom idea in Los Angeles with white walls

Originally built in the 1940’s as an austere three-bedroom partial center-hall neo-colonial with attached garage, this house has assumed an entirely new identity. The transformation to an asymmetrical dormered cottage responded to the architectural character of the surrounding City of Falls Church neighborhood. The family had lived in this house for seven years, but recognized that the plan of the house, with its discreet box-like rooms, was at odds with their desired life-style. The circulation for the house included each room, without a distinct circulation system. The architect was asked to expand the living space on both floors, and create a house that unified family activities. A family room and breakfast room were added to the rear of the first floor, and the existing spaces reconfigured to create an openness and connection among the rooms. An existing garage was integrated into the house volume, becoming the kitchen, powder room and mudroom. Front and back porches were added, allowing an overlap of family life inside the house and outside in the yard. Rather than simply enlarge the rectangular footprint of the house, the architect sought to break down the massing with perpendicular gable roofs and dormers to alleviate the roof line. The Craftsman style provided texture to the fenestration. The broad roof overhangs provided sun screening and rain protection. The challenge of unifying the massing led to the development of the breakfast room. Conceived as a modern element, the one-story massing of the breakfast room with roof terrace above twists the volume 45% to the mass of the main house. Materials and detailing express the distinction. While the main house is clad in the original brick and new horizontal siding with trim and details appropriate to its cottage vocabulary, the breakfast room exterior is clad in vertical wide-board tongue-and-groove siding to minimize the texture. The steel hand railing on the roof terrace above accentuates the clean lines of this special element. Hoachlander Davis Photography

This kitchen had not been renovated since the salt box colonial house was built in the 1960’s. The new owner felt it was time for a complete refresh with some traditional details and adding in the owner’s contemporary tastes. At initial observation, we determined the house had good bones; including high ceilings and abundant natural light from a double-hung window and three skylights overhead recently installed by our client. Mixing the homeowners desires required the skillful eyes of Cathy and Ed from Renovisions. The original kitchen had dark stained, worn cabinets, in-adequate lighting and a non-functional coat closet off the kitchen space. In order to achieve a true transitional look, Renovisions incorporated classic details with subtle, simple and cleaner line touches. For example, the backsplash mix of honed and polished 2” x 3” stone-look subway tile is outlined in brushed stainless steel strips creating an edgy feel, especially at the niche above the range. Removing the existing wall that shared the coat closet opened up the kitchen to allow adding an island for seating and entertaining guests. We chose natural maple, shaker style flat panel cabinetry with longer stainless steel pulls instead of knobs, keeping in line with the clients desire for a sleeker design. This kitchen had to be gutted to accommodate the new layout featuring an island with pull-out trash and recycling and deeper drawers for utensils. Spatial constraints were top of mind and incorporating a convection microwave above the slide-in range made the most sense. Our client was thrilled with the ability to bake, broil and microwave from GE’s advantium oven – how convenient! A custom pull-out cabinet was built for his extensive array of spices and oils. The sink base cabinet provides plenty of area for the large rectangular stainless steel sink, single-lever multi-sprayer faucet and matching filtered water dispenser faucet. The natural, yet sleek green soapstone countertop with distinct white veining created a dynamic visual and principal focal point for the now open space. While oak wood flooring existed in the entire first floor, as an added element of color and interest we installed multi-color slate-look porcelain tiles in the kitchen area. We also installed a fully programmable floor heating system for those chilly New England days. Overall, out client was thrilled with his Mission Transition.