Living room - 1950s formal and open concept living room idea in Seattle with a standard fireplace and no tv

A bespoke residence, designed to suit its owner in every way. The result of a collaborative vision comprising the collective passion, taste, energy, and experience of our client, the architect, the builder, the utilities contractors, and ourselves, this home was planned to combine the best elements in the best ways, to complement a thoughtful, healthy, and green lifestyle not simply for today, but for years to come. Photo Credit: Jay Graham, Graham Photography

Example of a classic mudroom design in Atlanta with white walls

Example of a large trendy look-out basement design in Chicago with gray walls and no fireplace

Large zen master medium tone wood floor freestanding bathtub photo with a vessel sink

Photo by Allan Zepeda
Example of a small trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in New York with white walls

Transitional kitchen photo in Dallas with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, brown backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

Costa Mesa, CA Property. Photography by Finally Real Estate Video & Photography. www.FinallyRE.com
Example of a large classic gender-neutral beige floor walk-in closet design in Orange County with open cabinets and white cabinets

Photo courtesy of Kohler

For information about our work, please contact info@studiombdc.com
Patio - rustic backyard stone patio idea in DC Metro with a fire pit and no cover

This grand staircase needed a real cosmetic facelift. I covered the niches and added the trim detail to the walls and ceiling, refinished the stairs with dark stain and white risers which transformed the space into a glamorous and grand entrance!.... John Carlson Photography

Photographer: Bernard Andre'
Inspiration for a transitional landscaping in San Francisco.

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary galley medium tone wood floor seated home bar remodel in Milwaukee with black backsplash

Virtual Imagery 360 Photography
Inspiration for a modern entryway remodel in San Francisco

Labra Design Build
Example of a mid-sized classic single-wall slate floor utility room design in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, beige walls and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Dalton Portella
Transitional mudroom photo in New York with white walls

Allison Cartwright

Mid-sized transitional backyard patio photo in San Francisco with a fire pit and no cover