This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

Richard Leo Johnson Wall Color: Gray Owl - Regal Wall Satin, Latex Flat (Benjamin Moore) Trim Color: Super White - Oil, Semi Gloss (Benjamin Moore) Chandelier: Old Plank Floor Lamp: Jeff Jones Window Treatment: Adras Ikat - Schumacher Drapery Hardware: Coastal Simplicity Collection - Kravet Sofa: Kent Sofa - Hickory Chair Sofa Fabric - Custom distressed curry leather - Edelman Coffee Table: Custom Teak with Blackened Steel Tray (Rethink Design Studio, AWD Savannah, Pique Studio) Lounge Chairs: 1960s Art Deco - Jason Thomas Lounge Chair Fabric: Osbourne and Little Kinlock Morar - Grizzel and Mann Side Table: Cole Dodecahedron - Made Goods Etageres: Worlds Away Rug: 14x13 Stone Herringbone Cowhide - Yerra

Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the Craftsman/Prairie style is one of the few truly American architectural styles. It was developed around the turn of the century by a group of Midwestern architects and continues to be among the most comfortable of all American-designed architecture more than a century later, one of the main reasons it continues to attract architects and homeowners today. Oxbridge builds on that solid reputation, drawing from Craftsman/Prairie and classic Farmhouse styles. Its handsome Shingle-clad exterior includes interesting pitched rooflines, alternating rows of cedar shake siding, stone accents in the foundation and chimney and distinctive decorative brackets. Repeating triple windows add interest to the exterior while keeping interior spaces open and bright. Inside, the floor plan is equally impressive. Columns on the porch and a custom entry door with sidelights and decorative glass leads into a spacious 2,900-square-foot main floor, including a 19 by 24-foot living room with a period-inspired built-ins and a natural fireplace. While inspired by the past, the home lives for the present, with open rooms and plenty of storage throughout. Also included is a 27-foot-wide family-style kitchen with a large island and eat-in dining and a nearby dining room with a beadboard ceiling that leads out onto a relaxing 240-square-foot screen porch that takes full advantage of the nearby outdoors and a private 16 by 20-foot master suite with a sloped ceiling and relaxing personal sitting area. The first floor also includes a large walk-in closet, a home management area and pantry to help you stay organized and a first-floor laundry area. Upstairs, another 1,500 square feet awaits, with a built-ins and a window seat at the top of the stairs that nod to the home’s historic inspiration. Opt for three family bedrooms or use one of the three as a yoga room; the upper level also includes attic access, which offers another 500 square feet, perfect for crafts or a playroom. More space awaits in the lower level, where another 1,500 square feet (and an additional 1,000) include a recreation/family room with nine-foot ceilings, a wine cellar and home office. Photographer: Jeff Garland

A small full basement bathroom in our Modern Spanish-Style Revival project boasts a tiled focal vanity wall with floating shelves, brass details, and red penny floor tiles.

Inspiration for a contemporary family room remodel in San Francisco

These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull

This kitchen is home to two taller individuals who both use the space equally and requested a taller workspace to comfortably accommodate their needs. The island cabinets are standard 34-1/2” tall but the Iceberg countertops were installed with a 3” build-up to add height to the island. Cabinets on the long wall were designed to break up the wall of white: buffet on the end with walnut-framed glass cabinets and seashell backsplash; double refrigerators in a painted, distressed mahogany finish were pulled forward to simulate texture and depth on the wall; wide pantry cabinets with roll-out drawers sitting on the countertops flank the refrigerators. On the opposite wall, a new window box at the kitchen sink was built to add more countertop behind the sink and to let in more light, adding dimension to the room. The cabinetry in the original existing kitchen was disjointed at the dining room entrance and made the room appear much smaller than it really was. To remedy this, the entry to the dining room from the kitchen was closed up and relocated around the corner from the foyer; 2 simple, stacked columns were built to highlight the new opening. These transitional style columns and wider room openings at the family room and dining room entrances provide an open layout suitable for large groups to mingle comfortably; family room cabinetry and dining room fireplace surround matches kitchen cabinets.

Bob Greenspan
Inspiration for a contemporary red two-story exterior home remodel in San Francisco with a shed roof

John Sutton Photography
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in San Francisco.

www.steinbergerphoto.com
Inspiration for a timeless beige floor living room remodel with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Photographed by Karol Steczkowski
Powder room - traditional white tile powder room idea in Los Angeles with furniture-like cabinets, a vessel sink, medium tone wood cabinets, beige walls and black countertops

Yorgos Efthymiadis
Family room - coastal carpeted family room idea in New York with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary guest dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea with black walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a rustic wood exterior home remodel

All photos courtesy of Havenly. Full article here: http://blog.havenly.com/design-story-amys-600-square-feet-of-eclectic-modern-charm/

With an updated, coastal feel, this cottage-style residence is right at home in its Orono setting. The inspired architecture pays homage to the graceful tradition of historic homes in the area, yet every detail has been carefully planned to meet today’s sensibilities. Here, reclaimed barnwood and bluestone meet glass mosaic and marble-like Cambria in perfect balance. 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 6,022 square feet and three-car garage

Tamara Alvarez
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical partial sun front yard brick landscaping in Miami.

Inspiration for a large contemporary stone tile marble floor bathroom remodel in Hyderabad with white cabinets and a vessel sink

Inspiration for a large contemporary dark wood floor bedroom remodel in Mumbai