“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

Closeup of the farmhouse sink surrounded by the maple butcher block countertop. We custom made all of the kitchen cabinetry and shelving. The kitchen was a small area so maximizing usable space with function and design was crucial. The transitional design features a pantry wall with the Sub Zero all glass door refrigerator and oven cabinet centered and equal size pantry cabinets to either side with 3 large storage drawers below and rollout shelves and work surfaces behind the door cabinets above in each with a hidden walk-in pantry door next to the Sub Zero. The cabinets on the range wall all have large storage drawers with wood organizers in the top drawer for spices and utensils. The client also wanted floating shelves to either side of the steel hood which were made from re-sawn maple to look like cut pieces from an old beam, each shelf is lit from the underside with LED flush mounted puck lights. The island was our biggest challenge. It needed to house several appliances of different size, a farmhouse sink and be able to have function from all 4 sides and still have room for seating space on the backside. The sink side has the farmhouse sink centered with storage drawers to the right that feature wood organizers and a double middle drawer to help hold all the small utensils and still maintain the 3 drawer look from the front view that matches the integrated dishwasher to the left. The right side contains both the integrated soft close trash unit and an icemaker with a third false panel door to maintain the size balance for all three. The left side houses the Sub Zero undercounter freezer. I wanted the face to look like six equal sized drawers, which left the integrated drawer fronts for the freezer overlapping the side panel for the dishwasher. The back of the island has storage tucked up under the seating space. The quartz countertop meets up against the maple butcher block to create a stunning island top. All in all the end result of this kitchen is a beautiful space with wonderful function. We finished the false beams in our exclusive hand-rubbed cappuccino stain. Photos: Kimball Ungerman

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

This grand Adirondack kitchen exemplifies elegant luxury through its thoughtful dual-island design. The striking contrast between dark blue island cabinetry and crisp white perimeter cabinets creates a sophisticated focal point, while 2" thick mitered Phoenix Sky quartz countertops and matching full-slab backsplash add ethereal movement throughout the space. Each island, equipped with its own sink, serves distinct purposes for meal preparation and entertaining. The dramatic wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses professional-grade appliances including a wall oven, speed oven, and built-in coffee maker, seamlessly integrated among tall pantry storage. A 2" custom cherry wood countertop along the window wall adds organic warmth to the pristine space. The kitchen's functionality is elevated through premium interior accessories: a mixer lift eliminates the need to hoist heavy appliances, while specialized storage solutions like tray dividers, angled utensil organizers, and illuminated pull-out pantries maximize every inch of space. One-touch mechanical systems for trash and recycling bins exemplify the kitchen's marriage of convenience and luxury. The result is a chef's haven that handles both intimate family meals and large-scale entertaining with equal grace.

This grand Adirondack kitchen exemplifies elegant luxury through its thoughtful dual-island design. The striking contrast between dark blue island cabinetry and crisp white perimeter cabinets creates a sophisticated focal point, while 2" thick mitered Phoenix Sky quartz countertops and matching full-slab backsplash add ethereal movement throughout the space. Each island, equipped with its own sink, serves distinct purposes for meal preparation and entertaining. The dramatic wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses professional-grade appliances including a wall oven, speed oven, and built-in coffee maker, seamlessly integrated among tall pantry storage. A 2" custom cherry wood countertop along the window wall adds organic warmth to the pristine space. The kitchen's functionality is elevated through premium interior accessories: a mixer lift eliminates the need to hoist heavy appliances, while specialized storage solutions like tray dividers, angled utensil organizers, and illuminated pull-out pantries maximize every inch of space. One-touch mechanical systems for trash and recycling bins exemplify the kitchen's marriage of convenience and luxury. The result is a chef's haven that handles both intimate family meals and large-scale entertaining with equal grace.

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

This custom living room was designed to feel both grand and welcoming, blending timeless architectural elements with soft, contemporary furnishings. Soaring ceilings, oversized black-framed windows, and custom arched millwork create a striking backdrop, while natural light fills the space and highlights the carefully curated palette of warm neutrals. The marble fireplace serves as the room's focal point, complemented by a statement chandelier that draws the eye upward to the detailed coffered ceiling. Plush swivel chairs, layered textures, and sculptural furnishings create intimate conversation areas while maintaining an open, airy feel. Every material and finish was thoughtfully selected to bring warmth, elegance, and lasting comfort, resulting in a living space that is equally suited for everyday family life and sophisticated entertaining. This project showcases the power of balancing scale, symmetry, and texture to create a luxurious interior that feels timeless rather than trendy.

This Englewood, Colorado project is a fully featured outdoor living space designed for entertaining, comfort, and year-round enjoyment. The expansive deck includes a covered structure that anchors the space while allowing for seamless integration of multiple functional zones. Brick accents and custom detailing add visual depth and a refined finish, creating an outdoor environment that feels both substantial and inviting. At the heart of the deck is a complete outdoor kitchen with bar seating, providing a natural gathering point for hosting and casual dining. An outdoor fireplace, paired with integrated heating elements, extends usability well beyond the warmer months, while an outdoor television creates a true open-air living room experience. These features work together to make the deck equally suited for large gatherings or relaxed evenings at home. Thoughtfully designed lighting plays a key role throughout the project, with overhead lighting, accent lighting, and lighted stairs enhancing both safety and ambiance. Each element was carefully planned to balance functionality with atmosphere, resulting in a premier outdoor deck that delivers comfort, style, and long-term value. This Englewood project exemplifies a complete outdoor living solution built to elevate everyday living and entertaining.

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

This grand Adirondack kitchen exemplifies elegant luxury through its thoughtful dual-island design. The striking contrast between dark blue island cabinetry and crisp white perimeter cabinets creates a sophisticated focal point, while 2" thick mitered Phoenix Sky quartz countertops and matching full-slab backsplash add ethereal movement throughout the space. Each island, equipped with its own sink, serves distinct purposes for meal preparation and entertaining. The dramatic wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses professional-grade appliances including a wall oven, speed oven, and built-in coffee maker, seamlessly integrated among tall pantry storage. A 2" custom cherry wood countertop along the window wall adds organic warmth to the pristine space. The kitchen's functionality is elevated through premium interior accessories: a mixer lift eliminates the need to hoist heavy appliances, while specialized storage solutions like tray dividers, angled utensil organizers, and illuminated pull-out pantries maximize every inch of space. One-touch mechanical systems for trash and recycling bins exemplify the kitchen's marriage of convenience and luxury. The result is a chef's haven that handles both intimate family meals and large-scale entertaining with equal grace.

A grand Adirondack kitchen exemplifies elegant luxury through its thoughtful dual-island design. The striking contrast between dark blue island cabinetry and crisp white perimeter cabinets creates a sophisticated focal point, while 2" thick mitered Phoenix Sky quartz countertops and matching full-slab backsplash add ethereal movement throughout the space. Each island, equipped with its own sink, serves distinct purposes for meal preparation and entertaining. The dramatic wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses professional-grade appliances including a wall oven, speed oven, and built-in coffee maker, seamlessly integrated among tall pantry storage. A 2" custom cherry wood countertop along the window wall adds organic warmth to the pristine space. The kitchen's functionality is elevated through premium interior accessories: a mixer lift eliminates the need to hoist heavy appliances, while specialized storage solutions like tray dividers, angled utensil organizers, and illuminated pull-out pantries maximize every inch of space. One-touch mechanical systems for trash and recycling bins exemplify the kitchen's marriage of convenience and luxury. The result is a chef's haven that handles both intimate family meals and large-scale entertaining with equal grace.

What had once been a purely utilitarian bathroom — all bland white fixtures and little sense of personality — became an opportunity to embrace the carefree spirit of a second home by the Pacific. Rather than treating the space with the restraint of a primary residence, we leaned into something more playful and transportive, drawing from the colors and textures of the coastline just beyond the windows. A wallcovering patterned with oversized seashells in soft blue and white wraps the room like a seaside interpretation of a French toile, giving the space a sense of whimsy without losing its sophistication. The palette throughout echoes sea glass, salt air, and sun-faded driftwood, creating a room that feels equal parts breezy retreat and quiet escape. At the center of the design, a light wood vanity with fluted doors introduces warmth and subtle texture, balancing the cool tones that flow through the room. Inside the shower, a back wall of pale blue fan tile unfurls like scales or waves, catching the light with a softness that feels almost aquatic. Overhead, a sculptural light fixture woven from natural fibers brings an unexpected touch of humor and movement — reminiscent of the swaying fringe of a hula dancer’s grass skirt. The result is a bathroom that no longer feels anonymous or obligatory, but instead captures the relaxed, slightly nostalgic joy of life lived near the ocean. Photos: Bernardo Grijalva

Created by combining two units, this 3,000+ square foot condominium residence offered expansive proportions and spectacular city views. While the builder's finishes were state-of-the-art when the building opened in 2009, they had not aged well. The original cherry floors had faded unevenly, the kitchen felt undersized in relation to the apartment, and a dark, enclosed library/den was disconnected from the main living spaces. We reconfigured the floor plan to better suit the scale of the residence and the way the owners live. The former laundry room was relocated, and its space was incorporated into an enlarged kitchen, allowing for two full-size refrigeration units, a walk-in pantry, additional counter space, and a generous island. The enclosed den was opened to the main living area and transformed into a spacious dining room, improving circulation and creating greater openness. Light-toned flooring replaced the original cherry and takes its cue from the new kitchen cabinetry, creating a lighter, brighter, and more cohesive interior. Matching custom cabinetry extends into the main living room, providing integrated storage and space for media components while visually connecting the rooms. In the primary bedroom, a smaller-scale interpretation of the living room millwork, this time in warmer walnut, creates a cozy nook with an integrated television, storage, and shelving designed to display the owners’ collections. The residence is flooded with natural light during the day, but the views become equally dramatic after sunset, when the illuminated figure of William Penn atop City Hall becomes an unexpected decorative feature just outside the windows. To make the interiors equally successful at night, we added decorative lighting and repositioned the architectural lighting throughout, using it to highlight the new cabinetry, the owners’ artwork, and seating areas while creating a warmer atmosphere after dark. Decorative metal screens were introduced in several locations to subtly define individual spaces without sacrificing the openness of the reconfigured plan or interrupting views through the apartment. The result is a sophisticated, highly functional home—distinctive in its own right, framed by remarkable views of Philadelphia.

We custom made all of the kitchen cabinetry and shelving. The kitchen was a small area so maximizing usable space with function and design was crucial. The transitional design features a pantry wall with the Sub Zero all glass door refrigerator and oven cabinet centered and equal size pantry cabinets to either side with 3 large storage drawers below and rollout shelves and work surfaces behind the door cabinets above in each with a hidden walk-in pantry door next to the Sub Zero. The cabinets on the range wall all have large storage drawers with wood organizers in the top drawer for spices and utensils. The client also wanted floating shelves to either side of the steel hood which were made from re-sawn maple to look like cut pieces from an old beam, each shelf is lit from the underside with LED flush mounted puck lights. The island was our biggest challenge. It needed to house several appliances of different size, a farmhouse sink and be able to have function from all 4 sides and still have room for seating space on the backside. The sink side has the farmhouse sink centered with storage drawers to the right that feature wood organizers and a double middle drawer to help hold all the small utensils and still maintain the 3 drawer look from the front view that matches the integrated dishwasher to the left. The right side contains both the integrated soft close trash unit and an icemaker with a third false panel door to maintain the size balance for all three. The left side houses the Sub Zero undercounter freezer. I wanted the face to look like six equal sized drawers, which left the integrated drawer fronts for the freezer overlapping the side panel for the dishwasher. The back of the island has storage tucked up under the seating space. The quartz countertop meets up against the maple butcher block to create a stunning island top. All in all the end result of this kitchen is a beautiful space with wonderful function. We finished the false beams in our exclusive hand-rubbed cappuccino stain. Photos: Kimball Ungerman