A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint. Photo: Sergiu Stoian

Bedroom. Photo by Clark Dugger
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master brown floor and medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel in Los Angeles with white walls and no fireplace

Peter Murdock
Bedroom - contemporary master bedroom idea in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

This family treehouse can be used year round for a variety of activities. The upper deck, with stunning views, is perfect for summer picnics, while the side deck is more suited for a quiet spot to read or relax. The interior has a couch for napping, a desk for writing and working, a kitchenette and small dining area. The initial inspiration for the room was a cozy spot for hosting lunch and dinner parties... in a unique & rustic setting. Photo by David Patterson Photography www.davidpattersonphotography.com

This stunning modern lookout features VIOSKI Tre II Sofas. With their modern charisma and clean lines, the Tre II Sofas add elegance and simplicity. They are the smallest of the VIOSKI Sofa Collection and can be customized to fit any space. Masterfully handcrafted in California. Extraordinary quality and comfort.

Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in San Francisco

Down-to-studs remodel and second floor addition. The original house was a simple plain ranch house with a layout that didn’t function well for the family. We changed the house to a contemporary Mediterranean with an eclectic mix of details. Space was limited by City Planning requirements so an important aspect of the design was to optimize every bit of space, both inside and outside. The living space extends out to functional places in the back and front yards: a private shaded back yard and a sunny seating area in the front yard off the kitchen where neighbors can easily mingle with the family. A Japanese bath off the master bedroom upstairs overlooks a private roof deck which is screened from neighbors’ views by a trellis with plants growing from planter boxes and with lanterns hanging from a trellis above. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-mediterranean/

THEME This room is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the young artist in art and music. From the hand-painted instruments decorating the music corner to the dedicated foldaway art table, every space is tailored to the creative spirit, offering a place to be inspired, a nook to relax or a corner to practice. This environment radiates energy from the ground up, showering the room in natural, vibrant color. FOCUS A majestic, floor-to-ceiling tree anchors the space, boldly transporting the beauty of nature into the house--along with the fun of swinging from a tree branch, pitching a tent or reading under the beautiful canopy. The tree shares pride of place with a unique, retroinspired room divider housing a colorful padded nook perfect for reading, watching television or just relaxing. STORAGE Multiple storage options are integrated to accommodate the family’s eclectic interests and varied needs. From hidden cabinets in the floor to movable shelves and storage bins, there is room for everything. The two wardrobes provide generous storage capacity without taking up valuable floor space, and readily open up to sweep toys out of sight. The myWall® panels accommodate various shelving options and bins that can all be repositioned as needed. Additional storage and display options are strategically provided around the room to store sheet music or display art projects on any of three magnetic panels. GROWTH While the young artist experiments with media or music, he can also adapt this space to complement his experiences. The myWall® panels promote easy transformation and expansion, offer unlimited options, and keep shelving at an optimum height as he grows. All the furniture rolls on casters so the room can sustain the action during a play date or be completely re-imagined if the family wants a makeover. SAFETY The elements in this large open space are all designed to enfold a young boy in a playful, creative and safe place. The modular components on the myWall® panels are all locked securely in place no matter what they store. The custom drop-down table includes two safety latches to prevent unintentional opening. The floor drop doors are all equipped with slow glide closing hinges so no fingers will be trapped.

The main entrance is modest, in keeping with Midwestern values.
Country entryway photo in Milwaukee with a dark wood front door

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in San Francisco

Outdoor patio shower - large transitional backyard outdoor patio shower idea in San Francisco

Kitchen
Example of a beach style painted wood floor and multicolored floor kitchen design in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, ceramic backsplash, an island and colored appliances

Ceramic and Terracotta Vibe offers a fresh direction in wall tile, inviting you to cover entire walls with intricate patterns and saturated color. The collection Usage: Residential: Bathroom walls / floors, shower walls / floors, vanity tops, kitchen backsplashes and light traffic flooring. Commercial: Interior walls and light traffic floors. See Tools | Usage Guide for more details. For more information on this product, visit http://walkerzanger.com/collections/products.php?view=mat&mat=Vibe&coll=Vibe

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Drew Rice, Red Pants Studio
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Seattle with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, subway tile backsplash and an island

Very private backyard enclave waterfall
Design ideas for a contemporary partial sun backyard stone landscaping in DC Metro for summer.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Photo by Grey Crawford
Small beach style beige one-story exterior home photo in Orange County with a hip roof

Transitional master multicolored floor bathroom photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops