Explored Local - Photos & Ideas

Donna Dotan Photography
Elegant l-shaped kitchen photo in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

burnham design office

Burnham Design

Example of a transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor home office design in Los Angeles with white walls

Local Landscape

Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces

Outdoor Makeover and Living Spaces - #1 Local Landscapers in Atlanta brings your outdoor dreams to life. We design and build breathtaking outdoor spaces from landscapes to pergolas, decks to pools, and water features. Explore our services now for your perfect outdoor oasis. https://outdoormakeover.net/service/landscape/

Find the right local pro for your project

Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

Paleface Ranch

Van Wicklen Design

Travis Wayne Baker
Country kitchen photo in Austin

Malibu Glass Box House by Klopf Architecture

Klopf Architecture

Malibu Glass Box House by Klopf Architecture Following the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018, the site in Malibu offered a unique opportunity to rebuild not just a home, but a new architectural composition that highlighted the property’s potential while navigating strict fire-rebuild codes in the area. Designed by Klopf Architecture, this project embraced a set of limitations and translated them into an architectural asset. The city’s fire-rebuild process required the new structure to remain close to the original footprint, size and bulk, a constraint that ultimately clarified the architectural direction. Perched near the front of a long, narrow lot, the new home frames and overlooks a private, park-like rear expanse, an uncommon luxury especially in this part of Malibu . Without a fixed program, the design process allowed for a different kind of creative focus allowing Klopf Architecture the opportunity to explore how a modernist home could best respond to this site. The team approached the project not with a list of requirements, but with a question: How might a modernist live here? What spatial qualities would inspire calm, connection, and a sense of wonder in this setting? The process became less about problem-solving and more about architectural storytelling—letting the site, the light, and the principles of modern design guide the form and flow of the home. The response emerged in the form of a glass-box pavilion, an open, Mid-Century Modern inspired living, dining, and kitchen space that floats at the edge of the property’s natural descent. Connected to the more enclosed, private areas of the home by a glass-walled hallway, the living pavilion becomes a distinct centerpiece of the design. It opens on all four sides to the landscape with decks and patios on the flanks, an internal garden and water feature to the north, and a dramatic unguarded view of the expansive backyard and ocean horizon to the south. Because of the mandated footprint, careful planning was required to ensure every space could still engage with light, landscape, or both. Strategic voids in the form of atriums and courtyards allow daylight to filter deep into the home’s core, while offering moments of surprise and retreat. These design gestures allow natural light to filter deep into the interior, creating a sense of brightness and openness throughout the day. At the same time, they expand the perceptual boundaries between inside and out, making the home feel more expansive while anchoring its connection to the surrounding landscape. The siting of the house is what gives it its unique character. Rather than receding into the backyard like the neighboring homes, the house holds a slight prominence. From the central living pavilion, stepping down into the landscape feels more like entering a secluded park where a separate existing accessory structure, trail, and recreational areas await. The home’s modest street presence gives way to this unfolding drama of space, view, and nature. Fire-resilient materials and assemblies are integrated seamlessly throughout including triple-pane glazing, under-slab and roof insulation, and locally sourced fire-rated cladding ensure the house not only meets Calfornia’s rigorous wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards, but feels effortlessly aligned with them. While technical decisions like fire-hardening and mechanical systems presented some construction challenges, particularly around the cantilevered glass box, the team found a functional compromise that preserved the integrity of the design. Inside, a restrained palette and exposed post and beam design celebrate the ethos of mid-century modernism. A central circulation spine extends from the entry to the rear glass wall, offering a continuous visual link from street to ocean. Spaces such as the library and office, though more intimate in scale, are never cut off from nature as each opens to its own unique courtyard or garden view. Though born out of a strict regulatory framework and developed without a specific client, the rebuild design unfolded with remarkable clarity. Grounded in site logic, refined by limitations and an emphasis on timeless spatial relationships – light, proportion, and a strong connection to nature, the resulting design feels both effortless and uplifting. The home lives lightly on the land, opens generously to its surroundings, and strikes a careful balance between privacy, openness, and calm. For Klopf Architecture, it stands as a compelling case study in how site, code, and circumstantial constraints can inspire enduring, modernist architecture. With years of experience reimagining mid-century modern design for how people live today, the firm took the project’s limitations as an opportunity. The result is a home shaped by open, flowing spaces, strong indoor-outdoor connections, and a calm, clear sense of structure. It’s a good reminder that even with strict constraints, there’s still room for architecture to breathe—and for modernism to keep moving forward. Klopf Architecture project team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, and Sherry Tan Structural Engineer: ZFA Contractor: Maison D’Artiste Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2023

5737 N HAIGHT AVE, PORTLAND OR 97217

Dana Austin Griggs | Real Estate Group

TOP THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT THIS HOUSE > Large front porch > Natural woodwork > Perfect deck for alfresco dining > Central location .....................Renovated Old-Pdx is the ultimate urban oasis with generously sized interior spaces that are perfect for everyday living and entertaining. All the requisite features - master suite, wood details, all bedrooms on the upper level + family room. A postcard perfect Piedmont location that is ideal for exploring the local scene on Williams, Mississippi & Alberta Arts. Intimate eateries, tree studded parks and amenities are just minutes away........... Call our team for more info or visit www.DanaGriggs.com

Furnishing a Fun + Functional AirBNB

MOTIV Interiors

Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photography: Laura Rockett Photography Design Challenge: MOTIV Interiors created this colorful yet relaxing retreat - a space for guests to unwind and recharge after a long day of exploring Nashville! Luxury, comfort, and functionality merge in this AirBNB project we completed in just 2 short weeks. Navigating a tight budget, we supplemented the homeowner’s existing personal items and local artwork with great finds from facebook marketplace, vintage + antique shops, and the local salvage yard. The result: a collected look that’s true to Nashville and vacation ready!

Sponsored

Columbus, OH

Trish Takacs Design36 Reviews

Award Winning & Highly Skilled Kitchen & Bath Designer in Columbus

A Sharp Bathroom

Jo Rabaut

Jeff Herr Photography
Freestanding bathtub - modern master brown tile freestanding bathtub idea in Atlanta with a vessel sink and gray walls

u2014 ALE: Lafayette Hill Residence

Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association

ThinkGreen LLC http://www.thinkgreenllc.com Project Entry: Lafayette Hill Residence 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $120,000&over Award Level: Gold Photo Description: This project was located on a ridge that overlooks the Wissahickon Creek and surrounded by acres of undeveloped land. The design and construction goals were to aesthetically and ecologically integrate an existing home and property into its surrounding natural setting. Natural stormwater patterns of the site were bulldozed during the intial construction of the home and an existing swale was heavily scoured and contributing to the sedimentation of sensitive local waterways. The backbone of the site improvements was restoring the swale by adding gentle undulating curves, installing boulders to slow the rate at which stormwater flowed, and heavily plantingitwithnativeplantingssuchasIrisversicolorandLobeliacardinalis. Additionalgentle manipulation of the grades and the use of low dry-laid retaining walls and boulder retaining walls allowed a series of outdoor rooms to be created around the house. The pool area features a stone bond beam which extends below the surface of the water, diving rocks, and a rustic white oak pergola. Adjacent to the pool is a large stone terrace for dining and entertainment. Low dry-laid fieldstone seat walls retain the grades and provide additional seating. The large terrace is easily accessed from the house as well as the rustic white oak tree house. Several solid bluestone risers lead to a smaller more intimate terrace is outside of the pool area. Throughout the site a predominately native plant palette using plants such as Magnolia virginiana, Ilex verticillata, and a variety of ferns were used to mimic the undisturbed areas of woodland and meadows adjacent to the site. Collectively the site improvements have benefitted the local waterways by capturing and slow releasing stormwater and limiting further sedimentation. Additional habitat was created for the local fauna, and the client’s children were provided with a natural haven to explore and learn from nature.

Modern Living Room

Epic Interiors

This intimate and formal but comfortable living room promotes conversation and ease of use. Epic designed the bold lines in the fireplace stone to play off the rug's geometric pattern, creating an exciting balance and elevating the design. The horizontal lines of the surround move the eye effectively across and around the room. The oil painting over the fireplace by Chicago artist Pamela Staker explores figurative and abstract themes reflective of urban living. Epic believes art makes the room and is committed to finding and supporting local talent.

Local and Custom Imported Bathroom Vanities

Jason Robert Kidwell

Here at Explore, we have excellent connections to local and custom imported bathroom vanities with fantastic exotic Granite tops, Italian Marble tops and luxury Quartz tops. Starting from as low as $1700! Beware of the too-good-to-be-true bargains. Remember, cheap is not always best and it's always cheap for a reason. #ExploreFirst Learn more about us here: https://exploregranitecountertops.com/

Nautical Explorer Baby Boy Nursery

In the Deets

The perfect little boy's nursery featuring a nautical explorer themed room. Light blue/green and accent blue/green walls, bright blue anchor rug, gray nursery furniture, emerald green decor, navy rocker, gray draperies, custom art. Photo by Exceptional Frames.

5737 N HAIGHT AVE, PORTLAND OR 97217

Dana Austin Griggs | Real Estate Group

Modern Kitchen Remodel for a Stylish Condo

CliqStudios Cabinets

The stylish modern condominium shown above is the work of Tiffany and Ryan Otte. The couple owns a general contracting construction company, ROC Home Pros, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is the sixth project where they have teamed with CliqStudios designer Melissa Thill to create kitchens for urban dwellers. An open kitchen, always on stage, needs to blend with the living area and offer a visual feast. In the modern condo pictured, the clean profile and smooth texture of gray slab door cabinets optimize visual space.