Protecting items. Interior lighting in cabinets not only facilitates access to items but also effectively protects them. In insufficient light, items may turn yellow, rust, or become damp. By using light strips, proper lighting can be provided, keeping items in a bright, dry environment, prolonging the lifespan of the items.

Today’s investment landscape in California features a surge in transforming single-family lots into vibrant multi-family residences, facilitated by recent SB9 and ADU laws. This project exemplifies how a modest 6,750-square-foot lot can accommodate a 1,500-square-foot primary home alongside a 2,500-square-foot duplex, seamlessly integrating design, functionality, and neighborhood aesthetics. The primary residence underwent a meticulous interior transformation, evolving from a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath layout into a spacious 4-bedroom, 2-bath home. Strategic reconfigurations centered around creating an expansive great room—an open-concept space adorned with vaulted ceilings—where the kitchen, dining, and living areas converge into a magnificent communal zone. Exterior updates further distinguish the property. The front and side yards are enclosed with fencing and privacy hedges, linked by concrete pathways that enhance outdoor functionality while compensating for backyard space lost during renovations. The exterior façade was refreshed with darker tones, deliberately contrasting with the duplex to emphasize architectural separation. Designed to preserve the suburban charm, the duplex visually mimics a single-family home from the street. Its facade creates an illusion of a two-story residence, maintaining harmony within the neighborhood fabric. The main unit, developed under SB9 guidelines, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a luxurious parents’ suite situated upstairs. Downstairs, two bedrooms share a full bath, creating a balanced family-oriented layout. The duplex’s interior boasts 9-foot ceilings throughout, elevating the sense of space and openness. The design thoughtfully places the kitchen at the front, inviting guests into the home, while stairs on the right lead to the private upstairs bedroom suite. The ADU offers a two bedroom and two & half baths. the unit is accessible via a private side entrance with a dedicated walkway. Its layout includes a ground-floor living room, a galley kitchen, and a discreet powder room beneath the stairs, designed to contain guest traffic and maintain privacy upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms each feature luxurious bathrooms with expansive showers, adding an element of modern elegance. Both units enjoy thoughtfully landscaped outdoor spaces—private patios, backyard areas, and gated front yards—creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike. This project exemplifies innovative urban infill solutions, blending architectural elegance with legal compliance and community harmony—an inspiring blueprint for the future of residential development in California.

A busy family of five decided to turn their neglected living room into a more useful space to accommodate their needs by converting the space into a study, pantry, and breakfast nook. To better facilitate their passion for cooking, the kitchen now features a 72″ wide refrigerator and freezer, bar top seating, and a built-in breakfast nook. Photos by Kimberly Gavin Photography

This weekend retreat, nestled in a grove of aspens in Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, embodies the words of Henri Poincaré: “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” It directly challenges many of our ideas about home. Rather than a place offering the illusion of protection from the outside world through solid structure, its openness, light and reflectivity make it arguably more transparent than even Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. Featuring a floorplan that is an abstract interpretation of a cumulus cloud, the home’s five rotated, elliptically shaped glass pods approach invisibility at certain times of the year. Each pod serves a distinct programmatic function, though together they facilitate an easy and fluid flow accomplished by minimalist doors placed at the interstices where the pods meet. It functions as an ethereal meeting place between earth and sky. Total Area: 2200 sq. ft., 600 sq. ft. exterior deck Major Materials: Steel structure, curved architectural glass, anodized aluminum, epoxy flooring, and wood decking. Design Team: John Beckmann, with Jacob George Renderings: Jacob George Diagrams and model: Jacob George and Jessica Marvin © Axis Mundi Design LLC

This laundry room is the full package- providing every feature necessary to facilitate completing the task. The arrangement has the likeness of one's own personal laundromat, which is a huge perk for any homeowner. It is full service with its machine compartments, extremely liberal counter space, overhead cabinets, pull-out wire baskets, and a hanging area over a utility sink.

This complete swimming pool and hot tub renovation in New Buffalo, MI started with a faulty swimming pool installation. The infinity edge was not level, and consequently did not work at all. Tile work was sloppy, and faulty. The pool surface was rough, uneven, and unattractive. After performing specific engineering and bluff stability testing, the entire project was demolished and begun anew. In its place was installed a new 18’0” x 45’0” swimming pool, which was 3’6” to 7’6” deep. The spa was separated from the pool, and raised 18”. The square steps going into the swimming pool include an enlarged top-step which doubles as a sunshelf. The spa filtration and heating system was then also separated to facilitate a longer season. The pool is also equipped with an in-floor cleaning system and state of the art sanitization systems including ozone and mineral sanitizers. Valders Limestone coping and Ipe decking was utilized to completely change the aesthetic of the swimming pool and surrounding area. The pool finish is Diamond Brite exposed aggregate.

A blank slate and open minds are a perfect recipe for creative design ideas. The homeowner's brother is a custom cabinet maker who brought our ideas to life and then Landmark Remodeling installed them and facilitated the rest of our vision. We had a lot of wants and wishes, and were to successfully do them all, including a gym, fireplace, hidden kid's room, hobby closet, and designer touches.

Abbie Parr Photography Christi Towne Designs offers classic design with a modern twist, for residential and commercial spaces. Her goal is to facilitate and navigate her clients through an enjoyable design experience, while realizing their visual dreams. Comfort, functionality, the client's budget and lifestyle are always top considerations with every design project small or large in scope. Christi was influenced at a young age by her artistic parents and extensive travels throughout Europe. These experiences inspired, and enriched her appreciation and knowledge of architecture, art, furniture, fabrics and color. This coupled with her creativity, professionalism, and people and organizational skills gleaned from over 15 years of sales experience has transferred to her design business for the past 14 years. No matter the style or scope of the project, Christi embraces it with the same attention to detail, design sensibililty, enthusiasm and expertise. Creating beautiful, liveable and timeless interior spaces for her client's, is her ultimate goal. "Design projects can be overwhelming.... my goal is to make my client's experience enjoyable, and collaborative with the result being their design dream becoming a reality". Offering full residential and commercial interior design services. Based in Portland, Oregon her projects have included homes and businesses in the Pacific Northwest, California, Arizona and Hawaii.

Photo by Mike Casey While boasting abundant square footage, Victorian houses often "live small" because of their outdated space configuration. With its undersized kitchen, minimal storage and awkward floor plan, this house was no exception. RECONFIGURING ROOMS The first and most pivotal design decision the architect (Anita Rogers) made was to move the basement stair. The stair ran between the kitchen and adjacent breakfast room, obstructing traffic flow and isolating the breakfast room from the rest of the living space. Moving the stair allowed us to integrate these two rooms into a generous eat-in kitchen with views to the backyard. It also allowed us to carve out a mud-room space with a bench and storage for shoes, coats and bags. Thoughtfully detailed cabinetry fulfilled the clients' storage needs, rendering an existing dining room pantry obsolete. Removing the pantry created space to relocate the basement stair without sacrificing dining room floor area: we grew the dining area into the space vacated by the pantry and widened the doorway between the dining room and kitchen, facilitating traffic flow and creating a feeling of spaciousness. ACCESSING THE OUTDOORS The finishing touch is a new back deck with access from both the kitchen and the dining room. Glass doors to the deck admit plenty of natural light while also inviting the family outdoors to their backyard living space. The result is a lovely, vintage home whose space plan gracefully accommodates twenty-first century living.

Built in 1909, this 3-story single-family home is in the heart of Noe Valley. An old addition in the back of the house, which had served as the laundry room and access to the back yard, was in need of repair. So the homeowners decided to open up this area and incorporate it in their kitchen remodel. Kat Tragos of Timeless Kitchens worked closely with the homeowners, Kim and Max, and their contractor to create a floor plan that would discreetly accommodate their washer/dryer as well as other kitchen appliances. With two young daughters eager to help in the kitchen, Max and Kim decided a prep sink and island would facilitate more cooks. They also liked the historic look of a farm sink, so this was a must-have on the list. Other wants were a cat feeding station, a butcher- block island-top, and open shelving for cookbooks. The white inset door style and decorative panels were chosen to mimic the home's original craftsman-style and beautiful wainscoting.

Jesse had inherited his townhome, and had lived there for several years. His career took him to another state, and the home was unoccupied for over a year. He decided that he would not return to Raleigh and that it was time to sell. The 1975 home still had the original kitchen and baths, and was in need of general repair and new flooring. The HVAC system, water heater, and washer and dryer had been replaced as they aged and became non-functional, and the exterior had been maintained by the Home Owner’s Association. Jesse wanted to update the home and have it sell as quickly as possible, so we got to work determining what the best use of the budget would be to accomplish this goal. We focused on updating the major interior design elements that would provide the most enjoyment, durability, and energy efficiency for the new homeowners. We started with completely gutting the Kitchen and reconfiguring it by moving the refrigerator into the laundry area, and stacked the washer and dryer to save space. We replaced all of the old vinyl cabinets with durable natural wood cabinetry, and added granite counter tops and a stainless steel sink. We also removed the ceiling-hung cabinets over the counter peninsula to open up the Kitchen and bring in more light and facilitate better flow and interaction, and added a floor-to-ceiling Pantry Closet to make up for the lost storage space. All of the Kitchen appliances were replaced with new energy efficient models. We next gutted the downstairs Powder Bath and replaced the vinyl vanity with matching cabinetry with the kitchen, and replaced the toilet (as well as all other toilets in the home) with an EPA WaterSense rated low-flow toilets. We removed the wallpaper and finished the walls smooth, replaced the lighting and mirror, and removed the carpet and installed a porcelain tile floor. The second floor 2nd Bedroom had been left open to the Great Room with a balcony and accordion door for privacy, but it left the room open to all of the noise from the Great Room and Kitchen. In order to make the room function as a private bedroom, we removed the balcony and installed a full wall in its place. Replacing all of the flooring was also at the top of the list, as was general repair on the walls and new paint throughout. We installed natural oak flooring in the Great Room and porcelain tile in the entry foyer. The seals on several of the exterior windows and the Master Bedroom sliding door had been compromised and needed to be replaced, as well as several interior doors and repair of all the louvered closet doors. The two upstairs Baths were functionally sound and the tile was in good shape. We replaced the toilets with EPA WaterSense rated low-flow toilets, and painted the vanities with a brighter color palette. The end result was bright, open, and comfortable updated home ready for its new occupants. Design Features Durable and handsome natural wood cabinetry. Granite Kitchen and Powder countertops. Stainless Kitchen appliances and white refrigerator. Stainless Kitchen sink and brushed nickel faucets. Brushed Nickel cabinetry and door hardware. Low-flow EPA WaterSense rated toilets. Light and bright natural hardwood flooring. Porcelain tile and luxury vinyl flooring. New carpet. Private 2nd Bedroom. Light and bright No-VOC paints and finishes. Energy Efficient and Green Features Energy efficient EPA Energy Star appliances. EPA WaterSense rated low-flow toilets. Energy efficient EPA Energy Star windows and door. Durable No-VOC cabinetry. Durable porcelain tile flooring. Low-flow faucets. Energy efficient CFL lighting throughout. No-VOC paints and finishes.

Our design for the expansion and gut renovation of a small 1200 square foot house in a residential neighborhood triples is size, and reworks the living arrangement. The rear addition takes advantage of southern exposure with a "greenhouse" room that provides solar heat gain in winter, shading in summer, and a vast connection to the rear yard. Architecturally, we used an approach we call "willful practicality." The new soaring ceiling ties together first and second floors in a dramatic volumetric expansion of space, while providing increased ventilation and daylighting from greenhouse to operable windows and skylights at the peak. Exterior pockets of space are created from curved forces pushing in from outside to form cedar clad porch and stoop. Sustainable design is employed throughout all materials, energy systems and insulation. Masonry exterior walls and concrete floors provide thermal mass for the interior by insulating the exterior. An ERV system facilitates increased air changes and minimizes changes to the interior air temperature. Energy and water saving features and renewable, non-toxic materal selections are important aspects of the house design. Environmental community issues are addressed with a drywell in the side yard to mitigate rain runoff into the town sewer system. The long sloping south facing roof is in anticipation of future solar panels, with the standing seam metal roof providing anchoring opportunities for the panels. The exterior walls are clad in stucco, cedar, and cement-fiber panels defining different areas of the house. Closed cell spray insulation is applied to exterior walls and roof, giving the house an "air-tight" seal against air infiltration and a high R-value. The ERV system provides the ventilation needed with this tight envelope. The interior comfort level and economizing are the beneficial results of the building methods and systems employed in the house. Photographer: Peter Kubilus

Griffith Property Development Remodel of an existing garage/shop space into additional living area - including new entry from carport area, hallway with laundry and pantry closets, bathroom, bedroom with large closet, new heating system, new flooring, plumbing, and lighting - to facilitate single-floor ease of living into elder years. An enclosed and heated garage was also part of the redesign. Materials were repurposed wherever possible, local independent contractors and businesses supported, and thanks to great teamwork, it all came in under budget and on-time.

The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a roof deck patio and green roof. The patio features square concrete unit pavers, sedum ground cover, and planters with small trees. Modern patio furniture was chosen to facilitate large and small gatherings alike overlooking the Boston skyline. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.

Request Free Quote This lap pool in Barrington, IL measures 15'0" x 60'0". The interior hot tub measures 7'0" x 7'0". LED colored lights illuminate the pool in color for night swimming. The pool coping is Ledgestone 12" wide. The pool has an in-floor cleaning system to keep the pool sanitary. Both the pool and hot tub are covered by the same automatic pool safety cover with a custom stone lid system. There are two tile swim lanes to facilitate lap swimming. The pool deck is poured concrete. The pol also has a volleyball and basketball system (not pictured). Photos by e3 Photography.

In a large kitchen, every area needs to be almost self-sufficient. In this custom design by MandiCasa New York, every functional detail facilitates heavy use and an effortless flow. On the island, the accessorized The Galley sink workstations create an efficient space for prepping, chopping, and washing. On the wall, storage mixes with three distinct sections: - the cooking area with multiple ovens and a pull-out support table fitted inside a drawer; - a tea station hidden behind pocket doors; - the bar area with its own sink as well as under-counter fridge units and ice maker integrated inside the cabinets. Bleached light oak wood with Neolith Mont Blanc. For more about the project and the choices that went into it: https://www.mandicasa.com/a-synthesis-of-zen-and-efficiency

Today’s investment landscape in California features a surge in transforming single-family lots into vibrant multi-family residences, facilitated by recent SB9 and ADU laws. This project exemplifies how a modest 6,750-square-foot lot can accommodate a 1,500-square-foot primary home alongside a 2,500-square-foot duplex, seamlessly integrating design, functionality, and neighborhood aesthetics. The primary residence underwent a meticulous interior transformation, evolving from a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath layout into a spacious 4-bedroom, 2-bath home. Strategic reconfigurations centered around creating an expansive great room—an open-concept space adorned with vaulted ceilings—where the kitchen, dining, and living areas converge into a magnificent communal zone. Exterior updates further distinguish the property. The front and side yards are enclosed with fencing and privacy hedges, linked by concrete pathways that enhance outdoor functionality while compensating for backyard space lost during renovations. The exterior façade was refreshed with darker tones, deliberately contrasting with the duplex to emphasize architectural separation. Designed to preserve the suburban charm, the duplex visually mimics a single-family home from the street. Its facade creates an illusion of a two-story residence, maintaining harmony within the neighborhood fabric. The main unit, developed under SB9 guidelines, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a luxurious parents’ suite situated upstairs. Downstairs, two bedrooms share a full bath, creating a balanced family-oriented layout. The duplex’s interior boasts 9-foot ceilings throughout, elevating the sense of space and openness. The design thoughtfully places the kitchen at the front, inviting guests into the home, while stairs on the right lead to the private upstairs bedroom suite. The ADU offers a two bedroom and two & half baths. the unit is accessible via a private side entrance with a dedicated walkway. Its layout includes a ground-floor living room, a galley kitchen, and a discreet powder room beneath the stairs, designed to contain guest traffic and maintain privacy upstairs. The upstairs bedrooms each feature luxurious bathrooms with expansive showers, adding an element of modern elegance. Both units enjoy thoughtfully landscaped outdoor spaces—private patios, backyard areas, and gated front yards—creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors alike. This project exemplifies innovative urban infill solutions, blending architectural elegance with legal compliance and community harmony—an inspiring blueprint for the future of residential development in California.

Matt Fuller
Inspiration for a modern living room remodel in San Francisco

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)