photo by Deborah Degraffenreid
Staircase - scandinavian wooden floating open and cable railing staircase idea in New York

A typical post-1906 Noe Valley house is simultaneously restored, expanded and redesigned to keep what works and rethink what doesn’t. The front façade, is scraped and painted a crisp monochrome white—it worked. The new asymmetrical gabled rear addition takes the place of a windowless dead end box that didn’t. A “Great kitchen”, open yet formally defined living and dining rooms, a generous master suite, and kid’s rooms with nooks and crannies, all make for a newly designed house that straddles old and new. Structural Engineer: Gregory Paul Wallace SE General Contractor: Cardea Building Co. Photographer: Open Homes Photography

Photographed by Michele Lee Willson. Contractor: Bay Area Custom Homes. 800+ sq. ft. with 12'-0" ceilings, 10'-0" windows, french oak floors and custom Douglas Fir doors.

Mid-sized trendy u-shaped slate floor open concept kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, wood countertops, multicolored backsplash, black appliances, a peninsula, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, ceramic backsplash and beige countertops

Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen photo with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, an island and quartz countertops

Example of a large beach style l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The cantilevered informal sitting area hangs out into the back yard. Floating aluminum steps create a path from the house to a raised ipe deck and down to the yard. The deep corrugations of the metal siding contrast with the vertical v-groove siding of the original ranch house. The floating steel and glass cube adds a dramatic interior volume and captures the view of the landscaped back yard. Photo copyright Nathan Eikelberg

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a large coastal dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

David Duncan Livingston
Inspiration for a large coastal medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in San Francisco with open cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large modern master white tile and marble tile porcelain tile, gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting freestanding bathtub remodel in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a floating vanity

Example of a small danish black one-story wood gable roof design in Austin with a shingle roof

Mid-sized contemporary two-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Seattle

Susan Teare
Example of a small mountain style two-story wood gable roof design in Burlington

Angle Eye Photography
Eat-in kitchen - huge cottage l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen - large cottage l-shaped kitchen idea in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, marble countertops, an island and shaker cabinets

Richard Leo Johnson
Inspiration for a small cottage gray one-story exterior home remodel in Atlanta

Barry Grossman Photography
Bedroom - coastal light wood floor bedroom idea in Miami with white walls

Example of a trendy galley light wood floor kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Completed in 2013, this house started as a traditionally-styled 1,800 sf., single story, two bedroom, one bath home and became an all-new warm contemporary 2,700 sf., two story, four bedroom, three bath residence for a family of five. The budget dictated the re-use of the existing foundations, garage and far right ground floor bedroom footprint. The City of San Mateo had strict planning rules prohibiting contemporary design, but the end result, a blend of traditional and contemporary, has become a model project for the city. Being environmentally conscious, the owners utilized radiant hydronic heated engineered fumed-oak floors. They opted for fully operable windows with good cross-ventilation and a whole house fan instead of installing gas furnaces, ductwork, or air conditioning. The new second floor conceals a 3 kW solar photovoltaic system that cannot be seen from the street. The rock formation in the front yard is one of two bioswales that hold roof rainwater temporarily for slow dissipation into the city's storm water system. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography