Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by Philip Liang Photography.

Designed by Melodie Durham of Durham Designs & Consulting, LLC. Photo by Livengood Photographs [www.livengoodphotographs.com/design].
Example of a small cottage chic master black tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile freestanding bathtub design in Charlotte with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a vessel sink and marble countertops

4,440 SF two story home in Brentwood, CA. This home features an attached two-car garage, 5 Bedrooms, 5 Baths, Upstairs Laundry Room, Office, Covered Balconies and Deck, Sitting Room, Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room, Kitchen, Study, Downstairs Guest Room, Foyer, Morning Room, Covered Loggia, Mud Room. Features warm copper gutters and downspouts as well as copper standing seam roofs that grace the main entry and side yard lower roofing elements to complement the cranberry red front door. An ample sun deck off the master provides a view of the large grassy back yard. The interior features include an Elan Smart House system integrated with surround sound audio system at the Great Room, and speakers throughout the interior and exterior of the home. The well out-fitted Gym and a dark wood paneled home Office provide private spaces for the adults. A large Playroom with wainscot height chalk-board walls creates a fun place for the kids to play. Photos by: Latham Architectural

Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a transitional home gym remodel in Chicago

Connected by a series of boardwalks and surrounded by a sea of Blue Oat Grass a small deck protected by an existing fence invites one for solitary contemplation.

Photo by Langdon Clay
Home office - mid-sized contemporary built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office idea in San Francisco with beige walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless ceramic tile sunroom remodel in Other with a standard ceiling

A seamless combination of traditional with contemporary design elements. This elegant, approx. 1.7 acre view estate is located on Ross's premier address. Every detail has been carefully and lovingly created with design and renovations completed in the past 12 months by the same designer that created the property for Google's founder. With 7 bedrooms and 8.5 baths, this 7200 sq. ft. estate home is comprised of a main residence, large guesthouse, studio with full bath, sauna with full bath, media room, wine cellar, professional gym, 2 saltwater system swimming pools and 3 car garage. With its stately stance, 41 Upper Road appeals to those seeking to make a statement of elegance and good taste and is a true wonderland for adults and kids alike. 71 Ft. lap pool directly across from breakfast room and family pool with diving board. Chef's dream kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, over-sized center island, custom iron chandelier and fireplace open to kitchen and dining room. Formal Dining Room Open kitchen with adjoining family room, both opening to outside and lap pool. Breathtaking large living room with beautiful Mt. Tam views. Master Suite with fireplace and private terrace reminiscent of Montana resort living. Nursery adjoining master bath. 4 additional bedrooms on the lower level, each with own bath. Media room, laundry room and wine cellar as well as kids study area. Extensive lawn area for kids of all ages. Organic vegetable garden overlooking entire property.

Part school, part playground and completely fabulous, this space in Miami creatively blends all that is fun for kids into an environment that will help them to learn and grow. Custom made game tables, storage areas and desks are all built to move with the class or where needed to maximize the space. Whether the kids are up for a magic show in the stage or enjoying some down time on the playground, this space will always be ready for them. Kydoo is a safe, clean, nurturing, fun and friendly activity center and indoor playground where our thoroughly screened and trained professionals open a world of sensory experiences for your child. Your child will Doo more at Kydoo, immersed in art classes, music, ballet, cooking, mommy and me, soccer, gymnastics, baseball, dance and more. You can Doo it too, learn, play, laugh and celebrate Doo-ing side by side with your child, or Doo what you want, relax and get together with friends in our Kydoo Café and enjoy a fresh brewed cup of coffee, or savor a delicious Panini from our Gourmet Menu. Our world class center includes a protected play area, a kicking sports field, an imagination station with it’s own “show stopping” stage, a creative artist area, and an invention station.

Thomas Grady
Inspiration for a timeless basement remodel in Omaha

Micheal DiPilla Real Estate Agent With Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Elegant home gym photo in Los Angeles

In-home professional recording studio
Carpeted home studio photo in Chicago

Michael J Gibbs
Large trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

Dark subway tile in master bath renovation with custom vanities, tile flooring, freestanding soaking tub and glass shower enclosure.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master brown tile and subway tile gray floor and single-sink bathroom remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a built-in vanity

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

Large elegant walk-out dark wood floor and brown floor basement photo in Philadelphia with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Ian Coleman
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master green tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile walk-in shower remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Curtis Martin Photography Industrial Wallpaper in Gladstone Home bar 2x10 Capella Brick Pattern Backsplash in Matte Ivory w/ Delorean Gray Grout, Stickwood in Reclaimed Weathered Wood, Mohawk pre-engineered laminate flooring in Sawmill Ridge Wheat Field Oak, pendants are Elk Model No.: 15321/1, Caesarstone Rugged Concrete countertops, 6 Square Cabinetry Itasca Shaker Style painted Charcoal, Single-sided horizontal picket rails painted black with wood cap