Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This homeowner’s daughter originally contacted us on behalf of her parents who were reluctant to begin the remodeling process in their home due to the inconvenience and dust. Once we met and they dipped their toes into the process, we were off to the races. The existing bathroom in this beautiful historical 1920’s home, had not been updated since the 70’/80’s as evidenced by the blue carpeting, mirrored walls and dropped ceilings. In addition, there was very little storage, and some health setbacks had made the bathroom difficult to maneuver with its tub shower. Once we demoed, we discovered everything we expected to find in a home that had not been updated for many years. We got to work bringing all the electrical and plumbing up to code, and it was just as dusty and dirty as the homeowner’s anticipated! Once the space was demoed, we got to work building our new plan. We eliminated the existing tub and created a large walk-in curb-less shower. An existing closet was eliminated and in its place, we planned a custom built in with spots for linens, jewelry and general storage. Because of the small space, we had to be very creative with the shower footprint, so we clipped one of the walls for more clearance behind the sink. The bathroom features a beautiful custom mosaic floor tile as well as tiled walls throughout the space. This required lots of coordination between the carpenter and tile setter to make sure that the framing and tile design were all properly aligned. We worked around an existing radiator and a unique original leaded window that was architecturally significant to the façade of the home. We had a lot of extra depth behind the original toilet location, so we built the wall out a bit, moved the toilet forward and then created some extra storage space behind the commode. We settled on mirrored mullioned doors to bounce lots of light around the smaller space. We also went back and forth on deciding between a single and double vanity, and in the end decided the single vanity allowed for more counter space, more storage below and for the design to breath a bit in the smaller space. I’m so happy with this decision! To build on the luxurious feel of the space, we added a heated towel bar and heated flooring. One of the concerns the homeowners had was having a comfortable floor to walk on. They realized that carpet was not a very practical solution but liked the comfort it had provided. Heated floors are the perfect solution. The room is decidedly traditional from its intricate mosaic marble floor to the calacutta marble clad walls. Elegant gold chandelier style fixtures, marble countertops and Morris & Co. beaded wallpaper provide an opulent feel to the space. The gray monochromatic pallet keeps it feeling fresh and up-to-date. The beautiful leaded glass window is an important architectural feature at the front of the house. In the summertime, the homeowners love having the window open for fresh air and ventilation. We love it too! The curb-less shower features a small fold down bench that can be used if needed and folded up when not. The shower also features a custom niche for storing shampoo and other hair products. The linear drain is built into the tilework and is barely visible. A frameless glass door that swings both in and out completes the luxurious feel. 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

Set in Montana's tranquil Shields River Valley, the Shilo Ranch Compound is a collection of structures that were specifically built on a relatively smaller scale, to maximize efficiency. The main house has two bedrooms, a living area, dining and kitchen, bath and adjacent greenhouse, while two guest homes within the compound can sleep a total of 12 friends and family. There's also a common gathering hall, for dinners, games, and time together. The overall feel here is of sophisticated simplicity, with plaster walls, concrete and wood floors, and weathered boards for exteriors. The placement of each building was considered closely when envisioning how people would move through the property, based on anticipated needs and interests. Sustainability and consumption was also taken into consideration, as evidenced by the photovoltaic panels on roof of the garage, and the capability to shut down any of the compound's buildings when not in use.

In floor Schluter Ditra Heat. Photo by Joni Roberts, Yellowstone Family Photography
Mid-sized trendy bathroom photo in Other

Luxurious Master Bath Upgrade with heated tile floors, quartz countertops, beaded inset cabinetry, heated towel rack, beadboard wall panels, and bidet.

Fully tiled ensuite, individual heated towel rails, underfloor heating
Corner shower - small contemporary master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile, gray floor and single-sink corner shower idea in Auckland with light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an integrated sink, a hinged shower door and a floating vanity

When we started this project, opening up the kitchen to the surrounding space was not an option. Instead, the 10-foot ceilings gave us an opportunity to create a glamorous room with all of the amenities of an open floor plan. The beautiful sunny breakfast nook and adjacent formal dining offer plenty of seats for family and guests in this modern home. Our clients, none the less, love to sit at their new island for breakfast, keeping each other company while cooking, reading a new recipe or simply taking a well-deserved coffee break. The gorgeous custom cabinetry is a combination of horizontal grain walnut base and tall cabinets with glossy white upper cabinets that create an open feeling all the way up the walls. Caesarstone countertops and backsplash join together for a nearly seamless transition. The Subzero and Thermador appliances match the quality of the home and the cooks themselves! Finally, the heated natural limestone floors keep this room welcoming all year long. Alicia Gbur Photography

Seward Street is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designed for an older couple to age in place – to live independently and comfortably, regardless of age. The fully livable ground floor has an open-flow kitchen, living, and dining room under a cathedral ceiling, with a separate bedroom, full bathroom, and laundry. This is complimented by an upstairs loft with a second full bathroom and a large open space that doubles as either a guest suite or office space. The ADU is designed within an efficient building footprint to maximize the available back yard. Built from Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) it is detailed to be airtight and well insulated, with extremely efficient space heating & cooling (ductless mini-split air source heat pump) and an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) to provide continuous fresh air while recapturing the indoor heating and cooling. It has a 400% efficient air source heat pump water heater, induction cooking, heat pump clothes dryer, and is an all-electric home. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Ultra-High Efficiency Air Source Heat Pump Heating & Cooling System Energy Recovery Ventilator Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Low-E Glazing All LED Lighting Induction Cooktop Energy Star Certified Appliances WATER EFFICIENCY: WaterSense High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures Front-Loading Clothes Washer INDOOR AIR QUALITY: All-Electric Home (no gas combustion) Energy Recovery Ventilator with MERV 13 filter Low and no-VOC materials and finishes High-Efficiency Kitchen Exhaust Fan

The Helios Lounge (pictured here in charcoal + brass) was part of designer Steven Miller's Kitchen of the Year at the San Francisco Designer Showcase House in 2014 and featured in the October issue of House Beautiful.

Seward Street is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designed for an older couple to age in place – to live independently and comfortably, regardless of age. The fully livable ground floor has an open-flow kitchen, living, and dining room under a cathedral ceiling, with a separate bedroom, full bathroom, and laundry. This is complimented by an upstairs loft with a second full bathroom and a large open space that doubles as either a guest suite or office space. The ADU is designed within an efficient building footprint to maximize the available back yard. Built from Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) it is detailed to be airtight and well insulated, with extremely efficient space heating & cooling (ductless mini-split air source heat pump) and an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) to provide continuous fresh air while recapturing the indoor heating and cooling. It has a 400% efficient air source heat pump water heater, induction cooking, heat pump clothes dryer, and is an all-electric home. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Ultra-High Efficiency Air Source Heat Pump Heating & Cooling System Energy Recovery Ventilator Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Low-E Glazing All LED Lighting Induction Cooktop Energy Star Certified Appliances WATER EFFICIENCY: WaterSense High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures Front-Loading Clothes Washer INDOOR AIR QUALITY: All-Electric Home (no gas combustion) Energy Recovery Ventilator with MERV 13 filter Low and no-VOC materials and finishes High-Efficiency Kitchen Exhaust Fan

The Helios Lounge (pictured here in charcoal + brass) was part of designer Steven Miller's Kitchen of the Year at the San Francisco Designer Showcase House in 2014.

Example of a classic side yard deck design in San Francisco with no cover

See how Michelle Hollenhorst of Pink Petal Design used a Heat & Glo SlimLine gas fireplace to become the centerpiece of a Minnesota home.
Example of a mid-sized classic beige two-story exterior home design in Minneapolis

This modern home was a net-zero energy design-build project built in collaboration with a local architecture firm. The owner was living in the Midwest, so other than an in-person, upfront planning meeting and a few visits for walkthroughs along the way, we built the home with him providing input from afar. One of the homeowner’s goals was to be as close to net-zero in energy usage as possible. The home features solar panels to generate electricity and geothermal heat pumps to power in-floor radiant heating and cooling. Solar panels also heat hot water to augment the heating system and provide hot water for domestic use. The modern design of the home also helps to save on the energy needed for heating and cooling. Extensions on the roof let the low winter sunlight pour through the windows to provide passive solar heat during the colder months and block the rays in the summer to help keep the house cool. The home’s foundation and its garage floor sit on concrete piers drilled into the ground. This keeps them away from direct contact with the poor soils the home is built on, allowing the soils to expand without causing any damage. We commissioned custom furniture, countertops, and other features made from salvaged elm and walnut trees cut down in the area. Custom walnut doors, wardrobes in the master suite, and grain-sequenced cabinet doors and drawer fronts coordinate beautifully with the locally sourced pieces, as do the accents made from beetle-kill pine. The home nestles into the ground to provide a mid-level walkout basement. Stairs go down from main floor and up from basement to meet in the middle and provide access to the outdoors. Locally sourced Colorado buff stone accents interior walls and transitions to exterior walls, helping to further anchor the home to its beautiful, lakeside location.

Seward Street is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designed for an older couple to age in place – to live independently and comfortably, regardless of age. The fully livable ground floor has an open-flow kitchen, living, and dining room under a cathedral ceiling, with a separate bedroom, full bathroom, and laundry. This is complimented by an upstairs loft with a second full bathroom and a large open space that doubles as either a guest suite or office space. The ADU is designed within an efficient building footprint to maximize the available back yard. Built from Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) it is detailed to be airtight and well insulated, with extremely efficient space heating & cooling (ductless mini-split air source heat pump) and an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) to provide continuous fresh air while recapturing the indoor heating and cooling. It has a 400% efficient air source heat pump water heater, induction cooking, heat pump clothes dryer, and is an all-electric home. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Ultra-High Efficiency Air Source Heat Pump Heating & Cooling System Energy Recovery Ventilator Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Low-E Glazing All LED Lighting Induction Cooktop Energy Star Certified Appliances WATER EFFICIENCY: WaterSense High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures Front-Loading Clothes Washer INDOOR AIR QUALITY: All-Electric Home (no gas combustion) Energy Recovery Ventilator with MERV 13 filter Low and no-VOC materials and finishes High-Efficiency Kitchen Exhaust Fan

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Bay Windows Roller Shades, Solar Shades Revers Roller ,Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. All Hunter Douglas window fashions provide window insulation, offering your home increased protection against heat loss during the winter, as well as minimizing the sun's heat or "solar heat" during the summer. Solar Heat Control The warmth provided by the sun, its solar energy, may be desirable during the winter to help heat your home, yet it can make a room overly hot and uncomfortable while driving up air conditioning costs in the summer. Many Hunter Douglas products are designed to reduce the amount of solar heat that passes through the window, which is known as the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The lower the SHGC, the more protected your home is from the sun's heat. To enjoy the sun's warmth when desired, simply raise or open the window fashion and invite it in.

Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. All Hunter Douglas window fashions provide window insulation, offering your home increased protection against heat loss during the winter, as well as minimizing the sun's heat or "solar heat" during the summer. Solar Heat Control The warmth provided by the sun, its solar energy, may be desirable during the winter to help heat your home, yet it can make a room overly hot and uncomfortable while driving up air conditioning costs in the summer. Many Hunter Douglas products are designed to reduce the amount of solar heat that passes through the window, which is known as the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The lower the SHGC, the more protected your home is from the sun's heat. To enjoy the sun's warmth when desired, simply raise or open the window fashion and invite it in.

View from the Northwest. This home is built with high performance walls and roofs, resulting in a very well insulated and tightly sealed home. We implemented a combined heating approach of passive solar and radiant hydronic floor heating, which we call “Sun Smart Radiant Heating.” This system sensibly captures the sun’s energy on sunny days and has two added benefits. The radiant system distributes the sun’s heat uniformly throughout the home and also produces heat during long stretches of cloudy days or extreme cold. This dual heating method is not only incredibly energy efficient, it relieves any worries homeowners may have about living in a home that is heated with passive solar alone. During the warmer months, the Quinn Creek Home is designed to benefit from passive cooling, a free home air-conditioning strategy. Also, carefully designed roof overhangs and awnings prevent unwanted solar heat gain in the summer. The windows used for both passive solar heating and passive cooling, provide beautiful views and connect the inhabits to the ephemeral qualities of the outdoors. The experience of living in a passive solar home changes from day to day, season to season. The windows also provide ample natural day lighting, even on cloudy days, which significantly reduces electric lighting costs and reduces the occurrence of falls and depression within the home. The surrounding mountain and hillside slopes of the Quinn Creek Home were carefully analyzed and integrated into the design and roof pitches. Even though this photo is in color, winter light conditions often create a black-and-white-like effect. The darker and lighter colored metal siding and roofing colors were purposefully chosen to help the home blend with the environment during the changing seasons. Greenovision Home Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard stone patio container garden remodel in Orange County with a pergola