A visual artist and his fiancée’s house and studio were designed with various themes in mind, such as the physical context, client needs, security, and a limited budget. Six options were analyzed during the schematic design stage to control the wind from the northeast, sunlight, light quality, cost, energy, and specific operating expenses. By using design performance tools and technologies such as Fluid Dynamics, Energy Consumption Analysis, Material Life Cycle Assessment, and Climate Analysis, sustainable strategies were identified. The building is self-sufficient and will provide the site with an aquifer recharge that does not currently exist. The main masses are distributed around a courtyard, creating a moderately open construction towards the interior and closed to the outside. The courtyard contains a Huizache tree, surrounded by a water mirror that refreshes and forms a central part of the courtyard. The house comprises three main volumes, each oriented at different angles to highlight different views for each area. The patio is the primary circulation stratagem, providing a refuge from the wind, a connection to the sky, and a night sky observatory. We aim to establish a deep relationship with the site by including the open space of the patio.

This recently built 1,200 sq ft condo had spectacular views but was otherwise in need of character and design. My client, a single man and first time homeowner had excellent taste but wasn't sure where to begin or how to pull things together. We quickly identified a mutual love of mid century modern pieces and created a modern yet industrial inspired space that compliments and enhances his homes stunning panoramic views of downtown. ​ Favourite pieces include the colourful and bold silk area rug that helps ground the otherwise monochromatic space, custom stools that are as comfortable as they are visually appealing with luggage leather seats, several walnut pieces that add warmth and a concrete coffee table for a mix of modern. The final look is clean, fresh and eclectic resulting in the masculine, unique feel my client wanted.

This recently built 1,200 sq ft condo had spectacular views but was otherwise in need of character and design. My client, a single man and first time homeowner had excellent taste but wasn't sure where to begin or how to pull things together. We quickly identified a mutual love of mid century modern pieces and created a modern yet industrial inspired space that compliments and enhances his homes stunning panoramic views of downtown. ​ Favourite pieces include the colourful and bold silk area rug that helps ground the otherwise monochromatic space, custom stools that are as comfortable as they are visually appealing with luggage leather seats, several walnut pieces that add warmth and a concrete coffee table for a mix of modern. The final look is clean, fresh and eclectic resulting in the masculine, unique feel my client wanted.

New to the Pacific Northwest, our recently retired clients had relocated from the Fairbanks area to take advantage of the more moderate climate and improved access to family and resources. They selected a nice home in a desirable location with a large enough lot next to some green space to afford them some breathing room. Taking a less is more approach, the homeowners’ goal was to establish a more neutral pallet with white walls, wood and earthy accents. We kept the budget at the forefront of our conversations, and they took care to make practical decisions, investing strategically in the upgrades to their home. Every decision and change made went a long way toward aligning the style of the home with the values of its new owners. The homeowners identify with their Danish heritage, which they express through their aesthetic and selections. The master bathroom improvements were especially important to the homeowners. We added heated floors and completely reworked the layout and design. It featured a new tub, a custom shower, tile throughout, shower glass, a custom cabinet made by a local cabinet maker and new lights and fixtures.

Custom wine room designed, fabricated and installed with clients rustic tones in mind. Knotty alder, full glass entry with a viewing window from the adjacent room immediately details a stone, cave-like entry into the wine room. Individual bottles, display, bulk storage and presentation shelves adorn this inviting space. Displays are all accented with LED lights on a dimmable transformer. Unique ceiling and wall sconce light fixtures provide just enough light to easily identify all labels. A wine cellar cooling system is hidden in a dead corner of the racking so as not to interfere with the décor or capacity. The used wine barrel offer the perfect surface to set a glass down and enjoy the space.

This nautical Farrow & Ball wallpaper accentuates the soft blue grey powder room.
Powder room - small contemporary powder room idea in Toronto with blue walls

Faced with extensive water damage to their home, the Patel’s turned to Cantoni designer Andrea Petor to infuse new life into their family’s beloved weekend retreat in Montgomery, Texas. Balancing the client’s minimalist wants with their love of hosting, Andrea created a cohesive design to accommodate their frequent guests and large extended family. Beginning with the kitchen remodel, Andrea worked with the Patel’s to identify the best layout for the space, understanding it would be used regularly for entertaining. To maximize storage space, Andrea designed custom floor to ceiling cabinetry finished in high gloss white lacquer. She selected Miele optic white appliances to enhance the sleek design. Andrea had a custom dining table built into the island to provide ample seating and ensure the entire family could enjoy meals together. The kitchen’s monochromatic color palette was carried throughout the interiors allowing the home’s beautiful waterfront views to take center stage. Adding richness and texture to each room, Andrea selected sculptural, modern furnishings to complete the space and bring the Patel’s vision to life.

This recently built 1,200 sq ft condo had spectacular views but was otherwise in need of character and design. My client, a single man and first time homeowner had excellent taste but wasn't sure where to begin or how to pull things together. We quickly identified a mutual love of mid century modern pieces and created a modern yet industrial inspired space that compliments and enhances his homes stunning panoramic views of downtown. ​ Favourite pieces include the colourful and bold silk area rug that helps ground the otherwise monochromatic space, custom stools that are as comfortable as they are visually appealing with luggage leather seats, several walnut pieces that add warmth and a concrete coffee table for a mix of modern. The final look is clean, fresh and eclectic resulting in the masculine, unique feel my client wanted.

A visual artist and his fiancée’s house and studio were designed with various themes in mind, such as the physical context, client needs, security, and a limited budget. Six options were analyzed during the schematic design stage to control the wind from the northeast, sunlight, light quality, cost, energy, and specific operating expenses. By using design performance tools and technologies such as Fluid Dynamics, Energy Consumption Analysis, Material Life Cycle Assessment, and Climate Analysis, sustainable strategies were identified. The building is self-sufficient and will provide the site with an aquifer recharge that does not currently exist. The main masses are distributed around a courtyard, creating a moderately open construction towards the interior and closed to the outside. The courtyard contains a Huizache tree, surrounded by a water mirror that refreshes and forms a central part of the courtyard. The house comprises three main volumes, each oriented at different angles to highlight different views for each area. The patio is the primary circulation stratagem, providing a refuge from the wind, a connection to the sky, and a night sky observatory. We aim to establish a deep relationship with the site by including the open space of the patio.

Large l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

FotoGrafik Arts
Example of a trendy dining room design in Atlanta

From addressing recurring water problems to integrating common eyesores seamlessly into the overall design, this basement transformed into a space the whole family (and their guests) love. Like many 1920s homes in the Linden Hills area, the basement felt narrow, dark, and uninviting, but Homes and Such was committed to identifying creative solutions within the existing structure that transformed the space. Subtle tweaks to the floor plan made better use of the available square footage and created an openish layout, which gives the illusion of space in a 100-year-old basement with low ceilings.

Custom wine room designed, fabricated and installed with clients rustic tones in mind. Knotty alder, full glass entry with a viewing window from the adjacent room immediately details a stone, cave-like entry into the wine room. Individual bottles, display, bulk storage and presentation shelves adorn this inviting space. Displays are all accented with LED lights on a dimmable transformer. Unique ceiling and wall sconce light fixtures provide just enough light to easily identify all labels. A wine cellar cooling system is hidden in a dead corner of the racking so as not to interfere with the décor or capacity. The used wine barrel offer the perfect surface to set a glass down and enjoy the space.

Custom wine room designed, fabricated and installed with clients rustic tones in mind. Knotty alder, full glass entry with a viewing window from the adjacent room immediately details a stone, cave-like entry into the wine room. Individual bottles, display, bulk storage and presentation shelves adorn this inviting space. Displays are all accented with LED lights on a dimmable transformer. Unique ceiling and wall sconce light fixtures provide just enough light to easily identify all labels. A wine cellar cooling system is hidden in a dead corner of the racking so as not to interfere with the décor or capacity. The used wine barrel offer the perfect surface to set a glass down and enjoy the space.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

There are many lighting rules which apply to the conceptual plan. Smaller parcels diminish light glare and pollution for the neighbors. Overuse of horizontal fixture types creates a landing strip appearance. The lighting design should have no dark holes. There should be lighting connectivity and composition throughout the design. Equal brightness of focal points surrounding architectural elements needs to be considered. Brightness levels need to be illuminated with connecting lower levels of illumination and stay underneath dark sky limits. The points of view need to be identified. These, and other lighting conceptual concerns, are presented and discussed individually in an effort to establish a master lighting plan for the property. This lighting plan can be implemented in phases do to budget, time constraints, and desires of the homeowner. The landscape lighting master plan brings the landscape plan to the fullest 8 seasons, 4 seasons both day and night.

It's all about you! Your dreams, your site, your budget…. that's our inspiration! It is all about creating a home that is a true reflection of you and your unique lifestyle. Every project has it's challenges, but underneath the real-life concerns of budget and bylaws lie opportunities to delight. At Kallweit Graham Architecture, it is these opportunities that we seek to discover for each and every project. The key to good design is not an unlimited budget, nor following trends. Rather, it takes the limitations of a project and, through thoughtful design, brings out its uniqueness, and enhances the property and it's value. Building new or renovating an existing home is exciting! We also understand that it can be an emotional undertaking and sometimes overwhelming. For over two decades we have helped hundreds of clients "find their way" through the building maze. We are careful listeners, helping people to identify and prioritize their needs. If you have questions like what is possible? what will it look like? and how much will it cost? our trademarked RenoReport can help… see our website for details www.kga.ca. We welcome your enquiries, which can be addressed to Karen or Ross Karen@kga.ca ext:4 Ross@kga.ca ext: 2 604.921.8044

Before this lower-level recreation room renovation could begin, the source of the water intrusion through the stone walls had to be identified and repaired. The deteriorated mortar was carefully chiseled out and restored, revealing locally quarried stone with natural sparkle and character that was left exposed as an authentic architectural feature. Because the client loved the visual warmth and patina of the original pine paneling, durable wood-look porcelain tile flooring was selected to enhance the room’s rustic elegance. Generous custom cabinetry was essential for storage, and the cabinet paint color was chosen to blend seamlessly with the stone walls so the built-ins would feel integrated rather than visually overwhelming. For this serious audiophile client, the custom cabinetry was designed to accommodate a pull-out turntable, organized vinyl album storage, and integrated audio-visual equipment. Granite ledges along the stone wall provide elegant display surfaces for the homeowner’s curated art collection, adding personal style, gallery-like detail, and layered luxury to the finished interior design. Design: Carol Lombardo Weil, Photo: Alain Jaramillo

JDBG is wrapping up work on an expansive 2-story sunroom addition that also included modifications to the existing home’s interior and significant exterior improvements as well. The original project brief was to provide a conditioned 4-season sunroom addition where the homeowners could relax and enjoy their wooded views. As we delved deeper into our client’s overall objectives, it became clear that this would be no ordinary sunroom addition. The resulting 16’x25’ sunroom is a showstopper with 10’ high ceilings and wall to wall windows offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape. As we recommend with most addition projects, the process started with our Preliminary Design Study to determine project goals, design concepts, project feasibility and associated budget estimates. During this process, our design team worked to ensure that both interior and exterior were fully integrated. We conducted in-depth programming to identify key goals and needs which would inform the design and performed a field survey and zoning analysis to identify any constraints that could impact the plans. The next step was to develop conceptual designs that addressed the program requirements. Using a combination of 3-D massing, interior/exterior renderings, precedent imaging and space planning, the design concept was revised and refined. At the end of the study we had an approved schematic design and comprehensive budget estimates for the 2-story addition and were ready to move into design development, construction documentation, trade coordination, and final pricing. A complex project such as this involves architectural and interior design, structural and civil engineering, landscape design and environmental considerations. Multiple trades and subs are engaged during construction, from HVAC to electrical and plumbing, framers, carpenters and masons, roofers and painters just to name a few. JDBG was there every step of the way to ensure quality construction. Other notable features of the renovation included expanding the home’s existing dining room, incorporating a custom ‘dish room,’ and providing fully conditioned storage and his & her workrooms on the lower level. A new front portico will visually connect the old and new structures and a brand new roof, shutters and paint will further transform the exterior. Thoughtful planning was also given to the landscape, including a back deck, stone patio and walkways, plantings and exterior lighting. Stay tuned for more photos as this sunroom addition nears completion.