Mark Roskams
Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in New York with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a transitional staircase remodel in San Diego

We were approached by a San Francisco firefighter to design a place for him and his girlfriend to live while also creating additional units he could sell to finance the project. He grew up in the house that was built on this site in approximately 1886. It had been remodeled repeatedly since it was first built so that there was only one window remaining that showed any sign of its Victorian heritage. The house had become so dilapidated over the years that it was a legitimate candidate for demolition. Furthermore, the house straddled two legal parcels, so there was an opportunity to build several new units in its place. At our client’s suggestion, we developed the left building as a duplex of which they could occupy the larger, upper unit and the right building as a large single-family residence. In addition to design, we handled permitting, including gathering support by reaching out to the surrounding neighbors and shepherding the project through the Planning Commission Discretionary Review process. The Planning Department insisted that we develop the two buildings so they had different characters and could not be mistaken for an apartment complex. The duplex design was inspired by Albert Frey’s Palm Springs modernism but clad in fibre cement panels and the house design was to be clad in wood. Because the site was steeply upsloping, the design required tall, thick retaining walls that we incorporated into the design creating sunken patios in the rear yards. All floors feature generous 10 foot ceilings and large windows with the upper, bedroom floors featuring 11 and 12 foot ceilings. Open plans are complemented by sleek, modern finishes throughout.

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, US A full kitchen renovation gave way to a much larger space and much wider possibilities for dining and entertaining. The use of multi-level countertops, as opposed to a more traditional center island, allow for a better use of space to seat a larger crowd. The mix of Baltic Blue, Red Dragon, and Jatoba Wood countertops contrast with the light colors used in the custom cabinetry. The clients insisted that they didn’t use a tub often, so we removed it entirely and made way for a more spacious shower in the master bathroom. In addition to the large shower centerpiece, we added in heated floors, river stone pebbles on the shower floor, and plenty of storage, mirrors, lighting, and speakers for music. The idea was to transform their morning bathroom routine into something special. The mudroom serves as an additional storage facility and acts as a gateway between the inside and outside of the home. Our client’s family room never felt like a family room to begin with. Instead, it felt cluttered and left the home with no natural flow from one room to the next. We transformed the space into two separate spaces; a family lounge on the main level sitting adjacent to the kitchen, and a kids lounge upstairs for them to play and relax. This transformation not only creates a room for everyone, it completely opens up the home and makes it easier to move around from one room to the next. We used natural materials such as wood fire and stone to compliment the new look and feel of the family room. Our clients were looking for a larger area to entertain family and guests that didn’t revolve around being in the family room or kitchen the entire evening. Our outdoor enclosed deck and fireplace design provides ample space for when they want to entertain guests in style. The beautiful fireplace centerpiece outside is the perfect summertime (and wintertime) amenity, perfect for both the adults and the kids. Stacy Zarin Photography

Enclosed kitchen - large traditional galley dark wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, US A full kitchen renovation gave way to a much larger space and much wider possibilities for dining and entertaining. The use of multi-level countertops, as opposed to a more traditional center island, allow for a better use of space to seat a larger crowd. The mix of Baltic Blue, Red Dragon, and Jatoba Wood countertops contrast with the light colors used in the custom cabinetry. The clients insisted that they didn’t use a tub often, so we removed it entirely and made way for a more spacious shower in the master bathroom. In addition to the large shower centerpiece, we added in heated floors, river stone pebbles on the shower floor, and plenty of storage, mirrors, lighting, and speakers for music. The idea was to transform their morning bathroom routine into something special. The mudroom serves as an additional storage facility and acts as a gateway between the inside and outside of the home. Our client’s family room never felt like a family room to begin with. Instead, it felt cluttered and left the home with no natural flow from one room to the next. We transformed the space into two separate spaces; a family lounge on the main level sitting adjacent to the kitchen, and a kids lounge upstairs for them to play and relax. This transformation not only creates a room for everyone, it completely opens up the home and makes it easier to move around from one room to the next. We used natural materials such as wood fire and stone to compliment the new look and feel of the family room. Our clients were looking for a larger area to entertain family and guests that didn’t revolve around being in the family room or kitchen the entire evening. Our outdoor enclosed deck and fireplace design provides ample space for when they want to entertain guests in style. The beautiful fireplace centerpiece outside is the perfect summertime (and wintertime) amenity, perfect for both the adults and the kids. Stacy Zarin Photography

We were approached by a San Francisco firefighter to design a place for him and his girlfriend to live while also creating additional units he could sell to finance the project. He grew up in the house that was built on this site in approximately 1886. It had been remodeled repeatedly since it was first built so that there was only one window remaining that showed any sign of its Victorian heritage. The house had become so dilapidated over the years that it was a legitimate candidate for demolition. Furthermore, the house straddled two legal parcels, so there was an opportunity to build several new units in its place. At our client’s suggestion, we developed the left building as a duplex of which they could occupy the larger, upper unit and the right building as a large single-family residence. In addition to design, we handled permitting, including gathering support by reaching out to the surrounding neighbors and shepherding the project through the Planning Commission Discretionary Review process. The Planning Department insisted that we develop the two buildings so they had different characters and could not be mistaken for an apartment complex. The duplex design was inspired by Albert Frey’s Palm Springs modernism but clad in fibre cement panels and the house design was to be clad in wood. Because the site was steeply upsloping, the design required tall, thick retaining walls that we incorporated into the design creating sunken patios in the rear yards. All floors feature generous 10 foot ceilings and large windows with the upper, bedroom floors featuring 11 and 12 foot ceilings. Open plans are complemented by sleek, modern finishes throughout.

Photos by Michael Hunter
Example of a mid-sized classic enclosed medium tone wood floor living room design in Dallas with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

The quest for the perfect dog friendly landscape took a fun turn this year with canine clients Rey and Finn. The Havanese siblings insisted on a large patio with room for snoozing and snacking, healthy turf for sniffing and rolling, and a dedicated area for when Mother Nature calls. The homeowners wanted a large outdoor room for relaxing and entertaining and to ensure there were no toxic plants, as we all know how much puppies will eat just about anything. Toy poodle Beamer loves this part of the yard. Photo credit: Lisa Meddin, Harmony Design Northwest

Floating (cantilevered) wall with high efficiency Ortal fireplace, floating shelves, 75" flat screen TV in niche over fireplace. Did we leave anything out?

Tuscan home design photo in Santa Barbara

The three-level Mediterranean revival home started as a 1930s summer cottage that expanded downward and upward over time. We used a clean, crisp white wall plaster with bronze hardware throughout the interiors to give the house continuity. A neutral color palette and minimalist furnishings create a sense of calm restraint. Subtle and nuanced textures and variations in tints add visual interest. The stair risers from the living room to the primary suite are hand-painted terra cotta tile in gray and off-white. We used the same tile resource in the kitchen for the island's toe kick.

This modern kitchen update was a dream to work on. Every detail down to the lighting included inside the cabinets and drawers was well thought out executed by our team of designers, architects and builders. We are proud of the end result and more importantly our home owners are ecstatic and can't wait to spend every moment possible in their new mid century modern inspired kitchen.

DannyDan Soy Photography
Example of a small classic girl light wood floor kids' room design in DC Metro with blue walls

Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped light wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Large trendy master white tile ceramic tile corner shower photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman enclosed medium tone wood floor living room library remodel in Boise with yellow walls and no tv

Cesar Rubio
Example of a mid-sized trendy single-wall medium tone wood floor and beige floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a trendy mudroom design in Chicago