Jon Encarnacion-photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 gray tile and pebble tile ceramic tile corner shower remodel in Los Angeles with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, a one-piece toilet and gray walls

Bay window allows lovely view of outside garden space. This small victorian cottage boasts heritage details in this compact but fully functional kitchen.

Jon Encarnacion
Large trendy u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen photo in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Beautiful craftsman style beach bungalow. Lush gardens surround this beautiful California Beach home.
Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman gray two-story wood exterior home remodel in Orange County

Example of a large classic medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room design in New York with brown walls and no fireplace

dusk shot of family room from forecourt Photo: Van Inwegen Digital Arts
Mid-sized trendy side yard tile patio photo in Chicago with no cover

Small trendy single-wall eat-in kitchen photo in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Kirk Nelson-photo credit FIreplace with basketweave stone surround makes the perfect focal point for this sophisticated Zen living room.
Example of a small trendy formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with no tv, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and gray walls

Example of a mid-sized transitional kids' brown tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile bathroom design in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartzite countertops, a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and gray floor living room design in Orange County with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Imaginative and whimsical media room uses a mirrored inspiration on the carpet and ceiling to add drama and interest to the artful design.
Example of a mid-sized trendy enclosed carpeted home theater design in Orange County with a media wall and blue walls

Master bathroom overhaul provided the client with an elegant and spacious master bathroom.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master beige tile and stone tile marble floor bathroom idea in Orange County with raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet, a drop-in sink and beige walls

After Remodel pictures of added Master Bedroom deck F8 Photography
Balcony - small contemporary glass railing balcony idea in San Diego with a roof extension

Beach condo master bath with cool ocean colors and pebbled flooring.
Example of a small beach style master multicolored tile and glass tile pebble tile floor bathroom design in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, glass countertops, a one-piece toilet, an integrated sink and gray walls

Mid-sized transitional backyard stone patio photo in Seattle with a fire pit and a roof extension

Inspiration for a large contemporary women's carpeted and beige floor dressing room remodel in Orange County with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Guest bathroom is a a gray taupe palette that is cohesive with the rest of the house. The glass mosaic tile detail gives the soft look a "pop". The shower floor is polished quartz stone in pebble by Caesarstone.

This Beach Bungalow great room kitchen get incredible light from the french doors that surround the dining room.
Example of a mid-sized arts and crafts single-wall light wood floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with an island, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a farmhouse sink