Nestled in the dunes of northern Peregian Beach, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Kestrel is an extensive and carefully curated reimagining of a dated 1990s Mediterranean-style home. The original floor plan was highly compartmentalized, prioritizing ocean views at the expense of functional layout and connection to the site. With young children in tow, the new owners envisioned a more open design - one that establishes a clear visual link between the sea views at the rear and a playful front yard. This re-prioritisation of the front yard not only strengthens the home’s relationship to the landscape but also allows for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living, a quality the original home lacked. From the street, the house presents as a sleek, single-storey form - its introverted façade concealing the expansive ocean views revealed only upon entering through the front gate. Upon entry the home openly reveals its communal spaces whilst concealing secondary programming behind a series of hidden doors. The lower level hosts a collection of bedrooms and living spaces that flow effortlessly to the pool area and native vegetation beyond. Through a series of deliberate architectural interventions and a renewed connection to its surrounding landscape, Kestrel amplifies the experience of coastal living in this sublime location.

Aluminum clad master bedroom space cantilevers over top of existing brick wall Photo: Van Inwegen Digital Arts
Inspiration for a large contemporary gray one-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Chicago

The project’s goal is to introduce more affordable contemporary homes for Triangle Area housing. This 1,800 SF modern ranch-style residence takes its shape from the archetypal gable form and helps to integrate itself into the neighborhood. Although the house presents a modern intervention, the project’s scale and proportional parameters integrate into its context. Natural light and ventilation are passive goals for the project. A strong indoor-outdoor connection was sought by establishing views toward the wooded landscape and having a deck structure weave into the public area. North Carolina’s natural textures are represented in the simple black and tan palette of the facade.

photo: Marion Brenner
Hallway - eclectic hallway idea in San Francisco

This micro-apartment is more than a dwelling — it's a curated emotional experience. Designed by Genesis Design, the 43 m² loft offers an introspective environment that merges raw, masculine elements with gentle interventions. The ceiling is raw concrete, anchoring the space in an industrial identity. Below it, soft light spills over textured materials: green tiles, wood cabinetry, botanical structures, and matte black fixtures. A steel-framed canopy above the kitchen holds plants that gently cascade, forming an organic chandelier. The bed, hidden beneath a raised platform, disappears by day. A hammock loft invites idle thought. “Urban Stillness” is a space that honors time — not just function. Designed for unwinding, pausing, and reconnecting inside the chaos of the city.

Overview: Wing-like roofline houses a dramatic white villa in Costa Rica jungle. Studio Saxe was commissioned to design a villa on the hilltops of Santiago in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. The primary objective was not only to provide dwellers with a connection with its jungle surroundings but also to generate an intimate relationship with an amazing view of the shoreline which brings its dwellers back to a more profound appreciation of the natural world. Concept Studio Saxe decided to create a large roof that would house within a series of bedrooms and living spaces that would all be turned sideways in order to face the prominent views. Interstitial spaces within the living volumes create gaps that enhance a deeper connection to the natural surroundings whilst moving about the dwelling. Design Every space in the home has been angled to view the ocean, and this twist creates a geometric relationship between the roofline and the spaces that became the primary element of design that both addresses the need for large overhangs (for climate control and comfort) but also generates a literal connection between the view and every space. This white house in the jungle acts as a canvas so that morning and sunset light reflect on its surfaces creating an array of colors that vary throughout the day. The angled surfaces also allow for the reflection of shadows and the textures of nature to play within the interstitial spaces that exist between the living spaces. Construction Due to the remoteness of the location and difficult access, Studio Saxe decided to create a light steel frame that could be prefabricated off-site, brought, and assembled in a fast and effective way. This not only ensured the quality of the construction in a very remote location, but it also allowed the process of construction to be very light touch and the intervention on the site to be very minimal while creating the sensation of large open spaces that bring the view in and at the same time are protected by a large roof held by steel “I” beams. Sustainability At Studio Saxe we believe that proper design with nature should be the first focus of sustainability and thus, this villa has been oriented properly to take advantage of predominant winds for cooling. Also, long overhangs protect from the sun and the rain in the most critical parts of the day creating comfort without the use of energy. A light touch construction method meant that the impact on the site was minimal during the implementation of the villa and the extended roofline also serves as a means to collect water and energy generation.

Back-Painted Glass back-splash on work surfaces reflects light from extensive glazing used in the house and creates an array of soft reflections that change with the time of day. Open shelving allows for the arrangement and display of dishes and glassware.

How do you modernize modernism on a budget? This house had charming midcentury character and lots of potential but had been neglected for many years and was sorely in need of a refresh to bring it up to modern standards of comfort, finish, and sustainability. The tight budget dictated that it would not be a down-to-the-studs, gut remodel, but more of a surgical intervention. Built in 1955, the house had settled on the downhill side, making the floors slope almost 4” from the front to the back of the house. Using an innovative and inexpensive push-pile method, the foundation was reinforced and the house was jacked back up. It now sits solidly on bedrock and the floor is level to within a half-inch throughout. Inside, the original kitchen was worn and needed replacement. This presented an opportunity to remove the walls separating it from the living and dining area and create a wide-open great room with a peninsula counter for guests to gather and an almost continuous wall of windows to take in views of the hills, trees, and bay. Throughout the rest of the house, most finishes were restored, or replaced when necessary. Wood floors were refinished, and new cork flooring, a slightly less durable but much less expensive alternative to tile and similar materials, was used in all wet areas, with the added benefit of warmth and resiliency. The existing textured walls and ceilings were skim-coated smooth with plaster, dark beams painted white, and existing wood wall paneling in the living room was cleaned and color-matched where new pieces were required. All of the existing frameless, direct-glazed windows were replaced with double pane units, and a new floor-to-ceiling window on the south side of the living room provides a key source of natural light. In the bathrooms, existing tile and vanities were saved, and a strangely colored tub and sinks were re-glazed. Flooring, toilets, lighting, double medicine cabinets, and paint in each space make these mostly unaltered rooms feel new again. Sustainability and comfort upgrades include an induction range (step one of an eventual transition to full electrification), spray foam insulation under the floor, spray-in cellulose in the walls, and warm-dim LED lighting throughout on a simple whole-house control system. Combined with a modern thermostat, the house’s systems are all accessible via app from anywhere. And the most sustainable feature of all? What we didn’t do: tear it down and start over. In a country that demolishes a million homes a year- 1% of our residential housing stock- reusing an existing home is the greenest solution of all.

This condominium apartment is located at Locust Walk at Washington Square, an adaptive reuse of the turn of the century, five-story brick building that formerly housed Lippincott Publishing. Located in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, and overlooking Washington Square, the design of the project preserved the distinct architectural character of the building by fitting 26 condominium apartments within the existing structure. Cecil Baker + Partners provided the design and documentation for the base building renovation and determined the unit distribution. The developer then sold each unit as raw space, and each buyer had the opportunity to customize their units. Cecil Baker + Partners ultimately provided custom designs for five of the residences. This 1800 square foot apartment was designed for a busy working couple. It provides an open living space that while being thoroughly modern, also embraces the original character of the building. The heavy timber and steel structure was sandblasted and exposed providing for a warm backdrop for a clean, modern intervention. Barry Halkin and Todd Mason Photography

http://www.houzz.com/pro/bobgreenspan/bob-greenspan-photography

Mid-sized tuscan light wood floor, brown floor, shiplap ceiling and wallpaper enclosed dining room photo in Miami with multicolored walls

Italain description: Riqualificazione ambientale-paesaggistica del lago Fontana Primo premio Ex Aequo | Paysage City’Scape Award Menzione speciale | Premio Triennale Fare Paesaggio L’intervento prevede la creazione di un itinerario in dialogo costante con la topografia del territorio che si adatta alla sua naturale configurazione, in modo tale da minimizzare l’impatto ambientale e percettivo. Il frequente alternarsi delle quote di calpestio del terreno ha offerto l’occasione di ottenere una pavimentazione piana continua e di una piccola terrazza panoramica che si colloca circa a metà del percorso. . . . English description: Environmental and landscape renovation of lake Fontana First prize Ex Aequo | Paysage City’Scape Award Special mention | Premio Triennale Fare Paesaggio The intervention involves the creation of an itinerary in constant dialogue with the topography of the area, that adapts to its natural configuration in such a way as to minimize the environmental and perceptive impact. The frequent alternation of the levels of the ground offered the opportunity to obtain a continuous flat pavement and a small panoramic terrace which is located approximately halfway along the route.

Inspiration for a small mediterranean ceramic tile and wall paneling home office library remodel in Miami

OES | native plants in Texas basalt with cedar decking and pergola
This is an example of a mid-sized modern partial sun backyard landscaping in Austin with decking.

The house is arranged over three floors, all overlooking the terrace. A complex intervention, on several levels, each with a different and specially dedicated design solution.

Mid-sized tuscan master white tile and marble tile marble floor, white floor and double-sink bathroom photo in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

This remodel of an historic cottage in Portland’s Southwest Hills transformed a cramped space into a light-filled, inviting home that melds historically-accurate details with modern design elements. The project’s kitchen remodel served as the hub for a series of design interventions that renewed the whole house.

http://www.houzz.com/pro/bobgreenspan/bob-greenspan-photography

A breathtaking, luxury residence in South Florida’s exclusive Cocoplum neighborhood blends clean, contemporary craftsmanship with warmth and comfort. Sanandres completed extensive structural intervention to improve the flow and function of the award-winning residence’s interior spaces.