Photo: Corynne Pless © 2013 Houzz
Living room - cottage living room idea in New York with beige walls

Minimalist living room photo in Los Angeles

Photo by: Lucas Finlay A successful entrepreneur and self-proclaimed bachelor, the owner of this 1,100-square-foot Yaletown property sought a complete renovation in time for Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. The goal: make it party central and keep the neighbours happy. For the latter, we added acoustical insulation to walls, ceilings, floors and doors. For the former, we designed the kitchen to provide ample catering space and keep guests oriented around the bar top and living area. Concrete counters, stainless steel cabinets, tin doors and concrete floors were chosen for durability and easy cleaning. The black, high-gloss lacquered pantry cabinets reflect light from the single window, and amplify the industrial space’s masculinity. To add depth and highlight the history of the 100-year-old garment factory building, the original brick and concrete walls were exposed. In the living room, a drywall ceiling and steel beams were clad in Douglas Fir to reference the old, original post and beam structure. We juxtaposed these raw elements with clean lines and bold statements with a nod to overnight guests. In the ensuite, the sculptural Spoon XL tub provides room for two; the vanity has a pop-up make-up mirror and extra storage; and, LED lighting in the steam shower to shift the mood from refreshing to sensual.

Elegant built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office library photo in San Francisco with white walls

Here is a unique room fit for the men. Guns, TV, and a bar.
Inspiration for a rustic living room remodel in Other with a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a large coastal gender-neutral carpeted kids' room remodel in Indianapolis with yellow walls

Example of a transitional laundry room design in Charlotte

Architecture and Construction by Rock Paper Hammer. Interior Design by Lindsay Habeeb. Photography by Andrew Hyslop.
Example of a mid-sized classic guest carpeted bedroom design in Louisville with gray walls

Seth Hannula
Example of a transitional dark wood floor bedroom design in Minneapolis with white walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial single-wall concrete floor and gray floor wet bar remodel in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and black countertops

Veronica Decca
Living room - large contemporary formal dark wood floor living room idea in New York with beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

Who wouldn't fall in love with the Water Street building, and the elegant industrial vibe? The light that floods in through the floor-to-ceiling windows makes this a perfect spot to entertain and host friends from California or adult kids who visit. The location can't be beat--these clients ride their bikes to meet friends for lunch or a tour through the Hirschhorn. We knocked down a wall to open the kitchen, and added modern furnishings punctuated by splashes of deep orangey-red. High contrast and lots of rich textures can be found throughout this urban loft. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg

This contemporary compact laundry room packs a lot of punch and personality. With it's gold fixtures and hardware adding some glitz, the grey cabinetry, industrial floors and patterned backsplash tile brings interest to this small space. Fully loaded with hanging racks, large accommodating sink, vacuum/ironing board storage & laundry shoot, this laundry room is not only stylish but function forward.

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architect: TEA2 Architects | Interior Design: Marcia Morine | Photography: Landmark Photography
Family room - rustic open concept medium tone wood floor family room idea in Minneapolis with brown walls and a tv stand

Tracey Ayton Photography
Example of a transitional entryway design in Vancouver

The expansive basement entertainment area features a tv room, a kitchenette and a custom bar for entertaining. The custom entertainment center and bar areas feature bright blue cabinets with white oak accents. Lucite and gold cabinet hardware adds a modern touch. The sitting area features a comfortable sectional sofa and geometric accent pillows that mimic the design of the kitchenette backsplash tile. The kitchenette features a beverage fridge, a sink, a dishwasher and an undercounter microwave drawer. The large island is a favorite hangout spot for the clients' teenage children and family friends. The convenient kitchenette is located on the basement level to prevent frequent trips upstairs to the main kitchen. The custom bar features lots of storage for bar ware, glass display cabinets and white oak display shelves. Locking liquor cabinets keep the alcohol out of reach for the younger generation.

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

When you add a built-in wall bed to your home, you turn your loft, studio apartment, extra bedroom or even home office into a fully functioning bedroom by night and a versatile living space by day. Our custom wall bed cabinetry conceals your bed within a system of built-in cabinets that optimize your space for various distinct uses.

Post and beam two car garage with storage space and loft overhead
Example of a large mountain style detached two-car garage workshop design