Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Home office/ guest bedroom with custom builtins, murphy bed, and desk. Custom walnut headboard, oak shelves
Inspiration for a mid-sized farmhouse built-in desk and guest carpeted and beige floor bedroom remodel in San Diego with white walls

This Master Suite continues to merge outside and inside: honed granite counter top, rustic alder shaker cabinets, and floor to ceiling tile (in 4 different widths) that look like wood, vaulted ceiling with stained wood beam at the peak, faucets that mimic an old well pump. Dark slate tile on the heated floors has an additional stained coat on the grout to appear like a continuous slab of stone. Utilizing a hidden linear floor drain allows the floor tile to visually continue into the shower area . The large shower has niches concealed in half walls to keep toiletries out of sight.

Derek Skalko
Minimalist bathroom photo in Denver with a vessel sink

The focal point in the kitchen is the deep navy, French range positioned in an alcove trimmed in distressed natural wood and finished with handmade tile. The arched marble backsplash of the bar creates a dramatic focal point visible from the dining room.

Custom concrete sink and vanity for kids bunk room. The concrete trough sink has a stepped front to make it easier for smaller kids to reach the sink. The vanity base also has pull out steps that are built into the toe-kick for smaller children. The vanity base is hand-crafted with a patinaed steel face frame and drawer fronts with reclaimed oak used throughout. The shelving also has a false back to hide the plumbing from curious kids. Photo credits-Megan Marie Imagery

The clients, a young professional couple had lived with this bathroom in their townhome for 6 years. They finally could not take it any longer. The designer was tasked with turning this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan without relocating walls, doors, fittings, or fixtures in this principal bathroom. The client wish list included, better storage, improved lighting, replacing the tub with a shower, and creating a sparkling personality for this uninspired space using any color way except white. The designer began the transformation with the wall tile. Large format rectangular tiles were installed floor to ceiling on the vanity wall and continued behind the toilet and into the shower. The soft variation in tile pattern is very soothing and added to the Zen feeling of the room. One partner is an avid gardener and wanted to bring natural colors into the space. The same tile is used on the floor in a matte finish for slip resistance and in a 2” mosaic of the same tile is used on the shower floor. A lighted tile recess was created across the entire back wall of the shower beautifully illuminating the wall. Recycled glass tiles used in the niche represent the color and shape of leaves. A single glass panel was used in place of a traditional shower door. Continuing the serene colorway of the bath, natural rift cut white oak was chosen for the vanity and the floating shelves above the toilet. A white quartz for the countertop, has a small reflective pattern like the polished chrome of the fittings and hardware. Natural curved shapes are repeated in the arch of the faucet, the hardware, the front of the toilet and shower column. The rectangular shape of the tile is repeated in the drawer fronts of the cabinets, the sink, the medicine cabinet, and the floating shelves. The shower column was selected to maintain the simple lines of the fittings while providing a temperature, pressure balance shower experience with a multi-function main shower head and handheld head. The dual flush toilet and low flow shower are a water saving consideration. The floating shelves provide decorative and functional storage. The asymmetric design of the medicine cabinet allows for a full view in the mirror with the added function of a tri view mirror when open. Built in LED lighting is controllable from 2500K to 4000K. The interior of the medicine cabinet is also mirrored and electrified to keep the countertop clear of necessities. Additional lighting is provided with recessed LED fixtures for the vanity area as well as in the shower. A motion sensor light installed under the vanity illuminates the room with a soft glow at night. The transformation is now complete. No longer an ugly duckling and source of unhappiness, the new bathroom provides a much-needed respite from the couples’ busy lives. It has created a retreat to recharge and replenish, two very important components of wellness.

Example of a trendy bathroom design in San Francisco

Hillside Residence by Locati Architects, Interior Design by Tracey Byrne, Photography by Audrey Hall

Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz
Inspiration for a large eclectic master medium tone wood floor living room remodel in Portland with white walls, no fireplace and a music area

Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Sacramento

Contemporary Master Bedroom Ensuite Bath by Heather Segreti
Example of a trendy bathroom design in Toronto

© PURE Design Environments, Inc.
Trendy mosaic tile pebble tile floor bathroom photo in Minneapolis

Example of a minimalist bathroom design in New York

master bath
Inspiration for a small transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile doorless shower remodel in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and quartz countertops

Example of a trendy metal tile and metal doorless shower design in San Francisco with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets and medium tone wood cabinets

Master Bathroom Addition white wall subway tile. white pebble shower floor tile. Walnut rounded vanity mirrors. Brizo Fixtures. Photography: Amy Bartlam

jeremy bittermann
Walk-in shower - contemporary concrete floor walk-in shower idea in Portland with beige walls

Todd Wright
Small eclectic pink tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub photo with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, granite countertops and gray walls