Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz
Photo of a mid-century modern landscaping in San Francisco.

R. Brad Knipstein Photography
Trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with white walls

Large elegant master dark wood floor bedroom photo in Bridgeport with blue walls

The low slung roof at the entry makes the spaces within that much more open and expansive.
Mid-sized mountain style black three-story concrete fiberboard flat roof photo in Chicago with a green roof

Blue ceramic pots and a matching blue tile backsplash bring a touch of the Mediterranean to this rooftop terrace in the heart of New York City. This Park Avenue residence actually features three separate rooftop terraces. One terrace is made for entertaining and features a built-in fireplace, inset jacuzzi, bluestone patio, custom-built wood planters, an outdoor kitchen, and ceramic pots filled with boxwoods and flowers. The upstairs terrace feels like a private oasis surrounded by lush birch trees and roses that soften the view on all sides. Another smaller terrace off the master bedroom is charmingly intimate and features a mix of serene evergreens and comfortable lounge chairs. Read more about this garden on my blog, www.amberfreda.com.

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Corey Gaffer, Photography | Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Mid-sized cottage detached garden shed photo in Salt Lake City

The large format, flowing, matte white ceramic tiles complete the feature wall of this spacious master bath shower. Designer: Kira Vath Interiors - Tile Installation: Outermost Tile Company - Photo: Tony Del Negro

Example of a mountain style freestanding desk dark wood floor and exposed beam home office design with a standard fireplace

Neil Landino
Elegant white one-story exterior home photo in New York

A period correct breeze block wall was built as a backdrop to the kitchen view and an industrial charcoal corrugated metal fence completes the leitmotif and creates privacy around the property.

Example of a trendy home design design in Boston

Mid-sized transitional backyard patio photo in San Francisco with a fire pit and no cover

Example of a mid-sized minimalist galley medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen design in Montreal with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an island, an integrated sink, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a large transitional beige one-story house exterior remodel in Austin with a hip roof

Lisa Petrole
Trendy medium tone wood floor bedroom photo in San Francisco with white walls

The Fontana Bridge residence is a mountain modern lake home located in the mountains of Swain County. The LEED Gold home is mountain modern house designed to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding Appalachian mountain setting. The understated exterior and the thoughtfully chosen neutral palette blend into the topography of the wooded hillside.

Example of an island style gray tile gray floor wet room design with dark wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and beige countertops