The ceiling was lowered to provide a more intimate feel to this master bedroom. The dark wood closet doors and trim were replaced to give the room a more contemporary style. The Big Ass ceiling fan helps mitigate solar gain on this western exposed bedroom.

Water resistant white laminate floors with microbeveled edges 9.4" x 60". Unilin clic technology for easy install. AC4 scratch resistance with EIR technology for closest to that genuine wood look. Attached pad mitigates sound so your laminate floors dampen the sound of walking. PVC free and floor score certified.

Where there is a slope or a location with a great deal of paving, there is a need for Dwarf Coyote Bush (Baccharis Pigeon Point'). His deep roots will retain slopes, even if his fire-resistant foliage burns to the ground. Similarly, his roots will help retain soil during storms in otherwise dry regions.

Living room - light wood floor living room idea in Charleston

Inspiration for a large transitional backyard stone and rectangular pool remodel in New York

This stunning front approach captures the perfect fusion of contemporary design and natural mountain beauty. A modern home with clean architectural lines is framed by a bold xeriscape planting bed filled with golden ornamental grasses, native shrubs, and colorful accent containers. A dark, stamped concrete courtyard contrasts beautifully with the soft textures and warm hues of fall foliage and boulders. The scene is anchored by a curved railing that gracefully follows the slope, leading toward a lower level stair path that disappears into the surrounding pines. This landscape exemplifies sustainable mountain living—balancing low-water plantings, slope stabilization, and crisp hardscape for a polished yet inviting arrival experience.

Eze-Breeze back porch that was originally just a covered patio. Beadboard ceiling and walls. Eze-Breeze windows are vinyl and mitigate pollen while keeping your new porch comfortable and enjoyable spring - fall. Designed and built by Atlanta Decking & Fence.

Condo remodel in a 2 unit Victorian building in Noe Valley District, San Francisco, CA. The unit was fully sound proofed to mitigate noise penetration from unit above. The forced air was replaced with hydronic floor under new hardwood sprung floors (electrical floor and bench heating in Master Bath). The Master Bath and kitchen was remodeled. The lighting and electrical upgraded. All doors replaced with glass paneled doors. All casings/trims replaced with recessed casings/trims. We also added a long custom storage unit with acrylic LED lit operable lids.

Mary LeBlanc: custom gate designed for dock with help from Perfection Fence to meet pool code. Natural materials selected to blend with the environment. American beach grass planted for mitigation.

The addition included a new back entrance/ mud room for the home which also mitigates the level change between the original bungalow and the new addtion.

Kaplan Architects, AIA Location: San Francisco, CA, USA This project was the third remodel for this client which involved a complete reorganization and renovation of their existing master bathroom. We were hired evaluate the existing layout of the space, take measures in the redesign to mitigate a persistent leak in the space below the bathroom, and develop a complete and detailed interior design of the remodeled bathroom. The client was also interested in develop any aging in place measures we could implement with the new design changes. We developed a new layout which reorganized the space. The project includes a separate tub and walk in shower area. We created various storage areas which included custom built in medicine cabinets, storage over the wall hung toilet, and a vanity cabinet custom designed for the new space. We also developed the lighting design for the renovated space which included custom lighting between the mirror areas above the vanity. General Contractor: L Cabral Construction, San Francisco, CA Mitchell Shenker Photography

An example of vital and immersive living space for plants, wildlife and people. Design-built in summer 2022, our team (including talented local stonemason Matt Nichols) worked hard to reimagine an outdoor living space that integrates a dining area, hot tub, gathering space and raised beds. We were also tasked with successfully mitigating stormwater runoff that now channels from the rear to a rain garden in the front. A relaxed delineation of space allows for an easy ebb and flow for this young family and its pets. Cohesive materials were used throughout (such as the gorgeous irregular chunk stone steppers and retaining wall encompassing the cedar hot tub) to elevate this redesign. Over time, these designed living ‘rooms’ for people will recede into the planted habitat to feel ever more intimate and natural.

Our design for the expansion and gut renovation of a small 1200 square foot house in a residential neighborhood triples is size, and reworks the living arrangement. The rear addition takes advantage of southern exposure with a "greenhouse" room that provides solar heat gain in winter, shading in summer, and a vast connection to the rear yard. Architecturally, we used an approach we call "willful practicality." The new soaring ceiling ties together first and second floors in a dramatic volumetric expansion of space, while providing increased ventilation and daylighting from greenhouse to operable windows and skylights at the peak. Exterior pockets of space are created from curved forces pushing in from outside to form cedar clad porch and stoop. Sustainable design is employed throughout all materials, energy systems and insulation. Masonry exterior walls and concrete floors provide thermal mass for the interior by insulating the exterior. An ERV system facilitates increased air changes and minimizes changes to the interior air temperature. Energy and water saving features and renewable, non-toxic materal selections are important aspects of the house design. Environmental community issues are addressed with a drywell in the side yard to mitigate rain runoff into the town sewer system. The long sloping south facing roof is in anticipation of future solar panels, with the standing seam metal roof providing anchoring opportunities for the panels. The exterior walls are clad in stucco, cedar, and cement-fiber panels defining different areas of the house. Closed cell spray insulation is applied to exterior walls and roof, giving the house an "air-tight" seal against air infiltration and a high R-value. The ERV system provides the ventilation needed with this tight envelope. The interior comfort level and economizing are the beneficial results of the building methods and systems employed in the house. Photographer: Peter Kubilus

Located six feet from the sand, this residence seeks to reframe the contextual reference of its inhabitants in order to mitigate its highly trafficked location and create a private beach retreat. In parallel to its unobstructed ocean view, the design carves out infinite pockets of nature within the architecture. From the dining room’s bamboo garden to the expansive skylight above the stairwell, moments of serenity have been carefully composed throughout the home in order to make each frame as infinite as the horizon line of the Pacific Ocean.

The lead up to the garage, on the service side of the home, is a recycled plastic geo-grid back filled with pea gravel. Able to withstand 30k weight trucks it also mitigates storm water run off. The standing seam metal hip-roof and cementatious fiber siding provide provide high durability and low maintenance living.

Retractable Screens, also known as Roll-up Screens and Vertical Rolling Screens are completely customized to meet the needs of the space. Easy to see through and completely retractable, exterior Retractable Screens create a cool, comfortable, insect-free environment without sacrificing your view. Designed to provide superior solar protection, they mitigate UV damage, optimize comfort and provide daytime privacy even in windy settings. Extra sun control can be achieved by increasing thread counts and weave density. Retractable Solar Shades provide energy-efficient sun shading, shelter against bugs and mosquitoes, climate control and rain/wind reduction while allowing outward visibility. Depending on screen fabric selection, our solar shade fabric selections are capable of blocking up to 95% of ultra-violet (UV) rays–saving up to 50% of the energy used to heat and cool homes. Motorize Retractable Screens provide control at the touch of a button. Somfy Motors allow activation by wall mounted toggle switch or several different types of remote control options. These Retractable Screens will stop at upper and lower limits and are able to stop any where along the travel path on command. Optional Manual Override features allow for operation in case of power outage for motorized units. Manual Operations are available on most models. Motorized Retractable Screens equipped with Somfy RTS motors may be upgraded for use in Smart Homes and operated via Smartphone or other Mobile Devices. Retractable Screens should be retracted when not in use. The screens are raised and housed inside the aluminum housing. All major components of the system are powder coated aluminum for durability, ease of operations, and longevity. All Retractable Screens from Shade & Shutter Systems come with a 5 year Warranty, to include the Somfy Motor. Retractable Screens offer wind and rain abatement for breezy days. Many of our clients enjoy outdoor patio settings along coastal areas and beach front properties. Those areas also endure regular breezes that can be knocked down with retractable Screens for a more enjoyable experience. Although these screens are not designed for storm protection, winds to 40 mph are easily abated. If you would like more information about Retractable Screens, our Product Specialists can be reached at 800-522-1599.

Design ideas for a transitional full sun landscaping in New York for summer.

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.