Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu 
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects 
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers 
Staging: Da Lusso Design 
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed 
Location: Los Altos, CA
 Year completed: 2017

jeremy bittermann
Contemporary exterior home idea in Portland

This gorgeous kitchen resides in Austin TX. Our client wanted a clean look with some artistic areas to be the focal points. The sink is one of two focal points in the kitchen. The sink is a copper farmhouse workstation sink featuring interior ledges to hold various cutting boards and a copper drain grid (shown). The apron portion of Rachiele sinks is an opportunity for unique patina artwork. All Rachiele sinks have a lifetime transferable warranty and a stated guarantee: If, for any reason, you are not THRILLED with the quality of my sink, I will (1) promptly and fully refund your money, (2) pay for the return shipping cost and (3) send you a check for $100, in recognition of the inconvenience experienced. Rachiele has been the leader in kitchen sink design since 1999. Rachiele has over a dozen patents as well as being known for introducing the following elements into kitchen sink design> 1. The workstation sink 2. Rear corner drain location 3. Ergonomically designed sinks 4. Single bowl corner sinks 5. Farmhouse sinks that have a channel behind the apron to allow for retrofit installation without cutting existing cabinetry 6. Workstation sink with two interior ledges 7. Copper sinks with no maintenance self-healing interiors. 8. Rustic Matte stainless - easy to remove scratches and scuffs. 9. Millennia textured stainless - hides scratches, water spots and scuffs.

Indoor basketball court with striped walls.
Elegant home gym photo in Salt Lake City

James Hardie fiber cement lap siding in Monterey Taupe. Protected by a 30-year-non-prorated, transferable, lifetime warranty, James Hardie® siding is engineered to withstand the elements with their HardieZone® System. The HardieZone® system offers HZ5® siding that is specifically designed for New England weather. This durable siding resists damage from freezing temperatures, snow and ice while maintaining dimensional stability. James Hardie® offers Hardieplank® Fiber Cement Lap Siding, Hardieshingle® Fiber Cement siding with the warm look of real cedar, and Hardiepanel® Fiber Cement siding for a board and batten look. Fiber Cement requires less maintenance and painting than wood which saves you money over time. Also, we replaced the trim boards with PVC white Kleer, which are no maintenance trim boards that give the authentic look of real wood.

James Hardie fiber cement lap siding in Monterey Taupe. Protected by a 30-year-non-prorated, transferable, lifetime warranty, James Hardie® siding is engineered to withstand the elements with their HardieZone® System. The HardieZone® system offers HZ5® siding that is specifically designed for New England weather. This durable siding resists damage from freezing temperatures, snow and ice while maintaining dimensional stability. James Hardie® offers Hardieplank® Fiber Cement Lap Siding, Hardieshingle® Fiber Cement siding with the warm look of real cedar, and Hardiepanel® Fiber Cement siding for a board and batten look. Fiber Cement requires less maintenance and painting than wood which saves you money over time. Also, we replaced the trim boards with PVC white Kleer, which are no maintenance trim boards that give the authentic look of real wood.

James Hardie fiber cement lap siding in Monterey Taupe. Protected by a 30-year-non-prorated, transferable, lifetime warranty, James Hardie® siding is engineered to withstand the elements with their HardieZone® System. The HardieZone® system offers HZ5® siding that is specifically designed for New England weather. This durable siding resists damage from freezing temperatures, snow and ice while maintaining dimensional stability. James Hardie® offers Hardieplank® Fiber Cement Lap Siding, Hardieshingle® Fiber Cement siding with the warm look of real cedar, and Hardiepanel® Fiber Cement siding for a board and batten look. Fiber Cement requires less maintenance and painting than wood which saves you money over time. Also, we replaced the trim boards with PVC white Kleer, which are no maintenance trim boards that give the authentic look of real wood.

When a Historic District home was renovated in Fort Myers, a dream kitchen was created: open plan enough for gathering, with clearly delineated areas for cooking, reading and entertaining. Challenge Bill and Alison’s existing kitchen was small and dysfunctional. Each room seemed independent, and there was no flow through the house. The house felt small, with one entry and exit point. As a planning consultant, Bill was no stranger to construction. He was a general contractor himself and had built several custom homes in years past. As a gardening enthusiast and professional educator, Alison also had an eye for design. They started with design, layout and planning on their own, but soon realized they needed help. After interviewing several contractors who seemed overwhelmed and unenthused by their project, they reached out to Progressive Design Build. Solution Mike was not only enthused about the project, but he established trust with Bill and Alison. Within a few short weeks he was hired to begin the planning phase, conducting thorough research on the project, meeting key subcontractors and establishing a realistic budget. When the project began, internal walls were removed to open up the kitchen/dining areas and an island was built, giving the space an open and modern functionality. The eating area was enlarged, and a visual connection to the outside was established using Marvin insulated glass windows with Low E coatings—which rejects solar heat gain without reducing visible light passing through the glass. In order to allow for the open concept layout that Bill and Alison desired, we built new structural beams to transfer the live load. The sliding patio doors opened onto a small terrace with a wrought iron handrail creating access to the private courtyard and garden area. Finishing details included custom cherry cabinets and wood trimming, 16” x 32” natural stone flooring, granite countertops and historically correct plaster finishes. Result The project was completed within budget and two weeks ahead of schedule. “That planning phase was the best money we spent on the project,” exclaimed Bill. “It was incredibly gratifying being able to watch the subcontractors and suppliers come and go with shared leadership and attention to details.”

When a Historic District home was renovated in Fort Myers, a dream kitchen was created: open plan enough for gathering, with clearly delineated areas for cooking, reading and entertaining. Challenge Bill and Alison’s existing kitchen was small and dysfunctional. Each room seemed independent, and there was no flow through the house. The house felt small, with one entry and exit point. As a planning consultant, Bill was no stranger to construction. He was a general contractor himself and had built several custom homes in years past. As a gardening enthusiast and professional educator, Alison also had an eye for design. They started with design, layout and planning on their own, but soon realized they needed help. After interviewing several contractors who seemed overwhelmed and unenthused by their project, they reached out to Progressive Design Build. Solution Mike was not only enthused about the project, but he established trust with Bill and Alison. Within a few short weeks he was hired to begin the planning phase, conducting thorough research on the project, meeting key subcontractors and establishing a realistic budget. When the project began, internal walls were removed to open up the kitchen/dining areas and an island was built, giving the space an open and modern functionality. The eating area was enlarged, and a visual connection to the outside was established using Marvin insulated glass windows with Low E coatings—which rejects solar heat gain without reducing visible light passing through the glass. In order to allow for the open concept layout that Bill and Alison desired, we built new structural beams to transfer the live load. The sliding patio doors opened onto a small terrace with a wrought iron handrail creating access to the private courtyard and garden area. Finishing details included custom cherry cabinets and wood trimming, 16” x 32” natural stone flooring, granite countertops and historically correct plaster finishes. Result The project was completed within budget and two weeks ahead of schedule. “That planning phase was the best money we spent on the project,” exclaimed Bill. “It was incredibly gratifying being able to watch the subcontractors and suppliers come and go with shared leadership and attention to details.”

Steve Hall

jeremy bittermann
Contemporary exterior home idea in Portland

CertainTeed vinyl siding, GAF roofing, and a TimberTech AZEK farmer’s porch look great on this New Bedford, MA home! The homeowner chose to use a combination of CertainTeed Cedar Impressions and Restoration Classic vinyl siding in the color, Autumn Yellow. Cedar Impressions, installed on the front of the home, are molded to match the shape and texture of real cedar shingles. Restoration Classic vinyl siding replicates the look of painted cedar clapboard siding. Both collections of vinyl siding styles are offered in CertainTeed’s industry-leading, fade-resistant color collection. From deep hues of blue and red to subtle shades of gray and taupe, homeowners can find a siding color that suits their personal style. With custom vinyl siding, homeowners will eliminate worries about rot, insect damage, peeling, chipping, and the expensive costs associated with painting their home every 5-7 years! We’re proud to be a CertainTeed 5 Star Contractor who can offer CertainTeed’s limited lifetime warranty plus our own 10 year workmanship guarantee. We’re the area’s only Platinum TimberTech AZEK Contractor! The home’s original porch was dated and failing structurally so the homeowner chose to rebuild with a AZEK farmer’s porch with white rails and decking in the color, Slate Gray. This capped polymer decking has a realistic wood grain texture and is rot, insect, fade, dent, and scratch resistant! No more sanding, staining, and splintering wood boards! Slate Gray is a popular color choice for homeowners because it offers classic style and is up to 30 degrees cooler and has 40% better slip resistance than other competitive composite decking products. We stripped the original roof and replaced it with a North America’s top-selling GAF Timberline HDZ roofing system in the color, Hunter Green. These architectural shingles come in a gorgeous collection of color blends and 130 mph wind rating. GAF’s newest engineering also gives homeowners the opportunity to upgrade to their WindProven Limited Wind Warranty which is the industry’s only wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation. Thanks to our award-winning GAF MasterElite Contractor status, our customers also enjoy a GAF factory-registered, 50 Year non-prorated, transferable roof warranty. This industry-leading warranty adds value to the home because it can be transfered to the next homeowner! Give your home a top to bottom makeover with CertainTeed vinyl siding, GAF Roofing, and TimberTech AZEK Decking! Trust your home to a professional home improvement contractor with over 40 years of satisfied customers. In addition to an extensive list of industry awards and credentials, we’ve been an A+ accredited member of the Better Business Bureau for over 25 years! We ask for no money down until your project is completed and offer financing options to qualified homeowners. Get your free quote by calling 508-997-1111 or by filling out our online form. Make your house a Care Free home!

CertainTeed vinyl siding, GAF roofing, and a TimberTech AZEK farmer’s porch look great on this New Bedford, MA home! The homeowner chose to use a combination of CertainTeed Cedar Impressions and Restoration Classic vinyl siding in the color, Autumn Yellow. Cedar Impressions, installed on the front of the home, are molded to match the shape and texture of real cedar shingles. Restoration Classic vinyl siding replicates the look of painted cedar clapboard siding. Both collections of vinyl siding styles are offered in CertainTeed’s industry-leading, fade-resistant color collection. From deep hues of blue and red to subtle shades of gray and taupe, homeowners can find a siding color that suits their personal style. With custom vinyl siding, homeowners will eliminate worries about rot, insect damage, peeling, chipping, and the expensive costs associated with painting their home every 5-7 years! We’re proud to be a CertainTeed 5 Star Contractor who can offer CertainTeed’s limited lifetime warranty plus our own 10 year workmanship guarantee. We’re the area’s only Platinum TimberTech AZEK Contractor! The home’s original porch was dated and failing structurally so the homeowner chose to rebuild with a AZEK farmer’s porch with white rails and decking in the color, Slate Gray. This capped polymer decking has a realistic wood grain texture and is rot, insect, fade, dent, and scratch resistant! No more sanding, staining, and splintering wood boards! Slate Gray is a popular color choice for homeowners because it offers classic style and is up to 30 degrees cooler and has 40% better slip resistance than other competitive composite decking products. We stripped the original roof and replaced it with a North America’s top-selling GAF Timberline HDZ roofing system in the color, Hunter Green. These architectural shingles come in a gorgeous collection of color blends and 130 mph wind rating. GAF’s newest engineering also gives homeowners the opportunity to upgrade to their WindProven Limited Wind Warranty which is the industry’s only wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation. Thanks to our award-winning GAF MasterElite Contractor status, our customers also enjoy a GAF factory-registered, 50 Year non-prorated, transferable roof warranty. This industry-leading warranty adds value to the home because it can be transfered to the next homeowner! Give your home a top to bottom makeover with CertainTeed vinyl siding, GAF Roofing, and TimberTech AZEK Decking! Trust your home to a professional home improvement contractor with over 40 years of satisfied customers. In addition to an extensive list of industry awards and credentials, we’ve been an A+ accredited member of the Better Business Bureau for over 25 years! We ask for no money down until your project is completed and offer financing options to qualified homeowners. Get your free quote by calling 508-997-1111 or by filling out our online form. Make your house a Care Free home!

Small urban vertical balcony garden photo in Melbourne with decking and a roof extension

Mid-sized open concept medium tone wood floor living room photo in Ahmedabad

Flooring made from cork can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills. The same cellular structure that insulates a floating cork floor against noise transfer will also keep out unwanted heat energy in the summer, or to keep it in the home in the winter. This means less energy will be expended to control the temperature of an interior space, a bonus to any wallet. Look into floating cork flooring today for better management.

AC
Home design - contemporary home design idea in Bengaluru

Flooring made from cork can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills. The same cellular structure that insulates a floating cork floor against noise transfer will also keep out unwanted heat energy in the summer, or to keep it in the home in the winter. This means less energy will be expended to control the temperature of an interior space, a bonus to any wallet. Look into floating cork flooring today for better management.