Photo: Michael K. Wilkinson The owners of this 1923 home in Washington DC wanted a master suite, and originally considered combining two rooms on the second floor to serve this purpose. However, they showed our team the home’s attic and expressed an interest in seeing a design option for a master suite in that space. Our designer was immediately inspired. The appeal of moving the master suite to the attic was that it offered an opportunity to create a unique space that was larger and had more design options than combining two bedrooms. The original attic had wood paneling on the walls and ceiling and was mostly used for storage and as a retreat for the cats. The 7-foot walls did not capture the volume of the roof line, nor did it take advantage of the square footage. We removed the existing paneling and pushed the existing walls back so they had a lower height around the perimeter. This provides a dramatic contrast to the new high ceiling and dramatic angles of the roofline. We maintained an open floor plan and used glass panels and doors for privacy and separation of different functions. The finished square footage is 650 sq.ft. There is about 350 sq.ft. of unfinished the storage area. We also installed larger windows in the front dormer. The new windows are casement windows for egress purposes, which are required by code in a bedroom. The front dormer was also reframed in a shape that follows the original frame, which adds more volume. We installed two long steps inside the dormer to hide the ducts underneath and provide seating and storage. The space needed some detailing to balance the large volume. The open plan also required a visual delineation of the different areas. Our designer added three beams across the ceiling over the bed to define the master bedroom. The beams were finished with the same dark stain used to refinish the attic’s original pine flooring. Dimmable recessed lights in the ceiling are placed in accordance with the beams location.

This Master Bathroom remodel removed some framing and drywall above and at the sides of the shower opening to enlarge the shower entry and provide a breathtaking view to the exotic polished porcelain marble tile in a 24 x 48 size used inside. The sliced stone used as vertical accent was hand placed by the tile installer to eliminate the tile outlines sometimes seen in lesser quality installations. The agate design glass tiles used as the backsplash and mirror surround delight the eye. The warm brown griege cabinetry have custom designed drawer interiors to work around the plumbing underneath. Floating vanities add visual space to the room. The dark brown in the herringbone shower floor is repeated in the master bedroom wood flooring coloring so that the entire master suite flows.

Designer: Cameron Snyder & Judy Whalen; Photography: Dan Cutrona
Freestanding bathtub - traditional master beige tile freestanding bathtub idea in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and beige walls

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A masterpiece of light and design, this gorgeous Beverly Hills contemporary is filled with incredible moments, offering the perfect balance of intimate corners and open spaces. A large driveway with space for ten cars is complete with a contemporary fountain wall that beckons guests inside. An amazing pivot door opens to an airy foyer and light-filled corridor with sliding walls of glass and high ceilings enhancing the space and scale of every room. An elegant study features a tranquil outdoor garden and faces an open living area with fireplace. A formal dining room spills into the incredible gourmet Italian kitchen with butler’s pantry—complete with Miele appliances, eat-in island and Carrara marble countertops—and an additional open living area is roomy and bright. Two well-appointed powder rooms on either end of the main floor offer luxury and convenience. Surrounded by large windows and skylights, the stairway to the second floor overlooks incredible views of the home and its natural surroundings. A gallery space awaits an owner’s art collection at the top of the landing and an elevator, accessible from every floor in the home, opens just outside the master suite. Three en-suite guest rooms are spacious and bright, all featuring walk-in closets, gorgeous bathrooms and balconies that open to exquisite canyon views. A striking master suite features a sitting area, fireplace, stunning walk-in closet with cedar wood shelving, and marble bathroom with stand-alone tub. A spacious balcony extends the entire length of the room and floor-to-ceiling windows create a feeling of openness and connection to nature. A large grassy area accessible from the second level is ideal for relaxing and entertaining with family and friends, and features a fire pit with ample lounge seating and tall hedges for privacy and seclusion. Downstairs, an infinity pool with deck and canyon views feels like a natural extension of the home, seamlessly integrated with the indoor living areas through sliding pocket doors. Amenities and features including a glassed-in wine room and tasting area, additional en-suite bedroom ideal for staff quarters, designer fixtures and appliances and ample parking complete this superb hillside retreat.

The Sunset Team
Example of a large trendy master light wood floor bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

This gracious property in the award-winning Blaine school district - and just off the Southport Corridor - marries an old world European design sensibility with contemporary technologies and unique artisan details. With more than 5,200 square feet, the home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms on the second floor, including a luxurious master suite with a private terrace. The house also boasts a distinct foyer; formal living and dining rooms designed in an open-plan concept; an expansive, eat-in, gourmet kitchen which is open to the first floor great room; lower-level family room; an attached, heated, 2-½ car garage with roof deck; a penthouse den and roof deck; and two additional rooms on the lower level which could be used as bedrooms, home offices or exercise rooms. The home, designed with an extra-wide floorplan, achieved through side yard relief, also has considerable, professionally-landscaped outdoor living spaces. This brick and limestone residence has been designed with family-functional experiences and classically proportioned spaces in mind. Highly-efficient environmental technologies have been integrated into the design and construction and the plan also takes into consideration the incorporation of all types of advanced communications systems. The home went under contract in less than 45 days in 2011. Jim Yochum

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area and screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for a shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear-facing exercise has great views of the lake through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below.

Today’s Vintage Farmhouse by KCS Estates is the perfect pairing of the elegance of simpler times with the sophistication of today’s design sensibility. Nestled in Homestead Valley this home, located at 411 Montford Ave Mill Valley CA, is 3,383 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. And features a great room with vaulted, open truss ceilings, chef’s kitchen, private master suite, office, spacious family room, and lawn area. All designed with a timeless grace that instantly feels like home. A natural oak Dutch door leads to the warm and inviting great room featuring vaulted open truss ceilings flanked by a white-washed grey brick fireplace and chef’s kitchen with an over sized island. The Farmhouse’s sliding doors lead out to the generously sized upper porch with a steel fire pit ideal for casual outdoor living. And it provides expansive views of the natural beauty surrounding the house. An elegant master suite and private home office complete the main living level. 411 Montford Ave Mill Valley CA Presented by Melissa Crawford

Built from the ground up on 80 acres outside Dallas, Oregon, this new modern ranch house is a balanced blend of natural and industrial elements. The custom home beautifully combines various materials, unique lines and angles, and attractive finishes throughout. The property owners wanted to create a living space with a strong indoor-outdoor connection. We integrated built-in sky lights, floor-to-ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings to attract ample, natural lighting. The master bathroom is spacious and features an open shower room with soaking tub and natural pebble tiling. There is custom-built cabinetry throughout the home, including extensive closet space, library shelving, and floating side tables in the master bedroom. The home flows easily from one room to the next and features a covered walkway between the garage and house. One of our favorite features in the home is the two-sided fireplace – one side facing the living room and the other facing the outdoor space. In addition to the fireplace, the homeowners can enjoy an outdoor living space including a seating area, in-ground fire pit and soaking tub.

The best of past and present architectural styles combine in this welcoming, farmhouse-inspired design. Clad in low-maintenance siding, the distinctive exterior has plenty of street appeal, with its columned porch, multiple gables, shutters and interesting roof lines. Other exterior highlights included trusses over the garage doors, horizontal lap siding and brick and stone accents. The interior is equally impressive, with an open floor plan that accommodates today’s family and modern lifestyles. An eight-foot covered porch leads into a large foyer and a powder room. Beyond, the spacious first floor includes more than 2,000 square feet, with one side dominated by public spaces that include a large open living room, centrally located kitchen with a large island that seats six and a u-shaped counter plan, formal dining area that seats eight for holidays and special occasions and a convenient laundry and mud room. The left side of the floor plan contains the serene master suite, with an oversized master bath, large walk-in closet and 16 by 18-foot master bedroom that includes a large picture window that lets in maximum light and is perfect for capturing nearby views. Relax with a cup of morning coffee or an evening cocktail on the nearby covered patio, which can be accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. Upstairs, an additional 900 square feet includes two 11 by 14-foot upper bedrooms with bath and closet and a an approximately 700 square foot guest suite over the garage that includes a relaxing sitting area, galley kitchen and bath, perfect for guests or in-laws.

This 3000 SF farmhouse features four bedrooms and three baths over two floors. A first floor study can be used as a fifth bedroom. Open concept plan features beautiful kitchen with breakfast area and great room with fireplace. Butler's pantry leads to separate dining room. Upstairs, large master suite features a recessed ceiling and custom barn door leading to the marble master bath.

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Our clients came to us wanting to maximize the space they had. They were not planning on moving anytime soon, as they loved their neighborhood. They wanted to renovate the front of their house, which included the front atrium, living room, kitchen, and powder bath. They hated their kitchen because it was completely closed off, had low ceilings, was dark and outdated, not to mention the floors were different in each of these rooms! The pantry was in the breakfast area and the kitchen table became a junk catcher, being the first thing you see when coming in from the garage/laundry room. In their living room, they wanted the spaces on either side of the fireplace to be symmetrical, whether that be bookshelves, a wet bar or closed off. Both parents are working professionals with no time and/or desire to design, create and figure this out on their own. They needed help figuring out how to reconfigure their current space in order to maximize what they already had, as they could not see an obvious solution. They could not envision how it would look so the fact that our designers were able to show them their new kitchen in 3D was pertinent. We removed the pass-through windows that surrounded the atrium and front dining room, as well as the entire kitchen wall, completely opening up those two rooms. We removed a hall that used to lead between the kitchen and the living room since it was a complete waste of space! The ceilings were raised to 10’ in the kitchen and we were able to leave the skylight, letting in that natural light they wanted. We were able to give them a much larger pantry with tons of shelving and increase the size of their laundry room by utilizing the space of their old breakfast nook. We relocated the door to the garage into their new elongated laundry room, built a wet bar across from their new larger pantry (with a pocket door) and the flow and functionality of these new spaces is just perfect! All new Waypoint cabinets were installed one two main kitchen surrounding walls painted Linen. Calacatta Bianco Polished Porcelain Tile 4x12 was used for the backsplash. A large eat-at island was installed, painted Stone, where the family can now gather for homework, meals, and mingling. The soft champagne bronze hardware and accent lighting really give this white and gray kitchen a soft classic look. In the living room, we removed the built-in bookshelves to the left of the fireplace and closed off the wet-bar on the other side, giving them more space in their master suite. White Oak wood flooring, stained Putney, was installed throughout the entire new space, giving it the continuity they were looking for. In the guest bathroom, Carrara white herringbone marble mosaic 12x12 tile was used on the shower floor and niche, while basic marble Bianco polished 12x24 porcelain tile was used on the walls. Luxart polished chrome traditional hardware gives this timeless bathroom the perfect shine. Our clients are so happy with the new functionality and look of their space. It has definitely changed their lives in a way they could have never imagined!

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OVERVIEW Set into a mature Boston area neighborhood, this sophisticated 2900SF home offers efficient use of space, expression through form, and myriad of green features. MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING Designed to accommodate three family generations, paired living spaces on the first and second levels are architecturally expressed on the facade by window systems that wrap the front corners of the house. Included are two kitchens, two living areas, an office for two, and two master suites. CURB APPEAL The home includes both modern form and materials, using durable cedar and through-colored fiber cement siding, permeable parking with an electric charging station, and an acrylic overhang to shelter foot traffic from rain. FEATURE STAIR An open stair with resin treads and glass rails winds from the basement to the third floor, channeling natural light through all the home’s levels. LEVEL ONE The first floor kitchen opens to the living and dining space, offering a grand piano and wall of south facing glass. A master suite and private ‘home office for two’ complete the level. LEVEL TWO The second floor includes another open concept living, dining, and kitchen space, with kitchen sink views over the green roof. A full bath, bedroom and reading nook are perfect for the children. LEVEL THREE The third floor provides the second master suite, with separate sink and wardrobe area, plus a private roofdeck. ENERGY The super insulated home features air-tight construction, continuous exterior insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The walls and basement feature foam-free cavity & exterior insulation. On the rooftop, a solar electric system helps offset energy consumption. WATER Cisterns capture stormwater and connect to a drip irrigation system. Inside the home, consumption is limited with high efficiency fixtures and appliances. TEAM Architecture & Mechanical Design – ZeroEnergy Design Contractor – Aedi Construction Photos – Eric Roth Photography

When Casework first met this 550 square foot attic space in a 1912 Seattle Craftsman home, it was dated and not functional. The homeowners wanted to transform their existing master bedroom and bathroom to include more practical closet and storage space as well as add a nursery. The renovation created a purposeful division of space for a growing family, including a cozy master with built-in bench storage, a spacious his and hers dressing room, open and bright master bath with brass and black details, and a nursery perfect for a growing child. Through clever built-ins and a minimal but effective color palette, Casework was able to turn this wasted attic space into a comfortable, inviting and purposeful sanctuary.

A 1980's townhouse located in the Fitler Square neighborhood of Philadelphia was in need of an upgrade. The project that resulted included substantial interior renovation to the four-story townhome overlooking the Schuylkill River. The Owners desired a fresh interpretation of their existing space, more suited for entertaining and uncluttered modern living. This led to a reinvention of the modern master suite and a refocusing of architectural elements and materials throughout the home. Originally comprised of a divided master bedroom, bathroom and office, the fourth floor was entirely redesigned to create a contemporary, open-plan master suite. The bedroom, now located in the center of the floor plan, is composed with custom built-in furniture and includes a glass terrarium and a wet bar. It is flanked by a dressing room on one side and a luxurious bathroom on the other, all open to one another both visually and by circulation. The bathroom includes a free-standing tub, glass shower, custom wood vanity, eco-conscious fireplace, and an outdoor terrace. The open plan allows for great breadth and a wealth of natural light, atypical of townhouse living. The main entertaining floor houses the kitchen, dining area and living room. A sculptural ceiling defines the open dining area, while a long, low concrete hearth connects the new modern fireplace with the concrete stair treads leading up. The bright, neutral color palette of the walls and finishes contrasts against the blackened wood floors. Sleek but comfortable furnishing, dramatic recessed lighting, and a full-home speaker system complete the entertaining space. Barry Halkin and Todd Mason Photography