The Cook house at The Sea Ranch was designed to meet the needs an active family with two young children, who wanted to take full advantage of coastal living. As The Sea Ranch reaches full build-out, the major design challenge is to create a sense of shelter and privacy amid an expansive meadow and between neighboring houses. A T-shaped floor plan was positioned to take full advantage of unobstructed ocean views and create sheltered outdoor spaces . Windows were positioned to let in maximum natural light, capture ridge and ocean views , while minimizing the sight of nearby structures and roadways from the principle spaces. The interior finishes are simple and warm, echoing the surrounding natural beauty. Scuba diving, hiking, and beach play meant a significant amount of sand would accompany the family home from their outings, so the architect designed an outdoor shower and an adjacent mud room to help contain the outdoor elements. Durable finishes such as the concrete floors are up to the challenge. The home is a tranquil vessel that cleverly accommodates both active engagement and calm respite from a busy weekday schedule.

Mountain style screened-in porch photo in Chicago with a roof extension

Photo: Mina Brinkey © 2013 Houzz
Eat-in kitchen - eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen idea in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white cabinets

Photograph by Karl Gercens
Photo of a garden path in Other.

Mid-sized mid-century modern l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

With using the walnut cabinets, we tried to keep the sizes as uniform as possible but there were some aspects the client wanted. One of those was the corner appliance garage. Hiding these necessary evils in a beautiful cabinet with easy accessibility was the perfect marriage.

Tom Bonner Photography
Mid-sized 1950s master brown tile and porcelain tile pebble tile floor bathroom photo in Los Angeles with beige walls

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a small contemporary gray two-story mixed siding flat roof remodel in Minneapolis

Stepping stones lead you to...
Photo of a small traditional partial sun backyard stone garden path in Portland for spring.

Iris Bachman Photography
Kitchen - small transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, stone slab backsplash and white countertops

Interior Design: Allard + Roberts Interior Design Construction: K Enterprises Photography: David Dietrich Photography
Double shower - mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor double shower idea in Other with medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, white countertops and shaker cabinets

This master bathroom has everything you need to get you ready for the day. The beautiful backsplash has a mixture of brown tones that add dimension and texture to the focal wall. The lighting blends well with the other bathroom fixtures and the cabinets provide plenty of storage while demonstrating a simply beautiful style. Brad Knipstein was the photographer.

We basically squeezed this into a closet, but wow does it deliver! The roll out shelf can expand for folding and ironing and push back in when it's not needed. The wood shelves offer great linen storage and the exposed brick is a great reminder of all the hard work that has been done in this home! Joe Kwon

Townhouse renovation in Brooklyn: We redesigned the rear end of the house as an expanded family kitchen with a back door to the deck. We also added a new connection from the entrance hall to the kitchen and fit a small powder room under the stairs. The old windows and doors were replaced with new, larger ones, and the entire kitchen was gutted and refitted with new cabinetry and a banquette dining area. The space was designed to take advantage of the bright southern exposure, with lots of white materials, grounded by the dark base cabinets. Photos by Maletz Design

Trendy galley kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white countertops

This wood ceiling needed something to tone down the grain in the planks. We were able to create a wash that did exactly that. The floors (reclaimed red oak from a pre-Civil War barn) needed to have their different colors highlighted, not homogenized. Instead of staining the floor, we used a tung oil and beeswax finish that was hand buffed. Our clients wanted to have reclaimed wood beams in their ceiling, but could not use true old beams as they would not be sturdy enough to support the roof. We took their fresh- cut fir beams and used synthetic plasters, paints, and glazes to give them an authentic aged look. Taken by Alise O'Brien (aliseobrienphotography.com) Interior Designer: Emily Castle (emilycastle.com)

Glencoe IL Formal sideyard garden walk leading to rear yard pool oasis. French inspired theme. By: Arrow. Land + Structures. Landscape Architects and Builders----The sideyard path leads visitors towards the rear yard poolside retreat. Sideyards present an opportunity to create an an articulated approach that pulls you in towards your destination.

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Selections & Furnishings | Charles Cudd De Novo, Architecture | Troy Thies Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in San Francisco.