Featured in the AIA San Francisco 2009 Home Tour, this residence in San Francisco’s Glen Park neighborhood underwent a full seismic retrofit and new third story addition. Set in a steeply sloped hillside, the project¬ included extensive rear yard improvements, terraced gardens and a steel bridge that connects the living spaces to the outdoors. A new roof deck takes advantage of the dramatic downtown views. Interior highlights include a custom stair “ribbon” of steel and kumaroo wood, a built-in wine cellar, and dumbwaiter on two levels.

Kim Pritchard
Mid-sized transitional guest medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with white walls and no fireplace

Walls are Sherwin-Williams Porpoise, bed and benches are Lee, linens are Matouk, chair is Rowe, bedside tables are Stanley, lamps are Robert Abbey, light fixture is Restoration Hardware, throw is Jonathan Adler, draperies are Tobi Fairley Home fabric

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped light wood floor, brown floor and vaulted ceiling eat-in kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Small elegant kitchen pantry photo in DC Metro with white cabinets and white walls

Michael J. Lee Photography
Powder room - traditional powder room idea in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, red cabinets, a two-piece toilet, multicolored walls and an undermount sink

Gorgeous Living Room By 2id Interiors
Inspiration for a huge contemporary open concept beige floor and ceramic tile living room remodel in Miami with multicolored walls and a wall-mounted tv

See this beautiful young family's home in Murphy come to life. Once grey and mostly monochromatic, we were hired to bring color, life and purposeful functionality to several spaces. A family study was created to include loads of color, workstations for four, and plenty of storage. The dining and family rooms were updated by infusing color, transitional wall decor and furnishings with beautiful, yet sustainable fabrics. The master bath was reinvented with new granite counter tops, art and accessories to give it some additional personality. Our most recent update includes a multi-functional teen hang out space and a private loft that serves as an executive’s work-from-home office, mediation area and a place for this busy mom to escape and relax.

Napoli Surfaces
Inspiration for a small contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls and no island

Raised bluestone patio with granite sitting walls and custom granite fireplace.
Mountain style patio photo in Boston with a fire pit

Jessica Glynn
Home office - small coastal built-in desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office idea in Miami with blue walls and no fireplace

Alcove bathtub - mid-sized cottage kids' white tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile, blue floor and single-sink alcove bathtub idea in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.

A single wall in this tiny condo separates the multiple functions of a fully functional home. The open, public area includes a living room, full kitchen, and ample storage, with wall space and lighted cubbies to showcase art and personal items. Bright white walls and a simple color pallete help keep the small space clean and inviting. Photography by Cynthia Lynn Photography

The shades of blues, reds, and burnt orange from the front parlor move seamlessly into the back parlor of this house.
Mid-sized ornate medium tone wood floor family room library photo in New York with green walls and a stone fireplace

R. Brad Knipstein Photography
Kitchen - mid-sized traditional painted wood floor kitchen idea in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Before & After Master Bedroom Makeover From floor to ceiling and everything in between including herringbone tile flooring, shiplap wall feature, and faux beams. This room got a major makeover that was budget-friendly.

Elizabeth Felicella
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

From exposed beans and reclaimed wood to clean, modern lines and state-of-the-art amenities, this home effortlessly combines contemporary design with a rustic aesthetic. Architect: Shawn Buehler BennetFrankMcCarthy Architects Inc. Silver Spring, Maryland www.bfmarch.com