The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

Within this image, the second retaining wall, expertly supporting the elevated landscape, comes into view. This cozy nook presents an ideal setting to gather with friends and family, positioned beside the outdoor fireplace - a spot for engaging conversations or simply unwinding with a captivating book while lounging next to its warmth.

Miele Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center 26767 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302 Phone 818.880.0011 Fax 818.880.0411 12050 Ventura Blvd.,Studio City, CA 91604 Phone 818.755.1111 Fax 818.755.9111 www.uakc.com Miele Generation 6000 is bringing design and innovation that exceed expectations. It includes two distinct design styles - PureLine and ContourLine - as well as several color options including Brilliant White and Truffle Brown. Design for Miele is not simply the exterior. Like the design principle, form follows function; the true beauty of the Generation 6000 series is highlighted by its intuitive user interface, which ensures unsurpassed performance and convenience in the kitchen. With these new color options and the uniform design of the Generation 6000 series, Miele has created a series of appliances that will seamlessly integrate into any kitchen or lifestyle. Whether appliances are installed vertically, horizontally, as a square or in a T-shape configuration, the design is fully resolved. M Touch – Top-class technology with a special touch Whether it’s creating a double cappuccino at the touch of a single button, finding the desired MasterChef automatic program on the Combi-Steam Oven in an instant or selecting the operating mode and temperature in just a few simple steps – Miele eliminates the guesswork. All of these operations are easier than ever because of M Touch. Reminiscent of smart phones and tablets, M Touch is an intuitive user interface that allows the user to swipe or scroll through the menu with the tip of a finger. A new high resolution control panel with white TFT (Thin Film Transistor) text brings a brilliant display. And because the interface is universal across all Gen 6000 appliances, the transition from appliance to appliance is easier than ever. Oven Innovations: Moisture Plus, Gourmet Center and MultiSteam Developed exclusively for Miele USA, Moisture Plus is a truly unique steam injection system featured in Miele M Touch 30” Convection Ovens. Moisture Plus automatically injects a burst of steam into the oven cavity at pre-determined points during the cooking process. The addition of moisture improves results when proofing dough, gives loaves of bread a crisp crust and glossy finish and makes cuts of meat particularly crisp on the outside and succulent inside. Also new to the 30” Convection Oven is the addition of MasterChef Plus programs. Ideal for the consummate baker at home, this exclusive new menu system houses 14 automatic bread programs and replicates results seen in artisan bakeries. Included are programs for sourdough, whole grain, rolls and baguettes. A pioneer in steam oven technology, Generation 6000 Steam and Combi-Steam Ovens are equipped with MultiSteam technology, a revolutionary new steam cooking generation. The addition of six steam inlets in the Steam Oven and eight steam inlets in the Combi-Steam Oven, delivers fast, even steam distribution and incredibly quick heat-up times for even cooking results through a more powerful steam generator. Long regarded for its ingredient-driven menu, Miele MasterChef programs are now located within the Gourmet Center. Choose from more than 100 easy to use programs for grains, vegetables, meats, fish and poultry. At just the touch of a button, the program will deliver menu options that guide the user step by step - from the desired oven mode to temperature - all resulting in the perfect dish. Generation 6000 Coffee Systems impress with comfort and innovation There are several new highlights to the Generation 6000 Whole Bean Coffee System including a new CupSensor, EasyClick Milk System and One Touch for Two features. Exclusive to Miele, the CupSensor automatically adjusts the height of the spout to the optimum position for different cup and glass sizes. Whether a tall latté macchiato or a dainty espresso is being prepared, the central spout automatically adjusts to the cup’s rim and eliminates splashing. The CupSensor even reacts precisely to beverages made with milk by raising the spout slightly to make room for the incoming espresso. Also new is the EasyClick milk system which is a dishwasher safe glass, milk flask that effortlessly clicks into place at the front of the machine. And for easy maintenance, the new Miele Coffee Systems now automatically rinse all milk spouts and hoses with water after each use. The One Touch for Two feature allows the user to prepare two coffee specialties such as cappuccino and latté macchiato at the same time, thus reducing prep time when two or more drinks are being served. Miele Generation 6000 series is distinguished by its elegant design and remarkable innovations to deliver unmatched results that can be seen, touched and tasted. German engineered and tested to last 20 years, Generation 6000 reinforces the Miele Design for Life philosophy and solidifies Miele at the forefront of residential culinary appliances.

Classic White Cabinetry was the foundation of design for a Kitchen that is both beautiful and functional. Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances make it a cook's dream. All the important elements of storage, seating and space planning are perfect for everyday family living as well as entertaining. Landmark Photography

Photographer: Dan Piassick
Large elegant formal and open concept porcelain tile living room photo in Dallas with blue walls and a standard fireplace

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

Large 1960s formal and open concept living room photo in Denver with white walls and a standard fireplace

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

Trendy bathroom photo in Miami

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

4 Steps to Achieving a Rewarding Cost Effective Home Renovation 1 Home Renovation an Introduction A home renovation due to changes in family needs and space requirements can be a challenging, but also a rewarding experience. As a homeowner, gathering and coordinating resources and possibly help from professional consultants are required. Once the construction phase has started, patience, endurance and commitment to follow through are necessary. Despite the challenges, the rewards of a well-planned and successfully completed project are meaningful, adding aesthetic and economic value, also providing the opportunity to personalize a home, encompassing the function, comfort and aesthetics to accommodate individual taste and lifestyle. A renovation of an existing home is a viable alternative to moving or building a new home, assuming that a home is structurally sound, the expenditure to enlarge or improve can be a cost effective alternative. A home possessing charm, style, historical significance, established landscaping or an exceptional location could be a significant motivation to consider purchasing another home with the intent to renovate. The complexity of a project could be relatively simple, changing the use of a room, consolidating two rooms into one, or opening up a room to the outdoors. It could also be a more involved task requiring planning, design and construction documents to build a second floor addition, the addition of a new wing or completely gutting the interior. Some projects could be completed in a weekend’s work or more complex projects, using a “Master Plan”, a plan which provides overall guidance; a renovation can be accomplished all at once or divided into manageable projects over a period of time. With the home evolving gradually allowing the renovation to be planned, timed and tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances. The due diligence phase should precede the decision to renovate whether it’s an existing home or a home that is purchased with the intent to renovate. The due diligence phase will reveal the factors affecting the nature and scope of the project or if a renovation makes sense. Every renovation project is unique relative to personal requirements, architectural style & construction type. This guide will be helpful in developing an understanding of the preliminary groundwork required to realize a successful project. If properly planned, a home renovation project can be a positive and rewarding experience resulting in a comfortable, practical and an attractive living environment. The first step of the planning process is documenting the goals and long-range plans referred to as the “Project Program”. This will dictate the nature, scope and feasibility of the project. Providing a guide to achieving defined goals, the timing or phasing of the project and budget required to achieve the desired end result. 2 Documenting Existing Conditions Once the “Project Program”, has been established, the next step is to determine what there is to work with. This requires documenting the home’s floor plan and site elements which includes drawing an “as built” floor & site plan consisting of the existing exterior walls, interior rooms, doors, windows, etc. and surrounding site elements, landscape and other significant exterior features. Additionally understanding and noting on the “as built” plan, the structural, mechanical and electrical systems as necessary. Gathering the “existing condition” information defines what there is to work with, creating the framework from which to facilitate and organize the decision making process and develop effective “project program” solutions. 3 Evaluating Existing Conditions The goals and long-range plans have been established, and the existing floor plan and site elements have been documented. Before developing design solutions, the next step is to evaluate existing conditions. The evaluation includes: a detailed analysis of the structural, mechanical and electrical systems, determining the condition of the house, noting functional and aesthetic deficiencies. At the same time recognizing the home’s strengths, assets and evaluating its relationship to its site. The remaining parameters will be defined by the local jurisdiction’s zoning regulations, these regulations will define the “envelope”, within which the proposed project will be required to fit: •required front, side & rear yard setbacks •maximum allowable lot coverage & height The previous three steps have provided the necessary foundation to start the design phase. The goals and long range plans have been established, existing conditions have been documented and the evaluation of what there is to work with are now in place. This will provide the framework from which to facilitate and organize design solutions. The consolidation of this information is manifested in the development of the “Master Plan” which will become the road map by which sound decision-making can be made as a home renovation evolves. Keeping the project, on a linear path, avoiding redundancies and back tracking, on time, within budget, concluding with a well crafted finished product. After all the “up front” research and documentation has been completed, the design phase of the project can now precede, with the creation of diagrammatic design drawings. Organizing interior spaces, taking into account the external elements, prevailing breezes, solar orientation, view, existing outdoor features, etc. Through the development of schematic sketches themes will emerge followed by design development drawings. Wise planning and renovation decisions can save money and time at the same time provide a well crafted finished project. The “Master Plan” provides a strategic path in the planning and decision making process leading to a successful and rewarding home renovation, which will add value and considerable enjoyment, for many years, living in a newly renovated home. By virtue of having gone through these steps, frustrations sometimes encountered during a home renovation will be minimized, allowing the renovation to be a gratifying and rewarding experience. Being aware of the process allows one to become an “Educated Client,” which is worth quite a bit more than one might realize. The uneducated client may not realize the benefit of going through the planning, evaluation and documentation groundwork. He will only realize its benefits after having completed a prior renovation project. This rational approach keeps the design process on a direct path to achieving prescribed goals. 4 Exploring Design Solutions & Developing a Master Plan The previous three steps have provided the necessary foundation to start the design phase. The goals and long range plans have been established, existing conditions have been documented and the evaluation of what there is to work with are now in place. This will provide the framework from which to facilitate and organize design solutions. The consolidation of this information is manifested in the development of the “Master Plan” which will become the road map by which sound decision-making can be made as a home renovation evolves. Keeping the project, on a linear path, avoiding redundancies and back tracking, on time, within budget, concluding with a well crafted finished product. By virtue of having gone through these steps, frustrations sometimes encountered during a home renovation will be minimized, allowing the renovation to be a gratifying and rewarding experience. Being aware of the process allows one to become an “Educated Client,” which is worth quite a bit more than one might realize. The uneducated client may not realize the benefit of going through the planning, evaluation and documentation groundwork. He will only realize its benefits after having completed a prior renovation project. This rational approach keeps the design process on a direct path to achieving prescribed goals. After all the “up front” research and documentation has been completed, the design phase of the project can now precede, with the creation of diagrammatic design drawings. Organizing interior spaces, taking into account the external elements, prevailing breezes, solar orientation, view, existing outdoor features, etc. Through the development of schematic sketches themes will emerge followed by design development drawings. Wise planning and renovation decisions can save money and time at the same time provide a well crafted finished project. The “Master Plan” provides a strategic path in the planning and decision making process leading to a successful and rewarding home renovation, which will add value and considerable enjoyment, for many years, living in a newly renovated home.

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

Inspiration for a transitional freestanding desk carpeted, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling study room remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls

In the kitchen, an op-art inspired backsplash echoes the owner's collection of optical art on display throughout the apartment. A computer program was utilized in the design of the pattern. Featured in Interior Design, Sept. 2014, p. 216 and Serendipity, Oct. 2014, p. 30. Interior Design and Furnishing: Luca Andrisani Architect. Photo: Peter Murdock