Reducing the window size, painting out the ceiling and adding red oak flooring has transformed this originally rustic kitchen. (see before photos)
Transitional u-shaped light wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls and an island

Design ideas for a transitional landscaping in San Francisco.

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz Architect: square three design studios Interior designer: GoGo Creations Builder: Clarum Homes
Trendy kitchen photo in San Francisco

Home and Living Examiner said: Modern renovation by J Design Group is stunning J Design Group, an expert in luxury design, completed a new project in Tamarac, Florida, which involved the total interior remodeling of this home. We were so intrigued by the photos and design ideas, we decided to talk to J Design Group CEO, Jennifer Corredor. The concept behind the redesign was inspired by the client’s relocation. Andrea Campbell: How did you get a feel for the client's aesthetic? Jennifer Corredor: After a one-on-one with the Client, I could get a real sense of her aesthetics for this home and the type of furnishings she gravitated towards. The redesign included a total interior remodeling of the client's home. All of this was done with the client's personal style in mind. Certain walls were removed to maximize the openness of the area and bathrooms were also demolished and reconstructed for a new layout. This included removing the old tiles and replacing with white 40” x 40” glass tiles for the main open living area which optimized the space immediately. Bedroom floors were dressed with exotic African Teak to introduce warmth to the space. We also removed and replaced the outdated kitchen with a modern look and streamlined, state-of-the-art kitchen appliances. To introduce some color for the backsplash and match the client's taste, we introduced a splash of plum-colored glass behind the stove and kept the remaining backsplash with frosted glass. We then removed all the doors throughout the home and replaced with custom-made doors which were a combination of cherry with insert of frosted glass and stainless steel handles. All interior lights were replaced with LED bulbs and stainless steel trims, including unique pendant and wall sconces that were also added. All bathrooms were totally gutted and remodeled with unique wall finishes, including an entire marble slab utilized in the master bath shower stall. Once renovation of the home was completed, we proceeded to install beautiful high-end modern furniture for interior and exterior, from lines such as B&B Italia to complete a masterful design. One-of-a-kind and limited edition accessories and vases complimented the look with original art, most of which was custom-made for the home. To complete the home, state of the art A/V system was introduced. The idea is always to enhance and amplify spaces in a way that is unique to the client and exceeds his/her expectations. To see complete J Design Group featured article, go to: http://www.examiner.com/article/modern-renovation-by-j-design-group-is-stunning Living Room, Dining room, Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom, Powder Bathroom, Miami Interior Designers, Miami Interior Designer, Interior Designers Miami, Interior Designer Miami, Modern Interior Designers, Modern Interior Designer, Modern interior decorators, Modern interior decorator, Miami, Contemporary Interior Designers, Contemporary Interior Designer, Interior design decorators, Interior design decorator, Interior Decoration and Design, Black Interior Designers, Black Interior Designer, Interior designer, Interior designers, Home interior designers, Home interior designer, Daniel Newcomb

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

The owners wanted to convert the original loft into a Rec Room, so it was important to be able to close off the space to reduce natural light. Sliding barn doors and a shorter stretch of railing accomplished this goal.

This contemporary kitchen was part of a whole house renovation in East York Toronto. Although the footprint of this space was small, substantial improvements were made to make the kitchen much more function. The stack on the opposite side of the kitchen was reduced (often done in these homes in the area to take back space), and full height cabinetry and built-in fridge with additional countertop space were added. The opening by the sink also includes shelving rather than cabinet uppers to let more light in and reduce the original closed in feeling. On the cooking side of the kitchen effort was made to optimize the use of cabinets with more drawers and choose white finishes to make it as bright and open as possible. Custom wood floors added warmth, contrast, and durability needed to make the kitchen more comfortable.

In earlier times this 1920’s foursquare-style house contained a beautiful, generous dining room. At some point, a previous owner constructed a guest bathroom within the space reducing its grace and openness. Our clients asked us to remove and relocate the bath and restore the space to its original proportions. They requested built-in cabinets where the bath had been and new wood sash windows. In addition, the owner asked for a small greenhouse to hold her prized Meyer lemon tree. Photos by: Matt Swain Photography

The existing deck was reduced in size to accommodate this 16x20' sunroom—complete with fireplace and unique wall-sized barn door. Two of the four original windows lined up along the exterior wall were reinstalled in the 6-foot, 400-pound barn door that delineates the sunroom from the main living space. Meticulously aligned into the seven-inch-thick barn door wall, the entire assembly was hung from a massive rail system. Also, two of the windows were specially sized to match stained glass frames previously purchased.

The existing deck was reduced in size to accommodate this 16x20' sunroom—complete with fireplace and unique wall-sized barn door. Two of the four original windows lined up along the exterior wall were reinstalled in the 6-foot, 400-pound barn door that delineates the sunroom from the main living space. Meticulously aligned into the seven-inch-thick barn door wall, the entire assembly was hung from a massive rail system. Also, two of the windows were specially sized to match stained glass frames previously purchased.

In earlier times this 1920’s foursquare-style house contained a beautiful, generous dining room. At some point, a previous owner constructed a guest bathroom within the space reducing its grace and openness. Our clients asked us to remove and relocate the bath and restore the space to its original proportions. They requested built-in cabinets where the bath had been and new wood sash windows. In addition, the owner asked for a small greenhouse to hold her prized Meyer lemon tree. Photos by: Matt Swain Photography

The existing deck was reduced in size to accommodate this 16x20' sunroom—complete with fireplace and unique wall-sized barn door. Two of the four original windows lined up along the exterior wall were reinstalled in the 6-foot, 400-pound barn door that delineates the sunroom from the main living space. Meticulously aligned into the seven-inch-thick barn door wall, the entire assembly was hung from a massive rail system. Also, two of the windows were specially sized to match stained glass frames previously purchased.

JRML designed and built this Mission-style home in the early ’90’s. To reduce cost, a second ground floor bedroom was omitted. In 2008, the original owners commissioned us to design the bedroom for their oldest son. An outside shower, and deck and rail replacement was also desired. This time, we embarked on a more imaginary design path. Exaggerated belly columns, swirl patterned ceiling tiles, and teak wood with laser-cut copper panels for the shower evoke a fanciful look. An enlarged architrave defines the new deck, and the belly of the columns is repeated in the railing. White paint provides a crisp, clean look.

The original double entry door showed visible wear over time, with surface damage and aging materials that affected both appearance and performance. Its outdated design and deteriorating condition reduced the home’s curb appeal and compromised overall durability and insulation.

This contemporary kitchen was part of a whole house renovation in East York Toronto. Although the footprint of this space was small, substantial improvements were made to make the kitchen much more function. The stack on the opposite side of the kitchen was reduced (often done in these homes in the area to take back space), and full height cabinetry and built-in fridge with additional countertop space were added. The opening by the sink also includes shelving rather than cabinet uppers to let more light in and reduce the original closed in feeling. On the cooking side of the kitchen effort was made to optimize the use of cabinets with more drawers and choose white finishes to make it as bright and open as possible. Custom wood floors added warmth, contrast, and durability needed to make the kitchen more comfortable.

In earlier times this 1920’s foursquare-style house contained a beautiful, generous dining room. At some point, a previous owner constructed a guest bathroom within the space reducing its grace and openness. Our clients asked us to remove and relocate the bath and restore the space to its original proportions. They requested built-in cabinets where the bath had been and new wood sash windows. In addition, the owner asked for a small greenhouse to hold her prized Meyer lemon tree. Photos by: Matt Swain Photography

The existing deck was reduced in size to accommodate this 16x20' sunroom—complete with fireplace and unique wall-sized barn door. Two of the four original windows lined up along the exterior wall were reinstalled in the 6-foot, 400-pound barn door that delineates the sunroom from the main living space. Meticulously aligned into the seven-inch-thick barn door wall, the entire assembly was hung from a very stout rail system. Also, two of the windows were specially sized to match stained glass frames previously purchased.

A complete ‘to the studs’ sustainable renovation of an early 1960’s mountain residence originally designed by Robert Calhoun Smith, final architect for the National Cathedral. This home now meets the Silver rating criteria for LEED for Homes, currently under development by the USGBC. Perched on the first ridge of the Appalachians west of Washington D.C. with a beautiful valley view, the house faces slightly east of south. This orientation makes it ideal for a new 28 foot window seat acting as a passive solar window wall with a carefully designed sun shade. Energy usage was reduced further by utilizing a multi-well geothermal HVAC system and installing a Energy Recovery Ventilator with a high-performance super-insulated envelope. Extensive clerestory windows and a light interior color palette negates the need for lighting during the day, even when the mountain is fogged in. The original interior vertical paneling, a dark stained mahogany, was resurfaced and recycled as exterior horizontal siding. All wood trim and new decking are FSC certified. Scott Smith Photography

The existing deck was reduced in size to accommodate this 16x20' sunroom—complete with fireplace and unique wall-sized barn door. Two of the four original windows lined up along the exterior wall were reinstalled in the 6-foot, 400-pound barn door that delineates the sunroom from the main living space. Meticulously aligned into the seven-inch-thick barn door wall, the entire assembly was hung from a very stout rail system. Also, two of the windows were specially sized to match stained glass frames previously purchased.