The kitchen had an angular peninsula with a sink, *see before picture. By repositioning the drains and water supplies we targeted better traffic flows and improved the overall visual layout.

Inspiration for a small coastal deck remodel in San Diego with a fire pit

The living and dining area of the home were completely reoriented. The dining area is repositioned to the space within the windows, taking advantage of a stunning view of Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin. The color palette was chosen to reflect the hues of the setting sun. An ottoman upholstered in plum leather appears to float on acrylic legs.

Photo: Angela Flournoy © 2017 Houzz
Farmhouse kitchen photo in Oklahoma City

This full home renovation on White Meadow Lake in Rockaway, NJ completely transformed the heart of the home. We reimagined the kitchen layout - repositioning the island to capture stunning lake views and relocating the range to the perimeter for better flow and function. What was once a pass-through to the side door is now a beautifully integrated pantry, maximizing both storage and usability.

When my parents purchased a home in Arizona, the hall powder room became an insufficient use of space for the many out of town visitors frequenting the house. Our goal was to turn the half bath, which was adjacent to a guest bedroom, into a 3/4 bath, by removing a privacy wall, repositioning the toilet and sink, and adding a corner shower to accommodate guests. We incorporated the Santa Fe style and colors into the decor by installing slate floors, a slate stack stone shower surround, and a travertine countertop with a glass sin

Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Photo: Tamarra Younis
Inspiration for a victorian living room remodel in Los Angeles

Bob O'Connor
Nursery - contemporary gender-neutral white floor nursery idea in Boston with multicolored walls

This house in Lower Burns Park in Ann Arbor had a small, cramped and chopped kitchen with no eating area or space for a family to cook or gather. The Rochman Design Build Team stayed with the clients' feel for a more European kitchen, opened up the walls, and created a space where the family can now make dinner, do homework or put groceries away, all at the same time :-)

Design by Eche Martinez Interior Design. Construction by The Englander Building Company.
Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in San Francisco

This Master Bathroom was outdated in appearance and although the size of the room was sufficient, the space felt crowded. The toilet location was undesirable, the shower was cramped and the bathroom floor was cold to stand on. The client wanted a new configuration that would eliminate the corner tub, but still have a bathtub in the room, plus a larger shower and more privacy to the toilet area. The 1980’s look needed to be replaced with a clean, contemporary look. A new room layout created a more functional space. A separated space was achieved for the toilet by relocating it and adding a cabinet and custom hanging pipe shelf above for privacy. By adding a double sink vanity, we gained valuable floor space to still have a soaking tub and larger shower. In-floor heat keeps the room cozy and warm all year long. The entry door was replaced with a pocket door to keep the area in front of the vanity unobstructed. The cabinet next to the toilet has sliding doors and adds storage for towels and toiletries and the vanity has a pull-out hair station. Rich, walnut cabinetry is accented nicely with the soft, blue/green color palette of the tiles and wall color. New window shades that can be lifted from the bottom or top are ideal if they want full light or an unobstructed view, while maintaining privacy. Handcrafted swirl pendants illuminate the vanity and are made from 100% recycled glass.

New deck going around the side of the cabin allowing a new front entry.
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic gray two-story wood gable roof remodel in Sacramento

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in New York with a media wall

The large island in this kitchen serves as a gathering and dining space for family and friends. Ample storage and work surface provide the home owners a highly functioning kitchen. The tall crown molding is beautiful and functional with HVAC tucked inside and pendant lights by Visual Comfort add a touch of modern luxury to this traditionally based kitchen.

The existing laundry room had no storage. When we repositioned the door into the laundry room we gained more space to add tall storage cabinet. It helped to use stacker washer and dryer.

When my parents purchased a home in Arizona, the hall powder room became an insufficient use of space for the many out of town visitors frequenting the house. Our goal was to turn the half bath, which was adjacent to a guest bedroom, into a 3/4 bath, by removing a privacy wall, repositioning the toilet and sink, and adding a corner shower to accommodate guests. We incorporated the Santa Fe style and colors into the decor by installing slate floors, a slate stack stone shower surround, and a travertine countertop with a glass sin

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2013 Houzz
Inspiration for an industrial u-shaped enclosed kitchen remodel in Seattle with open cabinets and stainless steel appliances

When my parents purchased a home in Arizona, the hall powder room became an insufficient use of space for the many out of town visitors frequenting the house. Our goal was to turn the half bath, which was adjacent to a guest bedroom, into a 3/4 bath, by removing a privacy wall, repositioning the toilet and sink, and adding a corner shower to accommodate guests. We incorporated the Santa Fe style and colors into the decor by installing slate floors, a slate stack stone shower surround, and a travertine countertop with a glass sin