Custom built-in aquarium installation shown during the construction and setup phase prior to final aquascaping and livestock integration. This stage of the project captures the aquarium immediately following installation and system startup while surrounding finish work and final reef layout were still in progress. Projects like this require careful coordination between aquarium fabrication, waterproofing, cabinetry integration, plumbing systems, lighting placement, and overall construction sequencing. Documenting the installation process is an important part of large custom aquarium projects, helping coordinate contractors, fabricators, and trades throughout the build process. Custom aquarium design, fabrication coordination, installation, and ongoing maintenance by Aqua Creations. www.AquaCustomFishTanks.com

Main living level of a ground-up new construction home in the Berkeley Hills, CA, as featured on America ByDesign on CBS. The open-plan great room connects living, dining, and kitchen in a single light-filled volume - birch plywood ceiling panels running continuously overhead, white oak hardwood floors throughout, and the full spatial sequence visible in one frame. Walnut flat-front kitchen cabinetry with terrazzo backsplash, white quartz island with integrated sink, and four white upholstered counter stools with black metal bases define the kitchen beyond. Three slim black cylinder pendant lights drop above the island. A white floating open-riser stair with glass panel railing and white steel balustrade rises to the right, with a lush built-in indoor garden of tropical plants beneath the stair at ground level - bringing the landscape inside. New Construction - Fold House - Berkeley Hills CA - CB Architecture + Design

Our client built a striking new home on the east slope of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. To complement the clean lines of the facade we designed a simple, elegant landscape that sets off the home rather than competing with the bold architecture. Soft grasses offer contrast to the natural stone veneer, perennials brighten the mood, and planters add a bit of whimsy to the arrival sequence. On either side of the main entry, roof runoff is dramatically routed down the face of the home in steel troughs to biofilter planters faced in stone. Around the back of the home, a small “leftover” space was transformed into a cozy patio terrace with bluestone slabs and crushed granite underfoot. A view down into, or across the back patio area provides a serene foreground to the beautiful views to Lake Washington beyond. Collaborating with Thielsen Architects provided the owners with a sold design team--working together with one voice to build their dream home. Photography by Miranda Estes

This residence is situated on a flat site with views north and west to the mountain range. The opposing roof forms open the primary living spaces on the ground floor to these views, while the upper floor captures the sun and view to the south. The integrity of these two forms are emphasized by a linear skylight at their meeting point. The sequence of entry to the house begins at the south of the property adjacent to a vast conservation easement, and is fortified by a wall that defines a path of movement and connects the interior spaces to the outdoors. The addition of the garage outbuilding creates an arrival courtyard. A.I.A Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Merit 2014 Project Year: 2008

Located on a marsh in the upper reaches of the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, the existing house was well-sited and well-built, but the design failed to exploit the views and more importantly was a confused combination of contemporary and traditional elements. The new homeowners, a successful businesswoman and an accomplished artist and photographer, were interested in creating a fully-contemporary environment to open up space, connect indoors with outdoors, display artwork and showcase the husband’s distinctive photographs. One glaring deficiency was the curb appeal and approach sequence: the grade sloped down and the path to the house followed, but this led to an uncomfortable dip and abrupt rise to the front door. By creating a virtual “moat,” occupied by a grid of raised-bed grasses contained in aluminum-clad boxes, and spanning the moat with an ipe bridge, the approach becomes level and engaging. The façade of the existing house was blank and bland, and with no cover. Adding a deep overhang with a wide porch creates a welcoming, covered condition, accentuated by a 6’ wide pivoting front door that feels more like a moving piece of wall. Another deficiency was the connection to the outdoors. By adding glass to the front and back of the house, and removing interior walls selectively, the house takes on a diaphanous quality that allows one to see through to the marsh beyond, even when in the driveway. The raised-bed grasses act as abstract, geometric versions of the marsh beyond. A large, pyramidal skylight establishes a spatial hierarchy around which the rooms revolve. The house featured several tray-ceilinged spaces – living room, kitchen, and master bedroom – that were poorly-proportioned and with panels at the top that resembled inset flat panel doors. The solution was to use a different strategy for each: the bedroom turns the ceiling into an eggshell through the use of a creative trim detail; the living room has an oversized sculptural, backlit lighting element; and the kitchen has a collage of painted rectangular forms that support or include lighting pieces. A palette of concrete, blackened steel, stainless steel and colors carefully chosen by homeowner and architect create an interior and exterior environment punctuated by moments that are as artistic as the featured works in the black-ceilinged gallery.

SDH Studio - Architecture and Design Location: Golden Beach, Florida, USA Located on a waterfront lot, this home was designed as a narrative of the family’s love for green, quiet and light infused spaces. The use of natural materials in its architecture emphasizes the relationship between the structure and its surroundings, while a sequence of private/public spaces lead to an oversized cantilevered overhang that integrates the interior living area to the landscape.

Bridle Path Residence — Luxury Wellness Bathroom & Hydrotherapy Suite This Bridle Path Residence bathroom is conceived as a private hydrotherapy retreat, bringing a resort-like wellness experience into the home while maintaining the architectural detailing and craftsmanship of the residence. The design is less about creating a conventional bathroom and more about establishing a dedicated space for relaxation, recovery, and ritual. The hydrotherapy tub becomes the central sculptural element of the room. Its generous curved profile creates a soft, organic focal point against the highly detailed wall treatment, while the integrated jets and ergonomic form emphasize the room's wellness-driven purpose. Positioning the tub within the main architectural composition gives it the presence of a luxury amenity rather than treating it as a standard fixture. The walls are enveloped in a small-format decorative mosaic with an intricate, almost textile-like pattern. This repeated surface creates remarkable visual depth and gives the room a distinctly crafted quality. The subtle variation within the mosaic prevents the predominantly light palette from feeling flat, while its fine geometry provides a counterpoint to the smooth, sculptural tub. A particularly thoughtful feature is the integrated sauna viewing window, which creates a visual relationship between the hydrotherapy area and the warm timber sauna beyond. The opening turns the sauna into part of the overall composition and establishes a clear sequence of wellness experiences—hydrotherapy, heat, and showering—within one cohesive suite. The adjacent shower introduces a contrasting material language. Large-format marble-look surfaces create a cleaner, more serene backdrop, while the vertical patterned accent strip adds a strong decorative moment. This controlled use of pattern prevents the space from becoming visually overwhelming and gives the shower its own identity. The sauna itself introduces warmth through natural timber, creating an immediate sensory contrast with the cool, pale surfaces surrounding it. The wood adds depth and reinforces the feeling of a private spa retreat, while the glass enclosure maintains openness and allows the different wellness zones to remain visually connected. The flooring continues the decorative approach with a carefully patterned layout that complements the wall mosaic without simply repeating it. This creates a layered surface treatment in which scale, geometry, and texture work together to give the room a highly customized character. Even the circulation area is treated as part of the design experience. The glass door and open stair connection allow light to move through the space, while the traditional architectural detailing visible beyond the bathroom establishes continuity with the broader residence. The overall concept is residential wellness with an emphasis on craftsmanship and sensory experience. Decorative mosaic, natural timber, glass, stone-inspired surfaces, sculptural plumbing, and carefully integrated wellness features create a room that feels more like a private boutique spa than a conventional home bathroom.

Reimagining the Foyer began with relocating the existing coat closet in order to widen the narrow entry. To further enhance the entry experience, some simple plan changes transformed the feel of the Foyer. A wall was added to create separation between the Foyer and the Family Room, and a floating ceiling panel adorned with textured wallpaper lowered the tall ceilings in this entry, making the entire sequence more intimate. A geometric wood accent wall is lit from the sides and showcases the mirror, one of many industrial design elements seen throughout the condo. The first introduction of the home’s palette of white, black and natural oak appears here in the Foyer.

The Pool Box sites a small secondary residence and pool alongside an existing residence, set in a rolling Hill Country community. The project includes design for the structure, pool, and landscape - combined into a sequence of spaces of soft native planting, painted Texas daylight, and timeless materials. A careful entry carries one from a quiet landscape, stepping down into an entertainment room. Large glass doors open into a sculptural pool.

This project is the remaking and reimagining of an historically-rated storybook house in one of San Francisco’s first planned neighborhoods for a 21st century family. Strange half-levels and poor previous remodels were removed. The historic materials and forms of the house were studied and extended while creating a flowing sequence of spaces and a massive new kitchen. White painted cabinets, arched openings and wrought iron railings pull the house together.

This front yard renovation at 206 Ashdale Ave turns a challenging grade change into a stunning streetside statement. A custom two-tiered concrete block retaining wall system creates generous raised planting beds while managing the slope with clean, architectural precision. The central walkway features large-format light grey pavers with a contrasting charcoal border inlay — a crisp, contemporary detail that draws the eye straight to the front door. Two broad landing steps with a sleek black powder-coated handrail complete the entry sequence beautifully. The planting palette balances structure with softness: a burgundy Japanese maple and steel-blue ornamental grass anchor the left bed, while a sweeping mass of Shasta daisies, pink roses, and hydrangeas bring seasonal colour and life to the right. Black mulch ties it all together with a polished, low-maintenance finish.

Refined Continuity: Bridging Classical Architecture and Modern Living This comprehensive remodel of a grand Cow Hollow residence reimagines a historically expressive envelope through a lens of contemporary livability, precision detailing, and material restraint. The design approach carefully balances the home’s classical proportions and ornamental heritage with a refined, modern sensibility—evident in the disciplined palette of warm neutrals, soft plasters, pale oak flooring, and tailored millwork. Circulation has been clarified and subtly expanded to enhance spatial flow, while openings are leveraged to capture light, garden outlooks, and distant water views. Throughout, architectural interventions are executed with a high level of craft, ensuring that new insertions—whether cabinetry, railings, or apertures—read as seamless continuations of the original structure rather than applied elements. The kitchen serves as the operational and visual anchor of the home, conceived as a sculptural yet highly functional environment. Custom rift-cut cabinetry, softened through a desaturated finish, is paired with honed stone surfaces and integrated brass hardware to create a quiet, tactile richness. A monolithic island establishes a central gathering point, while perimeter work zones are carefully layered with concealed storage, integrated appliances, and open, backlit shelving that elevates everyday objects into curated displays. The adjacent bar and entertaining areas extend this language, reinforcing a cohesive hospitality-driven program. In parallel, the primary bathroom is designed as a serene, spa-like retreat, where bookmatched stone, frameless glass enclosures, and finely detailed metalwork converge. The composition prioritizes symmetry, clarity, and light—balancing generous volumes with intimate moments through integrated lighting, custom vanities, and a restrained material hierarchy. The library and ancillary living spaces introduce a more intimate scale, anchored by bespoke built-ins that combine closed storage with illuminated display niches, creating depth and rhythm along the walls. Here, material transitions and furniture integration are handled with particular nuance, allowing the architecture to support both quiet retreat and social gathering. A continuous language of custom railings—executed in refined metal profiles—threads through the interior and extends outward, where the exterior gate and garden elements have been reinterpreted to align with the home’s renewed identity. The entry sequence is now defined by a calibrated interplay of solidity and transparency, with sculptural metalwork and landscape integration establishing a sense of arrival that is both secure and elegant. Collectively, the project reflects a holistic transformation—one that elevates performance, livability, and aesthetic clarity while preserving the inherent dignity of the original architecture.

The arrangement of the forms creates two defined outdoor courts at the Lone Pine Residence. One initiates a welcoming entry sequence, the other provides a contemplative private garden inhabited by an arrangement of aspen trees. Residential architecture by CLB in Jackson, Wyoming.

Bookmatched Luxury Kitchen Countertop with Full Height Backsplash – Dekton Laurent 2 cm Vein Match Installation | Absolute GM LLC This luxury kitchen project features a Dekton Laurent 2 cm countertop with full height backsplash, executed with precision vein-matched alignment to achieve continuous visual flow and architectural consistency. The dark base and gold veining of Dekton Laurent are carefully oriented during fabrication to maintain directional continuity across the countertop surface and extend seamlessly into the vertical backsplash transition. This controlled layout creates a unified bookmatched effect, where the natural pattern reads as a single continuous surface without visual interruption. Precision digital templating and CNC fabrication were used to control slab sequencing, seam placement, and edge detailing, ensuring tight tolerances and accurate alignment throughout installation. Special attention was given to the countertop-to-backsplash junction to preserve uninterrupted veining and clean architectural lines. The project also includes a matching Dekton Laurent 2 cm kitchen island, designed to complement the main countertop while maintaining consistent material flow and finish continuity across the kitchen space. Dekton Laurent 2 cm was selected for its durability, stain resistance, and refined aesthetic performance, making it ideal for high-end residential kitchen environments. Absolute GM LLC provides professional countertop fabrication and installation services across Washington State, specializing in Dekton, porcelain, quartzite, and natural stone systems.

SDH Studio - Architecture and Design Location: Golden Beach, Florida, USA The Architecture is conceived as an ensemble of vertical and horizontal planes that guide the user through a sequence of spatial and visual experiences. Our clients’ passion for the outdoors is embedded in the entire project. Also, the use of color is an important feature that highlights certain accents along the design.

This residence is situated on a flat site with views north and west to the mountain range. The opposing roof forms open the primary living spaces on the ground floor to these views, while the upper floor captures the sun and view to the south. The integrity of these two forms are emphasized by a linear skylight at their meeting point. The sequence of entry to the house begins at the south of the property adjacent to a vast conservation easement, and is fortified by a wall that defines a path of movement and connects the interior spaces to the outdoors. The addition of the garage outbuilding creates an arrival courtyard. A.I.A Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Merit 2014 Project Year: 2008

Whit Preston
Example of a minimalist home design design in Austin

This newly constructed home was in need of an outdoor living space and streetscape in a matching contemporary Northwest style. Our studio composed a landscape with an improved entry sequence, balancing the need for personal privacy alongside a distinctive public face. A steel framed gabion basket wall provides a crisp edge and doubles as retaining for the private patio behind the horizontal board fence. The courtyard oasis with a new deck is enclosed by warm wooden fencing set on top of the contrasting raw texture of a gabion retaining wall that acts as a backdrop to bold streetscape plantings.

Whit Preston
Minimalist home design photo in Austin