Shield Wall - Photos & Ideas

The modern asymmetrical tub is juxtaposed with an antique shield chair for the perfect mix of old and new.
Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in New York

Sea Ranch Ocean Bluff Expansion

Klopf Architecture

Built for the Bluff, A Sea Ranch Home is Remade from the Inside Out The house had always been grounded, on an ocean bluff at The Sea Ranch. It sits unencumbered, adjacent to one of the most dramatic stretches of the Sonoma coast with protected commons meadow to the east, uninterrupted Pacific views to the west, and a bluff trail running alongside. What it lacked was the feeling of home, one that could hold up its own against the natural landscape. The owners are entrepreneurs with deep involvement across tech, real estate, and development and they know how things are built. The Sea Ranch house had been in their lives for years, a second residence and a place for family to gather. Built for a different time, it felt more compromising than comfortable. Sitting in a closed off nook, the kitchen fit one cook at a time and turned its back on the rest of the house. The entry was dim and compressed, divided by a structural column that presented itself at exactly the wrong moment. The primary suite was small relative to the view outside it. A large rear bedroom sat behind a lowered ceiling with a bathroom that had never been added. The house was certainly worth the trouble of doing it right. What followed was not one project but four, each with its own design challenge, each addressed over a period of time. Where the House Meets the Ocean The most complex piece of the project, in both structural and spatial terms, was the kitchen expansion. The existing room was a single-person galley squeezed in as an afterthought with no meaningful connection to the dining room, the living space, or the deck outside. To make it useful for a family that cooks and gathers, it needed to grow outward into an existing patio and flow into the rooms around it. A big challenge was the roofline. Several planes at different pitches and angles converged directly where additional volume was needed. A new form had to join that geometry without reading as a correction. The solution found the simplest possible connection between the existing angles, a roofline that from outside the structure, appears entirely original. From the bluff trail where the addition is visible, there is no discernible seam. Inside, the kitchen is now open to the living and dining rooms without interruption. A large sliding glass door connects the space onto the rear deck. The deck itself was expanded and oriented so that the body of the house shields it from the coastal wind which is a common consideration that determines whether outdoor space at The Sea Ranch actually gets used. The result is a room that works for large family gatherings where no one feels cutoff, and one that makes the boundary between being inside and outside easy to ignore. Welcoming Light A structural column stood at the convergence of eight distinct roof planes in the entry. It was load-bearing, but it was also the reason the entry had always felt like a hallway rather than a welcoming arrival. With the structural engineer, a custom steel connector was designed to receive beams from six separate directions, redistributing the load through a single new continuous beam. The column was surgically removed. Three triangular skylights were then cut into the roof above, their shapes drawn from the existing geometry of the planes around them. The entry is now bright and open. The skylights feel native to the structure because they follow the logic already present in the roof. Two Suites, Two Views At opposite ends of the house, the two bedroom suites were each reconfigured, and each found a different way to introduce more of the landscape into the room. An addition to the primary suite extended the structure outward to create a wraparound plan with a loop from the bedroom through bath and closet that had not been possible before. The expansion opened a slot view from the tub and shower toward the ocean. The view is precise and private. The ocean view is present and deliberate. The rear bedroom absorbed an adjacent storage room to transform it into a full second suite with a vaulted ceiling, a large bathroom with a tub, a shower, and a sauna. A private fenced garden courtyard sits just beyond the glass bringing the outdoors inside. The tub was placed so that, looking past the courtyard and through the bedroom beyond, the ocean is visible at the far end. It is a long view and it makes the room feel larger and more settled than its footprint would suggest. Glass on Four Sides, Fire at the Center The main living and gathering room had always been caught between two competing facts: glass on four sides meant exceptional views but at The Sea Ranch, it also meant a cold room. A 360-degree cylindrical fireplace was added at the center on a raised stone base, providing radiant heat in every direction and giving the room a focal point around which a group naturally orients itself, whether that means two people at the end of the day or the whole family after dinner. Owners Who Picked Up the Tools The owner was not a passive client. they came with construction knowledge, specific ideas, and the desire to be an active part of the process, a dynamic that other architects may had found difficult, which Klopf Architecture accepted as an asset. They took it upon themselves to complete some of the work during construction, including the installation of a new radiant heating system beneath the floors. The radiant system added to the older and less-desirable forced-air setup. At The Sea Ranch, that change matters as the house sits close enough to the ocean and moving air competes with the sound of it, where radiant heat does not. Solar panels were added to the roof as part of the new system. Insulation was upgraded throughout the walls, roof, and crawl space. The house that had always had the right setting now holds warmth the way a house on the bluff should. They were also deeply involved in the design and selections throughout, and the finished house reflects both of them in ways that are specific rather than generic. The process took longer and moved through more iterations than a more arms-length relationship might have allowed. The result is more defined and personal because of it. The Landscape Holds Priority Every exterior decision was shaped by The Sea Ranch Design Standards, which require that buildings defer to the landscape around them rather than compete with it. Because this house sits on the bluff and is visible from the public trail, the additions faced a close review. Existing materials were matched. Geometries were resolved. The additions had to become indistinguishable from the original building. From the trail, the house reads exactly as it always has — low, cedar-clad, secondary to the meadow and the water. The setting holds priority. Inside, the house has been remade. Klopf Architecture Project Team: Geoff Campen and Trenton Jewett Contractor: Shawn Bettega Construction Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2023 Location: The Sea Ranch, CA

Amber

Archbuild Architects + Builders

We are delighted to showcase one of our latest projects, a remarkable affordable luxury minimalist home located in a bustling Sydney inner suburb. This project is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional architectural design and building services, tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Situated along a busy road, we understood the importance of creating a tranquil oasis for our client. Our focus was on providing a high level of acoustic insulation to ensure peace and serenity within the home. To achieve this, we utilized Hebel panel walls, known for their excellent soundproofing properties, and installed double-glazed windows throughout the residence. The result is a home that offers an unparalleled sense of quietude, shielded from the noise of the bustling city streets. This emphasis on acoustic insulation highlights our dedication to creating a peaceful and harmonious living environment for our clients. The design of this affordable luxury home is a beautiful fusion of modernity and minimalism, exuding sophistication and elegance. We believe that luxury can be accessible without compromising on quality or design, and this project exemplifies just that. The open-plan layout maximizes space and natural light, creating an airy and inviting ambiance throughout the home. Every aspect of the architecture was carefully curated to optimize functionality and aesthetics, reflecting the client's vision and lifestyle. Our team of skilled architects and builders worked diligently to ensure that every detail of the home was meticulously crafted to perfection. We collaborated closely with our client to understand their unique needs and preferences, allowing us to create a custom-designed home that truly embodies their individuality.

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Frameless Pivot Shower Door – UKD01 | 10mm SGCC Certified Glass

Unikoo

The Unikoo UKD01 frameless pivot shower door delivers a clean, open look with superior build quality. Constructed with 10mm SGCC-certified tempered safety glass — 67% thicker than standard 6mm glass — for maximum strength and safety. Features a permanent EnduroShield nano-coating that repels water and soap scum, cutting cleaning time by up to 90%. Heavy-duty 304 stainless steel hinges and hardware ensure smooth, long-lasting performance. Supports up to 1/4"–3/8" out-of-plumb wall adjustment for easy installation. Free shipping within 48 hours to all 48 contiguous US states. SGCC and ANSI Z97.1 certified.

French Cook's Family Kitchen

Hamilton-Gray Design, Inc.

The existing kitchen space was cramped, closed-in from the bar and dining room side of the kitchen and poorly space planned. Another flaw was that an adjacent laundry sink was in full view from the front door. With collaboration from the architect we came up with a plan to move the laundry and encapsulate the gained space in the enlarged kitchen. We re-located an access door to the home from the garage enabling us to accommodate a walk-in pantry and shield any unsightly views from the front door. We also planned a large counter level opening in the wall dividing the kitchen from the dining room and bar bringing light and ambiance to the adjoining space. Photo Credit: Preview First

Exterior Doors

ELEVATIONS | Design Solutions by Myers

Visit Our Showroom 8000 Locust Mill St. Ellicott City, MD 21043 Andersen 200 Series Perma-Shield® Gliding Patio Door
Mid-sized trendy family room photo in Baltimore

Arlington Interior/Exterior Whole House Remodel

LINEA Design Build Remodel

LINEA Design Build Remodel designed and executed every aspect of this thorough indoor and outdoor transformation of a client's home in South Arlington, VA. The work included: new James Hardie plank siding, a new, custom permeable paver driveway (with stabilizing concrete borders) and walkways, an all new interior including an entirely new master bath with free-standing tub, separate walk-in shower and double vanity, two renovated hall baths, a new Art Deco jewel-box of a powder room featuring red glass tile from California and a wallpapered ceiling, a large, expanded kitchen with custom blue cabinets and an 11-foot island, a completely re-invented fireplace and hearth, family room and dining area, removal of 2 load-bearing walls, a completely remodeled basement with bar, guest bedroom and bathroom suite, a dramatic and highly functional new lighting plan inside and out, an extensive, well-engineered and effective storm drain system encircling the entire house, a new floating porcelain-tiled back patio with a sun- and neighbor-shielding pergola, a simplified, elegant new facade and drought-friendly, easy-care landscaping all around.