Search results for "Staring" in Home Design Ideas

In this local kitchen, we used the relatively small footprint to the full. With enough pantry space for a large family, a space-saving and sturdy lazy susan cabinet in the corner, and open seating at the island bar, this kitchen is a joy for families.The layout even improves dish duty, as you can converse with guests as you wash rather than staring at the wall. Allen's Fine Woodworking designs for maximum function, Medallion Cabinetry builds to last.

A dining room that focuses on the people sharing a meal & wine. Elegant & spare with warmth added by the luxury fabric covering the chairs.
Dining room - mid-century modern dining room idea in San Francisco
Dining room - mid-century modern dining room idea in San Francisco

"Luxury Ceiling Wallpaper Installation in Golden – Elevate Your Fifth Wall with Colorado Craftsmanship!"
Transform your ceiling into a stunning focal point with our premium ceiling wallpaper installation services in Golden. As your local ceiling design specialists, we combine mountain-inspired artistry with technical precision to create breathtaking overhead statements.
Why Golden Homeowners Choose Ceiling Wallpaper
✔ Altitude-Adapted Materials – Special adhesives for Colorado's dry climate
✔ Mountain-View Magic – Designs that enhance your space's height and light
✔ Historic Building Expertise – Perfect for Golden's Victorian and Craftsman homes
✔ Engineering-Grade Precision – Flawless alignment on vaulted or tray ceilings
✔ Free Augmented Reality Preview – See your ceiling transformation in 3D
Signature Golden Ceiling Styles
?️ Peak Perfection – Aspen tree silhouettes against mountain backdrops
⚒️ Mining Heritage – Vintage map and mineral patterns
? Cosmic Canyon – Glow-in-the-dark star constellations
? Brewery District – Hops and barley motifs for beer enthusiasts
Our Elevated Service Includes:
✅ Scaffold-Free Installation – Minimal disruption to your home
✅ Light Fixture Integration – Perfect cuts around chandeliers and cans
✅ Trim & Crown Molding Coordination
✅ 5-Year Performance Guarantee
Recent Client Rave:
"Our dining room ceiling now looks like a slice of Clear Creek Canyon – guests can't stop staring up!" – The Miller Family, Downtown Golden
Find the right local pro for your project

If walls could talk, the stories harbored in this Wrightsville Beach historic house on Henderson Street would go on for days. The history that pours from the front doors as guests are welcomed in was important for her new owner's to preserve while remodeling. And so, here, the cedar-shaked beach cottage stands on stilts overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway telling stories of her birth in 1941, survival of hurricanes like Hazel, hot summer nights, well over 70 Thanksgiving dinners when fresh catch from her dock was more important than the turkey baking in her kitchen, children counting shooting stars from her front porch and, now, her new life after quite a bit of reconstruction.
While maintaining every bit of history possible, each room was reevaluated closely by the owners and Schmidt Custom Builders in a collaboration to bring new life to the bones of this three-story beach beauty. New hardwoods went in to replace what was no longer able to be resurfaced to match the original flooring. New fixtures adorn every wall and ceiling to add classic modernity as well as a coat of fresh paint. Floor to ceiling windows were added to the living room to bring scenes of the water world in. And above the living room, an en suite was added as a getaway retreat for the parents of four. This master bathroom includes a wall-to-wall countertop with his and hers vanities, an enormous rainfall shower and a free-standing tub that stares off into the sound. The kitchen took on a complete new look with all new appliances, fresh white cabinets, backsplash, fixtures and countertops as it was opened up into the living room to create more space. On the outside, Schmidt Custom Builders added a custom outdoor shower to the sound side of the home and a full bar with a tap that serves as the perfect welcome to the L-shaped porch.

A rich, wood staircase traverses the multiple levels of this home.
PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes. Image Copyright: Longviews Studios, Inc
Mountain style staircase photo in Other
Mountain style staircase photo in Other

Custom Curved Wooden Slides by Top Tread Stairways ~
Transform Your Home Into Something Extraordinary
Custom Curved Wooden Slides
When was the Last Time Someone Walked Into Your Home and Their Jaw Literally Dropped?
When was the last time someone walked into your home and their jaw literally dropped?
Picture this: Your guests arrive for dinner. They step into your foyer, and suddenly—silence. Wide eyes. A moment of pure disbelief. Then, inevitably, the question: “Is that really what I think it is?”
Welcome to the world of custom curved wooden slides, where Top Tread Stairways turns childhood dreams into sophisticated architectural statements.
The Secret is Out
For years, Clyde Martin and his team at Top Tread Stairways in Sierra Vista, Arizona, have been quietly building something extraordinary. While most stair companies focus on traditional projects, TopTread Stairways has been perfecting the art of custom hardwood slides—creating installations so remarkable that we joke about renaming the business “Chutes and Ladders.”
The truth? These aren’t just slides. They’re conversation pieces. Works of functional art. The kind of architectural element that sets your home apart from every other one on the planet.
And we build so many of them that we’ve shipped custom slides all over North America and beyond.
Four Ways to Make Your Home Unforgettable
Every slide project we undertake is unique, but they generally fall into four categories:
1. Curved Stair-Slide Combinations – The ultimate space-efficient solution, where stairs and slide spiral together in a stunning combination of form and function.
2. Curved Slides Separate from Stairways – For those who want the drama of a standalone curved slide that makes its own architectural statement.
3. Straight Stair-Slide Combinations – Perfect for modern, linear spaces where clean lines meet playful innovation.
4. Straight Slides Separate from Stairways – Sometimes simplicity creates the most powerful impact.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Some slides feature flat seat areas with vertical sides. Others embrace a barrel shape for enhanced comfort. We’ve built slides wide enough for several people to descend shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing all the way down. And we’ve crafted intimate slides designed for solo adventures, regardless of age or size.
Our clients? They absolutely love them.
Stories That Will Make You Rethink What’s Possible
Take the 11,000-square-foot home in Beverly Hills, overlooking the famous Sunset Strip. In one child’s bedroom, we installed a 12-foot curved slide crafted from white oak. Understated location, extraordinary feature.
Or consider the 35-foot-high round tower room in an 8,500-square-foot custom home bordering the Sacramento River in Northern California. This project has become our most famous installation—a stunning 33-foot curved stair-slide combination built entirely from solid black walnut, featuring 445 layers of cross-laminated hardwood and a spiral newel post that took eight months to construct in our shop.
The homeowners had searched for eight years to find someone “crazy enough” to build their dream. When we completed it, one of Clyde’s trusted business partners—someone who’d seen him tackle countless unique projects—admitted he thought Clyde had lost his mind taking this one on. He genuinely didn’t believe we could pull it off.
We did. And the homeowners? Still thrilled years later.
Where Imagination Meets Reality
But these slides aren’t just for private estates. We’ve installed a 24-foot hickory slide in an elementary school library just east of Dallas, where kids absolutely love it. And here’s something that will make you smile: We built the longest wood slide ever for a children’s hospital in Springfield, Illinois.
Have you ever heard a child beg to go to the doctor?
We’re pretty sure it happens in Springfield. That walnut slide stretches 45 feet long and 3 feet wide—spacious enough for three children to sit side-by-side or for an adult and child to slide together comfortably. We built it in one piece, filling an entire semi-trailer for transport. It lives in the hospital lobby, and no appointment is needed to experience it yourself.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, we installed a 36-foot white oak slide in a custom home. The client loved it so much they ordered a second one—literally 15 minutes after we finished the installation. When Clyde returned to the office, there was already a check in the mailbox for slide number two. This 14,000-square-foot home now features 72 linear feet of curved white oak slide: one connecting the second floor to the main level, another linking the main floor to the finished basement.
What a ride, indeed.
Then there’s the curved stair-slide combination in Visalia, California—32 feet of knotty alder complemented by a hanging netted loft and climbing wall. Creative? Absolutely. Fun? Beyond measure.
The People Behind the Dreams
What inspires us most isn’t the technical challenge of building these slides—though engineering a 33-foot curved slide from 445 layers of cross-laminated hardwood certainly keeps us engaged. It’s working with clients who refuse to think inside the box.
These are creative individuals willing to explore ideas that set their homes and businesses apart. They dream of installations that make people stop and stare. They understand that architecture can—and should—inspire joy.
Listening to them describe their visions, explaining their dreams of a slide design unlike anything else on earth? That’s a privilege. And bringing those dreams to life? That’s what we live for.
My team and I have as much fun designing and building these slides as our clients have riding them. We’d love nothing better than to hear from you!
Custom Curved Wooden Slides
What Sets Top Tread Stairways Apart
Since 2006, Clyde Martin has built Top Tread Stairways on a simple premise: there’s a better way to build stairs. With roots in eastern Pennsylvania and years of experience installing hundreds of pre-built stairways, Clyde brought that expertise west and founded a company dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship.
We stock thousands of stair parts in more than ten wood species—hickory, jatoba, maple, cherry, mahogany, alder, red oak, white oak, poplar, Douglas fir, and walnut. Quality levels are high. Lead times are short. We understand the urgency of your project schedule and deliver accordingly.
But here’s what really matters: When it comes to custom wooden slides, Top Tread Stairways is one of—if not the—premier builders of indoor wooden slides in the United States. This isn’t a side project for us. It’s a specialty we’ve refined through years of experience, countless installations, and an unwavering commitment to turning impossible dreams into breathtaking reality.
Your Home, Reimagined
Whether you’re envisioning a straight wooden stand-alone slide for your office or a jaw-dropping curved wooden slide/stairway combination that will become your home’s signature feature, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re not here to build ordinary. We’re here to build extraordinary.
Ready to set your home apart?
~ Custom Curved Wooden Slides ~ ART YOU RIDE!

Custom Curved Wooden Slides by Top Tread Stairways ~
Transform Your Home Into Something Extraordinary
Custom Curved Wooden Slides
When was the Last Time Someone Walked Into Your Home and Their Jaw Literally Dropped?
When was the last time someone walked into your home and their jaw literally dropped?
Picture this: Your guests arrive for dinner. They step into your foyer, and suddenly—silence. Wide eyes. A moment of pure disbelief. Then, inevitably, the question: “Is that really what I think it is?”
Welcome to the world of custom curved wooden slides, where Top Tread Stairways turns childhood dreams into sophisticated architectural statements.
The Secret is Out
For years, Clyde Martin and his team at Top Tread Stairways in Sierra Vista, Arizona, have been quietly building something extraordinary. While most stair companies focus on traditional projects, TopTread Stairways has been perfecting the art of custom hardwood slides—creating installations so remarkable that we joke about renaming the business “Chutes and Ladders.”
The truth? These aren’t just slides. They’re conversation pieces. Works of functional art. The kind of architectural element that sets your home apart from every other one on the planet.
And we build so many of them that we’ve shipped custom slides all over North America and beyond.
Four Ways to Make Your Home Unforgettable
Every slide project we undertake is unique, but they generally fall into four categories:
1. Curved Stair-Slide Combinations – The ultimate space-efficient solution, where stairs and slide spiral together in a stunning combination of form and function.
2. Curved Slides Separate from Stairways – For those who want the drama of a standalone curved slide that makes its own architectural statement.
3. Straight Stair-Slide Combinations – Perfect for modern, linear spaces where clean lines meet playful innovation.
4. Straight Slides Separate from Stairways – Sometimes simplicity creates the most powerful impact.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Some slides feature flat seat areas with vertical sides. Others embrace a barrel shape for enhanced comfort. We’ve built slides wide enough for several people to descend shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing all the way down. And we’ve crafted intimate slides designed for solo adventures, regardless of age or size.
Our clients? They absolutely love them.
Stories That Will Make You Rethink What’s Possible
Take the 11,000-square-foot home in Beverly Hills, overlooking the famous Sunset Strip. In one child’s bedroom, we installed a 12-foot curved slide crafted from white oak. Understated location, extraordinary feature.
Or consider the 35-foot-high round tower room in an 8,500-square-foot custom home bordering the Sacramento River in Northern California. This project has become our most famous installation—a stunning 33-foot curved stair-slide combination built entirely from solid black walnut, featuring 445 layers of cross-laminated hardwood and a spiral newel post that took eight months to construct in our shop.
The homeowners had searched for eight years to find someone “crazy enough” to build their dream. When we completed it, one of Clyde’s trusted business partners—someone who’d seen him tackle countless unique projects—admitted he thought Clyde had lost his mind taking this one on. He genuinely didn’t believe we could pull it off.
We did. And the homeowners? Still thrilled years later.
Where Imagination Meets Reality
But these slides aren’t just for private estates. We’ve installed a 24-foot hickory slide in an elementary school library just east of Dallas, where kids absolutely love it. And here’s something that will make you smile: We built the longest wood slide ever for a children’s hospital in Springfield, Illinois.
Have you ever heard a child beg to go to the doctor?
We’re pretty sure it happens in Springfield. That walnut slide stretches 45 feet long and 3 feet wide—spacious enough for three children to sit side-by-side or for an adult and child to slide together comfortably. We built it in one piece, filling an entire semi-trailer for transport. It lives in the hospital lobby, and no appointment is needed to experience it yourself.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, we installed a 36-foot white oak slide in a custom home. The client loved it so much they ordered a second one—literally 15 minutes after we finished the installation. When Clyde returned to the office, there was already a check in the mailbox for slide number two. This 14,000-square-foot home now features 72 linear feet of curved white oak slide: one connecting the second floor to the main level, another linking the main floor to the finished basement.
What a ride, indeed.
Then there’s the curved stair-slide combination in Visalia, California—32 feet of knotty alder complemented by a hanging netted loft and climbing wall. Creative? Absolutely. Fun? Beyond measure.
The People Behind the Dreams
What inspires us most isn’t the technical challenge of building these slides—though engineering a 33-foot curved slide from 445 layers of cross-laminated hardwood certainly keeps us engaged. It’s working with clients who refuse to think inside the box.
These are creative individuals willing to explore ideas that set their homes and businesses apart. They dream of installations that make people stop and stare. They understand that architecture can—and should—inspire joy.
Listening to them describe their visions, explaining their dreams of a slide design unlike anything else on earth? That’s a privilege. And bringing those dreams to life? That’s what we live for.
My team and I have as much fun designing and building these slides as our clients have riding them. We’d love nothing better than to hear from you!
Custom Curved Wooden Slides
What Sets Top Tread Stairways Apart
Since 2006, Clyde Martin has built Top Tread Stairways on a simple premise: there’s a better way to build stairs. With roots in eastern Pennsylvania and years of experience installing hundreds of pre-built stairways, Clyde brought that expertise west and founded a company dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship.
We stock thousands of stair parts in more than ten wood species—hickory, jatoba, maple, cherry, mahogany, alder, red oak, white oak, poplar, Douglas fir, and walnut. Quality levels are high. Lead times are short. We understand the urgency of your project schedule and deliver accordingly.
But here’s what really matters: When it comes to custom wooden slides, Top Tread Stairways is one of—if not the—premier builders of indoor wooden slides in the United States. This isn’t a side project for us. It’s a specialty we’ve refined through years of experience, countless installations, and an unwavering commitment to turning impossible dreams into breathtaking reality.
Your Home, Reimagined
Whether you’re envisioning a straight wooden stand-alone slide for your office or a jaw-dropping curved wooden slide/stairway combination that will become your home’s signature feature, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re not here to build ordinary. We’re here to build extraordinary.
Ready to set your home apart?
~ Custom Curved Wooden Slides ~ ART YOU RIDE!

As a busy family of four with two boys and three cats, this client was ready for a kitchen remodel that made family life easier. With dated finishes, appliances, cabinetry, counters, and an oversized laundry room that could be better used as kitchen space, there were many aspects they wanted to change.
They had five different flooring surfaces within the line of sight, kept bumping into each other in the congested hallway, wanted to move their cooktop to the perimeter of their island rather than in the middle, hated their refrigerator location, and didn’t like having an island with two heights. Good thing they came to Horizon Interior Design, where we developed solutions for every problem!
We ran hardwood flooring throughout the main level to make it feel uniform and cohesive, opened up the hallway, and decreased the size of the laundry room to significantly extend their kitchen space and remove congestion in their hallway. We added more functional pull-out shelves to their pantry to replace the original rickety, narrow shelving and placed their refrigerator and cooktop on the perimeter wall, allowing for a large island with a solid surface and a decorative range hood.
We reduced the size of their kitchen windows to allow for more upper cabinetry space and added a granite waterfall feature on the island for a wow factor while placing the counter stools in such a way that they didn't block up main walkways. Dark cabinetry tied in nicely with the knots in the pine ceiling, and white tile backsplash brightened up the space beautifully. Our new kitchen layout meant the family had a nicer view while walking down the stairs, rather than staring at the top of kitchen cabinets.
Gugel Photography

The client wanted to be able to sit on the front porch and not stare into rails (see before photo). So we installed two terraced concrete planters. She also liked the look of steel, but the cost was too high for steel. So we stained them a rust color.

In this local kitchen, we used the relatively small footprint to the full. With enough pantry space for a large family, a space-saving and sturdy lazy susan cabinet in the corner, and open seating at the island bar, this kitchen is a joy for families.The layout even improves dish duty, as you can converse with guests as you wash rather than staring at the wall. Allen's Fine Woodworking designs for maximum function, Medallion Cabinetry builds to last.

Large custom shaped pool with a vanishing edge, fire/water bowls, and octagon shaped spa. Having two large tanning ledges and stairs on either side makes for easy access into this sparkling water oasis. Inside or out there is always something cool to look at. Whether its watching the water seem like its running into the lake. Or enjoying the relaxing sound of waves crashing from the lower seating area while waving to the boaters as they slowly pass by staring. The decking is a tumbled travertine laid out in a Versailles pattern. Bull nose Travertine Coping was used all around the pool and spa.

If walls could talk, the stories harbored in this Wrightsville Beach historic house on Henderson Street would go on for days. The history that pours from the front doors as guests are welcomed in was important for her new owner's to preserve while remodeling. And so, here, the cedar-shaked beach cottage stands on stilts overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway telling stories of her birth in 1941, survival of hurricanes like Hazel, hot summer nights, well over 70 Thanksgiving dinners when fresh catch from her dock was more important than the turkey baking in her kitchen, children counting shooting stars from her front porch and, now, her new life after quite a bit of reconstruction.
While maintaining every bit of history possible, each room was reevaluated closely by the owners and Schmidt Custom Builders in a collaboration to bring new life to the bones of this three-story beach beauty. New hardwoods went in to replace what was no longer able to be resurfaced to match the original flooring. New fixtures adorn every wall and ceiling to add classic modernity as well as a coat of fresh paint. Floor to ceiling windows were added to the living room to bring scenes of the water world in. And above the living room, an en suite was added as a getaway retreat for the parents of four. This master bathroom includes a wall-to-wall countertop with his and hers vanities, an enormous rainfall shower and a free-standing tub that stares off into the sound. The kitchen took on a complete new look with all new appliances, fresh white cabinets, backsplash, fixtures and countertops as it was opened up into the living room to create more space. On the outside, Schmidt Custom Builders added a custom outdoor shower to the sound side of the home and a full bar with a tap that serves as the perfect welcome to the L-shaped porch.

For most of us laundry is a chore. If you have to do it, doing it in a room like this will certainly make it more pleasant.
The pullout cabinets on either side of the sink are laundry baskets, so that every time you come in the room the chore isn't staring you in the face.
Photography by Libbie Martin

After a long week of work, this is a wonderful place to relax. Bathing in the tub staring up at the beautiful chandelier or looking out the window, this was the client's desire. The old, large jacuzzi tub was replaced with this wood-footed soaker tub. Wood shelves were placed above the tub on the tiled wall to host towels and bath salts.

Could waste a lot of time just sitting here staring at this view. Hope you find somewhere to do the same. Have a great weekend!
(Photo by RStarovich)
Photo of a large traditional full sun backyard stone landscaping in Chicago for fall.
Photo of a large traditional full sun backyard stone landscaping in Chicago for fall.

Eastern views with a prime view of downtown Manhattan from Jersey City. This living room made use of a small corner for conversations and late evenings staring out at the city lights. The furniture almost floats and maintains an airy feel that mimics the concrete jungle palette of NYC! Did you see the floor lamp in the right hand corner? Hopefully you never even noticed, as that was the point!

East of Tshwane in Gauteng, South Africa is the spectacular Mooikloof Heights home which is situated on a north sloping 15000sq.m. site.
This home is approached from the north where it is completely transparent, but as the driveway curves around the west side it becomes a collection of stacked rusted boxes without any openings.
Due to the size of the site, the house could be stretched to extend to nearly 85m from east to west: The north elevation is totally glazed across the three storeys with deeply recessed glazing to create sun control.
The house is clad with natural stone and rusted steel panels framing openings in the façade. These materials speak to the taste of the client, as well as the environment.
The soil is composed of deep slate rock which had to be excavated and used for the gabion walls or crushed and covered with topsoil to create the garden. The sloping landscape was reduced to different terraces, creating a stepped landscape with a large retaining pond on the lowest level.
As the driveway curves around the house to the entrance on the south side, a transparent “canyon” opens, with views through the house to the hills, miles away. The rust colour is picked up by the gabion retaining walls that create a carport to the south of the home, while “Weathered”, a steel sculpture by Regardt van der Meulen, welcomes you at the front door.
On entering the double volume entrance hall, the view is across two water features, the first one part of the atrium at the core of the house, the other a large reflecting pond in the garden that doubles as a rainwater collection tank. Internally ribbed brass cladding is introduced to walls and ceilings, while several paintings by Santa van der Meulen complements the interiors.
Mooikloof Heights was designed in such a way that the feeling of indoor-outdoor living was prominent from almost every space in the house, lending itself to spectacular views. The style of open plan living Is evident throughout the house. The flow of the ground living and entertainment areas blend and combine into each other and create a connectedness throughout house.
The exposed steel beams, glass and stone cladding creates a symphony of textures combined with rusting steel walls and screed floors. The staircase cantilevers out of a massive stone wall with double storey glass to the west protected from the sun by steel louvres and an indigenous tree.
A few steps down you are presented with a choice of either the formal lounge or the informal family and dining room flowing out onto the lanai, while the open plan kitchen and breakfast room are just past the jacuzzi. Another sculpture by Regardt van der Meulen sits on a perch above the family room, staring across the double volume space.
The lanai is a vast space suited to the Highveld lifestyle, incorporating a bar/ barbeque, dining area and lounge, adjacent to the jacuzzi and pool.
The view from the whole house to the north is breath taking, covering the valley down to foot of the hill where Mooikloof Equestrian estate is situated and the whole hill across the extensive garden and the large reflecting pond.
On the opposite side of the hall is access to the garages (the other 4 garages have direct access to the kitchen area), a lift that connects the basement floor and first floor, and an executive study leading onto a massive roof garden over the guest wing. A large home theatre is situated to the south of the family room.
The guest wing can be reached via the lift or another cantilevered staircase and comprises three suites with a lounge area, all leading onto the lower garden.
Going up the main staircase you arrive at the pyjama lounge, with one bridge across the double volume family room leading to the main suite. The other runs across the double volume hall leading to two kid’s suites, while a third suite and the gym are situated to the south of the bridge leading to the main suite. The kid’s suite has an internal balcony with the wall facing the suite painted with a whimsical map of the world.
The main suite is a private sanctuary, flooded with north and east sun, and a fabulous dressing room and bathroom leading onto large balconies.
The home was designed by Nico and Werner van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects with interiors by their interior design company, M Square Lifestyle Design. Furniture and accessories were supplied by M Square Lifestyle Necessities.
View the VTour for Mooikloof Heights now: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=ChPHjLYWUuf
View some of our other Contemporary Projects here >>> https://nicovdmeulen.com/contemporary/

Oh, the kitchen remodel, by far my most challenging project at #flipmagnolia and by far the one I am the proudest of. It’s true that small houses do come with small kitchens. However, the size of this kitchen was not really the problem here. As I stood in this old kitchen absolutely in awe, I just knew this was my biggest project yet. I was staring at rusted yellow cabinets, mixed countertops, a whimsical wallpaper border, and a big old washer right next to the stove. What? Click to see the before photos. This was a fun and rewarding project.
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