Step into the ultimate entertainment destination—right in your own home. This one-of-a-kind basement remodel blends the intrigue of a hidden speakeasy with the adrenaline rush of an axe throwing lounge, creating a space that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. Enter through a concealed door marked Staufer Speakeasy, complete with “Rules of the Lane” signage, and discover a fully immersive experience. Reclaimed wood, exposed brick, industrial chain-link enclosures, and an open black ceiling give the space a moody, urban edge that’s both stylish and rugged. Two regulation-size axe throwing lanes are flanked by a custom-built bar with stool seating—perfect for spectators or post-throw cheers. Warm wood flooring and rich textures are complemented by statement lighting and playful artwork, including a gallery wall of “animals in disguise” portraits that inject character and humor. Whether you’re hosting friends, blowing off steam, or just embracing your inner lumberjack, this unexpected lower-level gem transforms casual entertaining into a full-blown event. It’s more than a game room—it’s a lifestyle.

This 7,500 square feet home, situated on a waterfront site in Sag Harbor, New York, was designed as a shared vacation home for four brothers and their families. A collaborative effort between the clients and Cecil Baker + Partners yielded a contemporary home that pays homage to the Eastern Long Island vernacular. The home is composed of three distinct volumes that step back from one another to optimize both the water view and privacy. The two outer wings take on familiar cedar-clad, pitched roof geometry while the central three-story glass box links them together and anchors the home. The two car garage, with a private living space above, projects from the main house via a breezeway, defining a private garden. The interior of the home integrates warm, tactile materials and clean modern lines. The use of full-height windows, floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, and an operable overhead glass door creates an indoor-outdoor living experience and floods the home with natural light. The subtle choreography of the interior space lends flexibility to the Client for both social and private uses of the home. The first floor contains an open plan for the kitchen, living room, dining area and sunroom, and the second floor includes two full master suites facing the bay, a guest room with spectacular water views, and a children's room that overlooks the garden. The fully finished basement holds a large playroom, a gym, a full spa bath and a wine cellar. In addition, views in all directions are unobstructed from a third floor roof terrace. Michael Grimm Photography

During the construction of the addition to this centuries old San Francisco home, our firm was brought in to create a design for the upper and lower outdoor decks, and surrounding garden space. The spiral staircase was the link that allowed for maximum deck space below. The bottom deck was brought lower by taking two broad steps down from the house thus eliminating the need for railing. This was very important to the owners’ desire to feel connected to the surrounding garden. A fire pit, placed off of center, created the focal point for the seating area. A cobalt blue water feature was placed close to the house so it could be enjoyed both from within the house and while sitting on the deck. The many vibrant colored pots placed along the deck edges were planted with a small Meyer Lemon tree, herbs for cooking, and mint for tea, as well as some colorful ornamental grasses and perennials. On the upper rooftop deck, we installed numerous skylights to allow light to the lower addition, and added appropriate native plants and succulents. In the front of the house, we cut in two large street planters and added matching Olive trees, under planted with colorful Mexican Salvia and orange New Zealand Wind Grass.

Proof that dreaming big pays off!✨ We’re honored to have completed this breathtaking built-in bar for @o_van_someren in collaboration with @charlestonbuilding. Our finishing department sourced an exact color match to the @chanelofficial nail polish in the shade Vamp to achieve this stunning high gloss finish. We’re up for a challenge and want to make your dream home a reality. Take that first step and submit an inquiry through the link in our bio!

To watch our bathroom tours click the link below! https://www.bauscherconstruction.com/page/bathroom ©Paul Bauscher

Modern elegance meets effortless livability. This stunning pool and outdoor space was designed to create a seamless connection between home, water, and landscape. Every line and level was carefully crafted to flow together—linking the main home and cabana through water in perfect harmony. A shimmering 360° spillover spa anchors the design, framed by pale stone, rich blue tile, and a warm fire feature that sets the tone for relaxed evenings outdoors. Floating stepping stones add a playful, modern touch, while the surrounding greenery softens the clean lines for a truly balanced aesthetic. From sunrise reflections to glowing twilight views, this space embodies refined simplicity—where architecture, craftsmanship, and nature blend into one serene experience. ✨ Design harmony. Everyday luxury. Endless tranquility. #LuxuryPoolDesign #ModernOutdoorLiving #HouzzDesign #CustomPool #BackyardInspiration #SpaDesign #InfinityEdgePool #OutdoorOasis #ArchitectureMeetsNature #CodyPools

Modern elegance meets effortless livability. This stunning pool and outdoor space was designed to create a seamless connection between home, water, and landscape. Every line and level was carefully crafted to flow together—linking the main home and cabana through water in perfect harmony. A shimmering 360° spillover spa anchors the design, framed by pale stone, rich blue tile, and a warm fire feature that sets the tone for relaxed evenings outdoors. Floating stepping stones add a playful, modern touch, while the surrounding greenery softens the clean lines for a truly balanced aesthetic. From sunrise reflections to glowing twilight views, this space embodies refined simplicity—where architecture, craftsmanship, and nature blend into one serene experience. ✨ Design harmony. Everyday luxury. Endless tranquility. #LuxuryPoolDesign #ModernOutdoorLiving #HouzzDesign #CustomPool #BackyardInspiration #SpaDesign #InfinityEdgePool #OutdoorOasis #ArchitectureMeetsNature #CodyPools

Transitional home design photo in Portland

Modern elegance meets effortless livability. This stunning pool and outdoor space was designed to create a seamless connection between home, water, and landscape. Every line and level was carefully crafted to flow together—linking the main home and cabana through water in perfect harmony. A shimmering 360° spillover spa anchors the design, framed by pale stone, rich blue tile, and a warm fire feature that sets the tone for relaxed evenings outdoors. Floating stepping stones add a playful, modern touch, while the surrounding greenery softens the clean lines for a truly balanced aesthetic. From sunrise reflections to glowing twilight views, this space embodies refined simplicity—where architecture, craftsmanship, and nature blend into one serene experience. ✨ Design harmony. Everyday luxury. Endless tranquility. #LuxuryPoolDesign #ModernOutdoorLiving #HouzzDesign #CustomPool #BackyardInspiration #SpaDesign #InfinityEdgePool #OutdoorOasis #ArchitectureMeetsNature #CodyPools

Malibu Glass Box House by Klopf Architecture Following the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018, the site in Malibu offered a unique opportunity to rebuild not just a home, but a new architectural composition that highlighted the property’s potential while navigating strict fire-rebuild codes in the area. Designed by Klopf Architecture, this project embraced a set of limitations and translated them into an architectural asset. The city’s fire-rebuild process required the new structure to remain close to the original footprint, size and bulk, a constraint that ultimately clarified the architectural direction. Perched near the front of a long, narrow lot, the new home frames and overlooks a private, park-like rear expanse, an uncommon luxury especially in this part of Malibu . Without a fixed program, the design process allowed for a different kind of creative focus allowing Klopf Architecture the opportunity to explore how a modernist home could best respond to this site. The team approached the project not with a list of requirements, but with a question: How might a modernist live here? What spatial qualities would inspire calm, connection, and a sense of wonder in this setting? The process became less about problem-solving and more about architectural storytelling—letting the site, the light, and the principles of modern design guide the form and flow of the home. The response emerged in the form of a glass-box pavilion, an open, Mid-Century Modern inspired living, dining, and kitchen space that floats at the edge of the property’s natural descent. Connected to the more enclosed, private areas of the home by a glass-walled hallway, the living pavilion becomes a distinct centerpiece of the design. It opens on all four sides to the landscape with decks and patios on the flanks, an internal garden and water feature to the north, and a dramatic unguarded view of the expansive backyard and ocean horizon to the south. Because of the mandated footprint, careful planning was required to ensure every space could still engage with light, landscape, or both. Strategic voids in the form of atriums and courtyards allow daylight to filter deep into the home’s core, while offering moments of surprise and retreat. These design gestures allow natural light to filter deep into the interior, creating a sense of brightness and openness throughout the day. At the same time, they expand the perceptual boundaries between inside and out, making the home feel more expansive while anchoring its connection to the surrounding landscape. The siting of the house is what gives it its unique character. Rather than receding into the backyard like the neighboring homes, the house holds a slight prominence. From the central living pavilion, stepping down into the landscape feels more like entering a secluded park where a separate existing accessory structure, trail, and recreational areas await. The home’s modest street presence gives way to this unfolding drama of space, view, and nature. Fire-resilient materials and assemblies are integrated seamlessly throughout including triple-pane glazing, under-slab and roof insulation, and locally sourced fire-rated cladding ensure the house not only meets Calfornia’s rigorous wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards, but feels effortlessly aligned with them. While technical decisions like fire-hardening and mechanical systems presented some construction challenges, particularly around the cantilevered glass box, the team found a functional compromise that preserved the integrity of the design. Inside, a restrained palette and exposed post and beam design celebrate the ethos of mid-century modernism. A central circulation spine extends from the entry to the rear glass wall, offering a continuous visual link from street to ocean. Spaces such as the library and office, though more intimate in scale, are never cut off from nature as each opens to its own unique courtyard or garden view. Though born out of a strict regulatory framework and developed without a specific client, the rebuild design unfolded with remarkable clarity. Grounded in site logic, refined by limitations and an emphasis on timeless spatial relationships – light, proportion, and a strong connection to nature, the resulting design feels both effortless and uplifting. The home lives lightly on the land, opens generously to its surroundings, and strikes a careful balance between privacy, openness, and calm. For Klopf Architecture, it stands as a compelling case study in how site, code, and circumstantial constraints can inspire enduring, modernist architecture. With years of experience reimagining mid-century modern design for how people live today, the firm took the project’s limitations as an opportunity. The result is a home shaped by open, flowing spaces, strong indoor-outdoor connections, and a calm, clear sense of structure. It’s a good reminder that even with strict constraints, there’s still room for architecture to breathe—and for modernism to keep moving forward. Klopf Architecture project team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, and Sherry Tan Structural Engineer: ZFA Contractor: Maison D’Artiste Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2023

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!

Step into the ultimate entertainment destination—right in your own home. This one-of-a-kind basement remodel blends the intrigue of a hidden speakeasy with the adrenaline rush of an axe throwing lounge, creating a space that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. Enter through a concealed door marked Staufer Speakeasy, complete with “Rules of the Lane” signage, and discover a fully immersive experience. Reclaimed wood, exposed brick, industrial chain-link enclosures, and an open black ceiling give the space a moody, urban edge that’s both stylish and rugged. Two regulation-size axe throwing lanes are flanked by a custom-built bar with stool seating—perfect for spectators or post-throw cheers. Warm wood flooring and rich textures are complemented by statement lighting and playful artwork, including a gallery wall of “animals in disguise” portraits that inject character and humor. Whether you’re hosting friends, blowing off steam, or just embracing your inner lumberjack, this unexpected lower-level gem transforms casual entertaining into a full-blown event. It’s more than a game room—it’s a lifestyle.

Step into the ultimate entertainment destination—right in your own home. This one-of-a-kind basement remodel blends the intrigue of a hidden speakeasy with the adrenaline rush of an axe throwing lounge, creating a space that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. Enter through a concealed door marked Staufer Speakeasy, complete with “Rules of the Lane” signage, and discover a fully immersive experience. Reclaimed wood, exposed brick, industrial chain-link enclosures, and an open black ceiling give the space a moody, urban edge that’s both stylish and rugged. Two regulation-size axe throwing lanes are flanked by a custom-built bar with stool seating—perfect for spectators or post-throw cheers. Warm wood flooring and rich textures are complemented by statement lighting and playful artwork, including a gallery wall of “animals in disguise” portraits that inject character and humor. Whether you’re hosting friends, blowing off steam, or just embracing your inner lumberjack, this unexpected lower-level gem transforms casual entertaining into a full-blown event. It’s more than a game room—it’s a lifestyle.

Example of a classic staircase design

The Columbia River Gorge offers a dramatic backdrop to this hill-side retreat for a young family. Careful positioning of the plan and windows provide views to Mount Adams and Mount Hood. The home is a linear composition of a two-level volume linked to a single-level guest suite and garage. Each volume was studied and articulated to successfully balance views & privacy. The first-floor living level spills out to the rugged landscape through glass doors that open to stepped patios of natural basalt. Vast expanses of windows assure a vivid display of seasonal changes from every room. Elements include standing seam metal roofs, dark horizontal cedar siding, and a full height board-formed concrete wall designed to retain the steeply sloped natural terrain. Inside an open floor plan employing high ceilings and materials such as exposed Doug Fir framing, radiant concrete floors and bleached wood ceilings guarantees a modern, timeless look. Incorporating the owner's stock of salvaged wood screens and vintage European light fixtures makes this home truly unique and full of personality. Photographer: Nakamoto Forestry

Feinmann expanded a Newton home with a two-story addition, transforming the kitchen, bath, sitting room, and powder room.
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Boston

See more information about this project at this link: https://www.vancouvergardendesign.com/curvedterraces Feel free to contact me through my website: https://www.vancouvergardendesign.com/contact

Carefully orientated and sited on the edge of small plateau this house looks out across the rolling countryside of North Canterbury. The 3-bedroom rural family home is an exemplar of simplicity done with care and precision. Tucked in alongside a private limestone quarry with cows grazing in the distance the choice of materials are intuitively natural and implemented with bare authenticity. Oiled random width cedar weatherboards are contemporary and rustic, the polished concrete floors with exposed aggregate tie in wonderfully to the adjacent limestone cliffs, and the clean folded wall to roof, envelopes the building from the sheltered south to the amazing views to the north. Designed to portray purity of form the outer metal surface provides enclosure and shelter from the elements, while its inner face is a continuous skin of hoop pine timber from inside to out. The hoop pine linings bend up the inner walls to form the ceiling and then soar continuous outward past the full height glazing to become the outside soffit. The bold vertical lines of the panel joins are strongly expressed aligning with windows and jambs, they guild the eye up and out so as you step in through the sheltered Southern entrances the landscape flows out in front of you. Every detail required careful thought in design and craft in construction. As two simple boxes joined by a glass link, a house that sits so beautifully in the landscape was deceptively challenging, and stands as a credit to our client passion for their new home & the builders craftsmanship to see it though, it is a end result we are all very proud to have been a part of.

Polar white high-gloss lacquer cabinetry combined with teak patterned textured melamine on the island give this kitchen a sleek design aesthetic. The horizontal bi-fold wall cabinets with satin mirrored glass bottom panels are motorized and open and close automatically with the light touch of a button. A 4” thick engineered quartz floating bar counter was integrated into the island with seating for three. Photo Credit: PhotographerLink