The Whistle Hill Residence anchors a ten home modern development and introduces a refined contemporary language to the region. Clean lines, controlled massing, and expansive glazing allow the home to sit confidently within its wooded site while maintaining sensitivity to the natural landscape. Strategic elevation changes and selective steel framing create open spans and cantilevered forms without sacrificing envelope performance. Below grade, the design integrates a full wellness program—including a massage room, sauna, and locker area—supported by multi-zone mechanical controls, advanced vapor management, and acoustically isolated assemblies. The level also features a recreation area with a mini bar, poker lounge, and substantial built-in storage, all finished to create a warm, spa-like environment. On the main level, the open kitchen and living area transition seamlessly to a protected patio with retractable screens and high-performance sliders, enabling year-round indoor–outdoor living. A private master wing includes dual closets, an electric fireplace, an oversized walk-in shower, and a secluded patio. Supporting spaces such as the office with custom millwork, walk-in pantry, and mudroom with laundry are integrated along a clear circulation spine. The upper floors continue the home’s emphasis on clarity and light. Two third-floor bedrooms with walk-in closets share a spacious bath, while the rooftop level offers more than 1,500 square feet of engineered outdoor living space with sweeping woodland views and direct access to a greenhouse. With its performance-driven detailing, thoughtful spatial organization, and modern architectural expression, the Whistle Hill Residence establishes a new benchmark for contemporary residential design in the area. The project is a partnership with DHB Homes.

The Whistle Hill Residence anchors a ten home modern development and introduces a refined contemporary language to the region. Clean lines, controlled massing, and expansive glazing allow the home to sit confidently within its wooded site while maintaining sensitivity to the natural landscape. Strategic elevation changes and selective steel framing create open spans and cantilevered forms without sacrificing envelope performance. Below grade, the design integrates a full wellness program—including a massage room, sauna, and locker area—supported by multi-zone mechanical controls, advanced vapor management, and acoustically isolated assemblies. The level also features a recreation area with a mini bar, poker lounge, and substantial built-in storage, all finished to create a warm, spa-like environment. On the main level, the open kitchen and living area transition seamlessly to a protected patio with retractable screens and high-performance sliders, enabling year-round indoor–outdoor living. A private master wing includes dual closets, an electric fireplace, an oversized walk-in shower, and a secluded patio. Supporting spaces such as the office with custom millwork, walk-in pantry, and mudroom with laundry are integrated along a clear circulation spine. The upper floors continue the home’s emphasis on clarity and light. Two third-floor bedrooms with walk-in closets share a spacious bath, while the rooftop level offers more than 1,500 square feet of engineered outdoor living space with sweeping woodland views and direct access to a greenhouse. With its performance-driven detailing, thoughtful spatial organization, and modern architectural expression, the Whistle Hill Residence establishes a new benchmark for contemporary residential design in the area. The project is a partnership with DHB Homes.

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

The Tice Residences replace a run-down and aging duplex with two separate, modern, Santa Barbara homes. Although the unique creek-side site (which the client’s original home looked toward across a small ravine) proposed significant challenges, the clients were certain they wanted to live on the lush “Riviera” hillside. The challenges presented were ultimately overcome through a thorough and careful study of site conditions. With an extremely efficient use of space and strategic placement of windows and decks, privacy is maintained while affording expansive views from each home to the creek, downtown Santa Barbara and Pacific Ocean beyond. Both homes appear to have far more openness than their compact lots afford. The solution strikes a balance between enclosure and openness. Walls and landscape elements divide and protect two private domains, and are in turn, carefully penetrated to reveal views. Both homes are variations on one consistent theme: elegant composition of contemporary, “warm” materials; strong roof planes punctuated by vertical masses; and floating decks. The project forms an intimate connection with its setting by using site-excavated stone, terracing landscape planters with native plantings, and utilizing the shade provided by its ancient Riviera Oak trees. 2012 AIA Santa Barbara Chapter Merit Award Jim Bartsch Photography

This family throws some mean parties where large crowds usually sit at the poolside. There’s an entire section of this walk out second level that is dedicated to entertaining which also gives access to the pool in the backyard. This place comes alive at night with built in surround sounds and LED lights. There was just one issue. The kitchen. The kitchen did not fit in. It was old, outdated, out-styled and nonfunctional. They knew the kitchen had to be address eventually but they just didn’t want to redo the kitchen. They wanted to revamp the kitchen, so they asked us to come in and look at the space to see how we can design this second floor kitchen in their New Rochelle home. It was a small kitchen, strategically located where it could be the hub that the family wanted it to be. It held its own amongst everything that was in the open space like the big screen TV, fireplace and pool table. That is exactly what we did in the design and here is how we did it. First, we got rid of the kitchen table and by doing so we created a peninsular. This eventually sets up the space for a couple of really cool pendant lights, some unique counter chairs and a wine cooler that was purchased before but never really had a home. We then turned our attention to the range and hood. This was not the main kitchen, so wall storage wasn’t the main goal here. We wanted to create a more open feel interaction while in the kitchen, hence we designed the free standing chimney hood alone to the left of the window. We then looked at how we can make it more entertaining. We did that by adding a Wine rack on a buffet style type area. This wall was free and would have remained empty had we not find a way to add some more glitz. Finally came the counter-top. Every detail was crucial because the view of the kitchen can be seen from when you enter the front door even if it was on the second floor walk out. The use of the space called for a waterfall edge counter-top and more importantly, the stone selection to further accentuate the effect. It was crucial that there was movement in the stone which connects to the 45 degree waterfall edge so it would be very dramatic. Nothing was overlooked in this space. It had to be done this way if it was going to have a fighting chance to take command of its territory. Have a look at some before and after photos on the left and see a brief video transformation of this lovely small kitchen. See more photos and vidoe of this transformation on our website @ http://www.rajkitchenandbath.com/portfolio-items/kitchen-remodel-new-rochelle-ny-10801/

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company