Expansive windows and French doors frame the living area’s indoor/outdoor fireplace, and encourages the use of the formerly isolated back yard. Interior Designer: Amanda Teal Photographer: John Merkl

This very busy family of five needed a convenient place to drop coats, shoes and bookbags near the active side entrance of their home. Creating a mudroom space was an essential part of a larger renovation project we were hired to design which included a kitchen, family room, butler’s pantry, home office, laundry room, and powder room. These additional spaces, including the new mudroom, did not exist previously and were created from the home’s existing square footage. The location of the mudroom provides convenient access from the entry door and creates a roomy hallway that allows an easy transition between the family room and laundry room. This space also is used to access the back staircase leading to the second floor addition which includes a bedroom, full bath, and a second office. The color pallet features peaceful shades of blue-greys and neutrals accented with textural storage baskets. On one side of the hallway floor-to-ceiling cabinetry provides an abundance of vital closed storage, while the other side features a traditional mudroom design with coat hooks, open cubbies, shoe storage and a long bench. The cubbies above and below the bench were specifically designed to accommodate baskets to make storage accessible and tidy. The stained wood bench seat adds warmth and contrast to the blue-grey paint. The desk area at the end closest to the door provides a charging station for mobile devices and serves as a handy landing spot for mail and keys. The open area under the desktop is perfect for the dog bowls. Photo: Peter Krupenye

Transitional exterior home idea in Sacramento

The primary bedroom opens onto the outdoor living area. The retractable screens on the outdoor space allow the bedroom doors to remain open when the weather is cool. Soft linen bedding, a leather bench cushion and wooden fan add beautiful layers to the space. The back wall is papered in a dark blue grass cloth and highlighted with a wooden beam in the corner. Sconce lights free up space on the bedside table and frame the bed.

The master bedroom of this South Carolina mountain home is swathed in natural light, beckoning its owners to rest and relax. Rich taupe moldings add depth, contrasting with the ivory plaster walls and ceiling. Punctuating the ceiling are exposed beams that have been stained to coordinate with the walnut-stained hardwoods that blanket the floors. An iron bed stands on an Oushak rug in shades of vanilla and biscuit. Almond panels with eyelet detailing hang from the bed’s canopy and coordinate with the skirt. Bedding in white, cream and taupe is layered to create sumptuous texture. Flanking the bed are ebony chests with serpentine fronts. At its foot, a traditional bench with black Queen Anne legs is covered in a damask chenille. Antique brass lamps crowned with ecru shades have a filigree texture, adding to the room's feminine air. A convex mirror hangs above the bed, reflecting the light washing in through the ample windows and doors. Suspended from bronze iron rods are sheer draperies embroidered with a floral pattern, allowing sunshine to filter through windows painted Sherwin Williams Black Fox. Woven blinds coordinate with the stain of the beams and control light and privacy. A lounge chair dressed in crisp off-white and trimmed with bronze nails is paired with a nickel side table

Photography by Eric Roth
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal light wood floor enclosed dining room remodel in Boston with blue walls and no fireplace

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Example of an eclectic dining room design in San Francisco

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

Dietrich Floeter Photography
Example of a trendy gray tile drop-in bathtub design with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and gray walls

Grey tiles and custom cabinets allow comfort and luxury. Photo: Marion Abada Styling BelmayCo
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master concrete floor bathroom remodel in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, a vessel sink and quartz countertops

Our clients were relocating from the upper peninsula to the lower peninsula and wanted to design a retirement home on their Lake Michigan property. The topography of their lot allowed for a walk out basement which is practically unheard of with how close they are to the water. Their view is fantastic, and the goal was of course to take advantage of the view from all three levels. The positioning of the windows on the main and upper levels is such that you feel as if you are on a boat, water as far as the eye can see. They were striving for a Hamptons / Coastal, casual, architectural style. The finished product is just over 6,200 square feet and includes 2 master suites, 2 guest bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, sunroom, home bar, home gym, dedicated seasonal gear / equipment storage, table tennis game room, sauna, and bonus room above the attached garage. All the exterior finishes are low maintenance, vinyl, and composite materials to withstand the blowing sands from the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Allow our living room space to flow seamlessly into the outside balcon with sliding Nana Doors. Seen in Naples Reserve, a Naples community.
Example of a mid-sized transitional formal and open concept ceramic tile living room design in Miami with white walls and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a large minimalist open concept carpeted living room design in Salt Lake City with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Elegant white tile brown floor claw-foot bathtub photo in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

Deck - transitional deck idea in Los Angeles with no cover

Example of a classic bedroom design in Sacramento

Transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Klopf Architecture, Outer Space Landscape Architects, Sezen & Moon Structural Engineer and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Everyone loved the classic, original bones of this house, but it was in need of a major facelift both inside and out. The owners also wanted to remove the barriers between the kitchen and great room, and increase the size of the master bathroom as well as make other layout changes. No addition to the house was contemplated. The owners worked with Klopf Architecture in part because of Klopf’s extensive mid-century modern / Eichler design portfolio, and in part because one of their neighbors who had worked with Klopf on their Eichler home remodel referred them. The Klopf team knew how to update the worn finishes to make a more sophisticated, higher quality home that both looks better and functions better. In conjunction with the atrium and the landscaped rear yard / patio, the glassy living room feels open on both sides and allows an indoor / outdoor flow throughout. The new, natural wood exterior siding runs through the house from inside to outside to inside again, updating one of the classic design features of the Eichler homes. Picking up on the wood siding, walnut vanities and cabinets offset the white walls. Gray porcelain tiles evoke the concrete slab floors and flow from interior to exterior to make the spaces appear to flow together. Similarly the ceiling decking has the same white-washed finish from inside to out. The continuity of materials and space enhances the sense of flow. The large kitchen, perfect for entertaining, has a wall of built-ins and an oversized island. There’s plenty of storage and space for the whole group to prep and cook together. One unique approach to the master bedroom is the bed wall. The head of the bed is tucked within a line of built-in wardrobes with a high window above. Replacing the master closet with this wall of wardrobes allowed for both a larger bathroom and a larger bedroom. This 1,953 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom Double Gable Eichler remodeled single-family house is located in Mountain View in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane, and Yegvenia Torres-Zavala Landscape Architect: Outer Space Landscape Architects Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Contractor: Flegels Construction Landscape Contractor: Roco's Gardening & Arroyo Vista Landscaping, Inc. Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: Mountain View, CA Year completed: 2015