These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull

Example of a transitional 3/4 white floor alcove shower design in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door and white countertops

This backyard landscape design is inspired by our Blu Grande Smooth patio slab. Perfect paving slab for modern poolsides and backyard design, Blu Grande Smooth is a large concrete patio stone available in multiple colors. It's smooth texture is sleek to the eye but rougher to the touch which avoids it from getting slippery when wet. The large rectangular shape works as an easy add-on into Blu 60 regular modular patterns but can also work as a stand-alone to create a very linear look. Check out the HD2 Blu Grande Smooth which is all about seamless looks with a tighter/poreless texture and anti-aging technology. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/blu-grande-smooth/

Jack Michaud Photography
Inspiration for a transitional exterior home remodel in Portland Maine

playroom / guest room combo with daybed photo credit: Jenn Jacobson
Trendy boy carpeted playroom photo in San Francisco with blue walls

Farmhouse carpeted u-shaped wood railing staircase photo in Minneapolis with carpeted risers

Featured: Black Hex Porcelain. Design by Timber Trails DC. Photography by Stoffer Photography Interiors.
Inspiration for a cottage black floor bathroom remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls and a pedestal sink

Jake Young
Inspiration for a traditional water fountain landscape in Salt Lake City.

Minimalist light wood floor and beige floor kitchen photo in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite countertops, beige backsplash, stainless steel appliances and beige countertops

Walk-in closet - modern walk-in closet idea in Chicago

Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern drought-tolerant and partial sun side yard brick garden path in Phoenix.

Example of a large transitional formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Custom vanity with modern sconces
Example of a mid-sized urban master gray tile and subway tile gray floor bathroom design in Seattle with gray cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops, recessed-panel cabinets and white walls

We transformed the existing patio into a space that is a continuation of their kitchen and more inviting for entertaining .
Inspiration for a transitional backyard patio remodel in Raleigh

This backyard landscape design is inspired by our Blu Grande Smooth patio slab. Perfect paving slab for modern poolsides and backyard design, Blu Grande Smooth is a large concrete patio stone available in multiple colors. It's smooth texture is sleek to the eye but rougher to the touch which avoids it from getting slippery when wet. The large rectangular shape works as an easy add-on into Blu 60 regular modular patterns but can also work as a stand-alone to create a very linear look. Check out the HD2 Blu Grande Smooth which is all about seamless looks with a tighter/poreless texture and anti-aging technology. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/blu-grande-smooth/

©2014 Maxine Schnitzer Photography
Large danish galley light wood floor open concept kitchen photo in DC Metro with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, white walls, an island and marble backsplash

Elegant bathroom photo in Orange County

Transitional mosaic tile floor, multicolored floor and wallpaper powder room photo in Dallas with black cabinets, a two-piece toilet, multicolored walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity