Eating my cereal while looking out at the bay is quite rewarding to me,” says the Owner, who desired a kitchen not only beautiful, but highly functional. The island seats six. The counter around the bar sink is black walnut. (Benjamin Benschneider / The Seattle Times)

The three-level Mediterranean revival home started as a 1930s summer cottage that expanded downward and upward over time. We used a clean, crisp white wall plaster with bronze hardware throughout the interiors to give the house continuity. A neutral color palette and minimalist furnishings create a sense of calm restraint. Subtle and nuanced textures and variations in tints add visual interest. The stair risers from the living room to the primary suite are hand-painted terra cotta tile in gray and off-white. We used the same tile resource in the kitchen for the island's toe kick.

Our clients came to us wanting to maximize the space they had. They were not planning on moving anytime soon, as they loved their neighborhood. They wanted to renovate the front of their house, which included the front atrium, living room, kitchen, and powder bath. They hated their kitchen because it was completely closed off, had low ceilings, was dark and outdated, not to mention the floors were different in each of these rooms! The pantry was in the breakfast area and the kitchen table became a junk catcher, being the first thing you see when coming in from the garage/laundry room. In their living room, they wanted the spaces on either side of the fireplace to be symmetrical, whether that be bookshelves, a wet bar or closed off. Both parents are working professionals with no time and/or desire to design, create and figure this out on their own. They needed help figuring out how to reconfigure their current space in order to maximize what they already had, as they could not see an obvious solution. They could not envision how it would look so the fact that our designers were able to show them their new kitchen in 3D was pertinent. We removed the pass-through windows that surrounded the atrium and front dining room, as well as the entire kitchen wall, completely opening up those two rooms. We removed a hall that used to lead between the kitchen and the living room since it was a complete waste of space! The ceilings were raised to 10’ in the kitchen and we were able to leave the skylight, letting in that natural light they wanted. We were able to give them a much larger pantry with tons of shelving and increase the size of their laundry room by utilizing the space of their old breakfast nook. We relocated the door to the garage into their new elongated laundry room, built a wet bar across from their new larger pantry (with a pocket door) and the flow and functionality of these new spaces is just perfect! All new Waypoint cabinets were installed one two main kitchen surrounding walls painted Linen. Calacatta Bianco Polished Porcelain Tile 4x12 was used for the backsplash. A large eat-at island was installed, painted Stone, where the family can now gather for homework, meals, and mingling. The soft champagne bronze hardware and accent lighting really give this white and gray kitchen a soft classic look. In the living room, we removed the built-in bookshelves to the left of the fireplace and closed off the wet-bar on the other side, giving them more space in their master suite. White Oak wood flooring, stained Putney, was installed throughout the entire new space, giving it the continuity they were looking for. In the guest bathroom, Carrara white herringbone marble mosaic 12x12 tile was used on the shower floor and niche, while basic marble Bianco polished 12x24 porcelain tile was used on the walls. Luxart polished chrome traditional hardware gives this timeless bathroom the perfect shine. Our clients are so happy with the new functionality and look of their space. It has definitely changed their lives in a way they could have never imagined!

This bedroom has swing-arm sconces flanking a John Robshaw custom upholstered headboard. Double-layered window treatments consist of an embroidered sheer roller shade with lined roman blinds with velvet trim to block out the city lights when it’s time to sleep. Photograph: Eric Piasecki

Photography by: Bob Jansons H&H Productions
Home office - contemporary built-in desk home office idea in San Francisco with beige walls

A new GAF Roofing System is prominently featured on this Rochester, MA home! A tree damaged the home during a wind storm. We replaced structural roof damage and completely stripped off the original roof before installing a GAF Timberline HDZ Roofing System in the color, Fox Hollow Gray. GAF Timberline Shingles are North Americas’ #1 selling shingle thanks to their durability, high-quality performance, and affordable price point. Homeowners can have peace of mind with a 130 mph wind rating and DuraGrip adhesive which keep shingles in place. A Cobra Ridge Vent was also installed to for proper ventilation that prevents excess moisture, mold, and ice dams. With a wide variety of color blends, homeowners are sure to find the perfect shingle for their home! Thanks to our GAF MasterElite Contractor status, our customers can enjoy a factory registered, 50 year, non-prorated warranty and the peace of mind that comes with hiring a multi-time GAF Consumer Protection Excellence Award Winner!

For over 50 years, Troy Lighting has transcended time and redefined handcrafted workmanship with the creation of strikingly eclectic, sophisticated casual lighting fixtures distinguished by their unique human sensibility and characterized by their design and functionality. Features: Suitable for indoor locations only UL certified in compliance with nationally recognized product safety standards Specifications: Included shade measures as 7.87"" High x 7.25"" Diameter Included Canopy measures as 6"" Diameter x 0.75"" Thick 1-6in, 2-12in, 1-18in stem included Requires 6 x 60-Watt E26 Medium Base Incandescent Bulb (not included)

The word "basement" can conjur thoughts of dark, damp, unfriendly spaces. We were tasked with transforming one of those basements into a space kids couldn't wait to spend time. A trundle daybed anchors a cozy reading nook built for two, with enough bookshelves to keep any bookworm entertained. Dad's childhood kitchen invites culinary creativity, and a playful craft table does double duty as a snack station when friends come to play. The space caters to adults, as well, with a comfortable sectional to lounge on while the kids play, and plenty of storage in the "mud room" and wall of built-in cabinetry. Throw open the custom barn doors and the treadmill is perfectly positioned to catch your favorite show on the flat screen TV. It's a comfortable, casual family space where kids can be kids and the adults can play along. Photography by Cody Wheeler

A recent project in Sothern Fairfield County Connecticut. Our Mission: To take a unique Mid-Century Design home and a replace the lovely existing Traditional Kitchen, and give it a Culinary Workspace that was at once complimentary to its Design Roots, while working with today’s lifestyle choices. Challenges: Giving the client the modern airy style that they wished, while still working with the somewhat low front wall and the deep ceiling beams of this Deck House. At the same time listening to the client’s desire to make the work zones as hidden as possible from the surrounding rooms, keeping visual clutter to a minimum. Success: Thru use of inventive paneling, Hidden pullouts and careful selection of door sizes to maintain uniformity of panel widths. The effect is a delicate balance between Mid-Century and Craftsman Designs. Our culinary wizard can perform many tasks at once, all without having to worry that her trade secrets will be reveled by a build up of visible clutter. The home finally has a workspace in harmony with its design.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… A returning client wished to create an office environment that would refuel his childhood and current passion: Star Wars. Creating exhibit-style surroundings to incorporate iconic elements from the epic franchise was key to the success for this home office. A life-sized statue of Harrison Ford’s character Han Solo, a longstanding piece of the homeowner’s collection, is now featured in a custom glass display case is the room’s focal point. The glowing backlit pattern behind the statue is a reference to the floor design shown in the scene featuring Han being frozen in carbonite. The command center is surrounded by iconic patterns custom-designed in backlit laser-cut metal panels. The exquisite millwork around the room was refinished, and porcelain floor slabs were cut in a pattern to resemble the chess table found on the legendary spaceship Millennium Falcon. A metal-clad fireplace with a hidden television mounting system, an iridescent ceiling treatment, wall coverings designed to add depth, a custom-designed desk made by a local artist, and an Italian rocker chair that appears to be from a galaxy, far, far, away... are all design elements that complete this once-in-a-galaxy home office that would make any Jedi proud. Photo Credit: David Duncan Livingston

Meaning “line” in Swahili, the Mstari Safari Task Lounge itself is accented with clean wooden lines, as well as dramatic contrasts of hammered gold and reflective obsidian desk-drawers. A custom-made industrial, mid-century desk—the room’s focal point—is perfect for centering focus while going over the day’s workload. Behind, a tiger painting ties the African motif together. Contrasting pendant lights illuminate the workspace, permeating the sharp, angular design with more organic forms. Outside the task lounge, a custom barn door conceals the client’s entry coat closet. A patchwork of Mexican retablos—turn of the century religious relics—celebrate the client’s eclectic style and love of antique cultural art, while a large wrought-iron turned handle and barn door track unify the composition. A home as tactfully curated as the Mstari deserved a proper entryway. We knew that right as guests entered the home, they needed to be wowed. So rather than opting for a traditional drywall header, we engineered an undulating I-beam that spanned the opening. The I-beam’s spine incorporated steel ribbing, leaving a striking impression of a Gaudiesque spine.

The family purchased the 1950s ranch on Mullet Lake because their daughter dreamed of being married on its shores. The home would be used for the wedding venue and then as a wedding gift to the young couple. We were originally hired in August 2014 to help with a simple renovation of the home that was to be completed well in advance of the August 2015 wedding date. However, thorough investigation revealed significant issues with the original foundation, floor framing and other critical elements of the home’s structure that made that impossible. Based on this information, the family decided to tear down and build again. So now we were tasked with designing a new home that would embody their daughter’s vision of a storybook home – a vision inspired by another one of our projects that she had toured. To capture this aesthetic, traditional cottage materials such as stone and cedar shakes are accentuated by more materials such as reclaimed barn wood siding and corrugated CORTEN steel accent roofs. Inside, interior finishes include hand-hewn timber accents that frame openings and highlight features like the entrance reading nook. Natural materials shine against white walls and simply furnished rooms. While the house has nods to vintage style throughout, the open-plan kitchen and living area allows for both contemporary living and entertaining. We were able to capture their daughter’s vision and the home was completed on time for her big day. - Jacqueline Southby Photography

Located in a neighborhood characterized by traditional bungalow style single-family residences, Orange Grove is a new landmark for the City of West Hollywood. The building is sensitively designed and compatible with the neighborhood, but differs in material palette and scale from its neighbors. Referencing architectural conventions of modernism rather than the pitched roof forms of traditional domesticity, the project presents a characteristic that is consistent with the eclectic and often unconventional demographic of West Hollywood. Distinct from neighboring structures, the building creates a strong relationship to the street by virtue of its large amount of highly usable balcony area in the front façade. While there are dramatic and larger scale elements that define the building, it is also broken down into comprehensible human scale parts, and is itself broken down into two different buildings. Orange Grove displays a similar kind of iconoclasm as the Schindler House, an icon of California modernism, located a short distance away. Like the Schindler House, the conventional architectural elements of windows and porches become part of an abstract sculptural ensemble. At the Schindler House, windows are found in the gaps between structural concrete wall panels. At Orange Grove, windows are inserted in gaps between different sections of the building. The design of Orange Grove is generated by a subtle balance of tensions. Building volumes and the placement of windows, doors and balconies are not static but rather constitute an active three-dimensional composition in motion. Each piece of the building is a strong and clearly defined shape, such as the corrugated metal surround that encloses the second story balcony in the east and north facades. Another example of this clear delineation is the use of two square profile balcony surrounds in the front façade that set up a dialogue between them—one is small, the other large, one is open at the front, the other is veiled with stainless steel slats. At the same time each balcony is balanced and related to other elements in the building, the smaller one to the driveway gate below and the other to the roll-up door and first floor balcony. Each building element is intended to read as an abstract form in itself—such as a window becoming a slit or windows becoming a framed box, while also becoming part of a larger whole. Although this building may not mirror the status quo it answers to the desires of consumers in a burgeoning niche market who want large, simple interior volumes of space, and a paradigm based on space, light and industrial materials of the loft rather than the bungalow.

The owners of this home came to us with a plan to build a new high-performance home that physically and aesthetically fit on an infill lot in an old well-established neighborhood in Bellingham. The Craftsman exterior detailing, Scandinavian exterior color palette, and timber details help it blend into the older neighborhood. At the same time the clean modern interior allowed their artistic details and displayed artwork take center stage. We started working with the owners and the design team in the later stages of design, sharing our expertise with high-performance building strategies, custom timber details, and construction cost planning. Our team then seamlessly rolled into the construction phase of the project, working with the owners and Michelle, the interior designer until the home was complete. The owners can hardly believe the way it all came together to create a bright, comfortable, and friendly space that highlights their applied details and favorite pieces of art. Photography by Radley Muller Photography​ Design by Deborah Todd Building Design Services Interior Design by Spiral Studios​

The existing porch was converted into a new office with exposed brick and recessed built in bookshelves. The open front desk with book shelves complement the shelves in the wall behind. Photo by Lisa Shires.

Example of a classic kitchen design in Toronto with medium tone wood cabinets

Home office, den and library tout a family wall that the designer created taking old, small vintage photos and converting them into sepia with new framing. Very comfortable lounge chairs, ottoman and snack tables are flanked off the focal point collage. A cozy place is established for movie time fun! Wall mounted customized light fixture can swing to either chair for reading, study and research tasks.

My first view entering this historic home listed on the national register was of this handsome staircase. As lively and textural as Nancy wanted to go in the fashioning of her furnishings, it was paramount to restore the architecture precisely as it was constructed in 1910. Just the second owner in this charming home, Nancy and Mark rolled up their sleeves in the early 80's to pioneer the restoration movement newly prominent at the time. The ceiling was destroyed by leaking pipes on the second floor. Weeping as she went, Nancy took detailed images of the original stencil work and ceiling finishes vowing that someday she'd have enough saved up to hire someone to bring it all back. One of my favorite tasks to date was researching and recreating the stencil design and 7-layered pattern layout for our stenciling specialist, LeBron Zolbe. Nancy stepped in the room when it was complete and cried all over again. "It's like it's always been there!" Elated client. My job is complete. Photography by Steve Voelker

Elis Office Recliner Mid back Task Chair with rolling wheel base is a luxurious leather Office Reclining Chair. Elis Office Chair with Leather Upholstery is a Modern Leather Office Recliner and mid-back Task Chair all in one by Lafer Recliners of Brazil. Reclines back to 170 degrees with 360 degree rolling caster swivel base.