Towards Material - Photos & Ideas

Carmel Valley Retreat is a hilltop residence in Carmel Valley, California, designed to feel deeply embedded in its landscape. The home’s orientation was shaped by sun patterns, prevailing winds, existing vegetation, and carefully framed views toward the Pacific, with detailed site analysis guiding its placement on the land. Shared living spaces are organized separately from more private guest and primary suites, creating a gradual progression from communal to secluded areas. A restrained palette of board-formed concrete, natural stone, and vertical wood slats gives the home a timeless, tactile quality, while planted roofs filled with native grasses restore the hill’s natural contours and reinforce the connection between architecture and landscape. A tight entry gives way to a fully detailed threshold, with blackened steel, bronze inlay, and a custom stone slab. The mailbox panel introduces the material rigor carried through the rest of the home.

Spencer House

Granit Architects + Interiors

We are delighted to have completed the radical transformation of a tired detached property in South Croydon. When they appointed Granit, our clients were living in the property which had previously been divided into a number of flats. The historic sub-division had resulted in an extremely poor use of space with redundant staircases, kitchens and bathrooms throughout. Our clients sought to reconfigure the property back into a single dwelling for his growing family. Our client had an eye for design and was keen to balance contemporary design whilst maintaining as much of the character of the original house. Maximising natural light, space and establishing a visual and physical connection were also key drivers for the design. Owing to the size of the property, it became apparent that reconfiguration rather than extension provided the solution to meet the brief. A metal clad ‘intervention’ was introduced to the rear facade. This created a strong horizontal element creating a visual balance with the vertical nature of the three storey gable. The metal cladding specified echoed the colour of the red brick string courses tying old with new. Slender frame sliding doors provide access and views of the large garden. The central circulation space was transformed by the introduction of a double height glazed slot wrapping up the rear facade and onto the roof. This allows daylight to permeate into the heart of the otherwise dark deep floor plan. The staircase was reconfigured into a series of landings looking down over the main void space below and out towards the tree canopies at the rear of the garden. The introduction of double pocket doors throughout the ground floor creates a series of interconnected spaces and the whitewashed Larch flooring flows seamlessly from room to room. A bold palette of colours and materials lends character and texture throughout the property. The end result is a spacious yet cosy environment for the family to inhabit for years to come.

White Ceramic Bathroom Wall Mount Sink 17" Oval Basin with Faucet Hole Overflow

Renovators Supply Manufacturing

MATERIAL - Tiny Juniper wall mount sink is built using heavy-duty Grade A Vitreous China ceramic material coated with stain and scratch resistant glossy porcelain to give a sleek glazed look to your home, making it glide right in with your style. DIMENSIONS - Measures 17-1/8 In. Wide x 5-3/4 In. High x 10-1/2 In. Proj. Compact space-saving sink is perfect for small bathrooms. Unique oval pattern is an attractive charm to have - Pretty and Practical Porcelain Sinks! LAVATORY SINK SPECS- Floating wall mount sink includes overflow to avoid water damage and a pre-drilled faucet single hole towards the left. The package does not include faucet, drain and P-Trap, these are sold separately. JUNIPER WALL HUNG SINKS - Skillfully designed semicircular floating vessel sink is sure to add style and beauty to your place without occupying much space - Perfect for your small bathroom, half bathroom or for kids washroom. LAG BOLT SLIP ON INSTALLATION - It includes a Lag Bolt Slip-On installation design. You can easily install within minutes and mount the sink on two bolts without needing any bracket.

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French Country

Westfall Design Studio

Backyard View Looking through the Ornamental Grasses toward the formal lawn with Lemon Trees in Terra Cotta Pots

White Ridge 17 3/4" Small Wall Mounted Bathroom Sink with Faucet Drain Overflow

Renovators Supply Manufacturing

Mountain Pond 20 1/2" Corner Wall Mounted Bathroom Sink White with Overflow

Renovators Supply Manufacturing

Venice - Beach Modern

Studio Hus

Mariko Reed
Inspiration for a transitional bedroom remodel in Los Angeles

Sponsored

Columbus, OH

Everingham Design

Columbus' Home Design Experts Specializing in Custom Cabinets

Glass Wall Mount Bathroom Vessel Sink Round Corner with Chrome Faucet Towel Bar

Renovators Supply Manufacturing

Stone Barn Farm

User

This quintessential Sonoma farmhouse is in a vineyard on a storied 4.5-acre property, with a stone barn that dates back to 1896. The site is less than a mile from the historic central plaza and remains a small working farm with orchards and an olive grove. The new residence is a modern reinterpretation of the farmhouse vernacular, open to its surroundings from all sides. Care was taken to site the house to capture both morning and afternoon light throughout the year and minimize disturbance to the established vineyard. In each room of this single-story home, French doors replace windows, which create breezeways through the house. An extensive wrap-around porch anchors the house to the land and frames views in all directions. Organic material choices further reinforce the connection between the home and its surroundings. A mix of wood clapboard and shingle, seamed metal roofing, and stone wall accents ensure the new structure harmonizes with the late 18th-century structures. Collaborators: General Contractor: Landers Curry Inc. Landscape Design: The Land Collaborative

Stanford Mid-Century Modern Remodel Addition

Klopf Architecture

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

Water-shed Revival

BARRETT STUDIO architects

After their Niwot, Colorado, home was inundated with floodwater and mud in the historic 2013 flood, the owners brought their “glass is half full” zest for life to the process of restarting their lives in a modest budget-conscious home. It wouldn’t have been possible without the goodwill of neighbors, friends, strangers, donated services, and their own grit and full engagement in the building process. Water-shed Revival is a 2000 square foot home designed for social engagement, inside-outside living, the joy of cooking, and soaking in the sun and mountain views. The lofty space under the shed roof speaks of farm structures, but with a twist of the modern vis-à-vis clerestory windows and glass walls. Concrete floors act as a passive solar heat sink for a constant sense of thermal comfort, not to mention a relief for muddy pet paw cleanups. Cost-effective structure and material choices, such as corrugated metal and HardiePanel siding, point this home and this couple toward a renewed future.