Elegant elements from spanish Colonial Revival houses in Southern California translate well to this Coral Gables home.
Tuscan exterior home photo in Miami

Malibu Glass Box House by Klopf Architecture Following the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018, the site in Malibu offered a unique opportunity to rebuild not just a home, but a new architectural composition that highlighted the property’s potential while navigating strict fire-rebuild codes in the area. Designed by Klopf Architecture, this project embraced a set of limitations and translated them into an architectural asset. The city’s fire-rebuild process required the new structure to remain close to the original footprint, size and bulk, a constraint that ultimately clarified the architectural direction. Perched near the front of a long, narrow lot, the new home frames and overlooks a private, park-like rear expanse, an uncommon luxury especially in this part of Malibu . Without a fixed program, the design process allowed for a different kind of creative focus allowing Klopf Architecture the opportunity to explore how a modernist home could best respond to this site. The team approached the project not with a list of requirements, but with a question: How might a modernist live here? What spatial qualities would inspire calm, connection, and a sense of wonder in this setting? The process became less about problem-solving and more about architectural storytelling—letting the site, the light, and the principles of modern design guide the form and flow of the home. The response emerged in the form of a glass-box pavilion, an open, Mid-Century Modern inspired living, dining, and kitchen space that floats at the edge of the property’s natural descent. Connected to the more enclosed, private areas of the home by a glass-walled hallway, the living pavilion becomes a distinct centerpiece of the design. It opens on all four sides to the landscape with decks and patios on the flanks, an internal garden and water feature to the north, and a dramatic unguarded view of the expansive backyard and ocean horizon to the south. Because of the mandated footprint, careful planning was required to ensure every space could still engage with light, landscape, or both. Strategic voids in the form of atriums and courtyards allow daylight to filter deep into the home’s core, while offering moments of surprise and retreat. These design gestures allow natural light to filter deep into the interior, creating a sense of brightness and openness throughout the day. At the same time, they expand the perceptual boundaries between inside and out, making the home feel more expansive while anchoring its connection to the surrounding landscape. The siting of the house is what gives it its unique character. Rather than receding into the backyard like the neighboring homes, the house holds a slight prominence. From the central living pavilion, stepping down into the landscape feels more like entering a secluded park where a separate existing accessory structure, trail, and recreational areas await. The home’s modest street presence gives way to this unfolding drama of space, view, and nature. Fire-resilient materials and assemblies are integrated seamlessly throughout including triple-pane glazing, under-slab and roof insulation, and locally sourced fire-rated cladding ensure the house not only meets Calfornia’s rigorous wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards, but feels effortlessly aligned with them. While technical decisions like fire-hardening and mechanical systems presented some construction challenges, particularly around the cantilevered glass box, the team found a functional compromise that preserved the integrity of the design. Inside, a restrained palette and exposed post and beam design celebrate the ethos of mid-century modernism. A central circulation spine extends from the entry to the rear glass wall, offering a continuous visual link from street to ocean. Spaces such as the library and office, though more intimate in scale, are never cut off from nature as each opens to its own unique courtyard or garden view. Though born out of a strict regulatory framework and developed without a specific client, the rebuild design unfolded with remarkable clarity. Grounded in site logic, refined by limitations and an emphasis on timeless spatial relationships – light, proportion, and a strong connection to nature, the resulting design feels both effortless and uplifting. The home lives lightly on the land, opens generously to its surroundings, and strikes a careful balance between privacy, openness, and calm. For Klopf Architecture, it stands as a compelling case study in how site, code, and circumstantial constraints can inspire enduring, modernist architecture. With years of experience reimagining mid-century modern design for how people live today, the firm took the project’s limitations as an opportunity. The result is a home shaped by open, flowing spaces, strong indoor-outdoor connections, and a calm, clear sense of structure. It’s a good reminder that even with strict constraints, there’s still room for architecture to breathe—and for modernism to keep moving forward. Klopf Architecture project team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, and Sherry Tan Structural Engineer: ZFA Contractor: Maison D’Artiste Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2023

Modern gardens are all about bringing the inside of the house to the outdoors. Apply the same design process when you are planning the rooms inside your home and translate them into your outdoor garden. Think about breaking up the outdoor space into rooms and the specific use of them. Plan these rooms to fit your lifestyle. In modern gardens you can borrow ideas from the garden styles described above and give them your personal style with a twist of modern aesthetic. Think about how the transition from indoor to outdoor flows… It should to be seamless. Think about the rooms and your actual lifestyle. Do you like to entertain? Do you have kids, pets? Do you like to barbecue? How about planning for reading, meditating or just relaxing? Is it shade important to have?

This collaboration was with a return client, who wanted to completely restore and renovate her over 100-year-old Victorian. It was key for the homeowner maintained the original footprint of the home with full front to back views of the sound. A contemporary vision translated into slab doors in a navy high-gloss finish for the island and smoky white for the perimeter and upper cabinetry. Simple, satin nickel contemporary hardware reiterates the linear elements throughout. Interior detailing features rich walnut to complement the herringbone floors. The custom hood is hammered stainless steel to play off the plinth block island legs. The undeniable focal point is the stunning Calacatta Corchia marble selected for the countertops and full-height backsplash and walls. The lighting is a unique, suspended adjustable LED fixture. The twin side-by-side Sub-Zero Pro Fridge/Freezer columns include a glass front to highlight interior storage. The Wolf 60" range with pro handles features 2 30" full-size ovens, 6 burners, and a double griddle. The retractable doors in the wet bar cleverly close to hide the sink and bottle storage. The many windows bring lots of light into the space to make it a warm and inviting place to entertain friends and family.

If “desert retro” could be translated as a design style, this MCM-inspired kitchen would be it. Our goal for these clients — a young couple who recently relocated to the Pittsburgh-area from Phoenix, AZ — was to bring a touch of the sunny Sonoran into their new home. This subdued, sun-bleached palette feels both vibrant and earthy. A dramatic, shifting landscape that comes alive with the day’s changing light. Large format terrazzo tiles ground the space with muted, dusty green, ochre and amber. A nod to the tough skins of cacti, agave, and creosote bushes. A mixed finish glass tile backsplash adds pale yellow accents found in parched sand dunes. Three different cabinet finishes form our rocky canyons. Deep brown and clay purple hues like ancient cliff faces stained by manganese and iron oxide. Washed out skies reflecting warm white light. Golden brass details throughout gleam like the desert sun. By removing a wall in between the kitchen and dining room, we were able to add a working peninsula and pull the range out of the corner. This change opened up the space, solving layout and storage puzzles for our clients — without making the kitchen feel cold or contemporary. Smooth, slab-style cabinet faces paired with streamlined appliances and fixtures keep things low maintenance.

Check out this eye-catching kitchen remodel that we finished. Our designer’s keen sense of style and functionality, paired with the client’s love of color and specific working needs, translate beautifully in this whimsical, yet highly functional gem. Photo Credit: Alicia Villarreal

We had the privilege of staging this stunning Paradise Valley estate, designed for the ultimate indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Our approach focused on "quiet luxury"—using high-end materials and sophisticated silhouettes to match the quality of the build. From the spa-inspired primary suite to the entertainer's dream living room, every piece was chosen to enhance the home's natural light and architectural lines. A perfect example of how staging translates "house" into "home."

From ancient sagas to today’s motivational speakers, we love our storytellers. With colorful accounts they sum up our very nature and remind us how we’re all connected. Passed from grandmothers, traders and nomads, the tales traveled the world, gaining artistry, until we’ve translated them into a rich and modern palette that spans space and time. INFLUENCERS: Desert oases Global style Luxury safaris Spice markets PALETTE: Porcelain SW 0053 Orchid SW 0071 Black Bean SW 6006 Dhurrie Beige SW 7524 Poised Taupe SW 6039 Rustic Red SW 7593 Chelsea Mauve SW 0002 Wall & Painted Brick: Dhurrie Beige SW 7524 Ceiling between joists: Rustic Red SW 7593 Windows & Casings: Black Bean SW 6006

Corian counter top and integral sink chosen because it is easy on the eyes reducing glare normally associated with hard surfaces = one "aging in place" design technique

We had the privilege of staging this stunning Paradise Valley estate, designed for the ultimate indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Our approach focused on "quiet luxury"—using high-end materials and sophisticated silhouettes to match the quality of the build. From the spa-inspired primary suite to the entertainer's dream living room, every piece was chosen to enhance the home's natural light and architectural lines. A perfect example of how staging translates "house" into "home."

Check out this eye-catching kitchen remodel that we finished. Our designer’s keen sense of style and functionality, paired with the client’s love of color and specific working needs, translate beautifully in this whimsical, yet highly functional gem. Photo Credit: Alicia Villarreal

Like many West Coast cities, Seattle is facing a severe housing shortage at a time when labor and material costs have skyrocketed. Combined with a lack of available dirt, housing vacancy rates stubbornly hover under 5%. A response to this housing perfect storm has been the evolution of a new housing prototype called a detached Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (DADU). This is commonly referred to as a Mother-in-Law (MIL) unit. As the name implies, this is a small, self-contained housing type that allows for additional housing to be built on an existing lot, creating greater density within our urban fabric. Generally thought of as either starter housing or aging-in-place concepts, these are extremely efficient floor plans that squeeze all the basic living functions into a compact space while envisioning the urban fabric as one's living room. In the case of our little DADU, our footprint is 20' x 20' and provides a ground level garage/music studio and an upper level apartment. The misconception of these structure - thanks in large part to the misinformation campaign of the Not-So-Big-House movement - is the smaller translates into cheaper. Since these are essentially small houses, the truth is these are very expensive structures on a cost/sf basis. We conceptualized this structure as inexpensively as we could think of and it still ended up costing more than $400,000 or around $500/sf.

This 1,000ft² recording and production studio, built in 2021 for producer couple Latifah Alattas and Lucas Morton, was designed as a fully custom creative environment that supports writing, mixing, and collaboration at the highest level. Both Latifah and Lucas are multi-instrumentalists, engineers, and mixers, and the studio reflects the full range of their workflows—visually inspiring, technically precise, and intuitive in every room. The facility was built from the ground up with a strong emphasis on architectural acoustics and plug-and-play connectivity. The layout includes two Control Rooms, multiple isolation booths, and shared common spaces, all tied together with seamless audio integration. No matter where you are in the studio, routing, monitoring, and communication remain effortless and consistent. Behind the aesthetic, the acoustic design is exceptionally robust. Six independent floating-floor systems support the suites, ensuring each room operates with minimal sound transmission. Tailored sound-reducing wall assemblies, full-lite doors, engineered window systems, and intentional treatment plans deliver clarity, isolation, and precision for tracking and mixing. Each space is mechanically decoupled, allowing multiple rooms to run simultaneously without compromise. For monitoring, both Latifah and Lucas chose Genelec “The Ones” series monitors with GLM calibration to ensure accurate translation and consistency across the entire facility. Natural light and a warm, welcoming aesthetic anchor the visual identity of the studio, reflecting the creative energy and personality of its owners. The result is a highly functional, beautifully crafted space where ideas can move freely and production can happen without limitations.

This 2022 project was a fully custom mix and writing suite designed for multi-Grammy and Dove Award–winning producer and songwriter Kyle Lee. The goal was to create an environment that mirrors his creative workflow—quiet, natural, highly accurate, and intentionally crafted for long sessions of collaboration and focused work. The layout is compact but feels open thanks to high ceilings, soft daylight from the surrounding windows, and a palette of warm textures and natural materials. The room maintains a clean, grounded aesthetic without sacrificing technical performance, balancing style and acoustical precision in a way that supports both creativity and accuracy. Acoustic isolation was a core priority. The suite is fully separated from the rest of the home using sound-reducing wall assemblies, custom bass management including a full soft-ceiling trap and a false rear wall trap, and full-lite doors designed for controlled leakage. The result is a private, self-contained environment that integrates seamlessly with the home’s flow yet transforms into a focused creative space the moment the doors close. Monitoring was built around Kyle’s preferred ATC SCM45A loudspeakers, paired with Dynaudio subwoofers and calibrated specifically to the room’s frequency response. Every treatment, material, and speaker position was selected to ensure what Kyle hears while mixing precisely translates to the final master. The finished suite delivers an effortless feel with professional-grade performance—an inspiring, accurate, and dependable space built to support Kyle’s work at the highest level.

Dare to achieve the home of your dreams! U.S. Builders maximizes available space to increase comfort (as well as property value). Well planned, detail oriented custom designs translate to real enjoyment. Contact us to help you bring your ideas about the perfect space to life.

This aesthetically pleasing master bathroom is the perfect place for our clients to start and end each day. Fully customized shower fixtures and a deep soaking tub will provide the perfect solutions to destress and unwind. Our client's love for plants translates beautifully into this space with a sage green double vanity that brings life and serenity into their master bath retreat. Opting to utilize softer patterned tile throughout the space, makes it more visually expansive while gold accessories, natural wood elements, and strategically placed rugs throughout the room, make it warm and inviting. Committing to a color scheme in a space can be overwhelming at times when considering the number of options that are available. This master bath is a perfect example of how to incorporate color into a room tastefully, while still having a cohesive design. Items used in this space include: Waypoint Living Spaces Cabinetry in Sage Green Calacatta Italia Manufactured Quartz Vanity Tops Elegant Stone Onice Bianco Tile Natural Marble Herringbone Tile Delta Cassidy Collection Fixtures Want to see more samples of our work or before and after photographs of this project? Visit the Stoneunlimited Kitchen and Bath website: www.stoneunlimited.net Stoneunlimited Kitchen and Bath is a full scope, full service, turnkey business. We do it all so that you don’t have to. You get to do the fun part of approving the design, picking your materials and making selections with our guidance and we take care of everything else. We provide you with 3D and 4D conceptual designs so that you can see your project come to life. Materials such as tile, fixtures, sinks, shower enclosures, flooring, cabinetry and countertops are ordered through us, inspected by us and installed by us. We are also a fabricator, so we fabricate all the countertops. We assign and manage the schedule and the workers that will be in your home taking care of the installation. We provide painting, electrical, plumbing as well as cabinetry services for your project from start to finish. So, when I say we do it, we truly do it all!

Opened in 2025, this landmark hotel is located on the Nekajui Papagayo Peninsula in Costa Rica. The architecture and interiors called for a thoughtful response to the surrounding landscape. We were commissioned to design and build custom wooden bathtubs for both the spa and the hotel’s luxurious tented accommodations—distinct designs, unified by material, craft and setting. Working closely with the project team, we translated their concepts into pieces that align seamlessly with the spirit of this extraordinary place.

Thinking of remodeling your home? Before you get started, check out these inspiring ideas and smart tips for home renovations and makeovers from the home experts at Goldenline Remodeling. Whether you’re looking to increase the property value of your home ahead of a sale or closing on a house you can’t wait to make your own, chances are there’s a renovation or remodeling project in your future. Which means you’ll have a lot of things to consider, not least among them how to find a contractor, how to mitigate costs, and, no less important, how to translate your Pinterest ideas into reality. AD is here to help. We tapped some of our most trusted renovation sources and combed our archives to bring you this compendium of power home remodeling ideas for every room, including tried-and-true advice from the experts, checklists to help you get started, and stunning before-and-after kitchen, bath, and living room transformations for inspiration. So whether you’re revamping a space to make it more functional or simply more beautiful, this handy guide is your one-stop shop for all things home renovation.

Designed by Nancy Knickerbocker of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Southern Pines, NC in collaboration with Dolder Custom Design and Carpenter Home Works, this transitional style inspired bathroom remodeling project features Ultracraft Cabinetry Chesapeake door style in a Coastal Grey finish, complimented by the Jeffrey Alexander Milan cabinet pull in Satin Nickel. The vanity top, one shower wall, threshold toppers and niches all feature Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold. The other shower walls feature Emser Reserva Alto 12x24 tile and the shower floor the Daltile Vintage Hex Wisdom White. The bathroom also features Kohler fixtures, including accessories from the Devonshire collection and the Verdera medicine cabinets. Said the client, “Our designer Nancy expertly guided us through the design, selection and construction. She listened to our needs and wants and translated them into a new, beautiful and functional master bathroom.” Added Nancy, “The clients were specific in their needs and we communicated well to achieve their goal. They requested a simple, calming bathroom with accessible storage. The shower did retain the same footprint, but we removed the soffit above, widened the door and added a knee wall with a glass panel.” Photos courtesy of ShowSpaces Photography.