This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

High ceilings with beams and decorative trusses.
Example of an arts and crafts family room design in Dallas

This rain garden was designed to make efficient use of what mother nature gives us. Combined with California native plants, a decomposed granite path and an energy efficient irrigation system this garden becomes the lawn less habitat alternative of the neighborhood. You can watch a video of this garden here... https://youtu.be/mblcqT6wC3g

Small beach style master gray tile and stone tile ceramic tile, single-sink and shiplap wall alcove bathtub photo in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, white countertops, a niche and a built-in vanity

Example of a small arts and crafts galley porcelain tile kitchen design in San Francisco with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Blue Urban Abstract Wall Art has an undeniably modern hip flow. A futuristic digital painting, created with the technique of long exposure photography captures the motion of light as brushstrokes. A blend of blue green colors provides a soothing and calm expression. The lines are curvy and rhythmic adding to the smooth style. The overall style is reminiscent of graffiti, pushing the boundaries of new media art to the future. The work is mounted under a stunning plexiglass which provides a sleek finish and ultra modern feel.

The lower level offers something for every age with a media area, a casual bar with seating, a pool table and video games and even a small table that's the perfect size to spread out some Scrabble tiles. Greg Grupenhoff

An Arbutus Marina tree is complimented by California natives Alum Root and Yerba Buena. Edger Landscape Design
Home design - rustic home design idea in San Francisco

Example of a mid-sized ornate master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Houston with blue walls

See the video for this project here - http://vimeo.com/112728523
Minimalist exterior home photo in Seattle

Minimalist home theater photo in Miami

Example of a minimalist kitchen design in Los Angeles

Our task was to completely refinish this charming Dutch Colonial house and bring it into the modern-age! We did it with a combination of using updated colors and finishes while respecting the original lines of the house. Check out the Before and After Video for this Project at: https://youtu.be/nZUcbasjZoc

Our task was to completely refinish this charming Dutch Colonial house and bring it into the modern-age! We did it with a combination of using updated colors and finishes while respecting the original lines of the house. Check out the Before and After Video for this Project at: https://youtu.be/nZUcbasjZoc

Industrial-style home with discreet audio controlled over enterprise-grade WiFi, Lutron lighting control, automated shades, and entertainment spaces. Premium design and ongoing support by Springboard Automation in Philadelphia. Photography © Colin Miller

A smart TV installation on the stone fireplace feature using wireless HDMI and video streaming. This TV model has built-in speakers and a wireless subwoofer for discreet yet large sound. Before TV installation, the room focus was re-directed to left wall for a media cabinet and furniture layout was not aligned with original home design.

Living room - modern living room idea in Los Angeles