Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Vancouver with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and no fireplace.

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

Photo of a small industrial kitchen in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, white splashback, subway tile splashback and white benchtop.

The renovations to this home feature a bright and open, modern kitchen Trent Bell Photography
This is an example of a midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, metallic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and timber.

The 16-foot high living-dining area opens up on three sides: to the lap pool on the west with sliding glass doors; to the north courtyard with pocketing glass doors; and to the garden and guest house to the south through pivoting glass doors. (Photo: Grey Crawford)

Martin Gardner, spacialimages.com
Design ideas for a modern dining room in Hampshire with concrete floors, white walls and grey floor.

Design ideas for a large modern master bathroom in Austin with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, a freestanding tub, a double shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls and ceramic floors.

Poured concrete conter tops and integrated Cleopatra basins. Photograph: The Office of Chris Cortazzo
Design ideas for a contemporary bathroom in Los Angeles with concrete benchtops.

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, an undermount sink, open cabinets, glass sheet splashback and with island.

Inspiration for a modern kitchen in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

©Brett Bulthuis 2018
Midcentury open plan dining in Chicago with concrete floors and grey floor.

Large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Eric Laignel
Design ideas for a modern open plan dining in New York with white walls.

design: Mark Lind / photo: Andrew Pogue / precast concrete: Newbold Stone
Inspiration for a contemporary wood staircase in Austin with open risers.

The 16-foot high living-dining area opens up on three sides: to the lap pool on the west with sliding glass doors; to the north courtyard with pocketing glass doors; and to the garden and guest house to the south through pivoting glass doors. When open to the elements, the living area is transformed into an airy pavilion. (Photo: Erhard Pfeiffer)

Photography by Ken Gutmaker
Design ideas for a contemporary home office in Santa Barbara with concrete floors.

Photo: Chris Dorsey © 2013 Houzz Design: Alina Preciado, Dar Gitane
This is an example of an industrial living room in New York with concrete floors, a wood stove and grey floor.

The Cook house at The Sea Ranch was designed to meet the needs an active family with two young children, who wanted to take full advantage of coastal living. As The Sea Ranch reaches full build-out, the major design challenge is to create a sense of shelter and privacy amid an expansive meadow and between neighboring houses. A T-shaped floor plan was positioned to take full advantage of unobstructed ocean views and create sheltered outdoor spaces . Windows were positioned to let in maximum natural light, capture ridge and ocean views , while minimizing the sight of nearby structures and roadways from the principle spaces. The interior finishes are simple and warm, echoing the surrounding natural beauty. Scuba diving, hiking, and beach play meant a significant amount of sand would accompany the family home from their outings, so the architect designed an outdoor shower and an adjacent mud room to help contain the outdoor elements. Durable finishes such as the concrete floors are up to the challenge. The home is a tranquil vessel that cleverly accommodates both active engagement and calm respite from a busy weekday schedule.