Favorites

Custom steel corner windows allow the interior to expand into the exterior spaces, making the modest home feel much larger than it actually is.

The guest bathroom features bright turquoise Arcilla Field tiles by Ann Sacks and brass fixtures and fittings that will develop a patina over time. A skylight above the shower provides natural light and brightens the room.

Interior apartment with open ensuite cabinet

Family Bathroom with Freestanding Tub & Skylight

The use of both black and white kitchen cabinets is a unique design choice for black and white kitchens, but it works well in this lovely kitchen, a study in dark and light. It incorporates a fantastic black-and-white marble backsplash, which brings together the kitchen’s many other elements, like dark hardwood floors and a white quartz countertop.

"Designed to take advantage of expansive ocean, island, and mountain views, this contemporary remodel and addition recycled the original 1948 ranch house to create a new two-story home with an open plan layout," says Blackbird Architects. The outdoor hardscape and garden include a reflection koi pond and palm island at the entry, green roofs, an outdoor kitchen, a pizza oven, and a fire pit.

A second-story addition to this midcentury home in Los Angeles is linked to the original structure by a 30-foot skylight. The spacious kitchen—the heart of the home—was designed for entertaining, with white oak cabinetry, quartz countertops, and dual islands for overflow seating.

In Melbourne, Australia, a smart addition transforms a backyard shed into a guest suite for visiting parents, while wrapping the two living volumes around a central courtyard. The minimalist kitchen, although decidedly modern, offers a subtle reference to the "retro suburbia

Kids Playroom Rockwall

Exterior

Interior spaces are simple and understated. Natural timber in light tones contrasts with white walls, lit by washes of sunlight.

Some windows that were salvageable were kept, while others were replaced with new Jeld-Wen units that Jocie liked better for their size, shape, or function. At the corner of the sunroom, for example, an angular corner window looks much cleaner than the two units that had been there before.

By relocating the ground-level bathroom, Yuan expanded the available area for the kitchen and dining area at the rear. The bifold doors are 16.4 feet wide.

Bright and spacious, the top-of-the-line chef's kitchen is full of high-end touches. The sub-zero refrigerator even includes integrated wine storage with a shelf for a cigar humidor.

The height of oversized doors can be offset or accentuated with long hardware.

Door hardware is a small design detail, but as with all decor choices, a wise one can effortlessly elevate the overall aesthetic. From hardware style to finish and form, that doorknob you put your hands on every day can really make a statement.

The island helps to define and separate the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas.