kitchen . VillaNova {Montreal, CA}

The kitchen got a place of pride in the addition, as the family loves to cook, and the lowered ceiling differentiates it from the adjacent living area. The custom island received a rounded corner that echoes the entry. "The unusually shaped island bench responds to the geometry of the external glazing, which was in turn angled to respond to exterior views," says the firm. Circular legs on the island gives it a furniture quality and imparts a "lightness" to the large piece. The lattice over the window provides dappled, natural light and will eventually be covered in vines.

Bill and the boys sit at a built-in oak-and-steel table. The sconce is from Restoration Hardware.

The ground floor lift lobby.

The sofa in the family room was designed by Helgerson with Magnifique fabric by Kravet. The 265 Wall Lamp is by Paolo Rizzatto for Flos, and the pine coffee table is from The Good Mod, a local shop in Portland.

In the kitchen, white lacquer millwork is complemented by white glass.

8. "How often do I like to communicate with my realtor and what's the best way to do so?" "Your agent should know how you like to check in and by what method—text, email, or phone,” explains Hoffman. “The biggest complaints we hear from clients who have worked with other agents is that their agent did not communicate with them in the way they wanted."

Internal brick walls and polished concrete surfaces provide thermal mass that helps to keep the interior spaces cool.

The upper level features long, black metal cladding and a series of glazed links.

On either side of the dining area, two sets of large sliding doors connect the house to the garden.

Black accent pieces create the illusion of a black and white kitchen in the home of San Francisco architect Cass Calder Smith. A black reading nook coordinates perfectly with the stainless steel countertops and white cabinetry.

The modern breakfast area also serves as a mudroom with plenty of shoe storage under the window seat.

The open-plan, double-height kitchen/living/dining area makes the most of the house's 1,700 square feet. The cabinetry is finished in polyurethane, the hardware is by Lockwood and Madinoz, the countertops are Caesarstone, the oven and cooktop are by Ilve, and the integrated refrigerator is by Fisher & Paykel. The pendant lamps are Richard Neutra by Kartell, the cushions are Marimekko, the dining chairs are by Herman Miller, and the "coffee table" is a trio of Alvar Aalto's Stool 60 by Artek.

The wall beneath the stairs holds hidden storage, including an Enomatic wine dispenser and Sub-Zero refrigerated drawers.

A folding window wall opens onto the East-facing deck, creating an ideal indoor/outdoor common area. The living room features a Ligne Roset Feng sofa and custom Tai Ping carpet.

Ikea cabinets were combined with durable work surfaces and personal touches like a chalkboard wall. Decopour flooring, a cement topping similar to terrazzo, is a very durable, family friendly surface. Kitchen, dining and outdoor space flow around a 12-foot long island—nicknamed "the mother of all islands" by the residents.

When Nilus De Matran renovated this San Francisco kitchen ten years ago, he chose materials that would not only compliment and unify the open space—dark walnut, terrazzo flooring, and Carrara marble—but also materials that would stand the test of time.

A 13-foot-long island in the kitchen, finished in the same white terrazzo as the floor, serves as an informal dining area. Bassam replicated the kitchen’s walnut-veneered cabinetry in the study and master bedroom for continuity.

Sleek Poghenpohl kitchen with La Conch Triple Oven