This is the master vanity area in an old home in Portland, OR. Once again in renovation work you find yourself working with smaller spaces and searching for ways to make the most of the design. In this case they took some space from an adjacent room and just carved out what they felt they needed. A few details here can really accentuate the space too. The use of tile on the walls as well as the soffit help create and define that true niche.
Here is the loft/bunk area. A sweet take on a stair rail. They went with industrial netting so that if you do jump ship you won't find yourself somewhere on the first floor.
A nice little galley kitchen that opens right up to the outside.
And, why not finish it off with a soaking tub (that fully lights up) right next to a wood burning stove?
We were meeting with a client yesterday and the issue of door location and door swings seemed to take over the discussion. It may seem trivial but it can definitely influence both the layout and the overall feel of the space. It's a challenge to not only be able to solve the issue but to present creative and unique ideas. The barn or sliding door has been on my mind lately and these were just a few options I came across, one traditional and one a little more modern.
A few shots from an old Canadian barn moved to Connecticut and then rehabbed with some fresh modern elements. The detail and quality in the craftsmanship is so good. The rough hewn floors and walls, along with the flagstone fireplace sets the tone for the entire place. The lighter colors and smooth finishes help balance the overall feel.
This is Altis. It's a group of private residences on Mammoth Mountain in California and they are just crazy, inside and out. They've been constructed on the hillside and take full advantage of some killer views.
A little edgy on the inside, they boast a modern design with a warm welcoming feel. You'll find a ton of Mahogany on the interior and clear California cedar cladding the exterior. 
The main entry is on the top of 3 floors and opens up into a view just like this one. The architect was truly passionate about the design as well as the environment. They want the residents to be able to fully embrace the natural surroundings as well as the customized amenities of the home. Check this out over at my Thursday guest home, Fred Flare as well.
There are plenty of times in renovation work when you come across design challenges. It's all about how you solve them both aesthetically and economically. The owners here wanted to expand their 800 square foot home however ran into some limitations. The municipality would not allow a second story and the soil conditions (and budget) were not conducive for a basement. The architects got creative and designed a small addition split level.
It's a small space, only 770 square feet on the interior and sometimes those spaces can produce all kinds of inspiration. They call this the "Cookhouse" and it was designed by Green Partners. They're a small firm from Washington with a focus on sustainable design and crafted details.
There is craft out there. Just stop and think about it. Check this out from Seth Godin's blog yesterday.
Subway on the floor. Subway on the walls. The floor is a marble and the walls are a matte ceramic. I like using the gray grout on the floor. It's a subtle way to warm the space when you go all white and it will wear well. Another little design detail are the niches. Anytime you have a thick wall and can borrow space it's a bonus. They were able to recess the medicine cabinet, giving it a flush, finished look and create shelving just above the sink and in the shower.
The addition is set right at ground level. You can see how they ran the bluestone from the entry right into the glass enclosed pavilion. This view really gives a great perspective of what they wanted to achieve in the overall design with the large glass panels.
They utilized stone from the site for the fireplace and also constructed the chimney chase with board-formed concrete. A little rustic quality to the modern design. You can see a ton more photos here.
The kitchen and dining areas can be completely separated by closing the sandblasted sliding glass panels. The floor to ceiling design of the glass and the hidden track gives off a very sleek quality. The blond color of the floor warms the space just enough.
The design and layout of this place takes advantage of some kickass views while addressing the ever changing SoCal climate. The goal was to manage the hot summer temperatures and crazy wind-driven brush fires. To help reduce the risk of fire they tried to minimize the overall height of the building while cladding the place in some sleek metal siding. The beefy, wide overhangs along with the concrete floors help keep that summer heat down.
An architecture firm that puts an emphasis on getting back to understanding the craft of building. The RAAD Studio is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They're a full service design and construction firm and they just get it. I think this piece says a ton about what they do. This is a media credenza with hand-oiled walnut carved to create the handles.
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