Reading Alcove with Day Bed and Bookshelves beyond Cased Arch and Brick Wall

Dustin Peck

Nat Rea

A remodeled modern and eclectic living room. This room was featured on Houzz in a "Room of the Day" editorial piece: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54584369/list/room-of-the-day-dramatic-redesign-brings-intimacy-to-a-large-room

John Cole Photography, Classical institute of art and architecture

Jonathan Edwards Media

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Greg Premru Photography, Inc

A contemporary palette of taupe, cream and dark hardwood offer a relaxing environment with which to lounge on this custom sectional. Notice the personalized nail head detailing on the ottoman and the sophisticated rawhide black side table next to a coordinating accent chair. Photo: Jeff Garland

Sheli Lee-Fierstine

Mike Kelley

This beautiful family room has a neutral palette with coastal pops of color added in throughout to keep it fresh. Adding to the coastal feel, the modern geometric pendant lights add an element of structure but keep an atmospheric feeling. The space connects to bright and cheery outdoor courtyard outfitted for gathering and entertaining. This is indoor outdoor living at its finest!

Michael Stadler - Stadler Studio

contractor: Etai Har-El photographer: Christian Garibaldi