Treehouse getaway nestled in a sweeping canyon

Part office/studio, part recreational getaway, this unique project designed by Rockefeller Partners Architects is situated at the base of a large pine tree in the backyard of a canyon residence in Los Angeles, California.  The client is an artist and lover of nature so the Banyon Drive Treehouse, perched twelve feet off the ground, will serve as a creative respite from the demands of domestic responsibilities.

Though modest in size, the 170 square foot plan is efficient and allows for a studio space/living area and a toilet room.  Deep-oiled wood siding, mahogany windows, and a Rheinzink roof were chosen for their natural qualities and rich palette.

Photos: Eric Staudenmaier

Stunning contemporary split-level loft in Stockholm

This luxurious loft spotted on Skeppsholmen is situated in Stockholm, Sweden, a split-level with three floors, wonderful ceiling height, balcony and trendy designed interiors. Offering 775 square feet (72 square meters) of living space the entrance halls leads into an elegant kitchen with dining area and an inviting balcony with stunning views over the rooftops and gardens below. The kitchen is decorated with dark countertops, white shutters, details in gold leaf and vinyl. Adjacent to the kitchen is a dining room with plenty of storage and seating for up to eight people. A spacious bedroom faces out towards the courtyard with wardrobes and smart storage that runs along the inner wall.

Next to the kitchen is a stylish staircase up to the roof of the apartment. The spacious living room features high ceilings, plenty of windows, storage and fireplace. The loft makes the perfect cozy and private office space. A luxurious bathroom is decorated with glass mosaic and stylish polished tiles, double shower, steam room and built-in tub providing an exclusive feel.

Astounding renovation of a mountain home

Colorado-based studio TruLinea Architects designed 302 N. Aspen St. in 2009, a historic renovation and remodel of a main house and carriage shed in the town of Telluride, Colorado. The firm moved and reclassified a historic front yard shed and turned it into a carriage shed. The 3,500 square foot main house went through a major remodel and with an addition to the historic residence, taking 14 months to complete. The home was purchased for over $2 million in 2007, built in 1992, it has a stone-and-wood exterior as well as a metal roof.

The floor plan was flipped and the living areas were placed ‘high up’ to take advantage of mountain and valley views. The owner works in the financial services industry, he and his sister inherited their parents’ are collection. The home includes works by Yves Corbassiere, Jean Cocteau and E.L. Kirchner, among others. There are five bedrooms and 4-1/2 bathrooms. The home also includes a lofted office, a mud room, a laundry room and a two-car garage.

The kitchen features concrete countertops, dark walnut cabinets and a farmhouse sink.

The bedrooms and children’s play areas are on the lower level.

The master bedroom, shown above, has Italian limestone floors.

There are two gas fireplaces. The zebra rug shown here is real.

Photos: Photekt

Spacious and exquisitely adorned Ostermalm loft

With a central location in Ostermalm, Sweden, this fantastic loft, spotted on Skeppsholmen, features plenty of windows and 14 skylights. The apartment boasts 1,646 square feet (153 square meters) of living space and was completely renovated in 2010 with meticulous and beautiful details. The contemporary loft features high ceilings and open space solutions with combined kitchen, dining and lounge areas. The very generous living area is flooded with natural light and is crowned by a spacious terrace. The unique living room fireplace is the room’s focal point. The fully equipped kitchen features an island breakfast bar and black granite countertops make for a very nice gathering spot. There are two spacious bedrooms both have en-suite bathrooms and wonderful storage solutions. From the entrance, stairs leads up to a large loft space with glass rails offering a generous home office space.

Small Manhattan studio displaying a clever layout

Economy, functionality and privacy were the primary drivers in the design of this sixth floor East Village studio in Manhattan, New York. Designed by Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture, the meticulously detailed millwork provides ample storage and reduces clutter, making this small 500 square foot home-office apartment extremely efficient. A bedroom loft creates space for a roomy walk-in closet below, while stair risers conceal a series of built-in drawers. Every inch of the space has been effectively exploited. The architects worked closely with the client and a demanding co-op board through every stage of the design process. The result is modern, clean, and concise, providing both the warmth of a home and all the functional requirements of an office.

What do you think of this efficient small studio, could you enjoy living here?

Enchanting Swedish home with tantalizing details

This unique two-story house spotted on Bjurfors in Stockholm, Sweden formerly belonged to the Salvation Army and was used as a parish hall. Today the house is used as a private residence and has been completely renovated and extended with respect to the preservation of the building’s history. The structure of the 1, 689 square foot (157 square meters) home is in the form of a cross, with the renovation tastefully implemented and many of the original features preserved. Red double doors open up into the living room with dining area, formerly the recreation area for the Salvation Army, with wonderful light and space. A preserved emblem is original from the 1930’s on the wall in the niche. As a focal point to the space, a black Nestor Martin stove divides the living room from the dining room.

A built in bookcase next to the staircase leads up to a mezzanine level that hosts an office space. The beautiful kitchen features anthracite gray tiled floors and tiled white walls with black seam, designed chimney in red brick. There is also a breakfast bar with seating for four. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms with underfloor heating. One of the bathrooms features white tiled walls and white painted wooden planks with a feature wall photo protected by glass. The motive can easily be changed depending on trends and moods. There is also a detached guest house with varnished pine floors and whitewashed walls with a green-painted accent wall. A ladder leads up to a sleeping loft, ideal for overnight guests.

Guest Cottage Floor Plan

Opulent Italianate Mansion in San Francisco

Step inside this stunning Italianate mansion discovered on Sotheby’s International Realty, which offers fabulous views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Featuring exquisite architectural detailing throughout the 14,360 square feet with seven en-suite bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three half bathrooms, formal living room, formal dining room, reception hall, grand foyer, mezzanine, library, seven fireplaces, eat-in kitchen, media room, family room, wine cellar/grotto, au-pair quarters with kitchen, gym, five marble terraces, six cast bronze balconies, outdoor kitchen, garden with irrigation, gated driveway with parking plus four car garage, elevator, security system with cameras, two laundry facilities, automatic drapery and Lutron lighting throughout.

This magnificent grand mansion is listed for sale at $27,000,000 from here.

Beach house with Santa Monica Mountain views

This gorgeous beach house is located  on a narrow beachfront lot in Malibu, California. The home was purchased by a Los Angeles family who was drawn to the quiet neighborhood and compelling ocean views. Needing a major overhaul, the home was remodeled by San Diego firm Safdie Rabines Architects. The renovation took four years to complete, with only two of the home’s original main walls being preserved. The remodel helped to capitalize on the incredible ocean and mountain views at either ends of the property.

The entrance to the home features a three-story glass atrium running along the east side of the residence to enable light to penetrate deep into the interior space of the narrow property. To allow for privacy and shade, an indoor trellis was incorporated into the design of the home, comprised of horizontal teak slats. Bamboo was planted just outside the window to allow for additional privacy.

The oceanfront elevation was designed as one large space with a living room and a slightly raised dining and kitchen areas in order to allow for unobstructed views of the beach. All three spaces spill out onto the outdoor deck and pool area. Accents of blue throughout the kitchen and dining areas reflect the ocean. The architects wished to blur the line between the indoors and outdoors by use of limestone flooring on the terrace, throughout the first floor, as well as the bathroom, fireplace surround and as chiseled blocks for the walls in the interior that extends out to the exterior.

This additional building in the front of the property hosts a guest suite, spa, gym and the garage.

Absolutely breathtaking Cat Mountain Residence

Cat Mountain Residence was designed by Cornerstone Architects in Austin, Texas. Conceived as a remodel and addition, the final design iteration for this home is uniquely multifaceted. Structural considerations required a more extensive tear down, however the clients wanted the entire remodel design kept intact, essentially recreating much of the existing home. The overall floor plan design centers on maximizing the views, while extensive glazing is carefully placed to frame and enhance them. The residence opens up to the outdoor living and views from multiple spaces and visually connects interior spaces in the inner court.

The client, who also specializes in residential interiors, had a vision of ‘transitional’ style for the home, marrying clean and contemporary elements with touches of antique charm. Energy efficient materials along with reclaimed architectural wood details were seamlessly integrated, adding sustainable design elements to this transitional design. The architect and client collaboration strived to achieve modern, clean spaces playfully interjecting rustic elements throughout the home.

Visit the website of Cornerstone Architects here.

Photos: Bryant Hill

Breathtaking TriBeCa loft with stunning details

This breathtaking and elegantly designed loft space is in the heart of TriBeCa, New York. The four-bedroom, 4,000 square foot home has been stunningly renovated throughout with texture and grace. Featuring a unique, double-wide great room, the character is preserved in this classic loft with cast-iron pillars, bamboo flooring throughout and spacious double-living room, dining, library and office. A wall of spalted maple covers floor to ceiling closets, bar, laundry room and pantry, and leads to a fully appointed kitchen that is great for entertaining.

Custom cast glass sliding doors create flexible separation between the social spaces and the private spaces of the bedrooms and play area. Lavish master bedroom suite has walls of windows, en-suite abundant closet and dressing area, stunning white Thassos marble with inset jade covers counter and soaking tub as well as a lush shower. The home office looks out onto a private planting terrace. There are three additional bedrooms which are adjacent to a large play/family room, one with en-suite full bath and connected half bathroom.

This second floor loft is situated in a boutique building with only six units, listed for sale at $7,000,000, from here.