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Architect Mark Singer Shows Off Laguna’s Finest Views

The house’s courtyard centers around a contemporary-style pool and spa.

A new home on the Pacific designed by veteran oceanfront architect Mark Singer balances privacy with wide-open vistas of sea, sand, and sunsets. by J. Michael Welton

As far as walls go, this one, at 992 Oceanfront in Laguna Beach, CA, is a monument to multi-tasking.

This wall doesn’t merely support the roof above. It serves as a shield from surfers and beachgoers hustling along a heavily traveled walkway to the south. It creates a comforting enclosure for a private courtyard with an infinity pool and spa, all tucked in between a garage to the east and living quarters to the west. Its windows above open up to the courtyard and pool below. And best of all, it’s a foil to some of the finest ocean views on this planet.

Stone masons built the wall using rough-cut, buff-toned Texas limestone, carefully eschewing the traditional use of grout between joints. It runs perpendicular to the Pacific Ocean for 126 feet east to west, along the southern elevation of the new home there. Directly opposite it are the wide-open views that make this home, priced at $15 million, even more memorable.

“It’s simply breathtaking,” says realtor Jacqueline Thompson. “From almost every angle in every room, you can see straight to the ocean and to the crashing waves. But there’s a lot of privacy.”

“It’s only steps to the ocean,” says architect Mark Singer, who designed and built it last year. “You can go down for a swim and come back for a shower—or go for a swim, ocean to pool.”

This is a home that’s simple and clean in its celebration of what’s outside, and like its long-running wall, it’s happy to play second fiddle to its place in the sun. The entire design is dedicated to the concept of creating privacy while organizing and capitalizing on open space to the west and north.

“When you have a painting on your wall, the frame around it enhances it,” Singer says. “This house enhances the ocean experience by framing it in its simplicity.”

Inside the home’s 4,300 square feet, the look is stripped-down and contemporary, allowing sunlight to dominate during the day. Even the fireplace in the master suite, where the limestone wall comes to its end, is low-key, encouraging the play of natural light and shadows upon it.

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Singer, who’s been specializing in oceanfront architecture for 30 years, likes to juxtapose the contemporary and the antique in his designs. He deliberately limited his material palette in this home to enhance its sense of elegance. Aiming for a look that is peaceful and sculptural, he splurged only on items like a primitive, Spanish-style garage door made of cedar imported from the forests of western Canada.

It’s all sited on a steep lot, with a house that moves in sections down to the ocean. It starts with the garage standing 52 feet above sea level, then the courtyard at 35 feet, and then sloping down to the living quarters at 23 feet. The lot is 50 feet wide, and the home itself is 40.

“The public spaces are wide and flow very well,” Singer says. “It’s a perpetuating experience that pulls you through. And as you move through, your questions [about the design] get answered, so that you understand the whole thing.”

That limestone wall serves as guide and interpreter all along the way, until your eyes arrive at the sun setting over Catalina Island. “People’s mouths drop,” says Thompson.

And for good reason.

Architect Christopher Sorensen

Asian-style landscaping

In Santa Monica Canyon, architect Christopher Sorensen has merged Western design with Eastern influence to create a Zen-like compound where inside and outside mesh seamlessly. By Michael J. Welton

Sam Francis’s Santa Monica Canyon residence is one where respect for the past has inspired a new vision for the future. From the early 1960s until 1994, it served as both home and studio for this noted American abstract expressionist, who in 1956 was what TIME called “the hottest American painter in Paris,” just a few years before he bought this canyon lot (from Charlie Chaplin, according to some).

Francis’s work now hangs in both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Many of his paintings were created at his California home, influenced by the colors of Matisse, the symbols of Carl Jung, and the religions of the Far East. Even though the home itself was a Craftsman bungalow, it hinted at Eastern influence.

“[Francis’s] wife was Japanese,” explains architect Christopher Sorensen, who took most of his cues for reinventing the property from the original structures he found here. “Craftsman bungalows were inspired by Asian design, so our initial inspiration was a very Zen feeling about the property.” Sorensen took that feeling and sprinted with it, completely renovating Francis’s studio and transforming it into a 4,000-square-foot guest house. On the footprint of the original house, he created a 9,000-square-foot space that merges the inside with the landscape outside.

“I used that inspiration to reinterpret what properly could be Asian [style], bringing in furnishings and art from Southeast Asia—Indonesia in particular,” Sorensen says. He called for reclaimed teak for floors and ceilings, and he imported sculptures and wall hangings, not to mention the two 1.5-ton bathtubs, both carved from granite.

The lot comprises two-thirds of an acre nestled between the Pacific Palisades and the Pacific Ocean (just a four-minute walk away). Although there are neighbors on the left and right, one still has unobstructed views of the distant Santa Monica Mountains.

“The house blocks the view of the adjacent houses,” Sorensen says. “We’ve been able to create an experience with the land and the home, so that 85 to 95 percent of it is the compound and the sky. There are mature trees, and we created a courtyard and a deck for every room in the house. It’s truly a rustic oasis.”

Dining area

It is a home, according to Sorensen, for someone who loves nature. Most of its walls open up completely to the outdoors, so it’s light, airy, and voluminous. “It’s like living outside with a roof overhead,” says real estate broker Carol Bird.

A roof overhead yes, but with an appearance of nothing below. Sorensen’s design managed to cantilever a corner of the kitchen, made of bulletproof glass, out over the swimming pool snugged up to the house. Then he stacked the master bedroom deck above the kitchen, so that it hovers over the glass floor below. “You’re literally walking on water,” he says. “It’s quite a dramatic experience.”

For all its awe-inspiring design features, this is a home for someone who requires a large house, but one that is not ostentatious; it’s perfect for someone who’s comfortable with his place in the world.

“We played down the massing,” Sorensen says. “You could put it next to a big mansion with the same square footage, and you wouldn’t believe they were the same [size].” Only the price tag—a cool $18.75 million—could give that secret away.

Personal Space in Ponte Vedra Beach

The house’s clapboard siding and wood features evoke a New England style, while clean lines balance the look.

At one family’s Ponte Vedra Beach vacation home, crisp design and ocean views are the perfect backdrop for an active lifestyle. by Regina Cole // photographs by Adam Cohen

When Michelle Balfoort, principal of the eponymous Florida architectural firm, designed this 6,000-square-foot Ponte Vedra Beach vacation house, she found herself negotiating common clichés and typical shortcomings of the beachside home.

“We wanted to evoke the sense of the beach, but not with seashells everywhere,” she says. “Also, the homeowners are an active young family that entertains a lot; we wanted to create a house that would comfortably hold lots of people and host several families at once, but still have private, intimate-feeling spaces.” The desired result needed to combine a traditional style with a modern and functional interior.

A native Floridian, Balfoort is well versed in coastal architecture. For over 12 years, she and a partner successfully ran a boutique firm, Balfoort Finnvold Architecture, with projects in locations from the Florida Keys to North Carolina. While specializing in high-end residential design, they also worked on commercial projects, neighborhood and town planning, and historic preservation work in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. In 2012, Balfoort established Balfoort Architecture in Stuart, FL.

For this summer home, she looked to the traditional roots of Florida architecture. “The houses in this neighborhood evoke New England,” Balfoort says. “So we used clapboard siding and a lot of wood features.”

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The house, which includes a guest suite, features deeply bracketed eaves and luxurious balconies with sumptuous views opening from all the rooms on two stories. A covered second-story breezeway connects the guest quarters located above the garage to the main part of the house, which includes four bedrooms, an informal den, a large open space comprising the kitchen and dining room, and a living room with a cypress vaulted ceiling two stories high. A dramatic curved wall encloses the staircase, which is sheathed in marble with the texture and fluid pattern of sea grass.

“Instead of an obvious beach décor, we focused on the light; the way it plays against the sand and the water,” Balfoort explains. “We accomplished that by designing spaces that let in the light all day long as the sun clocks around, and we used a lot of textures that speak of waves, stones, and sand.” Also noteworthy is the curving stair hall that “brings a wonderful shaft of light as you go in,” says Balfoort, as well as the stainless steel stair railing, like one aboard a ship.

Glass plays a starring role on the interior, both as tile on bathroom walls and as a glass-and-marble mosaic backsplash in the kitchen. “In this house, the surfaces are all about reflective qualities,” Balfoort explains.

The exterior drove the interior design in other ways, too. The dining room table, for example, is higher than standard height, so that the family can enjoy the view while eating. Each guest room features different wall paneling, all evocative of seaside traditions.

Balfoort’s favorite place in her creation isn’t one particular nook or cranny, but somewhere between indoors and out.

“I love the way you can sit on all the porches, between [inside] and [outside],” she says. “They extend the functional living space all around the house.”

Textured Home Ambiance Flourishing from Stone Walls

Whether you would like to create a stunning decorative wall or embed your cabin’s design in the surrounding landscape, stone walls are the perfect connection between outdoors and interior spaces. A home decorated with one or many stone walls will always display that imposing elegance defining castles and a pinch of that traditional well-being. Knowing that you spend your days close to a beautiful natural material like stone, you will be more inspired in your daily activity.

Stone walls as explosive focus points
English design studio Baynes & Co imagined an unexpected decorative element for the stunning contemporary Wickstead Lodge in England. The two story residence features a sculptural dining space under a high ceiling, adorned by a spectacular glass wall with a stone curtain on the outside. At night, the facade looks lit up by holes in the wall, as if the house was not properly constructed. The large hanging light contributes its light to the outdoors spectacle and its beauty to the interior space arrangement.

Stone walls as binders

A holiday cabin built just for the enjoyment of you, family and friends is often mistaken with a tear-down old cabin, but it doesn’t need to be. Stone walls can beautifully become part of your wooden cabin design, integrating the new construction in the rocky landscape. A stunning example of modern architecture showcased by this Buholmen Cabin inspires us to choose the best surrounding we need to make us happy and then find solutions to integrate our life without disturbing surrounding nature. Project managers of Skaara Arkitekter AS designed this beauty in Norway, giving it life with a pine facade, sedum-moss roof and a stone wall to capture the natural coloring of the surroundings.

Stone walls reaching to shape ceilings

There’s nothing like living in a splendidly remodeled apartment with reinterpreted design lines. Vaulted ceilings seem to have been made to capture the beauty if stone walls ascending up to become part of the ceiling. Successful renovations of old apartments are challenging, but the results are magnificent. The exceptional Jaffa Apartment (designed by Pitsou Kedem Architects ) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea was brought back to its original charm. Accentuating the natural-colored atmosphere, modern design lines and contemporary furniture create an up-to-date residence.

Stone walls flanking the fireplace

A tall living space can be defined by stone walls, keeping the main idea contemporary at all times. If a room with a modern fireplace needs to become more sumptuous, stone walls add that extra dimension reminiscent of the glorious castles once acting as residences. Can Manuel d’en Corda by Marià Castelló Martínez on the Spanish Formentera island showcases traditional dry stone walls that allow it to blend in with surrounding farms. Original exposed walls were partly enveloped in vertical panels housing the electrical installation and indirect lighting, creating a rustic yet modern atmosphere.
Find the perfect ways of accentuating a stone wall in your home and enjoy its splendor!

Photos: 1 and 2, 3, 4

About author Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest inspiring surrounding design.

An Urban Loft on the Chesapeake

Randall Kipp’s contemporary home

Architect Randall Kipp designs a contemporary house on the Virginia coast for a particularly discerning homeowner—himself. By Mary Winston Nicklin

The first thing Randall Kipp will tell you is, “I’m not a water guy.” Those are surprising words from an architect who has built his career on designing waterfront homes on the Chesapeake Bay. But he arrived on this beautiful stretch of Virginia coastline by “dumb luck,” moving from Minneapolis to establish his practice in the hamlet of Irvington. Here, he proved himself an original placemaker, helping define the destination as we know it today, where Kipp’s village shops line the main street running through town, past the Steamboat Era Museum (which he also designed) to the Tides Inn, a destination resort.

Kipp is obsessed with views as fundamental to his art-based architecture. “Most houses in urban settings don’t have the privilege of a view, so they turn inward, and interior design becomes the focus,” he says. All of his houses are defined by their views and connect closely to the landscape.

Kipp’s own home—perched at the tip of Windmill Point— is the perfect reflection of his design philosophy. Elevated on steel piers above a wetland near the beach, the rectangular structure—hewn from concrete, steel, glass, and sheetrock— takes advantage of its southern exposure, framing the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. A graphic palette is created with black furnishings, accented with splashes of color from art collected by Kipp’s wife, Alison Drake. Niches in the wall serve as display cases, creating a sculptural shadow play. The house is also a model of green design, with geothermal heating/cooling, LED lights, and minimal energy consumption.

Kipp’s home is akin to an urban loft, arranged in an open floor plan with minimal walls. Living quarters are entirely situated on the second floor, and the lower level was designed to wash away with a storm surge. “The most we’ll lose is a couple of extra bedrooms,” Kipp says with his trademark humor. It was a conscious decision to build a minimalist home that’s not anything more than the 2,000 square feet of necessary living space with every nook and cranny serving a purpose. Case in point: The walk-in closets feature pull-out jewelry and necktie drawers, while a dazzlingly clean kitchen stows some appliances away in cabinets.

Minimalist doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Inside the elevator, life-size silhouettes of their “friends” are painted on the walls: Karl Lagerfeld, Coco Chanel, Twiggy, and their Scottish Terrier, Dolley. “Because you should never travel without your friends,” Kipp says with a smile. kipparchitecture.com.

: Randall Kipp’s contemporary home

Architecture in Bald Head Island, North Carolina

On North Carolina’s Bald Head Island, two architects have designed an allegorical structure to satisfy their clients’ exuberant natures—and frame some very fine vistas. By J. Michael Welton

To get to Bald Head Island, slip by ferry across North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, hop aboard the requisite golf cart (no autos allowed on the island), scoot along a five-mile trail through a maritime forest, and, finally, turn right and climb a 40-foot-high ridge. There it is: the oceanfront home called Castello Dello Balena, or “Castle of the Whale.”

At 4,500 square feet, comprising four bedroom suites and a dining room the size of some homes, this house is big. But that may be its least important feature. “You can’t find many places with 270-degree views of the water,” says Chris Lokey, the home’s master builder. “[The house] is sitting on some of the nicest views on the east coast.”

From the house’s dining room, the coastal plain of Bald Head known as South Beach languishes in the distance. Out on the water to the left are Frying Pan Shoals, where offshore waves kick up as high as 10 feet. Farther left still is East Beach, which is home to some of the wildest surf on the island.

The home was designed by Wilmington-based architects Dietsche & Dietsche to take full advantage of its elevation. “The clients bought two lots, and at first, they thought they’d build on one and sell the other,” says Anna Dietsche. Then, her husband Chuck stepped up with a pair of divergent scenarios: “The first one showed a house on one lot and the other open,” she says. “The second one showed a house on both lots, stretched along the dune ridge, so every room has a view of the ocean.”

Three bedroom suites and a garage occupy the ground level, while the kitchen, dining room, master suite, and office/studio are located above. Some compare the home, stretched out upon the ridge in three sections, to a whale’s body. Its head would be to the left where the kitchen is situated, its stomach about midway down where the massive fireplace sits, and its tail composed of the garage wing with master suite and office atop.

The whole idea, says Chuck, was to satisfy his clients’ need to express their exuberance for life. “The [clients were] rational and romantic,” he says. “I interpreted [their house] as Moby Dick.” But he didn’t overlook the site’s basic strength, however, especially from the widow’s walk atop the tower that connects all three of the home’s sections.

“It’s got the best views of the entire island,” Anna says. dietschedietsche.com

Sanctuary on the Sand in Miami

A Miami real estate developer-turned-resident of his own project mixes design styles and capitalizes on up-close ocean views. By Anna Kasabian

When renowned Miami real estate developer Gil Dezer decided to take up residence at one of his own luxury projects, the Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences, he turned to Michael Wolk to design his three-story condominium.

Located one floor up from the beach and with massive windows featuring the magnificent views, it feels, according to Miami-based Wolk, much like you’re at the bow of a ship. “You don’t need to do anything to distract,” he says.

The design plan for the five-bedroom, eight-bath home is one where simplicity and serenity reign, but where a few architectural surprises surface as well. “We took three floors at the end of the building, turning two condominiums into one,” Wolk explains, adding that Dezer enters his home through a ground-level garage. A private beach cabana is steps away. The first and second floors of the space are open, separated by a spectacular glass bridge that leads the way to the master bedroom suite.

“The glass bridge was inspired by the first Matrix movie, and that image was the narrative driving the image [of] his bedroom,” Wolk says. “And yes, sometimes people hesitate a little before walking forward!” The bridge is accessible by stairs or a glass-enclosed elevator in the living room. Other public rooms at this level include the kitchen and dining room. A balcony and private swimming pool are also on the second level.

During the initial planning, the design concept was to create a bachelor pad, but over the course of the project, Dezer married and then became a father. “The assignment changed and the program changed. It evolved into something that was more appropriate for a family,” Wolk says.

Furnishings are an elegant, interesting stew of Art Deco, antiques, traditional, and contemporary, as well as some of Wolk’s own furniture creations—the eight dining room chairs at the glass table are his designs. The color palette is earthy, with warm tones in fabric, rugs, and walls, so the views remain the star, Wolk says. Natural woods include rosewood and Brazilian cherry. There are few walls within the space to keep it open to the sea views, so furniture placement and/or height is used to delineate rooms, like the high wood-backed couch in the living room.

All in all, for Dezer, who owns 27 acres of prime oceanfront land in Miami, this is a peaceful respite from what is certainly a frenetic life.

Thomas P. Catalano Creates the Ultimate Nantucket Home

Sound Structure: Hints of Colonial Revival style are present throughout the home

A couple razes a Nantucket Sound house and builds a new one, creating a home that celebrates the island’s views and simple lifestyle. By Anna Kasabian

When the owners of this three-acre site on Nantucket Sound decided to take down the original home here and build anew, they looked to Boston architect Thomas P. Catalano to create the ultimate seaside escape. The client’s goal was an uncomplicated one: to create a home that takes full advantage of the stunning views and ultimately comes together in a style that blends grand architectural moments with comfortable, casual space. It was to be a home that would serve as a summer retreat for the businessman, his wife, and two daughters and be a place that could accommodate large gatherings.

With a sweeping, direct southern exposure on the Sound and expansive grounds, Catalano succeeded in building a signature Shingle-style home that looks as though it’s been here for generations. Located at the end of a long drive, bordered by magnificent rhododendrons, it presents at the very end as a traditional island home that honors the architectural legacy of the island. The double-height windowed entry that frames sea and sky fulfills the owners’ desire for a grand, catch-your-breath space.

As Catalano explains, “This is a living hall, a social space with furniture meant to recall the entries you would find in original Shingle-style homes.”

The entry also serves as the axis from which all other rooms branch east and west. One wing houses the owners’ office suite; the other is devoted to the dining and living rooms and the open kitchen, breakfast, and family room.

The second floor houses the master bedroom and bath, and the third floor is devoted to the girls’ bedrooms, which are separated by a shared sitting room. The lower level bears an entertainment room with a bar, billiard room, and bowling alley. A guest suite above the garage has a private staircase leading to the pool house and patio below. The unique layout allows all rooms to take full advantage of the light and views.

“I would term this a lightened-up version Colonial Revival,” Catalano says. “Wherever possible, we implemented details of the period.”

Interior design by Boston’s Bierly Drake dovetailed perfectly with Catalano’s work in catching the spirit of casual elegance. Supporting design details include white oak floors stained chocolate, bathroom floors and walls of mosaic marble, and kitchen countertops of non-fussy slate.

Of the home’s neutral palette, Catalano says, “[It] allows the millwork detailing to shine through.”

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Home Renovations that Add to Security

In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to take precautions to keep your home and family safe from harm’s way. If you’re thinking about remodeling your home, why not consider renovating with a few extra safety features in mind? Take a look at these 5 renovations that can help keep your home secure.

Doors

Did you know that most home invaders walk right through the front door? When renovating, purchasing a new door or lock system is one of the most effective ways to prevent intruders. If you want to buy a brand new door, make sure you select one with a peephole. While it may seem like a small detail, a peephole keeps you from having to open the door to any strangers. Dead locks should be installed on your doors as spring latch locks are easy to jimmy open with simple tools.

Windows

Large windows on the ground floor are easy targets for burglars as are windows close to doors. If you’re planning a home addition or a large scale remodel, consider placing windows high on the wall and away from doors. When purchasing new windows, avoid tempered or thin glass windows. Double and triple pane windows are much harder to break through. You could also opt for laminated glass which is also very durable and resistant to cracking. Make sure you install locks on your windows, as it’s easier for a criminal to simply open the window rather than break it.

Floor Plan

When planning the floor plan for your renovation, keep safety in mind. It’s best to keep all of the bedrooms on the second floor. Should your house get broken into during the night, you’ll be as far from the invader as possible. If you don’t have a second story, bedrooms should be kept towards the back of the home off a hallway of a single entry point.

Landscaping

You may not think that landscaping has a lot to do with home security, but a smart landscaping scheme can help protect your home. Trees should be kept away from windows. While it may seem to provide privacy, it also conceals your view of the outside. Trees near windows are also convenient places for home invaders to duck behind. You may also want to install a tall fence that circles your property to ward off intruders. Lastly, outdoor lighting can deter criminals, so plan on having a well-lit landscape and install motion activated lights.

Security System

A security system is the smartest way to protect your home and family against burglars. When installing, be sure to conceal any wiring as criminals will snip the wires to disable the system.

This article was written by Erie Construction.

Alabama’s Turquoise Place

A Crown Jewel: The Turquoise Place

Turquoise Place resort is an architectural delight on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. By Regina Cole

Visitors to Alabama’s Gulf Coast head straight for Route 182 to drive along the chain of slender barrier islands that form the sheltering arms of Mobile Bay. Azure waters lap the sugar-white sands of endless beaches, while bayous, coves, lakes, and lagoons border the north side of the two-lane highway. Resorts, beachside cottages, shrimp shacks, and bathing suit emporiums abound in the time-honored traditions of sun- and sand-kissed communities everywhere. Rubberneckers come to a screeching halt when they approach a pair of 23- and 30-story turquoise glass towers—aptly named Turquoise Place—rising in undulating curves.

“People often stop in to inquire about the building and ask for a tour,” says Eva Faircloth of Spectrum Resorts, the company that operates this and several other area resorts. “Most neighboring complexes are boxy and angular, but…Turquoise Place flows, mimicking the waves in the Gulf of Mexico.”

“The developers wanted to call it Turquoise Place to pay homage to the beautiful colors of the water,” says Forrest Daniell, principal architect of the eponymous Daphne, Alabama-based-firm responsible for the striking design. “Turquoise is a notoriously difficult color to work with; we found guidance in a nautilus shell.”

Daniell describes how this beautiful seashell combines the assertive color with shades of beige, dark red, and silver. “During the day, the two towers are white concrete and turquoise glass,” Daniell continues. “Nighttime lighting reveals red and beige patterns, creating an organic, flowing presence.”

Highrises close to a road usually make for an unpleasant tunnel effect; Daniell mitigated that with three-story parking garages that softly curve like the main buildings. “Parking garages are not usually pleasant spaces, so we designed these in the shape of a doughnut, with a four-story waterfall in the center,” he explains. “[They are] not rectilinear; they have light and the sound of water.”

The curves of the two buildings promote stellar views. The water that makes the parking garages so appealing repeats in three outdoor pools, two indoor pools, a lazy river, and large hot tubs on each balcony. Swimming pools incorporate underwater speakers, and one features a Tiki bar. Furnishings in all units include monogrammed sinks, Wolf gas ranges, Sub-Zero refrigerators, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, and fully equipped outdoor kitchens.

Turquoise Place opened to an economic slump in 2009, but a resident describes how it lifted local spirits. “This is the crown jewel of Orange Beach.”

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A Martha’s Vineyard That is True to Tradition

One family’s Martha’s Vineyard vacation home manages to honor the island’s traditions while standing apart from the crowd.

“This is so not your typical Martha’s Vineyard house,” says interior designer Robin Pelissier of the 14,000-square-foot island home. Her company, Robin’s Nest, creates extraordinary interiors, and this home’s architect and its owner agree that this home is just that. What most sets apart the contemporary Shingle-style house designed by Charles Rolando, principal architect at Domus, is its exuberance.

The Vineyard look features gray shingles with white trim, but this family summer home displays a penchant for color, mixed materials, and a non-linear approach. A wide, curvaceous stone entry encompasses vast windows, a great oak door, arched lights reminiscent of medieval castles, and a verandah. That entry is set into the L of the house marked with dormers and Palladian windows.

“I love curves,” says Rolando. “The homeowners love stone. Their dream also included soaring spaces, walls of windows, and coastal views.” To maximize those requirements, the most challenging aspect of the architect’s work was the house’s situation on its small, somewhat challenging lot.

“Between the wetlands and the flood plain, there was little room to maneuver,” Rolando says. “I tell my clients that I will drive them nuts with site analysis; I’m sure I did in this case. We reoriented the house and built closer to the height restriction and setbacks, resulting in a design where every room, except for the home theater, has a water view.”

The exterior curves repeat in a great circular staircase that sweeps up all three floors, connecting the eight bedrooms, 13 baths, theater, wine cellar, gentleman’s club room, and gym, which includes a hidden sauna. A fieldstone fireplace and chimney dominate the soaring two-story living room. While its front façade displays a modest one-and-a-half stories, the house’s rear elevation, all-glass walls, reveals its size.

“The interior features a lot of wood, iron, and stone,” says Pelissier. “Rich, saturated colors in fabrics and furnishings balance that masculine spirit. The homeowner loves color.” Pelissier points to the purple leather headboard in the master bedroom as an example. “[She] has great jewelry; we used that aesthetic for the interior design.”

Pelissier calls the lighting fixtures and hardware “the jewelry of the house, giving it sparkle and completing the décor the way a…necklace adds the finishing touch to a great outfit.”

But the kitchen is the heart of the home. “With four children, it’s where everything happens, so it was located in the center, with rooms radiating outward,” says Rolando.

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A Cape Cod Home is a Stunning Combination of Function and Form

Doreve Nicholaeff, the Johannesburg-born architect known for marrying linear modernism to voluptuous curves, worked her magic with a 7,000-square-foot Cape Cod home and its guest house. On a prominent point at the entrance of a sheltered bay on Nantucket Sound, the house is expansive and supremely functional. Upon first glance, however, it is all about dramatic good looks, inside and out.

The Cape house exterior is accompanied by an infinity pool

“We wanted to make the most of the incredible views,” says Nicholaeff. “From every room, you look out at beauty, whether it is the Bay or the Sound. The prime location, however, made it important for us to consider how the house would look to boats coming into the harbor.”

Returning sailors see symmetrical shingled wings converging on a curved façade largely composed of windows; at night, the house shines across the water like a lighthouse.
As gracefully integrated a part of the landscape as it now appears, this home was not easy to build.

“As it’s in a flood plain, no mechanical systems could be located where they usually are: in the basement,” Nicholaeff says. “Instead, they’re invisible, but accessible, in one part of the first floor. Below the ground-floor level we put breakaway panels that open for flood water if there’s a 100-year storm.”

The proximity of a notoriously stormy stretch of sea wasn’t the only building obstacle: Nicholaeff spent six months acquiring the variances and permissions that local boards and commissions require to grant building permits in such environmentally sensitive areas. Now, that’s a distant memory.

While the exterior nods to local building tradition with cedar shakes, traditional porch railings, and white trim, the interior is decidedly modern. The large kitchen is softened with pale flooring and cabinetry. Like every other space in the house, the kitchen orients toward the outdoors: Working at the granite-topped island is to gaze at a glorious view.

“My client wanted very clean lines, so we used no crown moldings,” Nicholaeff explains. “The rooms are all painted the same warm white, with mahogany doors and windows. ”

The open layout flows around a circular central staircase that recalls a chambered nautilus or Federal architecture. While beautiful, it also knits together far-flung rooms with curves of varying arcs along their water sides. The central spiral appears to hold the house’s curvaceous exterior close and safe.

“While the house has traditional and modern elements,” says Nicholaeff, “what makes it work is the rigorous geometry that responds to the contours of the land.”

Dennis Duffy Brings Boston Design to Maine

A Manhattan business duo teams up with a Boston design star to create their dream summer cottage on the Maine coast.

A notable recent project by Boston design star Dennis Duffy is a Maine vacation house that’s stylish and rich with personality, yet sleek and uncluttered at the same time.

“The owners worked with designers in their New York condo and Connecticut country house, but here, they wanted someone from New England who understands the region’s history and culture,” Duffy says. “They have a modern aesthetic, which I am known for.”

The Duffy Design Group is a four-time winner of “Best of Boston for Interior Design” and the 2009 IIDA New England winner. The owners of the “cottage” are high-powered and high-profile New York businessmen. Rigorous research and lengthy interviews connected Boston and New York.

“Before I began, they showed me their Manhattan condo so I could see their taste…,” Duffy explains, adding, “…once we decided to work together, they gave me carte blanche—as long as nothing competed with the view.”

The area has attracted affluent summer visitors for over 150 years. Distinguished by spectacular natural beauty and a down-to-earth culture, coastal Maine is accessible, but light years from Manhattan. From their first foray into the Pine Tree State, this couple felt at home. They rented a succession of summer places until they found a four-bedroom Shingle-style house built in 1901, poised on the rocky shore and featuring spectacular views of Boon Island, the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, Eastern Point, and the open ocean.

Within the historic exterior, Duffy opened and connected rooms on the first floor and designed luxurious new bathrooms, including a stunning entryway powder room. The entryway, formerly a series of cramped rooms, now opens into a light-filled living space dominated by a sculpture of a Duffy-designed staircase. Panels of seeded glass float upward within a teak frame. Stainless-steel uprights make it modern; tension cable nods to the nautical setting.

Cabinetmaker Mike Fernald of nearby Cape Neddick executed the mouldings, built-ins, vanities, cabinets, and the kitchen, designed to look original to the 1901 house. Duffy took his cues from the adjacent butler’s pantry, which remained intact at the homeowners’ insistence. He created space within the historic footprint when a warren of unused attic rooms and closets became a spacious rec-and-media room.

Personality abounds: a French cast iron industrial scale is base to a console table and, on the top floor, old wooden tennis racquets circle a wall like a great mandala.

Living on the Edge: Inspiring Cliff-Top Houses

While all ocean front homes are stunning, there is something about having your home perched on a cliff high over the ocean that takes ocean front living to a whole other another dimension of breathtaking. Homes on a cliff tend to capture a different feeling then living at sea level. Some describe it as “other worldly.” While you might not have the ocean right out your door, these houses offer a view that places you at the edge of the world and in the heavens all at the same time. -L.G.

Contempory and Clifftop in Thailand– This Thailand residence combines cliff side living with ultra modern design– the result? A truly impressive property for anyone who appreciates contemporary architecture, deep green forest, stone cliffs, deep blue water and being suspended about one hundred feet over it.

Cliffside Cabin in Chili– While the style of this Chilean Vacation Home may be simple and laid-back, it is certainly as impressive as any ocean front estate as it hovers on the edge of a steep and rocky cliff far above the waves below. Despite its splendor, this quaint cabin would not be a good choice for the faint of heart– it boasts a spacious railing free deck that puts only the refreshing ocean air between you and the rocks that lie a vertigo-inducing distance below.

Want a house on a Cliff to call your own?– These multi-million dollar stunners might fit the bill.

A True Belvedere– This 6 bedroom, 5 full bath, and 3 half-bath estate sits on the westernmost side of the exclusive Belvedere Island of San Francisco Bay. The homes large windows capture views over the sharp drop and beyond to Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline. Besides the $22 million asked for this elite property, if you can find an extra $12 million you can buy the parcel of sea-level property that sits below the cliff–landing you an extra acre in addition to your own boathouse and pier. Sotheby’s Realty, $22 Million.

Luxury in Laguna Beach– If $22 million is outside your budge, this Laguna Beach property offers three private terraces, ultimate privacy, modern design, a white sand beach, Pacific Ocean views and the excitement of living on the edge of a cliff—all for just under $10 million. With its large glass windows and contemporary, curved shape, the design of the house takes every advantage to capitalize on its magnificent views. In addition to four luxurious bedrooms each with their own private bath, there is also a game room, meditation area, Gaggenau gourmet kitchen and long, steep steps leading to a white-sand beach. Coldwell Banker, $10 Million.

Bringing Vintage Coastal Style Into Your Bedroom

Bringing vintage coastal style into your bedroom is a way to either dress it up or down. It’s a salute to the coast and will bring a traditional or antiqued feel to your contemporary bedroom.

To achieve all this you don’t have to be a world renounced interior designer either. Pulling colors and images directly from the ocean, combined with bright whites, emphasized with natural woods, navy strips, and a few antiqued accessories is basically the gist of it. This post will help you get some great ideas for each area of your bedroom from the choice of linens to your bedroom floor finish.

The Bed

In any bedroom the style and design of the bed can really set the stage for the entire look and feel of the room. It may seem too easy but the trick is to keep your linens crisp and white and use pillows or a foot blanket as accent pieces. Going for navy strips or just a plain navy print will help create a coastal feel.

If you own a sailboat or know someone who does, get a hold of a sail and get custom slipcovers bed skirts constructed. This will make a great nautical statement when paired with navy stripes and it also brings a piece of a ship into the room!

Choosing the right type of bed frame and headboard also plays a major part in the look of the bed. Pairing traditional metal bed frames or antique garden gates as a headboard with antique side tables looks great in these guest rooms.

When working with classic coastal color schemes in the room such as blues, sea grass green, and yellows there is no need to be overly nautical. For a simple look, try an antiqued solid wood bed frame with posts paired with traditional coastal colors to achieve the desired feeling.

Floors, Walls and Ceilings

Wood, wood, and wood! Aging your home and adding a “ship like” and vintage feel is achieved with wood and is probably the most essential part of any nautical theme. There are a few choices for finishing the floor but if you can custom order wide planks it will really bring a vintage feel. To age and add extra history to your floors, get them professionally distressed with an antique finish.

Bright white wood paneling is perfect for a coastal feel on the walls. Another idea is to leave intricate framing exposed to play with the early American architecture design. A unique design which would definitely add extra character to your bedroom is using wood exterior shingles on one wall to make the space appear as though it was an addition to the original home. Notice the wood detailing on the ceiling in this picture, as it also adds a wonderful feel to the room, almost as if you are down on the second floor of a ship.

One of our favorite details in many vintage coastal homes is their use of exposed beams. In modern homes you can get these types of beams installed and they do not have to be functional in the framing of your home. It would be a small renovation which would make a big impact! Make sure to shop around for your beams. Often historic properties are taken apart piece by piece and the pieces of old wood and large beams are auctioned for sale.

Accessories

Weathered wooden pieces will enhance the rustic theme in any room. If you love antique shops, shopping for bedroom accessories is where your trained eye will come in handy. Try adding a large weathered pine or cedar chest to the end of your bed or even a large beach wood tree trunk as a coat rack. A stack of antique suitcases adds extra storage to the bedroom and acts as a memento of the spirit of travel that has always drawn people to the coast.

If you happen to come across a great weathered wooden bowl use it in your bedroom. Fill the bowl with shells, pieces of beach glass or any other type of keepsake from the sea then place a few small candles on top. This elegant coastal piece is not only beautiful but is fun to consistently add to.

This guest post was brought to you by PartSelect.com, your complete online resource for DIY appliance repair!

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Coastal Living

Country Living

OceanFront Home featured in Architectual Digest heads to Auction Block

Down from its original asking price of $45 Million, The Razor’s starting auction price of $16 Million represents the luxury oceanfront realty deal of a lifetime.

For those who appreciate modern architecture, pure opulence and unparalleled Ocean Views, opportunity is calling in the San Diego suburb of La Jolla. “The Razor” sits hollowed into a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From its perch above Black’s Beach, The Razor boasts majestic views of the Pacific and the lush Pine Mountains of California’s Torrey Pines State Reserve.

After the original owner was faced with financial difficulties the Razor was put under the control of a court-appointed trustee. After remaining on the market for three years The Razor is going be sold by verbal auction on September 28 at noon PDT at the premises. The auction presents a rare, but exclusive opportunity for discerning home buyers. The auction price will be exclusively available to qualified bidders and bids must be in US Cash. In order to qualify to attend bidders must wire US $500,000 to the trustee’s account by 5pm PDT on Tuesday, September 21, 2011 and submit proof of ability to close by November 15, 2011 to the Trustee.

The house was built by architect Wallace Cunningham who was given a free rein as well as an unrestricted budget by the original owner. Over 8 years Cunningham commissioned a glass oasis worthy of the Rolls Royce of Ocean views—and with a building cost of $34 million to prove it. With the mere cost of building The Razor reaching $34 million alone, the minimum bid of $16 million required to purchase the Razor in its upcoming auction is essentially a clearance rack price for a house of this caliber. “It’s a steal,” says listing agent Bob Hurwitz to AOL Real Estate, “It shows what you can buy right now in the market on the high end.” -Lindsay Gabrielski