If ever there was a house that begged to be embraced, it is the unassuming cottage on a small coastal pond in Edgartown, on the southern edge of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Measuring just 1,700 square feet, the three-bedroom house, situated on a compact piece of property, is a year-round refuge that demonstrates how carefully rendered principles of art and science can converge to give homeowners everything they need, while showcasing spectacular views, rugged natural materials, local artisanry, and sustainability.

Finding the right partner to realize the homeowner’s vision was effortless. “They knew about us and followed our work, so they just approached us and announced, ‘We’re ready to do our house,’” recalls Gregory Ehrman, partner at Hutker Architects. “It was the most natural pairing ever.”

Ehrman and Sean Dougherty, principal at Hutker Architects, saw both the beauty and the challenges of the site right away. Where a small decaying house had stood, they knew it would be paramount to weave the design with the natural setting and the Vineyard’s artistic culture to create a house that matched the homeowners’ vision. Today, the property is a joy: at once simple, dramatic, and right at home.

Approaching the residence from the parking court, a ramp gently slopes upward to take visitors to the glass front entry. The door reveals the first scenic look of the pond and ocean, which appear through generous windows on the water side of the house. The structure’s core, topped by a gabled copper roof, is its sturdy center. Adjoining are five flat-roofed cubes, built on helical piers, that appear to float on seagrass. The cubes house the more personal spaces, including a bedroom and bath and an office, appearing to float on seagrass. Says Dougherty, “The home is very simply settled on the land.” The easygoing comfort of the exterior belies the exacting science that went into its design.

“Behind the challenges of the design are very familiar forms,” Dougherty explains. “The center gable is classic New England style while the more contemporary structures are clad in shingles.” At the heart of the design are sustainability principles, where much of Doughtery’s work continues to be focused at Hutker Architects. Because of its proximity to the water, the size of the house was contained to a point just beyond the previous home’s footprint. The upward-sloping walkway that leads to the raised entrance and dwelling is carefully lined with gardens, creating the subtle elevation necessary for rising sea levels.

With a primary focus on resiliency, Dougherty pushed the envelope to create a certified passive, net-zero–energy building by PHIUS + Source Zero. The home generates more energy than it consumes. The foundation and landscape elements are encased in Cor-Ten steel, which has a naturally weathered patina that grows more striking through the years.

Inside, rooms are filled with natural materials and personal artistic stamps of the homeowners, who are longtime islanders and involved in the arts. The central cathedral space, with an exposed structural steel frame and white oak ceiling, defines the dining area and the interior circulation that connects the primary social space with the private, more contemporary spaces. The more modern elements radiate from the central gable form and are tied together with a white oak floor, which changes slightly in pattern where the two types of spaces meet.

Rich details abound. On the side of the kitchen island are symbols dear to the homeowners, cut from a sheet of bronze. The leftover sheet hangs in the breakfast bar. A hutch in the dining area is topped with a wave pattern by Hutker and is reminiscent of a quilting pattern designed by one of the homeowners. Kitchen cabinets are clad in rough-sawn wood.

The work of local artisans and artists appears in almost every room, including work by the artist Allen Whiting. “The origin of the house and all that is within was inspired by our sense of place,” says Dougherty, who lives in Oak Bluffs.

Dougherty and Ehrman reveled in bringing the house to life, especially its sensibility and scale. “It was a wonderful project,” Dougherty says. “The clients are lovely people who are immersed in the local culture. It’s fitting that their home be an heirloom that will be enjoyed for generations.”

This home is featured in Hutker Architects’ latest book, New England Coastal: Homes that Tell a Story, which will be released June 12.

“New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story”

Hutker Architects is presenting this spring the firm’s third book, New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story. The book, including 200 original photographs, will be released June 12.

“Every house in this book is a residential heirloom,” says Mark Hutker, the founder of Hutker Architects, an award-winning firm in Falmouth, Mass. “Each design is deeply rooted in New England vernacular but with a modern sensibility.”

Several of the 13 houses that appear in the book have been covered in publications, including Ocean Home, Architectural Digest, and Veranda. Others have not been previously published.

New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story is available for preorder on Amazon. A collector’s edition will be available for purchase at book signings scheduled to begin in May and run through September. For event dates, visit hutkerarchitects.com.

It was the views of Long Island Sound that seduced them.

The New York City couple had come to Larchmont, New York, looking for a place to rent that was an easy commute to their Manhattan jobs. Their plan was to test the waters to see whether they liked the community enough to buy. But the minute they stepped through the front door of the 1910 Spanish Colonial house, they knew that it would be the perfect place to raise their two young sons.

“When we saw the sea, it was clear that this was a special property,” says the husband.

“The view,” the wife adds, “is expansive.”

Because they had never owned a house before, they really didn’t know what they were getting into. But it didn’t matter because they were smitten. They moved in immediately and hired Charles Hilton Architects, which is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, to restore, renovate, and reshape the house to suit their lifestyle.

The house, which is in a historic district, did, indeed, need work. The floors sagged, the walls lacked insulation, and demolition revealed unanticipated water damage and rot. The Spanish-tile roof, the exterior stucco façade, and all the windows, doors, millwork, and trim had to be replaced as did the outdated mechanicals, the electrical system, and the decades-old kitchen and baths.

What’s more, the unstable sunroom was demolished and reconstructed, and the two original first-floor bay windows and two second-floor bay windows, which were later additions, were replaced with larger windows to bring the light—-and the view of the Sound that so enchanted the owners—into the family room, living room, primary bedroom suite, and boys’ study. 

“We took the lead from the house’s century-old architecture and enhanced it,” says architect Chuck Hilton, adding that the stucco façade and wood trim were replaced with more durable PVC that looks like the real thing. “At the same time, we took the opportunity to rework the circulation of the floor plans for the first and second floors to be more efficient and better meet the owners’ needs.”

To that end, the kitchen, pantry, and mudroom were reconfigured, and the dining room was converted into a family room. Dining now takes place in what was the old study.

Perhaps the most significant alteration was the removal of a chimney and its three fireplaces, creating a different configuration in the core of the house that allowed for a more generous closet and bath in the primary suite and a larger playroom for the boys. Original details, including the exposed ceiling beams in the living room, entry hall, and family room, were preserved and paired with new built-in cabinetry and a new fireplace surround whose design reflects the style of the house.

“We kept asking ourselves what the house wanted to be,” says Charles Hilton Architects project manager Jason Wyman. “The house reflects the personality of the owners.”

That personality—colorful, exuberant and multicultural—is echoed in the décor by Jenny Wolfe Interiors of New York City.

“We didn’t want a traditional or modern style,” the wife says, adding that they selected a palette of “pleasing watery blues and greens that transition from room to room. We wanted everything to be transitional and to pay homage to our heritage—I’m from India, and my husband is from Spain.”

It is the extensive use of wallpaper, by request of the homeowners, that defines the interior spaces. Enormous white cranes wing their way across the dining room, cheetahs leap playfully around the formal powder room, and a map of the world in the boys’ bedroom opens their eager eyes to endless possibilities.

One of the wife’s favorite spaces, an office in the sitting area of the primary suite, features a mural of a scene from her native India.

“It’s a work of art in and of itself,” the husband says.

The new-old house is designed to last for generations, and the couple feels so at home that they cannot imagine living anywhere else.

“We’re a five-minute walk from the park,” the husband says. “We love the community.”

And, the wife adds, “every room is so special that I can’t choose a favorite—I love them all.”

Its interiors may have been inspired by the historic look of Charleston, South Carolina, but a new home in Port Aransas, Texas, will never feel old.

That’s because interior designer Meredith Owen knows how to work not just with the past, but also with the future. And for the interiors of this 6,000-square-foot residence overlooking the Texas Gulf Coast, she applied that knowledge with understated elegance.

Owen, owner of the Austin-based interior design firm that bears her name, worked hand in glove with her clients for a feel that’s totally different from other homes in the planned community of Sunflower Beach. “They didn’t want it to be super-bright and white, like every other beach house,” she says. “They wanted a Charleston vibe—not white oak floors, but some darker colors and moodier counters,” she says.”

Both home and community were designed by architect Mark Schnell, principal in Florida-based Schnell Urban Design. A dedicated advocate of the New Urbanism prevalent along Florida’s Highway 30A, he created Texas coastal developments including Cinnamon Shore and Palmilla Beach. And like the Florida waterfront communities of Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Watercolor, Sunflower Beach embraces walkability, connectivity, and architectural quality.

“I’ve been involved with the Sunflower Beach project from the beginning, and I’ve touched just about every aspect of design in the community,” he says. “I designed the master plan in 2013, wrote the design code in 2014 and 2015, and provided design review for all houses and landscape.”

This house, though, was his first design in the community, and he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to create a Gulf-front home for one of its developers. “I tried to design a house worthy of the incredible views and the prominent location adjacent to the dune crossover,” he says. “With a stunning view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico, I thought it was a chance to design a landmark not just for Sunflower Beach, but also for Mustang Island as a whole.”

Peter Young, the cofounder of UWC Custom Builders in Port Aransas, was hired to build the new home. When its framing was nearly complete, ownership suddenly changed hands. “The new owners were business partners with the original owners,” he says. “They went back to the drawing board, and that’s when Meredith was brought on for additional elements.”

Inside the home’s five bedrooms on three levels, interior designer Owen and her team created spaces to welcome multiple generations of her new clients’ family. “We customized each space to family members,” she says. “We worked with them to let us be more creative, like with the chandelier in the living area that comes down three stories from the top.”

The design code Schnell wrote for residences at Sunflower Beach embraced elements like the location of the front door, the parking areas, the balconies and the three-part massing, all incorporated as signature elements for construction there. He broke each home’s design down into a primary mass, a secondary garage area, and a connector between the two. “It prevents the home from becoming too bulky, and creates a comfortable scale along the street,” he says.

Like most homes at Sunflower Beach, this one’s porches and balconies are some of its most memorable features. Schnell placed special emphasis on verticality, with the dining room, living room, and porch columns especially tall and soaring.

“The porch on the north side of the second level extends out from the body of the house and includes massive 12-by-12-inch brackets below and equally massive 12-by-12-inch columns that are more than 18 feet tall in some locations,” he says. 

Inside, rather than reinvent the wheel for the new house, the architect looked back to a popular floor plan as its starting point, one that had been successful elsewhere. He adjusted his design to adapt to its 60-by-100-foot lot, as well as to the needs of his clients. “The entry experience is notable for the courtyard and foyer featuring a view out to a small garden,” he says.

The first level includes two bedrooms with a bunk room and media area at its center. The second level features two more bedrooms and a powder room, plus living space. There’s a kitchen with large island designed for dining, a living room, and a dining area, each within a window-filled, double-height space with a wraparound porch. On the third level is a primary suite with private porch and expansive views of the Gulf.

For context, the home’s aligned with three others in a row, a fourth now under construction. “It’s sitting next to a house that’s blue and has brighter colors, like maroon shingles on top,” says interior designer Owen. “We wanted something softer, and to let the beach be the star of the show.”

And they succeeded—but, still, this home glows inside and out with a light all its own.

Calm drifts through the newly rebuilt house like sunshine on a cloudless day. The two-story midcentury-style getaway home is in perfect harmony with its setting on Eastern Bay, a tributary of Maryland’s majestic estuary, Chesapeake Bay, offering views and access to the surrounding waters and supreme indoor comfort.

A big part of the home’s sensory experience is the view of the Wye River, within sight through tall windows facing the back property. On the front side, there is a stirring view of the bay.

But also key to the successful rebuild is the uncannily similar views of the designer and the architect who brought it to fruition. Colleen Healey of Colleen Healey Architecture and Kate Ballou of Hendrick Interiors, both located in Washington, DC, sensed the potential for the home’s alluring peaceful feeling, and both were delighted to see that they were of like mind.

It was truly a “full-house rebirth,” architect Healey says. “The existing home was so well built that we really didn’t have to change structural parts or do a utility upgrade. That freed up the budget, so we were able to focus on quality detailing, material modifications, and integrated LED lighting. We really raised the efficiency of the house without a full-scale gut. I’m very proud of that.”  

From the outside, the original house had a simple beachy look. But inside, it was stuffy and a bit overdone, with French country-style ironwork, saturated woods, and dark cherry trim. The new owners, attorneys with children at home, bought the house as a place they could escape to on weekends from their Washington, DC townhouse.

Most of the work, Ballou and Healey say, was reimagining details and creating a framework for the homeowners’ collection of midcentury modern Danish pieces. “We wanted it to be bright and airy, richer wood with a matte finish,” says Healey. “It gives a totally different feel.”

The homeowners were totally on board – especially considering the couple’s Danish furniture, a collection which they have been cultivating for years. As the homeowner says, “my husband and I had a goal, to combine beautiful, clean lines with comfortable, functional pieces. The midcentury modern style of much of the interior pieces enabled us to achieve that combination.”

Before broaching details, Healey focused on architecturally modifying four main areas: the stair hall, kitchen, living room, and primary bath with closet suite. Healey’s namesake business is a full-service architectural firm, and working with her staff – including staff designer Casey Meyer – she chose tiles, lighting fixtures, cabinetry, countertops, and many finishes.

One of designer Ballou’s biggest focal points was providing certain pieces of furniture to complement the couple’s Scandinavian collection. In the kitchen, a group of Series 7 chairs at the breakfast table are a common item in Denmark. They are paired with a special PP75 Stayed table. In the dining room, three walls covered in dark blue grass cloth surrender the spotlight to a beautiful silver coin table by Finn Juhl and a traditional area rug underneath.  

Danish furniture is Ballou’s specialty and a personal love: “I love the organic shapes and forms, use of materials, solid woods, and environmentally friendly finishes. I love its integrity, it’s very honest.” In the living room, an upholstered sofa by Denmark’s Radio House, set with a blue pouf, is a cozy spot. The nearby black stone fireplace was pared back to a simple profile and clad in stone slabs.

Another delicate architectural touch is a modern glass railing on the staircase, with refined treads for a softer Scandinavian feel. Balusters are of sculpted bronze, continuously looped, with glass panes sliding through.

Perhaps the most stunning transformation is the first-floor primary bathroom, an unusually long, narrow space. The original primary suite lacked cohesion and access to sunlight, and a big shower jutted awkwardly into the space. (Two other bedrooms are upstairs.) The team reinforced the bathroom’s length with doors and panels. “Just to clean it up and give it rhythm,” Ballou says. Bronze, glass, and warm wood tones shine with sun coming from larger windows that also allow views of the water and marshes. The room, as most of the rest of the interiors, is painted white. “We wanted the palette to be simple, connected, cohesive,” Ballou says.

With new interiors and beautiful views, the owners have found their home away from home. As the homeowner says, “the house is calm and uncluttered, it feels like a refuge whenever we walk into it.”

A new home in Los Cabos by Brandon Architects blends an Old World feel with a modern aesthetic. It’s in the community of Maraville Los Cabos on the tip of the Baja Peninsula. Better yet, it’s adjacent to Montage Los Cabos, with access to all its amenities. And it has views to die for.

Out front and to the south, the Pacific Ocean stretches endlessly. Behind it, to the north-northwest, lies the tranquility of Santa Maria Bay. The architects smartly elevated, rotated, and curated the home to take advantage of it all.

“It’s not on the water, but a row behind, on the second tier up,” says Ryan McDaniel, partner and principal architect at the Costa Mesa, California–based firm.

Chris Brandon, who opened the office that bears his name in 2009, was savvy enough to check into the Montage Los Cabos so he could watch ongoing construction details for his clients. “They were private and had concerns about views from the Montage,” he says. “That’s one reason we did the architecture the way we did.”

An entry archway provides privacy from the street, while a central courtyard opens up views above. “Neighbors or friends come through that archway,” McDaniel says. “We used pocket doors and window walls to maximize views and connect the indoor and outdoor living and entertaining areas. 

The home is 12,600 square feet of air-conditioned space three stories with garage, plus two levels above and a roof deck. There are eight bedrooms and 13 baths. The clients, a family from Dallas, have five grown children, plus grandchildren. It’s a vacation retreat and a legacy property they use for family gatherings.

“There are different wings so the kids can bring their kids,” McDaniel says. “There are three bunkrooms, five junior suites, and an adjacent kids’ room, for a multigenerational home, and shared central living spaces with private wings for children and grandchildren.”

Brandon and McDaniel worked closely with Cabo Development Group’s Darin Antin, who served as architect of record and builder for the project. His firm ranges from 125 to 175 employees at any given time, including six full-time architects and four engineers.

“I know what to look for in terms of topography and geometry,” Antin says. “I do my own foundations, structural work, and masonry, and have my own heavy equipment—we’ve got evidence here that we can do any level of work.”

Antin’s a California native who’s been coming to Cabo since his parents, avid sport-fishers and divers, started bringing him here as a child. He’s lived in Cabo now for 30 years as a full-time resident, and working as designer, general contractor, and custom builder. His staff is 100 percent local, including artisans like stonemasons and joiners.

“I have a miller and a finish carpenter,” he says. “All the millwork—every cabinet, all the built-ins, interior doors and woodwork—it’s all done by one guy.”

For this project, Antin’s firm served not only as builder and supplier of Italian windows and Portuguese doors, but also as translators for English into Spanish, plus feet and inches into metrics—and as the go-to source for working through local rules and regulations.

“They dovetailed with us for codes, permitting, and construction documents,” Brandon says. “They were a great team of engineers and architects who picked up the ball where we left off.”

Inside, interior designer and Dream Home Makeover star Shea McGee of Salt Lake City’s Studio McGee wanted to create an atmosphere of luxurious beachfront living with indoor/outdoor elements. She took note of the windows and their stunning views throughout the house.

“Showcasing them was an integral part of the design process in every room,” she says. “We wanted as many windows as possible, as well as carving out areas where the indoors could meld with the outdoors.”

She saw the architects’ nods to the local vernacular, like arched doors in primary bedrooms and hand-painted tiles. “The traditional Spanish design influenced the furnishings we brought in, as well as the color palette,” she says. “We used local plaster artisans for the walls and sourced local wood for a few handmade pieces.”

And she added elements of a luxury hotel to the home as well. The clients wanted a house they could entertain in, for hosting friends and family in Mexico for their beach vacations. “One of their requests was to make the bedrooms color-coded so guests could easily find their way around,” she says. “We used the materials and the color palette to make it feel homey and inviting.”

Wood, linen, stone, and leather all meld seamlessly into their surroundings. The home may be coastal, McGee says, but she focused on timeless materials that are of the earth.

And that’s exactly what the architects wanted: a home in the Mexican tradition, but expressed in a contemporary language.

Yerba Buena Island, the new San Francisco, California, neighborhood developed by Wilson Meany and Stockbridge Capital Group, has debuted its newest completed residences, The Townhomes, within The Cove Residences enclave. Designed by Hart Howerton and featuring interior concepts by Meyer Davis, this exclusive collection of attached single-family architectural townhomes merges a timeless modern nod to the classic San Francisco row home with a seamless blend of Bay views, market-defining amenities, and sustainable living.

Situated atop the naturally formed Yerba Buena Island, between Downtown San Francisco and the East Bay, the new residences mark the milestone of reaching 50% completion in the island’s residential development. This news arrives on the heels of announcing its 124-residence completed condominium building, The Bristol, being 40% sold and declared the top-selling new residential development in San Francisco in 2023. 

Reimagining San Francisco’s iconic row homes

The Townhomes breathe new life into the classic San Francisco row home, with gracious, sunlit multi-story floor plans featuring large bay windows and expansive terraces that frame unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, Angel Island, the Berkeley Hills, and Clipper Cove. 

Floor plans range from 1,956 to 4,034 square feet across two, three, and four-bedroom layouts, starting from the high $2 million. Each home is distinct and boasts private entrances, attached garages, gourmet chef’s kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances, spa-style bathrooms, and expansive terraces that provide seamless indoor-outdoor living. Select homes include in-home elevators with private rooftop access, double-height great rooms, and lead gray-honed marble fireplaces. Every home boasts its own outdoor space, from east-facing gardens that catch the morning light to west-facing terraces that take in the evening glow, designed to immerse residents in the island’s incredible vistas and peaceful atmosphere.

“The Townhomes draw inspiration from the finely crafted building traditions of San Francisco coupled with the latest innovations of building materials and technology,” says Tim Slattery, AIA, a partner at Hart Howerton. “The homes are organized in a series that steps with the terrain, creating a unique rhythm and identity for each home. This design approach embraces a variety of expressions that respond to both the island’s natural and neighborhood settings.”

A new era of sustainable design

The Townhomes exemplify Yerba Buena Island’s commitment to sustainability and architectural excellence, with the goal of obtaining LEED Silver certification. Each home achieves environmental efficiency by integrating solar panels into the sophisticated design. This approach prioritizes the well-being of residents and contributes positively to preserving the island’s beauty, embodying Yerba Buena Island’s dedication to preserving and celebrating its natural landscap

“With the arrival of the initial Townhomes within The Cove Residence enclave at Yerba Buena Island, our vision of an urban village is truly coming to life,” says Chris Meany, managing partner at Wilson Meany, the co-developer along with Stockbridge Capital Group of Yerba Buena Island. “Designed by Hart Howerton to integrate with both the natural landscape and the architectural context of the site, each Townhome offers private outdoor spaces—from east-facing morning gardens to west-facing roof terraces—that capture the essence of the island’s views, sounds, colors, and breezes. We’re excited to invite people to experience a new way of living in San Francisco, where the thoughtful design and commitment to the environmental ethos of their homes enhance the natural setting.”

The showcase townhome: Maritime meets city design with panoramic views

Inspired by its prime location in the heart of The Cove Residences, the BraytonHughes-designed Showcase Townhome at Yerba Buena Island is a model of how city sophistication and natural beauty can coalesce. The internationally acclaimed San Francisco-based design firm has outfitted the home with a nautical theme, using natural materials and a soothing palette of creams and blues that mirror the coastal setting. The interiors are enriched with a mix of found objects and a bold modern art collection curated by the Jessica Silverman Gallery. 

Spanning 2,253 square feet, this 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence features extensive floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious terraces, and a rooftop deck, capturing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Clipper Cove, and the marina, seamlessly blending city sophistication with the natural beauty of its surroundings.

The Cove Residences: A village-like community

Located within The Cove Residences, adjacent to The Bristol condominiums, the initial release of The Townhomes is designed as a village-like enclave to foster connection and community while providing a tranquil urban retreat. Residents enjoy a safe, walkable lifestyle, access to 72 acres of parks, five miles of trails, a scenic dog park, the Point of Infinity sculpture by Hiroshi Sugimoto, the tranquil Clipper Cove beachfront, and access to an array of exclusive amenities and the forthcoming 10,000-square-foot wellness sanctuary, The Island Club. 

Exclusive amenities and The Island Club

Elevating the living experience, residents of The Cove Residences townhomes enjoy access to The Bristol’s LEED-certified amenities, which include an inviting lobby, a rooftop terrace with sweeping views for leisure and social engagements, and a modern fitness center. The forthcoming Island Club, a private sanctuary designed by Aidlin Darling Design, extends these luxuries with its 10,000-square-foot expanse dedicated to wellness and community. It features an array of amenities for relaxation and socialization, including a comprehensive fitness area, yoga and stretching rooms, a massage room, an outdoor pool and hot tub, and spa-inspired locker rooms with steam and sauna facilities. The Island Club also offers a private dining room, lounge, and library for quiet contemplation, a game room for entertainment, and an outdoor fireplace, all set against the backdrop of the island’s stunning views. 

Redefining urban living: Yerba Buena Island’s visionary approach

Emerging from two decades of strategic planning, Yerba Buena Island introduces a refreshing urban living model, placing you at the city’s core while surrounded by nature and community — and only an 8-minute ferry ride from downtown San Francisco. The success of The Bristol and The Townhomes exemplifies this innovative approach, merging modern urban architecture with a profound connection to the natural environment. This vision cultivates a lifestyle that enhances wellness, sustainability, and community ties. Yerba Buena Island presents a unique duality: a retreat and a dynamic link to urban life, affirming that city living can be revitalizing, environmentally aware, and deeply integrated with community values.

“The introduction of The Townhomes at Yerba Buena Island presents a lifestyle not previously available in San Francisco, blending urban convenience with perfectly-sized architectural residences amidst the serenity of nature,” shares Krysen Heathwood, senior managing director at Compass Development Marketing Group. “This unprecedented living experience emphasizes well-being, a connection to nature, and a genuine sense of community. We know and are already hearing that The Townhomes are truly a one-of-a-kind offering in San Francisco and the Bay Area.”

Sales begin this spring

The public sales launch for The Townhomes is set for this spring. Pricing starts at $2.85 million, and sales are represented by Compass Development Marketing Group.

YerbaBuenaIslandSF.com

Using nature as her guide, designer Monica Slodarz created interiors for a waterfront condo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that drink in the views, breathe in the gentle ocean breezes, and reflect the blue-hued beauty of the softly lapping ocean waves.

The condo, for a family with three young and vivacious children, is meant to be a lively yet tranquil retreat as well as a repository for a substantial collection of colorful and edgy contemporary art. To give the art top billing, Slodarz, the principal of Miami-based The Art of Design, created a neutral backdrop that showcases the works as if they are on display in an avant-garde gallery.

“Our sources of inspiration were deeply rooted in the coastal surroundings and the desire to create a haven of serenity and understated luxury,” Slodarz says. “The fluidity of the ocean influenced the use of organic shapes and textures in the home, such as the gently curved furniture, seashell-inspired décor, and driftwood accents.”

The subtle color palette—whites, creams, and soft greys—was selected to amplify and reflect the natural light, making the scenery center stage.

“In a beachfront setting, where sunlight is abundant, these colors make the interior spaces feel brighter, more welcoming, and reduce the need for artificial light during daylight hours,” she says. “The palette also creates a sense of openness that complements the wide, unobstructed vistas of the sea and sky.”

She adds that the “interior becomes a canvas that accentuates, rather than competes with, the outdoor views.”

Those views led Slodarz to overlay a palette of soft blues, sandy neutrals, and hints of seafoam green to the spaces. “The azure waters and the rhythm of the waves served as a constant muse,” she says. “The palette reflects and complements the beauty of the surroundings.”

The materials, too, were selected to accentuate the indoor-outdoor flow of the spaces, creating what Slodarz calls the look and feel of “timeless elegance.” She used a variety of natural materials, including stone, to bring pattern, texture and a sense of luxurious ease to the spaces. The floors, cabinetry, and furniture are made of warm-toned woods, including oak and teak; the draperies, upholstery, and bedding are linen and cotton; and wicker and rattan pieces add a touch of coastal charm.  

The organic nature of the décor is aptly illustrated in the main living space, where a wall of windows highlights a curvaceous sofa whose bulbous white boucle upholstery is as luscious as a marshmallow. Its sultry shape is echoed in the circular coffee table, whose wedged pie-like leaves are clad in natural rattan, another nod to nature. The opposite wall is dominated by two large artworks that bring pops of color to the serene setting.

In the dining room, the curves continue. The dining table, topped by a slab of white marble that matches that of the adjoining kitchen island, is circular. The chairs, upholstered in the same white boucle as the living room sofa, have back rests that look like soft clouds of cotton. The scene is illuminated by a Calder-style mobile pendant, a dynamic piece that sways slightly to catch the eye.

The kitchen, elegant and efficient, is a study in white that’s punctuated by subtle accents of black in the sleek bar stools and the veins of the marble.

The most challenging part of the project, Slodarz says, was “finding the right balance between providing privacy, blocking the view of an old building next door to the south of the apartment, and maximizing the natural light coming from the exterior wall that was all glass. This required thoughtful spatial planning, the strategic placement of custom built-in furniture, and the use of innovative shading solutions that could be adjusted according to the time of day and privacy requirements.”

For a family of four from Manhattan, the lure of true indoor-outdoor living proved too much to resist during the pandemic, and they found exactly that lifestyle in Palm Beach, Florida, in a beautiful home located just steps from the ocean.

“They literally are across the street from the beach,” says Jennifer Mehditash, principal and owner of the New York- and Newport Beach, California-based Mehditash Design.

The house presented some initial challenges in the form of its layout, with features like a too-large entryway with lots of unusable space and a small living room that was cut off from the kitchen. So the clients tapped Mehditash, along with Jupiter, Florida-based architecture and construction firm Thomas Melhorn and Palm Beach-based landscape architect Environment Design Group, to reimagine the home inside and out. 

Clever transformations

The team transformed the front entryway and stairwell from a space that was “sort of empty and not very welcoming” into one that not only made an architectural statement with the reconfigured stairs, but also added storage and functionality with vestibule-style laundry room and powder room and did so with incredible style.

Mehditash loves the powder room’s geometric, black, white, and gray tiles that cover the floor and the bottom half of the walls, as well as the “surprise” of custom glitter grout. Those same black-and-white geometric materials repeat in the family room on the coffee table and the marble sideboard that was custom made in Portugal.

Throughout the downstairs Venetian plaster on the walls gives a beautiful, textured finish. A too-small TV and fireplace wall and oddly configured entryway from the living room to the main bedroom were reworked by creating vestibules on either side of the TV and fireplace that are camouflaged with wide, shiplap-planked doors.

When the doors are closed, it gives the feeling of a single, wide wall, but each door opens to something different: the main bedroom on one side with a more private entrance, and a pretty, “jewel box” home office on the other.

Maximize Space 

In addition to maximizing space in the entryway and living room, the team also opened up the space between the kitchen and living room areas, allowing for a customized kitchen island and bar area, as well as a custom built-in banquette wall dining space.

The kitchen is bright and clean, with a large, custom walnut and marble island and cabinetry that extends to the ceiling, along with pops of interest from large gold-accented globe pendants hanging over the island; a coffee bar in a black metal finish; bursts of color from vintage Murano glass pieces; and a zinc table that’s not only beautiful but sturdy, letting the family’s kids “live their best life on it,” Mehditash says.

Throughout the house, more color and visual interest come from pieces from artists like James Perkins, Sarah Meyohas, Paul Kneale, and Rachel Lee Hovnanian from Voltz Clarke Gallery in New York and County Gallery in Palm Beach.

Indoor-outdoor living 

Part of Palm Beach’s appeal is its indoor-outdoor lifestyle, and the team wanted to create those moments wherever they could throughout the house. “We really wanted there to be that indoor-outdoor living experience,” Mehditash says.

In addition to enlarging the pool and making improvements to the outdoor lounge and loggia dining space, the team used large, windowed doors from the company Brombal that swing wide open onto the pool from the living room, kitchen, and main bedroom and that Mehditash calls a “key feature.”

“The most important thing was opening up the windows and having those windows be stackable,” Mehditash says. “All those back sliding doors open up and stack and so you really do feel like you’re in the outside when you’re in the living room.”

Those touches of the outdoors are echoed in other ways, too, from the natural, cool-toned European oak flooring; to the main bathroom’s rainfall shower; to wallpaper in the bedrooms (think green palm fronds and blue-and-white wave pattern); to the surfboards that not only stand in as décor but that the family really uses; to the performance fabrics that won’t be ruined if someone sits down with a damp bathing suit. “It’s definitely a put-your-feet-up kind of house, while still looking very chic and elevated,” Mehditash says.

Tara Cain’s clients so enjoyed their three-month winter escape to Naples, Florida, that by the time they headed back to their Minnesota home on Lake Minnetonka, they had a contract for a 2,600-square-foot condo overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Construction began within months, and by Christmas the couple, who have two twenty-something kids, were again soaking in the sun. “We touched every space to make it feel more elevated,” Cain says.

The designer encouraged the couple to fashion the getaway in a style different from their traditional Twin Cities home. The condo is open and airy with a coastal vibe and ocean views at every turn. “It feels more SoCal than Florida,” Cain says. “The spaces are neutral, textural, airy, and layered with natural materials and finishes.”

Entry is into a tiny space that Cain defined with a trio of Allied Maker grooved wooden flush-mount light fixtures that have presence overhead. White oak flooring installed in a herringbone pattern spreads underfoot throughout, for a sophisticated but not formal or fussy look. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, making the entire space bright, white, and light.

Although the team removed the wall between the kitchen and living area to create a unified great room, there is a 32-inch-wide portion that provides some separation between the entry and the main event. As such, rather than declaring its presence full force up front, the ocean view is partially obscured, resulting in a more gradual unfolding. That small slice of the bright-blue view pulls you in. “You naturally gravitate toward the windows and sliders to the lanai,” Cain explains.

The wall, which Cain paneled along with other walls for a cohesive, elevated effect, presents the first opportunity for artwork: a whitewashed pine sculpture by Caprice Pierucci. The elongated, three-dimensional, lacy twist of wood has the look of a vertebra that might have washed up on the beach. “As you walk around it, you see different shapes and shadows depending on where you stand and the time of day,” says Kathy Ganley, who leads the Midwest office of Mason Lane Art Advisory.

A comfy sectional in chalk-colored performance fabric sits atop a Stark rug made from natural fibers, hugging a pair of faux bois resin coffee tables with fossilized shell tops. The juxtaposition of forms and finishes renders the monochromatic area interesting. A skinny, white oak floating console with caned insets inconspicuously anchors the television on the main wall, to which Cain also added paneling. White pleated linen sconces subtly dress up the vignette and hint at the finely reeded white oak wet bar beside it.

The kitchen and dining areas stretch along the wall behind the sectional. Cain nestled into the corner a U-shaped banquette sporting marine-grade faux leather cushions with channeled backs. While the side wall boasts a picture window with an unobstructed ocean view, the back wall is held by a quietly compelling artwork by Lilian Crum. The piece features calligraphic markings made with sumi ink on paper that floats in a white wood frame. “The organic marks mimic the movement of the water outside,” Ganley observes.

To the left, a custom steel and glass shelf bridges the banquette with the kitchen, providing graphic contrast and display space without heaviness. White cabinetry does its job without encroaching upon the space visually; the quartzite countertops invigorate and tie it to the wet bar. Rattan pendants and leather stools at the island enhance the coastal tableau. “That things are durable and hardworking is especially important in a vacation home,” Cain says. “Leather looks even better as it patinas.”

A small abstract painting with a muted palette by Joanna Cutri is an intimate touch at the island, best taken in up close. “The owner was intrigued by Cutri’s work, so we found a spot for this,” Ganley shares. “She wanted work by female artists; this is a conversation piece that fits in well with the collection.”

Three bedrooms with king-sized beds, en suite baths, and a shared lanai ensure comfort for friends and family. The primary suite, with its commanding view and spa-like bath—now suffused with light thanks to a second set of doors from the bedroom—provides respite for the owners.

The home’s sole spot of color, an artwork of tinted polymer poured on aluminum panel by Susan English, hangs over the bed. “The husband asked for some color in the bedroom, so we gave it to him in ocean hues,” Ganley says. In talking about the procurement of art pieces, she and Cain note that the clear vision and collaboration contributed to the project’s success. “I like to bring the right people together to make the magic,” Cain concludes.

Learn more about the project team

Interior design: Tara Cain Design
Art advisor: Mason Lane Art Advisory

Good things come, an old Chinese proverb says, in pairs. There’s the balance between yin and yang. The contrast of salt and pepper. And the possibilities of pen and paper.

Then there’s Stephanie Halfen of SDH Studio Architecture + Design and her husband, Ricardo, of Treo Construction (she’s an architect; he’s a builder) who teamed up for a new home overlooking Sky Lake in Florida. The interior design team? Alanna Kleiner and Adriana Grauer, dual principals in a firm they call AGSIA. The clients are a couple who share the Halfens’ Venezuelan background and are their close friends to boot.

Together they envisioned, designed, and built a home on a lot overlooking a rare freshwater lake, ten minutes from Miami Beach. “There are practically no lakes here, and when there is one, alligators are in it,” Ricardo says. “This one doesn’t connect to the ocean system or salt water: there’s no marine life, so people can swim there.”

For this outdoorsy couple and their children, living outside was the raison d’etre for their new home. So their architect aimed to bring in views of the lake, integrate inside with outside, and blur their lines, but make it all functional too. That was no mean feat, given that the lot’s shaped like a trapezoid, and the prime view is off to the left.

Stephanie designed one wing of the 4,100-square-foot home with privacy for its bedrooms in mind. Another wing is semiprivate, for the kitchen and family room. The center space is the heart of the home, designed for living and dining. “They’re continually walking around in it, for the views and the landscape,” Stephanie says. “It’s a house that’s very cozy, and at the same time open to the outside.”

She achieved that with a center space that rises higher than the two wings, opening up to sky and water. She dropped down the rooflines for the kitchen and bedroom wings, for a more opaque effect. “The center is more impressive, but it’s cozier on the sides where the more intimate areas are,” she says.

Her design intent was to reinterpret the midcentury modern style, with flat, double-height rooflines that are slightly sloped but barely noticeable. What is noticeable is a malleable center space for entertaining and big gatherings. “They can open up the inside to the outside and meld them together,” Ricardo says. “And there’s the patio, pool, dock and lake. It all flows together well.”

The drop down from house to lake is a steep 10 feet, so the architect and builder graded it and created descending sections on separate levels. The main approach to the home is on the street level; overlooking the lake at the rear is a lawn, then a pool and deck, and finally the lake.

The descent from house to lake is designed as an enjoyable passage, with five platforms along the way. “They make the transition smooth,” Stephanie says. “Then, when you’re in the lake, there’s a very nice feeling of going up and down the whole circulation.”

Inside, Kleiner and Grauer used restraint as they worked with the architecture, the fixtures, and the furnishings, taking care to focus on the view of the lake and bring its darker tones inside. “There are natural colors like terra cotta and greens, layered with a lot of textures,” Kleiner says. “The leather in the furniture is in natural colors, heavily textured, warm, and comfortable for the Miami weather.”

Interior spaces inside are narrow and tall, she says. To deal with high ceilings in the great room, the interior designers used accents with vertical lighting to bring them down to human scale. The kitchen and dining area are separated by a floor-to-ceiling partition, though there is a good flow between the two.

Along with using slabs of stone and limestone-like tile, the interior designers wrapped much of the kitchen in a manufactured wood that ties it all together. An engineered wood product, it’s three-quarters of an inch of white oak, layered like plywood and then installed as tongue and groove. “It’s five millimeters on the back,” Ricardo says.

The new home is sited in a neighborhood that’s steadily upgrading its stock of about 40 homes built back in the 1970s. It’s the third that Kleiner and Grauer have updated on the lake. “They’re getting renovated, from traditional developers’ houses to personalized, upgraded homes,” Kleiner says. “Most are getting redone.”

Here, the two interior designers worked hand in hand with the architect, builder, and clients for a flawless design and presentation. “It’s hard to separate the architecture from the interior,” she says. “It’s very blended.”

That’s because good things so often come in pairs.

sdhstudio.com