Tailoring homes to fit every homeowner’s vision—and life
One of the best parts of designing a custom home is shaping it around how you live. Each house presents a new challenge—whether it’s maximizing a tricky site, working around zoning restrictions or creating a unique way to blend indoor and outdoor living. The beauty of bespoke design is that these challenges often lead to the most creative and rewarding solutions.
Sometimes, that means working within constraints—zoning laws, site challenges or even just the practicalities of everyday life. But more often than not, those very constraints inspire the best results.
Every homeowner has a unique vision, and bringing those ideas to life often leads to some of the most exciting and creative design solutions. Here are a few projects where thoughtful design turned challenges into elegant, highly functional solutions.
A Private Home Office—Without a Separate Building
At Hilltop Modern, the homeowners needed a dedicated home office—somewhere quiet, separate from the main living space. Initially, we envisioned a detached accessory structure in the backyard. However, zoning restrictions didn’t allow for it.
Rather than compromise on their vision, we found a creative alternative: placing a light-filled office above the garage. Since the garage sits half a level below the main floor, the office feels entirely separate, with its own private stair and deck—no shared walls, no disruptions. The result? A workspace that offers the privacy of a separate building while technically remaining part of the main home. The space is both visually and acoustically separated. As a bonus, this solution preserved more of the backyard for outdoor living. It was the perfect blend of form and function, proving that the right design can often surpass the original idea.
Making a Basement Feel Like a Main Level
At Hillside Modern, the site boasted breathtaking views—but a height restriction imposed by the previous owners meant the home could only be a single story with a walkout basement. The homeowners didn’t love the idea of a basement, so the challenge became designing a lower level that didn’t feel like one.
We accomplished this with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the lower level with natural light and framing the views beautifully. We also incorporated an oversized opening at the stairwell, making the lower level feel as inviting as the main floor. The space feels open, airy and anything but underground.
A Rooftop Retreat That’s Simple Yet Stunning
At Sunset House, the homeowners wanted to embrace outdoor living in every way possible. Their wishlist included open-air gathering spaces, outdoor showers and even an outdoor sleeping area. One of the owners, an engineer, initially envisioned a motorized bed that retracted from an enclosed space at the push of a button.
Yet in the end, simplicity won out. A built-in daybed on the rooftop deck provided the perfect solution—no moving parts required. Now, the space functions as a private retreat for stargazing and a cozy lounge for family and friends at sunset.
A Hidden Office Nook That Disappears on Demand
At New Century Modern, both homeowners worked from home but had different needs. One wanted a traditional, enclosed office, while the other preferred a more open setting, that felt connected to the house but could be closed off when needed.
We created a custom office nook off the stairwell, designed with a hidden pocket door that disappears into a built-in bookcase. Most of the time, it remains open, blending seamlessly into the home. But when privacy is needed—or when it’s time to “leave work” for the day—the pocket door slides shut, tucking work away and transforming the nook into a private workspace.
A Multi-Use Room for Every Season
The family at Portal House wanted a flexible space: something that could serve as a pool cabana in the summer and a hangout for their school-age kids year-round. Instead of designing two separate spaces, we combined them.
A large sliding door opens the space directly to the pool, creating an effortless indoor-outdoor connection in warm months. In the winter, the only interior access is a spiral staircase from the kids’ bedroom wing, making it feel like their own private hideaway. It’s the kind of thoughtful design that makes a home not just beautiful but incredibly livable.
The Best Homes are Designed for You
Custom home design is all about making a home fit your lifestyle—not the other way around. If you’re thinking about building your dream home, I can help bring your vision to life. Let’s talk about how we can create something truly exceptional.
