Elegant Georgian Townhouse for a Family of 6

<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">The owners of this Georgian townhouse had an advantage when it came to renovating their home. The interior designer they called, Henriette von Stockhausen, had directed their home’s initial renovation some 15 years earlier and knew their likes and dislikes inside and out. “We’ve known the family for a long time, and we understand how their lives work and what they enjoy,” Von Stockhausen says. “I know [the mother] so well, I can predict exactly what sort of wallpaper and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d8901; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">fabric</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> she’ll like.” </span><br /> <div class="viewGalleryDescriptionHolder" itemprop="description" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class="viewGalleryDescription " id="viewGalleryDescription" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With four young children in the house, the biggest challenge for </span>Von Stockhausen<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> was designing a space that would stand up to the wear and tear of family life without compromising on beauty. </span>“<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It was difficult to keep a clean and pretty look while making it work for everyday life,</span>”<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span>Von Stockhausen says<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">. The designer used hidden storage to keep the design streamlined, and retained some traditional elements to ensure it didn’t end up being a standard clean look, but rather a detailed, nuanced and elegant interior.</span></div> </div> <div class="out" id="gallerySpaces" itemprop="articleBody" lb-context="gallery_46307047" scopeid="gallerySpaces" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px auto;"> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24069233" objid="24069233" posid="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,517" data-stnd="606,420" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Dining Room by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="517" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/59b185b704db7c3b_0337-w746-h517-b0-p0--contemporary-dining-room.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069233" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Photos by <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Alison Hammond Photography</span></span></i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Houzz at a Glance</b><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Who lives here: </b>A family of 6<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Location: </b>Kensington, London<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Size: </b>5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This dining area, at the front of the house, is accessed via large pocket doors off the hallway, increasing the sense of space. “Now we’ve opened up this room, it’s almost part of the hall,” says Von Stockhausen, of <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">VSP Interiors</span></span>. “We wanted to make the space flow a bit better because of all the children. Most of the time the doors are left open, but for more formal dinner parties, the space can be shut off.” <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She adds, “The client likes everything quite neutral, leaning more to grays than creams, and she loves things that sparkle.” The designer chose a soft sea grass wallpaper with silver leaf to bring in a bit of texture and weight. She had the dining table made with an ebony veneered base and a glass top, and stained the dining chair legs to match. She also reupholstered the chairs in a silvery taupe fabric with chrome nailing for a more contemporary look. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A cupboard in the left-hand corner is covered in the same wallpaper so it blends seamlessly with the rest of the room. “Everything from carafes to glasses are in there — basically anything you’d need in a dining room,” Von Stockhausen says. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wallpaper: Ralph Lauren; flooring: Fulham light oiled and smoked oak, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Solid Floor</span></span></i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24069383" objid="24069383" posid="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,501" data-stnd="606,407" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Kitchen by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="501" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7e21dd3e04db7ca2_0440-w746-h501-b0-p0--kitchen.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069383" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The kitchen is off the dining room through an open archway. While the feel of the space is quite different, with the kitchen having a more contemporary vibe, continuity was created through the oak floorboards and similar color scheme. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The key to the calm look of this room is that everything is hidden to keep the lines sleek and the surfaces clear. A full-height bank of appliances and cabinets spans the left-hand wall. Gaggenau ovens, a steamer and a large fridge-freezer stand next to tall walnut sliding doors that hide more cabinets and preparation areas, keeping any messes out of sight. All of the small appliances, including the <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">toaster</span></span>, coffee machine and teakettle, are stored here.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The kitchen was custom designed by VSP Interiors. The cabinets are white lacquer, and the countertop is granite in Snowdrift. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Appliances: Gaggenau; sink, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">faucet</span></span>: Franke</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069366" objid="24069366" posid="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Dining Room by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="639" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/830120dc04db7c93_0426-w422-h639-b0-p0--dining-room.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069366" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> At the other end of the kitchen is an informal dining space that the family regularly uses. “It’s quite a tricky space, because it’s narrow,” Von Stockhausen says, “so to make the most of it, the dining table needed to be custom made. It’s a size you can’t buy off the shelf.” <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A skylight was added to make the area light, bright and a friendly space for casual meals. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The dining table and benches are white lacquer with dyed leather seats. Ever conscious of practicalities, the client did a “spaghetti test” — placing spaghetti Bolognese on the leather samples overnight to see which would be best suited to family life. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wall paint: Cornforth White, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Farrow & Ball</span></span></i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069337" objid="24069337" posid="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Staircase by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/afb1642d04db7c84_0411-w422-h634-b0-p0--staircase.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069337" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The house has five stories, with two additional half levels. The front door opens to a hallway that merges with the open dining and kitchen areas. A basement level houses a bedroom, bathroom, playroom and <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">powder room</span></span>. On the half level above the kitchen–dining room is a study, and a drawing room is on the first floor. Up a half flight of stairs is a guest bedroom, then more steps lead up to a master bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and an<span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">en suite</span></span> on the second floor. On the third floor are two more bedrooms and a family bathroom. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Table, mirror: Louise Bradley; carpet: Stark Carpet; wall paint: Pavilion Gray, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Farrow & Ball</span></span></i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24069430" objid="24069430" posid="4" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,533" data-stnd="606,433" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Kids by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="533" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/fe41055704db7cc4_0474-w746-h533-b0-p0--contemporary-kids.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069430" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The playroom–family room is in the basement. With four children born since the last renovation, the family was in need of a less formal living space. There’s now lots of built-in storage so toys can easily be stashed away and the room can be used as a place in which the parents can relax.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wallpaper: <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Designers Guild</span></span></i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069188" objid="24069188" posid="5" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Powder Room by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/6f716d0d04db7c1b_0306-w422-h634-b0-p0--powder-room.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069188" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> To add interest to the small, windowless<span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">powder room</span></span> in the basement, Von Stockhausen went with a bold choice of wallpaper. “Without windows, spaces need something interesting to make them a bit more fun and give them some sort of impact,” she says. She went for a dark and atmospheric design, with a contrasting custom-made Carrara marble sink. The sink is hung slightly lower than normal to enable the children to reach it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wallpaper: Ralph Lauren; sink fixtures:</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hansgrohe; t</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">oilet, Laufen</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24070505" objid="24070505" posid="6" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,529" data-stnd="606,429" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Living Room by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="529" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7e21f13104db7f8f_1187-w746-h529-b0-p0--contemporary-living-room.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24070505" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> To bring the sparkle and glamour the client adores into the drawing room, Von Stockhausen opted for embroidery, glass beads and luxurious fabrics. White sofas are teamed with chocolate <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">armchairs</span></span> and fabrics from Designers Guild and Ralph Lauren to build up layers of texture and sumptuousness. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">John Cullen Lighting</span></span> designed the home’s lighting scheme. Von Stockhausen worked with the company to develop six mood settings for the Lutron lighting system that was installed, enabling the family to change the atmosphere with the touch of a button. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sofas: Nicky Haslam; armchairs: Massant; coffee table: Carew Jones; chandelier, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">console table</span></span>: Louise Bradley; curtain fabric: Salon Silk in Pearl Grey, Ralph Lauren; flooring: Solid Floor</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24070531" objid="24070531" posid="7" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Transitional Living Room by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="626" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/b6d128ef04db7fa8_9563-w422-h626-b0-p0--transitional-living-room.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24070531" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> “It was quite difficult to walk the line between classic and modern,” Von Stockhausen says. “Everything the client likes is quite modern, but she didn’t want to lose the traditional feel altogether.” The designer opted for classic elements, such as the Louise Bradley chandelier seen here, but kept clean lines in all of the cabinetry and the old stone fireplace.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fireplace: Wharton Antiques</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24069410" objid="24069410" posid="8" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,533" data-stnd="606,433" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Transitional Bedroom by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="533" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/9831c92304db7cb9_0463-w746-h533-b0-p0--transitional-bedroom.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069410" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The client wanted the master bedroom to stay fairly neutral but still be very pretty. “We found the most gorgeous, old-fashioned, dusky gray-pink color for the walls,” Von Stockhausen says, “and everything went from there.” A <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">pink sofa</span></span> was updated using white piping to give it a slightly more contemporary edge. The headboard was custom made by VSP Interiors, as were the curtains, in a fabric from Designers Guild. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bedside table: Moissonnier; bedside lamp: Porta Romana (discontinued); spotlights: <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">John Cullen Lighting</span></span>; sofa: Massant; </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">chinoiserie w</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">allpaper: Stark</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069539" objid="24069539" posid="9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Closet by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="608" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/eea1919704db7d1f_3111-w422-h608-b0-p0--closet.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069539" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> An important part of the redesign for the master bedroom was the addition of this sleek walk-in closet. It has a boutique feel and gives the whole suite a more lavish and indulgent feel. It was made by custom furniture company <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Minimo</span></span> in stained limed oak with the input of John Cullen Lighting. “This is essentially a very dark room, but lit properly it looks amazing,” Von Stockhausen says.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069106" objid="24069106" posid="10" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Bathroom by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/d891ff4604db7bee_0262-w422-h634-b0-p0--contemporary-bathroom.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069106" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The sense of opulence is continued in the master en suite, with mirrored walls reflecting the natural details of the Calacatta d’Oro marble. The flooring is granite in Snowdrift.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Shower: Hansgrohe; sink: Villeroy & Boch, undermounted in a custom-made marble unit; sink fixtures: CP Hart; lights: <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Vaughan</span></span>; wall paint: Cornforth White, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Farrow & Ball</span></span></i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069091" objid="24069091" posid="11" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Bathroom by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="608" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/b161ff5504db7be1_3712-w422-h608-b0-p0--contemporary-bathroom.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069091" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A deep, double-ended bath and a separate large shower make for luxurious bathing. </span>“<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">All of the surfaces that could be mirrored are, in order to maximize the light,</span>”<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span>Von Stockhausen says<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tub: Starlet double-ended undercounter</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Bette</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069446" objid="24069446" posid="12" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Traditional Kids by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="626" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/9971bac704db7cd5_3998-w422-h626-b0-p0--traditional-kids.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069446" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> On the top floor are two children’s bedrooms and an additional bathroom. This particular bedroom is quite small, so to accommodate all of the necessary storage, Von Stockhausen designed this princess bed with a built-in wardrobe and drawers. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“The wallpaper is basically toile de Jouy but with children’s patterns on it — children on swings and other things,” she describes. The simple blind fabric adds a lighter touch and prevents the wallpaper from feeling too serious. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">W</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">allpaper: </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Play Garden,</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Ralph Lauren; blind fabric: Designers Guild; </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">c</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">arpet: </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Oatmeal,</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Wool Classics</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24069470" objid="24069470" posid="13" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Traditional Kids by VSP Interiors" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="612" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/4141601a04db7ce3_4062-w422-h612-b0-p0--traditional-kids.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">VSP Interiors</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24069470" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> As the kids are all still quite young, and totally into pink, the second bedroom follows a similar scheme. “We wanted to keep it pretty and not too bright,” Von Stockhausen says. They installed a click flooring system made from a type of plastic that’s highly shiny and easy to clean. To soften the look, Von Stockhausen had a rug made by Loomah. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bed, bedside table: The White Company; armchair, ottoman: Massant; armchair fabric: Brunschwig & Fils; curtain </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">fabric:</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Diamond Matelasse, Ralph Lauren</i></div> </div> </div> </div>

Elegant Georgian Townhouse for a Family of 6

The owners of this Georgian townhouse had an advantage when it came to renovating their home. The interior designer they called, Henriette v...

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Stunning Rooftop Deck Tops a Totally Remodeled Home

<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Nearly 26 years ago, Geoff Lomax’s brother turned to him as they stood outside the 1929 Mediterranean-style home they had just bought together in Berkeley, California. He pointed to the roof and jokingly said, “That’s where a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d8901; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">rooftop deck</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> could go.”</span><br /> <div class="viewGalleryDescriptionHolder" itemprop="description" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class="viewGalleryDescription " id="viewGalleryDescription" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kidding or not, the observation stuck with </span>Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> for more two decades, during which time his <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">brother</span></span>moved overseas, leaving </span>Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> with the house. He married Sabina Aurilio shortly after and they had a son, Marco. Meanwhile the home had been steadily falling into disrepair. The ceilings were cracking and leaking. The foundation was shot — not something you want in earthquake country. And the landscape was severely <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">overgrown</span></span>. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></span></span></div> </div> <div class="out" id="gallerySpaces" itemprop="articleBody" lb-context="gallery_46258427" scopeid="gallerySpaces" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px auto;"> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="10532644" objid="10532644" posid="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Home Office by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/a891c4aa0335ce7a_5199-w746-h496-b0-p0--contemporary-home-office.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="10532644" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="24002645" objid="24002645" posid="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Home Office by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/357185dc04da656b_8661-w422-h634-b0-p0--contemporary-home-office.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24002645" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Houzz at a Glance</b><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Location:</b> Berkeley, California<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Who lives here: </b>Geoff Lomax, who oversees grants for stem cell research; Sabina Aurilio, a learning specialist; and their 12-year-old son, Marco<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Size: </b>About 1,300 square feet (120 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cost:</b> $500,000<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They decided that if they were going to fix up the house, they were going to stay in it forever, and would invest in making it last, do the original home justice and focus on their personal interests rather than on what future buyers might want. After saving money for nearly a decade and building more equity in the home, the couple hired Kerstin Hellmann of <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Sogno Design Group</span></span> to take the home down to the studs. Working with <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Berkeley Craftsmen</span></span> as general contractors, they then rebuilt the foundation, overhauled the kitchen and added two new bedrooms. And they created a stunning rooftop deck with views of the San Francisco Bay and a <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">dumbwaiter</span></span> to carry meals up from the kitchen. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Hellmann opened up a former guest bedroom, pushed the ceilings to double height and added 12-foot windows to create a sunny office that acts as a transition space between the main living floor, the new rooftop deck, the master bedroom and Marco’s room. “Someone is always in this space playing games, doing homework or using the computer,” Hellmann says.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">She envisioned a home with lots of beautifully finished woodwork, so she tapped furniture and cabinet maker </span>Marc Waidelich<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> to build lots of custom cabinetry, including the cherry units seen here. “It was really worth it,” </span>Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> says. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Every possible ounce of space is usable. We now have bookshelves, nooks and crannies. There’s no space in the house that isn’t functional and usable.”</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The window seat is about 9 feet long and 3 feet deep. Lomax and Aurilio can put a cushion on top and pull out pillows and blankets from the drawers below for an extra sleeping spot when they have spillover guests. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>None of the fir windows in the home have any trim, for a more contemporary look. The upper windows here are operable to help vent out hot air.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24003623" objid="24003623" posid="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,545" data-stnd="606,443" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Home Office by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="545" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/24e1bdce04da6737_9421-w746-h545-b0-p0--home-office.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24003623" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A staircase leads up to the rooftop deck and the new bedrooms to the right. The flooring is solid oak. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After the cabinets went in, there was a bit of dead space in the corner shown here. Lomax thought it would be a good spot for a laundry chute, so he and some members of the design team ran down to the ground-floor laundry room and discovered that it would be a perfect drop. “It was one of those ‘aha’ moments,” Lomax says. “That’s the beauty of opening a home up. You’re thinking about every little space and what you can do.” <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The laundry chute can be seen in the corner of this space where the two bookcases meet. The door to the chute is on top of the bookcases, accessed up the stairs at right.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="26763301" objid="26763301" posid="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/72c1bc030512e187_0752-w422-h634-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763301" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here’s a look at the opening of the laundry chute that takes clothes from the top-floor bedrooms to the ground-floor laundry room. The door to the chute is set into the top of the bookcase unit, which is about waist high at this level. The door </span>swings open by hand<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="10532606" objid="10532606" posid="4" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Deck by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/b901c0150335ce29_5119-w746-h496-b0-p0--contemporary-deck.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="10532606" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The new rooftop deck, seen here in the foreground, was built over the kitchen, which allowed the homeowners a dumbwaiter to ferry up drinks and food from the kitchen, and ferry down dirty dishes and glasses from the deck. </span>“It’s especially more safe to use than the stairs after a few bottles of wine,” Lomax says. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The dumbwaiter is housed in the kitchenette at the back of the outdoor space. The kitchenette also has a sink and a wine fridge. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />To the right is the landing at the top of the stairs that leads to the office. To the left the deck opens to the new master bedroom. Both spaces can be closed off from the roof deck — the right side with bifold glass doors and the left with French doors.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ipe on steel frame awnings helps reduce glare and heat gain. The awnings also provide a spot to mount exterior lights. </span>Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> did the lighting design for the house and even built a few of the lights himself.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="10532322" objid="10532322" posid="5" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Deck by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/3e813e950335cca8_4733-w746-h496-b0-p0--contemporary-deck.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="10532322" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> This is a view of the rooftop deck from above. The French doors at right lead to the master bedroom. On the deck floor, 2- by 2-foot ipe tiles from <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Bison</span></span> can be lifted up to clean underneath, where waterproofing protects the house from leaks. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Parapet walls around the outside perimeter of the deck provide a bit of privacy from the street as well as a place to put ambient lights. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="26766561" objid="26766561" posid="6" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/f7619fe20512e775_2271-w422-h634-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26766561" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> The dumbwaiter, shown on the left, operates on a manual rope pulley system. Lomax says the system has been great for getting his son and his friends to clear the table, because they love using it. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The kitchenette area is made of FSC-</span></span>certified<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">mahogany plywood.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> A custom aluminum roll-up door at the front of the unit can shut the kitchenette off from the elements. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></span></span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="26763325" objid="26763325" posid="7" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div class="before-tag-large" style="background: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/large_before_tag.png) 0px 0px no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; height: 80px; left: 10px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 115px;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="462" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/76e1f39f0512e1a9_0785-w422-h462-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763325" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">BEFORE:</b> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The existing kitchen was probably original to the home. The painted cabinets were in need of replacing, there was very little counter space, and there was no dishwasher.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763313" objid="26763313" posid="8" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/dc01d3ac0512e192_0762-w746-h496-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763313" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFTER: </b>Aurilio was heavily involved in the kitchen overhaul. She chose most of the finishes and hardware. Waidelich custom built the cabinets out of <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">beech wood</span></span>. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A new picture window is centered over a copper sink. With all the western light pouring in, the homeowners wanted to keep the finishes as matte as possible to prevent glare. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The main countertop is acrylic resin with recycled aluminum shavings, from <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Alkemi</span></span>. Lomax and Aurilio were nervous about using the product, because it wasn’t rated for kitchen use, only for commercial restaurant bathrooms and bars. To test it, Aurilio ordered sample pieces and proceeded to try to damage them as best she could — cutting on top of the pieces with sharp knives, dropping hot pans on them, setting a scorching-hot cast iron pan down on top of one piece, even asking a friend of a friend to stub his lit cigarette out on one.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“The only thing that damaged them was cutting tomatoes with a serrated knife, which is easy to avoid,” she says. “We don’t put hot pans down, either.” <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They both love to cook; </span>Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is the grill guy, and </span>Aurilio<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> handles desserts. For baking she chose a terrazzo countertop (seen on the left) that’s recycled glass in white concrete. The material is seamless and stays cool, both of which are good features for working with doughs and pie crusts. The countertop sits lower than standard so the 5-foot-2 </span>Aurilio<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> can more easily roll dough and make her tarts, cookies and cakes. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The opening to the dumbwaiter can be seen to the left of the stove and counter.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Stove, hood: <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">BlueStar</span></span></i></span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763317" objid="26763317" posid="9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/b8f1d3ee0512e198_0767-w746-h496-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763317" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The kitchen connects to this breakfast area. The table and beech bench are both custom. All the windows in the home are new, rebuilt to mimic the originals as closely as possible.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763263" objid="26763263" posid="10" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/35c1245a0512e167_0718-w746-h496-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763263" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The homeowners really wanted to preserve the living room and its barrel vaulted ceiling as much as possible.</span> “Our operating principle was ‘Keep it as it is,’” Lomax says. After opening up the house, he learned that the home was really well built, with wide Douglas fir arches in the living room ceiling. He even found an old lumber receipt in the walls that hinted at the effort to use expensive materials. “Whoever designed it was really a clever, true craftsman, nothing off the shelf,” he says. “So we wanted to do this place justice.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They replaced the cracked ceiling and peeling wall plaster, as well as all the windows, which, again, were made to match the originals as much as possible. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Painted sconces in the corner blend into the walls and highlight the ceiling curve.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="10532740" objid="10532740" posid="11" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Entry by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/97f1574a0335cefb_5329-w422-h634-b0-p0--contemporary-entry.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="10532740" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This is the side entry from the driveway, which is most used by the family. The new cherry cabinet was once closet space in the bathroom on the right but was annexed to create a <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">drop zone</span></span>. There’s a spot for mail and a mini coat closet, and there are drawers and a cubby for backpacks. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The stairs lead up to the new office, deck and bedrooms.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="26763271" objid="26763271" posid="12" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/6261a0940512e16c_0725-w422-h634-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763271" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The new master bedroom had to be raised because of the arched ceiling of the living room below. Hellmann designed drawers 4 feet deep to store things like suitcases. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Light fixture: Ikea</i></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763288" objid="26763288" posid="13" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/f90132eb0512e178_0735-w746-h496-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763288" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="10532655" objid="10532655" posid="14" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Contemporary Bathroom by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7b8196f50335ce85_5211-w422-h634-b0-p0--contemporary-bathroom.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="10532655" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The couple shares the new bathroom with their son. </span>Waidelich <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">built </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">the <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">ipe bench</span></span>, which can be raised up while someone is showering. The tile is quartzite.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Because the water heater is on the other side of the house, it takes a couple of minutes for the shower to heat up. Wanting to find a way to preserve that cold water, which, with a low-flow showerhead, equals 5 gallons in two minutes, </span></span>Aurilio<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> says, the couple looked out the window and realized their rain barrels were sitting directly below. They talked to their contractor and had a gutter installed so they can put the handheld showerhead out the window (seen in the previous photo) and into the gutter to collect the water.</span></span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="26763258" objid="26763258" posid="15" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/9171c34c0512e161_0713-w422-h634-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763258" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here are the r<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">ainwater barrels on the side of the house. You can see the snaking gutter just above on the exterior wall that leads to the bathroom window. The barrels provide all the water for the home’s landscaping.</span></span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763318" objid="26763318" posid="16" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,559" data-stnd="606,454" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div class="before-tag-large" style="background: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/large_before_tag.png) 0px 0px no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; height: 80px; left: 10px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 115px;"> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="559" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/58c1ee780512e19d_0772-w746-h559-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763318" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">BEFORE:</b> Here’s a look at the overgrown landscaping at the front of the home. The wooden retaining walls were starting to fail, and the foundation was showing signs of sinking.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="24001413" objid="24001413" posid="17" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,561" data-stnd="606,456" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Mediterranean Exterior by Sogno Design Group" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="561" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/f3b1fb8a04da624c_8163-w746-h561-b0-p0--mediterranean-exterior.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Sogno Design Group</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="24001413" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFTER:</b> The yard was dug out and the landscaping replaced with new drought-tolerant plantings. The foundation was ripped out and replaced. The stucco was redone and repainted, and new lightweight shingles that fit with the Mediterranean style of the home were added.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="26763329" objid="26763329" posid="18" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,487" data-stnd="606,395" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Houzz Tour: Building Up to a View in Berkeley" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="487" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7f11c0790512e1ad_0788-w746-h487-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="26763329" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here are the plans for the remodel of the home. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lomax<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> estimates they spent $500,000 on the project, including appliances, cabinets, design fees, labor and materials. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Architecture: Kerstin Hellmann, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Sogno Design Group</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />General contractors: <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">Berkeley Craftsmen</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Steel fabricator: Oliver Beckert <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Plasterwork: Cran Plastering & Stucco<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Cabinets: Marc Waidelich</i><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tile installation: Nandi Devam</i></div> </div> </div> </div>

Stunning Rooftop Deck Tops a Totally Remodeled Home

Nearly 26 years ago, Geoff Lomax’s brother turned to him as they stood outside the 1929 Mediterranean-style home they had just bought togeth...

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Herb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Basil

<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Basil, native to Asia, has become a seasoning staple in cuisines around the world. The familiar and fragrant sweet basil (</span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Ocimum basilicum</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">) is grown as a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d8901; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">summer annual</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> that generally reaches about 2 feet tall. </span><br /> <div class="viewGalleryDescriptionHolder" itemprop="description" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class="viewGalleryDescription " id="viewGalleryDescription" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Even if you’re already committed to sweet basil as your herb garden mainstay, it’s worth taking a look at what else is out there. The smaller Greek basil (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ocimum</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> minimum</i>) and other compact varieties top out at 1 to 1½ feet — great if you don’t want it to take up quite as much space — or you can try a larger variety that may reach as high as 4 feet. There are basils with showy purple or dark red foliage or with leaves that are distinctly ruffled. There are also a number of basils with distinctive flavors, including Siam Queen, ideal for Asian cuisine, and those with flavors reminiscent of anise, clove, <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">licorice</span></span>, lemon and lime. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Basil’s bright color and quick growth also ensure it can hold its own as an ornamental addition to the<span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">landscape</span></span>. Use the smaller varieties as a low border edging and mix varieties for a choice of flavors and a colorful garden patch. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">More summer gardening ideas</span></span></div> </div> <div class="out" id="gallerySpaces" itemprop="articleBody" lb-context="gallery_12714965" scopeid="gallerySpaces" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px auto;"> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="3083609" objid="3083609" posid="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,550" data-stnd="606,446" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Landscape by Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="550" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/f241c6b50135281b_8177-w746-h550-b0-p0--landscape.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="3083609" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Light requirement</b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">:</b> Full sun</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Water requirement:</b> Regular water; do not let the soil dry out<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Prime growing season:</b> June through September<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">When to <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">plant</span></span>:</b> Sow seeds or set out plants in spring and summer when the soil is warm, at least one week after the last frost date.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="55526" objid="55526" posid="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Modern Landscape by JDLDESIGN" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="562" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/6ee190430c05db1a_1000-w422-h562-b0-p0--modern-landscape.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">JDLDESIGN</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="55526" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Favorites:</b> Finissimo Verda a Palla, Genovese, Greek (Spicy Globe), Green Ruffles, Mammoth Sweet, Napolitano, Pesto Perpetua (can be grown as a perennial where there is no frost), Purple Ruffles, Purpureum (Dark Opal), Red Rubin, Siam Queen (Thai); flavored basils include cinnamon, clove, lemon, licorice and lime</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="4190371" objid="4190371" posid="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Traditional Patio by LMW Designs, LLC" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="562" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/5191b57201adf395_4586-w422-h562-b0-p0--traditional-patio.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">LMW Designs, LLC</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="4190371" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Planting:</b> Look for a spot in full sun with well-drained soil. Basil needs heat to thrive. If your summers are cool and daytime temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) are rare, try planting against a south- or west-facing wall.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sow seeds ½ inch deep and 2 to 3 inches apart; thin to 1 foot apart once seedlings appear. You can also start seeds indoors four to six weeks before planning to transplant. Set seedlings or nursery plants 10 to 12 inches apart.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Basil grows well in <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">containers</span></span>. Almost any size pot over 8 inches wide will work, but the larger the container, the larger the plant. Make sure drainage is adequate. Grow several different basils in one pot or pair the plant with other herbs or vegetables such as tomatoes. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For a successive harvest, add new plants or sow seeds about a month to six weeks after your first planting date.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="985164" objid="985164" posid="3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,496" data-stnd="606,403" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Landscape by Gardening with Confidence®" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="496" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7d31d5260fbd1af6_9304-w746-h496-b0-p0--landscape.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Gardening with Confidence®</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="985164" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Care:</b> Keep the soil most but not soggy. Plan to feed your basil at least once during the growing season; every few weeks is good if your growing season is long. Pinch back the plants and pinch off the flower stocks to encourage bushiness and leaf production. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Basil is relatively carefree, occasionally bothered by slugs, snails and beetles or succumbing to gray mold or black spot. Fusarium wilt may be a problem. If so, remove and destroy the plant and rotate the planting location on a three- to four-year cycle to prevent future problems. There are also varieties that are resistant to wilt.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container landscape " lb-sid="3181971" objid="3181971" posid="4" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo reloadMe trackMe rimg" data-full="746,601" data-stnd="606,488" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Landscape by Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting" class="hide-context reloadable" data-pin-no-hover="true" height="601" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/1fc18d75013e6773_4215-w746-h601-b0-p0--landscape.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 746px;" width="746" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="3181971" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Harvest:</b> You can start <span style="color: #3d8901;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;">harvesting</span></span> once the leaves reach a reasonable size. For continued production, don’t remove more than a third of the leaves. Cut just above a node to encourage leaf production.</div> </div> </div> <div class="gallery-photo-container portrait " lb-sid="1314598" objid="1314598" posid="5" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="gallery-photo trackMe" style="border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 422px;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"> <img alt="Traditional Kitchen by Shannon Malone" class="hide-context " data-pin-no-hover="true" height="634" lb-mag="" lb-view="" src="http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7a912582001dcc8a_0196-w422-h634-b0-p0--traditional-kitchen.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; vertical-align: middle;" width="422" /></div> <div class="space-link tiny-text" compid="more" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; padding: 0px 2px; position: absolute; right: 20px; text-decoration: none; top: 9px;"> <span class="more-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: icomoon; font-size: 8px; font-weight: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div> <div class="gallery-photo-credit tiny-text" compid="credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 40px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; top: 9px; white-space: nowrap; z-index: 2;"> <span class="pro-name" style="background-image: url(http://www.houzz.com/res/2128/pic/proShadow-middle.png); background-repeat: repeat-x; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: block; font-weight: bold; height: 25px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 19px; text-decoration: none;">Shannon Malone</span></div> </div> <div class="gallery-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 18px;"> <div class="thBuzz" hid="1314598" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">How to use it:</b> Your choices are pretty much endless. Use basil fresh in salads, soups, sandwiches, stews, appetizers and marinades. Turn the leaves into a classic pesto, add them to entrées and side dishes, or use them to flavor vinegars or lemonade or as a base for tea. You can also dry or freeze basil leaves.</div> </div> </div> </div>

Herb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Basil

Basil, native to Asia, has become a seasoning staple in cuisines around the world. The familiar and fragrant sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum ...

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