Home Exterior

Home Exterior "Throughout the daytime, you really can appreciate the proportions of Neutra's exterior design," said Casale. "I can never wait to start the garage door, since the back wall is a wall of glass with an uninterrupted view of West Hollywood below."



Living Room Designed in 1929, the Alvar Aalto seat with natural timber arms is just one of Casale's favorite pieces in the house. The shelving displays some of his design and movie books. "I have quite a collection since I'm also a commercial and music video director. I accumulate as many books as I can!" He says.



Living Room "I actually admire the Kadinsky print, 'Meeting Point,' from the living room," said Casale. "And I really like the wool mohair mix used on the sofa. It's a material not used. This is obviously a fantastic area to amuse my friends and partners if they come over at night."



Indoor/Outdoor Living Casale noted this picture illustrates what Neutra does this well: that the "seamless" stream from inside to outdoor space. "This is what I love about his architecture," he explained. "The beauty of the house is exemplified by the accuracy of his layout."



Kitchen Casale finds out the kitchen for a peaceful place to spend some time. "When I wash my dishes I really like looking beyond the window above the sink," he explained. "it is a really relaxing feeling being in this area."



Kitchen Countertop Home restoration expert James Rega found the Vitrolite to your kitchen countertop in a deserted art deco theatre in Pennsylvania. "This was a substance that was popular in the 1930s," said Casale, that loves to concoct his gourmet meals here. "I was impressed by how futuristic the design looked. He seemed for this material for over a year!"



Pantry Doors Neutra made the louvered cabinet doors to let air circulate through.



Dining Room Casale loves the pure hardwood flooring in the dining room. "As per Neutra's original specifications, the timber floors produce a rich warmth to counter an otherwise austere, Bauhaus-style room," he said. "They keep it from becoming cold, and I like that. The diffusion of the sun pouring in through Neutra's fabric shades increases the coziness which makes you never want to leave. The colors were custom created, since none are created like this."



Dining Room Table The dining room table is a recreation based on photographs of a black lacquered Neutra-designed table. "The seats were obtained in a furniture auction," added Casale. "They have been created by Mart Stam, a designer popular from the late 1920s. Along with the 1936 clock made by Gilbert Rohde on the credenza was designed exactly the exact same year the Kun House was completed."



Custom Blinds Custom-made blinds provide privacy for the home's occupants.



Terrace Each level of this Kun House comes with an outdoor terrace. "During the day, I really like to sit in the living/dining room deck flat with my espresso I just made from my Rosito Bisani espresso machine," said Casale. "On a transparent day, you can see the ocean. It's very unique."



Master Bedroom "Neutra never wanted any walls to have holes in them, so photos were wrapped via wires so that the walls were maintained," said Casale. "He created an exact routed groove, about 12 inches down from the ceiling, from which you hang a wire for your own pictures. He'd paint the wall a muted shade of gray up to this groove and then white above it, making a canopy effect"



Built-In Drawers Built-in drawers flank the bed in the master bedroom. "I really like the pre-Columbian sculpture of a Valdivian owl," said Casale. "I have always been fascinated by the ability of owls. My retro house in Palm Desert has owl temples, temples and taxidermy within it. The framed image is a Kandinsky sketch from 1930 made with India ink"



Master Bedroom "In the master bedroom, I use the salmon-colored chair and the table beside it for if I wish to read," said homeowner Gerald Casale. "I love sitting there and never need to leave. And the natural light is so inviting, too."



Muted Color Palette Casale is a big fan of the colour white. "You can not have too much white on your house," he said. "I like to close the door of the master bedroom and also go through the calm solitude there. In addition, I adore the built-in dividers, that have no handles. Neutra expected this design trend." The classic light switches are dummy proof: in/on, out/off.



Toilet "It's been 50 years since those sink fittings were manufactured, so that it was really the Holy Grail when we found them," said Casale. "James Rega, whose company, MDMA, restored the Kun House, needed to custom manufacture the fluorescent lighting fixtures built into the mirror to match the original ones employed by Neutra. They really came out great!"



Bathtub Casale enjoys the privacy the translucent glass in the toilet supplies. "Along with the clean white shower curtain appears better than when it had ducks on it," he quipped.



Bathtub Fixtures "These fixtures were very tough to find, and the MDMA team were thrilled to locate them," said Casale. "I really like the vintage, no-nonsense appearance."



Showerhead Neutra specified this classic showerhead in his original design for your home.



Den "I work out of this den, producing new ideas for songs and video jobs," said Casale. "I like its clean, uncluttered feel. It makes it easier to concentrate."



Terrace Away Den Like most rooms in the home, the den opens to a spacious deck.



Home at Night "This is just within the entrance at the top level," said Casale. "I love having the ability to find the panorama of Los Angeles lights, stretched from the ocean to the airport."



Rooftop Deck "Looking back toward the shore and the entry foyer, this is the best area for any cocktail party, particularly at golden hour once the sun is setting," said Casale.



Aerial View This aerial shot was taken in the second-story balcony of a different Neutra-designed house on the West Hollywood hilltop above.

Small Studio With Big Style

Small Studio With Big Style Hand-painted pinstripes and removable wallpaper on one accent wall add immediate style for this little studio on Manhattan's Upper West Side. A petite sofa comes alive with cushions that contain bold brushstrokes of magenta, and a feather Juju hangs above as a whimsical touch. A contemporary console table does triple duty as a dressing table, workspace and dining table.



Little Shotgun Style Since this shotgun-style flat is only eight feet broad and 375-square-feet complete, it was important to maintain a clear pathway across the center, creating somewhat of a galley-style house. To maintain the flat both functional and stylish, furniture was organized along two different walls with nothing in the middle, balanced visually with appropriate scale and proportion.



Smart Studio Storage Closets are a terrific way to store clothing and other household essentials, but they might be challenging in a small space.   Eliminating cupboard doors is a fantastic way to make a cupboard in a small space feel larger and provide you simple access to the things inside.   Drapes are a wonderful option for those who like an open closet but want the option to shut up things when guests come over.



Sleek Efficient Attic The living and kitchen area within this 330-square-foot nyc studio apartment is kept yummy to minimize visual clutter and maximize space. The floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinetry offers storage, even though a compact table does double time for dining and functioning.   A sleek, streamlined kitchen doubles as the base for a lofted bed to add extra space.



Mastering a Tiny Apartment Upon entrance, the dining area opens on the sleeping area, making the proper placement of living room furniture hard. But a set of French doors separates the bedroom in the dining area. Glass panels provide privacy without sacrificing natural light.



Privacy Wall Partial walls create the sensation of a different and private sleeping area in this crisp, white studio apartment.



Tiny, Built-In Bedroom Since this little studio flat lacked a defined bedroom, airy drapes were wrapped to separate the sleeping quarters from the remainder of the space. A readymade bed has been painted and constructed to look like cabinetry.



Neutral Sophistication This studio flat may be modest in size but makes up for this lack with sophisticated city design. Neutral walls and curtains make the space appear much larger, while silver and black accents increase the crispness of the design. The living room's furniture arrangement keeps the room separate from the bedroom and study area, giving the little apartment more functional areas. Hint: Lucite furniture is a perfect addition to ultra-small spaces. This coffee table is hardly visible but still serves its purpose. The piece eases the space of bulky furniture, preventing a busy appearance.



Maximum Use This 12-by-17-foot apartment doesn't leave much room for creating another bedroom, kitchen and living room, but the neutral color scheme and warm fittings provide an open texture with the closeness of a small room. "My biggest challenge was creating a room which didn't feel as a bedroom. I placed the mattress near the kitchen to allow maximum light and views out the windows," HGTV fan moderngeek73 says. Hint: Keep furniture and decor to a minimum if your space is additional small. Use little lighting fixtures and furnishings.



Space for Entertaining This fashionable Philadelphia studio uses every inch of room without making the space seem busy. The neutral walls and bedding keep the space controlled and balanced. "I attempted to separate the space with organic textures, eclectic accessories, shiny metallic items, soft draperies and unique lighting approaches," HGTV fan greendesigner says. To quickly conceal the bedroom in the dining and kitchen area, he included tall draperies within an effortless space divider. Tip: Downsize the furniture enlarge the distance -- purchase a loveseat instead of a massive sectional. If you like to entertain, invest in tiny barstools; they take up little space and supply lots of seating for your guests.



Funky Vibrant HGTV fan Wicket47 updated the narrow living area of this 300-square-foot apartment with a splash of color and amazing wallpaper. Minimal decor along with a crisp, white sofa permit the black-and-white graphic wallpaper to stand out without being overwhelming. Deep forest-green draperies are an ideal balance to the couch and add a dramatic touch. Hint: If you're planning to use a black and white color scheme, blend in a vibrant colour, like yellow or lime green, then to break the monotony.



Eclectic Personality The narrow space in this studio apartment is made practical with stylish storage solutions, floating shelves and multipurpose furniture.



Industrial Accents High, exposed ceilings automatically make this 700-square-foot apartment seem much larger. HGTV enthusiast rbaby separated the bedroom from living area and dining room area with a cubicle bookshelf. The look not only provides additional storage but provides the bedroom some privacy from the rest of the space. Tip: Spice a little studio with a vibrant focal wall in red or orange.



Multifunctional Space The effective layout of this space gives it the full functionality of a normal apartment. Offset from the bedroom, the sofa faces the back wall creating a romantic seating area of its own. A cubicle shelf unit functions as a very simple room divider between the living room and bedroom. Small, sleek decor and accessories make the space visually attractive while keeping it from looking cluttered. Tip: Use warm colors, like orange and taupe, to make the room seem cozy without feeling dark.

Galley Kitchen

Galley Kitchen Once four small rooms with a staircase jutting through the center, this revamped kitchen/living space is now spacious and airy. By laying out the kitchen homework and dining areas as a long efficient galley, designers Kathy Hoffman and Susan Fredman of this Susan Fredman Design Group made the space functional without repainting the living room.



Galley Kitchen "Creating visual impact and keeping functionality in this narrow area was my main challenge with this particular project," says Vita Buffa, CKD, CBD, NCIDQ. To meet the challenge and provide her client a gorgeous, green galley, Buffa moved a classic table that was beautiful but impeded traffic flow, and relocated the refrigerator and microwave to the opposite wall so as to make a more visually pleasing perspective when sitting in the adjacent room.



Galley Kitchen This 8-foot-wide kitchen by Aimee Nemeckay and Terri Crittenden for your Susan Fredman Design Group hangs a twist into the adjoining dining room. To make it appear larger, the designers continue the horizontal lines down the long kitchen both from the kerf, or incised line, of their cabinets and the floor. The cabinets reaching the ceiling draw up the eye as well.



Galley Kitchen By removing the two half walls between the dining and living area of this 1960s bungalow, designer Nathalie Tremblay managed to enlarge the kitchen, make an open feel and provide a better design and traffic flow of the kitchen, living and dining space. And lots of the tips she used to maximize distance in this galley would function well for any small kitchen: She utilized 24-inch-deep refrigerator/freezer for space saving and better traffic flow, created a work "triangle" regardless of the corridor-like shape of the actual space, and picked a simple, black-and-white palette to keep visual clutter to a minimum.



Galley Kitchen To keep this small galley kitchen looking as good as it works, Natalia Pierce, AKBD, picked a neutral, earthy palette and installed a comfortable window seat. The flow of light from the adjacent dining area through the pass-through retains the kitchen connected to the remainder of the home and sets hosts connected with dinner guests. Art in the far end wall keeps the kitchen from appearing like a dead-end.



U-Shaped Kitchen Pre-renovation, this kitchen was tiny and cut away from the rest of the home. Designer Linda Evans, CKD, CBD, CAPS, knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and turned into the former into a horseshoe which not only maximizes space but generates a delineation between the kitchen and dining spots.



U-Shaped Kitchen To add extra prep and storage space to this tiny kitchen, Natalia Pierce, AKBD, additional two peninsulas, developing a U-shaped kitchen. A raised bar was added on the sink side to break up the site lines through the space.



U-Shaped Kitchen As a secondary kitchen on the top floor of a gorgeous art deco home, this space doesn't have to be big but it did need to operate effectively. Designer Myriem Drainer took the best elements of U- shaped and L-shaped kitchens to create this one-of-a type layout. Clean lines and a marble backsplash that extends into the ceiling create an illusion of a wider and brighter space, and small because it is, the counter configuration supplies amazingly ample dining and prep room.



L-Shaped Kitchen Designer Nathalie Tremblay opened up and moved walls to make this L-shaped kitchen/dining place for clients who like to entertain. An L contour retains the hosts close to their guests while cooking, and enables guests to eat without feeling like they're on top of the cooker.



L-Shaped Kitchen This kitchen's long, efficient prep room resembles a galley layout but is just half of the L-shaped kitchen which turns out a corner for maximum preparation room and eat-in dining. Design by Amy Alper.



L-Shaped Kitchen This kitchen, that won First Place in large kitchen category in NKBA Ontario Design Awards in 2013, uses an L-shaped floor plan and T-configured center island to make the most of space, and to make the sleek, masculine look designer Nathalie Tremblay's client requested.



Pentagonal Kitchen It's no secret that squeezing maximum efficiency from a five-sided kitchen with odd angles took a great deal of imagination. Eric Lindroth of Remodel Works Bath and Kitchen transferred walls to expand the floor's footprint under the vaulted ceiling, eliminated soffits and construction supports in the attic for the present rafters, and extended the present walls to the ceiling.



Curvilinear Kitchen When her client -- an engineer and metal sculptor -- told Rhonda Knoche, CMKBD, he loathed symmetry and direct lines, which he wanted a kitchen that would make him smile, she listened. The main prep area widens to accommodate kitchen action -- and, sometimes, dancing. The extended wall is a bit bowed to satisfy the deeper front of this range, tapering back at either end into the standard 24" deep cabinets. And the kitchen island is an ice-cream-cone form. "The partition looking toward the entrance could have been a direct wall," says Knoche, "but whenever I threw this client a curve, he was at the plate."



Wedge-Shaped Kitchen To take advantage of the wedge-shaped kitchen, Eric Lindroth of Remodel Works Kitchen and Bath replaced the existing rectangular island using a wedge-shaped one. By echoing the area's perimeter shape, you may keep walking aisles constant, so the room feels balanced and nothing seems forced or mismatched. With its wider end, the island matches all of the homeowner's baking needs, also offers close proximity to the cooker.



Wedge-Shaped Kitchen That's no optical illusion: This kitchen by Ines Hanl of The Sky's The Limit Design really is shaped like a wedge. As opposed to fight the strange form, Hanl she performed with it, and created an intensely angled island and banquette, then decorated the area with a funky '50s vibe. Lesson learned: In an area that flows strangely, it is sometimes best to just go with the flow.