An Organic Southwestern Living Room with Ceiling beams and flagstone floors. Architect: Urban Design Associates, Lee Hutchison Interior Designer: Bess Jones Interiors Builder: R-Net Custom Homes Photography: Dino Tonn

A basement renovation that meets a busy family's needs by providing designated areas for gaming, jamming, studying and entertaining. A comfortable and contemporary space that suits an active lifestyle. Stephani Buchman Photography www.stephanibuchmanphotgraphy.com

View of the pivot doors that open the living space onto the pool deck. The polished travertine floor on the interior extends around the pool where a rougher finish provides a slip resistant surface. Hal Lum

This is an elegant, finely-appointed room with aged, hand-hewn beams, dormered clerestory windows, and radiant-heated limestone floors. But the real power of the space derives less from these handsome details and more from the wide opening centered on the pool.

Lisa Petrole

A European-California influenced Custom Home sits on a hill side with an incredible sunset view of Saratoga Lake. This exterior is finished with reclaimed Cypress, Stucco and Stone. While inside, the gourmet kitchen, dining and living areas, custom office/lounge and Witt designed and built yoga studio create a perfect space for entertaining and relaxation. Nestle in the sun soaked veranda or unwind in the spa-like master bath; this home has it all. Photos by Randall Perry Photography.

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Kistler and Knapp Builders Interior Design: Weena and Spook Photographer: Greg Premru Photography

Photographer: Tom Crane

Photo: Ben Benschneider

Who says green and sustainable design has to look like it? Designed to emulate the owner’s favorite country club, this fine estate home blends in with the natural surroundings of it’s hillside perch, and is so intoxicatingly beautiful, one hardly notices its numerous energy saving and green features. Durable, natural and handsome materials such as stained cedar trim, natural stone veneer, and integral color plaster are combined with strong horizontal roof lines that emphasize the expansive nature of the site and capture the “bigness” of the view. Large expanses of glass punctuated with a natural rhythm of exposed beams and stone columns that frame the spectacular views of the Santa Clara Valley and the Los Gatos Hills. A shady outdoor loggia and cozy outdoor fire pit create the perfect environment for relaxed Saturday afternoon barbecues and glitzy evening dinner parties alike. A glass “wall of wine” creates an elegant backdrop for the dining room table, the warm stained wood interior details make the home both comfortable and dramatic. The project’s energy saving features include: - a 5 kW roof mounted grid-tied PV solar array pays for most of the electrical needs, and sends power to the grid in summer 6 year payback! - all native and drought-tolerant landscaping reduce irrigation needs - passive solar design that reduces heat gain in summer and allows for passive heating in winter - passive flow through ventilation provides natural night cooling, taking advantage of cooling summer breezes - natural day-lighting decreases need for interior lighting - fly ash concrete for all foundations - dual glazed low e high performance windows and doors Design Team: Noel Cross+Architects - Architect Christopher Yates Landscape Architecture Joanie Wick – Interior Design Vita Pehar - Lighting Design Conrado Co. – General Contractor Marion Brenner – Photography

Paul Owen of Owen Photo, http://owenphoto.net/.

The living area has an open floor plan with kitchen, living area, and entertainment corner. The ceilings are vertical grain Douglas Fir. French Oak is found in the walls and the TV entertainment system shelves. Flooring in this main area of the home is Jerusalem Gold tile. The built in desk nook allows for every day practicals and the built in nooks and shelves allow for art and knick-knacks to be tastefully displayed. The fireplace is a linear fireplace with custom concrete facade and a walnut mantle. There is a live-edge walnut cantilever indoor/outdoor table with sliding glass barn doors on either side that allows access to the outdoor living-cooking area. The tall frosted-glass pivot doors lead to a separate office and a play room, both off the main living area. The kitchen boasts a custom Spekva counter with waterfall edge. The cabinetry is custom made walnut. There is a breakfast bar with pendant lighting above as well as a kitchen-breakfast nook. (Photo by: Bernard Andre)