Rikki Snyder © 2018 Houzz
Farmhouse dark wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Other with beige walls

Truth: we like camping more than living our “real lives,” so we decided to take a stab at achieving a campsite feel in the bedroom. Full moon, bonfire, sticks, camp blankets, triangular mirrors that subtly suggest mountain peaks… you get the idea. The sticks are from bigger hikes we’ve done in Olympic National Park and Glacier National Park. Image: James Stewart

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Mariko Reed
Mid-sized trendy balcony photo in Los Angeles with a roof extension

Inspiration for a timeless dark wood floor family room remodel in Chicago with a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

View of great room from dining area. Rick Brazil Photography
Example of a 1950s concrete floor and gray floor kitchen/dining room combo design in Phoenix with a tile fireplace, white walls and a two-sided fireplace

Scott Johnson
Home office library - mid-sized traditional built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office library idea in Atlanta with gray walls

Compact guest bedroom design and decor.
Example of a small danish guest carpeted and beige floor bedroom design in Seattle with gray walls and no fireplace

In this formerly unfinished room above a garage, we were tasked with creating the ultimate kids’ space that could easily be used for adult guests as well. Our space was limited, but our client’s imagination wasn’t! Bold, fun, summertime colors, layers of pattern, and a strong emphasis on architectural details make for great vignettes at every turn. With many collaborations and revisions, we created a space that sleeps 8, offers a game/project table, a cozy reading space, and a full bathroom. The game table and banquette, bathroom vanity, locker wall, and unique bunks were custom designed by Bayberry Cottage and all allow for tons of clever storage spaces. This is a space created for loved ones and a lifetime of memories of a fabulous lakefront vacation home!

Example of a mid-sized transitional master carpeted and beige floor bedroom design in Phoenix with gray walls and no fireplace

photo: Michael J Lee
Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless enclosed medium tone wood floor family room library remodel in Boston with green walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for an eclectic guest medium tone wood floor and beige floor bedroom remodel in Austin with green walls

Bedroom - transitional guest gray floor bedroom idea in Houston with white walls

Cottage master light wood floor and beige floor bedroom photo in Other with white walls

Breakfast table.
Example of an eclectic light wood floor dining room design in New Orleans with white walls

Living room - coastal formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in San Diego with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace and no tv

Kitchen - eclectic galley dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in New York with an island, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, glass sheet backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Other with green walls

Urns with live greens and garland surrounding the door
Entryway - traditional entryway idea in New York with gray walls and a red front door