Lincoln Barbour
Living room - mid-sized 1960s open concept living room idea in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Example of a cottage living room design in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace

Photo by: Tripp Smith
Elegant dark wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Charleston with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Example of a large trendy open concept light wood floor living room design in Richmond with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept porcelain tile and multicolored floor living room remodel in Tampa with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

The soaring living room ceilings in this Omaha home showcase custom designed bookcases, while a comfortable modern sectional sofa provides ample space for seating. The expansive windows highlight the beautiful rolling hills and greenery of the exterior. The grid design of the large windows is repeated again in the coffered ceiling design. Wood look tile provides a durable surface for kids and pets and also allows for radiant heat flooring to be installed underneath the tile. The custom designed marble fireplace completes the sophisticated look.

Different textures and colors with wallpaper and wood.
Large trendy open concept vinyl floor, brown floor and wood wall family room photo in Minneapolis with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Brad Meese
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal and open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with a tile fireplace, a ribbon fireplace, beige walls and a wall-mounted tv

Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Portland with white walls, a standard fireplace and a concealed tv

Inspiration for a coastal living room remodel in Orange County with gray walls

On Site Photography - Brian Hall
Large transitional porcelain tile and gray floor living room photo in Other with gray walls, a stone fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a ribbon fireplace

Inspiration for a huge rustic formal brown floor living room remodel in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tv stand

Living room - large contemporary open concept and formal medium tone wood floor living room idea in Salt Lake City with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace, white walls and no tv

Example of a mid-sized trendy open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room design in Denver with a ribbon fireplace, white walls and a tile fireplace

This great room is stunning! Tall wood windows and doors, exposed trusses and the private view make the room a perfect blank canvas. The room was lacking contrast, lighting, window treatments and functional furniture to make the space usable by the entire family. By creating custom furniture we maximized seating while keeping the furniture scale within proportion for the room. New carpet, beautiful herringbone fabric wallpaper and a very long console to house the children's toys rounds out this spectacular room. Photo Credit: Holland Photography - Cory Holland - hollandphotography.biz

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. - Architect: Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd. - Interior Design: Martha O’Hara Interiors - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

We built the wall out to make the custom millwork look built-in.
Example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed brown floor, medium tone wood floor and vaulted ceiling living room design in New York with a media wall and gray walls