Inspiration for a mid-sized cottage l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, an island, a farmhouse sink and marble countertops

Dark gray tones are juxtaposed with bright shades of yellow, green, and orange in this funky and fun living room. Framed white windows emphasize the view while nature-inspired patterns and organic décor blur the lines between the indoors and out. A contemporary chandelier serves as a statement piece while a white mantel and stone fireplace create a strong focal point within the room.

We designed banquette seating with handy storage drawers for this kitchen renovation. Custom table by Ann Kelly Interiors. Photo: Wendy Concannon
Kitchen/dining room combo - mid-sized contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Philadelphia

Inspiration for a rustic kitchen remodel in San Francisco with wood countertops, green cabinets and beige countertops

The Port Ludlow Residence is a compact, 2400 SF modern house located on a wooded waterfront property at the north end of the Hood Canal, a long, fjord-like arm of western Puget Sound. The house creates a simple glazed living space that opens up to become a front porch to the beautiful Hood Canal. The east-facing house is sited along a high bank, with a wonderful view of the water. The main living volume is completely glazed, with 12-ft. high glass walls facing the view and large, 8-ft.x8-ft. sliding glass doors that open to a slightly raised wood deck, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space. During the warm summer months, the living area feels like a large, open porch. Anchoring the north end of the living space is a two-story building volume containing several bedrooms and separate his/her office spaces. The interior finishes are simple and elegant, with IPE wood flooring, zebrawood cabinet doors with mahogany end panels, quartz and limestone countertops, and Douglas Fir trim and doors. Exterior materials are completely maintenance-free: metal siding and aluminum windows and doors. The metal siding has an alternating pattern using two different siding profiles. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and rain protection; metal siding (recycled steel) for maximum durability, and a heat pump mechanical system for maximum energy efficiency. Sustainable interior finish materials include wood cabinets, linoleum floors, low-VOC paints, and natural wool carpet.

Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen Photography by: Ron Blunt
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard gravel and wood fence landscaping in DC Metro.

Todd Pierson
Great room - mid-sized transitional brown floor and dark wood floor great room idea in Chicago with beige walls and no fireplace

Photography: © ShadesOfGreen
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard landscaping in San Francisco.

Double barn doors make a great entryway into this large his and hers master closet. Photos by Chris Veith
Example of a huge transitional gender-neutral light wood floor walk-in closet design in New York with dark wood cabinets and flat-panel cabinets

Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary guest carpeted and gray floor bedroom idea in San Diego with multicolored walls and no fireplace

Family room - large contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor family room idea in Dallas with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a plaster fireplace

Example of a small danish single-wall kitchen design in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, black appliances, a drop-in sink, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and beige countertops

Open concept kitchen - huge contemporary galley porcelain tile and black floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white appliances, an island, a single-bowl sink, quartz countertops, white backsplash and white countertops

Example of a mountain style powder room design in Other

The Kiguchi family moved into their Austin, Texas home in 1994. Built in the 1980’s as part of a neighborhood development, they happily raised their family here but longed for something more contemporary. Once they became empty nesters, they decided it was time for a major remodel. After spending many years visiting Austin AIA Home Tours that highlight contemporary residential architecture, they had a lot of ideas and in 2013 were ready to interview architects and get their renovation underway. The project turned into a major remodel due to an unstable foundation. Architects Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey, of Arbib Hughey Design were hired to solve the structural issue and look for inspiration in the bones of the house, which sat on top of a hillside and was surrounded by great views. Unfortunately, with the old floor plan, the beautiful views were hidden by small windows that were poorly placed. In order to bring more natural light into the house the window sizes and configurations had to be addressed, all while keeping in mind the homeowners desire for a modern look and feel. To achieve a more contemporary and sophisticated front of house, a new entry was designed that included removing a two-story bay window and porch. The entrance of the home also became more integrated with the landscape creating a template for new foliage to be planted. Older exterior materials were updated to incorporate a more muted palette of colors with a metal roof, dark grey siding in the back and white stucco in the front. Deep eaves were added over many of the new large windows for clean lines and sun protection. “Inside it was about opening up the floor plan, expanding the views throughout the house, and updating the material palette to get a modern look that was also warm and inviting,” said Ben from Arbib Hughey Design. “Prior to the remodel, the house had the typical separation of rooms. We removed the walls between them and changed all of the windows to Milgard Thermally Improved Aluminum to connect the inside with the outside. No matter where you are you get nice views and natural light.” The architects wanted to create some drama, which they accomplished with the window placement and opening up the interior floor plan to an open concept approach. Cabinetry was used to help delineate intimate spaces. To add warmth to an all-white living room, white-washed oak wood floors were installed and pine planks were used around the fireplace. The large windows served as artwork bringing the color of nature into the space. An octagon shaped, elevated dining room, (named “the turret”), had a big impact on the design of the house. They architects rounded the corners and added larger window openings overlooking a new sunken garden. The great room was also softened by rounding out the corners and that circular theme continued throughout the house, being picked up in skylight wells and kitchen cabinetry. A staircase leading to a catwalk was added and the result was a two-story window wall that flooded the home with natural light. When asked why Milgard® Thermally Improved Aluminum windows were selected, the architectural team listed many reasons: 1) Aesthetics: “We liked the slim profiles and narrow sightlines. The window frames never get in the way of the view and that was important to us. They also have a very contemporary look that went well with our design.” 2) Options: “We liked that we could get large sliding doors that matched the windows, giving us a very cohesive look and feel throughout the project.” 3) Cost Effective: “Milgard windows are affordable. You get a good product at a good price.” 4) Custom Sizes: “Milgard windows are customizable, which allowed us to get the right window for each location.” Ready to take on your own traditional to modern home remodeling project? Arbib Hughey Design advises, “Work with a good architect. That means picking a team that is creative, communicative, listens well and is responsive. We think it’s important for an architect to listen to their clients and give them something they want, not something the architect thinks they should have. At the same time you want an architect who is willing and able to think outside the box and offer up design options that you may not have considered. Design is about a lot of back and forth, trying out ideas, getting feedback and trying again.” The home was completely transformed into a unique, contemporary house perfectly integrated with its site. Internally the home has a natural flow for the occupants and externally it is integrated with the surroundings taking advantage of great natural light. As a side note, it was highly praised as part of the Austin AIA homes tour.

Beach style l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Jared Kuzia Photography
Example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped slate floor and gray floor enclosed kitchen design in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Mid-Century update to a home located in NW Portland. The project included a new kitchen with skylights, multi-slide wall doors on both sides of the home, kitchen gathering desk, children's playroom, and opening up living room and dining room ceiling to dramatic vaulted ceilings. The project team included Risa Boyer Architecture. Photos: Josh Partee

Contractor: Legacy CDM Inc. | Interior Designer: Hovie Interiors | Photographer: Jola Photography
Mid-sized elegant medium tone wood floor and brown floor walk-in closet photo in Orange County with white cabinets