Combining relaxed new finishes and natural materials for a look that is both elegant and livable. Practical L-shaped desk is loaded with function and sized for smaller spaces.

Inspiration for a large contemporary full sun backyard stone walkway in DC Metro for summer.

The guest bath in this project was a simple black and white design with beveled subway tile and ceramic patterned tile on the floor. Bringing the tile up the wall and to the ceiling in the shower adds depth and luxury to this small bathroom. The farmhouse sink with raw pine vanity cabinet give a rustic vibe; the perfect amount of natural texture in this otherwise tile and glass space. Perfect for guests!

Corner shower with stone slab walls, a corner niche, bench and House of Rohl fixtures. Photos by Chris Veith
Inspiration for a large timeless master white tile and mosaic tile marble floor and white floor bathroom remodel in New York with beaded inset cabinets, an undermount tub, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops, a hinged shower door and white countertops

Matthew Niemann Photography
Transitional kitchen photo in Austin

An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

This masterfully designed outdoor living space feels open, airy, and filled with light thanks to the lighter finishes and the fabric pergola shade. Clean, modern lines and a muted color palette add to the spa-like feel of this outdoor living space.

This modern farmhouse bathroom has an extra large vanity with double sinks to make use of a longer rectangular bathroom. The wall behind the vanity has counter to ceiling Jeffrey Court white subway tiles that tie into the shower. There is a playful mix of metals throughout including the black framed round mirrors from CB2, brass & black sconces with glass globes from Shades of Light , and gold wall-mounted faucets from Phylrich. The countertop is quartz with some gold veining to pull the selections together. The charcoal navy custom vanity has ample storage including a pull-out laundry basket while providing contrast to the quartz countertop and brass hexagon cabinet hardware from CB2. This bathroom has a glass enclosed tub/shower that is tiled to the ceiling. White subway tiles are used on two sides with an accent deco tile wall with larger textured field tiles in a chevron pattern on the back wall. The niche incorporates penny rounds on the back using the same countertop quartz for the shelves with a black Schluter edge detail that pops against the deco tile wall. Photography by LifeCreated.

Large transitional master mosaic tile floor, multicolored floor, double-sink and shiplap wall alcove shower photo in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, black walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Builder | Charlie & Co. Design, Architectural Designer | Corey Gaffer, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Huge contemporary two-story brick exterior home idea in Houston with a tile roof

Lisza Coffey Photography
Example of a mid-sized minimalist gray one-story stone exterior home design in Omaha with a shingle roof

This transitional kitchen boasts white cabinet and a black island with gold fixtures that pop.
Large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Other with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Mudroom - mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor mudroom idea in Boise with white walls

©Jeff Herr Photography, Inc.
Example of a transitional master black floor, double-sink and shiplap wall bathroom design in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, a trough sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

A simple exterior with glass, steel, concrete, and stucco creates a welcoming vibe.
Small trendy detached guesthouse photo in Austin

Inspiration for a small modern 3/4 black and white tile, multicolored tile and matchstick tile porcelain tile and gray floor bathroom remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a bidet, multicolored walls, an integrated sink, solid surface countertops and white countertops

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped light wood floor and exposed beam kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom remodel in Charlotte with beige walls and no fireplace