15 Lasting Design Ideas From the Best of Houzz 2025 Award Winners
Get ideas for timeless features from popular photos that helped earn pros praise from the Houzz community
Everyone’s dream home looks different. But there are certain elements most people would agree belong in the perfect house. Browsing photos from the Best of Houzz 2025 award winners offers plenty of inspiration for home features that will remain stylish and functional for years to come.
When a homeowner saves photos to Houzz ideabooks, it helps pros earn a Best of Houzz Design award, giving them recognition for their compelling designs. When homeowners leave reviews on a pro’s Houzz profile, it helps that pro earn a Best of Houzz Service award. There’s also a new category this year: the Innovator award. Pros earning a badge in this category have won a service award this year, use Houzz Pro software and are Houzz Pro certified. So if you see a Best of Houzz badge on a pro’s profile, you know their work is popular among homeowners, their customer service is well-liked, they are using the latest software tools to streamline the design and construction process for their clients, or all of the above.
Here, we highlight 15 enduring design ideas from photos that won a Best of Houzz Design award. In some cases, the pro also won a Best of Houzz Service award or a Best of Houzz Innovator award. Strive for some or even all of these home design ideas and you’re bound to end up with a home that will never go out of style.
When a homeowner saves photos to Houzz ideabooks, it helps pros earn a Best of Houzz Design award, giving them recognition for their compelling designs. When homeowners leave reviews on a pro’s Houzz profile, it helps that pro earn a Best of Houzz Service award. There’s also a new category this year: the Innovator award. Pros earning a badge in this category have won a service award this year, use Houzz Pro software and are Houzz Pro certified. So if you see a Best of Houzz badge on a pro’s profile, you know their work is popular among homeowners, their customer service is well-liked, they are using the latest software tools to streamline the design and construction process for their clients, or all of the above.
Here, we highlight 15 enduring design ideas from photos that won a Best of Houzz Design award. In some cases, the pro also won a Best of Houzz Service award or a Best of Houzz Innovator award. Strive for some or even all of these home design ideas and you’re bound to end up with a home that will never go out of style.
Likewise, this Burlington, Vermont, kitchen by Smith & Vansant Architects is from 2011, but its charming look and feel remain just as compelling today.
Standout features include custom white cabinets (Alkyd in a satin finish, Donald Kaufman Color collection, Pratt & Lambert), a salvaged cast-iron sink, Danby marble countertops and backsplash, salvaged wide-plank pine flooring, an antique French dining table and salvaged antique glass monopoint track pendant lights. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for this kitchen.
Standout features include custom white cabinets (Alkyd in a satin finish, Donald Kaufman Color collection, Pratt & Lambert), a salvaged cast-iron sink, Danby marble countertops and backsplash, salvaged wide-plank pine flooring, an antique French dining table and salvaged antique glass monopoint track pendant lights. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for this kitchen.
This Austin, Texas, kitchen by Cedar & Oak is from 2023, yet it’s easy to imagine it looking just as stylish in 2033. A white oak island, greige cabinets (Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore), a European-inspired exposed dish rack and a dark Brazilian soapstone backsplash within a large Venetian-plastered stove alcove helped earn the firm a Best of Houzz Design award. It was also one of the 10 most-saved new kitchen photos uploaded to Houzz in 2024.
Shop for your kitchen
Shop for your kitchen
2. Kitchen Features That Enhance Entertaining
A timeless home is often one that everybody wants to visit. To achieve that, a kitchen with features that enhance entertaining should be at the top of any wish list. This Miami kitchen by G. Lebron Interiors, which used Houzz Pro business software to manage the project, offers plenty of ideas. An extra-long island has both counter seating and a stepped-down dining table with face-to-face seating. Nearby, an arched niche backed in warm terra-cotta tile denotes a beverage station. Meanwhile, durable porcelain for the island countertop and flooring are party-friendly. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the kitchen. It also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
A timeless home is often one that everybody wants to visit. To achieve that, a kitchen with features that enhance entertaining should be at the top of any wish list. This Miami kitchen by G. Lebron Interiors, which used Houzz Pro business software to manage the project, offers plenty of ideas. An extra-long island has both counter seating and a stepped-down dining table with face-to-face seating. Nearby, an arched niche backed in warm terra-cotta tile denotes a beverage station. Meanwhile, durable porcelain for the island countertop and flooring are party-friendly. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the kitchen. It also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
A beverage fridge on the exterior of the island in this Atlanta kitchen from Bradford Custom Homes & Remodeling lets guests grab a drink without getting in the way of the cook in the main part of the kitchen. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
Similarly, this compact Denver kitchen by Sydney Holliday Interiors features a coffee bar on part of the peninsula. Floating wood shelves with antique brass railings against a white oak panel store mugs and coffee syrup dispensers. The design earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
10 Design Features Pros Recommend for Entertaining at Home
10 Design Features Pros Recommend for Entertaining at Home
3. Home Bar or Beverage Station
A beverage station is a must-have for any dream home. Schloegel Design Remodel added one to this Leawood, Kansas, kitchen. The bar features a deep green-gray paint (Laurel Woods by Sherwin-Williams) and includes two upper cabinets with glass-front doors, holding coffee mugs, wineglasses and cocktail glasses. The cabinets below store liquor bottles and an electric kettle. The firm won a Best of Houzz Design award. It also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
A beverage station is a must-have for any dream home. Schloegel Design Remodel added one to this Leawood, Kansas, kitchen. The bar features a deep green-gray paint (Laurel Woods by Sherwin-Williams) and includes two upper cabinets with glass-front doors, holding coffee mugs, wineglasses and cocktail glasses. The cabinets below store liquor bottles and an electric kettle. The firm won a Best of Houzz Design award. It also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
Savvy Interiors created a stylish home bar off the dining room in this San Diego home. The niche features two fridges, glass-front cabinets, wine bottle storage and a subtly patterned backsplash. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the design. It also won a Best of Houzz Innovator award for being Houzz Pro certified and using the software to manage their business and deliver excellent customer service, as evidenced by their Best of Houzz Service award for 2025 as well.
Tara Fust Design took advantage of space under the stairs in this Atlanta home to create a handy wet bar. For it, Fust earned a Best of Houzz Design award.
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
4. Plenty of Living Room Seating
If you’re going to entertain, make sure all of your guests have a place to sit. A living room with an abundance of seating is key for any get-together. Lauren DeBello Interiors shows how it’s done with this Nashville, Tennessee, living room, which includes matching mossy velvet sofas, a pair of caramel swivel chairs and two ball-footed stools that can be moved around as needed. The design was one of the 10 most-saved living rooms uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and helped DeBello’s firm earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
If you’re going to entertain, make sure all of your guests have a place to sit. A living room with an abundance of seating is key for any get-together. Lauren DeBello Interiors shows how it’s done with this Nashville, Tennessee, living room, which includes matching mossy velvet sofas, a pair of caramel swivel chairs and two ball-footed stools that can be moved around as needed. The design was one of the 10 most-saved living rooms uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and helped DeBello’s firm earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
This Franklin, Tennessee, living room takes a similar approach with dual sofas, a pair of armchairs, a pair of club chairs and two footstools. The coffee table is also upholstered, offering another seat for guests. The homeowners found both Noble Johnson Architects and interior designer Ashley Rohe on Houzz to make this project happen. The living room, with its coffered ceiling and impressive millwork, helped the architectural firm earn a Best of Houzz Design award. The firm also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
Go inside this home on Houzz TV
Go inside this home on Houzz TV
5. Outdoor Entertaining Areas
Few things enhance home entertaining quite like an outdoor setup with areas for lounging, dining, cooking and TV watching. You’ll find all those elements in this upscale Vienna, Virginia, porch by WINN Design + Build, which earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award. WINN also earned a Best of Houzz Service award.
Few things enhance home entertaining quite like an outdoor setup with areas for lounging, dining, cooking and TV watching. You’ll find all those elements in this upscale Vienna, Virginia, porch by WINN Design + Build, which earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award. WINN also earned a Best of Houzz Service award.
This Miami patio by Joy R. Dabill Interior Design features plenty of stylish outdoor entertaining space, including an outdoor kitchen and bar area with a TV, a dining table, and a lounge area with its own TV. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
10 Outdoor Kitchen Design Features Pros Always Recommend
10 Outdoor Kitchen Design Features Pros Always Recommend
6. Powder Room That Pops
If you want to wow guests, take a bold design leap in the powder room. It’ll create an intimate little moment of surprise that can be a style departure from the rest of the home. A dramatic wallpaper and vanity combination like the one seen in this Washington, D.C.-area powder room by Hamilton Snowber Architects is a surefire approach. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
If you want to wow guests, take a bold design leap in the powder room. It’ll create an intimate little moment of surprise that can be a style departure from the rest of the home. A dramatic wallpaper and vanity combination like the one seen in this Washington, D.C.-area powder room by Hamilton Snowber Architects is a surefire approach. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
Walter Studio Interior Design had a similar idea with this Atlanta powder room. Thibaut’s Asian Scenic wallpaper energizes the small space. A vanity painted in Evergreens by Sherwin-Williams picks up on the green tones in the wallpaper. A gold-painted ceiling caps off the room. The space earned the studio a Best of Houzz Design award.
7. Spacious Low-Curb Shower
A long-lasting home greatly benefits from a spacious low-curb shower. It’s easy to enter and exit, creates a light and airy look and helps keep water from getting onto the main floor of the bathroom. Kirby Home Designs, which uses Houzz Pro business software, installed an inviting low-curb shower in this Edmond, Oklahoma, bathroom. Creamy glazed ceramic shower tiles, knotty alder doors and an earthy taupe vanity (Nearly Brown by Sherwin-Williams) create a warm and welcoming palette. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award. The firm also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
A long-lasting home greatly benefits from a spacious low-curb shower. It’s easy to enter and exit, creates a light and airy look and helps keep water from getting onto the main floor of the bathroom. Kirby Home Designs, which uses Houzz Pro business software, installed an inviting low-curb shower in this Edmond, Oklahoma, bathroom. Creamy glazed ceramic shower tiles, knotty alder doors and an earthy taupe vanity (Nearly Brown by Sherwin-Williams) create a warm and welcoming palette. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award. The firm also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
A spacious low-curb shower is the highlight of this New York bathroom by architect Brendan McHugh. Wave-like tiles in the shower create a soothing look. A wood vanity adds a touch of warmth. The space earned McHugh a Best of Houzz Design award.
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
10 Bathroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
8. Wood Vanity
Bathrooms typically include lots of tile and metal finishes, which can leave a space looking cold. A wood vanity is a great way to add a significant amount of warmth. This Denver bathroom by AMC Kitchen & Bath is a good example with its wood double vanity in a honey maple finish. Architectural beams bring additional warmth. AMC earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the room.
Bathrooms typically include lots of tile and metal finishes, which can leave a space looking cold. A wood vanity is a great way to add a significant amount of warmth. This Denver bathroom by AMC Kitchen & Bath is a good example with its wood double vanity in a honey maple finish. Architectural beams bring additional warmth. AMC earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the room.
A sleek floating wood vanity in this Grand Rapids, Michigan, bathroom by Insignia Homes balances an abundance of white tile with generous warmth. The space earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz
Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz
9. Relaxing Bedroom
No dream home is complete without a comfortable, relaxing bedroom. The breezy style in this Atlanta bedroom by Elle Du Monde is a good example. The palette is calming, but a few dramatic touches of black and gold keep it from being boring. There’s also simple, plush bedding and curtain rods placed near the ceiling to emphasize the height of the room. The rods are also sized wide enough so the curtains fully cover the window area, preventing light from leaking in. Elle Du Monde earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the room.
No dream home is complete without a comfortable, relaxing bedroom. The breezy style in this Atlanta bedroom by Elle Du Monde is a good example. The palette is calming, but a few dramatic touches of black and gold keep it from being boring. There’s also simple, plush bedding and curtain rods placed near the ceiling to emphasize the height of the room. The rods are also sized wide enough so the curtains fully cover the window area, preventing light from leaking in. Elle Du Monde earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the room.
Delphinium Design’s treatment in this Charlotte, North Carolina, bedroom also nails a relaxing look and feel. Shades and drapes keep out unwanted light. The bed frame and headboard are upholstered. A bench and chair offer comfy places to sit. And the palette is simple and soothing. The room was the most-saved new bedroom photo uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and earned Delphinium a Best of Houzz Design award. The firm also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
10 Bedroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
10 Bedroom Design Features Pros Always Recommend
10. Hardworking Mudroom Storage
If you want to stop everyday items from cluttering up your home, stop them at the entry. Mudroom storage is a great solution for doing just that. Ellie Mroz Design got this New Jersey home organized with a hardworking mudroom that features light pewter gray cabinetry with cubbies, locker storage, shelves, hooks and a bench. The cabinet color and brick flooring make the space feel in conversation with the classic historical home. The room earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
If you want to stop everyday items from cluttering up your home, stop them at the entry. Mudroom storage is a great solution for doing just that. Ellie Mroz Design got this New Jersey home organized with a hardworking mudroom that features light pewter gray cabinetry with cubbies, locker storage, shelves, hooks and a bench. The cabinet color and brick flooring make the space feel in conversation with the classic historical home. The room earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
Olive green cabinets with a wood bench and cubbies create a welcoming organization hub at an entry to this St. Michael, Minnesota, home by construction2style. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the space.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
11. Stylish Laundry Room
Many people find doing laundry a tedious chore. But the right mix of stylish and functional features can make the task more enjoyable. Consider the latest trending style in laundry rooms: a sophisticated look that combines rich cabinet colors, luxurious finishes, elegant wallpaper and tasteful lighting, artwork and decor.
This Dallas laundry room by Spruill Homes is a good example. It features brick flooring in a herringbone pattern, green cabinetry and brass accents. The appliances are raised for comfort, and a pullout shelf improves ergonomics even more by providing a spot to rest a laundry basket. The design was included in a roundup of 34 design trends that will define 2025 and helped Spruill Homes earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
Many people find doing laundry a tedious chore. But the right mix of stylish and functional features can make the task more enjoyable. Consider the latest trending style in laundry rooms: a sophisticated look that combines rich cabinet colors, luxurious finishes, elegant wallpaper and tasteful lighting, artwork and decor.
This Dallas laundry room by Spruill Homes is a good example. It features brick flooring in a herringbone pattern, green cabinetry and brass accents. The appliances are raised for comfort, and a pullout shelf improves ergonomics even more by providing a spot to rest a laundry basket. The design was included in a roundup of 34 design trends that will define 2025 and helped Spruill Homes earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
This Vermont laundry room by Housewright Construction features a similar look and feel with green cabinetry and millwork, a blue-green door, a dark countertop and wood details. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the space.
How to Design a Laundry Area That’s Easy to Keep Organized
How to Design a Laundry Area That’s Easy to Keep Organized
12. Inviting Home Office
Whether you work from home or just need a place to focus on taxes, bills or household schedules, a home office is a must-have for getting organized and staying on task. Built-in storage, comfy furniture and stylish colors and decor can create an inviting atmosphere for tackling work.
This Falls Church, Virginia, home office by Case Architects & Remodelers provides a great example with its blue built-ins, a window seat and walnut desktop. The design was the most-saved new home office photo uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
Whether you work from home or just need a place to focus on taxes, bills or household schedules, a home office is a must-have for getting organized and staying on task. Built-in storage, comfy furniture and stylish colors and decor can create an inviting atmosphere for tackling work.
This Falls Church, Virginia, home office by Case Architects & Remodelers provides a great example with its blue built-ins, a window seat and walnut desktop. The design was the most-saved new home office photo uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and earned the firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
This Chicago home office by Laurie Demetrio Interiors features a natural wallcovering handcrafted from banana leaves and then laminated (Husk in Iris Root by Phillip Jeffries). A warm sophisticated cabinet color, an Orobico marble desktop and touches of gold create an elegant look. The firm earned a Best of Houzz Design award for the space. It also won a Best of Houzz Service award.
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Home Office
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Home Office
13. A Quiet Place
Many areas of a home are dedicated to busy tasks and routines. That’s why it’s important to have a space that’s void of activity, a quiet place to relax, nap, read a book or just sit silently in a moment of reflection. A comfy sofa or bench near a window works well, as this Chicago living room by KED Interiors shows. This was one of the most-saved new living rooms uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and helped the firm earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
Many areas of a home are dedicated to busy tasks and routines. That’s why it’s important to have a space that’s void of activity, a quiet place to relax, nap, read a book or just sit silently in a moment of reflection. A comfy sofa or bench near a window works well, as this Chicago living room by KED Interiors shows. This was one of the most-saved new living rooms uploaded to Houzz in 2024 and helped the firm earn a Best of Houzz Design award.
SV Design had the right idea for this porch on a lake in upstate New York. Relaxing outdoor furniture on bluestone tile offers a quiet, shaded spot to take in the sights, sounds and smells of nature. The porch earned the architectural firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
10 Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like a Resort
10 Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like a Resort
14. Greenery
Glimpsing lush plants and trees can have a calming, restorative effect. Plenty of greenery can also help soften harsh angles and hard materials and add a punch of soothing color. Be sure your home connects with nature by adding an abundance of greenery inside and out. This Los Angeles porch by Anne Carr Design is covered in bougainvillea. The space earned Carr a Best of Houzz Design award.
Glimpsing lush plants and trees can have a calming, restorative effect. Plenty of greenery can also help soften harsh angles and hard materials and add a punch of soothing color. Be sure your home connects with nature by adding an abundance of greenery inside and out. This Los Angeles porch by Anne Carr Design is covered in bougainvillea. The space earned Carr a Best of Houzz Design award.
15. Curb Appeal
And finally, don’t forget about first impressions. The look of a home from the curb helps set the tone for what’s inside and can spark joy for you and your guests — or for anyone who’s passing by. Consider a fun front door color or design, stylish furniture and decor, interesting trim paint, detailed landscaping or all of the above. This Austin, Texas, home by The Cobalt Companies features a wonderful limestone exterior, a rich wood front door, a standing-seam metal roof and dark trim. Vibrant pops of color from the chairs, table and pillows create a playful and welcoming look and feel. The setup earned the building firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
7 Curb Appeal Projects That Homeowners Are Choosing Right Now
And finally, don’t forget about first impressions. The look of a home from the curb helps set the tone for what’s inside and can spark joy for you and your guests — or for anyone who’s passing by. Consider a fun front door color or design, stylish furniture and decor, interesting trim paint, detailed landscaping or all of the above. This Austin, Texas, home by The Cobalt Companies features a wonderful limestone exterior, a rich wood front door, a standing-seam metal roof and dark trim. Vibrant pops of color from the chairs, table and pillows create a playful and welcoming look and feel. The setup earned the building firm a Best of Houzz Design award.
7 Curb Appeal Projects That Homeowners Are Choosing Right Now
If you’re looking for a pro to help with a design or remodeling project, check out all the Best of Houzz 2025 winners. You can search for pros in your area — and by the room you’re looking to update — and hire them through Houzz.
If you want to know whether a professional on Houzz has received a Best of Houzz award, just visit their profile page and look for badges displayed on the page, as shown here. Best of Houzz badges are given in four categories: Design, Service, Innovator and Photography. When you see a Best of Houzz badge, that means the Houzz community has highly rated the professional, has saved photos from their Houzz portfolio or both.
About 2% of Houzz’s 3 million home professionals win Best of Houzz awards each year.
View all the Best of Houzz 2025 winners
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse home design photos
Find a professional
Shop for your home
If you want to know whether a professional on Houzz has received a Best of Houzz award, just visit their profile page and look for badges displayed on the page, as shown here. Best of Houzz badges are given in four categories: Design, Service, Innovator and Photography. When you see a Best of Houzz badge, that means the Houzz community has highly rated the professional, has saved photos from their Houzz portfolio or both.
About 2% of Houzz’s 3 million home professionals win Best of Houzz awards each year.
View all the Best of Houzz 2025 winners
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse home design photos
Find a professional
Shop for your home
If you’re looking to create a home that lasts, focus on timeless materials and styles. You probably wouldn’t have guessed that this Austin, Texas, kitchen is 10 years old. Designer Julie Bradshaw of Bradshaw Designs used elegant slabs of classic Calacatta marble for the countertops and backsplash. White beaded inset cabinets and distressed gray-wash wood beams at the vaulted ceiling also ensure the space will look eternally good. The design helped earn Bradshaw a Best of Houzz Design award.
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