Each of the two custom vanities provide plenty of space for personal items as well as storage. Brushed gold mirrors, sconces, sink fittings, and hardware shine bright against the neutral grey wall and dark brown vanities.

A master bath renovation in a lake front home with a farmhouse vibe and easy to maintain finishes.
Mid-sized country master white tile and ceramic tile single-sink, porcelain tile, black floor and shiplap wall bathroom photo in Chicago with distressed cabinets, marble countertops, white countertops, a freestanding vanity, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, a hinged shower door, an undermount sink and flat-panel cabinets

Mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen pantry photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets and white cabinets

A special way to keep dog dishes out from underfoot. Dogbone drawers hold treats, leashes and other supplies. Pullout cabinet on left of island holds bulk dogfood.

Entrance to this home features ship lap walls & ceilings that are off set with a brilliant blue barn door and abstract ocean theme art. Photography by Patrick Brickman

Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped a neighbor and friend to update a “builder grade” kitchen into a personal, family space that feels luxurious and inviting. The homeowner wanted to solve a number of storage and flow problems in the kitchen, including a wasted area dedicated to a desk, too-little pantry storage, and her wish for a kitchen bar. The all white builder kitchen lacked character, and the client wanted to inject color, texture and personality into the kitchen while keeping it classic.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

Inspiration for a mediterranean front yard landscaping in Los Angeles.

Beautiful guest bathroom with floating vanity, large tile and lots of natural light. Margaret Wright Photography
Trendy white tile white floor bathroom photo in Charleston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls and black countertops

Casual yet refined family room with custom built-in, custom fireplace, wood beam, custom storage, picture lights. Natural elements.
Huge beach style open concept and formal medium tone wood floor living room photo in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

©Jeff Herr Photography, Inc.
Example of a transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor home bar design in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops and brown countertops

JS Gibson
Large transitional brick floor and gray floor sunroom photo in Charleston with a standard ceiling and no fireplace

Example of a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Mountain style kitchen photo in Minneapolis

Classic, timeless and ideally positioned on a sprawling corner lot set high above the street, discover this designer dream home by Jessica Koltun. The blend of traditional architecture and contemporary finishes evokes feelings of warmth while understated elegance remains constant throughout this Midway Hollow masterpiece unlike no other. This extraordinary home is at the pinnacle of prestige and lifestyle with a convenient address to all that Dallas has to offer.

Guest bathroom with antique vanity. Leaded glass window.
Example of an ornate bathroom design in San Francisco

Jason Miller, Pixelate LTD
Elegant dedicated laundry room photo in Cleveland with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and white countertops

Example of a large minimalist white three-story mixed siding exterior home design in Houston with a metal roof

Photo by Jess Blackwell Photography
Transitional white tile and subway tile multicolored floor bathroom photo in Denver with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops