James Kruger, LandMark Photography Interior Design: Martha O'Hara Interiors Architect: Sharratt Design & Company
Inspiration for a large french country open concept and formal dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Entry hall - transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor entry hall idea in New York with white walls

Existing cabinets were re-purposed, Laundry center removed from kitchen, and opening created to central hall, providing improved circulation, daylighting and cross-ventilation. New appliances, flooring & cabinet hardware were integrated into existing kitchen. David Patterson Photography

Trendy family room photo in Los Angeles

Example of a minimalist family room design in DC Metro

Minimalist family room photo in DC Metro

Inspiration for a modern family room remodel in DC Metro

Minimalist living room photo in DC Metro

Example of a minimalist family room design in DC Metro

Hallway - mid-sized rustic travertine floor hallway idea with beige walls

Living room - modern living room idea in DC Metro

Minimalist family room photo in DC Metro

We added interior windows to the three walls of this central staircase, allowing light to flow from room to room as well as to the staircase itself. By redesigning the original closed in central hall and stairway, we maintained room distinction while establishing a modified open floor plan.

Nearly two decades ago now, Susan and her husband put a letter in the mailbox of this eastside home: "If you have any interest in selling, please reach out." But really, who would give up a Flansburgh House? Fast forward to 2020, when the house went on the market! By then it was clear that three children and a busy home design studio couldn't be crammed into this efficient footprint. But what's second best to moving into your dream home? Being asked to redesign the functional core for the family that was. In this classic Flansburgh layout, all the rooms align tidily in a square around a central hall and open air atrium. As such, all the spaces are both connected to one another and also private; and all allow for visual access to the outdoors in two directions—toward the atrium and toward the exterior. All except, in this case, the utilitarian galley kitchen. That space, oft-relegated to second class in midcentury architecture, got the shaft, with narrow doorways on two ends and no good visual access to the atrium or the outside. Who spends time in the kitchen anyway? As is often the case with even the very best midcentury architecture, the kitchen at the Flansburgh House needed to be modernized; appliances and cabinetry have come a long way since 1970, but our culture has evolved too, becoming more casual and open in ways we at SYH believe are here to stay. People (gasp!) do spend time—lots of time!—in their kitchens! Nonetheless, our goal was to make this kitchen look as if it had been designed this way by Earl Flansburgh himself. The house came to us full of bold, bright color. We edited out some of it (along with the walls it was on) but kept and built upon the stunning red, orange and yellow closet doors in the family room adjacent to the kitchen. That pop was balanced by a few colorful midcentury pieces that our clients already owned, and the stunning light and verdant green coming in from both the atrium and the perimeter of the house, not to mention the many skylights. Thus, the rest of the space just needed to quiet down and be a beautiful, if neutral, foil. White terrazzo tile grounds custom plywood and black cabinetry, offset by a half wall that offers both camouflage for the cooking mess and also storage below, hidden behind seamless oak tambour. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Cabinetry: Stoll's Woodworking Photographer: Sarah Shields

Example of a transitional living room design in San Francisco

Rob Perry Photography
Example of a trendy two-story exterior home design in Seattle

This hallway is widened as it travels from the living space to the bedrooms to create a perfect space to display original artwork. The track lighting can be adjusted to highlight the artwork. All of the hallway doors have integrated jambs eliminating any casings that can interfere with the linear feel of the hallway.

This hallway is widened as it travels from the living space to the bedrooms to create a perfect space to display original artwork. The track lighting can be adjusted to highlight the artwork. All of the hallway doors have integrated jambs eliminating any casings that can interfere with the linear feel of the hallway.

This kitchen, located in the addition was a massive improvement on allocation of space of the previous kitchen. Relocating it to the other side of the home allowed for a more central hall and an improved relationship with the dining room viewed beyond. It is also open to the new family room as a great room, perfect for interacting with family and a well lit view to the rear yard to watch the kids play during meal prep time. This new kitchen is the hub of the home!