Interior Designer: MOTIV Interiors LLC Photographer: Sam Angel Photography Design Challenge: This 8 year-old boy and girl were outgrowing their existing setup and needed to update their rooms with a plan that would carry them forward into middle school and beyond. In addition to gaining storage and study areas, could these twins show off their big personalities? Absolutely, we said! MOTIV Interiors tackled the rooms of these youngsters living in Nashville's 12th South Neighborhood and created an environment where the dynamic duo can learn, create, and grow together for years to come. Design Solution: In her room, we wanted to create a fun-filled space that supports softball, sleepovers, science, and anything else a girl might want to get into. The star of the show is a beautiful hand-printed wallpaper by Brooklyn designer Aimee Wilder, whose FSC-certified papers contain no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). That means that in addition to packing a powerful visual punch, they meet our standard for excellent indoor air quality. We also love this wallpaper because it is composed of so many different neutral colors - this room can organically evolve over time without necessarily replacing the paper (which was installed with a no-VOC adhesive). We refreshed the remaining walls with a scrubbable no-VOC paint from Sherwin Williams (7008 Alabaster) and gave the carpets in both of the twins’ rooms a good cleaning and simple stretch as opposed to replacing them. In order to provide more functional light in her room, we incorporated a corner floor lamp for reading, a telescoping desk lamp for studying, and an eye-catching LED flower pendant on a dimmer switch sourced from Lightology. Custom window treatments in a linen/cotton blend emphasize the height of the room and bring in a little “bling” with antiqued gold hardware. Before we even thought about aesthetics, however, MOTIV Interiors got to work right away on increasing functionality. We added a spacious storage unit with plenty of baskets for all of our young client’s animal friends, and we made sure to include ample shelf space for books and hobbies as she finds new passions to explore down the road. We always prefer eco-friendly furnishings that are manufactured responsibly, made with sustainably harvested wood (FSC Certified), and use no glue or non-toxic glues and paints. The bedding in this project is 100% cotton and contains no synthetic fibers. When purchasing bedding, check for the GOTS Certification (Global Organic Textile Standard). The introduction of a desk and drawer unit created a calming space to study and reflect, or write a letter to a friend. Gold accents add a bit of warmth to the workspace, where she can display her memories, goals, and game plans for a bright future. We hope you enjoyed this project as much as we did! Each design challenge is an opportunity to push the envelope, by creating a new and exciting aesthetic or finding creative ways to incorporate sustainable design principles.

Trendy kitchen photo in San Francisco

Inspiration for a contemporary entryway remodel in Denver

photos: Kyle Born
Living room - eclectic light wood floor living room idea in New York with a standard fireplace, no tv and multicolored walls

This Hill Country Modern home in Southlake combines modern design with comfort, featuring light-filled spaces and unique details reflecting the family's eclectic style for play and sophistication. This playful kid's room features a blue ceiling that adds a touch of whimsy. It is complemented by an elegant gray-patterned accent wall and charming decor, creating a stylish and inviting space.

Ryann Ford
This is an example of a contemporary partial sun concrete paver landscaping in Austin with a fire pit.

Transitional family room photo in San Francisco

Tessa Neustadt http://tessaneustadt.com

Transitional gender-neutral carpeted, shiplap ceiling, vaulted ceiling, wallpaper and beige floor kids' room photo in Chicago with multicolored walls

Designing a whole home remodel for a client’s second home was an exciting opportunity to create a space that felt both welcoming and timeless. The clients wanted a space that felt light, bright, and timeless. We focused on an open-concept layout, maximizing natural light and incorporating soft, neutral tones that complemented the desert landscape. The main showstopper of the home was the kitchen, which the family considered the heart of the home. Featuring high-end finishes, the kitchen became a space for both cooking and gathering, designed for both functionality and elegance. Thoughtful touches, such as custom cabinetry, integrated appliances, and custom hood, helped elevate the entire space, making it a true focal point. With a thoughtful blend of modern design and classic touches, the remodel was tailored to ensure the space could grow with the family and become a place they would cherish and enjoy for years to come.

Stacy Bass Second floor hideaway for children's books and toys. Game area. Study area. Seating area. Red color calls attention to custom built-in bookshelves and storage space. Reading nook beneath sunny window invites readers of all ages.

Organized Living Classica closet design in bisque. Organization tip & image from pro organizer, Amanda LeBlanc: store shoes heel to toe - not only does make it easy to see them, it also help you save space! See more Classica designs: http://organizedliving.com/home/products/classica/inspiration-gallery

Photo - Jessica Glynn Photography
Inspiration for a small transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor study room remodel in New York with blue walls

Inspiration for a coastal ceramic tile and gray floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, marble backsplash and an island

Eclectic & Transitional Home, Family Room, Photography by Susie Brenner
Living room - large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Denver with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Creatively Designed Space full of custom details Kitchen Pantry Office Combo
Beach style home office photo in Boston

Bathroom vanity design in a Dallas home featuring soft blue cabinetry, a large mirror, and warm brass fixtures, creating a balanced, light-filled space with thoughtful storage and timeless finishes.

Transitional laundry room photo in Chicago

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography