This living room got an upgraded look with the help of new paint, furnishings, fireplace tiling and the installation of a bar area. Our clients like to party and they host very often... so they needed a space off the kitchen where adults can make a cocktail and have a conversation while listening to music. We accomplished this with conversation style seating around a coffee table. We designed a custom built-in bar area with wine storage and beverage fridge, and floating shelves for storing stemware and glasses. The fireplace also got an update with beachy glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern and a rustic pine mantel. The homeowners are also love music and have a large collection of vinyl records. We commissioned a custom record storage cabinet from Hansen Concepts which is a piece of art and a conversation starter of its own. The record storage unit is made of raw edge wood and the drawers are engraved with the lyrics of the client's favorite songs. It's a masterpiece and will be an heirloom for sure.

A porcelain vein-cut travertine look-alike covers this formerly dark brick wall and the brass fireplace was replaced with a more contemporary gas unit. Limited space called for a narrow shelf rather than a deep hearth. Carpet was removed and replaced with hardwood.

Continuing the concrete-look porcelain tile throughout the home gives it a nice, clean consistency and appeal. Carrying the tile from floor to walls while accenting the tub/ shower wall with simple, yet interesting mosaic makes the space playful yet sophisticated. The walnut vanity gives a pop of warmth to the space and creates balance. Having good tile installers is a MUST especially when renovating a older home where none of the walls are straight and wanting a clean modern look. Chris Haver Photography

The formal living area in this Brooklyn brownstone once had an awful marble fireplace surround that didn't properly reflect the home's provenance. Sheetrock was peeled back to reveal the exposed brick chimney, we sourced a new mantel with dental molding from architectural salvage, and completed the surround with green marble tiles in an offset pattern. The chairs are Mid-Century Modern style and the love seat is custom-made in gray leather. Custom bookshelves and lower storage cabinets were also installed, overseen by antiqued-brass picture lights.

Our clients came to us wanting to maximize the space they had. They were not planning on moving anytime soon, as they loved their neighborhood. They wanted to renovate the front of their house, which included the front atrium, living room, kitchen, and powder bath. They hated their kitchen because it was completely closed off, had low ceilings, was dark and outdated, not to mention the floors were different in each of these rooms! The pantry was in the breakfast area and the kitchen table became a junk catcher, being the first thing you see when coming in from the garage/laundry room. In their living room, they wanted the spaces on either side of the fireplace to be symmetrical, whether that be bookshelves, a wet bar or closed off. Both parents are working professionals with no time and/or desire to design, create and figure this out on their own. They needed help figuring out how to reconfigure their current space in order to maximize what they already had, as they could not see an obvious solution. They could not envision how it would look so the fact that our designers were able to show them their new kitchen in 3D was pertinent. We removed the pass-through windows that surrounded the atrium and front dining room, as well as the entire kitchen wall, completely opening up those two rooms. We removed a hall that used to lead between the kitchen and the living room since it was a complete waste of space! The ceilings were raised to 10’ in the kitchen and we were able to leave the skylight, letting in that natural light they wanted. We were able to give them a much larger pantry with tons of shelving and increase the size of their laundry room by utilizing the space of their old breakfast nook. We relocated the door to the garage into their new elongated laundry room, built a wet bar across from their new larger pantry (with a pocket door) and the flow and functionality of these new spaces is just perfect! All new Waypoint cabinets were installed one two main kitchen surrounding walls painted Linen. Calacatta Bianco Polished Porcelain Tile 4x12 was used for the backsplash. A large eat-at island was installed, painted Stone, where the family can now gather for homework, meals, and mingling. The soft champagne bronze hardware and accent lighting really give this white and gray kitchen a soft classic look. In the living room, we removed the built-in bookshelves to the left of the fireplace and closed off the wet-bar on the other side, giving them more space in their master suite. White Oak wood flooring, stained Putney, was installed throughout the entire new space, giving it the continuity they were looking for. In the guest bathroom, Carrara white herringbone marble mosaic 12x12 tile was used on the shower floor and niche, while basic marble Bianco polished 12x24 porcelain tile was used on the walls. Luxart polished chrome traditional hardware gives this timeless bathroom the perfect shine. Our clients are so happy with the new functionality and look of their space. It has definitely changed their lives in a way they could have never imagined!

Inspiration for a mediterranean kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

Ed Gohlich
Family room - mediterranean family room idea in Other with white walls, a media wall, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

Children's tub and built in shelves. Yorgos Efthymiadis
Inspiration for a coastal multicolored tile and glass tile mosaic tile floor alcove bathtub remodel in New York

JMS Custom Homes
Example of a transitional living room design in Minneapolis with a tile fireplace

This brownstone, located in Harlem, consists of five stories which had been duplexed to create a two story rental unit and a 3 story home for the owners. The owner hired us to do a modern renovation of their home and rear garden. The garden was under utilized, barely visible from the interior and could only be accessed via a small steel stair at the rear of the second floor. We enlarged the owner’s home to include the rear third of the floor below which had walk out access to the garden. The additional square footage became a new family room connected to the living room and kitchen on the floor above via a double height space and a new sculptural stair. The rear facade was completely restructured to allow us to install a wall to wall two story window and door system within the new double height space creating a connection not only between the two floors but with the outside. The garden itself was terraced into two levels, the bottom level of which is directly accessed from the new family room space, the upper level accessed via a few stone clad steps. The upper level of the garden features a playful interplay of stone pavers with wood decking adjacent to a large seating area and a new planting bed. Wet bar cabinetry at the family room level is mirrored by an outside cabinetry/grill configuration as another way to visually tie inside to out. The second floor features the dining room, kitchen and living room in a large open space. Wall to wall builtins from the front to the rear transition from storage to dining display to kitchen; ending at an open shelf display with a fireplace feature in the base. The third floor serves as the children’s floor with two bedrooms and two ensuite baths. The fourth floor is a master suite with a large bedroom and a large bathroom bridged by a walnut clad hall that conceals a closet system and features a built in desk. The master bath consists of a tiled partition wall dividing the space to create a large walkthrough shower for two on one side and showcasing a free standing tub on the other. The house is full of custom modern details such as the recessed, lit handrail at the house’s main stair, floor to ceiling glass partitions separating the halls from the stairs and a whimsical builtin bench in the entry.

All of the cuts in the tile were deliberate. Notice the equal reveal on either side of the soap niche. A rectangular soap niche is not only modern and unique, but also has a much higher storage capacity than the traditional small square recess. The pony wall provides separation and privacy and also is able to support the long floating bench across the back wall.

The homeowners wanted a contemporary living room, instead of the tradition living room they had. Normandy Designer Karen Chanan created this beautiful fireplace renovation as part of a larger project, and the results are just dynamic.

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept porcelain tile and multicolored floor living room remodel in Tampa with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Casey Fry
Kitchen - mid-sized contemporary single-wall medium tone wood floor kitchen idea in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, gray backsplash and dark wood cabinets

Large trendy open concept light wood floor and beige floor family room photo in Boston with gray walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a concealed tv

Open living space with corner fireplace, wall mounted TV, floating cabinetry with sliding glass doors opening to outdoor living space and pool. Views of desert landscape.

the client decided to eliminate the bathtub and install a large shower with partial fixed shower glass instead of a shower door
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master gray tile and ceramic tile mosaic tile floor, gray floor, double-sink and wainscoting bathroom remodel in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, a one-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, gray countertops and a freestanding vanity

This lovely custom-built home is surrounded by wild prairie and horse pastures. ORIJIN STONE Premium Bluestone Blue Select is used throughout the home; from the front porch & step treads, as a custom fireplace surround, throughout the lower level including the wine cellar, and on the back patio. LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALL: Original Rock Designs TILE INSTALL: Uzzell Tile, Inc. BUILDER: Gordon James PHOTOGRAPHY: Landmark Photography

Remodeled fireplace gives living room a fresh focal point with patterned tile and a beautiful walnut mantle © Cindy Apple Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Seattle with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv