This Guest Bedroom was awarded First Place in the ASID LEGACY OF DESIGN 2015 AWARD for Traditional Guest Bedroom. Interior Design & Styling by Dona Rosene Interiors. Photography by Michael Hunter.

Kitchen by Jinx McDonald Interior Designs
Example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen design in Tampa with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen painted with full-spectrum C2 Paint featuring a high gloss ceiling.
Large transitional single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, black appliances, an island, marble countertops and glass sheet backsplash

Dining room on the Oregon Coast Photo by Nik Johnson
Inspiration for a coastal medium tone wood floor dining room remodel in Seattle with white walls

Miami Interior Designers - Residential Interior Design Project in Aventura, FL. A classic Mediterranean home turns Transitional and Contemporary by DKOR Interiors. Photo: Alexia Fodere Interior Design by Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Interior Designers, DKOR Interiors. www.dkorinteriors.com

We juxtaposed bold colors and contemporary furnishings with the early twentieth-century interior architecture for this four-level Pacific Heights Edwardian. The home's showpiece is the living room, where the walls received a rich coat of blackened teal blue paint with a high gloss finish, while the high ceiling is painted off-white with violet undertones. Against this dramatic backdrop, we placed a streamlined sofa upholstered in an opulent navy velour and companioned it with a pair of modern lounge chairs covered in raspberry mohair. An artisanal wool and silk rug in indigo, wine, and smoke ties the space together.

Working with Ashleigh Weatherill Interiors on this amazing Denver home. We painted the walls throughout the home. Photos by: Libbie Holmes
Example of a large 1950s medium tone wood floor dining room design in Denver with beige walls

Sarah Dorio
Example of a beach style dark wood floor powder room design in Atlanta with an undermount sink, gray cabinets, white walls, shaker cabinets and white countertops

Bunk Bed are great for small houses, specially if inspired by the ocean. // TEAM //// Architect: Design Associates, Inc. //// Builder: Daily Construction //// Interior Design: Kristin Paton Interiors //// Photos: Eric Roth Photography

John Magor Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary teen room remodel in Richmond with blue walls

The hall table is a custom made piece design by in collaboration with the interior designer, Ashley Whittaker. The floor has an inlay Greek key border, and the walls are covered hand painted Gracie paper.

Example of a mountain style entryway design in Seattle with beige walls and a gray front door

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Living room - traditional living room idea in Houston

Vanity: Restoration Hardware, Odeon Double Vanity in Charcoal: https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1870385&categoryId=search Sean Litchfield Photography

Jim Bartsch
Example of a mid-sized classic formal and open concept dark wood floor living room design in Santa Barbara with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

Lowell Custom Homes, Lake Geneva, WI., The living room is inviting and warm with coral walls reflecting the custom color mix of the stone fireplace. Shaped stone slabs fireplace surround reflect the craftsman style. The ceiling has a beamed cove and is painted with a high sheen white. There is a comfortable seating area and another stone niche beside the fireplace for the television.

Sucuri Granite Countertop sourced from Shenoy or Midwest Tile in Austin, TX; Kent Moore Cabinets (Painted Nebulous Grey-Low-Mocha-Hilite), Island painted Misty Bayou-Low; Backsplash - Marazzi (AMT), Studio M (Brick), Flamenco, 13 x 13 Mesh 1-1/4" x 5/8"; Flooring - Earth Werks, "5" Prestige, Handsculpted Maple, Graphite Maple Finish; Pendant Lights - Savoy House - Structure 4 Light Foyer, SKU: 3-4302-4-242; Barstools - New Pacific Direct - item # 108627-2050; The wall color is PPG Ashen 516-4.

Dining Room by Julie Rootes Interiors for the 2015 Napa Valley Showhouse. We provided the painted finishes and wall coverings. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.