Living Room with porcelain slab fireplace and custom storage benches. Open stair case to upper and lower levels
Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor living room idea in San Francisco with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

This sun-filled tiny home features a thoughtfully designed layout with natural flow past a small front porch through the front sliding door and into a lovely living room with tall ceilings and lots of storage.

This gray transitional kitchen consists of open shelving, marble counters and flat panel cabinetry. The paneled refrigerator, white subway tile and gray cabinetry helps the compact kitchen have a much larger feel due to the light colors carried throughout the space. Photo credit: Normandy Remodeling

Cover. A white double stitch seals the edge of a sliding felt seat, designed for accessing the storage box below. With ample storage for those things you’d like to keep out of sight and two shelves for footwear, this bench will contribute to keeping your place in perfect order.

As seen in this photo, the front to back view offers homeowners and guests alike a direct view and access to the deck off the back of the house. In addition to holding access to the garage, this space holds two closets. One, the homeowners are using as a coat closest and the other, a pantry closet. You also see a custom built in unit with a bench and storage. There is also access to a powder room, a bathroom that was relocated from middle of the 1st floor layout. Relocating the bathroom allowed us to open up the floor plan, offering a view directly into and out of the playroom and dining room.

Ryan Day Thompson
Inspiration for a country garage workshop remodel in Other

We designed this built in bench with shoe storage drawers, a shelf above and high and low hooks for adults and kids. Photos: David Hiser
Example of a small classic entryway design in Portland with multicolored walls and a glass front door

The clients were involved in the neighborhood organization dedicated to keeping the housing instead of tearing down. They wanted to utilize every inch of storage which resulted in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Cabinetry and counter space work together to create a balance between function and style.

When Casework first met this 550 square foot attic space in a 1912 Seattle Craftsman home, it was dated and not functional. The homeowners wanted to transform their existing master bedroom and bathroom to include more practical closet and storage space as well as add a nursery. The renovation created a purposeful division of space for a growing family, including a cozy master with built-in bench storage, a spacious his and hers dressing room, open and bright master bath with brass and black details, and a nursery perfect for a growing child. Through clever built-ins and a minimal but effective color palette, Casework was able to turn this wasted attic space into a comfortable, inviting and purposeful sanctuary.

Whole-house remodel of a hillside home in Seattle. The historically-significant ballroom was repurposed as a family/music room, and the once-small kitchen and adjacent spaces were combined to create an open area for cooking and gathering. A compact master bath was reconfigured to maximize the use of space, and a new main floor powder room provides knee space for accessibility. Built-in cabinets provide much-needed coat & shoe storage close to the front door. ©Kathryn Barnard, 2014

We turned an old 3 season porch in to an airy, bright mudroom/sunroom. 3 generous size cubbies were tucked in to one corner. In another corner we installed cabinets for storage under window set. Rest of the space is good for play time, hang out, etc. Next spring the French Doors will lead out on to a new composite deck for entertaining. It will be a nice open concept from kitchen, through mud/sunroom and out to a large deck for entertaining.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This mudroom drop zone is a masterclass in blending organic textures with high-functioning design for a busy household. The space is defined by expansive, custom warm wood built-ins—likely white oak—featuring vertical beadboard backing and a seamless wrap-around bench. The design balances natural elements with playful pops of color, seen in the teal variegated hexagon floor tiles and the primary-colored wall hooks. Storage is maximized through a combination of open upper cubbies with woven seagrass baskets, deep inset drawers with brass hardware,

The front entry includes a built-in bench and storage for the family's shoes. Photographer: Tyler Chartier
Mid-sized 1960s dark wood floor entryway photo in San Francisco with a dark wood front door and white walls

This stunning Gainesville bathroom design is a spa style retreat with a large vanity, freestanding tub, and spacious open shower. The Shiloh Cabinetry vanity with a Windsor door style in a Stonehenge finish on Alder gives the space a warm, luxurious feel, accessorized with Top Knobs honey bronze finish hardware. The large L-shaped vanity space has ample storage including tower cabinets with a make up vanity in the center. Large beveled framed mirrors to match the vanity fit neatly between each tower cabinet and Savoy House light fixtures are a practical addition that also enhances the style of the space. An engineered quartz countertop, plus Kohler Archer sinks and Kohler Purist faucets complete the vanity area. A gorgeous Strom freestanding tub add an architectural appeal to the room, paired with a Kohler bath faucet, and set against the backdrop of a Stone Impressions Lotus Shadow Thassos Marble tiled accent wall with a chandelier overhead. Adjacent to the tub is the spacious open shower style featuring Soci 3x12 textured white tile, gold finish Kohler showerheads, and recessed storage niches. A large, arched window offers natural light to the space, and towel hooks plus a radiator towel warmer sit just outside the shower. Happy Floors Northwind white 6 x 36 wood look porcelain floor tile in a herringbone pattern complete the look of this space.

This mudroom accommodates the homeowners daily lifestyle and activities. Baskets and additional storage under the bench hide everyday items and hooks offer a place to hang coats and scarves.

We turned an old 3 season porch in to an airy, bright mudroom/sunroom. 3 generous size cubbies were tucked in to one corner. In another corner we installed cabinets for storage under window set. Rest of the space is good for play time, hang out, etc. Next spring the French Doors will lead out on to a new composite deck for entertaining. It will be a nice open concept from kitchen, through mud/sunroom and out to a large deck for entertaining.

Bedroom - coastal master bedroom idea in Grand Rapids with blue walls and no fireplace

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects, and Flegels Construction updated a classic Eichler open, indoor-outdoor home. Expanding on the original walls of glass and connection to nature that is common in mid-century modern homes. The completely openable walls allow the homeowners to truly open up the living space of the house, transforming it into an open air pavilion, extending the living area outdoors to the private side yards, and taking maximum advantage of indoor-outdoor living opportunities. Taking the concept of borrowed landscape from traditional Japanese architecture, the fountain, concrete bench wall, and natural landscaping bound the indoor-outdoor space. The Truly Open Eichler is a remodeled single-family house in Palo Alto. This 1,712 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, and Angela Todorova Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Flegels Construction Photography ©2014 Mariko Reed Location: Palo Alto, CA Year completed: 2014