Example of a large classic light wood floor and beige floor multiuse home gym design in Salt Lake City with gray walls

Genia Barnes
Example of a small eclectic living room design in San Francisco

We turned a small unused room in the back of this house into a playroom for young children. Highlights include custom photo wallpaper (which is adhesive backed and can be peeled away without wall damage), a custom book wall and a wall system allowing easy rotation of kids' art. Credit: Maddie G Designs

Jim Tschetter Photography
Family room - traditional family room idea in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a concealed tv

Corner shower - small contemporary master gray tile and cement tile corner shower idea in Indianapolis with a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an integrated sink and solid surface countertops

This view highlights the more refined training side of the basement gym, where performance and polish come together in a boutique fitness studio feel. Three full-length arched mirrors with integrated dimmable lighting visually expand the space while providing ideal lighting for workouts at any time of day. Along the wall, a custom wall of creamy full-height cabinetry paired with open shelving offers a clean balance of concealed and accessible storage—keeping the space organized without sacrificing style. Black granite countertops add contrast and durability, grounding the lighter finishes with a sleek, elevated touch. A treadmill and strength-training machine are thoughtfully placed to maintain an open flow, while generous floor space remains intentionally clear for stretching, yoga, and mat-based workouts. The result is a highly functional yet visually calm environment designed to support both everyday movement and focused training.

Blue Gator Photography
Living room - large transitional open concept carpeted living room idea in San Francisco with blue walls

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Holger Obenaus
Inspiration for a coastal playroom remodel in Charleston with yellow walls

Hallway - mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor hallway idea in Dallas with gray walls

Inspiration for a small timeless gender-neutral kids' room remodel in Boston

Exum Photography
Trendy side yard rectangular hot tub photo in Other with decking

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in New York

Large walk in shower like an outdoor shower in a river with the honed pebble floor. The entry to the shower follows the same theme as the main entry using a barn style door. Choice of water controls by Rohl let the user switch from Rainhead to wall or hand held. Photos by Chris Veith

Architecture: Sutro Architects Contractor: Larsen Builders Photography: David Duncan Livingston
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional kids' beige tile bathroom idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount tub and blue walls

Bathroom - mid-sized industrial 3/4 gray floor and concrete floor bathroom idea in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink, gray countertops, a two-piece toilet and soapstone countertops

By situating this elaborate train setup along the walls of this room with sloped ceilings, left the middle open for Angelo and his dad to access any area of the train set easily. The painted scenery on the walls echoes the theme of each vignette; in the far corner is a farm scene. Three-and-a-half year old Angelo came up with the word "traintastic" when he saw his new hobby room. Photography: Memories, TTL

Eric Roth
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Boston

Obelisk Home was given the challenge of creating a 4 year old boys bedroom using their existing furniture, but make it feel grown up. The little boy is very active. We selected new bedding, a rug, art, lighting, a custom paint color, and re-invented simple furniture to make a little boy’s paradise. Grays, oranges, blues and creams were selected to coordinate a shared bath used by a young boy and a newborn sister. Tile, decorative tile and wallpaper were the key in creating a well-blended space. The finishes chosen are all family friendly and will grow with both of the children. Photos by Jeremy Mason McGraw