Living room library - contemporary open concept dark wood floor living room library idea in DC Metro with white walls, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

A mixture of contemporary and classic in this timelessly elegant living room featuring pieces from the owner's art collection. Muted tones create a fabulous space. Photography by Peter Rymwid.

A top to bottom renovation by Andrea Schumacher Interiors enlivened this Colorado home using bold color choices and prints. The Alice in Wonderland aesthetic of the dining space feels especially fresh and youthful. Photo Credit: Emily Minton Redfield

PROJECT OVERVIEW: This 1929 Tudor style home was perfect for a couple that loves to collect antiques, but the original kitchen that came with it didn’t work for their family lifestyle. The original floor plan included a small, irregular shaped kitchen with a very large brick fireplace, small nook area, and rear porch entryway, all compartmentalized by load bearing walls. The new design boasts a large kitchen defined by a 24’ fridge and freezer tower wall paneled to match perimeter cabinetry and flanked by double arched entries to both the new butler’s pantry and dining room. WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT UNIQUE: Besides eliminating all the large, load bearing walls that divided the overall space, both floors and ceilings had to be aligned to bring the space together. On either end of the long, paneled tower elevation, arched doorways lead to a new butler’s pantry on the left (which then leads into the dining room) and a newly created hall with floor to ceiling bookshelves on the right (which also leads into the dining room). Archways, butler’s pantry, and hall all match kitchen cabinetry. Even retro light switches and receptacles were designed into matching paneling. DESIGN CHALLENGES: The homeowners wanted a large, family friendly kitchen and better flow between the kitchen and dining room. To achieve this 18’ X 19’ family sized kitchen with a clean ceiling, 31 lineal feet of load bearing wall had to be suspended at 9’. Back-to-back steel C- channels bolted together and a steel I Beam were installed to carry the load of 11” thick brick, 2 ½ story walls.

Bathroom - modern beige floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Pedro Sousa
Example of a classic medium tone wood floor kitchen design in New York with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

Steven Evans Photography
Open concept kitchen - small contemporary single-wall medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Contrasting colors and textures in the living room of this remodeled Burns Park Victorian.
Living room - mid-sized transitional enclosed dark wood floor living room idea in Detroit with white walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and a plaster fireplace

This Palm Springs inspired, one story, 8,245 sq. ft. modernist “party pad” merges golf and Rat Pack glamour. The net-zero home provides resort-style living and overlooks fairways and water views. The front elevation of this mid-century, sprawling ranch showcases a patterned screen that provides transparency and privacy. The design element of the screen reappears throughout the home in a manner similar to Frank Lloyd Wright’s use of design patterns throughout his homes. The home boasts a HERS index of zero. A 17.1 kW Photovoltaic and Tesla Powerwall system provides approximately 100% of the electrical energy needs. A Grand ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Phil Kean Design Group Designer: Phil Kean Design Group From: Winter Park, Florida

In this kitchen, we achieved an atmosphere of traditional character with custom cabinetry and a slate-blue color scheme including a blue CornueFe range. Coffered ceilings, custom wood-paneled fridge, and rustic hardware exude warm French country elegance. Function meets feeling in the large center island -- the perfect gathering place for a warm meal with guests and family. Photos by: Keith Andrews Project by: Maine Coast Kitchen Design

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Powder room - mid-sized transitional light wood floor and brown floor powder room idea in New York with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an integrated sink, marble countertops, white countertops and a built-in vanity

Northern Michigan is the ultimate getaway destination with serene views and abundance of outdoor recreation. This remote Up North house offers nothing short of that. With the nearest major town almost 45 minutes away, it was essential this vacation home offered all the amenities for entertainment and relaxation. Spire worked with the client to create the perfect lake house retreat with comfort and convenience during any season or weather. The living room with an attached game room is a versatile space that offers endless entertainment. A 65” TV was installed over the fireplace in the custom stone wall. The adjustable mount allows the TV to lower for comfortable viewing from either the couch or pool table. A pair of Meridian Audio DSP7200 custom color matched speakers equipped with a Meridian Audio 218 digital controller were strategically installed on each side of the fireplace. The floor-standing speakers compliment the natural stone while providing astonishingly life-like sound, perfect for streaming live concerts. The powerful audio extends to the upper level of the home. Spire installed B&W 700 series bookshelf speakers in the executive office and a Triad custom speaker bar in the master bedroom. These speakers are ideal for smaller rooms, while elevating the TV experience. The large living room windows offer beautiful lake views and ample lighting. Lutron Palladiom shades were installed to easily control the natural light in the living room, master bedroom and bathroom. They are custom designed and fully automated to let in the morning sun or achieve partial shading or complete privacy. Whether set on a schedule or controlled from an iPad, the shades operate quietly and seamlessly. The technology was designed to be enjoyed just as much indoors as outdoors. With the whole home audio system, high-quality sound can flow throughout the indoor rooms as well as the outdoor patio. While the location may be remote, Spire ensured the WiFi and network connection is strong both throughout the yard and inside the home. A Lutron HomeWorks QS system integrates the control of all the interior and exterior lighting including motion sensing for the exterior pathway. Since this is not a permanent residence, a control and security system was very important. A personalized Savant system was integrated for full home control of lighting, climate, entertainment and security from anywhere with a smart device . This includes the ability to control the multiple landscape light zones with timed scenes. The Doorbird cameras and chimes with the integration of camera feeds into the Savant Control provides remote communication with visitors at any of the exterior doors. Remote access also allows rebooting of all essential systems from any location.

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

Master bath with limestone floor, Venetian plaster walls, open beamed ceiling. Photographer: Jim Bartsch
Example of a large tuscan master beige tile limestone floor and beige floor freestanding bathtub design in Santa Barbara with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and beige countertops

This is a photo of the modern wooden staircase with a metal handrail, the stone accent wall completes the look. The floor-to-ceiling-windows provide a great view of the outdoors. Built by ULFBUILT.

Example of a trendy open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Houston with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: Karen Melvin
Inspiration for a timeless freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room remodel in Minneapolis with orange walls