For this design project located in Serene Hils, we did a full gut to their Mud Room and added Custom Builtins with ample storage, in a contrasting white oak and Dark Painted Cabinetry. We also installed new herringbone floor tile and a custom upholstered bench cushion. In the office space, we added unique wallpaper, updated the light fixture, added wood flooring, fresh paint and all new furnishings. In the Media Room, we color drenched the space, added wood flooring, hard wired sconce lights, and all new furnishings + decor.

Example of a trendy entryway design

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

In this lovely, luxurious master bedroom, we installed the headboard wallpaper with a white and gold pattern, and painted the walls and trim in a fresh soft white. Gold accents tie everything together!

Allie Mullin Photography
Inspiration for a bathroom remodel in Raleigh

Inspiration for a transitional shower bench remodel in Philadelphia with a hinged shower door

Textured tile shower has a linear drain and a rainhead with a hand held, in addition to a shower niche and 2 benches for a relaxing shower experience. Photos by Chris Veith

Photo: Kayla Stark © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in New Orleans.

Farmhouse entryway photo in Minneapolis

This home had a generous master suite prior to the renovation; however, it was located close to the rest of the bedrooms and baths on the floor. They desired their own separate oasis with more privacy and asked us to design and add a 2nd story addition over the existing 1st floor family room, that would include a master suite with a laundry/gift wrapping room. We added a 2nd story addition without adding to the existing footprint of the home. The addition is entered through a private hallway with a separate spacious laundry room, complete with custom storage cabinetry, sink area, and countertops for folding or wrapping gifts. The bedroom is brimming with details such as custom built-in storage cabinetry with fine trim mouldings, window seats, and a fireplace with fine trim details. The master bathroom was designed with comfort in mind. A custom double vanity and linen tower with mirrored front, quartz countertops and champagne bronze plumbing and lighting fixtures make this room elegant. Water jet cut Calcatta marble tile and glass tile make this walk-in shower with glass window panels a true work of art. And to complete this addition we added a large walk-in closet with separate his and her areas, including built-in dresser storage, a window seat, and a storage island. The finished renovation is their private spa-like place to escape the busyness of life in style and comfort. These delightful homeowners are already talking phase two of renovations with us and we look forward to a longstanding relationship with them.

This is a shake up of a previous owner's kitchen remodel- it worked, so why change it? The layout was inspired for the function, flush inset uppers with exposed hinges were added to the mix to drive home that vintage feel. The paneled fridge is a Fisher Paykel true counter depth, a fantastic fit for the space. Photo by Michael Kelley https://www.houzz.com/pro/mpkelley/michael-kelley-photography

Landscape design and photography by Melanie Rekola This lovely landscape sports a poured in place concrete slab patio with drought tolerant sedum plants between the slabs. This sedum mix is sold in sheets then cut to fit but it’s actually grown for green-roof application. It works perfectly in this hot environment too as it is extremely drought tolerant and can go a month without water. Because the water runoff is absorbed between the slabs the patio drainage works perfectly and there are no need for drains.The swimming pool is of the fiberglass variety. Though the initial investment is greater than that of vinyl pools the ROI is greater over a 10 year period. Fiberglass pools retains more heat as the pool shell is all one piece and they don’t ever require a new liner.. This fiberglass pool has cool built-in benching and steps. And there is even a swim jet built into one side great for those cardio blasting swims. The pool interior colour is grey though it shows a soft blue/grey when water is added due to the reflection of the sky and other surroundings. The pool coping is natural stone with rock face edge. The steel arbour was custom made. Metal (steel) was chosen for it’s slim strength as wood placed here would have been too chunky. The best rooms (indoors or our) have a subtle layering of textural elements. To me this landscape needed a structure here to define the “rooms” It will look even better in a few years when the vines reach the top and the Miscanthus on either side reaches its 7′ height!The 12′ x 16′ pavilion is also made of steel and houses an alfresco dining table and sofa set. The pavilions built in cupola makes the warm breezes comfortably pass through with no need for a fan. It’s also sunken 2′ from the pool/patio height and nestled nicely in the corner. I must also mention the large slim planters with “Red Shades” Canna lily within. They are the perfect boldness/balance!Step through the arbor and a linear pond with “floating” natural stone step is revealed! Two smooth flow scuppers are responsible for the quiet waterfalls either side. A wood deck overhangs the pond adding softness to the setting. A modern retaining wall with natural stone cap runs the full width of the pond and pool adding interest and dimension. In the covered outdoor living area this wall is the perfect seat wall - adding lots of extra party seating!

Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Harlow Smoked, Triple Seven Home; table and bench: Craigslist; chairs: Homestead Seattle; rug: Sonoma Jewels Rug, Abacasa; wall art: The Island, Minted; bookshelf: DIY; sheep’s skin throw: Black Sheep (White Light); hardwood floors: Southern Pecan Natural, Home Depot Photo: Allie Crafton © 2016 Houzz Design: Annabode + Co

The large, expansive shower is the shining star of this project! A standard shower head, a handheld shower installed at the bench, and a ceiling mounted rain showerhead installed for added luxury. A large format 24" x 24" porcelain tile was designed for the main flooring and was also carried to the back wall. This tile is separated by the contrasting tiled shower curb and the stone mosaic at the shower floor. Of course it doesn't stop there with the waterfall edge of the vanity countertop cascading into the shower with a matching quartz bench. The decision to tile the entire vanity wall was made with a clean and contemporary porcelain tile adding an additional "wow" factor. The overall lighting is enhanced in the new design by adding four linear contemporary wall sconces on each side of the vanity mirror. Under cabinet lighting is added under the floating vanity as an accent and also subtle late night illumination

This well used but dreary bathroom was ready for an update but this time, materials were selected that not only looked great but would stand the test of time. The large steam shower (6x6') was like a dark cave with one glass door allowing light. To create a brighter shower space and the feel of an even larger shower, the wall was removed and full glass panels now allowed full sunlight streaming into the shower which avoids the growth of mold and mildew in this newly brighter space which also expands the bathroom by showing all the spaces. Originally the dark shower was permeated with cracks in the marble marble material and bench seat so mold and mildew had a home. The designer specified Porcelain slabs for a carefree un-penetrable material that had fewer grouted seams and added luxury to the new bath. Although Quartz is a hard material and fine to use in a shower, it is not suggested for steam showers because there is some porosity. A free standing bench was fabricated from quartz which works well. A new free standing, hydrotherapy tub was installed allowing more free space around the tub area and instilling luxury with the use of beautiful marble for the walls and flooring. A lovely crystal chandelier emphasizes the height of the room and the lovely tall window.. Two smaller vanities were replaced by a larger U shaped vanity allotting two corner lazy susan cabinets for storing larger items. The center cabinet was used to store 3 laundry bins that roll out, one for towels and one for his and one for her delicates. Normally this space would be a makeup dressing table but since we were able to design a large one in her closet, she felt laundry bins were more needed in this bathroom. Instead of constructing a closet in the bathroom, the designer suggested an elegant glass front French Armoire to not encumber the space with a wall for the closet.The new bathroom is stunning and stops the heart on entering with all the luxurious amenities.

This Master Suite while being spacious, was poorly planned in the beginning. Master Bathroom and Walk-in Closet were small relative to the Bedroom size. Bathroom, being a maze of turns, offered a poor traffic flow. It only had basic fixtures and was never decorated to look like a living space. Geometry of the Bedroom (long and stretched) allowed to use some of its' space to build two Walk-in Closets while the original walk-in closet space was added to adjacent Bathroom. New Master Bathroom layout has changed dramatically (walls, door, and fixtures moved). The new space was carefully planned for two people using it at once with no sacrifice to the comfort. New shower is huge. It stretches wall-to-wall and has a full length bench with granite top. Frame-less glass enclosure partially sits on the tub platform (it is a drop-in tub). Tiles on the walls and on the floor are of the same collection. Elegant, time-less, neutral - something you would enjoy for years. This selection leaves no boundaries on the decor. Beautiful open shelf vanity cabinet was actually made by the Home Owners! They both were actively involved into the process of creating their new oasis. New Master Suite has two separate Walk-in Closets. Linen closet which used to be a part of the Bathroom, is now accessible from the hallway. Master Bedroom, still big, looks stunning. It reflects taste and life style of the Home Owners and blends in with the overall style of the House. Some of the furniture in the Bedroom was also made by the Home Owners.

If walls could talk, the stories harbored in this Wrightsville Beach historic house on Henderson Street would go on for days. The history that pours from the front doors as guests are welcomed in was important for her new owner's to preserve while remodeling. And so, here, the cedar-shaked beach cottage stands on stilts overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway telling stories of her birth in 1941, survival of hurricanes like Hazel, hot summer nights, well over 70 Thanksgiving dinners when fresh catch from her dock was more important than the turkey baking in her kitchen, children counting shooting stars from her front porch and, now, her new life after quite a bit of reconstruction. While maintaining every bit of history possible, each room was reevaluated closely by the owners and Schmidt Custom Builders in a collaboration to bring new life to the bones of this three-story beach beauty. New hardwoods went in to replace what was no longer able to be resurfaced to match the original flooring. New fixtures adorn every wall and ceiling to add classic modernity as well as a coat of fresh paint. Floor to ceiling windows were added to the living room to bring scenes of the water world in. And above the living room, an en suite was added as a getaway retreat for the parents of four. This master bathroom includes a wall-to-wall countertop with his and hers vanities, an enormous rainfall shower and a free-standing tub that stares off into the sound. The kitchen took on a complete new look with all new appliances, fresh white cabinets, backsplash, fixtures and countertops as it was opened up into the living room to create more space. On the outside, Schmidt Custom Builders added a custom outdoor shower to the sound side of the home and a full bar with a tap that serves as the perfect welcome to the L-shaped porch.

Greg Powers
Example of a trendy home design design in DC Metro

This beautiful contemporary ski home is located in the downtown area of Old Town Park City, Utah. The ½” plate stringer was laser cut to be stepped and then given a patina finish. We then added White Oak block treads in an open riser design. The horizontal flat bar guardrail with its simple, clean, geometric lines give this staircase an urban feel consistent with the design of the home. All in all, this staircase makes a stunning statement.