Example of a mid-sized urban u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, solid surface countertops and a peninsula

When guests pop in to this lower level bathroom they are hit with an unexpected pop of color in the shower area, which reflects in the mirror as well. This bold lime green tile is a fun element. The floating vanity is designed to rest inside a nook, built to add design detail and interest, while adding function and a bit of contrast. What an energizing project with bright bold pops of color against warm walnut, white enamel and soft neutral walls. Our clients wanted a lower level full of life and excitement that was ready for entertaining. Photography by Spacecrafting Photography Inc.

We recently created an exciting new area from an existing outdoor deck. We enclosed the space, added a fireplace, raised the ceiling and insulated it. We were able to create a beautiful new room where friends and family can happily gather together all year round.

Here in Florida, we’re blessed with great weather year-round. So it’s no surprise that outdoor entertaining areas are an extremely popular way to enhance outdoor living. When our clients requested an update to their existing outdoor kitchen while they were away on vacation, we were ready to hit the ground running. While their beautiful 2-story home on a golf course had a pool and covered lanai area, the existing outdoor kitchen just didn’t function well for their needs. Mainly, they craved additional counter space and more seating. And, as avid football fans, with a son playing on a renown Division 1 college team, they also wanted a large screen TV to watch games. After all, what better way to share game day excitement than at a barbecue with family and friends? A Bigger, Better Kitchen Layout Our brilliant design team came up with a much larger, u-shaped outdoor kitchen layout for increased functionality. The extra base cabinets provided plenty of storage as well as a foundation for additional countertop space. Adjacent to the sink, we added a 24” outdoor refrigerator to keep food and beverages chilled, and the high top bar allowed for more seating around the perimeter. For cooking, our clients selected a much larger Lynx grill and side burner to replace the original grill. While the kitchen was already set up for a grilling area, it required a hood, so we built and installed a custom hood for proper ventilation. Then, we added a large screen TV above the hood for easy viewing. Finishing Touches To softly illuminate the entire space at night, we installed additional recessed light fixtures into the ceiling and under the grill hood. We also tied the Cypress wood ceiling and the crown molding together into the design with a luxurious cabinet stain. Along with these finishing touches, we added a decorative travertine stone backsplash behind the grill and homogenized the front face of the bar for a polished, matching look. Ventilation Challenges With the outdoor kitchen lanai located directly under a second-floor living area, we had expected to tuck away ventilation ductwork between the second-level floor joists and the exterior wall running parallel to the grill hood. However, upon further investigation, we discovered the second floor joist system, in fact, ran perpendicular to the grill hood. In short, we needed a new way to hide the venting without compromising the original design. Our team came up with an inspired solution: Construction of a false wall behind the outdoor kitchen allowed us to run ductwork without creating a visible chase for the vent, thus maintaining a symmetrical look on both sides of the grill and decorative hood. Exceeding Expectations In the end, we didn’t just meet our clients’ needs for a beautiful outdoor kitchen update – we exceeded them. As planned, we completed the new outdoor kitchen while they were out of town. But when our clients returned from vacation, they were so impressed with the results (and the stress-free design/build experience) that they promptly hired us for another extensive remodel – a stunning home addition!

Pops of royal blue bring excitement and beauty to this inviting living room. A large mirror resting behind the couch adds depth to the space.
Inspiration for a small transitional open concept light wood floor living room remodel in Chicago with beige walls and a brick fireplace

The client wanted a little personality to get her excited about coming home and also wanted to maintain a connection to the Scandinavian minimalism of Norway. I helped her display only her best items, while adding traditional, curved furnishings to match her feminine style.

“Using natural stone is something special. It is, admittedly, more expensive than man-made alternatives. Yet nothing adds the feeling of permanence, history, and solidity as does natural stone. When using stone, I always want to provide the most cost effective solutions. In this case, a stone overlay was an option for the porch.” In addition to beauty, the bricks also add significant interest to the project, he shared. “The street pavers are architecturally recycled. They once were street pavers, hand crafted in the 1800’s. You can even see an occasional thumbprint in them. That adds so much to the story of the home. There is a history behind the design that makes it exciting.” Project Design & Installation by Maverick Landscaping http://www.mavericklandscaping.com/ Photo by Matt Kocourek http://www.mattkocourek.com/

Never forget to add color!! Evergreens are great for the winter, but a beautiful Japanese Maple is the way to draw attention to your landscape during the colorful summer months! Even in the fall when the weather is cooler, the leaves turn bright red for an exciting ending to the season.

Careful edits and updates were needed in our client's guest bedroom. Their current metal sleigh bed was far too bulky and heavy visually in addition to taking up too much precious space in this tiny bedroom. The room felt cluttered with far too much furniture, cold and downright unwelcoming. For balance, the bed was relocated to the opposite wall. A bold Nikki Chu wallcovering with a playful abstract design was then added to create a focal point and interest. To free up space and to add balance to this room, a 'headboard only' design (minus the footboard) was selected. The headboard's teak and jute elements paired well with this new backdrop to add great texture and interest to the room. Less furniture, visually exciting feature wall and crisp draperies in a free form pattern helped to complete the look.

City Lights Rec Room Whether George lives in New York City or Peoria, Illinois, he's always playing billiards in Brooklyn. It's amazing how many of our customers have pool tables; color us jealous. While you're doing that, add some color and excitement to your game room. If there's one area in your house to take a 'design risk', this is the place. Small risk; big reward. George T. Check out our cityscapes and skylines collection: http://www.magicmurals.com/subject/cityscapes-skylines.html

A happy east coast family gets their perfect second home on the west coast. This family of 6 was a true joy to work with from start to finish. They were very excited to have a home reflecting the true west coast sensibility: ocean tones mixed with neutrals, modern art and playful elements, and of course durability and comfort for all the kids and guests. The pool area and kitchen got total overhauls (thanks to Jeff with Black Cat Construction) and we added a fun wine closet below the staircase. They trusted the vision of the design and made few requests for changes. And the end result was even better than they expected.

Careful edits and updates were needed in our client's guest bedroom. Their current metal sleigh bed was far too bulky and heavy visually in addition to taking up too much precious space in this tiny bedroom. The room felt cluttered with far too much furniture, cold and downright unwelcoming. For balance, the bed was relocated to the opposite wall. A bold Nikki Chu wallcovering with a playful abstract design was then added to create a focal point and interest. To free up space and to add balance to this room, a 'headboard only' design (minus the footboard) was selected. The headboard's teak and jute elements paired well with this new backdrop to add great texture and interest to the room. Less furniture, visually exciting feature wall and crisp draperies in a free form pattern helped to complete the look.

Adding a big, bold dose of color to a room creates excitement. To get just the right amount of pop, start with a neutral base. Then add a few bright accessories—or an accent wall—to deliver the color you crave.

Arclight The homeowners had recently gone through a large renovation where they added onto the existing house and upgraded all the finishes when we were hired to design two of their childrens' bedrooms. We went on create the entire dining room and living room designs. We sourced furniture and accessories for the foyer and put the finishing touches on many other rooms throughout the house. In this project, we were lucky to have clients with great taste and an exciting design aesthetic. Interior Design by Rachael Liberman and Photos by Arclight Images

Terran Landscapes http://www.terranlandscapes.com Project Entry: Fishers Woodland Garden 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Theme Garden $15,000-$30,000 Award Level: Bronze Photo Description: We were contracted by the client to design a calming space for their staff to relax, take a walk, and enjoy a leisurely lunch as well as to provide their grandchildren a place to run and pick flowers. The space was originally dominated by large trees and had been overgrown with ivy, sumac and aggressive vines, providing an unwelcome, dark space with little color or visual appeal. The client requested a colorful blend of shrubs and perennials that would provide interest throughout the seasons, as well as provide privacy by screening the street traffic along Carisbrooke Road. Our goal was to create the privacy screen along the road by layering plants from the ground to the tree canopy. The theme was to let nature inspire the landscape, allowing a space that was originally woodland to become an enhanced version of itself, creating a beautiful habitat for birds and butterflies to excite the senses and satisfy all who enjoy the beauty of nature. We began by clearing the brush and removing all aggressive vines and ivy that jeopardized the health of the trees. We kept and transplanted all non- invasive or native plant material in the area to various locations throughout the property. Several yards of compost were then tilled into the soil and the existing trees fertilized to provide a rich growing environment. A few challenges occurred during the design process. It was decided that a new generator was to be installed in the woodland and due to a future addition to the house, we were forced to eliminate planned additional impervious pathway surfaces. We provided screening to hide the generator and buffer the noise, and created a meandering path and sitting area out of natural woodchips instead of the proposed bluestone to solve the impervious space issue. The woodchips add a sense of informality and invite the viewer to walk slowly through the space. The reduced noise from the additional screening of the generator allows for quiet reflection as chipmunks scurry and hummingbirds dart about between the flowers. Our plant palette consists of shady understory plants that thrive and flower vigorously from spring through fall. A tall, lush, evergreen backdrop of Ilex opaca and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ provides the screening and blends into a middle layer of ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood, hydrangeas and winterberry hollies. Beautiful perennials and groundcovers bloom along the woodland path, providing a low visual layer of color and texture. Movement throughout the garden is provided by the graceful Calamagrostis brachytricha and Hakenchloa that soften the nearby hardscaping. The woodland floor is full of shade-loving Solomon’s seal, hosta, astilbe, ferns, bleeding heart, Tiarella and Aconitum. The street side of this woodland required plants with a preference for a little more sun and drought tolerance. A palette of oakleaf hydrangea, Agastache, Liatris and Rudbeckia softens the fence line and provides the desired color. As designed and installed, the woodland garden successfully provides the client’s family and office staff a quiet space where they can take a peaceful moment and enjoy nature. Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

Homeowners are happily discovering that they can appease their inner child by building a personalized backyard water park. By adding waterslides, a lazy river, splash zones, and other water park favorites, homeowners can capture the pure excitement usually found only at a distant, crowded amusement park. As the demand for personal water parks increases, pool designers are learning the ins and outs of developing and building these intricate spaces. It is important that highly skilled engineers and builders are consulted, because the correct type and number of pumps, electricity, and other controls are critical for success. Plus, these complex zones require a variety of permits and must follow a local government’s building codes.

Careful edits and updates were needed in our client's guest bedroom. Their current metal sleigh bed was far too bulky and heavy visually in addition to taking up too much precious space in this tiny bedroom. The room felt cluttered with far too much furniture, cold and downright unwelcoming. For balance, the bed was relocated to the opposite wall. A bold Nikki Chu wallcovering with a playful abstract design was then added to create a focal point and interest. To free up space and to add balance to this room, a 'headboard only' design (minus the footboard) was selected. The headboard's teak and jute elements paired well with this new backdrop to add great texture and interest to the room. Less furniture, visually exciting feature wall and crisp draperies in a free form pattern helped to complete the look.

Homeowners are happily discovering that they can appease their inner child by building a personalized backyard water park. By adding waterslides, a lazy river, splash zones, and other water park favorites, homeowners can capture the pure excitement usually found only at a distant, crowded amusement park. As the demand for personal water parks increases, pool designers are learning the ins and outs of developing and building these intricate spaces. It is important that highly skilled engineers and builders are consulted, because the correct type and number of pumps, electricity, and other controls are critical for success. Plus, these complex zones require a variety of permits and must follow a local government’s building codes.

Homeowners are happily discovering that they can appease their inner child by building a personalized backyard water park. By adding waterslides, a lazy river, splash zones, and other water park favorites, homeowners can capture the pure excitement usually found only at a distant, crowded amusement park. As the demand for personal water parks increases, pool designers are learning the ins and outs of developing and building these intricate spaces. It is important that highly skilled engineers and builders are consulted, because the correct type and number of pumps, electricity, and other controls are critical for success. Plus, these complex zones require a variety of permits and must follow a local government’s building codes.