Transitional dining room photo in Boston

Inspiration for a large farmhouse green two-story wood gable roof remodel in Philadelphia

Kirkland clients, Shayna and Anthony had a lovely home with a beautiful view of Lake Washington. However, the waterfront side of their home didn’t offer an ideal set-up to fully enjoy the magnificence that their lot provides. They desired more year-round use of their home in the form of an outdoor covered living room, along with more overall functionality from their outdoor spaces. Their formal living area had a door to the outside that the couple never used. The McAdams Remodeling & Design team replaced the sliding door with a window that still offered plenty of natural light but enclosed the space providing more options for furniture placement. The room’s exterior stairs and landing were removed. The exterior siding was matched, and the new landscaping along with an arbor installed, was created in tandem during the remodel by a local landscape architecture firm, ensuring the change looked natural. Past the seating around the gas firepit, a new large deck was constructed, half of which was covered, to replace the smaller, dated version. The metal railing was exchanged for a new composite one, and a new Dutch back door leading from the kitchen offers an alternative option for ingress and egress along with fresh air on nice days. The covered deck area adjacent to the family room provides protection from the weather and now houses the outdoor kitchen they desired for entertaining family and friends. The outdoor kitchen includes a built-in gas grill, stone gas fireplace, refrigerator for food and beverages, and a garbage receptacle. A ceiling fan and heaters are incorporated into the outdoor living space design to provide year-round comfort. Finally, retractable shades were installed so that the couple can enclose the space if desired. A small upstairs bedroom was used as a den for relaxation and reading but also contains one of the best views in the home. The McAdams team removed the windows and base bulkhead, adding floor to ceiling windows and a glass door for an unobstructed view. The new medium-sized deck above the covered outdoor living space gives Shayna and Anthony the opportunity to entertain or relax while highlighting their view of the lake. Finally, their Juliet balcony off the primary bedroom received a re-coated railing and new decking, while the home was repainted to offer a classy craftsman feel and pull all of the changes into one cohesive home design. Shayna and Anthony love their new entertainment spaces and expect to use them often.

A hidden coffee bar and large pantry anchor this end of the kitchen. Pocket doors and pullout shelves add convenience while hiding some of the less attractive staples and equipment that are used on a daily basis. The beauty of the Sapele (Brazilian Mahogany) is accented by the LED lighting. Brushed nickel hardware provides an interesting contrast that helps highlight the beauty of the cabinets surface. Photography by: Hawks Photography

Dining room - 1960s dining room idea in Tampa

Simple and linear Dakota cabinetry line both of the kitchen walls. A walnut peninsula and waterfall with antimicrobial stain makes the countertop ideal for making bread. A Bosch 800 Series Stainless dishwasher is placed next to the double under mount sink. An abundance of windows provide natural light throughout the space. At night, pendant lighting, undercabinet LEDs, and recessed can lights illuminate and highlight the beautiful finishes.

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

This angle highlights the seamless flow from kitchen to dining, with coffered ceilings tying the spaces together. Warm wood flooring adds balance to the cool, modern finishes.

A traditional Georgian home receives an incredible transformation with an addition to expand the originally compact kitchen and create a pathway into the family room and dining area, opening the flow of the spaces that allow for fluid movement from each living space for the young family of four. Taking the lead from the client's desire to have a contemporary and edgier feel to their home's very classic facade, House of L worked with the architect's addition to the existing kitchen to design a kitchen that was incredibly functional and gorgeously dramatic, beckoning people to grab a barstool and hang out. Glossy macassar ebony wood is complimented with lacquered white cabinets for an amazing study in contrast. An oversized brushed nickel hood with polished nickel banding makes a presence on the feature wall of the kitchen. Brushed and polished nickel details are peppered in the landscape of this room, including the cabinets in the second island, a storage cabinet and automated hopper doors by Hafele on the refrigeration wall and all of the cabinet hardware, supplied and custom sized by Rajack. White quartz countertops by Hanstone in the Bianco Canvas colorway float on all the perimeter cabinets and the secondary island and creates a floating frame for the Palomino Quartzite that is a highlight in the kitchen and lends an organic feel to the clean lines of the millwork. The backsplash area behind the rangetop is a brick patterned mosaic blend of stone and glass, while surrounding walls have a layered sandstone tile that lend an incredible texture to the room. The light fixture hanging above the second island is by Wells Long and features faceted metal polygons with an amber gold interior. Woven linen drapes at window winks at the warmer tones in the room with a lustrous sheen that catches the natural light filtering in. The rift and sawn cut white oak floors are 8" planks that were fitted and finished on site to match the existing floor in the family and dining rooms. The clients were very clear on the appliances they needed the kitchen to accommodate. In addition to the vast expanses of wall space that were gained with the kitchen addition the larger footprint allowed for two sizeable islands and a host of cooking amenities, including a 48" rangetop, two double ovens, a warming drawer, and a built-in coffee maker by Miele and a 36" Refrigerator and Freezer and a beverage drawer by Subzero. A fabulous stainless steel Kallista sink by Mick De Giulio's series for the company is fitted in the first island which serves as a prep area, flanked by an Asko dishwasher to the right. A Dorenbracht faucet is a strong compliment to the scale of the sink. A smaller Kallista stainless sink is centered in the second island which has a secondary burner by Miele for overflow cooking. Jason Miller, Pixelate

We replaced the existing deck and added a larger dining area, with a covered seating group centered on a new outdoor gas fireplace. To expand the seating area, the stairs were relocated to the back side of the fireplace. The stone work on the back of the firebox extends to the ground, and is highlighted by the new stair and accent lighting. Other details include picture framed deck and stairs, indirect post lighting, stained bead board ceiling, and a continuous drink rail.

High-end stainless steel appliances, including a built-in oven and refrigerator, ensure a seamless cooking experience. Natural light floods the space through well-placed windows, highlighting the stylish details and the warm wood flooring. This kitchen is perfect for both everyday living and entertaining in style.

This 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

Looking from the kitchen directly through to the living room, this perspective highlights the beauty of the newly enlarged architectural opening. By opening up the sightlines between these two primary living zones, we created a seamless, semi-open floor plan that makes the entire home feel incredibly spacious and cohesive. Key Design Highlights of This View: Unobstructed Sightlines: The widened passageway keeps the home’s chef fully connected to family activities, conversations, or movie nights in the living room. Continuous Flooring & Light: The beautiful light hardwood floors run completely uninterrupted between the spaces, visually unifying the kitchen and living room while maximizing the flow of natural daylight. Beautiful Design Contrast: The striking, dark kitchen island and deep charcoal cabinetry in the foreground frame the bright, neutral-toned living room in the background, adding an elegant layer of depth and visual interest to the home's layout.

Andrew Giannattasio
Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

This perspective highlights the heart of the kitchen, showcasing the stunning contrast between bold, modern elements and bright, airy design. By vaulting the ceiling and incorporating a dual-level wall of black-framed windows, we transformed what was once a dark, cramped space into a sun-drenched culinary oasis. Key Design Highlights: High-Contrast Cabinetry: Sleek, black Shaker-style cabinets deliver a dramatic modern punch, beautifully warmed up by elegant champagne gold hardware. Quartz Countertops & Backsplash: Seamless white engineered quartz countertops feature subtle gray veining, extending into a matching slab backsplash behind the range for a clean, cohesive, and easy-to-clean surface. Expansive Center Island: The large white island offers plenty of prep space and seating, grounded by beautiful light hardwood floors that run throughout the open-concept layout. Architectural Lighting: Oversized, metallic-lined dome pendant lights hang from the soaring vaulted ceiling, anchoring the island and adding a sophisticated industrial-chic touch to the space.

Kitchen – Integrated Vent Hood, Two-Tone Wood Grain & Flush Undercabinet Lighting | Toronto This kitchen detail highlights the precision and cohesion of the custom millwork design. The vent hood cover was intentionally designed to match the upper cabinet door profile, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the cabinetry rather than stand out as a separate element. This creates a clean, uninterrupted visual line across the upper cabinets—an essential detail in modern, minimalist kitchens. The two-tone wood grain palette adds depth and warmth, balancing contemporary design with natural texture. The contrast between tones helps define zones within the kitchen while keeping the overall look refined and cohesive. Integrated flush under-cabinet lighting provides functional task illumination without visible fixtures or glare. By recessing the lighting, the cabinets maintain a crisp profile while enhancing usability and highlighting the material finishes below. This level of coordination between millwork detailing, lighting design, and appliance integration reflects Cedarstone Group Inc.’s design-build approach—where every element is planned together to ensure the final kitchen feels intentional, polished, and timeless.

Glass panels let the natural light show through the cabinetry highlighting favorite dishes. Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry
Example of a farmhouse u-shaped light wood floor kitchen design in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

When an international client moved from Brazil to Stamford, Connecticut, they reached out to Decor Aid, and asked for our help in modernizing a recently purchased suburban home. The client felt that the house was too “cookie-cutter,” and wanted to transform their space into a highly individualized home for their energetic family of four. In addition to giving the house a more updated and modern feel, the client wanted to use the interior design as an opportunity to segment and demarcate each area of the home. They requested that the downstairs area be transformed into a media room, where the whole family could hang out together. Both of the parents work from home, and so their office spaces had to be sequestered from the rest of the house, but conceived without any disruptive design elements. And as the husband is a photographer, he wanted to put his own artwork on display. So the furniture that we sourced had to balance the more traditional elements of the house, while also feeling cohesive with the husband’s bold, graphic, contemporary style of photography. The first step in transforming this house was repainting the interior and exterior, which were originally done in outdated beige and taupe colors. To set the tone for a classically modern design scheme, we painted the exterior a charcoal grey, with a white trim, and repainted the door a crimson red. The home offices were placed in a quiet corner of the house, and outfitted with a similar color palette: grey walls, a white trim, and red accents, for a seamless transition between work space and home life. The house is situated on the edge of a Connecticut forest, with clusters of maple, birch, and hemlock trees lining the property. So we installed white window treatments, to accentuate the natural surroundings, and to highlight the angular architecture of the home. In the entryway, a bold, graphic print, and a thick-pile sheepskin rug set the tone for this modern, yet comfortable home. While the formal room was conceived with a high-contrast neutral palette and angular, contemporary furniture, the downstairs media area includes a spiral staircase, comfortable furniture, and patterned accent pillows, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. Equipped with a television, a fully-stocked bar, and a variety of table games, the downstairs media area has something for everyone in this energetic young family.

This expansive Manor Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors