Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room design in San Francisco with beige walls

The overarching design intent for this 1,455-square-foot West Vine Street condominium was to make the spaces contemporary and functional. The renovation began with an unexpected structural deficiency in the form of a post located in the middle of the living room that was causing a three-inch dip in the floor. It was removed and replaced with steel columns running down through the walls and into a footing pad with a three-foot depth. The main living spaces underwent significant changes; the kitchen was reconfigured to open up a formerly cramped space, and the removal of a wall made room for a cascading island with Cesarstone countertops—a crowning feature. Additionally, an electrical panel was relocated to be able to wrap the refrigerator with a wood veneer frame. Notable materials include eight-inch-wide ‘Esplanade’ French oak plank floors chosen to complement the reclaimed wood-wrapped ceiling beams, which feature a combination of LED downlighting and uplighting. A sleek gas fireplace with horizontal slate surround and paneled wall backing replaced an old wood-burning stove—furthering the design program. Pacheco-Robb Architects dismantled an existing spiral stair and replaced it with a cable-rail system—a nautical nod—which is noteworthy for the way it meets code; by running a contiguous oak banister for the entire length of the stair, they were able to avoid having to add a second railing, which would shrink the already narrow stairwell. Upstairs, a tight bedroom with gabled ceilings was addressed by adding a solar-operated skylight with built-in shade, plus minimalistic furnishings. Structural changes in the master bedroom included eliminating a closest to widen the room, and reconfiguring a bathroom to fit a small walk-in closet in lieu of a long, thin hallway. The formerly unfinished rooftop deck is now accessed via a six-foot door that opens more than 90 degrees. Azek decking was laid over the rubber roof, and two-inch stanchions were located around the rail’s outer edge. By opening the floor plan and streamlining the aesthetic, the place now breathes.

Claudia Bell
Beach style l-shaped kitchen photo in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Nick Johnson
Example of a huge trendy u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, paneled appliances and two islands

Bay House - Kitchen
Inspiration for a contemporary galley kitchen remodel in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and wood countertops

Photo by Joe Fletcher
Trendy formal and open concept living room photo in San Francisco

Grossman Photos
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept beige floor family room remodel in Miami with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. - Architect: Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd. - Interior Design: Martha O’Hara Interiors - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography

Once we determined the couple's budget, we addressed the issue of modernizing the kitchen. One problem that needed to be addressed was the size of the refrigerator. After adding an island in the middle of the space, the new Marvel refrigerator stuck out farther than the original 90s model would have

© 2017 Kim Smith Photo Home by Timberbuilt. Please address design questions to the builder.
Example of a large mountain style open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Atlanta with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

European French Farmhouse inspired Kitchen Office. Wine bar is addressed with simple display of wine bottles above the wine fridge.
Small transitional built-in desk marble floor and white floor study room photo in Houston with beige walls and no fireplace

Countertop, Island: Summerhill from Cambria's Coastal Collection
Minimalist kitchen photo in Minneapolis with quartz countertops

Large 1950s master gray tile gray floor and single-sink shower bench photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, a hinged shower door, gray countertops and a built-in vanity

Photography by Ken Wyner 2101 Connecticut Avenue (c.1928), an 8-story brick and limestone Beaux Arts style building with spacious apartments, is said to have been “the finest apartment house to appear in Washington between the two World Wars.” (James M. Goode, Best Addresses, 1988.) As advertised for rent in 1928, the apartments were designed “to incorporate many details that would aid the residents in establishing a home atmosphere, one possessing charm and dignity usually found only in a private house… the character and tenancy (being) assured through careful selection of guests.” Home to Senators, Ambassadors, a Vice President and a Supreme Court Justice as well as numerous Washington socialites, the building still stands as one of the undisputed “best addresses” in Washington, DC.) So well laid-out was this gracious 3,000 sf apartment that the basic floor plan remains unchanged from the original architect’s 1927 design. The organizing feature was, and continues to be, the grand “gallery” space in the center of the unit. Every room in the apartment can be accessed via the gallery, thus preserving it as the centerpiece of the “charm and dignity” which the original design intended. Programmatic modifications consisted of the addition of a small powder room off of the foyer, and the conversion of a corner “sun room” into a room for meditation and study. The apartment received a thorough updating of all systems, services and finishes, including a new kitchen and new bathrooms, several new built-in cabinetry units, and the consolidation of numerous small closets and passageways into more accessible and efficient storage spaces.

Designed by Lauren Hunt of Reico Kitchen & Bath in Charlotte, NC this transitional style white and grey kitchen design features Green Forest Cabinetry in the Sierra door style in 2 finishes. The perimeter kitchen cabinets features a White finish and the kitchen island cabinets feature a Summit Grey finish. Kitchen countertops are marble in the color Fantasy Brown. Kitchen appliances are KitchenAid and Whirlpool. Kitchen tile backsplash is Soho Studio Alchimia White 3' x 12". For the customer, "working with Lauren and everyone involved was a pleasure. She was always quick to respond and address any issue I had. It was a relief turning the project over with complete faith in her." Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media LLC.

Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz Quite often, one of the greatest challenges with open-plan living is a matter of how to integrate the kitchen without overwhelming the rest of the living space. By implementing a combination of streamlined fixtures and furniture-like pieces, Weiss and Carpenter have come up with a solution that is chic and sophisticated. While the back side of the island houses the matching cabinetry of the rest of the kitchen, the front is made up of an antique apothecary cabinet that the couple discovered through Weisshouse. The top and sides are clad in Belgian bluestone, giving the overall space contrast and balance. Kitchen: Poliform; Pendant: "Dear Ingo", Moooi

At 35+ years, this Ft Worth lake-home is wearing it’s age very well. To freshen up the surrounding landscaping and supporting elements, our clients dreamed of an avant garde look for both the front and backyard outdoor living space that tied together. One Specialty designed a re-imagined driveway, address monument, welcoming area and Xeriscape landscaping for the front. We constructed a multi-level deck made with Trex, complete with an outdoor kitchen and outdoor bar in the backyard, resulting in multiple vignettes for entertaining which are fully wheelchair accessible. To see before photos and more information on this project: http://www.onespecialty.com/lake-retreat/

Kara Spelman
Open concept kitchen - large farmhouse single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, cement tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The Master Bath is a peaceful retreat with spa colors. The woodwork is painted a pale grey to pick up the veining in the marble. The mosaic tile behind the mirrors adds pattern. Built in side cabinets store everyday essentials. photo: David Duncan Livingston