Example of a trendy open concept family room design in San Francisco

Matt Kocourek Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Kansas City with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Inspiration for a 1950s brown two-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in Boston with a hip roof

The goal of this project was to create an updated, brighter, and larger kitchen for the whole family to enjoy. This new kitchen also needed to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the home both functionally and aesthetically. The laundry room also needed an aesthetic refresh. What sets this kitchen apart is the laminated plywood edging between walnut cabinetry and the door handle detail integrated within those boundaries.

Transitional kitchen photo in Chicago

Having recently purchased the condominium in a late 19th century building, this Swedish couple saw the sharing of the master bath with their guests a shortcoming worth resolving sooner than later. They turned to building Lab to create an en-suite master bath, that would afford a sense of privacy and strike a balance between original detailing and a modern spa-like feel. With adequate storage elsewhere we co-opted an existing closet into the new master bath which resulted in an ample if not generous foot print. The couple’s decidedly Scandinavian design sensibilities prompted us to keep the material palette simple and neutral thus allowing the space and light to speak for themselves. Tall skinny mirrors emphasize the height of the room and saturate all corners with reflected light. Suspended walnut cabinetry contributes a tactility and warmth. Subtle custom details such as the integral LED lighting wrapping around the mirrors invite closer examination. But perhaps the most successful quality of the project is the expansive sense of space and lightness. photo by scott hargis

The homeowners were very concerned about over-improving their modest split-level home built in 1961. They liked the “mid-century modern” feel and wanted to enhance that vibe. Top on their wish list was to replace the portable dishwasher with a built-in and add a peninsula for seating and workspace. To keep the labor cost down, the soffits and existing ceiling lighting was left intact. The first option was to keep the existing cabinets; however, the original layout did not allow adequate counter space on either side of the cooktop. After considered the price of new cabinets, they realized the value of having a brand new kitchen. The fun begins in the design phase. We chose the horizontal grain laminate to blend with the color of the existing woodwork in the home. The textured rhomboid shaped tile steals the show when accented with contrasting grout. The kitchen is a little mod and a little hip. And fits in perfectly as today’s “mid-century modern” home.

Jeffrey Erb

The kitchen in this beautiful 1934 home had been renovated, but lacked flow and adequate storage and for the family of five. The Viking range was trapped in an alcove, with little counter space on the sides. By relocating the wall oven, the range wall is a functional area featuring two niches, an accessory rail and dramatic tile. The new grey-stained Crystal cabinets in hickory and cherry complement the existing Colorado stone floors. Careful selection of materials and placement blends existing and new, while respecting the vintage of the home.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Photography by Mark Liddell and Jared Tafau - TerraGreen Development
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional partial sun courtyard brick water fountain landscape in Los Angeles.

Example of a small transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

This custom living room unit and media center was designed to provide all that a Manhattan family needs for entertaining lots of guests or to just kick back, relax and watch some TV. The wall unit also shows off some of our favorite new material finishes with a combination of wood veneer, matte glass, and high gloss. Color played a big role in the design of this entertainment center. It contrasts a radiant high gloss orange with a warm Smoked Walnut wood grain for a balanced and modern look. The orange high gloss adds an artistic accent to the unit, while keeping the design free from chaotic lines and color schemes. Our no-handle design is made possible by a brushed aluminum J-channel that provides a clean look and makes the drawers easy to access. Flat style doors and drawer fronts also contribute to the smooth and modern European look of the media center. Our space saving entertainment system also delivers an abundant amount of floor to ceiling storage, both open and in drawers. There is ample room to store and display books, sculptures and home decor. Bottom cabinets are a suitable place to conceal and store media equipment. 1.5 inch thick floating shelves above the television and the box shelves alongside, featured in Midnight Ash, provide definition to the design and balance the high intensity orange elements. Top shelves provide space to arrange fragile keepsakes while bottom shelves can be used to display your favorite reads. Opposite the open shelving is a matte black glass fronted cabinet to house your favorite drinks and glassware for quick entertaining. The black satin glass is defined by an aluminum door frame. Clear glass shelves are found within the glass door cabinet and provide a useful place for storing dry bar essentials like rocks glasses and your preferred liquor selection. The cabinet includes vertical profile LED strip lights on both side panels that illuminate when the door is opened. The lighting shines through the shelves and sparkles off the glassware, silver ice bucket and colorful drinks you might keep there. The unit contains a sliding door that alternately hides a flat screen television and reveals a shelf. This feature paired with our wire management system helps keep your wall unit and your living area looking neat and tidy. The hidden hardware adds a unique function to this design without drawing the eye. Short arm flap stays and drop-down flap hinges allow for the soft, almost automatic opening of the long panel faces that conceal the drawers behind. The drawers are easy to access and provide the storage of multiple drawers without cluttering the look of the media center. This design is completed with integrated LED lighting. Behind the floating backing panel, adjustable LED lighting enhances the spacious look of the unit and provide mood lights for the living room. The shelves are equipped with recessed LED lights that make the orange high gloss color pop and showcase your displayed possessions. The floating shelves are equipped with horizontal profile LED strip lights to give the whole unit a warm glow. Our lighting systems offer features such as touch switches and dimmers, which add light, comfort and convenience to your living space. Tell us what you want in your living room media center.

Master Bathroom Remodel in Gold Canyon! We removed a tub shower combo to create a large walk-in shower. Replaced the vanity with new cabinets, plumbing, sinks, and granite counter tops! In the Kitchen, we lowered the Island to all one level and added new counter tops!

Glass Enclosed Conservatory opening to patio with fireplace
Large minimalist gray floor sunroom photo in Minneapolis with a glass ceiling

Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard stone garden path in Orange County.

The goal of this project was to upgrade the builder grade finishes and create an ergonomic space that had a contemporary feel. This bathroom transformed from a standard, builder grade bathroom to a contemporary urban oasis. This was one of my favorite projects, I know I say that about most of my projects but this one really took an amazing transformation. By removing the walls surrounding the shower and relocating the toilet it visually opened up the space. Creating a deeper shower allowed for the tub to be incorporated into the wet area. Adding a LED panel in the back of the shower gave the illusion of a depth and created a unique storage ledge. A custom vanity keeps a clean front with different storage options and linear limestone draws the eye towards the stacked stone accent wall. Houzz Write Up: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/inside-houzz-a-chopped-up-bathroom-goes-streamlined-and-swank-stsetivw-vs~27263720 The layout of this bathroom was opened up to get rid of the hallway effect, being only 7 foot wide, this bathroom needed all the width it could muster. Using light flooring in the form of natural lime stone 12x24 tiles with a linear pattern, it really draws the eye down the length of the room which is what we needed. Then, breaking up the space a little with the stone pebble flooring in the shower, this client enjoyed his time living in Japan and wanted to incorporate some of the elements that he appreciated while living there. The dark stacked stone feature wall behind the tub is the perfect backdrop for the LED panel, giving the illusion of a window and also creates a cool storage shelf for the tub. A narrow, but tasteful, oval freestanding tub fit effortlessly in the back of the shower. With a sloped floor, ensuring no standing water either in the shower floor or behind the tub, every thought went into engineering this Atlanta bathroom to last the test of time. With now adequate space in the shower, there was space for adjacent shower heads controlled by Kohler digital valves. A hand wand was added for use and convenience of cleaning as well. On the vanity are semi-vessel sinks which give the appearance of vessel sinks, but with the added benefit of a deeper, rounded basin to avoid splashing. Wall mounted faucets add sophistication as well as less cleaning maintenance over time. The custom vanity is streamlined with drawers, doors and a pull out for a can or hamper. A wonderful project and equally wonderful client. I really enjoyed working with this client and the creative direction of this project. Brushed nickel shower head with digital shower valve, freestanding bathtub, curbless shower with hidden shower drain, flat pebble shower floor, shelf over tub with LED lighting, gray vanity with drawer fronts, white square ceramic sinks, wall mount faucets and lighting under vanity. Hidden Drain shower system. Atlanta Bathroom.

This bathroom was completely remodeled with an all white colour scheme complete with a mixture of various marble types. Marble includes a pattern of carra marble, venato marble and callacatta marble. We sourced a home depot white freestanding vanity cabinet and placed a custom made carrara marble counter on top of it with undermount oval sinks. Design by LUX Design in Toronto, Photos by: Lisa Petrole Photography